Marvel: A Tale of Shadows

Walking down the hallway he glanced at the old man out of the corner of his eye. He had a confused look on his face while they walked down the hall in military uniforms. Ethan had to suppress his chuckle as they made their way to the file room.

It was in sight and was guarded by a single guard. Ethan pulled out a badge and Paine followed his lead after a moment. He handed the badge to the guard who looked it over and nodded but just waved Paine in.

Entering the room was jarring, it was almost like a giant warehouse was hidden inside. There were lines and rows of files. But sitting in front of them was an old man sitting at a desk. He had that old angry look on his face. He scowled as he looked Ethan up and down but when he looked at Paine, there was a glimmer of recognition in the old man's eyes.

"Paine! Long time no see!" The old man stood up and saluted quickly. Causing Paine to flinch and glance over at a surprised Ethan.

"Tristen, still doing library work? I thought you would have retired." Paine responded in surprise as he saluted as well. "You don't mind us browsing a bit do you?"

"No problem. No problem, how did you break in? This place ain't like it was during the cold war. I can't even sneak some snacks past security. They search so thoroughly." Tristen the old records keeper responded.

"We just walked through, this kid got us in easily enough." Paine nodded to Ethan who smiled.

"Okay, what do you need?" Tristen asked as he booted up his computer. It looked old. "I plan to take my break in thirty minutes so let's get you two started."

"I need these files." Paine handed the records keeper a list. "Then he needs a list of files as well."

"Okay these will take me a few minutes. What do you need, kid?"

"James Howlett's military service record. He worked for the CIA and Team X and here is the specific file number." Ethan handed a slip of paper and the records keeper nodded.

The old man nodded and got to work. After a few minutes of typing on the computer he walked away into the sea of records.

"So… you know him?" Ethan asked quietly.

"Yup, the Cold War saw me make many friends and enemies. Most have passed, but survivors like Tristen knew how to make friends on both sides of the battle. He was a librarian on the west coast acting as handler for many agents and operatives. Seems like he was delegated to record keeping after retirement. He got lucky, teaching positions, record keeping, and death are the only options for operatives from back then." Paine explained sadly.

"Want me to make his life a bit easier?" Ethan asked as he slid out his phone.

Paine gave the young man an inquisitive look, "how would you do that?"

"He complained about security. I could make it so he has clearance to get through easier." Ethan explained.

"Hmm… no, instead can you get him a better working environment. I am sure he is bored out of his mind all day." Paine asked.

Ethan nodded and paid exclusive attention to his phone. "Certainly give me a moment?" He was typing quickly, moving money, issuing anonymous orders and other things to make it all seem legitimate.

Record keeper Tristen walked back pushing a cart that contained five boxes of files. He moved it up and set it by a table that was set to the side. "Okay here you are." He pulled one of the boxes off the cart and set it on the table. While he pointed to the cart. "Paine, here are your files. Kid this is your person's files, do me a favor and don't take anything from this box. It keeps getting checked out. My break is thirty minutes but I am an old and forgetful man, so I am going to take an hour-long break." He then walked to the door and opened it. Ethan could hear him chatting up and greeting the guard.

Ethan opened his box and started looking through the box. The first file was pre world war two. The Canadian special forces had an operative named James Howlett that displayed unique mutant abilities that interested the government. He was then a part of a joint task force with America when they joined the war. Which was when the first photo appeared it was of a group of people.

Ethan frowned when he recognized one of the people in the photo. He turned to the back and read which name to which person. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and started quickly reading through the files.

The record keeper said nothing about making copies. He looked over at Paine and saw he was already using a digital camera to take photos. Ethan just used his phone, it took forty-five minutes but he got photos of James Howlett's complete military record. From when he first popped up as a Canadian soldier to his last known location as he suddenly appeared as a member of the 'X-Men' going by the name Logan. As well as being called by his nickname, Wolverine. They even included an eighteen year gap where he disappeared.

Ethan clicked his tongue as he put away the box and glanced at Paine who was waiting for him. "Find something interesting?" The man asked and Ethan had no clue how to respond and just nodded before motioning to the door.

They walked out and the guard only glanced at them, making sure they weren't taking any files. Ethan followed all the appropriate actions while leaving but he was clearly lost in thought while he went.

When they were walking to the parking lot Paine finally had enough. "I am guessing James Howlett is either dead or is a troublesome thing with a reaction like yours."

Ethan climbed into Paine's car and grunted in annoyance. "How much do you know about the X-Men?"

"I know that they are the mutants' faces and representatives. I also know what the intelligence community knows about them. They started in secret, stopping rogue mutants and mutant powers from exposing the existence of mutants." Paine explained and then sighed before continuing.

"Back then there were six original members of the X-Men: Professor Charles Xavier, Erik 'Magneto' Lensherr, Henry 'Hank' 'Beast' McCoy, Alexander 'Havok' Summers, Angel Salvadore, and Mystique. They did a few missions but after learning about the experiments that the U.S. government was a part of relating to several missing mutants. The members clashed and Magneto, Angel Salvadore, and Mystique disappeared. Soon after the group called The Brotherhood of Mutants appeared and started establishing itself as a group. While Professor X was put in a wheelchair and the X-Men went on to become a school to house all mutants who were willing to come."

