OTHER SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

X3, with added Cyclops, Nightcrawler, and Gambit.

POSTED BY: CYBERSNARK
UPDATED: Monday, October 16, 2006 16:32
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 1852
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Tuesday, October 10, 2006 11:13 AM

CYBERSNARK


I started doing this way back when X3 came out, and the DVD reminded me to finish it and post it. As threatened: my fanfic doctoring of X3 as it could've been.

***

-Flashback: Charles Xavier and Eric Lensherr arrive to personally recruit a young Jean Grey. As she demonstrates her powers, Eric looks pleased, but Charles is troubled by the aloof distance in the girl.

-Flashback: Warren Worthington II finds his son in the bathroom, taking a kitchen knife to his back. Worthington consoles the boy, but can't bring himself to touch the "deformity."

-Danger Room training (Kitty, Bobby, Rogue, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Gambit). Kitty, Iceman, and Gambit are under fire, and Kitty saves Bobby from the missile attack. Rogue witnesses, as her group (with Nightcrawler and Colossus) arrives. Rogue apologizes for the delay; they got lost and ended up chasing Kurt's tail. Kurt quips that, with a tail like his, who can blame them. Kitty agrees; something that pathetic, you just wanna put it out of its misery. The Sentinel catches up and they scatter, then Wolverine and Colossus take out the Sentinel. As everyone gets to their feet, Kurt offers Kitty a hand, but she ignores him. Wolverine and Storm bump heads over training styles; Logan is a loner, but Storm is trying to train the whole team --it doesn't work if Logan always makes the kill. He shrugs it off, noting that he wouldn't need to if these kids could actually do the job.

-Ororo meets up with Xavier, complaining about Logan. Xavier reassures her that Logan means well, but Ororo notes that he's no leader. Xavier makes his pitch to her, giving her responsibility for the school if anything should happen to him. She asks about Scott, and Xavier reminds her of how Scott's changed. He's become unreliable and brutal by turns. Ororo realizes the the wounds are still fresh for him. He blames himself for what happened to Jean.

-In his room, Scott is tossing and turning, in the throes of a nightmare: Jean, trapped behind glass, burning away, but he can't save her.

-Later, Logan finds Scott heading for the garage. They have their confrontation; Scott's slacking off, and Logan's pissed about having to pick up the slack. Scott tries to brush him off (suffering from a migraine). Their conversation is confused and stilted; Scott can't concentrate. Logan tells him to get his act together; Jean wouldn't want-- Scott loses it, yelling at Logan not to tell him what Jean would want. Scott's leaving. Logan asks when he'll be back, but Scott says he might not be. Logan tries to say something else, but Scott warns that not everybody heals as fast as Logan does.

-A very young Warren Worthington (wearing a long, thick coat to cover his wings) is on the observation deck atop the Empire State building. He looks dejected at all the tourists around him, then glances over the edge. A hawk streaks past below, and Warren is transfixed. His eyes follow it, hypnotized, and he starts to climb the safety fence. Strong hands pull him back --it's Storm, gently warning him not to play so close to the edge, then drifting away (she's just another tourist). He turns and watches the Hawk as it vanishes behind another building, then turns back to see that Storm has disappeared (as if she went over the edge. . .). Warren turns back to the fence, wanting --needing to try again, but an alarm sounds.

-Adult Warren snaps awake in his bed. A moment later, he's standing at a mirror, studying the wings he keeps folded to his back. He starts to spread them --gingerly; they're stiff and not used to moving-- but a knock stops him (the wings snap closed, reflexively flinching with shame). His father enters, asking how he is, promising that they might have made a breakthrough, something to help his condition.

-In Washington, Hank arrives at the Presidential briefing and learns of Worthington Labs' activities, and of Mystique's capture. He barely pays attention to the video feed from Mystique's interrogation, and completely ignores Trask's confidence that they can keep her contained. He's too caught up in reading the report on the "cure." On screen, Mystique stages her escape attempt, but is tranquilized.

-Scott arrives at Alkali lake. His migraines are getting worse, and he yells at the lake, blaming it for Jean's death, for his own helplessness. The migraine hardens further, like a spike driving into his brain. in rage, anguish, and pain, he rips off his visor and fires into the lake, flash-boiling a cloud of steam. After a moment, he regains his senses, reaffixing the visor, and sits weeping. From within the mist, he hears Jean's voice, saying his name. He looks up and she's there, her uniform tattered and soaked. He's stunned to find her alive, and rushes to embrace her, wondering if he's dreaming. She says his name again, then tells him to run away. He doesn't understand, and Jean looks terrified as her eyes grow dark. . .

-At the Mansion, the Professor is in mid-lecture when he pauses, sensing raw power being unleashed. He dismisses the class, then summons Storm and Wolverine, dispatching them to Alkali lake. Immediately!

-Mystique's mobile prison is attacked by Magneto. Pyro is with him, and they free Multiple Man and Juggernaught. A guard tries to shoot Magneto, but Mystique takes the dart instead. As she becomes human, she huddles into a ball, terrified and ashamed. Magneto orders the withdrawal, but Pyro wants to bring Mystique with them. Magneto explains to him (and to her), that he's not without compassion, but without her powers, she represents a drain on their resources. Right now, with their numbers so limited, they can't afford that. She should be able to escape to safety among the humans --among her kind-- until they can come back for her. He tells her not to worry; they'll find a way to restore her, to make her normal again. Mystique is still shivering and trembling at the monster she's been turned into.

-At Alkali lake, Storm and Wolverine find what resembles a battlefield. Storm notes the lingering humidity in the air; like something flash-boiled the lake. Most of the lake is actually in the air; water levels are a couple of feet below normal.

-At the Estate, Kurt and Piotr are playing videogames in their dorm room when Rogue pops in, wondering if either of them have seen Kitty. Kurt notes that she and Bobby were going into town to get lunch. Rogue tries to hide her stricken look, and stalks off, nearly colliding with Remy, who fumbles the stack of laundry he's carrying. They both crouch to pick things up, and Rogue apologizes. Remy shrugs; it's no problem, he's been called too quiet for his own good. She spots a pair of leopard-patterned briefs and reddens slightly (Gambit smirks mischeivously as he puts them back in the pile). He notes that she seems upset about something, and she dismisses it. It's not his business. He says that's no way to be. If there's anything wrong, he wants to help. As they work, his hand comes close to her glove, and she pulls away, warning him to be careful. He wonders what she's so afraid of, and reminds him of her power, and what happened to the last guy she. . . touched. Remy smiles charmingly, and tells her it'd be worth it. They actually start to lean in, when Piotr steps out of his room, spoiling the mood. Someone just pulled into the drive.

-When Piotr, Rogue, and Remy arrive at the landing (above the main hall), Kurt is already there, perched on the railing (he teleported outside and back in to meet them). It's Doctor McCoy. Kitty and Bobby arrive from another hallway (Xavier is coming behind them), and Kitty wonders what the Beast is doing back here. Charles takes her aside and warns her that Hank hates that nickname, and that she's not to use it within their earshot again. She's surprised at how stern he's being, and apologizes. Rogue tells Bobby that she thought he was going into town, and he reports that the Professor's not letting anyone off school ground. Kitty wonders if it has anything to do with Dr. McCoy being here.

-Logan and Storm are on foot, exploring the blasted lake shore. Storm notes that the rock's vitrified --melted into glass by extreme heat. Logan's the one who finds Scott. He's injured bad, covered in burns, but alive.

-Below, Hank and Xavier have already withdrawn to the Professor's study. Hank is already telling Xavier that a private company thinks they've found a "cure" for mutation. The Professor is floored, and wonders how such a thing is possible. Hank explains that Worthington Industries has found a young mutant, named Jimmy Claremont, who seems to have the ability to cancel out other mutant abilities. They created a vaccine from him that seems capable of suppressing the genetic X-factor. Hank is due to inspect their facility in San Francisco this afternoon. Xavier asks if there wasn't anything the DMA could have done to stop it, and Hank grows bitter; the DMA wasn't even notified until early this morning. Worthington's been playing this close to the vest, they say they're protecting their intellectual property rights, meaning that Hank's hands are tied. Xavier asks when this "cure" is to be made public, and Hank says they're announcing it now.

-Worthington is making his speech at Alcatraz, formally announcing the cure, and recommissioning Alcatraz as the central production facility. Soon, all mutants will be free of the social stigma brought about by their genetic condition. As the news report continues, we see its reaction across the continent, in homes, apartments, store-fronts, and bars. Reactions are varied and complex; some are horrified, others elated, still others seem stunned, waiting for news to sink in.

-Elsewhere, the Phoenix wanders the Grey household (she's found a change of clothes, so she's not in the old X-Men uniform). The place is abandoned (Jean's parents are out of town visiting relatives), and she drifts from room to room, gazing at the debris of a life. Part of her has never seen it, but another part remembers. . . Another time, another person. . . She looks lost and confused, hearing whispering voices --one of them is Jean, struggling to emerge from where the Phoenix has drowned her.

-Scott awakens as he's being brought aboard the Blackbird. He wants to go after her. Logan wonders who, and Scott tells them that Jean is alive. Storm thinks he's delirious, but he insists that he saw her. She's the one who did this. Wolverine reacts in shock, but Storm insists they get back to the mansion.

-Hank arrives at Worthington's Alcatraz facility, being welcomed by Dr. Rao. He's brought inside to Jimmy's room, and darkly notes the cell-like conditions. Jimmy doesn't mind --it's really all he knows. Hank asks if he wishes to get out, but Jimmy says no; it's too dangerous outside. He's safe in here. After getting a first-hand look at Jimmy's mutation-suppressing powers, Hank exits. Mr. Worthington arrived while he was inside, and greets Dr. McCoy, though he looks repulsed at shaking his hand. He offers to have Dr. Rao walk McCoy through the serum's creation, but McCoy waves it off, he read the report and understands the work quite well. Worthington seems impressed, and asks McCoy if he'd care to be treated while here, and Hank visibly reigns in his temper, explaining firstly that mutation is not a disease. Far from it, in fact, mutation, on a smaller scale, is the means by which disease is best fought, establishing the widest possible range of genetic diversity and ultimately enabling evolutionary advances. Secondly, McCoy is not here as a potential client, but as a government representative --one who should, as per Worthington labs' mandate and simple common sense, have been informed of their experimentation and of their effective incarceration of an American citizen! Worthington denies the term, noting that Mr. Claremont's presence is entirely voluntary, and that is being kept here for his own protection. He will be released when-- Hank interrupts: When it's safe? It will never be fully safe. The so-called "cure" has polarized mutant society, and humans hardly have a monopoly on lack of reason. Outcry against the project could only possibly cease when all mutantkind has been suppressed. That is where Worthington's plan is headed, isn't it? Logically? Worthington seems a bit non-plussed. He had been hoping that mutants would accept the gift he's offering, but-- Hank takes umbrage at the word "gift," but hauls himself under control. He can see that nothing else can be gained from this discussion, and apologizes for his uncharacteristic vitriol, it is unbefitting himself and his office. He turns and extends similar apologies to Dr. Rao, in flawless Cantonese, before striding out.

