Narrator: Several stories beneath New York.

Trish: Keep your eyes and ears open Jeff. We’re about to stumble on something killer.

Jeff: Poor choice of words Ms. Tilby.

Trish: Scared?

Jeff: More like disgusted. If it were up to me id be covering the Mayor’s press conference, not chasing urban legends.

Trish: This is New York, buddy. A good reporter puts stock in her hunches. Remember the Lizard, Morlocks, Gene Nation? Were they urban legends? Yes. But they were also real. Too many missing sewer workers in too short a time, my friend. There’s something to be found down here.

Jeff: There better be… because I think I’m about to puke again.

Trish: I gave you nose plugs.

Jeff: I’m wearing the damn plugs! But, I’m still gagging on the stench down here. I can freakin’ taste it.

Trish: Hey when you’ve spent the night in a cold dead phalanx infested shi’air space station-- then you can complain.

Jeff: So you say, but--

--Holy…

Trish: Camera on.

Jeff: What was that? Where did it come from?

Trish: I-- I don’t know.

Jeff: What the hell is going on?

Trish: Shhh. This way.

Bulls eye.

Jeff: Where in the hell…

Trish: This is Morlock territory. These tunnels go on for miles all around the city.

Jeff: But the Morlocks have all split.

Trish: Actually… they were massacred. Something else is down here now.

Jeff: Shit!
Trish: What?

Jeff: Battery’s dead.

Trish: Impossible, we gave it enough juice for--

Dear God.

Narrator: One week later. Westchester, New York.

Kurt Wagner, known better as the elusive and acrobatic mutant crusader Nightcrawler, pushes himself to the extreme.

Wolverine: Never thought I’d see the day, Irish.

Banshee: Amen to that. The lad’s showin’ himself up. Ye take an X-Man like him, a man we’ve worked with for so many years, on would think he’d mastered his powers already.

Wolverine: There’s always room for growth. I knew the elf was spending’ more time in here but this is the first chance I’ve got to see it.

Nightcrawler: Ackh! Stop acting like I cannot hear you and feel free to pay me a personal compliment already.

Banshee: I think it’s obvious that we’re impressed, boyo. And a wee bit curious I might add.

Nightcrawler: I thought you’d never ask. As you know my ability to teleport has always had certain limitations. Distance, mass, and even direction play a crucial role. However I’ve been training my to expand those boundaries. Working my way up to higher quantities of mass I can bring along on a jaunt, and even gaining a better comprehension of the pocket dimension I displace myself through. There was a time when completely vertical teleports were difficult and even painful. But now--

Wolverine: Why dontchya get over yerself already?
PHONE LINE RINGS

Banshee: Probably Hank on his way back.

Wolverine: This soon? I doubt it.

Dt. Jones: Hello Wolverine.

Wolverine: Charlotte Jones? This number ain’t exactly in the book.

Dt. Jones: Beast gave it to me. I’m handling Ms. Tilby’s case.

Wolverine: Blue Boy’s out looking for Jimmy and Lois right now.

Dt. Jones: You can tell him we pieced together the footage in the kids camera. He’s welcome to it.

Banshee: Anything useful?

Dt. Jones: Nothin’ but Blair Witch 3, Banshee. This trail’s goin’ cold fast.

Wolverine: Don’t tell me you’re closing’ this one?

Dt Jones: Not til’ I find a body. We’ll be in touch.

Banshee: This one looks grim, Login.

Wolverine: If the frail was killed she’d a’ been killed right there and then. The camera and the flashlight were left behind, leads me to believe the snoops were taken deeper into those tunnels.

Banshee: Which leads us to the fact that the X-Men have been up and down all the Morlock passages before and Tilby seems to have stumbled upon an uncharted section of em.

Wolverine: Beast’s workin’ on that.

Banshee: I still say we should be down there helping the lad.

Wolverine: Not just yet. I want some of us ready to deal with some of these anti-mutant riots if they get too aggressive. Tilby’s disappearance has turned her into a would be martyr. Girl disappears in sewers; the flamin’ media scape goats our gene pool again. Wonder what they’d say if they knew their little girl lost was on and off hot and heavy with a 400 pound blue furred freak.

Banshee: They’d probably say--

Beast: Oh my stars and garters!

Iceman: What is it Hankster?

Beast: The water here is draining. Which means--

Cecelia: There’s a sub-sub-sub-sub-terrainian level to this maze? Great.

Beast: Actually Cecelia there are five subs if you count the one my frosty friend and I split for the noon time meal.

Cecelia: Cute, Beast. {Poor guy. I think his puns get lamer the more nervous he gets. At least he lightens the mood. There was a time when I wouldn’t have come down here even if it meant a free pass back to a normal life. But now that I’ve got a better handle on my powers I actually feel secure down here. Plus the surgeon in me doesn’t want to run the risk of them finding Trish or her camera man in critical condition and not knowing what to do.}

Beast: Okay, Snowball, you know what to do.
ICEMAN FREEZES THE FLOOR AND MAKES A SLIDE DOWN TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

Cecelia: {Then I guess there’s something more personal in it. Hank helped me adjust to the X-Men’s world; helped me accept what I am, more than anyone else. I feel like I owe him.}

Iceman: Well one good think is that the water seems to be getting cleaner the further down we go. And the smell seems to be more bearable.

Jubilee: Amen to that.

Beast: Yes. It’s almost as if it’s becoming more habitable the deeper we go… and darker too.

Jubilee: Yeah, yeah. I hear ya. No need to insinuate.

Beast: Thank you, Jubilee. And impeccable diction I might add.

Jubilee: Yeah well I have been hanging around you all day right?

Iceman: OK folks, sit tight while I do a quick thermal scan of the area. {By concentrating on seeing things in terms of how cold they are I can see if there are any living breathing organisms down here> Whoa!}
SEES A HEAT OUTLINE OF A MUTATE CREATURE

There!

Cecelia: I don’t see anything.

Iceman: Let me bring it up for you. And get ready.
COVERS IT IN FROST. THE CREATURE SCREAMS AND TAKES OFF DOWN THE TUNNEL.

C’mon.

Beast: Amazing. That almost seemed like the creature had altered the photon patterns around it rather than engaging in dermal camouflage.

Jubilee: the what now?!

Cecelia: He thinks it pulled a Sue Richards.
Jubilee: Oh.

Beast: Down there! I think we may have it cornered.

THEY ENTER A DARK ROOM
Jubilee: Adjust your eyes, folks. Thinks are about to get bright.

Son of a--

Narrator: Robert Drake: Iceman. Born with the ability to generate intense cold and manipulate the moisture in the air into super dense structures of ice as well as freeze the liquid in his body allowing himself to change his molecular structure at will.

Dr. Cecelia Reyes: A surgeon turned superhero who uses here medical expertise as well as her indestructible psioplasmic force field to save lives at all costs.

Henry McCoy: Beast. Gifted with superhuman intellect, strength, speed, agility, and stamina coupled with a more than intimidating appearance.

Jubilation Lee: Jubilee. A touch as nails former mall-rat with survival skills and the mutant power to generate explosive bursts of plasma-light energy.

Beast: What are we learning?
Jubilee: These guys smell worse than these tunnels.

Cecelia: Not helping, kid.

Iceman: I think I see what you’re getting at, Blue. There’s something familiar about these guys.

Cecelia: I thought Morlocks were supposed to be more competent than this.
Iceman: They’re not Morlocks.

Jubilee: Well, duh.

