A Long Shot #15

Nathan sat in the dimly lit living room of one of the townhouses, his body sinking into the worn leather couch. Across his lap lay the unsheathed Muramasa blade, its crimson hue casting a faint, eerie glow. The blade's metal, forged from a mysterious alloy, seemed alive in his hands, pulsating with a quiet menace. It was an artifact of unparalleled lethality, capable of cutting through anything, even its own sheath had to be made of the same rare material.

Nathan raised the blade, holding it with both hands. As he did, the room's quiet was broken by a soft, insidious whisper, voices slithering into his mind. They urged, begged him to wield the blade, to let it taste blood. His frown deepened as he muttered under his breath, "Some tool you are. Be quiet."

With a deliberate motion, he sheathed the blade, silencing the voices for now, and set it beside him. The moment was interrupted by the creak of the door as Silvija entered, followed closely by Wolverine and Archangel. The two X-Men exuded a quiet intensity, their gazes briefly lingering on the Muramasa blade before meeting Nathan's eyes.

Nathan leaned forward, his tone casual but laced with genuine concern. "You got cut pretty bad, Logan. How're you holding up?"

Wolverine's sharp gaze flicked to the blade before returning to Nathan. "I'm doin' just fine," he replied, his voice rough yet steady. "The Muramasa can mess me up, stop my healing factor, make the wounds worse..." He paused, a grim smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "But I just gotta cut away the bad parts and let the healing take over."

Nathan nodded, absorbing the explanation as he gestured for them to sit. "Makes sense," he said, the words simple but understanding.

Archangel, who had been standing with his arms crossed, finally spoke, his voice carrying a note of impatience. "Surely, you didn't call us here just to check on Logan's condition."

Nathan's eyes met Archangel's, a flicker of amusement dancing in his gaze. "No, I didn't," he admitted, leaning back into the couch. "But it's good to know Logan's holding up because what I've got to say next... well, it involves all of us, and it's not exactly a walk in the park."

Logan's frown deepened, the weight of the situation etched into the lines of his face. "There's no use beatin' around the bush, bub," he said, his voice a low growl. His eyes narrowed, piercing and unwavering. "Just tell us what you need."

Nathan shifted his gaze to Silvija, who merely offered a nonchalant shrug, her expression unreadable. Turning back to Wolverine, Nathan spoke with a measured calm, "I need you to tell me where the Foreigner is hiding and where he's keeping the kid."

Archangel's wings rustled slightly as he crossed his arms, a frown settling on his face. Before he could voice his objection, Wolverine interjected, his tone sharp and suspicious. "And what makes you think we know any of that?"

Nathan exhaled, a sigh that carried the weight of the conversation. "There's no need to play coy," he said, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I know for a fact that you two know more than you're letting on." His gaze hardened as he continued, "I get it. I really do. We probably look like nothing more than mercenaries to you. And you're worried that we'll put the kid at risk by doing something reckless."

The room's tension thickened as Nathan's words hung in the air, their gravity sinking into the minds of those present. His eyes narrowed, the intensity of his resolve crystal clear. "But here's the thing," he added, his voice dropping to a lower, more deliberate tone. "You're free to throw your life away if that's what you want. But the Muramasa blade is in my hands, and I'm not just gonna hand it over to the Foreigner without any guarantees."

Logan's eyes turned cold, a frigid steel as he locked gazes with Nathan. "Your point bein'?" he asked, his voice devoid of emotion but laden with challenge.

Nathan met Logan's gaze with a blank, unwavering expression. "I have no interest in causing the death of a child," he said, his voice steady but firm. "It's the last thing I want. But we have no guarantees that the Foreigner will keep his word." He shook his head, his frustration palpable. "No guarantees that he won't kill the kid or vanish once he has what he wants. And that's assuming he even plans to leave at all."

Nathan's voice hardened, a sharp edge to his words. "With the Muramasa in his hands and your feathery friend away from camp, what's to stop him from launching another missile at us? Once we're out of the picture, he'll find a way to get your head, assuming you even survive the exchange."

