NEW X-MEN SEASON 2 EPISODE 2
EPISODE 2- FOXX IN THE ATTIC, PART 2
WE OPEN UP IN THE LOUNGE THE NEXT MORNING WHERE THE NEW MUTANTS ASSEMBLE, GOING OVER SOME PLANS AS TO HOW THEY’LL ENTER THE HELLFIRE CLUB SUMMIT. SOFIA SAYS THAT THE CUCKOOS HAVE PROBABLY THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING, BUT THEY SHOULD BE PREPARED. LUCKILY, SANTO, CESS, AND CLARICE SAY THAT THEY GOT SOME IMAGE INDUCERS FROM NIGHTCRAWLER IN HIS CLASS TO TEACH THEM HOW TO BLEND IN. SOFIA NODS, SAYING THAT THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED FOR NOW, BUT THE CUCKOOS CAN ALWAYS PROVIDE A TELEPATHIC ILLUSION JUST IN CASE.
SOFIA: ONE MORE THING. I INVITED THE NEW GIRL TO COME WITH US.
JULIAN GIVES SOFIA A LOOK, SAYING THAT HE THOUGHT THIS WAS A NEW MUTANTS-ONLY MISSION. THEY JUST GOT NEW COSTUMES AND EVERYTHING. CLARICE VOUCHES FOR HER GIRLFRIEND AND SAYS THAT IT WAS A NICE GESTURE. SOFIA NODS, SAYING THAT SHE WANTS TO HELP FOXX HAVE A TRUE X-PERIENCE, WHICH CESSILY CRACKS UP AT. BEFORE JAY CAN SAY ANYTHING, FOXX WALKS IN, SAYING THAT HER EARS WERE BURNING. SOFIA WELCOMES HER AND IS THEN SURPRISED WHEN FOXX SAYS ALL THEIR FULL NAMES, DESPITE ONLY EVER INTERACTING WITH SOFIA AND CLARICE. SANTO THEN ASKS HER IF SHE’S PREPARED, OR IF SHE HAS ANY STRATEGIES FOR BREAKING IN TO THE PLACE. FOXX SMILES COYLY AND SAYS THAT SHE HAS SOMETHING BETTER; A CHAPERONE.
WITH THAT, GAMBIT WALKS IN, ASKING THEM IF THEY WANT TO GO TO HONG KONG, LOOKING A BIT UNCERTAIN AS HE STANDS NEXT TO FOXX.
CUE INTRO AND CREDITS
WE THEN TRANSFER OVER TO THE BLACKBIRD HANGAR WHERE THE STUDENTS APPEAR IN THEIR COSTUMES FOR THE FIRST TIME. WIND DANCER, HELLION, AND ICARUS’S OUTFITS ARE THE SAME AS THOSE FROM THE ACADEMY X ERA WHILE X-23, MERCURY, AND ROCKSLIDE’S ARE FROM THE KYOST ERA. BLINK’S OUTFIT IS HER BASIC EXILES COSTUME, WITH HER HAIR PULLED INTO A PONYTAIL LIKE IN THE SECRET WARS AGE OF APOCALYPSE COMIC. I WILL INCLUDE A SONG HERE, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHICH ONE.
THE CUCKOOS COMPLIMENT THEIR OUTFITS AND SAY THAT THEY’RE PREPPED AND READY TO ALTER THE MINDS OF EVERYONE AT THE SCHOOL SO THEY WON’T BE SUSPICIOUS, BUT GAMBIT SAYS THAT THAT’S NOT NECESSARY. HE ALREADY GOT DANI’S CONSENT TO TAKE THEM OUT UNDER THE PRETENSE OF EXTRA CREDIT FOR HIS CLASS. FOXX GRINS AND WALKS INTO THE BLACKBIRD, FOLLOWED BY SOFIA AND THE REST OF THE GROUP, GAMBIT FOLLOWING LAST.
MEANWHILE, ONYXX CAN BE SEEN HEADING OVER TO THE SHIP’S CARGO HOLD, WHERE HE IS CONFRONTED BY HIS TEAMMATES, WHO ASK HIM WHAT HE’S DOING. HE CONFESSES THAT HE DOESN’T TRUST GAMBIT WITH FOXX, AND HE WANTS TO BE THERE IN CASE HE TRIES SOMETHING. MR. SENSITIVE THEN TELLS HIM THAT HE KNOWS ONYXX CAN’T BE SWAYED IN THESE SITUATIONS, SO HE SUGGESTS THAT THEY GO WITH HIM. RADIAN AGREES WITH THEIA, TATTOO, AND TOODLE PIP AGREEING HALFHEARTEDLY. WITH THAT, THEY ENTER THE CARGO HOLD, HAVING TO SQUEEZE IN TO ADJUST TO ONYXX’S BUILD. THE JET THEN TAKES OFF AND FLIES INTO THE AIR.