-As night falls, an army of mutants gather in an abandoned church to try and decide on a course of action. Above, Toad is clinging to the ceiling, watching the proceedings. One of the debaters is Callisto, leader of a gang called the Morlocks. Some don't see a problem; the cure is voluntary, they can just choose not to take it. Magneto makes his entrance, immediately taking control of the room. The others identify him as the mutant terrorist, and he defends himself, predicting what the cure's inevitable outcome will be: genocide. He has seen this before, and he sees that he is not the only one here who remembers the last Great War. A new one is brewing even now, on American soil. The question isn't how to respond to the "cure," it's whether or not they will respond, or will they simply accept their fate as the so-called cure inevitably becomes mandatory, and the Hunters come for them in the night? His words sway some of them, but the debate still continues. As he leaves, Callisto confronts him, and Toad arrives to back up his boss (Magneto is pleased to see him; he'd thought Toad was dead. Toad himself kinda thought so too, for a while). With Callisto come Psylocke, Arclight, and Kid Omega.

-Kitty is in her room, hugging her knees. Bobby pokes his head in to see if she's okay. She. . . She's not sure. He guesses she's heard the rumours, and she nods. If Ms. Grey did that to Scott. . . Bobby finishes the thought: where's she going next? He tells her not to worry, that the Professor can find her and find out whatever's wrong. Kitty's still worried; what could make Jean turn on Scott like that? Bobby shrugs. Maybe when she. . . Died, or whatever happened to her, something changed. Maybe she's not thinking clearly, or her mind's been taken over by an alien. Kitty laughs at the silliness of that idea, then gets serious again, and wonders if whatever happened to Jean could happen to any of them. Bobby promises that it won't. She wonders how he can know, and he says he won't let it. They're a team, all of them. As long as they stay together, they won't let anything happen to each other. He tells her to grab her skates, he knows what'll cheer her up.

-They sneak out to the fountain, and Bobby freezes it. From above, Rogue watches them skating. Her eyes are cold and hard, and she turns away.

-Raven Darkholme, wrapped in Magneto's now-tattered and dirty cloak, creeps timidly through a city street. She's petrified, flinching away from every shadow. Further down the street, a sign identifies the Westborough Community Homeless Shelter.

-Inside, a gentle-faced old woman looks up as Raven enters. She immediately bustles over, horrified at her condition. Raven flinches away, and the old woman pauses, gently reassuring her, telling her it doesn't matter what happened to her, she's safe here. Raven tries to warn that she's. . . (she can't finish the sentence; she doesn't know what she is now). The old woman gingerly leads her to another room, assuring her that she's safe here, she's among friends. They're all alike here.

-Rogue finds Gambit in the back hall, in the process of leaving. She asks what he thinks he's doing, and he says he's going out to catch a movie. It's too stuffy 'round here. She reminds him about the Professor's order about no one leaving the campus; the doors are locked, and the gate's closed. Gambit grins; there's always a way out if you look hard enough, cherie. What about her, is she up for takin' off? She wonders if he's scared of what's out there. He shrugs; it's not like he's gonna go lookin' for Mme. Grey, and it's not like he's ever done anything to make her single him out. Rogue argues that there's still a chance, and he waves it off. You spend your life afraid of what's out there, you'll never go anywhere. He extends a hand, inviting her to come with, the better to keep an eye out in case they do meet Grey.

-Below, in the infirmary, Scott has regained consciousness, though he's still on the hospital bed, badly burned. Storm, Logan, and the Professor are all there, having just heard Scott's report. Xavier was afraid of this, but he'd had no idea Jean was so powerful. Logan (lost in his own reverie) wonders how she could've survived. Even the Professor isn't sure. Maybe she evaporated the water before it hit, maybe she made herself superdense, maybe she just. . . reformed her body from the smashed pieces. Storm marvels that Jean could have done that, and the Professsor nods. Especially as she is now. Scott is focused on Xavier, wanting to know what he knows. Xavier explains about Jean's multiple personality disorder, stemming from a trauma in her youth, when her gift first manifested. Jean called it the Phoenix, and it is a being of raw power --all of Jean's power, but none of her control, her humanity. He had placed blocks in place to control it (Logan reacts to this, but Xavier goes on), to try to prevent it from overpowering Jean's own personality. He can only assume that the Phoenix consciousness somehow survived Jean's death. Scott wants to go after her: some part of Jean is still inside the Phoenix. Xavier warns that they can't know that, and Scott points out that it's the only possible reason why she didn't kill him. Xavier considers, and admits that Scott may have a point, but he's too heavily injured. They don't have me for him to heal --not everyone heals as fast as Logan. At his words, Scott and Logan share a glance; Logan wordlessly promising to protect Jean.

-Worthington and Dr. Rao prepare the private lab. Despite Dr. McCoy's arguments, demand for the cure is skyrocketting, and Worthington doesn't want to wait any longer. Attendants bring Warren in, but he's jittery. Worthington tries to calm him, but Warren's aversion only gets worse when he sees the bed and the restraints. Rao explains about the convulsions some patients go through as the cure rewrites their genome. Worthington writes off Warren's fear as simple anxiety, and forces the procedure despite Warren's complaints --he's being unreasonable, and Worthington is prepared to restrain him. This is for his own good, it's what he's wanted! No (Warren realizes it as he says it), "This is what you wanted." He snaps the restraints and shrugs off the guards, spreading his wings. As everyone is transfixed, Warren charges for the window and smashes his way to freedom --flying for the first time.

-Xavier, Logan, Storm, and Hank enter the Blackbird's hangar in mid-conversation. Xavier understands Storm's concerns, but if any part of Jean is still alive within the Phoenix, he might be the only one left able to reach her. Logan wonders what makes Chuck think Phoenix is gonna want anything to do with him? He's the one who's been repressing her all these years. Xavier understands, but doesn't feel he has a choice --that's just another reason why he has to be there to confront her. He stops then, taking a moment to apologize to Hank for dropping this on him, but Hank waves it off; he can handle congress, he should be able to handle a buildingful of rowdy teenagers. Shouldn't be that much of a stretch, actually. Xavier still feels it's unfair to pull Hank away from Washington at a time like this, and Hank gets serious, noting that it hardly matters; the DMA hasn't been consulted on anything. His presence is obviously extraneous to that world.

-Next morning, Kitty finds Rogue in the kitchen, nursing a hangover. Kitty notes that the Professor doesn't even let Logan bring drinks on campus, and wonders where Rogue got drunk. Rogue gestures vaguely, slurring that Remy knows a guy who knows a. . . bar. Kitty tries to help, warning that they've gotta get Rogue back to her room before the Beast finds out she's been-- Rogue interrupts, reminding her how much Dr. McCoy hates that name. It's an insult, reminds him how much his mutation sucks. He's sensetive 'bout it. 'Course, not like Rogue'd expect Kitty to get that. Not lil' miss party-girl. Kitty wonders what Rogue's talking about, and Rogue asks if she had fun last night with Bobby. Kitty Suddenly gets it, and denies it (they just went skating), getting defensive as she does. She didn't realize He and Rogue were-- Rogue snaps at her, wondering just how stupid she is? She knows Kitty's heard them talkin' 'bout it. 'Bout poor Rogue, can't even kiss a boy without nearly killin' him. Maybe Kitty just don't care. Nah, why should she? No problems for her, no baggage. Anything gets on her, she just drifts right through it. Water off her back, or through her back, or --whatever (Rogue's brain is still fuzzy). Kitty snaps right back, telling her that Bobby's the one who came to her! How the hell is this Kitty's fault? Maybe if Rogue wasn't so possessive, he wouldn't have slipped away from her! If Rogue can't give a guy any reason to stay, then she-- Rogue hauls off and throws her coffee mug at Kitty, who flinches, reflexively letting it phase through her to shatter on the wall, spraying coffee everywhere. Rogue storms out, the camera catching the tears on her cheeks.

-Callisto and Magneto stalk through a town that shouldn't be empty. Crashed cars litter the streets, but there are no alarms, no sirens, no sounds of humans or animals. Wordlessly, and looking ill, Callisto points toward a church, but refuses to get any closer.

-Inside the church, a priest is frantically dragging himself along the floor toward the sanctuary. Behind him, the Phoenix strides, face blank. The priest's legs are useless, his spine broken. The Phoenix carefully paces him, telling him that he's dying. He must be in a great deal of pain. His internal injuries are terminal. She can see his thoughts --his prayers. She can see them fizzle away into nothingness. He gasps painfully, asking why she's doing this, and she tells him she's curious about the nature of mortality. Will he cease to exist like the others she's killed, or will some part of him remain? She realizes that he's terrified. Of her. The thought amuses her. She turns as Magneto enters, meeting his gaze, and becoming intrigued by what she sees. with a gesture, the priest's neck snaps.

-At the shelter, Raven is dressed casually, her hair pulled back into a sloppy ponytail as she hungrily devours a basic meal. The old lady asks her if she's sure she's all right, and Raven nods. She's. . . She's not what she was, but she'll survive. That's all any of them can do, just hope to survive. There's a TV in the corner of the room, playing news footage, reporting how protesters are now marching at all Worthington clinics. The Mutant Issue has become a hot-button topic, and public opinion seems evenly divided. The old lady says its horrible. Raven reacts, taking offense and ready to defend herself, and the old woman emphasizes that she's talking about the demonstrators. Can't they just let people make up their own minds? Raven points out that mutants should be proud of their abilities. This cure is the first step in a race war. The old woman disagrees; pointing out that it's not mandatory. People should have the right to make their own choices. If mutants didn't want the cure, it wouldn't exist. It's just that simple. Raven points out that humans are the ones who invented the cure, but she sounds less sure of herself (no one's ever argued with her --certainly not anyone she respects). The old woman observes that mutants are the ones lining up to take it. Is it really any different than surgery, or changing your sex, or skin colour? There're probably just as many humans who'd like to be mutants. People have tried to change themselves before, it never works. Best to just let people make their own minds. Give it time, this'll all be forgotten when the next scandal hits.

-In the church, Magneto is confronting Phoenix. Instantly, she knows why he's come. He's surprised that she can read his thoughts, and she laughs; his anti-Cerebro helmet is useless against her. He wishes to use her. He corrects her, explaining that he wishes to work with her, toward what should be their common goal. The so-called "Cure" is a threat to her as well. It is humanity's answer to mutation --to Power. They fear it, and so they will do everything they can to destroy it. To destroy her. The Phoenix weighs his words.

-Morning at the Mansion. Bobby and Piotr are cleaning up from breakfast when Remy finally gets downstairs. Piotr notes that he slept late, and Remy tells him that he and Rogue were out last night (Bobby takes notice); talk about a kiss that'll knock you off your feet. He's still laughing when Bobby punches him. Piotr grabs Bobby and holds him back (only for a moment, until Bobby gets his temper under control). Remy gets defensive, asking what the hell that was about. Then he realizes that Bobby's just upset about Remy stealing "his" girl. Bobby snaps back that Rogue's not property, and Remy quickly agrees; if she's bein' ill-used, it's on her to change things. Bobby wonders what Remy means, and Remy smirks. Well, if Bobby wasn't meetin' the lady's. . . standards, it's her right to look elsewhere for fine companionship. Piotr has to restrain Bobby again, as he demands to know what Remy's talking about, and Remy notes that Bobby probably didn't notice, on account of his spending so much time with Kitty. Bobby reacts to that, deflating as he realizes what things must have looked like. Remy leaves, and Bobby realizes he has to deal with this.

