(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
U-MEN A.I.: Warning. Multiple mutant bio-signatures detected.
Genetic scan completed.
Matches found for Cyclops, Storm, Beast, Wolverine.
Bound to happen. We knew they'd come sooner or later.
What fun. Our old friend, Wolverine. And this time, he brought his pals.
BEAST: Now that we're closer, let's see if we can't pick up any mutant activity.
We're coming up on our coordinates.
Keep an eye out for a good place to set her down, Storm.
STORM: Roger that.
So, you've built yourself your own portable little Cerebro, huh?
In a manner of speaking. It should allow any of us to scan for the X-Gene.
Sounds to me like you're horning in on Chuck's action.
Since he couldn't scan anything here,
you think he's starting to lose his touch, don't you?
Not any more than you've lost your charm, Wolverine.
Whatever, furball.
MASTERMIND: Well, what's the news?
SUBLIME: (ON RADIO) It's the X-Men, all right. And they're definitely headed this way.
Not to worry. We're ready. We can handle them.
So you keep telling me.
Sublime out.
(CHUCKLING)
Let the chess game begin, Professor. Your pawns against mine.
MR. ICHIKI: Here's where the police found Hisako's backpack.
Where she dropped it.
MRS. ICHIKI: The one day she takes the bus. The one time.
CYCLOPS: Wait, the one time?
MR. ICHIKI: The car wouldn't start that morning. We thought about keeping her home, but,
there was a test she couldn't afford to miss, so we walked her to the school bus.
MRS. ICHIKI: The bus was early coming home.
The other kids saw her, but we were late meeting it.
MR. ICHIKI: So she walked home through the woods. And somewhere about here...
(MRS. ICHIKI SOBBING)
We're sorry to put you through this, but we need to know everything if we...
MR. ICHIKI: Of course. It's just that we've tried to be so careful
what with all the other people that have gone missing lately.
What others?
MR. ICHIKI: I thought you knew.
MR. ICHIKI: A lot of people, well,
a lot of mutants have been disappearing around here lately.
I guess at least a dozen. Probably more.
It's hard to say exactly, because, well, you see, a lot of folks don't file
a missing persons report or go to the police.
STORM: Why on earth wouldn't they?
I think they're scared that people will find out their family members are mutants.
This area has never been very tolerant, and it's only gotten worse in recent years.
All the hard times, every accident or bit of bad luck is blamed on mutants.
There are a lot of bad feelings here for your kind.
(PHONE RINGING)
CYCLOPS: Something is not right here.
BEAST: Indeed. Do we know of any anti-mutant elements operating in the vicinity?
WOLVERINE: Could be the U-Men.
STORM: Logan, don't jump to conclusions.
It makes sense. I hear there's been sightings of them all over Japan.
The U-Men?
WOLVERINE: Bunch of sickos who get their kicks...
The U-Men are an anti-mutant group. But we have no evidence that they're involved.
(FOOTSTEPS)
That was Mr. Fujiwara on the phone. His grandson's gone missing just like Hisako!
MR. ICHIKI: What?
MRS. ICHIKI: Oh, honey...
MR. ICHIKI: It will be all right.
MRS. ICHIKI: He's a boy who works at the local store.
He went out to make a delivery yesterday
and never came back!
This boy, is he...
Yes. He's a mutant like all the others.
(GASPS)
Hmm.
Fine out what you can from the boy's family. Logan and I will go question his employer.
Right. We'll meet up after.
Yeah. Yeah, it's definitely the same kid.
CYCLOPS: And you're sure of that?
STORE OWNER: Sure I'm sure, but hey, this happened weeks ago, not yesterday.
CYCLOPS: Wait, what?
STORE OWNER: Yeah, I sent him to deliver groceries to somebody who lives
at the foot of that mountain over there. That was like a week ago last Thursday,
and I haven't seen him since.
Between you and me, I've heard rumors the kid was one of them mutants.
Freaks like that, you never know what they're up to. Can't trust 'em.
Believe me, if I'd known he was a mutie,
I never would have hired him in the first place. If I...
Oh, man, you guys are mutants too, aren't you?
WOLVERINE: What if we are?
Wolverine, calm down.
Hey, nothing personal! Didn't mean anything by it!
Look, I gotta get back to work myself, okay? I told you everything I know!
Thanks for your time.
WOLVERINE: Consider yourself lucky.
Great, just what we need around here, more muties.
Pretty soon they're gonna outnumber the real people.
CYCLOPS: Nothing like small town hospitality, huh?
What's the point? We're just wasting our time. Nothing ever changes.
She's still gone.
The big mountain on the edge of the village?
CYCLOPS: That's the one. The kid was delivering something to a place
at the foot of the mountain when he disappeared.
We'll meet you there.
BEAST: Understood.
By the way, it seems it wasn't the boy's grandfather who phoned the Ichikis.
CYCLOPS: What?
The family's so ashamed of his condition they were hoping to keep the whole thing a secret.
CYCLOPS: Then who phoned?
I don't know. But I suggest you watch your back.
CYCLOPS: It's starting to look like that phone call might have been a set-up.
You think we're heading into a trap? Funny, I got that same feeling myself.
