Punch Up: “To Me My ❌-Men”

X-Film III:

X-Men: MUTANT MAssacre

❌-Elevator Pitch No. III:

Morlocks, Power Pack, New Mutant, ❌-Men, ❌-Factor, the Hellfire Club, Daredevil, and Thor are pulled into the center and bellow, by a sinister hand, which brings with it, only death.

Fan Fiction ❌-Film Treatment Pitch No. III:*

While not a short film, this epic, adapts what proceeded and what was the first ❌-Men event lead crossover, one that forever shaped the comics industry. Storyboarding organization and film pacing in recording and editing will require cohesion across departments and performances. Mindful collaboration will result in an engaged, affected and emotional audience experience. Elevating not only the MCU, but the genre, as it did for the comics.

Act I:

Act I:

00:00:00

1984

Rachel is walking the streets of NYC. Her eye catches a screen. Puased, watching international news through a tv through a security fence blocking tv displays in a shops window. The ❌-Men in Tokyo, Storm’s hawk gives her pause; and then transitions to political news about Kelly’s bill. At which point it looses the signal before she can fully process what they are saying. She uses her telekinetic abilities to turn the tv back on, but is too late. Live tv ack! Now she is thinking about her first encounter with Illyana, the first to greet her at The School of Gifted Youngster, the day before. All the sudden the sky is windy, bubbly, oblique. It’s Selene appearing behind Rachel. The power level of Rachel likely is more than Selene, and Selene is delighted. She may have found an heir. A Demon Huntress. Rachel senses something, even feels cold, knows she is being followed, a fire truck zooms by…and then Selene grabs her from the ally shadow. Rachel emits powers to counter. And books it again!

A bouncer casually smokes one, is passed by a rushing Rachel into the club, who is overwhelmed by the amount of peoples thoughts she can read. Jerry, the bouncer, we recognize as the same casted actor who played Phil, the character Kitty said the N-Word to, that was one of Chuck’s students…and has been staying with Jaime Rodriguez’s family, who we last saw in his true from as Nimrod; (we don’t know this, but may guess, it's ambiguous, but he has placed himself in this moment to catch Rachel, as he has hunted her). Jerry’s going to bounce Rachel. Nicholas Damiano, the club owner, interjects. Jerry and Nick debate.

We shift scenes; Rachel at Nick’s upscale pad. Where Nick is now a skeleton. Selene has unlimited control of all inanimate objects; captures Rachel with the flooring. Rachel fights with telepathic bolts and free herself with her on telekinetic abilities. Selene is quoting Darth Vader. Rachel is overwhelmed psychically. She mind link calls on the ❌-Men, and goes unconscious.

She awakes, telepathically shows a photos of Storm looking different from the news flash that was on TV. She then says she is stuck in the wrong past. Kitty is holding her hand.

Roll title credits.

1986

S.H.I.E.L.D. Doc: “Murder, Natasha … is the ultimate intimacy. Good luck.”

Nat: “Doctor heal thyself.”

She steps into the hallway, encounters Nick, and they name drop Hazard and Nuke, (a reference to a Disney+ season of Daredevil: Born Again, referenced in X-Men II post credits perhaps); as a postmortem conversation.

Nat dials a number.

Quick shots of Nat and Matt, happy in SF on a roof, of the Hand on a roof morphing into Elektra dying and a shadowy Krahllak, of Ben in fear, the nights light coming in from the blinds, of Karen whispering lit by Mexican sun through blinds, of an envelope and whispers traveling from palm, mouth and ears, phone calls with Foggie and Glori, Wilson standing over Matt, Karen and Matt at their lowest of lows; embraced. Matt is awoken by a phone call.

Nat and Matt meet on a NYC roof top, as the scene rapidly transitions to Nat and Matt encountering The Hand.

THE BODY SHOP; we are witnessing the transformation of Yuriko Oyama, whose father, Kenji Oyama, associated with Yakuza, and was the scientist who developed the process to adhere Adamantium to bones. Yuriko is being transformed by the Body Shop’s practitioner, our old friend Spiral (Rita Wayword from Longshot).

The Body Shop

We Will Make a New You

Wade Cole, Angelo Macon, and Murray Reese, who are former Hellfire Club henches, already clients transformed into The Reavers.

In Yuriko’s mind, as the extremes of the torturous transformation are evident to us the the four others who witness, as are the beautiful horrifying colors and shapes that lead her to deconstruct into the question:

“What have I done?!”

Yuriko is admired by Spiral, as Spiral admires her creation…her real job here is, trained by Arize, selling alien cybernetic parts to amputees etc…thus The Body Shop. It should click that Betsy was also a client at this point.

Yuriko in turn, admires Spiral. And now she is exactly who she needs to be to enact her vengeance. Her “biometric transformation,” into a “cybernetic organism” like Reese, Macon, and Cole, her now fellow Reavers. However, in the same breadth, Rita/Spiral makes clear, our Lady Deathstrike/Yuriko, is beyond this simplification…as a derivative of Yuriko’s fathers experimenting and through the goal to counter her arch, Logan, she now has her own unbreakable claws to cut through anything.

The deal struck with Spiral, is to reverse the work of the Body Shop on the four Reavers, should they wish.

Spiral: “The Body Shop guarantees satisfaction, or money back.”

Spiral is basically cackling inside, as she is amused by humanity’s paradox of dreaming to acquire what is not ours through murdering other dreamers, while dancing with the devil, “believing you will spin away with soul intact and untainted.”

They exchange eternal gratitude and reciprocal “my pleasure.”

Yuriko: “The key is Wolverine and the secret locked in his Gaijin brain. His will is the immovable object, but mine is an irresistible force that will not be denied. He will break or be destroyed. Or I shall.”

Naturally the scene shifts the South Street Seaport, in Manhattan’s Financial District. Yuriko’s words wash over a winter evening’s boutique shops where in a bathroom our formerly kidnapped friend Katie Powers and her new nanny Miss Randolph are out on the town. Katie is focused on being the independent five-year-old she is. Katie uses her super powers to dry her hand when Randolph’s back is turned. It’s still the Holidays. There is a choirs on the street. The Reavers are firing on the street. In the chaos and snow Katie looses her sitter.

Kenji Oyama’s papers are stollen by shadowy figures that look like The Hand, and hand off of these papers to The Professor, leads to him, Dr. Cornelius, Carol Hines braking down and regrowing Logan with an ADIMANTIUM skeleton, Logan is in the Alberta wild, and now hunts and is murdering The Hand and has the iconic fight with Shingen in Agarashima.

Logan’s mind wonders back to reality, as he looks grimisingly at the news paper featuring and financial section article about, Donald Pierce. Logan is there in his brown boots and superhero shorts w/ belt. Katie is over dressed for Christmas. The old friends are meeting up AGAIN during this holiday season.

Ann Randall and her new partner Sid, confront Logan who is looking extra creepy to them. Not that Katie is sure about her safety here, they don’t seem to understand that Logan and Katie are tight. They think they are witnessing a kidnapping…when this isn’t Katie’s first…and it isn’t. Both these friends have been taken more than they care to admit…all good, until Logan who seems off…and Katie are not actually on the same page here…she is making the reasonable argument, that Logan is holding her a bit to tight and maybe they should trust Ann and Sid here.

Katie: “I thought we were friends!”

So…

ZPOW!

Katie is independent and frees herself.

“COSTUME ON!”

“Friends don’t hurt friends, Mr. LOGAN…Mr. LOGAN…are you sick?”

The Powers kid nurtures Logan away and thinks through potential solutions.

She hails a cab.

The cab is crashed and attacked by Reavers.

Logan is not right, but his instincts have always served him well enough. He saves Katie.

Logan doesn’t know himself and may be speaking on Japanese.

His memory is slowly recovering.

The Reavers have them in their site, but Lady Deathstrike wants to be in close for this.

Katie is like…I’ll just disintegrate them. And Logan who can speak English now is like…the hell you will kid.

He wants her to do the brave thing, and trust him.

Logan surgically takes out the boys.

Lady Deathstrike v Wolverine round one…Japanese and English banter.

She seeks her freedom through his death. He has other plans and destroys her, to discover the hell she has put herself through at the Body Shop. He is empathetic to what she is, as he has had his own path. She claims it was the path to arch him. She wants a warriors death. He doesn’t oblige. Walks away from a mangled living mess.

Katie can open her eyes and the Lonewolf and Cub for the night walk off.

West Coast:

“…LA…”

“Richard Salmons—Age 27. He was good at his job…”

“…PLEASE, Tommy—Please—Together we have a chance! TOGETHER, we can still beat the odds!”

Morlock, Tommy, with their rainbow hair, skin, and complimentary white style that just pulls at your heart strings…and you get the sense…it is being ripped out of your chest here.

“No tunnels” in LA, it was supposed to “be such a great adventure…wandering across the whole country.”

Tommy:

“Who’s after me?! Why do they want to KILL me?!!”

“I don’t want to die!”

As the Hellfire agent, Richard, is on the ground, electricity surging through his body, paralyzed…gun tragically within reach…Tommy the passafist makes an abandoning break through the night, in the train yard.

A swashbuckling superhero boot crushes Richard’s hand, inches from his solution to his problem.

“Naughty, naughty, Chum. No more guns for you.”

chBOOM! as Tommy unconsciously breaks the fourth wall, looking right at us; a reminder of Betsy and our last interactions in the film X-Men II. A train moving in the yard by a tiny Tommy, and a close up of Tommy’s back reaching for the latter on the side of one of the moving train cars.

Tommy uses her mutation, and turns 2D, able to slip like paper between the train car doors. Richard dispatched, their hunters know exactly were she is, but orders indicate they need Tommy to get where Tommy is going for now. And we are clued into “Malice” having an assignment elsewhere.

Act II:

Act II:

01:00:00

Rachel Hound 💭: “Like Wolverine, I was the best there was at what I did, but what I did best was…IS…o b s c e n e.”

