The next day, Typhon Estate, New Jersey.
Television broadcasts and newspapers across the country were filled with reports about the explosion at Xavier's School. Every major outlet was discussing the shocking event, and the story was dominating headlines nationwide.
Inside the living room, Vane, Logan, Jean Grey, Storm, Mystique, and several others sat watching the televised news from the Daily Bugle.
On the screen, J. Jonah Jameson was practically shouting into the camera.
"This is absolutely unbelievable!"
His voice thundered through the room.
"According to our exclusive investigation, the mastermind behind the bombing is a man named Colonel William Stryker!"
Jameson slammed a hand onto his desk as he continued.
"A United States soldier. A colonel who swore an oath to protect the American people. And yet this man orchestrated a massive explosion at a school!"
He leaned closer to the camera with visible fury.
"So what comes next? Missiles?"
"Or perhaps nuclear weapons?"
"Is this man a soldier—or a terrorist?"
His voice grew even louder.
"Are we now supposed to worry not only about criminals but also about certain members of our own military massacring us?"
He waved a stack of papers angrily.
"And let me remind you all that this isn't the first time something like this has happened!"
"A few months ago we witnessed chaos erupt in downtown New York!"
Vane glanced sideways at Wolverine, who sat silently nearby with a completely expressionless face.
Vane cleared his throat.
"I never imagined Colonel Stryker could be so ruthless," he said thoughtfully. "Blowing up an entire school… that's completely unacceptable."
Wolverine pressed his hand against his forehead.
He looked as though he wanted to say something, but the words never came.
Jean and Storm were far more emotional.
"That was our home," Jean said bitterly.
Storm's expression hardened.
"It sheltered countless mutants. Stryker will pay for this."
"Yes," several others agreed angrily. "He has to pay."
Vane nodded seriously.
"Of course he will."
Then he added calmly, "On the other hand, this situation also brings us some good news."
Everyone turned toward him.
"Stryker is no longer just our enemy," Vane explained. "Now he's the enemy of the entire nation."
He smiled faintly.
"With the pressure building like this, our operation has a much higher chance of success."
At that moment, his phone rang.
Vane glanced at the screen.
The White House.
A faint, unsurprised smile appeared on his face.
He stood up and walked out onto the balcony before answering.
Inside the room, Jameson's furious commentary continued on the television while Jean, Storm, Colossus, and the others discussed their anger toward Stryker.
Only Wolverine remained quiet in the corner.
His expression was complicated.
Part of him felt grim satisfaction that Stryker was now exposed to the entire country.
But another part of him felt uneasy.
Yesterday… he had actually detonated the bomb himself.
How could he have done that?
How was he supposed to explain this to the professor?
Maybe it would be easier to avoid Professor Xavier entirely in the future.
After finishing the call, Vane returned to the room with a satisfied smile.
"I have good news," he announced.
"This operation against Stryker now has official approval from the White House."
Everyone immediately looked up.
"According to intelligence from Homeland Security, Stryker returned to his base at Alkali Lake overnight," Vane continued.
"He sent a brief report to the Pentagon and the White House… and then completely cut off all outside contact."
Vane spread his hands slightly.
"The White House is now facing enormous public pressure."
"Stryker has effectively lost the government's protection."
"That gives us a huge advantage."
Storm clenched her fist.
"So we leave now?"
"Of course."
Within minutes, the team began assembling.
Soon they boarded a transport plane heading directly for Alkali Lake.
The strike team consisted of Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Mystique, and several others.
In addition, Emil Blonsky, Bullseye, and his fully armed enhanced squad were joining the operation.
The aircraft moved quickly through the sky.
Before long, they arrived above the hidden base at Alkali Lake.
Bullseye's enhanced soldiers moved with cold efficiency.
Using reconnaissance drones and advanced scanning equipment, they quickly located the concealed entrance hidden inside the dam's flood discharge outlet.
The squad deployed several miniature spider-like robots.
Within minutes, the base's surveillance cameras had been temporarily disabled.
The entire group approached the steel gate at the entrance without hesitation.
Vane glanced toward Blonsky.
Blonsky nodded.