Wolverine grinned, his expression feral as Nathan's words hung in the air. "Those are a lot of what-ifs, bub," he said, his voice a low, gravelly challenge. Slowly, he rose to his feet, the sinews in his arms tensing as his claws unsheathed with a menacing snikt. "But I'll give you one better... What if I take the Muramasa from you by force? What if I take it to the Foreigner, rip him to shreds, and get the kid out of here myself?"

Nathan remained seated, his demeanor as composed as a lake's surface before a storm. He chuckled, the sound calm yet edged with tension. "You can certainly try," he said, his tone light but laced with an underlying threat.

As if on cue, red dots of laser sights danced across Wolverine's and Archangel's bodies, flickering points of deadly precision. Each one marked a vital spot, a silent promise of violence waiting to erupt.

Nathan gestured towards the windows, his voice steady as he explained, "Those are Silvija's boys out there, pointing a dozen or so sniper and assault rifles at you and your friend."

Wolverine's grin widened, his lips peeling back to reveal teeth in a display of primal defiance. "And is that supposed to scare me?" he asked, his tone mocking as if daring the snipers to take their best shot.

Nathan raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he responded, "God forbid that a few incendiary rounds scare the big bad Wolverine." His tone shifted abruptly, the mockery falling away to reveal a chilling calm. "No, they're not meant to scare you," he continued, his gaze locked on Wolverine's. "They're meant to cause you a world of pain and keep you distracted just long enough for me to send your head flying with the Muramasa."

The room was thick with tension, each word Nathan spoke slicing through the air like the edge of the blade resting beside him. His expression was unreadable, a mask of cold calculation that hinted at his readiness to follow through. Wolverine's claws remained extended, but his eyes narrowed, scanning Nathan for any sign of bluffing. Archangel shifted slightly, his wings taut, prepared for anything.

Still, Wolverine wasn't convinced. He fixed Nathan with a glare, his voice a low growl. "And you're sure you can even touch that blade before I get to you?"

Nathan scoffed, leaning back slightly, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Maybe I can, maybe I can't... You'll have to find that out for yourself."

Wolverine's eyes narrowed, the tension crackling between them like static. But after a beat, he retracted his claws with a reluctant snikt and sank back into his seat. "Alright," he said gruffly, his tone edged with skepticism. "I'll hear you out, but we ain't saying nothing unless you've got a solid plan."

Nathan's smile widened, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "I knew you'd come around to reason," he said smoothly. His gaze shifted to Silvija, his tone more businesslike as he asked, "Did you bring a map of the island?"

Silvija nodded, pulling a rolled map from her jacket. She spread it across the table, the paper crackling as it unfurled, revealing the island's detailed topography.

Nathan leaned forward, his eyes scanning the layout with a focused intensity. "Right," he began, tracing a finger along the map. "Assuming the Foreigner hasn't already contacted you in secret..." He let the sentence hang in the air, his gaze flicking to Wolverine and Archangel, studying their reactions.

When neither betrayed any hint of deception, Nathan continued, "...he should send one of his men soon to tell us where he wants the exchange to take place." His finger trailed north, pausing over a stretch of beach on the map. He tapped it decisively. "It'll most likely be here."

Archangel and Wolverine exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them before Archangel finally spoke. "And what makes you so sure about that?" His tone was skeptical, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity.

Nathan remained calm, gesturing toward the map with an air of certainty. "Because it's an open area," he explained, tracing the beach with his finger. "Water on one side, trees on the other... no vantage points or potential sniper nests anywhere near the area..."

He turned his gaze to Archangel, his voice measured but firm. "Assuming the Foreigner doesn't want his brains—or the brains of whoever he sends—blown out by a sniper rifle, then this is the only place that makes sense. It gives him the best chance to escape clean if things go south."

He paused, his brow furrowing in thought. "Sure, there are the cliffs on the southeastern side, but he'll be a cornered rat once he hands over the kid... No way out if things turn bad. The beach, on the other hand, gives him options. A clean getaway."

Wolverine nodded slowly, his expression contemplative. "Alright," he said after a moment, his voice a low rumble. "And? What's your brilliant plan, then?"

Nathan shrugged lightly, though his eyes were sharp with intent. "We've got two ways we can play this," he began, his tone casual but laced with underlying tension. "First, we gather everyone and hit the Foreigner's hideout head-on. Raid it, now or never."

Archangel raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly forward. "And the problem with that?"