Beast: Actually in one respect they’re the antithesis of Morlocks.
Cecelia: This isn’t a classroom, Beast. In case you’re all forgetting this is a life or death situation. Explain already.

Beast: Their powers.

Jubilee: Whoa…

Iceman: These things have some of the same abilities as the most powerful mutants on Earth.

Cecelia: And that doesn’t make you nervous?

Iceman: Don’t sweat it, Doc. They’ve got the moves but not the experience.
Beast: And n-oubliez pas their aforementioned cognitive capabilities, which we have assessed to be less than adequate. {And if anything could be our downfall right now it would have to be the sheer number of our attackers. All that power on their side and only four of us. I just have to keep their spirits up until Wolverine gets here. I already hit my tracer beacon. All they’ve got to do is--} GASP {--The battery went dead. I’m positive it was on a minute ago. And I’m willing to gamble that none of my other electrical equipment will be functioning either.}

Cecelia, Concentrate on defense!

Cecelia: Not a problem. {This usually takes some amount of concentration but under the circumstances I can’t fail. I have to warp my forcefeild to concentrate around Iceman, Beast, and Jubilee forcing it to respond to any outside tactile threat. It’ll still come at a cost for them but they’ll come out of it without a scratch on them.}

Iceman: {So far so good. I’ve slowed down most of their metabolism, that should make them sloppy. Except for that good for nothing little Sunfire wannabe! He’s quick and hot. I guess that means its time to get creative. Luckily there’s lots of water down here, so I can do stuff like this!}

Figures. The coolest stunt I pull in weeks and no one’s watching.

Jubilee: We’re kind of busy, Bobby.

Beast: {Astounding! We’ve actually gained an upper hand. Over half of the creatures have retreated!} X-men, close in tight! Cecelia, hold them back!

Iceman, keep them in place!

Jubilee, blow them away!

Jubilee: With pleasure.

Aw, what’s the matter?! C’mon back for round two!!! We can totally take you!!!

Cecelia: Madre de Dios!

Iceman: Brutal strategy, Hank.

Beast: Not the effect I was expecting.

Cecelia: Come again?

Beast: I hoped to deliver a serious blow but with the sum of their power they hardly had anything to lose by still trying.

Jubilee: Then what was that?

Kain: Strategic Withdraw!!!

Iceman: Who the..?

Kain: Allow me to introduce us X-Men. You’ve met our mother’s… mistakes. Now you will fall to the Knights of Wrath!!!

Narrator: Several stories beneath New York City’s sewer system.

They are the X-Men, human beings gifted with incredible extra abilities.

Their enemies call themselves the Knights of Wrath. So far all they can be sure of is that they are their enemies.

Kain: You are interfering. Prepare to be annihilated.

Darkhood: This will be brief.

Jubilee: Fat chance, lady!
DARKHOOK SWIPES AT JUBILEE W/ SCYTH BUT BEAST GRABS HER AND LEAPS OUT OF THE WAY.

--eep!

Kain: Clockwork, evaluate them.

Clockwork: On it. My orb-techs have already begun scanning.

Kain: Keep us updated.
JUMPS INTO THE FRAY

Iceman: I got big boy here.

STAINGLASS KNOCKS HIM INTO THE WALL
Or not.

Darkhood: Greetings, cold one. Feel my lips against yours and may your life essence be like the ice of your flesh.

Iceman: I hate it when girls make me hit them.

Clockwork: <That one is Iceman. He can create virtually anything out of super dense ice.>

Starstrike: Density is my department!
DIVES AT ICEMAN WITH AN ORDINARY SEWER PIPE AND BEGINS TO BEAT HIM WITH IT MAKING SEVERAL DENTS AND CRACKS IN HIS ICE FORM. ICEMAN SCREAMS IN AGONY.

Iceman: … not… nng… not bad.

That’s some weapon you got there.

Starstrike: Is it?
Iceman: Can’t remember the last time a gorgeous girl managed to damage my ice-form. Lucky for me I can reform myself in--

STARSTRIKE WHACKS HIM AGAIN AND SENDS HIM FLYING INTO A WALL
Starstrike: Pathetic.

Clockwork: <The Beast has superhuman speed, stamina, and agility. Plus level C super strength.>

Kain: Impressive. But I’m willing to bet I’m better.

Beast: {This one appears to be the leader. He’s as fast as Rogue! But I’m hardly willing to find out if he’s as strong!}

Kain: End of the line, X-Man. You shouldn’t have come down here.

Beast: Will I wouldn’t think anyone should be down here, but it just so happens that I have personal business to attend to.

Kain: your business has ended.

PUNCHES RIGHT INTO CECELIA’S FORCE FIELD
--What?!

Cecelia: Sorry pale-face. That’s as far as you go.

Kain: Clockwork!
Clockwork: I’m working on it!

Jubilee: {That blue lady is out for the moment and the others have that vampire guy and blondy over there occupied. Periodic plasma bombs will keep that walking cathedral at bay for now, but I need to buy myself some time. Every one else is too busy to notice but that clockwork guy is testing us with his whirlimajigs. I’m guessing that’s what’s giving them an edge. All I need is a minute. Here’s hoping these tunnels go deeper.}

Yes!

Clockwork: I’m about to learn the frequencies of the woman’s force field. Just be patient, Kain.

Jubilee: Sorry, loser. You’re, like, totally out of luck!

Clockwork: Brat!!!

FIRES ARM CANNON AT JUBILEE BUT NARROWLY MISSES
Kain: Change of plan.
RUSHES AT JUBILEE CATCHING HER AS SHE AVOIDS THE BLAST AND BITES HER NECK
Jubilee: OW! You just bit me!!!

Kain: A few drops is all I need… to copy your DNA!
FIRES PLASMA BLASTS AT CECELIA AND BEAST
Cecelia: Now where have we seen that before?

Beast: Indubitably.

Iceman: So how is it that you’re the only looker in the bunch?

Starstrike: …

Iceman: Oh come on! The banter between hero and villain is half the fun!

Force: I take this seriously, boy.

Iceman: So do I. And who are you calling boy… girl?

Iceman: Well you’re just full of surprises aren’t you? What is you’re power anyway?

Force: Take a wild guess.

Huh?
SHE GETS DOWN AND EXAMINES HIS HUMAN FACE.

…normal.

Kain: I’ve had enough. This girl dies unless you all surrender.

Jubilee: Then what? We all die? Great plan, Dracula.

Kain: My name is Kain, know it well, for it is the name of your executioner!

Cecelia: Beast, I can’t help her from over here!

Beast: We’re only in need of a few more seconds.

Cecelia: For what?!

Wolverine: The cavalry darlin’.

Kain: What?
NIGHTCRAWLER POPS UP AND TAKES JUBILEE OUT WITH HIM IN A PORT.

I thought you shorted out their communications?!

Clockwork: I--

Beast: He did. But I borrowed a battery from one of his orb-techs and managed to emit a distress signal under the good doctor’s protection. Hope you don’t mind.

Kain: Everyone on your feet! Destroy them all at all costs!

Wolverine: ‘Crawler, you get Jubilee out of harms way. Everyone else keep those three off me. Jr. here is mine!

Kain: You’re good, old man. But you still bleed.

I could do this all night!

Sinister: Enough, children!
KNIGHTS OF WRATH ARE ATTACKED BY A STRANGE ENERGY. THEY ALL RETREAT.

Specified Nucleic Radiation. We’ll be lucky if it works a second time.

Wolverine: Sinister! I should’ve guessed. This whole scenes got your name plastered all over it.