A FEW MINUTES LATER, SOFIA IS TALKING WITH FOXX IN THE JET, SAYING THAT SHE’S GLAD SHE AGREED TO COME WITH THEM. FOXX NODS, SAYING THAT SHE HAS SOME PLANS OF HER OWN THAT MAY CORRESPOND WITH THEIRS. SOFIA SMILES AND SAYS THAT SHE CAN HELP HER OUT, CESSILY NODDING ENTHUSIASTICALLY. EVENTUALLY, THE CUCKOOS ANNOUNCE THAT THEY’RE HERE, AND THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON A HUGE HONG KONG-STYLE BUILDING THAT COMES INTO FOCUS.
LATER, THE GROUP CHANGES INTO FANCY CLOTHES AND MERCURY, ROCKSLIDE, AND BLINK PUT ON THEIR IMAGE INDUCERS, MAKING THEM LOOK HUMAN. AS THEY ENTER THE BUILDING, ‘FREE’ BY BROODS PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND AS THEY SEE A HUGE CASINO INSIDE FULL OF PEOPLE IN FANCY ATTIRE. SOFIA IS AMAZED BY THE SIGHTS, AND COMMENTS THAT IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THE SUMMIT IS TAKING PLACE YET. CESSILY THEN SUGGESTS THAT THEY SHOULD LOOK AROUND. WITH THAT, THEY DISPERSE, CHECKING OUT THE PLACE.
MEANWHILE, THE OTHER MEMBERS OF GAMBIT’S SQUAD EXIT THE NOW-CLOAKED JET, WITH MR. SENSITIVE LOOKING UP AT A LEDGE HIGHER UP IN THE BUILDING. HE OBSERVES THAT THE OTHERS ARE CLEARLY NOT IN THEIR LINE OF SIGHT, AND HE ASKS TOODLE PIP TO TELEPORT THEM OVER TO THE LEDGE. SHE LOOKS UP, A BIT UNCERTAIN, BUT TELEPORTS THEM ALL OVER TO THE LEDGE, WHICH THEY USE TO GO THROUGH A WINDOW AND INTO THE BUILDING. ONYXX IMMEDIATELY SAYS THAT THEY SHOULD FIND THE OTHERS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEIR TEAMMATE.
MEANWHILE, FOXX WALKS OVER TO GAMBIT, WHO IS LOOKING AT SOME SLOT MACHINES, AND TELLS HIM THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN. THERE’S JUST SOMETHING THAT SHE NEEDS TO DO FIRST, AND THEN SHE’LL BE GONE. GAMBIT NODS, AND TELLS HER TO DO IT FAST. THE SOONER HE CAN STOP BEING BLACKMAILED, THE BETTER. NEARBY, SOFIA HEARS THEM WHISPERING ON THE WIND, BUT IS TOO FAR AWAY TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT.
SANTO COMMENTS ON HOW COOL THE PLACE IS, AND CESSILY IS AMAZED AT HER FIRST SEMI-OFFICIAL MISSION AS A TRAINEE. THE CUCKOOS THEN TELL THEM TO STAY ALERT. THE HELLFIRE CLUB WILL BE ARRIVING SOON. ALL OF A SUDDEN, A QUARTET OF WELL-DRESSED PRE-TEENS (ABOUT THIRTEEN TO FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE) ENTER THE BUILDING, CAUSING EVERYONE TO STOP WHAT THEY’RE DOING AND LOOK AT THEM. LEADING THE GROUP IS A DARK-HAIRED BOY IN A BLACK SUIT, FOLLOWED BY A SWEET-FACED GIRL WITH BLONDE HAIR WHO WEARS A WHITE DRESS AND IS HOLDING A DEAD CAT, WHO SHE PETS LIKE IT’S ALIVE. FLANKING THEM ARE A DARK-SKINNED BOY IN A BLACK SUIT AND A BOY WITH DIRTY BLONDE HAIR IN A WHITE SUIT. ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM OBSERVE IN A MIX OF RESPECT AND FEAR.
MAN: PRESENTING KADE KILGORE, THE BLACK KING, WILHELMINA KENSINGTON, THE WHITE QUEEN, MANUEL ENDUQUE, THE BLACK BISHOP, AND BARON MAXIMILIAN VON KATZENELBOGEN, THE WHITE BISHOP. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GIVE TO YOU THE HELLFIRE CLUB!
SANTO: YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING.
MEANWHILE, BACK AT XAVIER’S, BEAST ENTERS HIS LAB AND WALKS OVER TO MARTHA, WHO IS PERCHED ON A DESK. HE TELLS HER THAT HE HAS GOOD NEWS. WITH HIS EFFORTS COMBINED WITH HELP FROM SAGE AND KITTY PRYDE, HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A NEW SYNTHETIC BODY FOR HER. MARTHA’S BRAIN PULSES IN INTEREST, AND BEAST ASKS HER IF SHE WANTS TO SEE HOW IT LOOKS.