-Kitty is walking down a hall, and stops to greet Bobby, who's distracted. She asks what's wrong, and he explains that he just checked Rogue's room; she's gone. Kitty's still reacting when Kurt arrives, reporting that Rogue's not in the garage; she must've already left. Bobby stalks off angrily, guessing that she's going for the Cure. Kitty quietly wonders why Rogue didn't say anything about wanting to leave. Kurt explains it to her; not everyone's mutation is a blessing, and not all are comfortable with them. He tries to touch her shoulder reassuringly, but stops, seeing his misshapen hand.

-Bobby gets pulled aside by Remy. He's about to yell at him again, but Remy just asks if Bobby's ready to go. It takes Bobby a second to get it, and Remy explains that they're going after Rogue. It's harsh, but this mess is Bobby's fault. If he doesn't apologize to her, Rogue may never come back. Bobby pauses, glaring daggers at Remy, then nods: they're going.

-Juggernaught and Arclight are waiting outside the church when Magneto and Phoenix emerge. Xavier's arrival surprises no one. There's a tense standoff, as the X-Men try to reach whatever part of Jean is still inside the Phoenix. Logan can't tear his eyes away --he didn't really believe it until now. Her scent. . . it's wrong somehow, but he can't quite identify how. . . Phoenix focuses on Xavier, identifying him as the one who tried to enslave her. He repeats that it was Jean's will, but the Phoenix dismisses this; her will, but his power. She has already destroyed Jean Grey, and now he will join her. Logan steps forward, trying to get Jean's gaze. Storm warns him back, and even Magneto warns Charles to stand down. The Phoenix has made her choice, and by Charles' own code, he must accept that. Or is he as much of a hypocrite as Phoenix says he is? Logan suddenly advances on Jean (Magneto puts out a hand to stop the Juggernaught, wanting to see how this plays out). Logan begs her to come out, to fight this thing in her head, to remember who her family is. For a moment, she looks conflicted. Her family. . . Her eyes clear, and Logan sighs with relief, but then her eyes darken again. He fears her. They all do. They fear her power, her nature --her very existence! with a telekinetic shove, she throws Logan across the street, then advances on Xavier.

-Storm tries to interpose herself, but Arclight intervenes, grabbing her arm. This angers Storm, and she lashes out. Magneto sighs sadly; he'd hoped it wouldn't come to this. As Arclight gets thrown aside by Storm's gust of hurricane-speed wind, Magneto grabs a nearby car and throws it at her. Storm reacts, rising into the air as the car smashes to the ground. Phoenix and the Professor are slowly approaching each other; battling psychically. Phoenix's powers are great but uncontrolled. Bits of debris around Charles tremble as her telekinesis flares weakly.

-Wolverine crawls out of the debris and tries to rush to Jean, but Juggernaught is in the way. Juggernaught tackles Wolverine into and through the building. When they emerge, Logan is shredded and bloodied by the impacts. Juggernaught grunts and turns away, but Logan is back on his feet, and charges, aiming his claws at the Juggernaught's spine. The claws don't reach the spine, but do manage to pierce Juggernaught's thick hide before becoming mired in his tissue (cutting involves pushing matter aside, and Juggernaught's body remains immobile until he decides to move). Juggernaught roars, then spins, tossing Wolverine like a rag doll, then charging after him again.

-By now, Xavier's wheelchair is also trembling, slowly being pulled apart as he rises into Phoenix's psychokinetic grasp. She's strangling him, choking off his concentration, and with it his psionic barriers.

-Meanwhile, Arclight has brought Storm to the ground, deafening her with repeated peals of solid sound. Magneto tears the church's copper steeple off, moving it over to where Storm is writhing in pain. He slams it down on her, trapping her inside it as he buries the bottom of it in the street. Arclight notes that that won't stop her for long, and Magneto predicts that it might (he knows of her claustrophobia --the inside of the steeple isn't much bigger than a phone booth).

-Juggernaught has gotten atop Wolverine, and snaps his neck. As Logan's eyes darken, the last thing he sees is Jean, standing in front of the Professor. Magneto quickly levitates Wolverine's limp body and throws it as far as he can (across a couple of state lines). The Brotherhood pause for a moment before Xavier screams --his mind has been overpowered, and he's starting to burn. Magneto, before he's even realized what he's doing, stops her. Phoenix asks why, and Eric explains that Charles is a friend. She points out that they are enemies now, and Magneto corrects her; they are adversaries, and (having an epiphany as he does) the two are not mutually exclusive. They take Xavier as a hostage, and leave.

-Back at the mansion, Hank finds Kitty, and asks her where Rogue, Bobby, and Remy are. She realizes that the boys must have gone after Rogue, and admits this to Hank. He's furious, but realizes how dangerous the situation is. Unfortunately, he can't go after them until the Professor and the others get back; it would mean leaving the mansion unprotected. Kitty suggests that he send her and Piotr after them, and he dismisses the idea out of hand. The current situation most accurately resembles a tinderbox, and he won't place any more of his charges in potential danger. Kitty quietly points out that Bobby and Remy can take care of themselves, and Hank tells her that they're not the ones he's worried about.

-Bobby and Remy are in New York, heading to the Worthington clinic. As they weave through the thickening crowds, Remy wonders how many of these people are mutants. Bobby (distractedly) notes that there's no way to tell, not without Cerebro. Remy snorts at the crowd; all of 'em alike. Desperate to blend in. What would make a mutant want to throw away what they've got? Bobby grunts that Remy should know; he's the one who sent Rogue out here. Remy denies that he did anything of the sort. If anything, it's Bobby's fault. He's the one who won't touch her. Bobby snaps that he can't touch her, and Remy asks if he's tried --really tried. 'Cause if it was Remy, and he loved someone, there's no power on Earth that would stop him from holdin' her hand. Bobby mutters that she can't help it. Her powers. . . He understands why she'd want to lose them. Remy agrees. It might be better for her --for them. She'd finally be able to be his girlfriend. Bobby argues that she already is his girlfriend. Remy grins: that remains to be seen, don't it?

-Inside the clinic, Rogue is sitting in the waiting room (the delay is 'cause everyone's getting a checkup before and after the cure, in order to keep track of any side effects, injuries, or illnesses. Plus there's the issue of payment, age-verification, and checking against outstanding warrants --which Rogue realizes is stupid, 'cause anyone with warrants on 'em wouldn't be walking in to get cured). She's filling out the questionnaire (any unrelated medical conditions, family medical history, allergies, etc), and takes a moment to look around her. Most of the mutants here look human, except for one guy with skin that looks like lobster shell. There's a mother sitting across the room, with her young son, wanting him innoculated, not understanding that mutations only manifest at puberty. As she's talking to the doctor, her son is clutching her hand, looking around wide-eyed. Rogue looks at her own hands, and slowly pulls off the gloves. She takes a moment to feel the air on her skin, the texture of the clipboard, her jeans, the chair. . . just staring at the skin she's terrified of.

-Bobby and Remy draw closer to the clinic, and encounter the barricade (three groups of protestors --one of Anti-Cure mutants, one of Anti-Cure humans, and one Anti-Mutant). Bobby's craning his neck, trying to see if Rogue's in the lineup outside, while Remy's checking the crowd around them. Remy's the first to notice it --how everyone's moving. Bobby shrugs it off; they're protestors, of course they're on edge. That's not it; Remy says it's more like they're waiting for something. Bobby isn't listening. He can't find Rogue out front, which means she's either inside or not here yet. They need to get-- he suddenly realizes that Remy's gone. He's still looking around when Pyro confronts him. Behind Pyro is a blonde girl (Tabitha "Boom-Boom" Smith), and she slips past at Pyro's signal --moving to her pre-arranged place. Pyro taunts Bobby, at first assuming that he's here to get cured, then quickly realizing that he's looking for someone, probably his girlfriend. Bobby shrugs him off, but Pyro keeps up the patter, warning that Bobby should really keep better track of his girl --place like this just isn't safe, for traitors or flat-scans. Bobby belatedly realizes what's about to happen--

-Boom-Boom has found a nearby parked car, and starts rolling something between her fingers --a tiny speck grows into a marble-sized glowing orb. She casually drops it, letting it roll under the car, and tries to slip away into the crowd. Remy intercepts her, turning on the charm as he bumps into her, apologizes, and introduces himself. He apologizes again, but he couldn't help notice her --she's a mutant, right? Oh, no need to be sensitive, he's one as well. He could tell it about her; something about her just called to him. Folks like them, they can recognize each other, n'est-ce pas? Like souls, calling out to each other. . . She's interested, but is trying to get away from the car --Gambit realizes, and tries to keep her in the area. Her escape attempts grow frantic, and just as she finally shoves past him, her bomb explodes. The car lifts straight up, bouncing on the fireball, as people fall away, screaming.

-Bobby spins as the explosion goes off behind him and the crowd stampedes. He only loses sight of Pyro for a moment, but suddenly he's up on another car, throwing fireballs at the clinic's doors.

-Inside, Rogue jumps up and looks out at the explosion and the sudden riot. Inside, people are starting to panic too, but Pyro's blast has torched the front doors; the lobby's an inferno.

-Boom-Boom darts free of the crowd, yelling a slogan about Mutant Freedom, and hurls a baseball-sized bomb at a bank of windows.

-Inside, Rogue sees the glowy ball coming and yells for people to GET DOWN!! --the bomb hits the exam room (on the other side of the wall from the waiting room), and the explosion obliterates the doctors, the cure supply, and the patients who were there. The shockwave tears the waiting room to splinters (trapping them between the ruined exam room and the burning entryway).

-Outside, riot cops charge into action, trying to pick agitators out of the panicked stampede. Pyro and Boom-Boom aren't the only ones here; others are taking a stand too. Remy's helping people get to safety, but Bobby's trying to catch Pyro. Pyro gives him a face full of napalm for his troubles, laughing as Bobby falls away, scrambling to put himself out. By the time Bobby gets back to his feet, Pyro's vanished. Behind him, Boom-Boom lobs a couple more grenades, then joins the fleeing crowds.

-Rogue regains consciousness amidst the debris. She's stunned, but unharmed. Around her, people are moaning, whimpering, or crying outright --She looks like the only one who's kept her wits about her (the result of Danger Room training). She yells, telling everyone that they've gotta get outside. Someone yells that it's a warzone outside, and Rogue replies that the building's on fire --it's safer out in the open. Someone yells for help, and Rogue moves to find the mother from before. She's pinned under debris. Her son is unharmed, but frozen and crying. Rogue moves to comfort him, but suddenly realizes that she's not wearing gloves. As she's looking stricken, lobster-boy looms out of the shadows and grabs the debris pinning the mother. He wrestles it free, and yells for Rogue to pull the woman to safety. Rogue starts to move, but stops again, helpless. Finally, someone darts past her to grab the woman. The lobster releases the debris, than grabs the kid to bring him along. They all scramble to safety, Rogue crying.

