Marvel: The Journey

November 1975,

 

In the Canadian Rockies,

 

Winter had arrived at the north country and the air grew colder.

 

The ground and several tree branches were covered by several inches of snow.

 

"Hugh!"

 

* CRACK *

 

"Hugh!"

 

* CRACK *

 

"Hugh!"

 

* CRACK *

 

Logan pulled the axe out of the log and glanced at the chopped wood around him.

 

He smiled at the sight of them and thought, 'Its a good day today!'

 

He placed another piece of wood on the log and picked up the axe, ready to chop it down when he heard two people talking behind him.

 

He stopped and eavesdropped on their conversation and heard one say to the other, "I'm tellin' ya, buddy. This fella, he's all over the place. He's on the telly, on them posters, and in the papers, too, ya know? Heck, my son's been buggin' me since yesterday, beggin' me to get him that there doll. Givin' me no peace, that one. Seems like everyone's gone crazy for it. Can't escape it, no matter where ya turn, I tell ya. It's a right proper phenomenon."

 

He heard the other person ask, "Say, what was his name again?"

 

He heard the person reply with surprise in his voice, "How the fuck d'ya not know? It's Starlance."

 

"Hugh!"

 

* CRACK *

 

Logan watched as the two chopped pieces of wood fell off the log and past memories flooded his mind as he thought, 'Starlance! I have seen his face. He kinda reminds me of... Ian. Sigh! He was a good kid, that one. But, as usual, the good kids get swallowed up by the war. His body probably got blown up durin' a bombin' raid. Maybe that's why they couldn't find his body. Poor kid.'

 

He shook his head, trying to get the sad memories out of his head and turned to pick up another wood when someone called out to him.

 

"Hey! Logan!"

 

Logan stopped and turned in the direction of the sound and saw Tim, the foreman waving his hand at him while walking forward.

 

"What do you want, Tim?", Logan asked he placed the big axe on his shoulder.

 

Tim slyly smiled and replied, "Someone's lookin' for you."

 

"Who?", Logan asked as he walked toward Tim with a confused expression on his face.

 

Logan saw Tim point behind him and step aside as he kept smiling slyly and saw none other than Kayla Silverfox, standing with a sweet smile on her face.

 

Immediately, he walked toward her hurriedly and asked happily, "What're you doin' here, babe?"

 

Kayla simply smiled and gestured him toward her.

 

When Logan arrived, she grabbed him by the collar and kissed him passionately.

 

Seeing the passionate kiss unfold, Tim whistled and walked away.

 

After a few seconds of intense kissing, both of them stopped and stared into each other's eyes.

 

Logan held her waist and asked with a smile on his face, "You didn't answer my question."

 

Kayla gazed at him lovingly and replied, "I missed you, babe. So, I came here."

 

She peeked around and seeing no one around, she stood on her toes and whispered in his ear seductively, "I want you."

 

Logan heard her and picked her up immediately, causing her to shout in surprise, "Eeek!"

 

He ran toward his truck, carrying her in his arms.

 

Seeing the smile on his face, Kayla giggled and asked mischievously, "Why're you in such a hurry?"

 

Logan smirked at him and replied, "This here's a mighty important matter that I ain't gonna miss. Gotta tend to your needs. And, besides, my shift's over."

 

Kayla laughed and kissed him on the cheek and said, "You are so cute."

 

. . .

 

At night, in a remote cabin,

 

Logan and Kayla lay naked on the floor beside the fireplace with a thin sheet over their naked bodies.

 

Considering the sweat on their bodies, they must have done some strenuous activity.

 

Kayla clung to him and drew circles on his chest.

 

She noticed that he was thinking about something and asked, "What're you thinking?"

 

Logan shook his head and replied, "Just some sad memories."

 

"From the war?", she asked.

 

Seeing him nod, she asked, "What about?"

 

A sigh escaped his lips and he said, "Ian. That was his name. A good kid. Met him on the islands. I'm the best at what I do. But, what I do best ain't very nice. And, he was the same like me. He was fuckin' fast. Shot like he had a natural aim. Led us to victory in the Guadalcanal campaign singlehandedly. He was a good friend. But..."

 

Kayla saw a sadness flash in his eyes as he continued, "They couldn't find his body. Last seen, was with the Soviets marchin' toward Berlin. After that, nothin'. "

 

She clung to him tightly and heard him say, "People like him, they remind me of the things that I should feel grateful for."

 

He looked in her eyes and smiled and said, "For the first time in my life, I don't feel like a freak."

 

Kayla stroked his face and said, "Hey! You're not a freak!"

 

Logan smiled demeaningly and replied, "Most guys don't have to fear guttin' their girlfriend in their dreams."

 

Kayla said sternly, "Hey! You're not a freak!"

 

Logan smiled at her and said, "I know. 'Cause an angel would never fall in love with a freak"

 

"Hey!", Kayla lightly slapped his chest and said, "What did I just say?"

 

Logan laughed at her reaction and gazed lovingly and said, "I love you."

 

Kayla was taken aback by the sudden confession but nonetheless, she replied lovingly as well, "I love you too."

 

. . .

 

Hundreds of kilometers away from Logan and Kayla's cabin, in an undisclosed location,

 

Victor stood on a lit platform in a room surrounded by darkness, like a robot.

 

His hair had grown longer and it flowed down to his shoulders.

 

He also wore the brown, yellow costume with a fur-lined collar.

 

His eyes were blank as if he was in some sort of mind control.

 

Then, a voice emerged from the darkness which said, "Who are you?"

 

Victor replied, like a robot, without any emotion in his voice, "Sabertooth."

 

"What is your name?"

 

"Victor Creed."

 

"What do you do?"

 

"I kill people."

 

"Are you an animal?"

 

"Yes."

 

"A pet?"

 

"... Yes."

 

"Then, you must have an owner, right?"

 

"Yes."

 

"And, who is that?"

 

".."

 

"...Romulus."

 

A person emerged from the darkness with a sinister smile on his face.

 

He had pointed ears, mutton-chop sideburns and parts of his hair were white.

 

He had his claw-like fingers crossed at his back and asked, "What are you going to do?"

 

"Give a surprise to my brother... Logan."