"The problem," Nathan continued, "is he'll see us coming from a mile away. He's not an idiot. And when he does, there's no telling what he'll do to the kid. It's too risky." He shook his head, dismissing the thought with a flick of his hand. "No, the second way is the only way. We split into three groups and take him by surprise."

Nathan paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, ensuring everyone was following his plan. The weight of the moment settled in as he continued, "The first group will consist of Archangel and the majority of Silvija's men. The soldiers will stay here, creating a sense of normalcy and security for the Foreigner. We want him to believe we're keeping things predictable."

He turned his attention to Archangel, meeting his gaze directly. "As for you, you'll be our insurance in case the Foreigner tries another missile stunt. We can't afford to let him catch us off guard again."

Archangel nodded, his wings twitching slightly. "Alright. And the other two groups?"

Nathan shifted his focus to Silvija. "The second group will be you, Silvija, along with a select few of your best men. You'll slip out of town under the radar and raid the Foreigner's hideout. Let's face it—he's not showing up in person for the exchange. He'll send a stand-in, likely another mercenary disguised as him."

He paused, his fingers tracing over the map as he gathered his thoughts. "We also don't know if he has other hostages, so we need to be thorough. Every corner checked, every room cleared."

Wolverine rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he considered the plan. "So far, so good, bub. But that leaves just you and me."

Nathan smiled, a calculated glint in his eyes. "Exactly. We'll be at the exchange point. You'll be the bait, drawing them in, and I'll find a spot to hunker down with a sniper rifle. When the moment's right, I'll take out whoever's handling the kid. The rest will be up to you."

Wolverine's frown deepened. "You just said there's no vantage point near the beach. How exactly are you planning on pulling that off?"

Nathan shrugged, giving him a blank look. "I said there's no vantage point in sight. I just have to be out of sight." His tone was calm, radiating the kind of confidence born from careful planning and a few tricks up his sleeve.

Archangel and Wolverine exchanged puzzled glances, their brows furrowing as they tried to grasp Nathan's cryptic plan. Silvija, however, took a step closer to the map, her eyes narrowing with concern.

Her fingers traced the outline of the beach and the surrounding terrain. "You can't take a shot from here, no matter how far back you go. The trees will block your line of sight," she muttered, her mind racing through the possibilities.

She paused, her gaze snapping to Nathan with a look of alarm. "You're planning to take the shot from the water?"

Nathan nodded calmly, the weight of the risk seemingly unfazed him. "I just need a small boat and a reliable sniper rifle. I'll get it done."

Silvija's frown deepened as she leaned over the map, calculating the logistics. "No matter how small a boat you use, you'll have to be at least two miles away from the shore to avoid being spotted," she pointed out, her tone incredulous. "And even then, the waves… You'll never have a steady shot. The record for the longest confirmed sniper kill is 2,964 yards, and that's on solid ground. What you're suggesting is—"

"Impossible?" Nathan interrupted with a wry smile. "That's the thing about official records, Silvija—they don't account for non-official kills. Things that never make it into the public eye." He leaned back slightly, a glint of confidence in his eyes. "It's been done before, and it can be done again."

Silvija shook her head, clearly uneasy but not entirely dismissive. "Even if you've seen it done, it doesn't mean it's a good idea."

Nathan gave Silvija a blank look. "I didn't see it done. I got it done." He stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "I know it's risky, But this is our best shot—literally and figuratively. I need to be somewhere the Foreigner won't expect. From the water, I can take him by surprise. It's the only way to ensure the kid's safety without tipping our hand."

Wolverine folded his arms, his gaze shifting between Nathan and Silvija. "Sounds like a long shot," he muttered. "But I've heard crazier plans work... tell'em what you know, Warren."

...

I'm motivated by praise and interaction, so be sure to leave a like, power stone, or whatever kind of shendig this site uses, and more importantly do share you thoughts on the chapter in the comment section!

Want more chapters? Then consider subscribing to my pat rēon. You can read ahead for as little as $1 and it helps me a lot!

-> (pat rēon..com / wicked132)

You can also always come and say hi on my discord server

-> (disc ord..gg / sEtqmRs5y7)- or hit me up at - Wicked132#5511 - and I'll add you myself)