-Outside, riot cops are fighting the remaining mutant agitators (Pyro and Boom-Boom have escaped), but Bobby slips past them, seeing the inferno swallowing the clinic. He looks daunted, then takes a few deep breaths, concentrating. cops and mutants alike pause as the temperature drops, their breath fogging the air. Bobby unleashes his power on the building, freezing everything that's not burned, making snow and frost to choke the flames at their source. As he works, Gambit looks up from the old woman he's helping (calling her "m'tante" --"auntie"), catching sight of a twotoned head emerging from the debris. He yells for Rogue, but she's already running off. At that moment, an ERT truck arrives, and Gambit has to abandon the pursuit, flagging them over to help the woman.

-The Blackbird returns to the Mansion. A bunch of students are in the common room, watching news reports of the riot in New York. Storm and Logan enter, with Kurt alongside (he went to meet them and tell them about Hank). Piotr rises as they enter, and asks where the Professor is. Storm's pause is all the explanation he needs. Kitty covers her mouth and sits down quickly, and Logan clears his throat, getting everyone's attention. He's not used to public speaking, but addresses everyone as best he can, explaining that classes are, uh, gonna be cancelled for. . . for a while. Kitty starts to ask what happened, but Logan interrupts; the Professor's alive. He was alive when they. . . when Magneto captured him. We're gonna get him back (Storm reacts, shooting him a Look, but he ignores it). But it's. . . it's dangerous. He trails off, having nothing more to say, and Storm steps in, reminding them of the lockdown. They should all remain on campus, and preferably in groups. It's important to remain calm and continue as normal. Kurt asks if they have a plan for getting the Professor back, and Storm puts on her confidence face --planning to lie to keep morale up. Wolverine gruffly interrupts: When they do --as soon as they do, he'll let them all know.

-Later, Storm and Logan are in the teacher's lounge/war room, having it out. Logan is throwing out ideas to find Magneto's headquarters, but Storm warns him that they need to focus on Magneto's ultimate goal: the Cure. Logan is repulsed by her coldness, reminding her of how much they need the Professor. She snaps at him, already knowing what the Professor means here --better than he does! She also points out that she's as worried about Jean as he is. Logan doubts that, but Storm waves him off --they're not stupid, everyone knows how he feels about her. He has to put that behind him now. He refuses. There's still something left inside the Phoenix --he knows it! Storm admits that he might be right. . . But it doesn't matter. Without Scott, the Professor, Jean herself. . . They're depleted. The most they can do is hope to stop Magneto from escalating the war. Maybe the Professor can still get through to Jean --Logan interrupts, warning that the Phoenix could also kill the Professor. Storm sags for a moment, realizing that he's an acceptable loss. Logan growls that she can't mean that. She has to --what would Logan have them do? Risk their lives and the lives of everyone here on the off chance that Jean can be brought around? Logan says yes, but Storm rejects it; it's not their choice to make! It's not just their lives on the line. The cure will change the face of mutant society forever. It changes everything. They owe it to the Professor to play a role in shaping that future --to protect every mutant life. Logan argues that that includes the Professor's own life. There's not a person on this campus who isn't ready to fight for him! She reminds him of his own words; they're not ready. If they take them into battle now, they will die. She can't believe Charles would want that. They need a plan --they need to agree. He shouldn't have admitted to the children how lost they were. They need strong leadership now more than ever. Admitting that they don't have a plan undermines morale. Logan gapes --strong leadership? What they need is to know what the stakes are. They've got the right to know the truth; we're in deep sh-- She reminds him that they're children. Scared children who are looking to them for leadership. For security. Logan growls that maybe that's the problem. The world's not a safe place.

-At the shelter, Raven is watching the news footage --a helicopter managed to get footage of Pyro, and Iceman's rescue of the building is playing live. She bows her head, lost in thought of what she's seeing, what she's experienced, what she knows, what she's believed. . .

-Xavier regains consciousness in a dark place --a tent, at Magneto's base camp. Jean is standing before him, staring at him quizzically. He rasps Jean's name, but her gaze remains impassive; surely he can sense it. The Jean Grey he knew no longer exists. Why does he persist in denying what he can sense is true? He answers "hope." She ponders this, noting that his hope defies rationality, and he counters that he has seen and experienced too much to assume that a mind can be destroyed so easily --and Jean's mind in particular. The Phoenix guesses that he underestimates her own power, and he argues that she underestimates Jean's. Magneto enters, glad to see that Charles has rejoined them. Magneto's not wearing his helmet, and sees Xavier's look of surprise. He asks if Charles is trying to read his mind, and Phoenix confirms it, but Xavier's abilities are easily suppressed. Eric guesses he'll just have to have this conversation out loud. Xavier tells Eric to let Jean go; this is about the cure. She's not involved. Eric disagrees --they're all involved. Every mutant alive and every mutant yet to be born. Surely, Charles can't be siding with the humans on this? Even he can't deny that the very concept of a "cure" is a step toward oppression. Charles does not, and grudgingly agrees that the situation must be dealt with --but he can't condone Eric's methods. If he sacrifices a single human life, he will be confirming exactly what the cure's makers say about mutantkind. Magneto warns that the war is already under way --collateral damage is, perhaps, regrettable. . . but unavoidable. Magneto is fighting to ensure a future for his people. Charles notes that, if Eric is looking to Charles for some form of acceptance, he's wasting his time. Charles and his students will fight the Brotherhood every step of the way. Magneto wryly indicates the Phoenix, both as an example of Charles' children, and of the inevitable result of suppression. The longer and harder one tries to supress power, the more violently it ultimately bursts forth. Xavier scoffs that Magneto's trying to plead his innocence; his actions are simply a result of his own victimization. . . That may be true, but the crimes committed against him do not justify acts of terrorism against humanity. Genocide only begets genocide. Eric wonders if Charles is afraid of the humans. Of their cure. Charles says he isn't (realizing only as he says it that it's true) --unlike "Magneto," Charles has never identified himself as his gift. He is more than that. Even if the X-factor is suppressed, it still exists. A person's worthiness is not to be determined by their genetics --to say that it is is to echo the justifications of the people who murdered Eric's family. Eric eyes Charles coldly. Yes, yes it is. And that is why the purveyors of this "mutant cure" must be stopped now.

-As Magneto and Phoenix leave the tent, Phoenix wonders why Magneto seeks to justify himself to Xavier. They are equally implacable --he must know that Xavier will never agree with him. Does Magneto harbour doubts? He denies it, but reminds her again of the bond between Charles and himself. Neither of them would exist if not for the other. Charles' voice must be heard, however misguided. Phoenix grows silent as she considers this, then wonders if Xavier was right. When he said that their powers do not define them. Magneto admits that philosophy is not his strong suit, but points out that their gifts are inherently connected to their X-factors. While there are those whose abilities are. . . minor, or even useless, the possession of those abilities is their God-given right. Phoenix questions if Magneto believes in a God, and he smiles helplessly --it was only an expression. He is Jewish by birth, but as for his personal beliefs. . . Theological matters are best left to individual preference. He has more pressing concerns.

-New York is in chaos as one of the mansion's SUVs drives through traffic. Police are clamping down, keeping everything under control. Hank realizes that this is as close as he'll be able to get. He parks the SUV and emerges, wearing a trenchcoat and fedora. Hank weaves his way through the crowd toward the centre of the disturbance, and catches sight of Remy. Remy sees him too, and turns to run, but Hank vaults a fire hydrant, loops around a flagpole and runs across a wall before landing in his path. Remy tries to explain himself, but Hank's not buying it, and tells Remy to lead him to Bobby. They find Bobby being questioned by the police, who have him under armed guard. Hank reveals himself (as the Secretary of Mutant Affairs), and demands to know under what pretense they're restraining the boy. One of the cops explains that Drake used his powers in the middle of a race-riot; they're taking him in as they would anyone on possession of a deadly weapon. Remy leaps to Bobby's defense, saying that he was putting out the fires, but Hank holds Remy back and pulls rank on the cop, wondering exactly how Mr. Drake's powers were used. The cop admits he's not sure; he was knocked down in the confusion-- Hank takes over, pointing out the remains of the clinic behind them. Judging by the fire and smoke damage, it would appear that the explosions happened inside, probably precipitated by some sort of projectiles. The coating of ice on the building's facade betrays Bobby's handiwork, and was obviously applied after the explosions themselves. The pattern of the freezing suggests that Mr. Drake was responding to the spreading flames and working to secure escape routes for anyone who remained trapped inside. If anything, he should be praised as a hero for his quick thinking. The cop responds that Drake is a mutant, and they can't afford to have him lose. Hank snarls at the racial profiling, then reminds the officer of his own rank, and orders that Bobby be released into his custody. The officer will certainly have his hands full dealing with the internal affairs investigation into the violation of civil rights and racial profiling of an American citizen. When Hank turns to Bobby directly, his face makes plain that Bobby was probably better off with the cop.

-Storm approaches Piotr, Kurt, and Kitty about their need to join the offensive. They'll need all the able-bodied X-Men they can gather. Piotr's worried. He's not sure he's ready for this. The Brotherhood aren't so different from them; they're fighting for mutant rights, as are we. Kurt explains why they must fight; the Brotherhood are about fear. Fear of the Cure, fear of humanity, and so they want humanity to fear them. . . Kurt was once not much different. The difference is that fear and shame are no way to live a life; the X-Men are fighting for something better, for Hope. If the X-Men do not fight, then they will be helping Fear win. Kitty notices Kurt's fire.

-Rogue is in an airport, bare-handed and nervous. A TV is showing fall-out from the riots at the clinic, highlighting the uncrontrollable nature of the mutant threat --civil authorities are simply not equipped to deal with the power of these individuals, let alone the impossibility of controlling them. The report cuts to a political guest, who advises use of the cure to "disarm" dangerous mutants, while another suggests the so-called "X-Men" be given government sanction to serve as a sort of mutant police force. Rogue turns away, lost in thought. Around her, people are preparing for departures; holding hands, kissing, shaking hands, touching each other. She looks again at her bare hands.

-Scott is in his sickbed when Logan arrives. Logan explains how everyone else is dealing with the cure issue. He's going after Jean, and asks if Scott's coming. Scott reminds him that he's under orders to stay here. Logan wonders what Scott's point is, and Scott grins and carefully hauls himself to his feet.

-Hank, Bobby, and Remy arrive back at the Mansion. Kitty, Kurt, and Piotr meet them in the garage, and immediately ask about Rogue. When they explain that they couldn't find her, Piotr hopes that Bobby's happy. Bobby gets defensive, and Kurt points out that he's the one who chased Rogue away. Even Kitty's on his case, saying that he should've said something to keep Rogue from leaving --explained exactly what is and isn't happening between them. Remy agrees; He was trying to help Rogue, but Bobby was just making things more complicated. Bobby tries to defend Rogue's choice, describing how much she hates her mutation, and Kurt shuts him down --what about Hank and himself? They're not exactly normal either, but they didn't cut and run. This isn't about mutations, it's about Bobby being a jerk to someone who cares about him. Hank takes pity on Bobby and tries to be the voice of reason, and Kitty turns on him too; pointing out that if he'd been paying attention, Rogue wouldn't have been able to sneak out. Kurt adds that they shouldn't have come back without her, and Remy says that they didn't want to, but Dr. McCoy insisted. He tries to explain himself, but Kitty reminds him that Rogue's all alone out there now, with the Brotherhood and the anti-mutant rioters, and God knows what else. Bobby tries again to defend himself, but Remy points out that if he'd explained himself better, this never would've happened. The others storm off, leaving Bobby and Hank wondering what just happened.

