Somewhere down south at a mini-mart, a report on the radio states that the country mourns as Senator Drexel Walsh was laid to rest today. President Bush, who spoke at the funeral, called Walsh one of America’s true patriots, one that the country will sorely miss. In related news, the massive manhunt for the man caught on tape murdering Walsh, a man now rumored to be the outlaw mutant known as Wolverine continues. Now two weeks into the manhunt, which is said to encompass the entire country and even parts of Canada, it appears that authorities are no closer to finding the elusive murderer.
Inside the mini-mart itself, the owner of the shop says to the customer that it’s a shame what happened to that senator fella. When the customer agrees that it’s terrible, the owner says no doubt about it; when they find that mutie scum, they oughta set him on fire. Wearing a Yankees hat, a clean-shaven Logan pays the man for the groceries and says “at the very least.”
Walking over to the nearby motel, Logan calls the shop-keep an idiot. It’s ‘cause a’ people like him that he can’t possibly get a fair shake with this murder rap. They won’t even entertain the notion that he might be innocent. ‘Course, he don’t even know if he’s innocent himself. Knocking on the motel door, Logan tells the man inside to open up, it’s him. Opening the door “Harrison Ford” remarks that he’s not the one-armed man. Pushing past him, Logan tells Hank to stop with all the nonsense. They’re tryin’ t’ look inconspicuous there. With only one image-inducer to go around, he had to cut his hair and grow the soup-saver (beard and moustache). But it’s all fer nothin’ if he’s walking around with Han-freakin’ Solo.
As he looks into the mirror, Logan recalls that they left right away when he found out he had t’ take it on the lam. Beast was with him at the time, otherwise, he woulda never involved one o’ the X-Men in this mess. He’s been trained fer this sorta’ thing, disappearin’ like ya never existed, but McCoy hasn’t. An’ now he’s gotta babysit him, as if he ain’t got enough problems already. Changing back to his original look, Hank tells Logan to “excuuuuse” him. He was merely attempting to add some levity to their situation.
Logan informs him that there ain’t much room fer levity, he’s accused a’ murder. The worst part is he doesn’t even know if he did it. Hell, he even dreamt about killin’ the guy, so is it a freakin’ coincidence he shows up dead? He’s dreamt about killin’ a lot a’ folk in his day, does that mean that he gutted them too? His guess, it’s some kind a’ residual programmin’ from when he was Apocalypse’s Horseman, something that made him do it without even realizin’. An’ if that’s the case, he doesn’t know what he’s capable of.
Hank responds by telling him to listen to him. He’s fought beside him as his teammate for a number of years now and he’s even seen him kill in the heat of battle. And he repeats, in the heat of battle. He’s fully aware what he’s capable of, whether he agrees with it or not. But this is something completely different altogether, this is cold-blooded murder. He can try to convince him all he wants, he can even try to convince himself but he will never believe that a man that he’s been proud to call his friend and teammate is capable of that. Logan tells him that he hopes he’s right. Hank tells him that he is and then changes his disguise to that of O.J. Simpson and asks if this one is better. To this, Logan replies that he gives up.
In one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s many secret headquarters, this one in a deli, Colonel Nick Fury barges into Sharon Carter’s office and asks her what the hell the meanin’ of this is. Sharon tells him hello to him and reminds him that’s Director Carter, if he pleases. Blowing his cigar smoke in her face, Fury asks her if she wants to tell him why he ain’t the one heading up Wolverine’s manhunt now that S.H.I.E.L.D.’s been called in on this. Sharon informs him that it wasn’t her decision, it came from the president himself. The top brass feel there may be a conflict of interests there with him having a prior relationship with Logan.
Fury angrily tells her that’s bull and she knows it. Entering Sharon’s office, a voice tells Fury that it looks like somebody thinks otherwise. Sharon introduces the man as special agent Brent Jackson; he’s the man heading up the operation. Fury replies that he knows who he is. Jackson tells Fury that he’s sorry it had to go down this way; it’s just that the department felt they needed some, how should he put this, young blood on this one. Getting in his face, Fury angrily tells him that he made S.H.I.E.L.D. and he’ll be damned if he lets some snot-nosed punk recruit like him come along and do a victory dance over his body.