Sinister: Don’t jump to conclusions, Wolverine. I’m not here for the X-Men.

Jubilee: So what’s the deal this time, Frankenstein?

Sinister: It just so happens that I’m… cleaning up a mess I made.

Nightcrawler: Don’t think you’re leaving it at that.

Jubilee: Yeah, this aint exactly a fabreeze and 409 kind of a mess we got down here.

Wolverine: Not at worry. This bird’s gunna sing. But first let’s make sure everyone’s in one piece.

Jubilee: I’m fine guys, really. I mean sure he bit me but it’s not like I got turned into some kinda zombie.

Wolverine: Alright then, I guess--

Beast: No wait! Where’s Bobby?!

Banshee: The lad wasnae here when we arrived.

Cecelia: that girl he was fighting left two, before stone face here showed up and zapped them all.

Sinister: Drake is of no concern, X-Men. Down here there are more pressing matters. Such as the end of all humanity.

Sinister: Yes I admit. I reveled in it. Survival of the fittest at it’s most vicious. The weak; slaughtered by the strong. The Blood of the inferior soaking the hands of the advanced. They were an insult to everything Homo Superior stands for. This Earth will one day belong to the next stage in evolution. How much slower would it have taken with so much trash in the gene pool.

Wolverine: Watch your mouth!

PLACES CLAWS AROUND SINISTERS NECK.

Sinister: I already said I hadn’t come to fight you X-Men, but should you continue to provoke me--

Beast: We clearly asked for an explanation of your business here, not for Hitleresque reminiscent reveling.

Sinister: Hitler was motivated by anger and irrationality. My visions are guided by the light of my genius.

Jubilee: How would you like me to guide the light of my plasma right up your--

Nightcralwer: So you say there was more to the Morlock massacre than hatred?

Sinister: Yes. It was all part of a much grander scheme. As you all know I’ve spent several lifetimes collecting data on the most powerful specimens of Homo Superior on the planet. It was all to be programmed into my greatest creation: The Master Womb. I’ve spent my extensive lifetime building it. A techno-organic being capable of mass producing genetically superior beings at an accelerated rate. With my creation nearing completion I needed to ensure that my ultimate goal be secured. By mass producing superior mutants the eradication of Homo Sapiens would be ensured, but I surely couldn’t run the risk of inferior genes tainting my generation of perfect beings. Phase two called for a cleansing of--

Wolverine: Get to the point, bub!

Sinister: Very Well. During phase two one of my own Marauders grew impatient and decided it might profit him to be a spy for Magneto. Lensherr of course desired my creation. There was a break in. A fight. And the Womb was lost.

Wolverine: But its offspring?
Sinister: There hadn’t been any… until now.

Cecelia: I said it was lost, but not destroyed. The Womb was under my control every, but still every bit as sentient as any being. And it was certainly made to last.

Beast: So how did it find its way to subterranean New York?

Sinister: It knew my plans and I can only assume it is carrying them out. Replacing the Morlocks with a more advanced breed.

Beast: Most of the creatures we’ve encountered down here--

Sinister: --were perverted freaks of science. I suspect the womb was damaged in the battle with Magneto. I’ve come to remove it. That is all.

Wolverine: Like hell!

Sinister: I pose no threat to you. I’ve come to claim what’s mine. As a bonus I’ll help you save the city from a genetic revolution. Don’t be a fool, Wolverine. Oppose me and you lose everything.

Beast: Logan, stop! There’s too much at stake here!

Wolverine: The day I work with this psycho--

Beast: If one hair on Trish or Bobby’s head is harmed because of your pointless stalling, you will profoundly regret it!

WOLVERINE GROWLS AT BEAST AND SHEATHES CLAWS.
Wolverine: Everyone keep a close eye on Mr. Sinister. And you--

Sinister: I grow tired of this. I’m moving on. If you X-Men wish to follow me I will cause you no harm.

Banshee: Easy, Hank. I’m sure they’re all right. {Wolverine was way out o’ line there. The man’s a hero through and through, but I’m beginnin’ to wonder if he’s got the right temperament to lead the team. Not that he had much of a choice in the matter. But maybe once this is over we should work that out… if we get the chance.}

Narrator: Elsewhere.

Iceman: …Huh? Where the?… oh right… you.

Starstrike: Hello, surface dweller. How are you feeling?

Iceman: I’ve been better.

Where are my friends?
Starstrike: I don’t know. They were not captured.

Iceman: Look, maybe we go off on the wrong foot. My friends and I don’t want to hurt you. We’re looking for--

Starstrike: Ms. Tilby? She will be released soon… her companion was no so fortunate.

Iceman: Who are you people?

Starstrike: Our kind is ready to expand. I am the ambassador. Because of my appearance I’m the only one of us who is capable of ascending without fear of persecution.

Iceman: Looks like you take that job seriously.

Starstrike: I love the surface. Not that it’s any of your concern.

Iceman: So why let Trish live and not spare her cameraman?

Starstrike: I knew the woman from TV. When she is released she will prove invaluable in preparing the city for our coming.

Iceman: I see.

Starstrike: I will return shortly.

Iceman: Hey before you leave… uh, thanks… for saving my life.

Starstrike: What?!

Iceman: Hey I’m not stupid. If your boss had his way I’d be dead by now. I’m not sure what kind of game you’re playing, but somehow I’m willing to bet it’s not Kain’s.

Starstrike: Kain is the least of your concerns now. So Stay quiet and mentally inconspicuous or we may both suffer pain worse than death. And don’t even think of escape. It isn’t an option for you.

Iceman: {Escape. Yeah right. The first thing I did when I woke up was try to use my powers. I’m guessing that this collar she’s got on me is responsible for that. And these chains have got to be stronger than adamantium, courtesy of her density powers I’d assume.} Sigh {There’s something about her that I like though… besides the obvious that is.}
SMIRKS TO HIMSELF.

{Now what did she say? “Keep mentally inconspicuous?” Looks like whoever’s really in charge here is a telepath of the highest order. Which could spell disaster for a rag-tag team of X-Men with no psychic.}

Narrator: Deep down several more twists and turns of Morlock tunnels.

Wolverine: Drake and the girl definitely went this way. But the other Knights of Wrath didn’t.
Cecelia: You sayin’ those two snuck of together?

Sinister: Which way did the others go?

Wolverine: That way. But good luck tracking them cuz our first priority is Iceman.

Sinister: The womb is the most pressing matter.
Wolverine: Then call up your boy, Creed. Cuz, I aint your blood hound.
Banshee: We could split up. I could navigate us using me sonic powers.

Wolverine: Nah. Anything that’d set off my powers could potentially set off theirs. We’re better off sticking together. If he wants to fly solo that’s his business.

Sinister: I would imagine both paths will lead roughly to the same location, anyway.

Jubilee: Yeah, I get it.

Sinister: …

Jubilee: {Look at him. Glaring at me like I’m supposed to be scared of him. Pfft! It’s pretty sad when the super villain starts hanging out with the heroes for protection. If there’s anything to be scared of--}

Sinister: Now do you understand? These creatures wield incredible power, but the majority of them are no more socially developed than apes. I would die before seeing them populate the Earth.

Narrator: Meanwhile at the core of the tunnels.

THE KNIGHTS OF WRATH ARE GATHERED IN A MASSIVE THRONEROOM EXCEPT FOR STARSTRIKE.

Clockwork: I’m getting impatient.

Kain: Easy, brother. The master had much that he must deal with.