-A knock on the door ends the moment, and Hank answers, finding Warren outside. He's wearing an overlarge trenchcoat to hide his wings, and explains that he was told he could find Dr. McCoy here. Hank identifies himself, and Warren explains that he's Worthington's son, and the reason he created the cure (he drops the coat, revealing his wings but keeping them folded). Hank is surprised, and sends Bobby to get Storm. He knew Worthington had a son, but he had no clue that he was a mutant. Warren nods; he was his father's dirty little secret. They were both so ashamed. Hank gently assures him that he shouldn't be, and Warren says he knows that now. That's why he's here. The cure, the riots. . . he's got to do something to help stop it.

-Storm, Hank, Warren, Kurt, Piotr, Kitty, Bobby, and Remy are all gathered in the library, debating their next move. Warren is explaining about Worthington headquarters, and where the cure is synthesized and stored before being shipped out. Remy wonders what the plan is --are they really going to defend the cure? Wouldn't it be better to let Magneto destroy it? Storm reminds him of the workers in Worthington's lab --innocent people that Magneto won't hesitate to kill. Piotr understands: they'll protect the people, not the cure itself. Kurt notes that the cure, for better or worse, represents a choice. They have to defend it, otherwise what right do they have to call themselves moral beings? While he disagrees with how the cure has been presented, it is just. People should have the right to choose. (As he's talking, we see Kitty reach out to take Bobby's hand, but he pulls it away, pointedly ignoring her.) If not, how are we different from Magneto's Brotherhood? Storm agrees, and declares that their actual mission will be to capture Magneto when he makes his move. The cure. . . isn't a fight they can reasonably win. Hank concurs, adding that the cure is only symptomatic of a wider social issue, the solution to which, as with all social issues, is a long-term effort. Their goals to that end should be educational, targetted against the image of mutation as a flaw. Bobby asks about the Professor, saying that they should be looking for him. Storm points out that he has a point; if they find the Professor, they'll find Magneto, but without Jean or Xavier they can't use Cerebro. Without Cerebro, there's no telling where the Brotherhood might be hiding. Hank points out that they're also minus Scott and Logan, removing more than half of their offensive strength --and, while no one doubts their bravery or determination, the kids just aren't ready for a direct assault on a defended position.

-Elsewhere, Logan and Scott are on the road, tracking Jean (they're using one of the smaller cars --it's fast, but it'll never go off-road). Logan is driving, and Scott's dealing with incapacitating migraines. Logan asks about them, and Scott explains that they come in waves. It's almost like when Jean used to touch his mind, but. . . louder, courser. It's as if she's calling to him. He can find her. Logan is silent as he drives, realizing that he doesn't have that kind of bond with her.

-At the mansion, Kitty overhears Hank on his cell phone, talking to Mrs. D'Ancanto. Apparently he knows her from "a few years ago." He confirms that the D'Ancantos haven't heard from Marie either. . . No. No, he's sure she's fine. If Marie has demonstrated anything since coming to live here, it's that she's more than capable of looking after herself. . . Of course. He didn't mean to worry them. . . He's sure she'll return, when she's ready. Whatever she decides. . . Yes, he'll keep in touch when he hears anything. As he hangs up, Kitty sheepishly wonders why they didn't think of that. Hank points out that Rogue and her parents. . . haven't been close since Rogue ran away from home and ended up here. Xavier was the one who had to initiate contact with them after she arrived. Kitty can't imagine running away. Just cutting ties like that. Hank explains that Rogue's discovery of her powers was. . . traumatic. She felt isolated, alone. Her family had difficulty dealing with it, so she simply left. Kitty guesses they'd be happy, knowing there's a "cure." Hank admits that it's a possibility. However, it is equally possible that they would be. . . disappointed. At her look, he explains that it is perhaps every parent's desire for their children to surpass them. Further, as he intimated to Mrs. D'Ancanto, Rogue is a singularly self-reliant young woman. One doesn't develop such a tendency without prompting. He would speculate that she was made that way; raised in an environment that encouraged a modicum of reason, and responsibility for one's own actions. It is not outside the realm of possibility that, after their initial adjustment period, they could come to understand the inherent responsibility of one with Rogue's gift. However unpleasant her life may be, it comes with a concurrent responsibility to make a difference in lives that may not have been as blessed as hers. Kitty ponders this for a moment, then tells Hank that he may be projecting. He considers, and admits that she might have a point.

-Magneto enters the tent where Charles is confined, and Xavier wonders if Magneto's come to kill him. Magneto dismisses the idea instantly, hurt that Charles would think so. He has no intention of killing him --or of letting him die-- but he can't allow the X-Men to interfere. Xavier points out that Magneto could always use the cure on him, but Magneto rejects that idea. He'd never stoop to their level. No, the Professor's powers are limited enough, thanks to the Phoenix' influence (she enters, having been watching from outside). Xavier tries to reach Jean, but she shrugs him off: Jean Grey is no more. Xavier denies it, adamant that some part of the woman he knows is still there. He can sense her struggling. Phoenix admits that he would have been right, once, but no more. Eric helped her to reach her greater potential. What remains of Jean Grey is only what the Phoenix wishes to survive. It's calling out to them even now, to her friends. Calling for them to save her. Calling them to their doom.

-Logan and Scott are on foot, pushing through the forest. Scott's slowing them down, but he's the one who can trail Jean. Until now, at least; Logan's senses can detect the crowd of mutants ahead. They draw close to Magneto's camp, and Logan snares a couple of hooded jackets for them. Magneto is giving his speech on the Cure, fanning his Brotherhood into a frenzy. He also warns that other mutants might stand in their way, but warns that they will not stoop to using the human cure on their own kind. They each must be prepared to fight --and fight they shall!! Logan is looking around at the crowd, noting how charged up everyone is; this place is a tinderbox. Scott stays focused, and notes that Jean's not there. She's close though --Logan has her scent, and leads Scott away.

-They find her in the forest, standing in a dry stream bed, meditating. She's telekinetically lifting rocks, pulling the streambed apart. On one rock is a large spider, and she turns the rock for a moment, watching it, then pulls it free to hang in mid-air. It struggles in her web, before being stretched and disintegrated. They try to approach, but she holds them still. Logan calls Jean's name, telling her it's them. Scott also calls to her. He knows she's there, and tells her to hang onto him, to find her way back. He calls for her to remember who she is --she's stronger than this thing! Phoenix mocks them, repeating that Jean Grey no longer exists. Scott denies it, trusting what he feels in his mind. Phoenix explains the lure, but Scott doesn't care; he knows Jean, knows how strong she is. Phoenix torments them, reminding him that Jean's strength is her strength, but that isn't what Scott meant. Phoenix has power, but Jean has strength. Phoenix can't kill her, can't hope to. Jean is a survivor. Phoenix tells him he's mistaken, but then Logan wonders why she hasn't killed them yet. Scott takes the point and runs with it; if Jean is really dead, then why is Phoenix trying to justify herself to them? Phoenix is growing enraged, and the ripples of telekinetic energy around her start to turn into flame (because of the high-energy plasma). She's torturing them, slowly flaying skin. Logan's healing, but Scott was injured to begin with. Phoenix notes this, counting out his injuries: broken ribs (his shirt is torn, and we can see the tape), cracked bones in his arms and legs, torn ligaments, internal bleeding. . . Why did he come after her, knowing that he was so wounded? He replies (grunting because of the excruciating pain) that she already knows why. She stares for a moment, then her eyes clear (". . . Scott. . ."), but it only lasts a split-second. Phoenix/Jean convulses, and the streaks of flame suddenly turn into a small supernova. Scott and Logan (and the levitating rocks) are flung away by the shockwave.

-Phoenix staggers in the crater caused by the explosion. She still can't do it. Her powers aren't strong enough. Her control isn't enough. He's the key. The Professor. He did something to her. A look of rage crosses her face, and she rises into the air. . .

-The Brotherhood camp is in a frenzy --Callisto is unconscious from the psionic shock. Magneto heads to the prison tent (where they're keeping Charles), knowing that he's either responsible or in need of assistance. Phoenix is already there, hefting Xavier (who is conscious) by the throat. Magneto tells her to release him, and she snarls at him. As she turns, we see that her eyes aren't black anymore, they're glowing like flames. She tells Magneto what she's discovered: Xavier did something to her. He planted something in her mind, in the brain of this flesh she inhabits. He sabotaged her powers. She turns back to Xavier, noting that he feared her, just as the humans fear their kind. She senses Eric's thoughts, and adds "Just as you fear me." The key is there, in Xavier's mind. He will give it to her now, or she will take it. She loosens her grip enough for Xavier to grunt that he can't let her have it, and she tells him that he has no choice in the matter. She will enjoy flaying his mind. Magneto tells her to stop, but she rounds on him. He would give orders to A GODDESS?!? She throws him aside with a flame-tinged shockwave. He tries to climb to his feet, but she strides to him, still dragging Xavier. She has greater affairs than he knows. Xavier is hers now. Magneto is welcome to continue his war, but she is no longer a part of it.

-Some of the Brotherhood (Spyke and Pulse) are ranging through the forest, trying to measure the damage. Pulse finds Scott, heavily burned and badly wounded. He checks his pulse, and reports that Scott's still alive. Spyke pushes him clear and prepares to kill Scott, but Wolverine charges out of the brush and attacks Spyke. Pulse freezes for a second before running off to get help. Wolverine kills Spyke, then rushes to Scott. He tries to wake him, but Scott's comatose, and Logan hesitates, wondering if he should risk moving him. Scott comes to and tells Logan to get him back to the Mansion. Logan isn't sure Scott'll make it, but Scott doesn't care. They don't have the luxury of waiting to get better; he needs to be at the Mansion.

-In a rocky forest clearing, Phoenix drops Xavier, then reaches into his mind. He fights her, trying to reach Jean. He succeeds, his touch giving Jean the drive to redouble her own efforts to escape the Phoenix's cage. A whirlwind swirls around them, shredding the forest and the earth, as flames flicker into existence. Pheonix starts to lose control of her powers --a mental seizure that sets the forest ablaze. Xavier draws upon the full extent of his abilities, attacking the Phoenix. Phoenix may have more power, but she doesn't have Jean's control. Phoenix decides that may be so, but she also lacks Jean's weaknesses. Her restraints, her fears, her affections. Phoenix destroys Xavier, vaporizing him, and inside her, she feels Jean cry out. At that moment, Jean is lost. The Phonix engulfs her, burning brighter than a star.

-Logan's (stolen) van pulls up to the Mansion at night, and he leans on the horn. Storm emerges and they bring Scott inside. He's barely conscious, but Logan's trying to keep him awake (fearing a concussion). Storm notes that he needs urgent medical attention --it may already be too late. She's glaring at Logan as she says it, making it clear whose fault this is. Logan tells him to hold on. They'll find a way to get Jean back, he just has too-- Scott interrupts, mumbling that he can't feel her anymore. Jean, she. . . she's gone. At the look on Scott's face, Logan finally sees Scott broken.