Ethan nodded as he continued Paine's explanation, "thus Xavier's Institute for the Gifted was founded. It would expand for the next thirty years until the past year when it became Xavier's Academy due to its expanded schooling with the increase in mutants forcing them to become public since the year 2000. The X-Men continued to do their work but with a changing roster of heroes with the modern group consisting of the more notable members Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Wolverine, Storm, Havok, Beast, and Forge. There are others but those are the more consistent ones."

"Then we know the same. Why did you ask?"

"How much do you know about Wolverine?"

"Wolverine, also known as Logan. No known last name or history. Suddenly appeared one day, believed to be a foreign spy. The intelligence community has always been in a fit because they couldn't identify him. But almost every scientific group has wanted to get their hands on him because of his super regeneration."

Ethan nodded and then dropped the bomb he was holding in, "I just identified him. His real name is James Howlett." That caused Paine to glance over in surprise. "He is an old U.S. and Canadian asset that they lost track of. Apparently they lost track of him until he appeared ten years ago as part of the X-Men."

"But James Howlett is Laura's father. Meaning that time they lost him…" Paine could only assume so much.

"More than likely he found and fell in love with Ophelia. He probably knew they could not live a good life if he was still involved with a militarized mutant group. So he disappeared but eventually they were tracked down and captured by Hydra." Ethan explained.

"But then how did they find him when his own group couldn't?" Paine asked as they pulled up to an abandoned parking lot.

That had him thinking as well. The only way would be… "the group he was a part of was already infiltrated or leaking intel to Hydra. Probably both if I had to guess. So when they saw the chance to do more invasive experiments they took it." Ethan finished his thought aloud.

"But they did not realize they got a package deal when they went after him." Paine started picking up what had happened as he parked the car. "Ditch the uniforms."

Ethan climbed out of the car and started removing the uniform, switching to his motorcycle gear. "Yes, but whatever experiment they did on him caused him to lose his memory. As well as allow him to escape." Once he was done switching he walked to his motorcycle while Paine walked toward another car after tossing a match into the car they arrived in. Causing it to catch fire, but it was on the edge of the city in an abandoned lot. Ethan also made sure to remove all nearby footage so they could get away clean.

Ethan climbed on his motorcycle and followed Paine out until he separated a mile later. Just in case they connected either him or Paine to the car burning.

But continued his thought process at the same time. He more than likely wandered for a bit off the radar until the X-Men happened upon him. Then it is just history from there. He became an integrated part of the X-Men group. But even then something was bugging Ethan, something he felt did not fit. He just couldn't place it.

—--------------------

"Lost him." Logan chuckled out as he walked into the X-Men situation room that was under the main mansion. He got an immediate glare from Scott who was talking- or more likely from the yelling he heard- arguing with Jean, Charles, and his older brother Alexander.

"Who?" Scott demanded still acting like he was the leader of the team. But he had already been suspended from X-Men activities for the time being.

Fortunately for him, this was clearly a fire and Logan liked nothing more than stoking the flames. "Jean's new booty call. I followed him to the Triskelion. Then followed when he left, but I switched to the other group that was tailing him. Imagine my surprise when he loses both of us."

"Booty call!?!" Scott yelled loudly causing Logan to flinch with his enhanced hearing. But it makes sense that that was what caught his attention more than anything else. Jealousy is the guy's claim to fame.

Jean rolled her eyes in response. "Who I sleep with is none of your concern. What you should be concerned about is your own position here in the school."

Well that got real quickly. Logan must have walked in on one of Charles' infamous ultimatums.

"But Jean-"

"But nothing." She quickly interrupted what no doubt would have been one of Scott's classic guilt tripping lines. She was usually vulnerable to those even the surprise was evident on Scott's face. "You either stop with your anti-human ideas and promotion or there won't be a need for you here any longer."

The expression on his face changed several times before stopping on a determined look. "Jean, you have changed. Why can't you see what I am trying to do for us?"

"Because there is no 'us'. I dumped your ass and I am starting to feel that was the best choice I could have ever made. You have attached yourself to me like a lost puppy since day one. But now that I have cut you off, you have gone off the rails. You clearly need to reevaluate yourself." Jean snapped instantly, lashing out. Causing even Charles to flinch in surprise.

"Jean… is right. You are clearly lashing out. It might be a good idea for you to take a leave of absence before the first semester starts. We have enough teachers that a few can take over for the clubs and classes you are in charge of." Charles explained as he repositioned himself.

"Do you think so too Alex?" Scott turned to his older brother. Who flinched in response but nodded.

"I agree, it might be a good idea to go on vacation for a while. I actually know just the place. Our parents used to have a place in Hawaii. It should be enough for you to relax and cool down." Alexander answered as he switched his footing to show his discomfort.

Scott's face turned red in anger. Logan could feel a fight was about to break out. But before he could do anything the door opened and Ororo came running in.

"Professor, we have a problem!" She was holding a tablet in her hands. "The New York police just revealed that there has been a drastic increase in child kidnappings that coincide with the rise in the number of mutants!"

"That is dangerous speculation. The paranoid will assume the mutants are responsible. Hydra will encourage this idea since it gives them cover while they stay clear. Then the anti-mutant factions will try to get their Sentinels and other weapons passed as well as anti-mutant laws. I can only see this going bad if we don't do something to get in front of this." Professor X explained as he quickly rolled out of the room.

"Then this is a good reason for me to-"

"Leave Scott, we have this covered." The Professor called back as he rolled out of the room. Leaving an interrupted Scott in a state of anger.

The others each gave him a different look before leaving the room. Logan was smug. Ororo looked at him with pity. Alexander had a sad expression. While Jean looked resolute.