Clockwork: I’m not worried about him.

Darkhood: Yes. She at least should be here by now.

Kain: Perhaps we should go back.

Clockwork: No. I doubt the X-Men have her. She probably just run off again.

Kain: Sigh That girl has problems.

Darkhood: Who can blame her? She’s the only one of us who would ever fit into their world.

Starstrike: Hello.

KAIN BACKHANDS HER.
Darkhood: Kain!

Kain: I’ve had enough! You mustn’t be late for family time! Do you think the master would be so forgiving?!

Starstrike: I… I’m s-sorry.

Darkhood: Sister, this is our world now. Someday that will change. But we will always be your life.

Wrath: Quite right my brothers and sisters. I apologize for my lateness as well, but I was spending quality time with our mother.

Kain: Lord Wrath, there is an unforeseen contingency in the plan.

Wrath: I know. I felt the battle. These X-Men are vermin in our territory. Find them and exterminate them.

Kain: There was another one.

Wrath: Yes, I felt him too. Do not kill this one. Bring him to me.

Kain: Where are thy now?

Wrath: As of now I have… lost them.

Starstrike: They are merely looking for the newswoman. Perhaps if we let her go they’ll leave us alone.

Wrath: No, sister. They have crossed us. They will die. The woman may be used as bait. You have your orders. It will not be long before I am ready to ascend with you. And then, my loving family, we shall rejoice as humanity wretches under my true power.

Iceman: Hi honey I’m home!
Narrator: Normalcy.

Starstrike: Hello dear I just took diner out of the oven.

Narrator: For some it is a curse.

Iceman: Mmmmm. Smells great!

Narrator: A recycling of mundane events.

Boy & Girl: Daddy’s home!

Narrator: For some, however it is a blessing.

Iceman: So how was soccer practice today, buddy?
Boy: …

Starstrike: Sweetie, your father asked you a question.

Narrator: For others…

Boy: Well… the ref didn’t see when Nelson tripped me so I densified the ball and he broke his toe trying to kick it.

Narrator: ...it’s a dream.

Boy: Then all the kids laughed at me cuz Nelson kept calling me a dirty mutie… so I froze him.

Starstrike: You what?!

Iceman: I froze him. I didn’t mean to. I was just so mad at the jerk. It was the first time my powers manifested themselves.

Starstrike: Was he okay?
Iceman: yeah. He was fine. But the town wasn’t so forgiving. If it hadn’t been for Cyclops and Prof. X…

Starstrike: Stop! This is the world that you’re trying to save?!

Iceman: I know what you’re thinking. But, the X-Men saved me from more than just a lynch mob. They kept me from sinking down to that very level of bigotry.

Starstike: …Never thought of it that way…

Iceman: If you and your… “family” go through with this you’ll be just as horrible as those who would persecute you. There had to be hope before there can be peace, Star. If you can find hope then that’s a start.

Starstrike: what if I’ve found something better?
LEANS IN TO KISS HIM.

Clockwork: <Starstrike, it’s time.>

Starstrike: They’re coming?

Clockwork: <One of our younger siblings spied them heading down access tunnel fourteen. We’re going to corner them in. Darkhood, Kain and I will be waiting in the courtyard. You and Stainglass come from the north and seal them in. Do not let them escape.>

Iceman: …

Starstrike: … I have to go.

Iceman: Don’t do this.

Starstrike: You are my prisoner and don’t you forget it!

Iceman: It doesn’t have to be this way--

Starstrike: Shut up!!!… Just shut up.

Narrator: X-Men. Beings with incredible powers brought together because of a different dream. A dream built on that self-same hope. The hope that man can put aside his fears and live in peace with those he does not understand.

Wolverine, Nightcrawler, banshee, Beast, Jubilee, and Cecelia Reyes have all embraced this dream. Today they stand with Mr. Sinister. A man who has always been there to oppose their goals. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Wolverine: Brace yourselves.

Narrator: The attack comes from both sides. The Knights of Wrath had the element of surprise on their side. This is their home turf. Unfortunately for them, none of that matters. Cecelia’s forcefeild acts instantly to defend. But before the Knights can take measures against it Jubilee and Banshee wreak havoc on their senses. And while their foes are disoriented the odds are quickly evened. Evened. But not turned.

Clockwork: Give me some space Kain!
POPS OUT SHOULDER DEVICES

These are absorption panels. They’ll take in all excess photonic and sonic waves.

Kain: Keep it up, Brother. Hey old man, want to finish what we started?
WOLVERINE LUNGES AT KAIN BUT DARKHOOD SCHYTHS HIM IN THE BACK.

Ha. I figured your rashness would be your weakness.

Sinister: Hold your boasting, child. Prepare to be unmade.

Kain: You’re the one who saved them last time. Who are you?

Sinister: WHISPERS Earn my respect and perhaps I’ll tell you.

Cecelia: Back off, witch!
KNOCKS HER OFF WITH HER FORCE FIELD.

Logan, you gunna be okay?

Wolverine: …

Cecelia: C’mon man speak to me!

Darkhood: My kiss always ends in death, surface dweller. Even if he’s strong enough to survive the toxins the special neurotransmitter I release forces his brain to cease life functions.

Cecelia: God no, Logan.

Darkhood: I’d be more concerned for yourself, woman!

Cecelia: {Dios Moi! There’s no way I can give Wolverine the attention he needs and fend off dark hood at the same time!}

Nightcrawler: I’ll take that, danke!

Cecelia: {I never get tired of how linked together this team is. The other X-Men will give me the space I need.}
PULLS OUT MED DEVICES
{God bless shi’air technology. Wolverine healing factor is taking care of the toxins but he’s still going catatonic!} C’mon, Logan. You’re stronger than this!

Beast: {Cecelia needs help. We have to remove a few of their people from battle so I can afford to give some of my attention to Wolverine as well. Stainglass here is strong but not as quick as I am. And fortunately as the age old axiom would imply, the larger the quantity of mass they carry, the greater the impact they ignite… or something like that.}
GRABS STAINGLASS BY THE NECK W/LEGS AND FLIPS HIM FLAT ON HIS FACE

{That was the hit, now it’s time to run… in words of one syllable of course}

Starstrike: Hard to be agile when I’ve densified the air isn’t it?

GETS BACK UP AND GROWLS
Beast: Where did you take Bobby?!

Starstrike: !

Beast: Trish and Bobby, both! Where did you-- ACH!!!

Starstrike: Hard to breathe when I make it even denser, huh?

Banshee: {This fight is too close for comfort. Jubilee’s got the right idea. Hit ‘em hard and move on. If it hadnae been for Clockwork’s spectrum and sonic sponges we would’ve had em. We’ll need to take him out first.}

Clockwork: C’mon, surface dweller! Do your worst! But don’t forget your powers are temporarily out of service!
Banshee: You can absorb the noise I make but there’s little you can do about the sheer force o’ me vocal chords!
BLASTS CLOCKWORK INTO THE WALL.

Clockwork: Oh that’s it!
FIRES AN ORB AT BANSHEE WHO DODGES IT.

Banshee: Poor marksmanship, lad.

Clockwork: Was it? Or was that a small neutron bomb heading for Times Square? Oh well, let’s just carry on with--

--Hey what’s the matter? You don’t want to finish our fight?

Sinister: What’s wrong, Kain? You look discouraged.

Could it be that you’re disappointed that I don’t bleed?
Kain: I don’t need your blood to defeat you, devil!
Sinister: Is that so?