MEANWHILE, NORTHSTAR IS TEACHING HIS FLIGHT CLASS, INSTRUCTING HIS STUDENTS ON HOW TO PERFECT THEIR SKILLS AT FLYING. ANGEL, HOWEVER, SCOFFS AND INSISTS THAT SHE’S GONNA FLY ANY WAY SHE CHOOSES, AND SHE’S UNSURE IF HE KNOWS WHAT’S BEST FOR HER. IF SHE HAD HER WAY, SHE’D HAVE HER WINGS CUT OFF BY A BEVERLY HILLS SURGEON. NORTHSTAR IGNORES HER JADED CYNICISM AND LOOKS OVER AT HER SQUADMATE, BEAK, WHO SEEMS LIKE HE’S NOT EVEN GONNA TRY TO PASS THE CLASS. HE THEN GIVES THEM A CHALLENGE WHERE THEY HAVE TO FLY OVER TO THE GREENHOUSE ON THE HIGHEST FLOOR OF THE SCHOOL. WITH THAT, HE TAKES OFF AND SEVERAL STUDENTS FOLLOW HIM, LEAVING ANGEL AND BARNELL BEHIND.
ANGEL: SO… WANT SOME TEQUILA?
BEAK: YOU CAN STOP BEING NICE. I KNOW YOU DON’T LIKE ME.
ANGEL: IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY, WHY ARE YOU HERE? AT XAVIER’S, I MEAN?
BEAK: I JUST THOUGHT… MAYBE HERE, A GUY LIKE ME COULD SEEM NORMAL.
ANGEL: DREAM ON. NOTHING’S NORMAL ABOUT THIS PLACE… LEAST OF ALL YOU.
BEAK SIGHS AND ASKS ANGEL WHY SHE DOESN’T JUST FLY AWAY THEN, AND SHE TELLS HIM THAT SHE’S HANGING WITH HIM BECAUSE HE MAKES HER REALIZE THERE’S WORSE THINGS TO BE THAN HER. ANGEL THEN TAKES A CHUG OF ALCOHOL WHILE BEAK SAYS THAT IT’S NORMAL FOR HIM, BEING A BIG JOKE. ANGEL AGREES WITH HIM.
BEAK: BUH-KAWW!
ANGEL: KENNN-TUCKY!
WITH THAT, ANGEL TAKES OFF, FLYING LIKE A DRUNK BIRD AND CONTINUING TO MOCK BEAK.
ANGEL: BUCK-BUCK-AWWW! “WHERE’S MS. FROST SO I CAN PRETEND NOT TO BE LOOKING DOWN AT HER BRA?” BUCK!
BEAK: OH YEAH? BUCK YOU!
BEAK THEN RUNS FORWARD AND PUSHES OFF AFTER HER, FLAPPING HIS FLIGHTLESS WINGS AS BEST HE CAN. THIS, UNFORTUNATELY, ONLY HAPPENS FOR THREE LONG, HARROWING SECONDS BEFORE HE PLUMMETS TO THE GROUND.
MEANWHILE, NORTHSTAR OBSERVES THE STUDENTS AS THEY LAND, TELLING AERO TO KEEP HER ARMS TUCKED IN WHEN SHE WANTS TO GO FASTER AND THEN ASKS WHO THEY LOST ALONG THE WAY. MEANWHILE, BEAK GAZES UP AT THE SKY, AS ANGEL COMES INTO HIS FIELD OF VISION AND DECLARES THAT IT’S OFFICIAL. HE’S A DISGRACE TO THE SCHOOL.
BEAK: I WILL NEVER, EVER TRY TO FLY AGAIN! HOW STUPID WAS I TO THINK THIS? FOR ME, THERE’S NOW ONLY THE CIRCUS…
ANGEL: AWW, BEAKIE. I BET I KNOW HOW TO GET YOU ON YOUR FEET. C’MERE, YA FREAK.
WITH THAT, ANGEL GIVES HIM A KISS. WHEN SHE BREAKS OFF, HE ASKS HER WHAT SHE’S DOING, BUT SHE SHUSHES HIM, PUSHING HIM DOWN ON THE GRASS AND KISSING HIM AGAIN. SHE THEN GETS ON TOP OF HIM AND REMOVES HER SHIRT AS BEAK GIVES HER A LOOK THAT COMBINES THE THOUGHTS OF ‘WHAT IS GOING ON?’ AND ‘THIS IS AMAZING.’ THEY KISS AGAIN AS THE CAMERA ZOOMS OUT ON THE FOREST AROUND THEM. ‘DANGEROUS WOMAN’ BY ARIANA GRANDE PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.
IN HONG KONG, THE MEMBERS OF GAMBIT’S SQUAD MOVE AROUND A DARK HALLWAY, CHATTERING AMONGST THEMSELVES. EVENTUALLY, THEIA LOOKS OVER AND NOTICES A GLASS PANE THAT REVEALS THE CASINO ON THE BOTTOM FLOOR. AS SOON AS THE HELLFIRE CLUB IS INTRODUCED, RADIAN ASKS WHAT KIND OF GET-TOGETHER THIS IS, AND TOODLE PIP LOOKS ON, UNCERTAIN.
IN THE CASINO, JULIAN ASKS THE CUCKOOS IF THEY KNEW THAT THE HELLFIRE CLUB WAS BEING RUN BY CHILDREN. THEY SIMPLY RESPOND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INCARNATIONS OF THE HELLFIRE CLUB. THEY’RE NOT REALLY SURE HOW THIS HAPPENED, BUT WHAT THEY DO KNOW IS THAT THE CLUB’S NEW OWNERS ARE MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.
JAY: THEY JUST LOOK LIKE CHILDREN.