Rachel encounters an identical reflective surface to the TV in the opening scene…only this time she sees she waring her Hound outfit and then passes a poster noting: of Kurt (captured), Rogue (captured), Storm (killed), Shadowcat (killed), Colossus (captured), Cyclops (captured), Wolverine (killed). When Logan is not dead, but behind her.

SNIKT

Rachel awakes in a Morlock tunnel, bedroom; her Hound scars had disappeared in the cracked mirror. Kitty awakes from the chair where she has been watching over her. She attempts to comfort Rachel.

Logan is recovering in another Morlock bedroom, from his night out with Katie Powers. He awakes, alarmed that Rachel had pulled him into one of her dreams. His attempt to get out of bed, results in him falling to the floor. Ororo and Rogue come in having heard the thud. Logan entrusts the violation to Ororo. Rachel encounters Ororo and Rogue in the hall, and Ororo gives her a look, as Rachel attempts a casual conversation.

That evening Rachel pulls Logan into a dream, only it is actually continuation of his life in Japan, where they are interacting with Yukio, and Ororo, and Rogue makes a comment about her hair. And then awkwardly she compliments them all on their Morlock like punk attire. About colonizing their space and assimilation. Logan attacks her:

SNIKT

Ororo, Rogue, and Logan awake having been through a shared dream.

Rachel wakes up, as well, but on the street. Having slept bellow the window where the TV was. She walks.

Rachel is in her hound suit and Logan attacks her again. She rips off her hound suit. And is awoken on the subway by a cop. Who she talks into letting her go, and she runs once free of his vantage point. Arriving in front of Nick Damiano’s old place. She can’t remember his name. She does remember Selene. Parting ways with the cop, she heads to at Monarch Towers, to pays a visit to Friedrich von Roehm; The Black Rook of the Hellfire Club and aid to Selene. She sees Donald Pierce leaving part of his arm missing, and its wires freshly exposed.

In the Morlock tunnels, Ororo, Kurt, Kitty, Piotr, Rogue and Callisto all confirm. Logan and Rachel are missing. Ororo is highly concerned and they head out to find them, with the help of Caliban and his tracking abilities.

Rachel has controlled Friedrich’s mind; instructs him to bring her to his “goddess;” to gain entrance into the Hellfire Club. Knocks out Friedrich and she has put on a maids uniform, to gain entrance into Selene’s bead chamber. Rachel unleashes her full range of power on Selene, who reciprocates…and toys with her through taunting her with the fact that Selene remembers Nick’s name, and Rachel must has not cared very much when he died, for she cannot. Rachel is turning into a hound and has Maggie’s authorization to kill from X-Men II in mind.

When Logan shows to take her home. But she shares her intentions to kill Selene, and infers he would and has done similarly in the past. He admits they both are murderes, however, as part of the School for Gifted Youngsters they must dismiss this impulse. “What school?” “What team?” “What heroics?”

As Rachel is just about to finish the job, as she has the argument; Rachel says, my death is the only way to end this evening:

SNIKT

In the Morlock tunnels: Scott and Jean in hazmat suits clean the radiation gunk left by our most recent heroes, Glow Worm and Bulk from X-Men II. Morning their cute short and heroic existence. This conversation transitions to a picture of Maddie and Nate. Jean always thought they would have a girl. And Scott has to make it weird. Jean is pissed that he didn’t tell the truth. The compelling reality for long time, was that their entire time together, she could and probably did read every thought he had…thus their intimacy worked, despite Scott being the most outwardly insular character. Here, she can’t, as only her telekinesis has returned. So he was able to lie to her for the first time, and he did, “to protect her,” and avoid his conflicted reality. The road out is for her to change into something less likable and less compelling, by gaining by her full power back. Maybe he does the right thing on his own, or doesn’t, until Jean is the one who grows.

Only reality is, they are caught in the wave. The real thing we do in life. Not in a linear trajectory upwards. Or in a zig zag graph of sharp highs and lows. We are on a path that is an inverted circular curve that doesn’t connect, but for those who live long enough, nearly does. For the majority of the time, it appears to be a linear path upwards, of growth. But for the waves, we learn, and then fall back to a reverted, we rework up the wave and fortify our growth for the next wave. Improving on our floor and ceiling. Until a time when the struggle is not internal, but the external forces us crashing down…our life’s crucible…until the inevitable path of ageing humbles us back to nearly, “go.” We call it the end. Death.

Elsewhere in the Morlock tunnel, the tiniest silhouetted crowd:

“Your crazy! Selena’s a vampire —“

-Wolverine, here is his mug spinning conflict.

Kitty, the kid:

“And if we do, we answer to you, huh?! Who appointed you keeper of my conscience, fella?!!”

Ororo: “Enough. Both of you. What is done, is done. I understand your decision Logan. That doesn’t mean I section it.”

“Rachel still lives.”

Ororo invites Callisto to help, and Callisto lays out a little two clearly, Ororo is the boss…like for everyone in the tunnel, no mater their affiliation.

Above ground, we can see daylight, at the damaged from the incident with Glow Worm and Bulk, ❌-Factor complex, we have Artie, Vera, WWIII, and Bobby watching Vera’s interview with Trish. Vera and Artie watching Vera and Tish is endearing.

Vera (on TV): “Mutants? Well, mainly they’re sexy! Some of them are REALLY sexy you know…but you tell me your fantasies, Trish, I’ll tell you mine…”

A shot of Beast, who enters with the Jiffy Pop. Artie takes and handful and then leaves.

Artie hear voices and see Cameron speaking with “Shelton.”

“This was more than an attack on mutant hunters! It was a swipe at humankind! Mutants made this mess, and I don’t see why ❌-Factor should be asked to pay for repairs!…”

Deep in the Pentagon, Mystique is transformed into Artie, as Destiny has foreseen that he may be connected with ❌-Factor. The rest of the team is chilling, while the plan is discussed. Spiral is sipping coffee. There is some debate on hunting their own. Julia, in her sick Spider-Woman costume notes Artie is present in the ❌-Factor piece by Trish. They are now questioning ❌-Factor. They don’t have a choice…Uncle Sam wants his pound of flesh, and that’s how the team maintains their pardons. Destiny’s predictions have all of them under the impression, that survival with the tightening rules about mutants around the corner, requires their loyalty to the government, for survival.

It’s nearly dusk, and the light in the shadows of the trees are ideal for your basic mugging. The women in distress and the mugger don’t matter at all to the vampire, Selene. She turns the mugger into dust and his life essence turns her aged frailty into a mid 20th century curvaceous vampire type.

She walks across the street from Central Park to the Hellfire Club.

Selene summons the dark Lords Cardinal; her aid Friedrich von Roehm the Black Rook, Sebastian Shaw the Black King, his aid Tessa, and Harry Leland the Black Bishop. Shaw is annoyed by the meeting and the reality that Rachel didn’t do him any favors, by finishing the job. After all, Rachel was to be the replacement. Harry is afraid of Logan. Shaw is cautious of entanglement with the ❌-Men. Sebastian will do whatever Selene bids. Tessa, simply speaks to what she sees, but is loyal to Shaw. The compromise becomes pursuit of Rachel, with her being kept alive and a desire to avoid entanglement with the ❌-Men…specifically Logan.

Central Park: Then we see Rachel, on the ground, blood running from her nose and mouth; Rachel: “…or I’ll go mad.”💭

She is lost, confused and conflicted, and then she stumbles upon Selene’s latest victims smouldering ashes and cloths. She has both Logan and Selene in her mouth, as her Pheonix effect makes clear the level of torment.

The effect seeks Logan out and strikes him in the Morlock tunnel. Driving him into the path of an oncoming subway car…and in this moment I see Kitty save him, by jumping after him and phasing him through the undergrounds solid underbelly.

Kurt, no power display slouch, teleports in, and teleports them out to the Park above. Caliban is centered. Kitty and Logan heal their deal.

Kitty: “Give me a break! We’re ❌-Men you dope!”

Rogue is taking responsibility, as she didn’t listen to Rachel and turned her away, when they spat over clothing and invasions of the mind. Ororo and has a duality in her reaction. Caliban is cast as tracker, as Logan is not well enough. He has his shirt that Kitty gave him from Japan.

Cameron gets a report of an incident in the Park, which ❌-Factor was invited to help with. A debate is created on which team should show. ❌-Factor or ❌-Terminators. ❌-Factor it is. Jean is giving the boys the cold shoulder and WWIII tries to reach out, but she makes it clear…she is not trusting them for hiding Maddie from her. As he explains there was trouble in the marriage and the context leading up to the marriage, Scott pops around the corner. This gets Scott in his feels…for talking…or if it is because it looks like WWIII is making a move on Jean. Scott snaps at Artie. Bobby and Hank, back up Scott, not having witnessed the abuse…he should limit his exposure out there. So stay home kid. As Jean tries to admonish Scott, the distracted team doesn’t notice Artie take off.

Artie sees Freedom Force is following ❌-Factor in a government chopper. On which Destiny realizes Artie, is not with the team they are following. Cameron had seen and then ignored Artie, who is now rushing through a crowd at the Park, where Freedom Force attempts to detain the child, as ❌-Factor is confronts them. A convergence of moving characters. At this moment, Spiral does a quick dance, as she claims she senses something near by and leaves.

Scott calls out the fact that Spiral left, and in doing so, reveals he is familiar with Mystique and the team. When he does this, Destiny realises there is a “nexus of probability” around Jean or..no… Jean’s offspring. The two teams go at each other, either playing naive or not fully understanding the context.

Jean requests Artie to step behind her, but Blob presents government papers; and then Spider-Woman puts webs in their path. In this moment our newest hero, Skids, slips him off the web and then Spider-Woman tries for grab her. Wonderfully, slipping off her as Skids goes up and Spider-Woman goes down.

As the battle deescalates…Skids takes Artie under her wing. She saves her damsel in distress. Artie is completely entrusted in his hero. They rush past Trish, nocking her on her arse. A crowed chasing after them. Skids confronts the crowd. They through rocks. Which bounce off her.