Kain: You’re no X-Man. So who are you?
SINISTER SMILES AND KAIN KICKS HIM AGAINST THE WALL.

Why are you smiling?! Answer me!!!
Sinister: I’m just happy with how you’ve turned out, Kain. That’s all.

Cecelia: {Oh God! His heart is slowing down!}

Nobody dies on my watch, Logan, you know that!

{Truth is if it hadn’t been for Wolvie’s healing factor I’d have lost him way before… wait… she said neurotransmitter…}

{Please don’t let me be wrong…}

Wolverine: Grrrr…

Cecelia: Thank you God!
SHE HUGS WOLVERINE.

Wolverine: …What was that?

Cecelia: The usual miracle. Sorry about the electrical headache. It was the only way to short out the message Darkhood sent your Central Nervous System.

Wolverine: I’ll live.

Cecelia: Exactly.
Wolverine: Go help Jubilee. I’ll get Beast.

Narrator: Times Square.

Banshee: Clear the Areas!!!
SONIC SCREAMED

{This device has its own gravitational fix. I cannae move it to a safe location. I’ll have to get inside.}

{Saints Preserve Us! These wires are a total mess! It would be impossible to make even an educated guess on which one to cut. Damn that filthy snake!}
TURNS BACK DOWN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL PRESENT. SONIC SCREAMS HIS MESSAGE.

People of New York, there is a bomb in Times Square! You have twenty minutes to get as far away as possible!!! {As much as I know I’m causing panic, there’s not much of a choice. If I don’t let them know about this… and run out of options… there has to be a way.}

Wolverine: Give it up, girl. Or next time I use these.

Starstrike: You couldn’t cut me if you tried.

Wolverine: Maybe but it looks like you’ve got more than me to deal with now.

Jubilee: There’s five of us, bub. And only one of you. Do the Math.

Banshee: <X-Men, we have a situation. Clockwork’s Bomb wasn’t a bluff. In fifteen minutes it’s going to level a good third of New York, unless you can get him to tell me how to diffuse it.>

Narrator: It’s a funny thing about dreams…

Starstrike: I never wanted this.

Narrator: They change.

Wolverine: We don’t have time for this. You’re going to take these three to get Iceman and Tilby. You’re with me, elf. We find Clockwork five minutes ago. Meanwhile, Irish, you make sure that area is cleared.

Banshee: <On it.>

Wolverine: This way.

Starstrike: Don’t go that way!
Wolverine: Shut up.

Starstrike: He can’t go that w--

Cecelia: You’re stalling!

Starstrike: …follow me.

Sinister: You’re inquisitive, boy. That I admire.

Kain: Who are you?!?!

Sinister: I suppose I owe you that much.

I am your creator.

You and your kind are a failed experiment that I have come to terminate!
SLAMS HIM INTO WALL.

Nothing more! You are flukes. Flaws. Freaks of nature who serve no purpose other than to--

Kain: AAAAAAAAAGH!
CHARGES SINISTER AND BEATS THE SNOT OUT OF HIM.
What’s the matter devil?!
HAS SINISTER AGAINST THE WALL BY THE THROAT.

Sinister: …

Kain: What’s that?! You want me to kill you?! … HA! You should be so lucky!

Iceman: Jeeze!

Jubilee: Hey Frosty!

Iceman: Hi. Thanks for freaking the hell out of me by blowing down the door. I thought a Knight of Wrath was coming to kill me!

Beast: Our apologies, but Jubilee was getting out some understandable aggression.

Iceman: Everything Okay?
ALL SILENT.

…OK dumb question.

Beast: I’ll brief you on our way to get Trish.

Lead the way.

Starstrike: I remind you this is suicide.

Cecelia: Girl, if you don’t lead the way right now I’m gunna open up a can of psioplasmic whoop ass on you!

Iceman: Of course what the nice doctor meant, sweet stuff, is that as long as you help us we’ll be here to protect you.

Starstrike: …Bobby…

Iceman: I promise.

Starstrike: This way!

Jubilee: You know, Drake--

Iceman: Don’t say it Jubes.

Jubilee: Rats!

Narrator: The throne room.

Clockwork: Master! Master where are you?! Lord Wrath if you can hear me, I set off the plan a little ahead of schedule. Phase one is underway! In ten minutes, Times Square becomes ground zero!

Wolverine: Tell us how to stop that thing!

Clockwork: I’d sooner die!

Wolverine: You sure about that?

Wrath: Yes, X-Man. He is.

He is aw loyal to the cause as we all are. You have interfered in our plans and now you will die.

Wolverine: Sez you, bub!

Wrath: LAUGHS Fool! I am power incarnate! I am the next step of life on this planet! I am Wrath! Feel me!

Kain: My Lord and brother!
THROWS SINISTER AT WRATH’S FEET.

Wrath: Hm.

This is the one who intrigued me.

Wolverine: What the hell is goin’ on?

Kain: My Lord!

Cecelia: Wolverine!

Wolverine: I’m okay, Doc. If anyone needs help, it’s that guy.

Wrath: Brother… Sister… It’s time to know the truth!
BEGINS TO SHOW FLASHBACKS.

Jubilee: Whoa!

Beast: Relax, this appears to be a psychic generated pseudo reality. We seem to be reliving his memories. Sinister’s too.

Wrath: *My mother was dying. Wounded. So she made me. Taught me everything she knew! She made me to carry out her legacy! And when I was born… I saved her!*

Sinister: No…

Wrath: This wretched creature is our father!

Sinister: What have I done…

Beast: Good Lord! If what we’ve just experienced is true, this man is equipped with the genetic code of every piece of data Sinister ever collected!

Sinister: …child, believe me… this isn’t what I wanted…

Wrath: This is exactly what we were supposed to do!

Sinister: Why didn’t you just let it die…?

Wrath: “IT” Gave me life! I love her.

Sinister: I gave you life.

Wrath: You will be judged with the humans filthy creature! Stage one is almost complete! Then you will all be next!
SEIZES ALL BUT KAIN.

Narrator: Times Square.

Nightcrawler: Good news: I have Clockwork. Bad news: Due to the strain of the multiple teleports it took to get here in time… he’s unconscious. Not that it would have mattered much. His lips were locked with loyalty.

Banshee: Lad, there’s less than a minute left. I’ve tried takin’ it higher up. But I cannae move it an inch.

Nightcrawler: you cannot. But perhaps I can.

Banshee: Kurt…

Nightcrawler: Shhh. My timing is crucial, Sean.

Banshee: KURT!!!

Banshee: Nightcrawler, speak to me man!

Nightcrawler: …Sean? …did it… did it work?

Banshee: What in Gods name did ye do, lad? Where’d it go?
Nightcrawler: I… displaced it. It detonated…

Banshee: In the pocket dimension you teleport yourself through. God bless your quick thinking. How on Earth did you survive at all?

Nightcrawler: Don’t know… it all happened so slowly… hurts all over…

Banshee: It’s gunna be alright. Ye’ve just saved a whole city. Ye’ve earned a well deserved rest.

Logan. Nightcrawler stopped the bomb.

<But he’s in bad shape.>

Wolverine: Hear that, Wrathy? Phase one just fizzled out.

Wrath: Phase one was a warning. The surface dwellers have just lost this privilege. Now I will strike swiftly and mercilessly.

Jubilee: Yeah getting blown up. Sure sucks that we missed out on that privilege.

Starstrike: Brother, please!

Wrath: I can’t stand your traitorous thoughts any longer, sister. Perhaps you should be the first to die?
Iceman: Leave her alone!