Smiling, Jackson tells Fury that’s he’s through, he even knows it himself, that’s why he stepped down as director. He, Jackson, is just helping him out the door, that’s all. Getting between them, Sharon tells them both that’s enough and informs Fury that Jackson is heading up the operation and that’s final. Turning her attention to Jackson, she tells him that he will give Colonel Fury the respect he’s earned. Are they clear? Jackson tells her crystal. In fact, he even thinks a man of Colonel Fury’s experience could still be of some use on this mission. Taking a seat, Sharon gives Jackson a word of advice, he’s pushing the wrong man – big time.
As Fury storms off, Dum Dum Dugan tells him that he just heard and he feels terrible. Fury informs him that he ain’t licked yet, not by a long shot. He wasn’t S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director all them years without a trick or two up his sleeve. Dugan asks him that he ain’t gonna do nothin’ rash, is he? Fury states that he doesn’t have any choice, he knows Jackson. Smug punk is one of them guys that would shoot his own mother if it meant making a name for himself. Plus, with mutant hysteria they way it is, an’ this being a senator an’ all, they ain’t lookin’ to bring Logan in, they’re looking to kill him.
Dugan responds that he’s probably right and asks him what he’s gonna do. Fury tells him he already did it, he called in the Shiver Man. Dugan asks the Shiver Man, the bounty hunter he worked with a couple of years back? Fury tells him yeah, he went outside the agency on this one. He had to if he wanted Logan brought in to him instead of Jackson and his gung ho cronies. Dugan asks him if it’s true what they say about him, that he ain’t alive. Fury says that he doesn’t know what he is. He’s heard everything from he’s a man who’s condemned to forever walk the earth to he’s the guy who whacked Hoffa. All he knows is that he ain’t human, and that he gives ya shivers down yer spine when ya meet him, they sure didn’t give him the name fer nothin’. But he’s the best damn tracker he’s ever met, he’s got some kind a’ uncanny knack fer it. If anybody can find Wolverine, it’s him. The only problem he can see is, Shiv’s got this whole thing about punishing the guilty an’ if thinks Logan is, it will get ugly. Let’s just hope his hunch about Logan being innocent is on the money for everybody’s sake.
Elsewhere, at that moment, a shadowy figure with glowing eyes and wearing a hat appears out of nowhere and enters a diner. Pulling out a photograph of Logan, the Shiver Man asks one of the waitresses if she’s seen him. At first, the waitress gasps. Apologizing, she tells him that he startled her. She then tells him that she has not.
From across the diner, one of a group of guys calls out look at what plum just walked in, it’s that Count Dracula fella. He then calls out to Drac that they seen the man in the photograph. He was with the Wolfman and his mama last night. The waitress tells the Shiver Man to pay them no mind and calls out to the guy, Red, shame on him. Can’t they see he’s a burn victim? Red calls out to Flo to shut her pie-hole, it’s not his fault he’s a danged freak. As another waitress walks by the table, Red smacks her on the derriere which causes her to drop the tray she was carrying.
Making his way over to the table, Shiver orders Red to apologize to the waitress. Red proceeds to yell at him and asks him what if he don’t, maybe it’s high time he got up from his seat and kicked his sorry excuse for an ass. Taking a swing at him, Red’s fist passes clear through him much to his surprise. As the Shiver Man phases his hand through Red’s wrist, Red screams in pain as his hand has been severed off. When Red’s buddy sees what has happened, they get up to avenge their buddy’s injury. They stop in their tracks, however, when the Shiver Man produces two handguns.
The Shiver Man tells them enough and shows the men the photograph. Red tells him that they were just joshin’ him, he reckons they did see him, or at least somebody with chin whiskers that looked like him a couple a’ towns over, they swear. With that information, the Shiver Man floats out the door and thanks them for their cooperation.