Blob and then Avalanche try to stop Artie and Skids from running, but the kids are able to evade them thus far. While ❌-Factor tries to get back to the scene, but are distracted by Trish, a crowed of bigots, cops. They didn’t summon the Avengers, who live across the street, because they don’t trust all of them, because word is they have mutants in their ranks. So they call for fellow “humans,” way down the lower west side of the island in Tribeca. And then Jean see Magneto crossing the street towards the Hellfire Club. From another angle, the moment we see in the third act of X-Men II.

Inside the Hellfire Club: Maggie thinks they have turned against their own kind…not wrong…and they think he is mingling with fellow villains…not wrong. And yet…not right in either case.

Shaw is posting about how elite the club is…especially this part…and since Donald Piece has been absent, who better than Maggie to take what is rightfully his…the title of White King….here is that moment.

Maggie: “You have to be joking.”

Shaw wants it so, specifically because it brings the X-Men into the fold. And Maggie is pointing out last night you tried to murder the X-Men, and have been trying to manipulate his students.

Selene points out, Rachel tried to murder me…sooo…

Maggie: “No doubt, Selene, with good reason.”

Shaw tries to squash this. He confirms Maggie’s take. Because it is fact. Shaw: Mutant v human…and time traveling robot AI made to hate on mutants and murder them. And Shaw gives Magneto his own speech.

Shaw: “You condor us villains, we consider you fools—those days, those labels must be cast aside.”

Hellfire and School for Gifted Youngster must unite v X-Factor, Freedom Force and Nimrod. Maggie will mull it over.

East Harlem, NYC; Further evidence shows that the Hellfire Club is three blocks up from the south east corner of the Park. The Avengers Mansion is nine blocks up. This is from computer generated information being displayed. A bio on Rachel. Beeping alarms. As the page turns we have rejoined our favorite robotic roommate from the future Nimrod, and they have found for whom they hunt. But first he must encourage Thomas, friend Jaime’s son, to get to bed. They will catch up in the morning…after Nimrod completes his central mission.

Artie and Skids head towards Madison Ave where they can duck into the Morlock tunnels.

Freedom Force and ❌-Factor back in Central Park…Destiny saves Mystique from a soda bottle. Jean uses her telekinesis to protest Freedom Force, as the crowd is overwhelmingly the mutants. Mystique pulls out her government badge to settle the crowd. Trish gets into it with Hank, gets into critiquing her media hype; Trish obviously doesn’t get it, and thinks he is defending Mutant Hunters, not Mutants.

Trish: “How can you even pretend you’re against vigilantism and violence?”

Nimrod is scanning the park. Finding multiple classified as Hellfire, Morlocks, and twelve as ❌-Men.

Harvey, Janet, them two love birds…Hellfire henchmen are in the park. Keeping guard on for the Black Queen & King, and Bishop & Rook, and Tessa. Shaw the skeptic is still kvetching to Harry and Tessa…probably the entire way as they crossed the street, regarding, Selene. Friedrich “the fool” von Roehm’s ear….and the Black Rook’s fangs and claws sharpen. He scouts for Rachel, by sent. Shaw has Tessa do the math on this situation, as The Fool claims Rachel’s sent…and leads the way. The Fool is a Panther…Honky Panther of the Netherlands.

Elsewhere in the Park, Scott’s had enough and they leave the scene.

In the Morlock tunnels, an Artie picture forms, there is more as he continues to picture Spider-Woman and something chasing in the tunnel!

Finally ❌-Factor are home and Artie has traced his own image and the image of Skids on the wall of the compound, communicating the team that WWIII to face his fears, from X-Men I film, of the tunnels, in order to save Artie and who ever this girl is.

Destiny, speaking of death surrounding them and her precognitions.

Destiny: “I can see nothing but Death!”

Mystique: “You’re certain?”

Destiny: “I have never been more certain!”

Blob is feeling murderous rage, but Freedom Forces leaves the Park.

As in another section of the Park, Honkey Panther leaps, as Rachel:

”…I don’t need anyWHUAAAA!!!!”

RRRAHRRRR!

Rogue flys in tackling the leaping Honkey Panther, only he scratches her back, and now Rogue has taken on his powers and psyche. Rachel uses a psychic blast on Rogue. As her initial attacker of this evening is limp on the ground and the new one makes her intentions clear. Selene uses her ability to control the molecules of seemingly everything…has the ground cocoon Rogue in a giant anthill. But we get a fastball special…again…from Piotr tossing Kitty…which again, tickles me with the physics of it all…and she phases midair, grabbing Rogue and pulling her from her dirt confinement.

“—in a jiff!”

The tuck and roll. Selene thinks she has control of Rogue…But Rogue is all good now.

Rachel is on the run and now both parties trying to get to her are in a standoff.

A murdered Morlock is what we are seeing; it’s Tommy. Skids and Artie hide, as speculation of Freedom Forces involvement parts Skids lips. An then they are separated by being spooked in the chase. Artie simply overreacts and goes the wrong way, Skids loosing him. Artie comes across a disguise.

Ororo attempts a negotiation to squash this, and let the ❌-Men go after Rachel. But Shaw of all people is like, ‘nah.’ Shaw has, Harry cause Piotr’s mass to increase, and his body sinks into the parks surface. Rogue leaps to grab him, but Selene simply makes her gloves disappear, and she takes on Piotr’s metallic form, as her bare skin touches his sinking form. She is left as such, with him disappearing bellow. Rouge launches into the dirt. Kitty is beginning to panic, and Ororo is cool and cooling to her young protege. She reaches out to Kurt who is elsewhere. Overcomes, she gets him, Callisto and Rogue to…

“Execute an immediate ‘Earthshaker’ against the Lords Cardinal.”

“Storm, he’ll die!”

She requests quickness…as behind her Hellfire henchmen Harvey, Janet, and their coworkers, approach from the bush.

Rachel is elsewhere on the ground in a corner nestled at the bottom of a shelf cliff. She drags herself up and away from the rocky spot.

The henchmen believe they have a jump on Ororo.

When the park is filled with:

“MUTANTS”

The same moment the film X-Men II ended.

As in the Morlock Tunnels an iconic Artie in adult sized cloths walks tunnels and encounters for the first time the silhouette of his best friend. The scene seems scary.

Above Central Park, Nimrod appears, introducing himself and claiming the legal standing of their existence being illegal, as unsanctioned use of their mutant abilities makes them Felons. The crime is punishable by death. The angle has changed from the end of X-Men II, as we have a worms eye view of Nimrod, from the feet of the ❌-Men and the Hellfire Club in the park.

Increasingly removed from the scene, Rachel becomes aware of Nimrod’s presence…and she drags her arse up. The focus is escape from Nimrod.

Kitty is doing the math. And sharing it with Ororo. It’s not mathing, as it is just them two…and Kitty is the only one with powers. When, Ororo’s “Earthshaker?” It arrives. The ground shakes and out of it shoots Rogue, still looking like Colossus. Hellfire Club is caught off guard. Kitty phases into the ground. Callisto leaps to save Ororo from Harvey and Janet's henchmen snipers, as Nightcrawler and Logan teleport behind the henchmen, scaring them out of the bush. Rogue tosses Shaw, a fastball special towards Nimrod. Which makes it so Nimrod, not Rogue is putting energy into the energy suck, that is Shaw. Nimrod does the calculation, and his energy results in sending Shaw into space…the math says he will die. We’ll see. Selene thinks she has control now, but unfortunately, her powers have zero effect on the Sentinel, Nimrod. Ororo has the two Morlocks find and keep Rachel safe. Ororo suggested the Hellfire Club and ❌-Men, join forces. Honkey Panther responds by attacking her. Logan steps in. And then Nimrod simply vaporises Honkey Panther. Nimrod has his sights set on the flying irritant Rogue. He hits her with energy and she falls from the sky…no longer metallic.

Rachel notices from aways away. Rachel is distracted by music. And there are lights too! It’s really an alluring architectural marvel.

Spiral: “Welcome child—to the BODY SHOP…where, if you so desire…we’ll make a new you!”

Rachel is taken in by the grifter, as it offers shelter from the hunt and escape from her own mind.

Ororo saves Leland from a Nimrod blast that is seen throughout the city. Leland is messing with Nimrod’s mass…and it is working. Nimrod is being forced to divert power from all systems, as his “mass increasing geometrically!”

Kurt is going to try something that worked before. Ororo instructs him not to for that reason. Attempting to teleport a portion of Nimrod results in Kurt teleporting in agony and terror to an unknown.

❌-Factor is forced to go out again, to track down Artie in the Morlock tunnels as ❌-Terminators. WWIII is given pause, we see a crucified WWIII on an X…the shot from X-Men I. Jean touches his hand.

At the Body Shop Rachel is able to perceive that the shop itself is a spiral without a visible top from their vantage point. Rachel feels she knows the sales clerk (she does…we do), and she can leave, but dance and her desires will happen. She will become unrecognisable.

Harry has a heart attack it seems…as he was so close to defeating Nimrod. And then Colossus hand grabs the ankle of the recently grounded sentinel.

The shots of the Park alternate from the ground skirmish with the body shop in the Park…all dancing.

Meanwhile, in the Morlock tunnels, bellow…

Leech:

“Who?”

“Talk?

Not

Talk?”

Artie pokes his lack of a nose.

They smile at each other.

“Come.”

And he brings his new best friend to Caliban.

Above in Central Park: Kitty uses her phasing on the electrical system that is Nimrod.

WHAM! and Piotr’s body slams Nimrod.

THOOM

For good measure.

While near by, Rachel dances through her past design aesthetics.

Selene is actually helpful for a moment…as she binds the grounded Nimrod with wires.

Leland commits a last act. A heroic one. He changes the mass of Shaw, who last seen was headed out of the atmosphere. In reverse, he is pulled into Nimrod. Shaw acts as a projectile few if any have ever encountered…never you mind survived.

Logan: “had his faults, but he made his exit with style.”

Logan is ready to finish Nimrod off…but Nimrod teleports away. Logan critiques his wasted breath.

Tessa mentions the cops coming. So the mutants scurry like rats.

Rachel sees a last image at the top of the spiral. Her fellow ❌-Men. She hesitates, but rejects that path. Spiral is delighted. Spiral has control over Rachel’s new self…or so we are to believe.