-From the war room, the President witnesses the spec ops team moving in on Magneto's location. Satellite footage recorded the explosion, but they're holding fire response crews back until they can deal with the mutants. The satellite shows almost a hundred mutant life signs. Soldiers close in, and Multiple Man drops the charade, reabsorbing his sub-units. The President and his advisors realize what this means: Magneto's already begun his move.

(Big chunk of time passing. Storm and Hank get Scott stabilized, Storm yells at Logan for a while, Remy gives Warren a tour of the campus and bunker. Hank gets a call from Washington and relays that Magneto's making his move. The Brotherhood get themselves to Frisco, etc.)

-In San Francisco (the next afternoon), Rogue emerges from an airport taxi shuttle (wearing a new pair of gloves). She's on a lookout point along the shore. Tourists are around her, taking in the sights, but her gaze is locked on Alcatraz. She looks around her, again seeing people holding hands, hugging. As she gazes out again over the water, alarm ripples through the crowd. She turns to see what they're reacting to, and gapes as the Golden Gate bridge clears its moorings. People start to panic, shoving at each other to get away. Rogue carefully dodges peoples' bare hands and arms, holding her position as her eyes search the bridge as it sweeps past --there! She spots Magneto, visibly straining to control something this large. As the crowd thins, she catches sight of a couple of cops, watching helplessly. There's nothing they can do. Magneto's out of reach and out of their class. Rogue turns back to the bridge, her face hardening.

-As the Golden Gate crashes into place, Magneto collapses, exhausted. Pyro and Callisto reach out to steady him, and he nods his gratitude as he catches his breath, then commands the Brotherhood onward. As they head out, Callisto reminds them of the plan; brute force their way into the installation, it'll be their bunker when they finish. Destroy the cure, and capture or kill the boy, Leech.

-Alcatraz's guards deploy, and Magneto realizes they've met their first hurdle --the guards have no metal on them. Callisto repeats: brute force, and the Brotherhood charges. . .

-Scott is unresponsive; it's like he's just given up. The others are planning their next move; they know Magneto's planning to attack Alcatraz. Jean-- Phoenix will probably be with him. Magneto plans to kill Jimmy and destroy the cure. Bobby wants to go after Rogue, and Hank gently points out that she's made her decision, they can't interfere. Logan wonders what the ultimate plan is: protect the cure or destroy it? Storm is the one who decides that it's not about the cure; it's about the people caught in the crossfire. It's also about finding out where Magneto is keeping the Professor and getting him back. Hank warns that if they're going to have a chance of stopping Magneto, they'll need to call in everyone, including all the trainees. Warren says he'll go too (though he doesn't know how much use he'll be; he's not much of a fighter). Wolverine volunteers to stay here in case the Phoenix comes after Scott. Somebody has to, and he's not much use around Magneto anyway. Storm is surprised (she knows he's useless, but just didn't expect him to admit it).

-The forest fire is spreading, and the Phoenix strides among the flames, squinting as they take on shapes around Her: Her/Jean's parents, Professor Xavier, Scott, Jean as a young girl at Xavier's Academy. Phoenix lashes out at the ghosts, growing frenzied. In Her head, voices and whispers rise, gaining in volume until the Phoenix claps Her hands to Her ears to shut them out. It doesn't work, and a scream tears through Her. A wider shot shows a fireball leaping from the inferno, arcing like a missile.

-The Blackbird arrives over San Francisco (night is falling, and they have to approach from the North to avoid flying into the sunlight), and the X-Men get their first look at the battle. ("Oh, my stars and garters." --Hank "Welcome to the freak show." --Kurt) They're all daunted by the fury of both sides, but Storm notes that it looks like the guards have managed to keep Magneto outside the building. The Blackbird lands atop the buildings, and the X-Men deploy into the no-man's-land between the guards and the Brotherhood.

-Pyro is worried, but Magneto planned for this. How many mutants did Pyro really think they needed? He orders the charge, then takes in his personal cadre: Juggernaught will get Jimmy, Kid Omega, Callisto, and Boom-Boom will kill Worthington and destroy the cure stockpiles, and everyone else will distract the X-Men. Pyro asks about him, and Magneto tells him to stay here (Pyro's a good kid, and Magneto doesn't want to risk his life needlessly --he still has some compassion). As they move out, Magneto gestures Psylocke to his side: she's just become his bodyguard.

-Juggernaught is a missile across the battlefield. Colossus tries to stop him, but gets batted aside. Storm realizes what he's doing, and sends Kitty to stop him. Warren breaks ranks, heading for the building as well. Gambit intercepts, asking what he's doing, and Warren explains that his dad's in there. Gambit points out that Warren can't fight; best have a sidekick along, non?

-Kurt is teleporting back and forth across the battlefield, dropkicking then bouncing away (same technique he used in X2 when trying to kill the President). He pauses for a breath, clinging to a wall as he looks around --Toad slams into him, kicking him away and clinging to the wall himself. Kurt recovers, and the two lock gazes before they both leap toward each other, meeting in midair.

-As the battle rages, fighters gradually become aware of an approaching light in the sky. Magneto points it out to Pyro --a fireball. Pyro tries to redirect it, but Psylocke realizes that it's no fireball. . .

-Everyone pauses as the missile hits. The Blackbird is destroyed on impact, and everyone is thrown to the ground as the Phoenix rises above the conflagration. Her psionic powers are at full force, and flames leap out around Her --the Phoenix spreading its wings! She turns Her glare on Magneto, judging him and finding him wanting. He ends here. Psylocke tries to defend her boss, but Phoenic kills her without even seeming to notice her (her body just disintegrates away like smoke in a strong wind). Storm intervenes, trying to reason with her friend, but Phoenix telekinetically tosses her aside like a ragdoll. Magneto asks what She's done with Charles, and Phoenix tells him that Charles is dead. Magneto will join him momentarily. Storm interrupts again, her eyes glowing with barely-contained lightning. Phoenix thinks She has power? Storm will SHOW Her power!

-Worthington is in the cure labs, panicking as he tries to come up with a plan. Kid Omega, Boom-Boom, and Callisto break down the doors and find where he's hiding. Callisto tells Boom-Boom to trash the labs; she and Omega'll give Worthington a bird's-eye-view of the fight. It's time to see the power he thought he could control.

-Warren and Gambit round the corner just in time to see the elevator doors closing. Worthington yells for Warren to get away while he can, but Warren charges. He's too late, the doors close before he can get there. Gambit yells for him to wait up, but Warren's already taking the stairs. Gambit starts to follow, but gets distracted by the explosions in the cure lab.

-High above (Storm lured Phoenix up here to minimize casualties on the ground), Storm and the Phoenix are throwing their full power on each other. We finally see Storm going all-out, unleashing the full extent of her powers. She and the Phoenix clash in mid-air with the fury of a nuclear bomb detonated in the middle of a hurricane that makes Katrina look like a sunshower. Storm tries to come in close, but Phoenix slams her with a blast of flame, then hits her like a missile. She tries to hit her again, but Storm catches Her hand, sending 1000 volts through Phoenix's body. From the ground (fireballs and lightning strikes rain down), Magneto bears witness, then takes the opportunity to regroup. It's almost certainly a deathtrap inside (the Phoenix/Storm battle is tearing the island apart), but to retreat now is certain defeat. They'll hold the line to cover the retreat. Johnny's upset at the idea, but Magneto points out the tactical situation: The X-Men dominate the field. If they advance, they risk getting trapped, if they pull out, their own lines will break and the X-Men will defeat them at their leisure.

-Boom-Boom is tossing bombs left and right as she strolls through the labs. Gambit greets her, and she turns to find him lounging against the wall, turning on the charm. He recognizes her from before: they meet again, it must be destiny. She smirks that his cooler friend isn't around to save the day now. Gambit agrees, noting that there's not much room in here anyway. More intimate. Cozy, even. She meets his smile, seeming almost genuine, then sadly tells him that she's sorry, but he's just not her type. He disagrees; if it's the "good guy" thing, don't worry --he's more of a bad boy his own self. She shakes her head. It's not that. Then what? Her smile turns cold: he's gonna be dead soon. She tosses a cherry bomb his way, and Gambit dives for cover. The explosion covers his disappearance, and Boom-Boom turns back to her destruction mission. A moment later, a playing card slides to her feet. She crouches to look at it: the Jack of Hearts. The explosion throws her backwards. . .

-Kitty catches up to Juggernaught and sinks him into the floor. ("Do you know who I am?! I'm the Juggernaught, bitch!!") He smashes his way free and gives chase, crashing through walls. Kitty tries a flight of stairs to a balcony, but Juggernaught spots her and jumps up, then shatters the floor, dropping them both back downstairs. He reaches out to grab her, but his hands pass through harmlessly. She sprints away, and he follows, destroying anything in his path.

-Callisto and Kid Omega smash their way onto the roof (they kick open a fire door), dragging Worthington between them. He's bruised and bloody, as they've been roughing him up. As soon as they emerge, they freeze, transfixed by the spectacle: the sky is exploding. The clouds look like flames, and lightning forms an ever-dancing spiderweb amidst the maelstrom. Worthington's jaw is hanging open, and falls to his knees as a lightning bolt strikes the corner of the building, deafening them and blasting part of the structure into rubble. Callisto laughs at him, dragging him to his feet and grabbing his throat, forcing him to watch. Look at it! This is what he thought he could "suppress!" They drag him to the roof's edge, showing him the ongoing brawl below. Behind them, Warren emerges from the stairs. Callisto and Omega work together to throw Worthington from the roof, pitching him clear. They stumble back as a white blur rushes between them --Worthington looks up to see Warren swooping toward him, his wings outlined against the hellfire in the sky.

-Warren catches his father and pulls out of his dive, gliding toward the mainland. As he passes, the wind tears a chunk of rubble from a guard tower, flinging it upwards. The camera follows it as it spirals through the hurricane, drawing closer to Phoenix until She turns and raises a hand. The debris stops, then shatters, becoming a flurry of shrapnel that whips toward Storm. A gust of typhoon-force wind only deflects some of it, and Storm reels, armour and flesh tattered from relentless assault. It's raining up here, but the Phoenix-flame is flash-boiling everything, feeding the supercell. Storm hurls more lightning at the Phoenix, but She swings aside --impossibly fast, and a better flyer than Storm. Storm turns to follow Her, but Phoenix slams into her like a missile, cracking her ribs with a single punch. Storm gasps, and Phoenix grabs her by the throat, crushing her windpipe. She asks if Storm knows what the difference is between them. As a child, Storm was worshipped as a goddess. The Phoenix is a goddess. Lightning crashes into the Phoenix, but She absorbs it, channeling it into Storm --electrocuting her with her own power. Storm loses concentration, and her eyes return to normal. She meets Phoenix's gaze, and Phoenix pauses at what She sees. Her own eyes begin to clear, but harden again, and Phoenix roars louder than the thunder itself, shrieking like a predator to the universe. As Storm dies, Phoenix seems to lose interest, and tosses the body aside. The storm continues to rage (Ororo's not driving it, but it's become self-sustaining), as the Phoenix spreads Its wings again and departs.