MINDEE: TRUST ME, THEY’RE ANYTHING BUT. THAT GUY OVER THERE IS KADE KILGORE. HIS DAD IS THE CEO OF KILGORE ARMS, ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CORPORATIONS ALIVE. RUMOR HAS IT HE KILLED HIS FATHER IN ORDER TO OBTAIN HIS FORTUNE. KADE IS SHREWD AND CUNNING, WHICH ARE SOME INTERESTING QUALIFICATIONS FOR LEADER.
JULIAN: SOUNDS LIKE A DOUCHE.
PHOEBE: NEXT UP IN MANUEL ENDUQUE, SON OF ONE OF THE RICHEST FAMILIES IN THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE. HIS WEALTH IS BUILT ON THE BACK OF SLAVES, FROM THE DAYS OF HIS GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER, ONE OF WEST AFRICA’S MOST NOTORIOUS SLAVE TRADERS TO TODAY, WHERE HE SELLS HUMANS BY THE BUSHEL IN A DOZEN DIFFERENT GALAXIES.
SOFIA: MADRE DE DIOS…
MINDEE: THAT GUY OVER THERE IS BARON MAXIMILIAN VON KATZENELNBOGEN, AN ORPHAN PRINCE OF THE BAVARIAN ALPS. HE WAS THE YOUNGEST STUDENT EVER TO BE ADMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH AND IS CONSIDERED A SCIENTIFIC PRODIGY.
PHOEBE: RUMOR HAS IT THAT’S NOT EVEN HIS TRUE SURNAME, WHICH HE HOLDS A SECRET.
CELESTE: AND FINALLY, WILHELMINA KENSINGTON. SHE INHERITED THE FORTUNE OF HER MOTHER, A HOTEL ENTREPRENEUR, AFTER HER SUICIDE, ALONG WITH 37 PET CATS. SHE IS A BEAUTY PAGEANT AND MARTIAL ARTS ENTHUSIAST, BUT HER MIND IS THAT OF A DISEASED INSANE ASYLUM PATIENT. SHE’S BASICALLY THE MUSCLE OF THE GROUP, NOT AFRAID TO GET HER HANDS DIRTY.
CLARICE: OH MAN. WHAT HAVE WE GOT OURSELVES INTO?
FOXX: SHUSH. I’M TRYING TO HEAR.
KADE THEN WALKS UP TO A LARGE STAGE, WELCOMING EVERYONE TO THIS SMALL SHINDIG. AS THEY ALL KNOW, HIM AND HIS ASSOCIATES ARE FILTHY RICH FROM THEIR MANY ADVANCEMENTS IN THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY AND THE BLACK MARKET. SO, TO THANK THEM ALL FOR ASSISTING, KADE SAYS THAT HE WANTS TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK. AS HE TALKS, CESSILY SAYS THAT SHE RECOGNIZES SOME OF THE PARTYGOERS FROM LOTS OF RESEARCH. SHE POINTS OUT SEVERAL CRIMINALS IN THE AUDIENCE INCLUDING SILVER SAMURAI, MOONSTONE, TYPHOID MARY, EXTERMINATRIX (WHO SHE REFERS TO AS AN S&M BITCH), AND LORD DEATHSTRIKE, AS WELL AS SOME NEW FACES LIKE THE HARROWER, A DEADLY GENETICIST, RAVHONA, A FORMER MODEL TURNED KILLER, ASTER, AN EXILED FAE, MS. GINGKO AND ALCAUDON, A GIRLFRIEND-AND-GIRLFRIEND ASSASSIN DUO, AND MIRROR, A CREATURE WHO APPEARS TO BE MADE OF REFLECTIVE SURFACES.
JULIAN: WAIT. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
SOFIA: IT MEANS THAT THIS ISN’T A SUMMIT…
KADE: THE FIRST ITEM IS UP FOR GRABS. BIDDING STARTS AT FIFTY.
SOFIA: IT’S AN AUCTION FOR SUPER-VILLAINS.
MEANWHILE, GAMBIT’S SQUAD MAKES THAT SAME CONCLUSION. RADIAN STATES HIS DISBELIEF WHILE THEIA COVERS HER MOUTH IN SHOCK. ONYXX IMMEDIATELY WONDERS WHY FOXX WOULD AGREE TO THIS, AND TOODLE PIP CAN’T HELP HERSELF.
TOODLE PIP: I THINK MAYBE IT’S BECAUSE MYSTIQUE, THE SUPER-VILLAIN, CREATED FOXX TO TRY TO SEDUCE GAMBIT AND NOW SHE’S BLACKMAILED HIM TO ACCOMPANY THE NEW MUTANTS AND THE STEPFORD CUCKOOS TO CHECK OUT THE HELLFIRE CLUB IN HONG KONG IN ORDER TO FAKE HER DEATH SO THAT SHE CAN ESCAPE, BUT I FEEL LIKE SHE HAS SOME ULTERIOR MOTIVE TO THIS.
RADIAN: SHE CREATED FOXX… AS IN… FOXX ISN’T REAL?
TOODLE PIP: AS REAL AS KIM KARDASHIAN’S DERRIERE.
TATTOO: I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING UP WITH THAT SLUT.