(elsewhere)
Logan realizes that he needs t’ get to the bottom of this whole mess but when you’re public enemy number one, it kinda hampers things. So, though he’s got contacts all over the world from his spy days, Maverick, his old Team X pal, is about the only man right now that he can trust to get the job done.
Calling him on a pay-phone, Logan asks him what he’s got. Looking at a computer, Maverick tells him bad news first, he sure picked the wrong guy to kill. This senator of his was a real player with the political fat cats. There’s even talk they were grooming him for a run at the presidency one day. Now the good news, it appears like most politicians this guy had a few skeletons in his closet. According to the files he’s gathered, there’s a whole period of his life that’s sealed, denied access, need-to-know basis kind of stuff. Whatever it is, nobody’s talking.
Logan tells him that he needs him to get him that information, it might just be the key to figuring this whole thing out. Maverick asks him what he thinks he’s been doing. It’s not like he can check this stuff out at a library. Oh, one more thing, they’ve called in the big dogs – S.H.I.E.L.D. – and the word is Fury’s out and some new jack with stars in his eyes is running…
Just then, a loud crash is heard. When Logan asks Maverick what that was, Maverick informs him that it was a security guard and that he’s gotta go. He’ll be in touch. Hanging up the phone, Logan figures they’d call in S.H.I.E.L.D. but at least with Fury, he would’ve gotten a square deal. Now he doesn’t know what he’s getting.
Just then, the phone rings. Picking it up, Logan asks if it’s Maverick or Fury. The answer comes as “no” on both accounts. The voice then tells him to look into his past. The answers he seeks can be found there. When Logan asks who it is, the voice tells him a friend and immediately hangs up. Once Logan hangs up the phone, Hank asks him who it was. Logan tells him he has no idea. He mentions “look into your past” and says that whoever it was, was tryin’ t’ help him, he could’ve done a better job. When it comes t’ his past, even he doesn’t know where t’ start.
Before Logan can say something else, the phone is shot out of his hand. Standing before him, the Shiver Man calls him a fugitive and tells him that he will come quietly. After seeing him, Logan pops his claws and thinks to himself that he must be a freakin’ bounty hunter and wonders how he snuck up on them like that. Logan then realizes how, mystery man’s got no scent, no heartbeat – that’s how. Swiping his claws at him, Logan is shocked when his claws phase right through him like he was thin air. The Shiver Man then phases through him, which causes Logan to fall to the ground injured.
Just then, the Beast leaps into action and grabs the bounty hunter from behind. With relative ease, the Shiver Man tosses Beast to the ground and opens fire on him with flaming bullets. Dodging the bullets, Beast asks him where he got his gun with the flaming bullets, does Sears carry it now? Logan uses the advantage to try and get the drop on the Shiver Man but it is to no avail as he quickly turns around and shoots him twice with flaming bullets. The Beast rushes over and tries to punch the Shiver Man but his fists go right through him as he fades into the ground.
Helping up Logan, Hank asks him if he’s okay. Even though the bullets are burnin’ him up on the inside, Logan replies that he’s fine and asks where their attacker went. Hand tells him that he phased into the ground and vanished. Behind them, the Shiver Man reappears and opens up fire on them. Attempting to dodge the gunfire, Logan tells Hank that it’s time fer plan B. Hank replies that he wasn’t sure there was a plan A. Logan informs him that it’s gonna require him to “take one fer the team” though, if he knows what he’s sayin’. Hank says that he believes he sees where he’s going with this and to never let it be said that Edna McCoy’s favorite son wasn’t a team player. Or as the immortal Casey Stengel used to put it – Geronimo!