-Below, Nightcrawler finishes off Toad (turns out all this time he's had a glass jaw --one punch and he's out of it), then looks up as the light fades. Everyone pauses as the Phoenix departs and the sky darkens, but Kurt realizes what that means: he looks up, picking out a dark form plummetting. He teleports, intercepting Storm in mid-fall, then 'porting again back to the ground, ignoring the battle as he frantically checks her pulse, her sightless eyes reflecting the lightning flashes.

-In his room, Jimmy is standing on tiptoes by the window slit, watching the battle. Kitty phases through his door, and he turns. He flinches, but she quickly reassures him; she's an X-Man, she's here to rescue him. He warns her about his powers --her own abilities won't work. Her eyes widen, realizing what she's gotten herself into. At that moment, the door trembles, and a moment later the Juggernaught smashes his way through.

-Back in New York, the mansion is empty. Doors locked, everything put away. The mansion's been evacuated. All the remaining students are in safe places off-campus. Below, in the bunker, Scott is still comatose. Logan is sitting by his bedside, talking to him. He's gotta admit, he's impressed. It's easy for him, having a healing factor, knowing that he's so hard to kill. It hurts like hell, but he knows he'll pull through just about anything. Logan doesn't even know if he can die. But Scott, Scott could've died out there. Could still die. He did it anyway, for her. Logan thinks he's in love with Jean, He's felt something since he arrived here. He feels. . . something. But it's not what Scott feels. He didn't realize. . . He just wanted Scott to hear that. It's not much of an apology, but it's all he's got. An alarm starts ringing, soft but insistent. Logan knows what it means: She's coming.

-Pyro and Lifesign are tending to Magneto, who's wounded (looks like he might be having a mild stroke, Lifesign is stabilizing him). The Phoenix is gone. Magneto dazedly wonders why she abandoned her mission. Pyro doesn't care. Magneto's hurt, they've gotta get out of here. Magneto refuses; they can't leave without seeing to the cure. He shakes off the effects of Phoenix's attack, and Pyro volunteers to see what's taking Juggernaught so long.

-Pyro starts across the battlefield, but slows as frost starts forming around him. Bobby emerges from the smoke and rain. They both brace for their duel, and Pyro makes the first move, throwing a gout of flame. Bobby counters with his ice blast, and the two forces grapple for a moment. Pyro has the advantage and he knows it --he's stronger than Bobby can ever be! Bobby crouches, starting to lose his nerve.

-Kitty's holding on to Jimmy, her eyes darting around for an exit. Juggernaught realizes that this must be the kid, then. And Girly-girl can't do anything without her powers. Ain't that convenient. See, thing is, he's strong even without his powers, and he's gonna enjoy this. He takes a step forward, but a slim dark-clad form darts past him, blocking him. He looks down at Rogue, who stops him with a hand to his chest --a bare hand. He looks startled, then angry, and reaches out to grab her throat. Rogue reaches up, grabbing at his hand, and tries to pull it away from her neck. Juggernaught grits his teeth with effort as Rogue slowly but surely frees herself, his expression turning from anger to disbelief. ("Do you know who I am? I'm the bitch, Juggernaught.") Then she punches him, sending him crashing through three walls.

-In the labs, Gambit dives behind a row of computers, narrowly dodging an explosion. He fans a handful of cards and tosses them blind. Across the room, Boom-Boom sprints, narrowly dodging the cards that embed themselves in the wall --they explode in sequence, tearing the wall apart. From behind cover, Boom-Boom creates another bomb, trying to spot Gambit through the smoke and flames. Gambit's voice calls out that it doesn't have to be like this. They'd make a hell of a team. She laughs at him; what, she's not evil, just misguided? Sorry, but she's been there. She divides the bomblet in two, pitching one overhanded and rolling the other under the desk where she's hiding. Gambit dodges the projectile, but the one on the floor catches him and throws him backwards through a glass window. He clambers back to his feet, but Boom-Boom's running for the door, pointing out that it's been fun, but she's gotta go. He was right about one thing though; they do make a hell of a team. She'd never have been able to do this much damage on her own. She waves and exits, leaving Gambit to look around sheepishly at the devastated labs.

-It's night in New York state, but the Phoenix-Flame makes it brighter then day. The estate's pool and fountains boil away, and the gardens are immolated in the near-nuclear furnace. The central chunk of the house gets ripped open, and the Phoenix floats into view, framed by the wreckage. She looks down as the floor, foundation, and armour shreds away, laying the bunker open to the air. Phoenix is lowering into the breach, when Logan appears in the ruins of the house (he was aboveground when She hit). He calls to Jean, knowing she's in there somewhere, and warning that he can't let her harm Scott. The Phoenix is amused; does this little soldier think he can stop Her? Logan understands, and points out that he wasn't talking to Her, he was making a promise to Jean. He won't let Her hurt her fiancé. Phoenix looks touched for a split-second, but then it turns to mocking. He doesn't get it; Jean Grey no longer exists. Only the Phoenix remains, and Wolverine isn't enough to destroy Her. She is Death itself! Wolverine pounces, claws out, but Phoenix catches him. She levitates him, incinerating his flesh and flash-boiling his blood even as She pops each of his adamantium bones out of joint one by one. He's screaming in agony, and She realizes that She could undo what was done to him --tear the adamantium itself from his bones. Wolverine gasps out that he won't die so easily. She agrees: even that wouldn't be enough to kill him. He's not worth that much effort. All She has to do is turn his mind off. Wolverine's eyes go blank, and She tosses the body aside. The flesh is already whole, and he's twitching as his bones pop back into place.

-The Battle of Alcatraz is winding down.The X-Men are winded, but still standing. They've been fighting as a team. The battlefield is awash with fire and ice; Bobby's managed to roll clear of Pyro's flame-thrower, and now Pyro's throwing fireballs as Iceman dodges. Pyro is shivering --Bobby's leaching the heat out of the air as quickly as Pyro can conjure it. Pyro manages to cut off Bobby's course, and Bobby hurriedly meets Pyro's flamethrower with another ice-blast. Pyro laughs, pointing out that Bobby's holding back. Ice doesn't actually do anything --fire is stronger! While he's talking, he doesn't see the puddles around him frosting up, raising crystalline spikes. Bobby (still throwing his strength against Pyro) tenses, and the puddles shatter as the temperature inverts. Pyro yelps as the jagged ice-blades slash him, losing his concentration and tumbling away. He catches the edge of Bobby's freeze-blast, and ends up frosted. He touches his face, finding blood, and bellows in rage. The fires all around him flare hotter, the ice instantly sublimates, refreezing as Bobby's power touches it --Pyro ends up surrounded in mist, blinded. Bobby's voice warns that it's not about strength, it's about control. Pyro snarls that he's got control --the fires flare again, surrounding Pyro in an inferno. He burns like this for a few seconds, but as the fire dies down, we hear that the storm above has weakened. Bobby's drawing in the storm itself, using the rain to kill the fire. The area looks like a blizzard. Pyro turns, trying to find Bobby, but by the time he catches sight of him, he's already too close. An ice-blue fist slams into Pyro's face, and he collapses, as the Iceman stands revealed in all his glory.

-From the shore of San Francisco, the supercell over Alcatraz looks like a mountain. Warren swoops to a landing in Golden Gate Park and deposits his father. Worthington tries to say something to his son, but Warren doesn't have time; the fight's still going on. He's got to get back there. Worthington asks what he can do, and Warren shrugs. He doesn't know, but the X-Men. . . They're mutants, but they're the good guys in this, he knows it. He looks back at his father. The cure-- Worthington waves it off. After this. . . He stops, then apologizes to his son. He was trying so hard to fix him, he never realized that there was nothing wrong. He's sorry. Sorry he ever thought Warren could be a monster. Their eyes meet, and Warren nods his understanding. Then he spreads his wings, and heads back to the war.

-Phoenix drops into the bunker, floating along the corridor. She pauses at the door to the infirmary, looking in on Scott. Her face is blank, emotionless. Then, slowly, anger starts to appear, turning to rage. She turns and continues toward Cerebro --Her true goal. With a gesture, She wrenches the blast doors aside like tinfoil. She slowly approaches the terminal as Cerebro seems to rewire itself at Her command (She aims to use Cerebro to consume the minds of all mutants and humans alike, killing them all before leaving Earth to destroy other worlds, ultimately leaving the universe a barren wasteland. When the Universe collapses, She will be the last survivor. She will be God).

-Magneto is back on his feet, watching the battle. The remaining guards have regrouped with the X-Men, preparing for a charge. Magneto is gathering his remaining troops (Toad is back on his feet). He catches their eyes as Callisto, Boom-Boom, and Omega return, and Callisto reports that they have a problem. Magneto doesn't answer, but looks back at the X-Men, where Rogue and Kitty are leading Jimmy towards the others.

-Amidst the group, the guard captain points out that they're out of fall-back spots; does Dr. McCoy have an exit strategy? Hank points to the twisted wreckage of the Blackbird ("That was our exit strategy"). The only way off the island is the bridge. It looks like they'll have to force Magneto into retreat. Warren arrives, and points out tht someone called the National Guard, it looks like the whole army is at the other end of the bridge. The captain says this is good; if they can force a retreat, they'll have Magneto in a pincer. As they're talking, the other X-Men gather 'round. Rogue and Bobby share a look; she notes his new look, and he notes hers --something's changed in her eyes. Kurt is cradling Storm's corpse, weeping softly.

-The Phoenix reaches the terminal, then turns back as Scott staggers into view in the hallway. He's limping, hanging onto an I.V. hook as a crutch, dragging himself along. He calls to her --to Jean, but the Phoenix just stares at him, lost in Her own reverie. He tries to approach, but his strength gives out, and he slides to the floor, begging her to stop. Phoenix warns that he can not stop Her. Scott gasps out that he's not trying to. He's asking Her to stop. To remember what She once was. What they once were. Phoenix watches him pitilessly. She can remember images, the life of a being called Jean Grey. Feelings, sentiment, emotion. . . She has them, within Her nature, but they no longer hold meaning for Her. She is. . . She Is. She wonders why he has come to Her, if not to stop Her. He used all his energy to be here. He explains that he needed to see Her --to see her one last time. Phoenix wonders why it matters, and Scott whispers that she's a part of him. He needed to be here. . . His voice trails off, and Phoenix pauses, finally whispering "Scott. . ." He doesn't move, doesn't respond.

-Suddenly, Phoenix is bent over Scott's body, removing his glasses to see his eyes, glassy and vacant. She stands, seeming lost and confused and very alone, and takes a step backwards, toward the console. Impossibly, Scott (or a part of him) is standing on the other side of it. He asks what She's going to do, and She turns to Her task, reaching slowly for Cerebro's headpiece. She will continue. Xavier's voice asks why, and She considers. There is nothing else for Her to do. It is Her nature. Scott asks what Her nature is. Is She a mutant? A Goddess? Phoenix pauses as She decides. She is Power. Xavier wonders what Power is, and the Phoenix says "Everything." "And Nothing." Jean Grey emerges, behind the Phoenix, and they stare at each other. Jean crouches over Scott's body, touching his face. Phoenix is confused. This isn't possible. Jean Grey was destroyed. Jean says no, and reminds Phoenix of the laws of thermodynamics. Energy can't be destroyed, it can only change form. The Phoenix has so much power, but what does It think is housing that power? Jean's brain, Jean's body. The Phoenix can't destroy her because she is a part of the Phoenix. Just as Scott and Xavier are. The Phoenix snarls that Jean can't stop Her, and Jean agrees. Alone, she can't stop her, but the X-Men aren't alone.

