Chapter 197: The Enemy Within
The corridors of the Shi'ar flagship stretched like veins of cold steel, patrolled by soldiers who walked with the rhythm of discipline. Logan slipped through the shadows between them, moving like smoke. He didn't need to think about stealth—his body did the work, every breath measured, every footstep a whisper. His ears caught the faint scrape of armor ahead, his nose tracked the tang of alien oil on their weapons. He slid past a guard without so much as a flicker of notice.
'Been a while since I played cat burglar. Feels almost too easy. Smells like pride in these soldiers—they don't think anyone would dare sneak through their ship. That's the kinda thinking that gets you gutted.'
Back in the quarters, the rest of the X-Men sat in tense silence. Xavier's hands rested on the armrests of his hoverchair, fingers twitching ever so slightly.
Kitty finally burst out, "I hate this waiting. We're just… sitting here while Logan's out there."
Nightcrawler offered a small smile, crouching on the wall near her. "Relax, Katzchen. If anyone can sneak through a fleet of angry bird-people, it is Wolverine. He has practice, ja?"
Storm folded her arms, voice steady but her eyes stormy. "Practice in places none of us wish to visit."
Cyclops kept his gaze locked on the sealed door. "Let him do his job. If Logan says Samadar's dirty, I believe him."
Logan's inner voice growled as he reached Samadar's chambers. The door was flanked by two guards. He waited, silent, until the subtle shift in their patrol gave him his opening. He moved in a blur, a hand snapping over one guard's mouth while his fist struck the other square in the throat. Both fell like felled timber, not a cry escaping.
He slipped inside. The chamber smelled of incense, oil, and beneath it all—the same stink of corruption he'd scented earlier. Samadar lay in bed, armor half-removed, breathing heavy. Logan's lip curled.
"Sleep tight, Admiral."
With a swift strike of his fist, Samadar crumpled back into unconsciousness. Logan dragged him deeper into the room, tying his wrists with torn bedding. Then he pressed a finger to the comm on his collar. "All right, Chuck. He's gift-wrapped for ya. Time to go dancin' in his skull."
Back in the X-Men quarters, Xavier closed his eyes. The room went still, the team watching every twitch of his face. His brow furrowed deeper and deeper until sweat beaded at his temple.
Inside Samadar's mind, Xavier waded through fire. Schemes. Hatred. The admiral's thoughts spilled like poison: promises of wealth, power, whispered in the shadows by a winged figure with crimson eyes—Deathbird.
Xavier tore deeper, glimpsing images of secret transmissions, coordinates, the place on Earth where Lilandra was hidden. But the malice ran deeper still. Samadar didn't just serve Deathbird—he relished the chance to shatter Lilandra's rule and crown himself with blood.
Xavier's eyes snapped open, his face grim. "It is as Logan suspected. Samadar is in league with Deathbird. For coin, he has betrayed his people. He knows where Lilandra is imprisoned, hidden on Earth."
The team erupted at once.
Cyclops' fists clenched. "We have him. We take this straight to Araki—"
"No," Xavier cut in sharply. His voice carried iron. "Without proof, we are outnumbered and distrusted. They will call us liars, Earth-born manipulators. Samadar has too many loyal men."
Kitty's face paled. "So… we just let him sit there, plotting?"
Logan's voice came low over the comm. "Don't worry, kid. He ain't plotin' nothin'. He'll be nappin' a while."
Nightcrawler tilted his head. "Then what do we do?"
"We divide our strength," Xavier said. "Some of us must remain to keep Samadar contained. The rest must strike swiftly to rescue Lilandra before the fleet grows suspicious of his absence."
Storm's eyes narrowed, her voice like distant thunder. "We gamble the fate of Earth, of Lilandra, and of ourselves on this path."
Logan chuckled darkly through the comm. "Ain't that just another day with the X-Men."
The team's gazes met one another, the weight of the choice pressing heavy. But no one turned away.
Xavier whispered, "Then it is decided. The hour is upon us. We move at once."