Wrath: Well this just gets more and more interesting doesn’t it? Do you want to be one of them, Starstrike?

Starstrike: …

Wrath: …ungh…

…you will… all die!

Beast: {This is interesting.}

Wrath: Arrrgh!

Narrator (Iceman): My name’s Bobby Drake. But I’m called Iceman more often than not. See if you can guess why. Yeah that’s me using my mutant power to generate intense ice and cold against some genetically enhanced sewer dwellers. That had to be at least 24 hours ago. A lot’s happened since my best buddy, the blue furred Beast led us on a mission to rescue his sometimes lover Trish Tilby. To bad I missed most of it. Yeah that’s me chained up. Some hero, huh? Fortunately it doesn’t take a super-genus, like Beast to catch up on events in this business. You see the X-Men (that’s my team, a group of beings with extraordinary powers who protect a world that fears and hates them blah blah blah…) ran into these guys called the Knights of Wrath. One of them kind of kidnapped me and uh… kept me for herself. That would be Starstrike, that gorgeous creature with the long silky blonde hair, svelte figure, and… uh, but anyway, in the meantime everyone’s favorite Mad scientist Mr. Sinister shows up and explains that the Knights and the sewer mutates were failed experiments of his created by his missing and damaged master womb. The womb contained all the genetic information of the most powerful Homo Superiors on the face of the Earth. Sinister helped the X-Men defeat the Knights and Starstrike, after a change of heart, helped them rescue me and Trish. That’s when this guy showed up. He’s the Wrath from whom the Knights obtained their name, and as we quickly learned, he’s bad news. When the master womb was dying it used all of its strength to create Wrath, being sure to pass on to him every ounce of its genetic code. Meaning in short that Wrath has the powers of every powerful mutant on Earth. That pretty much made us helpless. Then right in the middle of that famous three hour long “Who should I kill first?” speech that all villains give, he suddenly goes nuts and brings five layers of subterranean New York crashing down upon us. Between my ice, the force field of Dr. Cecelia Reyes, and Starstrike’s ability to reinforce those defenses, we managed to survive. Did I miss anything? Oh yeah. That’s Nightcrawler. He just nearly killed himself saving thousands of New Yorkers from a small neutron bomb planted in Times Square by the Knights.

Iceman: How’s he doing, Doc?

Cecelia: He’s going to be OK. But he’s not running off into battle any time soon.

Starstrike: I can’t imagine. He almost died saving them. What would that feel like? To save so many lives.

Cecelia: I’ll tell you this much: It sure as hell beats trying to blow them up.

Iceman: That was uncalled for.

Starstrike: It’s okay, Bobby. I haven’t earned their respect. I don’t blame them.

Iceman: I understand how hard it is for you to go against your brother. You’ve earned more than my respect.

Starstrike: I still don’t think we can beat him.

Iceman: We have to. The odds against us are trivial compared to that.

Starstrike: What happens if it all comes down to me? How could I live with myself if I can’t stop him… how could I live with myself if I can…

Iceman: We need your help, Star. Whether or not the other X-Men realize it or not. I’d be lying if I didn’t say this was going to be more difficult for you than anyone else. But I can promise you I’ll be there with you through it all.

Starstrike: When I first laid eyes on you, Bobby Drake, I never imagined you could bring so much warmth into my life.

Narrator/Iceman: This is definitely different from my pervious kidnapper-prisoner relationships.

Narrator: The War Room.

Beast: Both the Avengers and the Fantastic Four are unavailable. I left a message on Scott and Jean’s answering machine, but they’ll never make it down from Anchorage in time.

Banshee: So we’re on our own?

Wolverine: Worse. We’re down a man.

Beast: I would assume it’s safe to say that we have Starstrike as a stand in for Nightcrawler.

Wolverine: Aside from the fact that she hardly matches the elf’s experience, do either of you trust her?
SILENCE.

…I thought not.

Banshee: I admit it’s hard to trust the lass after she fought so hard against us. But Bobby would seem to lay his life down for her and he was her prisoner. Besides, her inside knowledge is the only edge we have.

Wolverine: Trust or no trust she’s coming with us. So let’s not waste any more time debating. What have you learned from the girl, Hank?

Beast: Ahem… After careful examination and interrogation I’ve gleaned many facts on our frosty fellow freedom fighters female friend--

Wolverine: Can the alliteration. Facts, Hank. We don’t have time.

Beast: In short, she has the power to densify matter with “extra” mass. The full applications of this ability escape me at this time. Most importantly I learned from Starstrike that Wrath had been known to disappear for certain lengths of time in which he “joins their mother.” During those times I suspect Wrath’s powers undergo a period of dormancy. Why else would it have taken him so long to lead an attack on the city? In effect, my suspicion is that Wrath has yet to achieve his full potential. This is a trend we’ve seen in many of Earth’s most powerful mutants. It took Legion years to reach his true power, if indeed he ever managed to reach it. Onslaught had to undergo several stages of metamorphosis even after he spent months building up his abilities inside Prof. X. And Franklin Richards exhibits often painful displays of Godhood then his powers lie dormant for extended periods of time. It is imperative that we hit him fast and hard before he becomes something that not even the combined forces of Earth’s heroes can handle.

Wolverine: So you think he’s gunna have another moment of weakness?

Beast: That’s all we can go on. Other than that we have psi-scramblers for the entire team. Without a telepath it’s our only defense from him seizing control of us.

Wolverine: What else ya got?

Beast: All things considered, I’ve given you quite a bit.

Wolverine: … I’m losin’ them aren’t I, Irish?
LIGHTS CIGAR.

Banshee: We all know ye’ve got a temper, Logan. And we all assumed we’d be seein’ more of it with you headin’ the team in Prof. X’s absence. But I’ve trusted your instincts with my life more times than I can count and I don’t plan to stop now.

Wolverine: That’s all I can do, man. But I also know that this team is a family. We all will support you, just because that’s what we do.

Trish: Where do we even begin with this one , blue?

Beast: Pardonnez-Moi, ma chere?

Trish: The blame, Hank. Was it Sinister?

Beast: Isn’t it obvious?
Trish: How can we excuse them? Just because they were engineered by madman doesn’t mean they don’t have a choice. Look at Starstrike.

Beast: This isn’t the time for finger pointing. We should be preventing--

Trish: They may not have blown up the city yet, Hank! But they’re hardly innocent!

Beast: Trish…

Trish: They killed him right in front of me.

Beast: I’m sorry…

Trish: Hank…

This isn’t what I need right now.

Beast: What do you mean?

Trish: You’re a hero, Hank. I’m so proud of you… and so grateful… and I do love you…

Beast: But?
Trish: …But right now all I want is peace. And we both know I won’t find it here.

Cecelia: Hey.

Beast: Hey.

Cecelia: I -uh-… I didn’t mean to intrude… I was just--

Beast: Why?… Why was I born this way???

Cecelia: Even you , huh?
Beast: I won’t stop asking until I get my answer, doctor.

Narrator: The Danger Room.

Wolverine: <You’re good, kid. You catch on quick.>

Starstrike: Thank you. Is this simulation truly an accurate depiction of the team in battle?

Wolverine: <Pretty much.>

Starstrike: …except?

Wolverine: ‘Cept the holographic team trusts ya completely.

Starstrike: I see. And you Wolverine?
Wolverine: I’ve reserved judgment. It’s obvious to me that you care about Drake. But people don’t usually drop their loyalties in a heartbeat.

‘Specially when there’s family involved.