ONYXX: NO… FOXX? MY FOXX? THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!
MR. SENSITIVE TELLS ONYXX TO CALM DOWN, BUT HE LASHES OUT AT TOODLE PIP, SAYING THAT SHE’S LYING. THEIA TRIES TO COMFORT HIM, SAYING THAT SHE CAN SEE HOW SOMEONE MIGHT GET HUNG UP ON A GIRL LIKE FOXX. THAT WAS PROBABLY THE WHOLE POINT OF HER AFTER ALL. BUT ONYXX REFUSES TO BELIEVE IT AND STORMS OFF, WITH THE OTHERS YELLING AT HIM TO COME BACK.
BACK IN THE AUCTION, KADE HAS JUST SOLD A GOLD-DIPPED GUN TO EXTERMINATRIX AND THEN ANNOUNCES THAT THIS NEXT ITEM IS WHAT THEY’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. MANUEL THEN BRINGS UP A SILVER BRIEFCASE, WHICH FOXX STARES AT IN INTEREST. KADE ANNOUNCES THAT THIS CASE WAS SOLD TO HIM BY AN UNKNOWN CLIENT. INSIDE IT IS AN UNKNOWN OBJECT, WHICH HE ASSUMES IS AN OBJECT OF RAW POWER.
KADE: WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU COULD POSSIBLY HAVE THE POWER TO MELT THE POLAR ICE CAPS. BLOT OUT THE SUN…
WILHELMINA: KILL A WHOLE BAG FULL OF KITTENS!
KADE: THE LIMIT IS YOUR IMAGINATION.
THE NEW MUTANTS LOOK AT THE CASE IN SHOCK. SOFIA TURNS OVER TO LOOK AT FOXX, AND THEN REALIZES THAT SHE’S NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. JUST THEN, AS THE BIDDING STARTS, THE LIGHTS GO OUT, AND WHEN THEY TURN BACK ON, THE CASE IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. KADE LOOKS AROUND IN SHOCK AND THEN NOTICES CESSILY’S FORM STARTING TO FLICKER. SHE PANICS, TELLING THE OTHERS THAT SOMETHING BUMPED INTO HER IMAGE INDUCER, CAUSING IT TO BE ON THE FRITZ. WITH THAT, HER TRUE FORM IS EXPOSED, AND KADE IMMEDIATELY REALIZES THAT THEY’RE ASSOCIATED WITH THE X-MEN AND HE ACCUSES THEM OF STEALING THE CASE.
KADE: GET THEM! FIRST ONE TO FIND THE CASE GETS IT FOR FREE!
WITH THAT, THE CRIMINALS CONVERGE ON THE MUTANTS, WHO REMOVE THEIR DISGUISES TO REVEAL THEIR COSTUMES. THE CHAOS BEGINS, AND A FREE-FOR-ALL ENSUES AS THE NEW MUTANTS, GAMBIT, AND THE CUCKOOS FIND THEMSELVES FIGHTING THE MANY VILLAINS IN THE AUCTION. WHILE THE VILLAINS ARE DISTRACTED, KADE TELLS HIS ASSOCIATES THAT HE REFUSES TO GIVE AWAY THAT CASE FOR FREE. HE THEN INSTRUCTS WILHELMINA TO GO AND FIND THE CASE AND TO KILL WHOEVER STANDS IN HER WAY, CAUSING THE HOMICIDAL 14-YEAR-OLD TO GRIN AND DRAW A SWORD STRAPPED TO HER THIGH. WITH THAT, SHE JUMPS INTO THE FRAY.
MEANWHILE, SOFIA KNOCKS BACK LORD DEATHSTRIKE AND THEN SAYS THAT SHE NEEDS TO FIND FOXX AND MAKE SURE SHE’S OKAY. GAMBIT YELLS AT HER TO FORGET IT AND WHEN SHE PROTESTS, HE TELLS HER THAT FOXX NEVER EXISTED. SHE WAS MYSTIQUE ALL ALONG. SOFIA HOVERS IN THE AIR, TEARS IN HER EYES, AS SHE ACCUSES HIM OF LYING BEFORE FLYING OFF TOWARD A DOOR NEARBY. GAMBIT LOOKS BACK AT HER AND THEN SEES ALCAUDON, MS. GINKO, RAVHONA, AND ASTER PURSUING HER, AND HE RUNS AFTER THEM, LEAVING THE OTHERS TO DEAL WITH THE ONCOMING CRIMINALS.
AT XAVIER’S, NORTHSTAR IS IN THE MIDDLE OF DISMISSING THE CLASS WHEN A STUDENT TELLS HIM TO CHECK SOMETHING OUT AND ASKING IF IT’S TEAMWORK 101 OR DUMB AND DUMBER. JUST THEN, ANGEL FLIES IN, CARRYING BEAK, WHO SHE THEN DROPS ON THE GROUND. WHEN BEAK LOOKS UP, HE’S POSITIVELY ELATED, AND SAYS THAT SOMETHING JUST HAPPENED THAT HE CAN HARDLY EXPLAIN. NORTHSTAR IMMEDIATELY GUESSES THAT IT’S A GIRL.