❌-Factor find Skids, who invites herself. Jean and WIII retreat with the girl. The rest of ❌-Factor continue on and hear:

EEEYAHHH!

As do Caliban, Leech and Artie, elsewhere in the tunnels.

“AND NEARBY, IN THE TUNNELS MUTANTS START TO DIE…”

At the Pentagon, Val reads Freedom Forces the riot act for not bringing Artie in. After this, Blob is like…that was totally the ❌-Men we just fought. And Mystique is like obviously. And she has a plan. Use the government access to look into WWIII and then use Trish to hound them and expose❌-Factor for what it is. A dangerous hypocrisy. The irony.

Act III:

Act III:

02:30:00

West Coast, Nor Cal, The Bay, SF, Slims: Alison Blaire, AKA Ali, AKA Dazzler is doing some heavy lifting of sound equipment, as Lila Cheney’s band; Ali, Conal Duran, Grey Havero, Ben Locklin, and Phil Hovannes are breaking down, after a set. Ali notes the enhanced strength of all mutants. She passes on Conal’s invite to the after party. He is on her case for acting like a solo act, and not being part of the band socially. Ali sets up a boundary and heads to the bus. She is now in her head about yelling and how they are kinda right that her separation perpetuates the perception she is a “prima donna,” and is disrespectful to Lila’s status as band leader. She transitions this into a humorous juxtaposition about how she looking in the moment. We transition through thought of isolation paradox as a public Icon and private mutant…which she came out as…but anyway…and Lila is both too…

“I owe her so much…but I hate owing anyone anything.”

She still is trying to prove things to her DAD…when…

“…GASP!”

Her reflection in the mirror shifts to a version of herself that is not reflective of who she is…especially in this moment…we are seeing herself reflection as…

Malice (reflection): “I’m MALICE, Alison. I’m YOU—”

Claims to be her POP DIVA self…and leaps from the mirror, grabbing her by the throat.

Ali (off screen/screen goes black): GET AWAY!

She awakes in the small bus bathroom…and shakes it of…heads to be, seemingly herself.

NYC, Lower West Side: Rogue is taking note of the damage (X-Men II film/Glow Worm and Bulk) at what is the ❌-Factor Complex. Rogue is unfamiliar with ❌-Factor. We can see the twin towers. A haunting reminder to us all. We are witness to Rogue flying around in her head and saving a window washing crew in a way that makes you admire Rogues strength and style…creeps.

Guido (just saved crew member): “—I could KISS you!”

She is selling the heroic branding of the X-Men, as he flirts…she reciprocates and is more forgiving then contemporary audiences might expect…but for the fact that any physical contact with her brings up trauma for her and the other person…which frankly is a whole thing here…and needs to kept in mind. It is the balance of power and problem that is central to Rogue’s character.

Like Ali, she sees herself in a reflection (this time a passing window on a building), and like Ali, her vanity reminds her she looks like she has been working hard.

So we get an impromptu shopping and fashion show…which objectively is very late 80’s big shoulder pads and strong forms of inverted triangles to extenuate an hourglass and perpetuate a sturdy hard rock design with bold monochromatic colors. She settles on a green (on brand) that is accompanied by a block braking up white punkish big belt and outfit that is assisted greatly by full form black tight suit. It works for now. And then the snooty make up artist overworks her face into a clownish look that somehow aligns with an old white man recognizing her as an X-Men…meaning mutant…and he threatens to call X-Factor on this innocent shopper. But he is confronted by her new stalker, Guido…and that man attempts to out man the other man. As the scene shifts their focus to the machismo off…

Woman: “…don’t you DARE fight in here—this is BLOOMINGDALE’S!!!”

Rogue takes off by flight with her bags of boxes of outfits.

She passes a bus, with a full X-Factor ad. Rogue has all she needs to know for now.

She needs to let Ororo know…”—for all the good it will do.”

Meanwhile, in the Pentagon: Tish is on the screen, reporting the leaked news orchestrated by Mystique, the WWIII is the financial backer for ❌-Factor and that he is Angel…and thus…Freedom Force is hopeful the ruse will be exposed, thanks to an assist from governmental computing. Tax dollars at work. Blob is finding this hilarious.

As Chairwoman, Candy, in Philly is calling a board meeting to order at the Worthington Building, as an employee walks in to expose the reality that WWIII is a mutant and they are backing ❌-Factor.

Candy💭: “Blast! Warren…”

…also…they haven’t communicated in weeks…and they are supposedly sleeping together…this is her thinking.

She leaves the meeting for NYC.

The School for Gifted Youngster; A reconnection, as siblings bantering about shredded clothes requiring retrieval from the depths of the closet and memories of a style from the earlier 80’s, a revelation:

Illyana Nikolaevna Rasputin: “Are these sketches yours?”

Piotr Nikolaievitch Rasputin: “I began them when I joined the ❌-MEN.”

Illyana: “They’re lovely—and so are you.”

They were never sent to their intended. And here she is discovering and receiving them after all.

Conversation shifts to Kitty; who is shook by what happened to Rachel and Kurt. Piotr admits he never stopped caring for Kitty. Illyana feels Kitty needs both of them:

Illyana: “…if we don’t look after our own, who the heck will?! Trouble is. Right now, it’s like the ❌-Men—maybe the whole world—is falling to pieces around her.”

Piotr: “Around us all.”

Illyana: ”before it’s to late.”

Piotr: “Perhaps, dear sister it already is.”

Bellow them, phased inside, fiddling with Cerebro; Katherine Anne Pryde:

“RAZZLEFRAZZIT! GRMBLESNTCHKLEICT! Pull loose, you stupid circuit board—AHA!” Now where’d I leave the replacement? Careful! CAREFUL!”

Working…Lockheed’s indifference as a witness.

She just upgraded the system so any ❌-Men can utilize Cerebro’s primary function to find other mutants…not just the telepaths.

So now she can find Kurt and Rachel. Kitty is working the problem. A form of processing, which should give the siblings that sense of hope, that is fleeting them. Kitty of course has her own self doubt. And wonders if they feel better without her, where they are.

Kitty: “The ❌-Men struggle as hard as we can—to help people, to protect the world—and no one cares. Is this what it’s going to be like…for the rest of my life?!”

Piotr: “Quite possibly.”

Kitty: “Be nice if things occasionally got better.”

Piotr: “And if not, what? You wish to quit?!”

Kitty shifts from thoughts of a banana split (Lockheed agrees with this idea…and Piotr hates it). Kitty harbors a sense of betrayal from Rachel’s disapearnsece right now.

Piotr: “I take each moment as it comes.”

His salient point is interrupted by Cerebro’s alarm…it’s got a lead.

A Hudson River Warehouse: Kurt is found per tradition; with humans throwing objects and insults at him a mobbed up formation…and Illyana, Kitty, and Piotr begin to extract him, per usual…well they try a “crazy stunt.” Posing as human, cause they can pass…the three non threatening looking ❌-Men try communication and deescalation tactics. Kitty even goes as far as to let the father, whose children were apparently scared by Kurt’s appearance and kicked of this tired fear parade, that she is afraid of him. And places her own safety on the line, by offering herself up to his desire to bully and abuse Kurt, in the name of protecting his children. This all works. She even feeds him the answer in the form of a question:

“…an I’m just a girl! Hey — maybe I’m a Mutie, too? Ever think of that?!! Maybe we all are?!!”

The crowed begins to disperses in shame and reflection.

Piotr has Rachel’s perspective from her timeline in mind as this is happening.

Kurt seems to have lost his powers…thus his circumstances.

Delacorte Theatre, Central Park; cowboy Logan and punker Ororo have tracked Rachel to this spot. Ororo wonders if there is more to be done, as the trail ends here. Logan wonders if he has done enough, having attempted to murder her, as she was trying to murder Selene. Ororo is of the mind, it should never have gotten that far. Ororo’s issue is not the attempt, but the solo act Logan has tendency to lean in on. She feels Rachel would be there now, had they been together in that moment. She leans into, we are friends, Logan and her…but also, as leader I need to trust you and you need to listen and follow directions.

“All my life, darlin’, I’ve been a LOANER.”

Ororo: “Then walk away…”

But in the end:

Ororo: “You must be there.”

Logan: “I will be. To the end.”

Prophetic potential.

For Tommy, LA has become the rail tunnel under Park Avenue, Manhattan, NYC…down the east side of Grand Central Station. “The 20th Century from Chicago is two hours late.” 2D Tommy leaps off: “…and home.”

Beautiful tunnels…home…safe.

“Surpise…”

Am electric harpoon in the back. The beauty holds onto life…until BANG. The Marauders finish the job, with a gunshot.

The Morlock, Mark Hallett AKA Sunder; who carried Annalee’s children in X-Men I film; and five other Morlocks stand around a table in the tunnels.

Sunder asks a clarifying question of…this being a joke…

John Greycrow:*

“Nope.”

“I’m a serious man…”

“…engaged in a serious buisness.”

“And I never joke…”

“…with people who’re about to DIE!”

*AKA Scalphunter .

…cinematic pacing, of revealing him put together the gun and then murders, as he shares his professional respect for the process of murder. Making clear his respect for their deaths.

Next comes Riptide AKA Janos Quested’s hurricane form and throwing stars.

These attacks are inconsequential to Sunder.

Scrambler AKA Kim Il Sung steps into the scene…

Scrambler: “It’s our job. And we take pride…in doing it well.”

…as he is just close enough, exiting the shadows to touch Sunder disrupting his mutation…and now his skin is vulnerable to the throwing stars.

THUP

THOK

THAK

THUP

John Greycrow takes his shot at Sunder.

In an attempt to escape death, an unnamed a Morlock “young woman,” from the tabled group, burns her way through stone. She shouts for Callisto’s help, having made it through the otherside of the wall, running through the tunnels, when…

WHAM!

…an iconic depiction of Arclight AKA Philippa Sontag’s intimidating power, her back blowing through rock sending the “young woman” flying.