With that, Hank turns and leaps towards the Shiver Man. The Shiver Man reacts by shooting Hank and grabbing hold of him. Leaping towards them, Logan thinks that’s the advantage of fightin’ against someone with one a’ yer teammates, Hank knows exactly what t’ do without him even sayin’ a word. He sacrifices his own body an spooky there has to make his arm partly tangible if he’s gonna get a hold of him. When he does, Logan slashes his arm off. Looking down at his severed arm, the Shiver Man goes “hmmm.” Preparing for another battle, Logan tells him that’s just piece number one. He figures he has another twenty or so good ones left in him if he wants to keep this up.
Hank responds that it’s fascinating, there’s not a single drop of blood. Calmly reaching down to pick up his arm, the Shiver Man says “most unexpected” and that he will return. With that, he fades away. Once he has left, Hank asks Logan what in the name of Wes Craven they just fought. Logan informs him that the jig is up – they got some movin’ t’ do.
Back at the motel room, they discover that it has been destroyed. Logan remarks that it looks like they’re too late. Hank says apparently, they tore the room apart looking for information on their whereabouts – their tall, dark and bloodless friend, perhaps? Sniffing the air, Logan says nah. He’s pickin’ up a few scents. There were a few a’ them but long gone by now. Smells like “government” t’ him, he’s guessin’ S.H.I.E.L.D.. Hank replies that he would be remiss if he didn’t ask, but what pray tell does “government” smell like. Logan tells him that he doesn’t know, musty he guesses. It’s hard t’ explain if ya ain’t got the nose fer it.
Entering the room, the owner of the motel asks them what in Sam Hill they did to his motel. Hank says that it appears that they were the victims of a robbery. The motel owner tells them that he came there to give him a letter and he finds this? Reaching for letter, Logan reads it as “Jackson and Co. got there before I could. Meet me at the senator’s mansion and I’ll fill you in – Nick.” Hank proceeds to ask Logan how he knows it’s from Fury, it could very well be a trap. Smelling the letter, Logan tells him that it’s on the level, it’s got Fury’s scent on it. He then tells Hank to gather what’s left of his things, looks like they’re headin’ back t’ the scene a’ the crime.
Entering the senator’s mansion, Hank asks Logan if any of this seems familiar to him. Logan tells him that he’s tryin’ t’ see if anythin’ clicks but he just can’t tell. Certainly looks like his handiwork though. Hank interjects or the work of someone who wants it to appear like it’s him. Walking over to where the senator got killed, Logan says that if he’s guilty a’ this… Hank tells him that it’s only natural to have doubts after continually witnessing scenes of murder on TV but they both know this could very well be the work of a shapeshifter or someone using an image inducer.
At that moment, Fury arrives and asks who’d ever want to copy that ugly mug. Shaking his hand, Logan tells him that he hates t’ admit it, but he ain’t never been happier t’ see him. Fury tells him same here, he’s just glad he caught up to him before Jackson and his goons did. But he heard what the Beast said and he should listen to him. From what he’s been able to gather so far, it’s all some big elaborate set-up. Logan tells him that if that’s true, if he has been set up, then tell him why, not t’ mention who. Fury informs him that he don’t know yet, but he will, he guarantees him that. Now, let’s get the blazes outta there and start to peel some of the layers off this onion.
As Fury leads them out the door, Logan tells him sure thing and proceeds to slice off Fury’s head. Enraged, Hank grabs hold of him and asks him if he’s gone mad. Logan tells him to get his hands off him; he knows what he’s doing’. Looking down, Hank remarks that Fury was a robot until Logan corrects him. It’s a life model decoy or LMD, the kind S.H.I.E.L.D. likes t’ use. Looks like they faked Fury’s scent on the note, a good fake in order t’ fool his senses, but a fake nonetheless. In person though, the LMD smelt wrong, too artificial an’ he was able t’ pick it up.
Hank points out that it appears the rats have fallen for the obligatory bit of cheese. Logan agrees and says that they better get outta there before the cats show up if they ain’t here already. When the lights come on, Brent Jackson is there with a number of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents surrounding Logan and Beast. Jackson tells them meow boys to which Beast replies, “Oh my stars and garters.”