BEAK: I HAVE TO STAY HERE NOW! NO GIRL EVER KISSED ME BEFORE, MUCH LESS DID WHAT SHE DID, BUT… SHE KISSED ME! WWAKAWW!
ANGEL CHUCKLES AS THREE OTHER STUDENTS WALK UP TO HER.
PIXIE: OKAY. TWENTY BUCKS IS YOURS, ANGE.
AERO: YOU GUYS ACTUALLY BET HER THAT SHE WOULDN’T KISS THE BEAK? ARE YOU SERIOUS?
AURA: SHE’D KISS A RAT WITH AIDS.
ANGEL: WHERE ANGEL FEARS TO TREAD JUST AIN’T BEEN INVENTED YET!
AS THE STUDENTS WALK AWAY, BEAK SAYS HELLO TO THE UNIVERSE, SAYING THAT THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF HIS LIFE.
MEANWHILE, IN HONG KONG, MYSTIQUE HAS SHIFTED BACK TO HER TRUE FORM AND IS HOLDING THE CASE. SHE SPEAKS INTO AN EARPIECE, SAYING THAT SHE HAS THE CASE AND SHE’S LEAVING NOW. SUDDENLY, SHE RUNS INTO A HARD SURFACE AND FALLS BACK, DROPPING THE CASE. SHE LOOKS UP AND SEES ONYXX STANDING IN FRONT OF HER, ASKING HOW COULD SHE. MYSTIQUE IMMEDIATELY ASKS WHAT HE MEANS.
ONYXX: I WAS IN LOVE WITH YOU! I WOULD’VE WALKED AWAY FROM THIS WHOLE FUCKING SCHOOL TO FOLLOW YOU!
MYSTIQUE: LOOK, KID, IF THAT’S THE CASE, THEN YOU WERE A FOOL. NOW GET OUT OF MY WAY.
ONYXX: YOU LED ME ON! ALL THOSE LITTLE HINTS THAT YOU FELT THE SAME WAY…
MYSTIQUE: HINTS LIKE THREATENING TO RIP YOUR ARM OUT OF YOUR SOCKET?
ONYXX CHARGES AT HER, YELLING AT ‘FOXX’ TO NOT BELITTLE HIM. MYSTIQUE TRIES TO DODGE BUT HE GRABS HER BY THE THROAT AND SLAMS HER AGAINST THE WALL.
MYSTIQUE: GNNN! I’M… NOT… FOXX!
ONYXX: SAY YOU LOVE ME! TURN BACK INTO FOXX AND SAY YOU LOVE ME!
IMMEDIATELY, ONYXX IS BLOWN BACK, AND MYSTIQUE LOOKS UP TO SEE SOFIA STANDING IN FRONT OF HER, A LOOK OF BETRAYAL ON HER FACE. MYSTIQUE TRIES TO GET UP, BUT SOFIA STARES AT HER, SAYING THAT SHE CAN’T BELIEVE IT. MYSTIQUE SIGHS, TELLING HER THAT SHE HAD NO INTENTION TO MISLEAD HER.
SOFIA: YOU WERE MY FRIEND! I TRIED TO BE NICE TO YOU! AND YOU ACCEPTED MY INVITATION TO DO WHAT? TO STEAL A CASE?
MYSTIQUE: SOFIA, PLEASE. IF YOU CONSIDER ME AS A FRIEND, LET ME LEAVE.
SOFIA LOOKS AROUND, UNCERTAIN. SHE LOOKS AT MYSTIQUE, AND THEN AT THE CASE, EYES WIDE. SUDDENLY, ONYXX BARRELS INTO SOFIA IN A RAGE, KNOCKING HER BACK. HE THEN TRIES TO HIT MYSTIQUE, WHO DODGES, CAUSING HIM TO SMASH THE FLOOR.
ONYXX: I WANT YOU!
SOFIA: ONYXX! NO!
SUDDENLY, A KNIFE IS LODGED IN ONYXX’S BACK, WOUNDING HIM. SOFIA LOOKS OVER AND SEES THE FOUR FEMALE ASSASSINS WHO FOLLOWED HER. ALCAUDON THEN DEMANDS THAT MYSTIQUE HAND THE CASE OVER TO HER AND HER COMPANIONS, WHICH SOFIA REFUSES. RAVHONA THEN DASHES AT HER, RAISING HER FIST, BUT SHE IS THEN HIT WITH AN EXPLODING CARD, GAMBIT STANDING BEHIND HER.
MEANWHILE, CESSILY AND CLARICE FIND THEMSELVES SEPARATED FROM THE OTHERS. SUDDENLY, CESSILY IS ALMOST SLICED IN HALF WITH A SWORD, AND SHE LOOKS OVER TO SEE WILHELMINA KENSINGTON CHARGING AT THEM, SWORDS DRAWN. CESSILY SIGHS AND DECLARES THAT SHE REFUSES TO FIGHT A CHILD, BUT SHE WILL FIGHT A PSYCHOPATH. HER HANDS THEN FORM INTO BLADES AS CLARICE SUMMONS SOME ENERGY BLADES OF HER OWN. WITH THAT, THE THREE-WAY SWORDFIGHT BEGINS. AS THAT HAPPENS, JULIAN IS PROJECTING A SHIELD TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE BULLETS THAT EXTERMINATRIX SHOOTS AT HIM, JAY IS FLYING UP AND BATTLING SEVERAL FLYING ADVERSARIES, SANTO IS GRAPPLING WITH THE RHINO, AND LAURA IS FIGHTING TYPHOID MARY.