A Murauder: “The harpoon is metal in the Inuit’s hand…transmuted to raw energy the instant he throws it.”

“yaiAIERRGH!”

Her death cry and depiction is wholy effecting; her burnt corpse is exacting in its horrificness.

Callisto: “Cybelle…”

The tunnel’s Alley becomes a targeted natural disaster for the Morlocks, Philippa and another Murauder debuting, Vertigo, work in concert to disrupt the ground and internally effect the Morlocks Vasovagal Syncope.

Doing his best to seem serious The Piper summons alligators and bats…who come for the Murauders from down the tunnel, behind them.

School for Gifted Youngster has Dani tending to Brightwind, Logan cowboy chewing wheat on the fence, and Rogue & Colossus bringing hay bails down from the barn. Logan is healing, it remains unclear if this is a systemic issue; Rachel and Central Park was a lot.

Being called out by Rogue on this, means he acts like baby and slices up a pitch fork.

Piotr is concerned at the rate of healing…for sees something is wrong with Logan. Rogue thinks the personality issues are a result of him being out of an action scene.

Kitty in the kitchen foraging for “munchies.” And Maggie takes her six pack of NEW COKE. They banter like it’s the 80’s and he is both her Dad and Headmaster of her School. He is one of those things and this is the 80’s. She however is the one pushing the, ‘this is a school’ and I should do my homework part. She needs the fuel…but won’t be doing supper. To much school work. Maggie is struggling to bring the school fully back online. She air walk phases through the ceiling…

Kitty: “Can’t write a thesis on ethical philosophy and save the world simotaniously, sir. But it’ll be fun to try.”

…right into her’s, Lockheed and Illyana’s room…where Illyana has been waiting for the “food brake.” I suspect Lockheed too! This room has been doing its part to play school.

Logan mopping about on the grounds is surprised by a teleporting out of thin air Kurt, who collapses in his arms…as he has his powers…but they are not working great. Both men are off.

It’s almost as if the person orchestrating things in the background is fully aware of the contexts that lead to the Central Park and obviously set up what is underground…and what is happening with Ali on tour with Lila.

The two furry friends are shocked; the ground opening up under them to reveal an extra monster like purple furry animal sort emerge from the ground…a Morlock who comes to seek their aid.

“MORLOCKS…die!”

In the tunnels: Erg, hearing something while roasting a hebrew national over an open fire in the tunnels. Beautiful Dreamer confirms; A number of Morlocks around them begin to confirm…

Inside the school: a sheet is placed over the Morlocks corpse, as the ❌-Men, which now includes Betsy Braddock AKA Captain Britain AKA Psylocke confer. She is able to communicate what the Morlock saw. The Murauders. The death.

Magneto sighting the SHOAH. Ororo confirms, as leader of both ❌-Men and Morlocks, yes Logan…they are heading to battle. She confirms Magneto his responsibility is to his students…The Mutants. Magneto is resolved to not fail his students again. In his head.

Though Illyana joins them…as transport into the tunnels. Piotr wants her and Kitty to stick with Ororo. Kitty is in her feels, having connected to intimately with the community over the years. Callisto is alive, but clearly this was a massacre already. Bodies…including alligators are in the tunnel.

Vertigo and Riptide attack. Nightcrawler takes out Vertigo, but Riptide takes him down right after. Ororo instructs Illyana to teleport wounded back to the infirmary at the school…and instructs to not bring reinforcements. Illyana thinks Sharron can handle this, but also considers contacting Moira. Ororo gives Rogue her jacket, as her skin has been exposed by the shredding from Riptide’s throwing stars. Callisto is up and Logan is overconfident.

Elsewhere, Greycrow has cornered Annalee and some Morlock children. Annalee’s powers do not affect him as it would others with less disaplin. He tells her as much, as he murders her and the children. Mutants must die, is the job. Annalee’s nightmare of the past couple years ends. Her misery is over, as are her fleeting moments of brightness. A circle completed.

BLAM!

Sunder, as dragged his bulk to Annalee’s and just on the other side of the wall, having heard this, as he is approached by Plague, who collapses next to him.

Kitty and Piotr are haunted by the carnage around them and hear a gunshot. THE gunshot. Echoing.

A budding romance Philippa casually leans against the tunnel wall along the train tracks, the lighting casts shadows, as Greycrow, his murderous gun casually rested on his shoulder, approaches closely.

Greycrow: “My job’s done Sweets. Your turn.”

Philippa: “I thought this’d be a rougher assignment.”

Greycrow: “Be patient Arclight. Our day’s still young.”

Piotr on cue throws down with her…and then Greycrow thinks he has the jump on Kitty…is a trained ninja and can phase…rendering Greycrow kinda helpless and hapless.

Kitty escapes and the Mutant gangs have regrouped. The discover the deaths as they go.

❌-Men, encountering Murauders, including Scrambler, who thinks he can effect Ororo…only to have not gotten the memo…she doesn’t have powers to scramble…so she and Callisto simply bet him brutally. Unfortunately, throwing stars and Harpoons are an issue…Piotr is taken out by one of those. When Scrambler makes another error…he attempts to effect Rogue, but her clothes shredded again by throwing stars, exposes her skin…and her contact of skin to his supersedes his conscious efforts to warp her powers…making it so she has his powers and psyche. As this happens, Harpoon AKA Kodiak Noatak, finally has his public moment, having taken out Piotr, sets his sites on Rogue and Kitty leaps into action comes between Rogue and the harpoon, phasing rogue and taking on the brunt of the energy the Harpoon produces.

Piotr is fine it seems, and takes out Riptide…as the throwing stars, as with Sunder have no effect. Piotr seems to brake his neck. And sets his sights on Harpoon. Piotr is unusually pissed.

But Harpoon and Scrambler have made their escape.

Rogue is shocked Piotr killed someone. And she thinks that’s something she or Logan are better suited for. The gangs, not teams, will continue.

A series of tunnels away, Scott in his usual mood, as far as we can tell, because by deign, his costume has him removed from our accessibility to the character. A misunderstanding that informs the character, his role in the ❌-Men; Scott is in he feels, guilt is presenting as impatience. Scott, Hank, and Bobby…focus on the haunting screams. They soon are witnessing:

Philippa, in the foreground, larger than life; bellow her, the middle ground begins with Greycrow firing on the Morolocks. Centered is Harpoon, in the depths of the middle ground, has thrown a harpoon into the back of a Morlock. Who in death is large and off centered, bringing our eye towards the front of this middle ground, the focal point; bellow him a body in this space in this section of the tunnel is an architectural marvel; released to explore the background; a chaotic mess of death and fear, where we spot Erg running with Morlock Beautiful Dreamer in his arms.

Philippa attempts to counter what Scott is cooking up, but it fails to counter the escape of Erg, Beautiful Dreamer, and ❌-Factor.

Miles away in the tunnels Jean & WWIII. Her green and yellow contrasted with his red and white. Bellow these two old flirty friends, Skids is floating along. They are miles away, and on their heels, after encountering Freedom Force in Central Park, they hear screaming, and Skids is pleading for them to go back to help. Jean and WWIII promise to return, once she is safe…Skids is fine skating along at her own pace, but has a sense of urgency. Skids is trying to confirm she understands the ❌-Terminators and ❌-Factor branding and reality right. And she is still not getting it. She buys they are not one and the same…and even though Artie seems fine with ❌-Factor, she figures they brainwashed him…and by the time they get to surface and rooftop, they are now video chatting with Cameron Hodge…and Skids is like…but he is ❌-Factor’s PR guy. And she finally gets who they are…but has a real understanding of the effects of the propaganda and that alone means…❌-Factor sucks and she need to make run for it. WWIII tries to stop her, as she calls out whomever had this terrible idea. Why have they not helped Artie? Why have they stopped her?

Jean, Chuck’s fave student, is a JERK!…and attempts to contain SKIDS in a bunch of telekinetically manipulated scrap metal. She does so. Jean graduated with honors from Chuck’s School for Gifted Educators. For sure.

Back in The Alley, Kitty is stuck, phased. She cannot solidify after being hit with the electrical energy of the harpoon. Rogue is blaming herself for being in harms way. The sanctimonious guilt, arrives at Ororo with a dying on this hill kinda nonsense. Logan calls her out on the execution and on her rallying cry. Ororo blames her leadership. Logan has a long life and some wisdom to chill here. Ororo dispatches Logan to find one captive to interrogate and then go murder the rest.

Elsewhere in the tunnels; Caliban, his iconic Shushi logo on, and is accompanied by our POV team of Artie and Leech. Our three innocent fast friends walk the tunnels, comforted by each other. Because they are with Leech, Artie cannot communicate with his mutation’s visual lexicon, and Caliban cannot use his mutant tracking…Caliban attempts to walk far enough away, so as he can sense the presence of other mutants…because they can hear the screaming…having the sense to track them, with his own heightened senses…to help. Poor Caliban, as he senses something is tackled and scratched. Leech shoves Artie into a drain pipe. But by whom?

Because Leech has the vantage point, is blocking the drain, and Artie cannot communicate, as Scott, Bobby and Hank show; Scott having blasted whomever is scratching folks and thinks they have taken them off the board with that…just as quickly leave behind Leech and Artie the task of trying to stuff Caliban in a drain tube, before the shadowy figure, Sabertooth awakes…which by millimeters they are successful at doing.

At the ❌-Factor complex; Jean, WWIII and Skids (who is sleeping it off in a chair) we see Cam videos in, to showcase Tish’s reporting. WWIII world comes crashing down around him.

Back in the tunnels…The Alley…Marauder, Blockbuster debuts…He knocks poor Tar Baby into Ape…They are stuck together…’cause tar. Vertigo is back in action…when Bobby shows and tries to freeze Blockbuster….but is then thrown off balance by a case of vertigo. Scott blast Blockbuster as he breaks free from ice. And then Scott, still balsting, gets the vertigo too. Hank pops in to knock her off her game.

Erg and Beautiful Dreamer are reunited with their friends Tar and Ape.

