[The Adamantium Affair] – Val’s Plan For Kayla

Inside Charles' office, a tense silence ensued as Logan, seated across from Charles' desk, stared intently at him, without uttering a single word.

Sighing in frustration, Charles attempted to ask, "Why di-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Logan abruptly cut him off, firmly saying, "No!"

Charles didn't relent and made another attempt to ask, "Why di-"

Once again, Logan cut him off, this time more forcefully, repeating, "No!"

Charles couldn't help but feel exasperated with Logan's uncooperative attitude. He tried to understand the reason behind Logan's request for a favor, but Logan's resistance made it difficult. Charles thought to himself, 'How am I supposed to know why you reached out to me for help if you won't communicate properly? You didn't give any details during the call, and now you act like this?'

"Look, Sergeant Howlett..", Charles began only to be cut off yet again by Logan who narrowed his eyes at him and retorted, "Name's Logan, bub."

Charles sighed and nodded, "Alright, Logan. Why did you seek my help?"

Logan kept quiet, not answering Charles' question. Frustrated by the lack of communication, Charles tried a different approach, saying, "If you won't answer me and be silent about it, how am I going to be able to help you?"

Logan grumbled and said, "I don't need your help. I'll fix my problems myself. I only want you to treat Kayla and keep her here for some time."

Charles nodded and said, "We can do that. But at least tell us what or who caused those claw marks on h-"

Before Charles could finish, Logan abruptly stood up, glared at him and warned, "I said I'd handle my problems myself, bub."

At that moment, somebody knocked on the door and both Charles and Logan turned to look who it was. The door creaked open to reveal Hank entering the office in normal clothing, looking fatigued, with a hint of surprise on his face.

Hank's eyes landed on Logan and he couldn't resist teasing him, "Well, well, well. We finally meet, Logan. I hear you're quite the animal."

Logan sat back in his chair and retorted without even glancing at Hank, "Look who's talkin'. At least I don't look the part, bub."

Hank walked over to Logan and his arms bulged as he was ready to attack and shouted angrily, "What did you say?"

Logan also stood up and his broken bone claws emerged out of his hands as he glared at Hank ready to attack him.

It seemed that a violent confrontation would ensue between both of them until Charles' voice echoed in the office, "Gentlemen, please. Control yourselves and sit down in your seats."

Hank grunted and sat in his chair while Logan did the same. Charles' eyes never left the broken bone claws and after Logan sat in his seat, he said seriously, "Logan. We need to talk."

. . .

"Hail HYDRA!!"

Val leaned back after whispering the slogan of HYDRA and smiled widely, relishing the fear when he saw Kayla's widened eyes and trembling body.

He saw her trying to break the fake tooth in her mouth and drink the poison in it - the typical way a HYDRA spy tries to kill themselves when their identity is discovered. He snapped his fingers and created an energy barrier that prevented her from doing so.

Kayla felt as if somebody had grabbed her mouth with an iron grip and was preventing her taking the poison. She saw Val leaning close to her again and she heard him say with a wide smile on his face, "No, no, no. We can't have that. We don't want to you to kill yourself, Kayla..." she saw him leaning closer and whispering, "... or should I say Agent Silverfox?"

Her eyes widened in fear and disbelief, realizing that Val knew her secret identity. She thought fearfully, 'He even knows my secret name?! I... I.... I am doomed!!!'

Removing the poison-filled tooth gently from her mouth, Val twirled it around his fingers. He observed Kayla's frightened expression and asked, "You must be wondering how I, of all people, know your secret, right?"

Reluctantly nodding, Kayla found herself trapped in Val's clutches as he chuckled, "How can anyone forget the big, bad, evil organization that is HYDRA?"

The smile on his face disappeared and he leaned in close and said, "Listen to me, HYDRA filth! You would act according to my orders or else...", he placed his finger at her stomach and sent a strand of Chi inside her and lied, "... I would turn you into my puppet."

He lied to her to make her more scared and instil more fear in her and maker her accept his orders readily, "Yes. The world doesn't know about this part of my power because I didn't want them to know. I've never tried to control someone before, but I would happily experiment it on you if you don't follow my orders. Did you understand?"

With trembling fear, Kayla nodded, and Val smiled sinisterly, saying, "Now, listen to me carefully. Here's what you're going to do..."

. . .

Grey entered Charles' office and everybody looked at him. He glanced at Logan and announced, "Kayla has woken up. You can meet her."

Logan immediately sat up from the chair and bolted out of Charles' office to see Kayla.

Hank turned to Charles and spoke in a voice filled with concern, "Are we going to do something?"

Charles leaned back in his chair, deep in thought, and quietly murmured, "So, Victor... Creed... huh?"

. . .

Logan swung the door of the medical room open, and upon seeing Kayla looking at him with a smile, his own face lit up with joy. He approached her eagerly, feeling relieved and happy to see her awake.

He held her arm gently and asked with concern, "You okay, babe? How you feelin'? Any pain? Any difficulty? Anythin'?"

Kayla let out a chuckle, finding his worry endearing. She lovingly stroked his face and replied, "I'm fine, babe. You look so cute when you're worried."

Logan glanced at her wounds and asked, "How di-"

However, he stopped when his nose caught a whiff of a scent.

He turned around to find Val, with a smile on his face, extending his hand. Val introduced himself, saying, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Logan. I'm Valexis Haller."