The research wing echoed with the soft hum of machinery as my team and I continued our systematic dissection of Wolverine's X-Gene. Logan's biology had been a goldmine—decades of battles meant decades of biological tissue left behind, and we had collected all of it. Skin, blood, fragments, even bits of bone that had snapped off during fights and never dissolved. Every piece held the key to one of the most versatile and durable X-Genes in existence.
Orochimaru was practically vibrating with excitement as we advanced the project. He may have been a serpent, a monster, and a genius with a questionable moral compass—but in biology, he was unmatched. I respected talent when I saw it, and in the realm of gene manipulation, Orochimaru was indispensable.
Our lab had already separated Logan's X-Gene into individual components:
Regenerative Healing Factor — the most valuable one. A weakened version could turn an ordinary soldier into a near-immortal combat asset.Enhanced Senses — not too difficult to copy, surprisingly.Superhuman Physiology — strength, agility, stamina; all scalable.Psychic Resistance — this one was fascinating. Logan's mind was naturally fortified even without training.Weather Adaptation, Animal Empathy, and even a gene pathway that suggested the body instinctively optimized itself under stress.
The adamantium components, however… that was where everything became complicated.
Wolverine's claws and skeleton weren't truly "mutant abilities." His healing factor simply allowed him to survive the adamantium bonding process. There was no X-Gene for metal claws. It was all surgery, experimentation, and a horrific procedure no ordinary human could survive.
Good thing we had samples of Weapon X notes, and better methods.
Still, we decided:No adamantium bonding unless absolutely necessary.Even for our top operatives.Even for the O5.
Not only was it a logistical nightmare, but it created a paper trail we didn't need.
What we did extract from the Weapon X residue was Logan's bone-claw development pathway—the gene responsible for manifesting natural bone blades. That we could replicate. If the Council ever wanted claws.
Though honestly… none of us did. We had far better options.
I leaned back in my chair while reviewing the compiled list of Logan-derived serums.
"Almost too easy," Julius remarked as he read the same holographic screen. The faint glow of his newly-acquired Isshiki eye reflected off the datapad. "His regeneration gene alone is worth an army. The others? Pure bonuses."
"He was one of the most durable mutants in existence," I replied. "Of course his genes would be useful."
Julius smirked.
"Do we plan to give the regeneration serum to any operatives outside the top ranks?"
"No," I said instantly. "Only people the O5 trust one hundred percent. And only after heavy psychological screening."
"And for ourselves?" he asked.
"That's what we're deciding," I said, tapping my screen. "Regeneration is powerful, but it's not enough on its own. The real prize will be Apocalypse's X-Gene set. That's where true potential lies."
Julius nodded silently, the Isshiki eye narrowing.
He knew I was right.
Logan was a foundation.
Apocalypse was evolution.
And as the Administrator...
It was my job to decide how far the Foundation would evolve.