Tunnels away, Leech and Artie come out the other end of their drain pipe, and Leech pleads for his new BFF to make a run for it…allowing Artie’s powers to return and from him show us a nice image of Scott, Hank and Bobby. He passes bodies.

At ❌-Factor Complex, WWIII is distracted by everything falling apart. Skids, still passed out. Jean is basically, get over yourself. You did your best, WWIII. They are coming to terms with the events that have unfolded. They are at a place where, it is what it is. Including the part about Scott being not what Jean needs. He is a mess. WWIII kissed the top of her head as they comfort each other. AND Candy walks in.

Candy: “I’ve overlooked you Philandering before, but this is the limit! And you Jean Grey…haven’t you wreaked enough relationships? Enough LIVES? You’re a mutant all right? But your real power is to make men fall in love with you and destroy them! Warren…Angel…you can tee your Vice Presidency and you can SHOVE it!”

And with that she walks out of the story.

A groggy Skids is awoken by Candy’s walk off. Jean tells WWIII to go after Candy. Jean is headed to the tunnels to help Scott and the boys save Artie. Warren makes the fateful call to ignore Jean’s instructions, and Candy’s wisdom…and follow his heart after Jean instead.

The School for Gifted Youngsters: The Mutants; Amara, Berto, Rahne, Dani, Sam are in the hallway, responding to a noise coming from the ❌-Men’s wing of the School. They find their classmates; Illyana, Doug, Warlock investigating a burnt whole in the middle of the elevator doors. Lockheed had blown a small dragon sized hole in them. Sam cannonball’s down the elevator shaft, he and Dani coordinating like the gang leaders they are. Dani heads out towards the stable to check on Brightwind and then to head off Lockheed at Warlocks’ self friend Blackbird’s Hanger. At the circular entrance outside the front of the school looming over it, filling the sky is, Death.

As Dani, a valkyrie, summons subconsciously, Death whenever the dying are at hand.

A realm away, Hela, the goddess of death, observes from her throne room, as Thor, is talking with some kids in Central Park. There because Death has been and is afoot. Kids are enjoying nature, as he tells this story to them. And he is approached by frogs. One leaps into his hand. An old friend from his Frog Thor days. The frog provides him alarming news and he heads to the underground.

Bellow, under NYC, the still shadowy figure, Sabertooth is about to take out another Morlock. As Harpoon watches his teammate...the Morlock, Plague however can handle herself...and before Harpoon can assist, Skids appears out of nowhere...and takes out Harpoon, and rescues Plague, as Jean and WWIII on the hunt, intercede, as does Philippa; plus a new Marauder…Prism makes his debut…as Scott, Hank and Bobby make their approach. Scott takes out Philippa…so Prism lights up and takes out the room…Hank and Scott are then set off by Scrambler…which creates a chaotic mess…that knocks out Hank and Scott…as Prism then runs into Jean…who shatters him against a wall, killing him. Still, in obscured from a clear view, Sabertooth slinks off to kill, not be killed. Philippa, recovered, and grabs Scrambler, who got knocked out by WWIII…The two Murauders escape down a tunnel. Plague sorters off, down a tunnel, seemingly injured, but alive. Jean now has to telekinetically drag Hank and Scott’s bodies out of the tunnels. Bobby creates an ice barrier….but this causes Angel to be stuck…WWIII makes the call…he really is not thinking clearly. Harpoon awakes bewildered. Vertigo and Blockbuster, standing above him.

Angel is found by Artie…or they just run into each other. A cute moment, interrupted by being cornered by Vertigo, Harpoon and Blockbuster. WWIII has Artie make a run for it…and try and get back to the X-Factor Complex on his own. In time for Vertigo to take on Angel, and then Blockbuster overpowers him as he has vertigo…breaking his wings….and then WWIII crucifi❌es, for the second time in the Morlock tunnels.

Thor arrives precisely at this moment, WWIII is in agony, Marauders still present. Thor battles them, and they scurry off. Thor stands guard as foot steps approach and WWIII has fallen unconscious.

Muir Isle: Muted tones of morning sunrise’s effect on splashing onto rock, framed by the sky and sea; Moira’s morning routine being interrupted by Illyana’s teleporting in through the gate to Limbo, her mutation produces; the naked, fresh out of the shower, Moira sitting uncomfortably in Limbo. Where Illyana shows a window back to Earth, where Lockheed is flying around Blackwing. Illyana conjures a metal outfit, admiring it is not exactly Moira’s vibe. Apologies for the limits of black magic.

The window into the past continues, where Sam, Warlock, and Lockheed are startled, and Kitty phased, as she was stuck when we last saw her; Ororo, Rogue, dragging a bandaged Kurt; Callisto; Piotr; Sunder carry a wounded Morlock, Plague, like a sac of potatoes. Others behind them. Sunder then in agony trips into the school’s under ground hanger…he barely made it to safety. His body gives out there. Moira and Illyana emerge into the now.

Magneto, has with him, Tom, Sharron, and Bets. Moira advises Magneto, this will require setting up combat triage protocols. He follows the Doctor’s lead. Kitty reunites with her roommates, Illyana and Lockheed. Who are not unfazed by her phased form. Ororo gathers around the senior members of the school to bering everyone up to speed on the Morlocks, Murauder’s and the ❌-Men. The murder. Motivation remains unknown. Kitty and Kurt are the concerns at this point.

Logan is still behind, tasked with bringing in a prisoner to interrogate. The students are to follow Moira’s instruction in assisting her. The ❌-Men are to finish evacuation of the Morlocks and then create a security perimeter.

“If the Marauders come visiting…I wish them to have a proper welcome.”

A ways away through the tunnels, Thor defended crucifi❌ WWIII. Thor who removes him from the wall. And carries him through the tunnels.

At the school: Ororo speaks of hope to Callisto, who has concerns for those of their people left behind. They work through the night, unawares of the new day’s sun approaching.

“There is blood everywhere.”

Magneto is showing in crisis, he doesn’t take time to suffer fools. Sam is concerned and lets him know, as he is concerned for mental wellbeing in the moment. Sunder is an unruly patient, making for a challenge to treat from the human professional medical staff they have in Moira and Sharron. Moira has Xuân posses Sunder, as she needs to amputate his leg, but it is to much, and Betsy interjects and showcases she is more than an able telepath…she is more then Maggie understood.

Dani is haunted by Death, and sits in the corner of the hanger, cornered by the death around them. Sam turns his attention to her.

Berto, who stormed off because he is the fool that Magneto had to suffer, is brooding towards the kitchen where Rahne has taken up the role of hospital kitchen chef…he belittles this role and they get into it. His emotional immaturity is disregulating what needs to be deescalated. Sam, concerned with Dani, has lost his cool, and yells at two in the kitchen, as the two in the hall pass.

Dani (towards the underclassmen, not Sam): “How dare you behave like this—no wonder we’re called “X-Babies.”

Dani and Sam attempt to turn this into a teachable moment and have them clean up the kitchen.

Doug is trying to find out what Warlock is thinking, as Warlock has all his sensors trying to perceive the world around them…for security. Ones concern for introspection and the other for defense in crisis.

Xuân’s in Maggie’s office, attempting to call her siblings; Leong and Nga. Who we last saw kidnapped and aged up by Spiral and Mojo, as members of the Bratpack, in X-Men II film. No answer. We learn that Kitty’s phasing is so that she can’t be teleported to Limbo…and this Illyana was unable to do her Black Magic on her to attempt and make her solid. Illyana teleports Xuân to go get her family, as Doug and Warlock approach.

Doug and Warlock are highly concerned, as next they track down Dani, Sam, Rahne and Berto in the kitchen. Dani hears what they have to share…and Dani combines this with the sense…nobody has died since Death appeared…and now there is concern that the Death is coming for whatever is happening with Xuân’s family.

Lower West Side: Jean is left with Scott, Hank, Skids and Bobby back at the ❌-Factor complex. She is determined to find Artie and WWIII. Had Bobby stay behind. Maybe he can contact Spider-Man for help. They haven’t been talking much it seems.

Lower East Side, Manhattan;

KLIK—-whirrr BWHAMM!

…it was dark in the room that Illyana and Xuân teleported into…a light switched to on.

Meanwhile, a student meeting, at the school, is wasting time from Dani’s perspective. Berto has set his bullying on Doug. Doug is not putting up with, being held back by Warlock. Sam is trying to quell it while agreeing with Doug, who was being mature in trying to at least let the ❌-Men know. Dani is dismissive of this, as time is short, and they are overwhelmed…or at least we had seen Magneto wasn’t being receptive earlier. They vote…and now there is hole in the tunnels made by Amara…with students in the tunnel…when they were told to stay put. Their efforts to not be X-Babies undermined by them being X-Babies.

While in the tunnels: Artie makes it through the drain piped begins using his power.

❌-Factor is on the news as the Powers family enjoys some popcorn at home in their Manhattan apartment. A debate about whom ❌-Factor would side with is shared in hushed tones…them or ❌-Terminators would hunt down ❌-Men, Morlocks, or even Franklin. Family chaos turns to bed time. And Franklin Richards is sleeping over. An image projection by Artie shows. Leech cradling Caliban.

Blockbuster and Harpoon sulk, amongst the tunnel’s death, as Vertigo seems unbothered, as from the shadows, Sabertooth’s voice appears, and is not exactly helpful, as he rubs in their lack of success, in their faces. Blockbuster sulks off, being cut by words. Seeking redemption. Still in shadow, Sabertooth, smells something…and leaves. Leaving Harpoon and Vertigo.

The Powers kids and Franklin are in the tunnels again, and a shadow, that is not Logan attacks them. Escape. They encounter Annalee’s body…and other Morlock children. The kids vote to stick together and find Leech and then leave. They find Leech and Caliban, but not Artie. Thus, loose their powers. So they encounter Harpoon, Blockbuster and Vertigo, running from Thor. Franklin has Leech back away…powers are activated. Jean shows. They chase off the Murauders together. Leech and Caliban go with Jean. Powers kids regrouping above ground in the pink hue of morning.