-The Cerebro console flares to life, and the chamber floods with energy. Pan-and-zoom through the mist to find mutants, scattered over the planet, focus on one, and the scene morphs to reality, with this person going through their daily business. Suddenly, they freeze (like Xavier's trick of seeming to stop time). Around them, life continues, people react to their sudden stop, then pause themselves. Back to Cerebro to show the network forming --all sapient minds, human and mutant alike, being wired together for more processing power than has ever existed. Across the world, mutants and humans just stop, their brains being co-opted as they're drafted into the Phoenix War.

-The X-Men are charging the bridge, but Magneto's pelting them with thrown cars, shrapnel, and whipping tension cables. He's the last one out; the rest of the Brotherhood are pullung back along with him (Boom-Boom is nearby, tossing a few cherry bombs to further foil their pursuit). Magneto falls back to where Callisto is, and she reports that they can push the army back a bit, but it'd be smart to head underground. If they can escape through the sewers, she can lead them to safety. Magneto wrenches the bridge, snapping it off between them and the X-Men, and agrees to Callisto's plan (he's seething, but he's a skilled enough commander that he understands the need to withdraw and regroup. He takes two steps, then Callisto collapses, screaming at the psychic invasion. The non-telepaths last a second longer, but they too soon collapse.

-On the other side of the divide, the same thing happens to the X-Men --the only one immune is Jimmy, who looks around, creeped out by the sudden silence.

-The Cerebro effect swirls, becoming a typhoon, tearing at the Phoenix and Jean. Their eyes are locked, showing their psionic war. Through the haze, Phoenix-flame is shredding the chamber. Phoenix is growing enraged --we can see the fight; Phoenix's talons of flame versus the fine threads of Jean's abilities. The Phoenix is more powerful, but Jean has more control, and more experience with Cerebro's interface. Jean seems to fade, but then solidifies, becoming less spectral and more physical. The Phoenix is shreiking now, Her face disfigured as Her own body begins to disintegrate. Suddenly, Jean steps forward, embracing the Phoenix, whose voice fades to a whisper as the firestorm flares to pure whiteness. She asks why, and Jean's eyes grow hard --her task isn't finished yet. Her restitution has only begun. Phoenix's body collapses, and the flames recede into Jean, whose eyes still flare with Phoenix light.

-Around the world, people blink and stagger for a moment, then slowly return to their lives --the memory of the Phoenix's touch is already fading. One of the released is Alicia Vargas, Hank McCoy's assistant. She blinks as she emerges from an elevator in the Department of Mutant Affairs, and greets the receptionist, asking why she wanted to see her. The receptionist reports that someone's here, demanding to see her. Vargas turns, and we see Raven, looking nervous. She introduces herself, and says she's turning herself in.

-Back on the island, Kurt blinks, momentarily confused (he can feel a lingering touch in his mind --like a friend was just here). In front of him, Storm's body twitches, and her eyes snap open as she chokes. A field medic rushes to her side (casting an uncomfortable glance at Kurt); she's alive, but she's got massive internal injuries. She needs medical attention. Kurt takes her hand, and prays softly in Latin.

-On the ruined bridge, Hank makes the leap across, followed by Rogue (using Juggernaught's strength) and Iceman (on his slide --the first time we've seen it). They carefully creep forward through the wreckage, and meet up with the military (who stop when they recognize Dr. McCoy). The Brotherhood are nowhere to be found.

-The explosion floods the Cerebro chamber, filling it with Phoenix-Fire. Flames centre around Scott's body and infuse it, and a second tongue of flame takes shape, shrinking and twisting as energy is converted to matter, growing from a phoetus to an adult. . .

-Above, Logan's mind switches back on, and he's on his feet in a few seconds. He takes off for the house, scrambling through the wreckage into the bunker. He slows as he reaches the ruins of the Cerebro chamber. He checks Scott's body, and looks surprised. A moment later, Scott awakens with a gasp --all of his wounds are healed. He looks at Logan, wondering what-- Logan's not paying attention, staring at the next form on the walkway. Professor Xavier is still unconscious, but alive. Beyond him. . . Jean's body lies motionless.

-It's morning at Alcatraz, and the X-Men are assisting with the cleanup. Hank watches as a detachment of guards lead Juggernaught away in restraints --His powers still haven't returned, but they should still keep him immobilized; the effect should only be temporary. Gambit is hanging around, avoiding helping, and catches a view of Rogue and Bobby standing near Jimmy, holding hands as they talk (they're caught up in the moment, not even aware of Jimmy, who looks uncomfortable at the mushiness). Kitty helps phase Collossus out of some debris that buried him. They trade a laugh, but she catches site of Kurt and Hank, helping the paramedics get Storm into an ambulance. Hank is going to ride along, but decides to let Kurt go instead (knowing that he looks to Storm as a sort of big-sister figure). Kitty approaches and wonders what will become of Jimmy. Hank explains that they'll find a place for him; somewhere safe, where he'll be protected. She wonders if people will still be tempted, and Hank admits that the Cure is out in the open. Enough samples likely still exist for new batches to be made. Kitty's disappointed that it's not over, and Hank gently points out that it'll never be over. The decision of whether or not to keep their powers is something they'll have to struggle with every day of their lives. Kitty asks him if he was tempted. He was. . . curious, but his life has brought him here. He has gained far more than he has sacrificed. Even if it means he must remain a monster. Kitty leaps to correct him; he's not a monster. He's an X-Man. Hank meets her gaze, grateful for her acceptance, and realizing that she's more right than she knows.

-Hank meets with the President in the Oval Office, tendering his resignation. The President is sorry to see him go, but Hank is more confident than ever that Washington isn't where he belongs. Not to worry, he has taken the liberty of putting the DMA in order. McCoy trusts that Ms. Vargas will prove a superlative leader for the Department. The President asks about Jimmy, and Hank explains that he will remain a ward of the DMA until his age of majority, at least. Ms. Darkholme has agreed to assist in the hunt for Magneto --Hank knows that she is highly suspect, but he believes her intentions to be genuine in this case. Worthington labs has officially discontinued the Cure, and Mr. Worthington has already started training Warren to take over the business when he retires.

-The estate's being rebuilt. Xavier is in his office, face blank as he watches his students putting up scaffolding and rebuilding the old walls. Storm approaches from behind him, limping, and with one arm still in a sling. She notes simply that they survived. Xavier nods, then agrees that they got off lightly. The mansion can be rebuilt, the students are returning, the Cure is no longer a factor. . . But what have we lost? Things will never be as they once were. Storm wonders when they were ever the same. They'll continue. Thanks to him, thanks to what he taught them. Finally, Xavier smiles; he is proud of them. Storm asks him if he's told them that? Xavier's smile widens. Why don't they go outside?

-Outside, the newest wave of X-Men are using their powers to speed the rebuilding. Piotr poses, showing off for Kitty, but she ignores him and goes to help Kurt. Rogue still has her super strength, and Bobby wonders if it should have worn off by now. It should've, but Rogue isn't worried; whatever happens, she can handle it. Some distance away, Remy watches, his gaze drifting toward the driveway, and someone's unattended motorcycle.

-Scott is sitting by Jean's bedside, brushing her hair. Logan arrives and wordlessly steps up beside them. Scott tells him that Hank finished his examination. She's not in a coma. Her body's still functioning, but her brainscan is flat. Even the Professor couldn't find anything. No neural activity at all. Just. . . Just an empty shell. Logan doesn't say anything, he just puts a hand on Scott's shoulder as they stand vigil over the woman they both love.

(-Post-credits, Raven Darkholme is playing with Jimmy, having become his unofficial "nanny." She's surprised to find that she enjoys it; she never knew her own son. She sends him to get ready for bed, and as he leaves the room [passing beyond the 2.5m threshold], Raven gasps softly as something passes over her. Jimmy stops, asking what's wrong, and she says it's nothing. He continues on his way, and Raven looks at a mirror, watching as her pupils turn yellow. . .)

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Tuesday, October 10, 2006 1:57 PM

BROWNCOATJIM


That's awesome, just absolutely awesome, i'm hugely impressed.

On a personal note, and I know this sounds all kinds of sappy and stupid, but prior to joining this site, I never knew anyone ever did stuff like that, I really thought i was the only one who ever thought of new and different story lines.

Every day, something new and good comes from me putting on a coat colored brown.

Now, if I can just work out Serenety falling into a Wormhole with a Reaver ship in pursuit and finding Moya..........






WE'RE GONNA CRASH? I DON'T WANNA CRASH!

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Tuesday, October 10, 2006 3:05 PM

DANNIISUPERNOVA


I love you for doing this. It was awesome and you have totally inspired me to write out an X3 variation and an X4.

I love the Castro, because if somebody grabs my ass, I know they're picking my pocket.

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Tuesday, October 10, 2006 3:29 PM

REGINAROADIE


Well, this version of X3 would have been three times the budget of the actual movie (which itself I think was near 200 million) and maybe would have been three plus hours long. But it still would have been a way better flick than the piece of shite Ratner did.

Two questions. 1. Why was Kitty a bitch towards Nightcrawler at the beginning? and 2. Isn't Gambit supposed to be an older guy, and not a teenager?

**************************************************
"I have no reason to believe you and every reason not to."
"Why's that?"
"You work in television."

STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP

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Wednesday, October 11, 2006 4:58 AM

CYBERSNARK


Thanks for the appreciation; I'm already toying with X4 ideas. Redesigning a pre-existing continuity from scratch is kinda fun.

There's the resolution of the Phoenix trilogy, more Logan/Scott bonding, Mystique's crisis of allegiance, the ongoing Kurt/Kitty/Piotr soap opera, and the appearance of a new character we've all been waiting for.

Remember how Phoenix touched the minds of every mutant, human, and living thing on Earth? Well, she also awoke something that should have stayed buried.

X4: Apocalypse


Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:
Two questions. 1. Why was Kitty a bitch towards Nightcrawler at the beginning?
Well, I wanted to use Kitty to underline the "mutants as monsters" theme, demonstrating that even X-Men sometimes have problems with judging people (and buiding up to her friendship with Hank). She was shying away from both Kurt and Hank --the two nan-fashion-models of the group.

Quote:
and 2. Isn't Gambit supposed to be an older guy, and not a teenager?
He's also supposed to spark with Rogue, so I figured why not de-age him (which also explains why he hasn't been around until now).

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Monday, October 16, 2006 4:32 PM

RMMC


Very shiny Cybersnark!

Are ya planning to flesh this out a bit, I hope? *hint**hint*

Much, MUCH better that that piece of gos se I forked over money to see. That piece of refuse had big enough plot holes to stick the entire 'verse through.

More? *looks hopeful*


Banner courtsey of Aim2Misbehave (Thank you!!)
********
RMMC
"Those grenades?"
"Captain don't want 'em."
"Jayne, we're robbing the place, we're not occupying it."

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