[The Adamantium Affair] – Val Never Forgets His Friends

Logan was kneeling on the ground. He glanced at his broken claws and tried to bear the pain he was feeling at the moment. He felt as if somebody had crushed his hands which was understandable since his claws were made out of bones. He raised his head and his eyes met Victor's and he asked, "W-Why are you doin' this, Victor? W-What happened to you? W-What happened to Bucky? I-Is he even alive?"

However, Victor said nothing. He simply stared at Logan. His sharp, bloody claws gleamed in the light while he growled at him. He saw him getting to his feet and charged toward him. His claws pierced Logan's chest making him cry out in pain, "Aaah!", and he threw him onto the wall behind him.

* SCHICKK *

* SPLURT *

* THUD *

Logan crashed into the wall and when he looked ahead, he was Victor launching toward him with his claws raised. He put up his bleeding hands in a desperate attempt to defend himself from the attack but it was futile.

* SCHICKK *

Victor pierced his claws into Logan's chest and banged him into the wall repeatedly. After that, he spun around and threw Logan on the ground.

* THUD *

Logan coughed up blood and he was about to get up when Victor pounced on him and tried to pierce his throat but Logan stopped him and held his claws with his hands even though they pierced through and blood dripped on his face. He was trying to defend himself but Logan knew he couldn't last long. They have been fighting each other for a couple of hours and the exhaustion and the pain were making him struggle to continue.

For the entire they have been fighting, Victor was overly aggressive and he fought like an animal. No matter how many times, Logan beat him down, he got up and fought him back again. And he wasn't holding back. Not a single time when he aimed his claws at Logan. Even Logan was confused by his behavior but he didn't have much time to dwell on it since Victor began thrashing him again and again.

Victor's claws inched closer and closer to his throat and it seemed as if he would be able to pierce them when suddenly...

* WHAM *

Victor's eyes rolled back and he fell on top of Logan. Logan, on the other hand, tried to see who hit Victor when he felt something hit his brain and he couldn't resist falling asleep.

Val landed on the ground and stared at the feral brothers. He shook his head while thinking, 'I wondered what happened to Victor after I was nursed back to health by Peggy. I tried to find out and it was stated that Victor and Bucky had been killed during the capture of Arnim Zola but like Bucky, it seems that Victor was also captured.' He walked toward them and squatted down. He looked at their faces and smiled while thinking, 'Don't worry, old friends. I've never gotten any of you out of my mind.' His eyes glowed golden and he stared at Victor's body. As the golden glow in his eyes dimmed, he patted Victor's back and thought, 'Hypnotic suggestion? I've got the perfect thing to counter that.' He picked both of them up and flew into the sky.

A few minutes later,

Logan and Victor were in the basement of Val's mansion. They were lying on separate beds, in deep sleep. Surrounding them, was different kinds of machines, including a cardiac monitor which was connected to both of their beds. At some distance away from them stood Val. He was wearing an apron, gloves and had a mask on his face. He opened a container and used tweezers to take out a minute sphere. He walked toward Logan carefully and inserted the sphere into his nose. At the same moment when Logan inhaled, he let go of the Tweezers and watched as the minute sphere was sucked inside him. He smiled and thought, 'Memory Sphere - Done!'

After the events of the Sentinel and after Val realized that the next event would be Weapon X, he began creating things that would be helpful to him and one of those was the Memory Sphere.

The Memory Sphere was a small, specialized construct made entirely of pure energy and used quantum technology. It would interact with Logan's brain on a quantum level and allow for the storage and retrieval of memories. At the heart of the Memory Sphere was its Energy Core, a concentrated source of pure energy that served as the foundation of the entire structure.

Surrounding the Energy Core was the Quantum Memory Array, a complex lattice-like structure made up of interconnected energy nodes. Each node could hold quantum data packets, which were the encoded memories from Logan. The Quantum Memory Array used quantum entanglement and superposition to enable high-density memory storage while minimizing interference and data corruption. It would enter Logan's brain through the olfactory nerves in his nose.

Embedded within the Memory Sphere was the Consciousness Mapping Interface. This interface contained algorithms that were capable of analyzing and mapping the unique neural connections and cognitive patterns of Logan's brain. The entire Memory Sphere was encased within a protective Holographic Shell, which appeared as a translucent, shimmering sphere.

First, it established a quantum entanglement with specific regions of Logan's brain responsible for memory storage and retrieval. This connection allowed it to interact with and transfer information to and from the brain at a fundamental level. Memories then were converted into quantum data packets using an incredibly efficient compression algorithm. This encoding method allowed vast amounts of information to be stored within the confined energy structure. It needed a constant, stable energy source to maintain its existence and keep memories intact and it drew energy from his brain activity.

And, the best thing about it was that it couldn't be harmed during the process of Adamantium infusion which meant that even though Logan would lose his memories during the infusion. After it, he could simply try to think about his memories and the sphere would imprint them onto his brain.

Then, Val shifted his attention to Victor and used a different tweezer to pick up a different device, and similar to Logan, he placed it inside his nose and let it get sucked into it. This way, the device would enter his olfactory nerves and travel to his brain.

Val had given Victor another device which he called The Neuro-Energetic Resonator or NER in short. It was designed to help individuals break free from mind control and invasive mental manipulations. He was bored one day and tried to create something which would counter mind control and came up with this.

The NER was programmed with an extensive database of brainwave frequencies and patterns. It could detect abnormal brainwave signatures associated with mind control and mental manipulation. It had a unique mechanism that can convert ambient energy (e.g., electromagnetic fields, cosmic radiation, etc.) into a specialized form of bio-compatible energy. Once it detected the irregular brainwave patterns associated with mind control, it emitted a controlled and targeted energy signal that resonated with the specific neural pathways involved in the manipulation.

The emitted energy interfered with the coerced neural signals, creating a resonant disruption that weakened the influence of the external controlling force. Simultaneously, the NER stimulated the brain's natural neural networks responsible for critical thinking, self-awareness, and emotional stability. This would help Victor to regain control over his thoughts and emotions and increase his resistance to external manipulation. Also, it was designed to be self-sustaining within the body, periodically replenishing its energy stores using the body's natural processes.

Val took a step back and nodded approvingly at himself while thinking, 'The next part of the plan is successfully executed. Now, all I have to do is let the plot unfold and strike when the iron's hot.'