Elsewhere, below in the Morlock tunnel maze; We are finally seeing Logan follow through on Ororo’s instructions we have heard across issues now. He tracks over dead and dying Morlock bodies…and rats. Bets mind links with him, which makes him pissy, to tell him what he already knows, per Ororo’s instructions. Bring back a living Murauder. Bets and Logan get off on the wrong foot here.

Bets 💭: “Of all the conceited, arrogant, bloody FOOLS—! Problem is, do I mean Wolverine…or myself?!

She takes the Cerebro helmet off, that Kitty fixed. She has not found survivors, beyond those in the care at the school. Maggie, Moira, Callisto, Ororo, and Sharon hover around another lost Morlock, in their care. Callisto is resolute in not bringing them to others care. She believes their bigotry would fail them quicker than Moira and Sharron. Ororo thinks of the nuanced differences between the two groups who call her leader. One being resolute on living in a separate society and the other holding a principle to look beyond the hate for them and try and make inroad by protecting the sanctity of life, even when hate is in its heart. Piotr observes Kitty in her special containment chamber. Ororo checks in. No change. Piotr’s murderous angst has effected Ororo. She has arrived at a point of internal conflict. As she has a code…murder is too far for her to bring herself to…and yet…Piotr’s gentle soul…has her questioning her resolve. Ororo leaves for a run in the forest to the waters edge and jumping off a cliff into it. Piotr had said he was following Ororo, but he is outside Bets door and…his thoughts are in pain and disjointed, per Bets.

Piotr: “… h e l p m e…”

His mass collapses on her.

40 Miles south, and further underground, Thor, WWIII on his shoulder, comes across Artie, who shares a vision of death. Thor offers his guidance. When Blockbuster comes in through the ceiling. Thor is taken down, his arm injured; so Angel, who seemed nearly dead, finds the strength to choke Blockbuster from behind. Blockbuster turns the tables, when Thor takes Mjolnir and smashes Blockbusters face with it; killing him. WWIII blacks out. So Thor caries him on, as Artie accompanies him. Thor impressed by the fallen angels efforts.

In the ❌-Men hanger: Tom is dressed as Rambo, and is accompanied by Rogue in iconic black suit, dark green top, Storms leather vest, white punk belt, lime green swashbuckling boots. Bets mind links them in for help. Rogue flys off from the Hanger’s hole in the wall.

Rogue lifts Piotr off, as Moira, Maggie, and Callisto approach. Magneto is not at all helpful here.

In the tunnels: Artie finds Leech, Caliban and Jean, who is bit banged up herself. And then they see Thor with WWIII. The mutants part ways with the deity.

Ways off from there: Logan is trying to reach Bets…but she is not at her station…Logan has the sent of ❌-Factor and Murauders, amongst Morlocks. He is struck by the fact that Scott, WWIII, Bobby and Hank are associated with ❌-Factor…who is hunting mutants. Logan smells a female sent, one he knows as well as his own. Must be a mistake (Jean’s dead)…and then he is attacked from behind.

Elsewhere, in the tunnels, Jean, Caliban, Artie, with sizable distance from Leech, so as Jean can drag WWIII along with her telekinesis, find themselves under attack from what remains of the Morlock subset Tunnelers; Berserker with his iconic hawk, and angsty aggressive peeving, and our old frenemy Masque.

At the school; Rogue is trying to track down Ororo, as Piotr never did and now there is an issue there. Ororo is out of the water and ripping her clothes off…running naked in the woods. Moira has Piotr on a table in his Colossus form. She has no readings of life…normal in this form…

Bets psi prob reveals he is barely alive and it is urgent. Magneto is of actual use and does an assessment by using his magnetism. It works to a point…his face moves, but Piotr is otherwise paralyzed.

Logan is bing hounded by Sabertooth in the tunnels. They are face to face for the first time. We see Sabertooth for the first time. They do have a past…but we turn to the future:

Sabertooth: “MR. SINSITER’s dealin’ a game that don’t allow for wild cards like the Morlocks—or you ❌-Chumps, either—”

And with that we have named our ARCH!

“—so he sent the MURAUDERS to resolve the situation. 'cause we’re the VERY best there is at what we do. Like you USED to be.”

Breakstone Lake: Callisto and Rogue track Ororo. Callisto is going solo. Rogue hands her the leather vest to be returned.

Callisto: “Vest’s her badge of office. I wore one like it. Ororo won leadership of the Morlocks away from me. Be real kick if tonight I took the ❌-Men away from here.”

Callisto has found Ororo who had taken a dress from a laundry line. She confronted her with aggression and physicality, as Ororo is wanting to let go of it all. She believes she has driven the ❌-Men to this, and wants to wash her hands of leadership. Callisto only sees one way past this…through her. As everyone is in truama, and there is no getting around that. Callisto will not abide abandonment, folks put trust in their leaders. Ororo has nothing less to give, obligations, a code…she is broke. Callisto is the repercussion of such folly.

Ororo: “Leave me alone.”

Callisto: “make me.”

Ororo: “My life is my own. I will live it as I please.”

Callisto: “Uh-uh! You lost the privilege—same as I did—the day you donned this vest!”

They fight above a water fall.

In the foregrounds of The Tunnels, lays Healer’s body. In the background two fellow mutants who have healing powers. Logan fells Sabertooth in rubble. Takes Healer in his arms.

In the grass now, near the school, Callisto shocks her and Ororo both by showing care. The fight turns to a returning of the vest and a path back to worth of it and of self for Ororo.

In the Morlock tunnels; Jean knocks down the Tunnelers, with telekinesis…and then folks begin to talk it out. Masque and Leech of all duos work to convince Berserker that maybe it is safer to join in a journey through the tunnels with ❌-Factor. Cooler heads prevail and they walk together.

Sabertooth awakes, brushes off the dust, licks his wounds, scratches his head, and heads down a tunnel, a little worse for ware.

Elsewhere in the tunnels; Hela appears to rub in her pragmatism regarding death in Thor’s face…oh and to make him brittle, while also immortal. He can now never die, but easily brake for eternity, as his arm is in a sling already. To make it worse, she says she “casts him out.” No “respite in the arms of death.” No cuddles. Just eternal suffering, as he calls for her.

She disappears, Thor thinks about his potential for envy of the dead, like Blockbuster; and with this he slams Mjolnir, this brings plasmic energy that surges through the tunnel; wiping it clean as it goes. Erasing death.

Aways away, in these tunnels, Caliban awakens and senses there are not mutants in the Alley. Then a noise is heard and they run for the complex secured door. It shuts in time to avoid the effects of Thors hammer, cleansing it.

In the ❌-Men hanger: Rogue and Tom welcome back Logan, who carries Healer, just barely alive…and he clarifies…he picked up a sent of The Mutants, students, in the tunnels. When suddenly Rogue scoops them all up as the tunnel has some sort of energy surging through it…cleaning it of anything living. The Mutants assumed dead now.

At the ❌-Factor complex, Berserker is enraged again to discover the truth of ❌-Factor. But Erg and Skids are there to deescalate again. But not convince. As Berserker convinces Masque to leave the complex. They disguise themselves and pass cops, making way to the docks. Where they encounter some muggers, older kids; Ralph, Jake, Bob, and an unnamed gang member/fellow mugger and their target, a red headed girl…the gang messes with the wrong folks.

In their NYC apartment; Fatboys; Butch and our hero Darla, are watching horror movies; Wolfman.

Darla: “No! Don’t hurt her! Where’s the HERO!!??”

Butch: “Heh heh.”

Darla: “Please, somebody save her!”

Butch is such an arse…he tosses their cat at Darla, freaking out about the movie, as the Wolfman leaps at the women on the screen…a mirror image of horror. Darla does what she does best…beats the crap at of Butch as he laughs. Adult figures, like the Nanny from Muppet Babies, with voices like Peanuts kids teacher tell them to go turn off the tv and play outside.

Having lost one of their own, earlier in the evening, Ralph, Jake, and Bob are being attacked…and Ralph scrams. Bob and Jake are murdered by Sabertooth. Leaving a woman with red hair, …abandoned to be sleep next to Sabertooth…who needs a nap.

In the newly cleaned tunnels, Darla and Butch meet up with their gang, associated with the Fatboys; its leader Ralph, who we recognize as the one of the muggers who escaped, having been separated from Jake, Bob, the redhead, and the one Masque got their hands on…they are in the tunnels, as Murauders and Thor whipped them clean of Morlocks. The gang is gossiping about Jake, Bob, their lost unnamed friend, and the red headed woman they were ready to assault. How they disappeared after meeting her. Matt is on a rooftop, above this tunnel, witnessing and stops a mugging, by one of the the gang members. Having their mugging broken up by Matt, they book it for the tunnel entrance near by, where they join their not so quiet gang just hanging about. Who in this moment wake up Sabertooth, sleeping near by. As the guy Matt saved gives him an ear full about how Daredevil fighting Nuke into the neighborhood ruined his business and life. Matt has to stop the guy from verbally abusing, tossing him his wallet and heads towards the tunnel bellow them. Matt hears arrives at the tunnel scene, and askes of Sabertooth a simple question:

“Why?!”

Answer: “It comes with the claws.”

We then have alternating juxtapositions of the fight Sabertooth v Matt, with Darla and Butch’s cat v mouse; mirroring Wolfman, the woman, the cat and Darla. Sabertooth abuses Matt. Butch and Darla book the scene, and at home are disgusted to find the dead mouse, and hear the adult legs mumbling about cleaning up after the cat. Sabertooth has other pray in mind, leaves him to finds the redhead dead.

The next morning, back at the place that started it all, the School for Gifted Youngsters: The dawn brings, a calm between storms. At the School we have Moira drinking coffee. She looks at a photo of her and Rahne. As kitchen and table ware floats by…Magneto sets the breakfast table. Brightwind is outside the window. Logan, Ororo, and Callisto sit to replenish their bodies.

While, at the ❌-Factor comlex, on the tv, Tish is reporting on some folks who called 911 and then were found with the faces warped, the unnamed gang member/mugger…Scott and Jean realize Masque did this, and head out.

A close up of Betsy with Cerebro on her head, powers engaged, colorful lights about.