MEANWHILE, SOFIA AND GAMBIT ARE FIGHTING THE REMAINING THREE ASSASSINS. SOFIA FINDS HERSELF AGAINST MS. GINGKO, WHO ENTRAPS HER IN PLANTS, AND ASTER, WHOSE SMALL STATURE IS USED AS AN ADVANTAGE AS SHE SCRATCHES AT SOFIA’S ARMS AND LEGS. MEANWHILE, ALCAUDON SUMMONS SWORDS FROM THE AIR, FIRING THEM AT GAMBIT AND MYSTIQUE, WHO KICKS ONYXX ONCE TO CONFIRM THAT HE HAS PASSED OUT. THE ASSASSIN THROWS A SWORD AT GAMBIT, WHICH MYSTIQUE NOTICES. IN SLOW MOTION, SHE JUMPS IN FRONT OF THE SWORD, WHICH IMPALES HER SIDE.
BEFORE ALCAUDON CAN FIRE ANOTHER SWORD AT GAMBIT, SHE IS KNOCKED BACK BY A BLINDING LIGHT THAT COMES FROM RADIAN, WHO STANDS WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF GAMBIT’S SQUAD. RAVHONA, WHO HAS NOW GOTTEN UP, CHARGES AT MR. SENSITIVE, WHO BLOCKS HER ATTACKS WHILE DELIVERING SOME PUNCHES OF HIS OWN.
MR. SENSITIVE: RADIAN, TOODLE PIP, HELP GAMBIT WITH SWORD LADY! THEIA, DEAL WITH THE FAIRY GIRL AND HELP SOFIA! TATTOO, YOU TAKE OUT THE PLANT LADY!
SOFIA STRUGGLES TO BREAK FREE FROM THE PLANTS SURROUNDING HER AND IS NOW COVERED IN SCRATCHES, BUT TATTOO SUDDENLY GRABS HER HAND, PHASING HER OUT. SHE THANKS HER AND THEN DELIVERS A MIGHTY GUST OF WIND THAT KNOCKS MS. GINGKO AGAINST A WALL, KNOCKING HER OUT. ALCAUDON IS MOMENTARILY DISTRACTED BY HER GIRLFRIEND’S INJURY AND IS HIT WITH LIGHT BEAMS FROM RADIAN AND EXPLOSIVES FROM GAMBIT. OVERWHELMED, SHE IS THEN GRABBED BY TOODLE PIP, WHO SMILES.
TOODLE PIP: SEE YA. OR AS I LIKE TO SAY, TOODLE PIP.
WITH THAT, THEY’RE BOTH TELEPORTED OUT OF THE BUILDING AND SENT FALLING INTO THE WATER BELOW. TOODLE PIP THEN TELEPORTS AWAY, LEAVING ALCAUDON TO PLUMMET INTO THE WATER. SHE EMERGES FROM THE LAKE, SPITTING OUT WATER AND GLARING BACK AT THE BUILDING.
BACK INSIDE, ASTER DARTS AT THEIA, BUT IS SURPRISED WHEN SHE STOPS MIDAIR THANKS TO THEIA’S GRAVITY FIELD. THEIA THEN TELLS TATTOO THAT SHE’S ALL HERS, AND TATTOO THEN GRABS ASTER IN HER HAND WITH A SMIRK.
TATTOO: GOING DOWN, TINKERBELL.
WITH THAT, SHE PHASES THROUGH THE FLOOR, CRASHING INTO THE CASINO BELOW THEM. ASTER IS KNOCKED OUT WHILE A BRUISED TATTOO DECLARES THAT IT WAS WORTH IT. ELSEWHERE, THE BATTLE IN THE CASINO SEEMS TO BE WINDING DOWN, WITH THE CUCKOOS USING THEIR TELEPATHY TO TURN ADVERSARIES AGAINST EACH OTHER. KADE EVENTUALLY DECLARES TO HIS ASSOCIATES THAT THE AUCTION IS NOW NULL AND VOID, AND BECKONS WILHELMINA TO COME WITH HIM. WHEN SHE DOES, THE HELLFIRE CLUB MEMBERS EXIT THE CASINO.
MEANWHILE, MR. SENSITIVE DUCKS A PUNCH FROM RAVHONA AND THEN RETALIATES WITH A PUNCH OF HIS OWN TO HER JAW. SHE FALLS TO THE GROUND AND DECIDES THAT SHE KNOWS WHEN SHE’S BEATEN. SHE THEN INSTRUCTS MS. GINGKO TO GET THEM BOTH, ALONG WITH ALCAUDON AND ASTER, OUT OF HERE. THE KIMONO-CLAD WOMAN SMILES AND VINES WRAP AROUND THE TWO WOMEN BEFORE SLOWLY RECEDING INTO THE GROUND. MR. SENSITIVE THEN INSTRUCTS THEIA AND RADIAN TO GO DOWNSTAIRS AND FIND TATTOO WHILE TOODLE PIP IS INSTRUCTED TO CHECK ON ONYXX. GAMBIT CAN’T HELP BUT COMMENT ON HOW GOOD THEY WORKED TOGETHER, BUT THEN NOTICES THAT MYSTIQUE IS GONE. AND SO IS THE CASE.
