"Damn it."
Donald retreated the instant he recognized the syringe. He knew that compound well. It was one of the facility's own creations, a short-term enhancer designed to push a mutant back to peak output. If Logan injected it, he would briefly become what he once was.
And a peak-condition Wolverine was a nightmare given flesh.
"Sniper, target Wolverine," Donald barked into the radio.
The reply came back fast. "X-23 and Subject 757 sighted. They're moving toward my position."
"Release X-24 to intercept them. You stay on Wolverine."
Donald clenched his jaw. He didn't care how the two escaped the perimeter. It didn't matter. Once X-24 was deployed, the outcome was already decided. According to the data, Laura couldn't match him head-on, and Rowan Mercer's marksmanship meant nothing against a body that ignored bullets entirely.
Wolverine, though—that was the real threat.
In the brief exchange, Logan had already torn through ten of Donald's best men despite the gunfire. Without a sniper pinning him down, this would turn into a slaughter.
No wonder the boss had always been obsessed with Wolverine.
A rifle cracked. Logan was hit and driven to the ground as suppressive fire poured in, keeping him pinned.
Elsewhere, Rowan was sprinting across the dirt with Laura beside him.
They hadn't broken through the encirclement. They'd never intended to. Rowan had pulled Laura out before the perimeter closed, hiding among the scattered debris and terrain. While every gun and eye focused on Logan, they rushed the armored transport that held X-24.
If X-24 fell early, the battle tilted sharply in their favor.
The only surprise was the sniper. That hadn't been part of the old stories.
Rowan adjusted his grip. If the rifle swung toward him, he'd use Laura as cover. Brutal, yes—but she would survive it. He might not. And if he died here, so would everyone else.
Fortunately, the sniper stayed locked on the factory. Logan was doing his job.
The transport's rear doors slammed open.
X-24 leapt out, roaring, charging straight at them.
Rowan smiled thinly. "Perfect."
Four soldiers followed, but they didn't advance. Instead, they set up a camera, clearly intending to record the engagement. This was a live-fire test. They didn't believe Rowan or Laura stood a chance.
As X-24 closed the distance, Rowan grabbed Laura by the collar and fired twice.
He didn't use the adamantium round. Not yet. Killing X-24 too soon would draw instant attention and every gun in the field. He needed to get closer, into a range where his ability could matter.
The shots curved midair.
They punched straight through X-24's eyes.
The clone howled and staggered, clutching his face. The damage would heal, but the pain was immediate and overwhelming.
Rowan didn't hesitate.
"All right," he said sharply, swinging Laura forward. "You're up."
He hurled her over X-24's head.
"Take out the sniper."
Laura landed in a roll and sprinted straight for the transport, claws already out.
X-24's eyes regenerated in time to see Rowan. He lunged.
Rowan barely stepped back as the first swipe split his weapon in half. The second claw went for his throat.
"Fast," Rowan muttered.
He poured every ounce of magnetism he could muster into X-24's arm. It wasn't enough to stop him, but it was enough to disrupt the strike. The claw hesitated. Rowan slipped past it.
He ran.
X-24 roared and chased, fury driving him harder. Rowan didn't try to fight him head-on. He couldn't win that way. Instead, he constantly interfered—tugging at limbs, ruining balance, forcing micro-delays that let him dodge each lethal strike by inches.
Step by step, he led the monster closer to the transport.
His power still wasn't fully developed. He knew that. Give him years and he could lift X-24 off the ground and tear him apart at leisure. Give him more time with magic and a single spell could end this cleanly.
But not today.
Today was about survival, positioning, and buying the seconds that mattered.
And above them, Laura was already closing in on the sniper.