“I am a stranger here.”

She startles Rogue with a mind links as the green and black dressed mutant patrols from the air The School of Gifted Youngsters Estate, extending three miles along Breakstone Lane and a mile inland to Graymalkin Lane. With nothing to report, exhaustion, and cracked ribs, Bets suggests rest. Rogue rejects the nubes concerns. Bets understood the implication…she needs to step up, herself.

Betsy follows through her psi butterfly effect an assessment of current conditions on the estate; the triage continues; Kurt and Piotr are in hospital beds; Kitty, stuck in a state of phasing, in a tube, watched over by Lockheed. Betsy notes her condition without hope, does not present despair for the young POV ❌-Men.

“Half my age…yet her courage shames me.”

The Mutants, failed to heed their elders, and are gone…”surely dead.”

Betsy focuses in on Doug’s room. On how the room displays his care for this classmates. She reflects on how he interceeded and saved her from enslavement by Mojo. How he loves her.

“More deeply and truly then he knows. And how do I feel?”

A twist on Piotr and Kitty inappropriate relationship from the early 80’s, has evolved into a potentially problematic reality…a thought in Betsy’s head.

A classic Jean and Scott sexy time approach the NYC docks…and find the Tunnelers. And fight. A rookie cop interferes and shoots Masque dead. Distraught, Berserker attempts to attack the rookie cop. Scott intercedes, attempting to save the young cop from her would be killer, and in doing so blasts Berserker, attempting to knock him off balance. However, an accident happens, as Berserker absorbers the energy from Scott’s optic blast and hits the water, which tares the energy from him, killing him. Jean is pissed, and the two founding member of ❌-Men are up into the air, returning to the ❌-Factor complex. Leaving more dead mutants behind them.

In the Morlock tunnels; Logan, Maggie, Ororo, and Callisto search…pointless, as Mjolnir sent a cleansing plasma through the entire network. Making all the cleaning Scott and Jean did after Glow Worm and Bulk, pointless.

Callisto: “Nothing left—no bodies, no clothes, no KEEPSAKES?! Our existence has been wiped…from the face of the stinking WORLD! Who did this, Storm?! WHAT DID THIS?!!”

Ororo: “l i g h t n i n g.”

Callisto: “What are you SAYING?!…when we fought…lightening…all over the place…like I’ve NEVER seen before!”

Ororo: “I-saw-I remember.”

Callisto: “Was it your doing…?!…Are you saying you’re responsible for this?!?”

Ororo: “I don’t know.”

As Magneto and Logan discuss the focus at hand, The Mutants…the students…disappeared. Logan argues the worst is what must have happened. Maggie, the optimist, rejects this thinking in his own mind…respectfully.

In this moment of communicating his sense of hope, he reveals to Ororo and Logan…he has been presented the opportunity to join the Hellfire Club as their new White King…Ororo is basically like, ‘you have to be kidding us.’

Again, Magneto points to his own history of conflict with the ❌-Men, and look at him now…its voice of hope. Callisto, chimes in with pragmatism…the Murauder’s are clearly to much…perhaps like the park, they should join forces with the elites murdering 1%…fellow mutants.

Callisto: “If I can stomach joining up with you, you can with Hellfire.”

Astonishing shift by Callisto…given the systemic class system and hate converged to murder Annalee’s kids in X-Men I film.

Betsy has been eves dropping the entire time; manifest psi-self (the butterfly eyes effect), making herself known. She suggests with Cerebro, she could expand the breadth and depth of her telepathic search for The Mutants and Murauders.

Magneto: “At considerable risk to yourself, young lady.”

Magneto is gracious in his full statement, as he rejects Betsy’s idea. Ororo, redirects her to her actual task…telepathically guard the School.

Betsy: “I can do both. I want to help, Storm!”

Ororo: “Then, Psylocke, do as I ask.”

They are alone, in a tunnel, absent of literally anything else…and Ororo the pros pro uses the code name. Logan naturally suggests perhaps we should listen to the youth.

Ororo: “She means well, Logan—but she is too unknown, untested a quantity.”

If only she was more familiar with the UK. Ororo wants no more casualties on her “conscience.”

Betsy: “My language would make a royal marine blush. My thoughts are worse. All they see in me—all they acknowledge—is my SHELL! The sweet, innocent, genteel, princess Di facade. How do I show them…the TIGER within?!”

When she notices an intruder’s psyche…and attempts to investigate closer…

AIRRRGH!

Betsy in horror is rendered to the ground unconscious.

Meanwhile in LA; Ali could care less the festivity taking over the fetivist of places and days. Like Logan, a lone wolf. It’s been months like this. She passes a reflection, and what was dormant for a spell, has returned to taunt her lone wolf punk sense of self, with a warped creepy aging pop star past…Malice is within her and in this moment takes the reigns. She finds attire and a scene to showcase her return as, “DAZZLER—”

Back at “the ❌-Mansion", no longer a school, Rogue is pacing, kicking at grass, wondering in her head, about how if only her Moms could see her now. When…

Rogue: “—whua?!!”

Sabertooth has her by the cutoff green tank top:

“BANG, baby-DOLL!”

SLAMM!

…ing her into a large maple tree, cracking the 1,500 year old tree in half near its base.

THAK!

…across the jaw. Holding her up to the sky by the tank top, back lit by the moon:

“you DEAD!”

Groggy Betsy pulls herself together:

“stupid—BLOODY—-COW!”

A beasts mind, a Murauder…”must alert the ❌-Men”…she has Cerebro on…but a beastly shadow speaks behind her:

“If you’re callin’ for help, Sweetness—”

All of Kitty’s work destroyed by sharp claws…but Betsy telepathically reacts quickly, despite her arm also being slashed. She runs, as he is off his feet. He talks smack, threats…

Betsy: “Talk is cheap…prove it!”

She smiles at him and turns running determinedly.

Moria and Sharron observe from an observation booth’s security screen, above the makeshift triage center. What could they possibly do, more than Betsy is capable of doing. A reasonable assessment.

Betsy, with her enhanced mutant strength, tosses a barbel at Sabertooth, who simply folds it into scrap metal, tossing it back at her. It heading first, and her second out the second story window. Her agility on display, as she grabs the storm drain and with superhuman strength, pulls herself up to the roof. Only she is outclassed by Sabertooth, who is right with her in pace.

She falls through the skylight into Ororo’s room. Surrounded with plants and the nights window lighting she grabs for a knife hanging above the fireplace mantle, as Sabertooth approaches. Disarming her with a punch across the jaw, he has her by the neck and big hair.

The fire poker strikes him in the face, as Logan stands above them a few steps up from the sunken living area, and Ororo with firepower in hand attacks Sabertooth with superior skill. Embarrassing him, as he becomes entangled metal and plantlife. A twisted embarrassment.

The women take their leave. Logan:

SNIKT

Sabertooth: “No problem.”

Strikes first blood, as he flips over Logan, striking along the way. Licks is fingers of blood.

The scrap heads out to the roof top.

And over the edge towards the pool, as they grapple in mid air.

Sploosh!

Magneto joins Betsy and Ororo back in her room, and transforms the metal entanglement into cuffs that will hold legs and arms.

He reports Callisto has found Rogue, referring to her as a child as well. Betsy says she is fine, and thinks that further learning must be acquired of the Murauders…that this is the opportunity to do so. Sabertooth’s mind is formidable to penetrate, and distracted while fighting presents an opportunity. Once constrained that opportunity diminishes. This could prolong Logan’s entanglement, since Sabertooth will not have been captured yet. Maggie is concerned of the risk to Logan. But in the end, Betsy is tasked with entering Sabertooth’s mind, as they hold off from entering the fray.

Betsy engages with her powers in a power stance.

The two beastial mutants engaged in epic battle.

“—they so do love what they do.”

Betsy can see the other Murauders and the shadow of their “Master,” in her minds eye, as she probes.

As the fight is now in the woods, the cliffs, and then Betsy has probed to the answer she was seeking…and lets Logan know…he can now end this.

Logan: “Hear that, sucker?! You been conned!”

Sabertooth responds, as he would, and jumps…Logan dives off the cliff after him. Just close enough to strike a last blow.

Rogue flys down into the water, and pulls her ❌-gang partner up from the depths. Cranky he was not left to find his arch.

Betsy no longer senses Sabertooth’s presence. Dead or not…it is a question.

At the ❌-Factor complex; a horrific discovery for Scott and Jean…from the Doc that WWIII didn’t make it the night. Scott and Jean hold each other, and observe through an observation deck, their school of mutants; Caliban & Skids, Artie & Leech, Erg & Beautiful Dreamer, Tar & Ape.

Later, Ororo is putting her room back together, with Logan and Callisto’s help.

Ororo: “If not for Psylocke, there’d have been another Massacre here. And it’s not over. The Marauder’s keep coming’—’til they get us.”

Logan: “Unless we nail them first.”

Logan suggests they move the wounded to Scotland for recovery and safety. Callisto agrees. Logan admits he owe Betsy and apology and an offer to join the ❌-Men. Betsy steps up, having heard it all, and accepts: “if there are no objections.”

Ororo: “Wolverine speaks for us all, Elizabeth.”

The film nearly ends in embrace and smiles…for now…as the moment is captured with a camera zooming in on Elizabeth’s eye.

Roll credits.

POST CREDITS:

Post Credits:

04:00:00

Post Credits One: The Mutants are recovering, hiding in Limbo. Lost to the ❌-Men. Berto argues with demons, and wonders…perhaps a good thing, as he has found Illyana on S’ym’s table, surround by more to them. It’s a service…one that brings Illyana back from certain death into a new costumed form of death in elegant red and white. She creates a teleportation disk…and with that we bid the well, Mutants.

Post CreditsTwo: Scrambler leans against the entrance to what was the Morlock tunnels, and John Greycrow & Philippa Sontag comes walking out; his arm over her shoulder. And the three walk off to meet with “the others.”

Post Credits Three: From behind, we are in an airport, and a redheaded women sits; a jumbo jet in the background.

*Source Material: 5-46 (< 41, 42, 46)