Starstrike: I understand.

Wolverine: And I’m willin’ to bet you trust yourself to help us out. But when push comes to shove, chances are you’d act on impulse.
Starstrike: What are you saying?

Wolverine: Logically I should tell ya to hit the road. This mission’s too important to be takin’ chances.

…But… you’re sure as hell not the first person to come through these doors lookin’ for redemption. So I’m gunna give you the same chance I got.

Welcome to the X-Men, kid.

Narrator: In the Hangar.

Jubilee: Yeesh! It’s about time. I’ve been waiting to fry those pasty faced goons all afternoon!… uh… no offense, Starry.

Cecelia: Someone’s a little to excited to get her spleen handed to her.

Jubilee: Hardy Har Har, Cecelia. Hey what’s wrong with you, Blue?

Beast: I’ll be fine, Jubilee.
JET TAKES OFF.

Just fine.

Wrath: …mother…

Narrator: Deep beneath the streets of New York City.

Wrath: I’m ready.

Wrath: Silence! You filthy Bastard! You’ll be the first to go!

Wrath: You would seek to kill your own children! You would dare to brand us mistakes! You are dead to me, father. Now I live to carry out mother’s sacred mission.

Sinister: Your “Mother”… was genetic scrap… that… formed on a discarded petri dish…

… “she” was a mistake that intrigued me, an experiment that obsessed me… until it failed.

Wrath: “Failed,” father? No one’s failed yet!
CUTS TO THE STREETS OF NYC. STREET BEGINS TO BREAK UP AND EXPLODES AS THE MUTATED MASTER WOMB BURSTS THROUGH THE STREET. THE WOMB HAS TAKEN THE FORM OF A MASSIVE WORM WITH HUNDREDS OF TENTACLES, EACH ONE HAVING A UNIQUE MUTANT ABILITY. WRATH FLIES UP WITH IT AND SINISTER IS STILL STRAPPED TO THE “TRUNK” OF THE WOMB.

Wrath: Mankind’s era is over, father! The war begins here and now!

Wolverine: War’s over, bub.

X-MEN MINUS NIGHTCRAWLER HAVE ARRIVED IN THE BLACKBIRD.

Wrath: This is my last shred of mercy, X-Men. I do not want to harm any of my fellow mutants, but you seem to be leaving me no choice, so stand down or perish.

Starstrike: Brother, please. You know they can’t do that.

Wrath: Ah, sister. You’re worse than these gene traitors. You couldn’t even stay loyal to your own family.

Wolverine: Yeah, I’m sure she’s gunna miss “Mommy and Daddy” there. But in case you haven’t noticed,

We ain’t standin down.

Wrath: …mother.

They will take care of the homo sapiens. The pleasure of your extinction is all mine.

Wolverine: “Ouch.”

Beast: Psi-Scramblers. Forged from the walls of the ever so convenient Z-Knox chamber. A must have for any team of psionically challenged mutant heroes.

Wolverine: Cecelia, Starstike, and Beast: You’re on guardian angel duty! Make sure any and all innocent bystanders are safe from those things. Iceman and Jubilee concentrate on the womb. Do whatever it takes to subdue it and get Sinister to safety. He might be the only one who knows how to stop the thing. That leaves you and me, Irish.

Banshee: The two o’ us against the most powerful being on Earth, eh?

Wolverine: Seems fair t’me.

Kain: But what about our rematch, old man?

WOLVERINE GROWLS IN FRUSTRATION.
Banshee: Saints preserve us!

Wolverine: Have it your way, kid. But don’t expect us to play fair if you won’t. Sean?

Banshee: <Earplugs, team.>

Narrator: The sonic scream of Sean Cassidy is rarely unleashed with such unbridled fury. Glass shatters within a five block radius. Even with their ears protected the other X-Men can’t help but feel pain. For everyone else unfortunate enough to be within earshot it is agony. The innocent bystanders will recover quickly for they are not Banshee’s target. But the Knights can barely do anything but wretch helplessly as Wolverine sees to it that they will be no more trouble.

Kain: GASPING FOR AIR … @#*!…

Wolverine: Welcome to the big leagues, punk.

Your turn.

Banshee: I may have been reluctant to cut loose in the close confines o’ the morlock tunnels, boyo, but we’re on our turf now and it appears that the innocents have been evacuated. Now it’s your chance to stand down.

Wrath: Fools.

ENGULFS WOLVERINE AND BANSHEE IN FLAME AND ELECTRICITY. BANSHEE NARROWL DIVES AWAY DEFENSIVELY BUT WOLVIE IS CHARRED.

I have more power in my fingertip than they had combined.

Wolverine: Then… why…nngg… aren’t… we… dead?

Wrath: Because I’ve been merciful.

Wolverine: I don’t buy it.

Aaaaargh!

Beast: Hang on Logan!
STOMPS WRATH INTO A CAR AND FLIPS TO WOLVIES SIDE.

Fortunately we anticipated the necessity for surplus psionic support.

Wolverine: Thanks, Doc.

What’s the status of civilians?

Beast: We’ve herded most of them out of the area. Cecelia tended to injuries until the paramedics arrived and the NYPD has barricaded the streets. Starstike and the good doctor are finishing off the last of the mutates. They seem to be ill-adjusted to surface light which is making them sloppy, and thus, easily incapacitated. Not a casualty yet to report.

Wolverine: Nice work, McCoy.

Beast: I sensed a touch of overkill in your strategy with the Knights.

Banshee: I wouldnae have gone along with it if it weren’t completely necessary, Hank.

Beast: I think I’m beginning to understand.

Wrath: End of the line.

Cecelia: Not on my watch. Civilians are all clear. The mutates have been dealt with.
Wolverine: Where’s Starstrike?
Cecelia: She said she was going to help Iceman.

Wolverine: Good.

Cecelia: … I don’t know if I can hold him for much longer…

{I don’t like this one bit. The looks on their faces tell me they don’t know where to go from here. The second I let him up again, he tosses us around like rag dolls… but it’s not like I have a choice this time.}

Iceman: Jeez we can’t get within ten feet of this thing!

Jubilee: Hey at least it hasn’t boiled us alive yet.

Iceman: Actually, from the way things have been going I don’t think the womb was designed to fight. So far it’s only acted defensively.

Jubilee: You mean like to keep us away?
Iceman: Uh… That’s what defense is, Jubes.

Jubilee: Maybe your little girlfriend could help us out.

Iceman: From what I hear, nobody but Wrath was even allowed to see the thing.

Jubilee: I guess you hear lots of stuff chained up in a sewer all day.

Iceman: You know, kiddo, those chains aren‘t exactly easy on the old wrists. Just look at poor old--!

…hm… maybe we can do this long range. Mr. Sinister is usually pretty darn invulnerable but after Wrath put him through the house of pain we probably shouldn’t risk hurting him. So I want you to very carefully blast the womb around where he’s chained up.

Jubilee: What’s the use, this thing blocks everything we throw at it. It has the combined defensive pizzazz of every telekinetic in the gene-pool.

Iceman: Hm… maybe I can draw it’s defenses to the other side. When you see the ice pile up, I want you to free one of the biggest psychos who’s ever tried to kill us and help him to safety.

Jubilee: Well, gee, when you put it that way…

Iceman: Now!!!

Jubilee: Uh… how am I supposed to get close enough to get him?!

Iceman: Blast the top, full power!!!

Jubilee: Way to use your head, frost face.

Iceman: It tends to come in handy from time to time.