SOFIA TELLS HIM THAT SHE’LL FIND HER BEFORE FLYING OFF. WHILE THE OTHERS HEAD DOWNSTAIRS, SOFIA NOTICES MYSTIQUE CARRYING THE CASE, AND ABOUT TO JUMP OUT THE WINDOW. SHE COMMANDS HER TO STOP AND MYSTIQUE ASKS HER IF SHE’D REALLY DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HER FRIEND. SOFIA TELLS HER THAT SHE’S NOT HER FRIEND. SHE’S NOTHING BUT A SELFISH, MANIPULATIVE, CRIMINAL WHO ONLY CARES ABOUT HERSELF. MYSTIQUE SNAPS AT THAT AND YELLS AT HER THAT SHE’S NOT SELFISH. SOFIA SHUTS UP AS MYSTIQUE’S EXPRESSION TURNS SOMBER.
MYSTIQUE: THE THING IN THIS CASE BELONGS TO MY WIFE. I LOVE HER MORE THAN ANYTHING, AND I’M DOING HER A FAVOR. WHEN I HEARD WHERE YOU WERE GOING, I KNEW THAT THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN WHAT WAS STOLEN FROM HER. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND. AFTER ALL, YOU WOULD DO THE SAME FOR CLARICE. SO, YOU GONNA ARREST ME?
SOFIA STANDS IN FRONT OF HER, SILENTLY. A TEAR RUNS DOWN HER CHEEK AS SHE LOOKS AT THE MUTANT VILLAIN.
SOFIA: GOODBYE, FOXX.
WITH THAT, MYSTIQUE JUMPS OUT THE WINDOW. SOFIA LOOKS OUT, BUT THE SHAPESHIFTER IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. CLARICE AND GAMBIT THEN TELEPORT IN AND ASKS HER WHERE MYSTIQUE WENT. SOFIA TELLS THEM THAT SHE COULDN’T FIND HER. SHE WAS GONE COMPLETELY. CLARICE HUGS HER AND SAYS THAT SHE’S JUST GLAD SHE’S OKAY, AND SOFIA HUGS HER BACK.
LATER, THE GROUP RETURNS TO XAVIER’S AND GAMBIT CONGRATULATES HIS GROUP AGAIN. MR. SENSITIVE SAYS THAT THEY WERE JUST DOING WHAT HE TAUGHT THEM, BUT IT’S A SHAME THAT FOXX WAS A FAKE. THEY WERE REALLY HOPING FOR A SEVENTH MEMBER OF THE GROUP. JUST THEN, BEAST ARRIVES WITH A YOUNG GIRL DRESSED IN A TRAINING UNIFORM. HER HEAD IS COMPLETELY BALD, SAVE FOR A REFLECTIVE DOME VISIBLE ON HER HEAD WHERE HER BRAIN RESTS.
BEAST: LET ME INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO OUR NEW STUDENT, MARTHA JOHANSSON, AKA CEREBELLA.
AS THE EPISODE STARTS TO WRAP UP, THE SONG ‘ETERNAL FLAME’ BY THE BANGLES PLAYS. DURING THIS MONTAGE, SOFIA IS SEEN IN HER ROOM, LOOKING OUT HER WINDOW AND SMILING AS, IN ANOTHER LOCATION, MYSTIQUE OPENS THE CASE TO REVEAL A BOOK, BEFORE MOVING IN TO KISS A WOMAN IN A GOLD MASK. MEANWHILE, GAMBIT’S SQUAD IS BONDING WITH THEIR NEW TEAMMATE, MARTHA, WHO FINALLY HAS A BODY AS GAMBIT MEETS UP WITH ROGUE AND HOLDS HER HAND. ELSEWHERE IN THE SCHOOL, LOA HEADS OVER TO EMMA FROST’S OFFICE. SHE OPENS THE DOOR AND EMMA SMILES, TELLING HER TO COME IN.
MEANWHILE, BEAK IS PLAYING A VIDEO GAME IN THE LOUNGE WHEN ANGEL WALKS IN. SHE LOOKS AROUND, BRIEFLY, BEFORE SITTING DOWN BESIDE HIM. SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE’S EITHER GOING TO CRY OR VOMIT.
BEAK: ANGEL! WHAT’S GOING ON? WHAT’S WRONG?
ANGEL: BEAK… I MESSED UP. I MESSED UP SO BAD…
BEAK: WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT’S WRONG?
ANGEL TAKES A DEEP, SHAKY BREATH.
ANGEL: I’M PREGNANT. THEY’LL THROW US OUT OF SCHOOL IF THEY FIND OUT, BARNELL.
BEAK: US? ANGEL, WHAT ARE YOU… OH GOD.
CLOSE UP ON A GOBSMACKED BEAK AS THE EPISODE CONCLUDES.
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