To everyone's astonishment, his body suddenly began to transform.
His skin turned yellow.
His muscles expanded violently.
Within seconds he had grown into a massive three-meter-tall monster.
Compared to before, his back spines were more pronounced, his frame even larger, and his muscles far denser.
Colossus blinked in surprise and whispered to Wolverine.
"What did this guy eat?"
"He looks way stronger than before."
Despite the terrifying transformation, Blonsky retained his sanity.
He clenched both fists.
Then he slammed them into the steel door.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Each punch echoed through the concrete corridor as the thick metal began to deform.
Soon a massive hole appeared in the center of the door.
Blonsky thrust his arms into the gap and pulled.
Metal shrieked under the strain.
With a final violent tear, the steel gate was ripped apart, leaving an opening just large enough for people to pass through.
On the other side, a group of soldiers stood frozen in shock.
Vane clapped his hands lightly.
"Abomination. Colossus. Wolverine."
"Take them down."
Before he even finished speaking, Blonsky charged forward through the opening.
His massive body slammed into the soldiers like a battering ram.
Several men were sent flying before they even had time to raise their weapons.
Colossus and Wolverine followed immediately behind him, rushing into the remaining troops.
When Vane and the others stepped inside moments later, the entrance had already become a battlefield.
None of the enemy soldiers were still standing.
Vane turned toward Bullseye's squad.
"Secure this area."
His voice was cold.
"Anyone who resists—shoot them."
Then he looked toward Jean.
"Jean, take a team and rescue Cyclops."
"The rest of us will find Professor Xavier."
Everyone moved instantly.
With Abomination, Colossus, Wolverine, and the enhanced soldiers leading the way, their advance through the base was swift and relentless.
Before long, they discovered signs of Stryker's movements.
At the same time, several mutants under mind control began appearing to block their path.
The group quickly split into smaller teams.
Eventually only Vane and Wolverine remained together as they pursued Stryker.
They entered a massive chamber.
In the center stood a large tank filled with water, surrounded by complex machinery.
Nearby, one of the industrial furnaces was still operating.
Inside it churned a thick, silvery liquid.
This was the room where Wolverine had been transformed.
The furnace contained adamantium alloy.
One of the most valuable substances in the entire facility.
At the far end of the chamber stood Colonel Stryker.
Beside him was a woman of Asian descent.
Yuriko Oyama.
In the comics she was known as Lady Deathstrike.
She possessed abilities nearly identical to Wolverine's.
At the moment, however, she was clearly under Stryker's control.
Stryker barely glanced at Vane.
Instead he looked directly at Logan.
"Logan," he said loudly.
"Does this place feel familiar?"
He spread his arms slightly.
"This is where you evolved."
Clang.
Wolverine's claws snapped out.
"It wasn't evolution," he growled.
"It was torture."
Then he took a step forward.
"But don't worry."
"This place will become one of the most memorable locations in your life."
He pointed directly at Stryker.
"The place where you die."
Stryker laughed.
"Kill me?"
"Don't you want to know your past?"
He walked slowly backward while speaking.
"What does it feel like to live with amnesia?"
"To constantly feel lost?"
He smiled coldly.
"In this world… I'm the only one who knows the truth about you."
Wolverine's eyes burned with rage.
"I already know everything."
"You killed Kayla."
"You destroyed my memories."
"You used all of us."
He crouched slightly like a hunting predator.
"And now I'm here to collect what you owe."
Without another word, Wolverine launched himself forward like a cheetah.
Stryker shook his head calmly and stepped back.
Yuriko moved first.
She stepped forward and delivered a powerful flying kick.
The impact sent Wolverine crashing across the floor.
For a moment Logan lay there stunned.
Stryker immediately took the opportunity to escape deeper into the base.
Wolverine flipped back onto his feet and glared at the woman standing before him.
He prepared to attack again.
Then he heard Vane's voice behind him.
"Leave the lady to me."
Vane smiled casually.
"You go chase the big guy."
The words snapped Wolverine back to his senses.
He looked at Vane for a moment.
Vane simply nodded at him.
Wolverine slowly retracted his claws.
Then he turned and ran after Stryker.
.....
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