Sinister: …

Iceman: … Damnitt.

Banshee: Umm… shouldn’t we be helpin’ the lass?

Beast: Do you really want to wedge yourself between that?

Banshee: Point taken.

Wolverine: Besides she’s buying us time. That broad’s tuff but she’s not gunna be able to keep this up for long, so howsabout a plan?

Iceman: <Sinister was totally delirious, guys. And now he’s out cold.>

Beast: …Sinister was the plan… only he knows the subtleties of his creation that could have helped us.

Wolverine: That kinda thinking’s counter productive. Banshee, get Beast over there right now. Take a good look at that womb and wake Mr. Sinister the hell up!

Wolverine: Iceman, the second Hank and Sean get there the three of you come help us with Wrath.

Iceman: <“Three” of us?>

Wrath: This is pitiful.

Cecelia: Oh yeah? Then Why am I wailing on you?
Wrath: I grow more powerful each and every second.

Soon I’ll be able to crush you with a thought.

Cecelia: As long as the old telepathy is out of order, nothing of yours is getting through my force field, which means I can attack you full front.

Cecelia: {Damn! He’s discovered the one power I can’t block… phasing.}

Wrath: You see. In me lies all potential. Sooner or later I will master every last iota of my power. No one can stop me.

Wolverine: Shut yer yap.

Wrath: Perhaps you haven’t been paying attention, Wolverine. I’m intangible. My attacks however are not.

And now you.

I suppose I can’t actually hit you with anything yet. But I can rush you with super speed and unphase my arm deep within your heart. I imagine the sudden merging of molecules wont be too pleasant for either of us… I, however, will live.

How?!

Starstrike: Me.

Wrath: Vile creature…

Starstrike: Everybody attack him, now! As long as I’m here I can keep him tangible.

Wrath: You’re all pathetic.

Wolverine: Hold him down for me.

Wrath: Aaaaaargh!

Wrath: I-- I can’t control them anymore! Why can’t I control them?!?!

Iceman: Holy Green Goblin on crack!

Cecelia: You said it.

Iceman: <We have a serious situation here. Optic Blasts, out of control, and a villain too stupid and evil to just shut his eyes and give up!>

Beast: Do whatever it takes to contain the blasts.

Iceman: Golly, Hank. I would, but I left my ruby quartz armor at home. He’s causing major damage! We’re doing all we can to defend ourselves!

Banshee: Think, Hank!

Beast: …

This is all your fault!!!
BEGINS TO SHAKE AND BATTER SINISTER’S UNCONSCIOUS BODY.

Why won’t you wake up?!?!

Banshee: Stop it, man! This is crazy! Do you want to die at the hands of that psychotic mama’s boy?!

Beast: What did you just say?
Banshee: I sai--

Beast: I know what you said… and egad it’s just crazy enough to work!

Banshee: Ye’ve flipped your lid, lad.

Beast: Yes, but in a completely good way I assure you!

Deliver a full scale assault on the north side of the womb!
Banshee: Whatever you say, lad.

Iceman: <It stopped.>

Beast: Eureka!!!

Banshee: Great work, Hank. Mind fillin’ the rest of us in?

Beast: Keep screaming Sean! This thing still has defenses!
BEAST CONTINUES TO SWIPE OFF TENTACLES AS HE EXPLAINS.

X-Men, listen close. There’s more to Wrath’s power fluctuations than I thought! He’s a kid with a psychic umbilical chord! He had trouble building his power because the womb was damaged! He and the Womb on psionically linked on every level!

CUTS TO CECELIA DEFENDING THE TEAM FROM WRATH.

Cecelia: We’re listening!
Beast: <So anything we do to the womb we inadvertently do to him as well.>

Jubilee: Great so--

CUTS BACK TO BEAST.

Beast: “What can we do to the Womb” you ask???
STILL SWIPING AT TENTACLES.

It turns out that there was more to it’s manufacturing than Sinister Implied. This isn’t one organism. It’s many tied to a single nerve center! Each one of these tentacle is a base level organism grafted with one, count ‘em, one specific mutant genome a piece! That’s why each tentacle displays a unique power signature! These organisms are then hooked up to the central nerve core and somehow channeled into Wrath!

Iceman: So that means--

Wolverine: It means go start trimming gene worms! I’ll keep him busy!

It’s just you and me now, Sunshine!

Wrath: No!!!

Leave my mother alone!!!

Wolverine: Sorry, bub. But you’re the one who said mercy wasn’t on the agenda tonight!

Wrath: Mother!!! You Monsters!!!
Wolverine: It’s over. Surrender and maybe the “filthy humans” will go easy on you.

Wrath: No!!! I’d sooner die than be a prisoner of those filthy--

Officer: Freeze!
Wolverine: Yeah, right.

I’d be careful with this one. He’s full of rotten D.N.A.

Officer: You just put your hands where I can--

Dt. Jones: Relax, rookie. Search and rescue, now.

Wolverine: I guess this doesn’t look good for us, huh?
Dt. Jones: Does it ever?! What happened here?! World War III?!

Wolverine: Something like that.

You might want to leave him with S.H.E.I.L.D. There’s five more of ‘em somewhere out here.

Dt. Jones: Thanks, you guys better get goin’. I don’t think anybody’s gunna buy that you all just saved the world.

Wolverine: Same old humanity.

What?!

Starstrike: I’m sorry, Bobby.

CUTS TO ICEMAN ON THE GROUND.

<You were right. This was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do… but I did it. I’ve paid my debt to the world. Saved the city. Part of me feels incredible for that… but the other part feels nothing but shame. Thank you for giving me this chance.>

But I didn’t deserve it… goodbye… Iceman.

Iceman: …

Beast: I’m sorry, Bobby.

Iceman: …I guess this just isn’t our week, huh Blue? Why did I trust her?

Wolverine: We don’t have a choice, kid. As X-Men we owe everyone the same chance we got. Sometimes it works out… sometimes it doesn’t.

Iceman: …Let’s get outta here.

Narrator: Back in Westchester.

Nightcrawler: So what ever happened to Mr. Sinister?

Beast: Good question. When the dust settled he was nowhere to be found.

Nightcrawler: Typical.

Cecelia: I for one am hardly in the mood to worry about that now.

Nightcrawler: I cannot say that I blame you, Cecelia. For now it seems rest, good food, and good company is just what the doctor ordered.

Cecelia: Well that and five hours in a Shi-air stasis cocoon. Still, it’s nice to do something normal for a change.

Jubilee: Yeah, eating. That’s a rare occasion.

Beast: I think you’re missing the point. For centuries in almost every culture, it is the sharing of the meal that has been held sacred, not the actual food that we eat.

Jubilee: What’s the point of sharing a meal if the melted snowball here isn’t gunna flash freeze anybody’s coffee or something.

Iceman: I’m not in the mood, Jubilee.

Wolverine: Leave Drake alone. If he wants to sulk, let him.

Cecelia: Yeah, but the guy’s usually so off the wall it even hurts the rest of us to see him like this. No offense, Logan but if you were brooding I wouldn’t think twice about it.

Wolverine: There are times to be serious. I just happen to get a lot of ‘em.

Iceman: Okay now that snapped me out of it. I hate to be compared to the captain of all sour pusses!

Iceman: Granted it’ll take more than a snowball crashing into your ugly mug to totally cure me, but that sure as heck’s a start.

…Thanks guys. I’m glad I at least have all of you.

Banshee: That’s what family’s for, lad.

Jubilee: Could somebody please pass the--

--Drake!!!