Huh. Who's the one who said we'd find the U-Men here? Oh, yeah, me!
CYCLOPS: What makes you so sure it's the U-Men?
Hell, I dunno, Cyc, maybe it's a lucky guess.
Or maybe 'cause they couldn't hit a barn door with a bull's eye painted on it!
Ooh, they've gotten better! Heads up, there's one on your tail!
Already on it.
The soon-to-be ex-X-Men.
(CHUCKLING)
I do hope Scott heeds my warning.
(GRUNTING)
I'd worry a little less about Scott and a little more about us.
Look at 'em run.
(CHUCKLING)
(WOLVERINE GRUNTING)
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
(PANTING)
Storm, are you all right?
Yeah. I've got an idea.
(GRUNTING)
WOLVERINE: Cyclops!
Hey! You trying to get yourself killed? That's my job!
These monsters. No mutant is ever going to be safe while they're around.
We didn't start this fight, but you better believe we're gonna finish it!
(GRUNTS)
(ROARS)
Know what? When I'm the calm and steady one, you know something's wrong. Look out.
Interesting.
WOLVERINE: Look, I know you're still shook up about Jeannie.
But the last thing we want is you losing it. You need to get a grip, man.
For all our sakes.
CYCLOPS: I don't need a lecture on self-control from you, of all people.
Let's get out of here.
U-MEN A.I.: Data retrieval complete.
SUBLIME: Good.
Well, that's the grunt work done. Took long enough, but it was worth it.
Now it's up to you. You've got all the data you need. Put it to good use.
Now for the fun part. (CHUCKLING)
I can't wait to hear them scream and beg me for mercy.
(CHUCKLING)
CHARLES: The U-Men? Are you sure?
BEAST: Positive, Professor. Logan was right. They're definitely involved somehow.
This makes it even more urgent that we find the Ichiki girl, and quickly,
if the stories about the U-Men are true.
X-Force has dealt with them in the past. They harvest mutant organs in order to
replicate their powers. I'm afraid everything you've heard about the U-Men is true.
These are monsters we're dealing with.
Indeed. Storm thinks she may have located their base.
We're on our way there to rendezvous with Cyclops and Wolverine.
CHARLES: Just be careful, Hank.
The X-Men are in for the fight of their lives.
COMPUTER: That number is no longer operative. The Sasaki Institute has been closed.
WOLVERINE: What is it, a hospital?
STORM: Must've been. Or maybe some kind of medical research facility?
It looks completely abandoned. It's creepy.
WOLVERINE: Which makes it perfect for a hideout. Plenty of privacy.
BEAST: Even so, one would expect some security.
It all seems a bit too easy, if you ask me.
CYCLOPS: I have a feeling we're being watched.
BEAST: You're right. I suspect a trap.
WOLVERINE: Hank McCoy, PhD in the obvious.
(MAN GROANING)
You hear that?
(MAN GRUNTING)
(GROANS AND GRUNTS OF EFFORT)
Please, please make it stop.
It hurts, it hurts! Make it stop!
Kill me! Kill me!
It's the delivery boy that went missing. Come on!
No, Cyclops, wait!
CYCLOPS: It's okay, we're here to help you.
(ROARING)
CYCLOPS: No...
WOLVERINE: Cyc! The hell's wrong with you? Get your head in the game!
No, stop it! Don't hurt him! He's just a kid, Logan!
STORM: Not any more he isn't! Look at him!
I'm sorry, Storm's right. He's just too far gone.
His genetic structure is damaged beyond repair. There's nothing I can do.
The boy's beyond our help.
It's not right.
STORM: Cyclops, watch out!
(GROANS)
(GASPS)
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
I'm sorry, but there's nothing any of us can do now but try to put an end to your pain!
Storm!
(BEAST GRUNTS)
(BEAST GROANS)
(STORM CRIES IN PAIN)
CYCLOPS: Stop! Let her go! Don't do this!
Do it! Just take him out! Take the damn shot, Cyc!
It's now or never!
(SCREAMING IN PAIN)
WOLVERINE: What the hell's the matter with you? Do it!
(SCREECHING)
(GROANING)
BOY: You shouldn't feel bad. You had to do it.
But there are still others.
It's not too late to save them.
Save them. Please.
CYCLOPS: Damn it.
What can they hope to accomplish with these monstrous experiments?
CYCLOPS: Hank, open your eyes. They want to get mutants killing mutants.
And so far we're playing right into their hands.
WOLVERINE: Hey, Slim.
Get over it! What would Jeannie say if she saw you now?
Don't even go there. You leave her out of this!
I loved her too, and I know it would've broken her heart
to see you fallin' to pieces like this. Now man up and grow a pair!
WOLVERINE: The kid said there were others. Let's start looking for them.
Are you in?
Who made you team leader? Storm, are you okay?
I'm fine.
STORM: This place is huge.
BEAST: And seemingly deserted.
CYCLOPS: Wait, where's that light coming from?
WOLVERINE: What the hell is this?
BEAST: Some sort of operating room.
But I doubt many lives have been saved here.
WOLVERINE: You know that girl we've been looking for?
Well, I think we just found her.
CYCLOPS: Hisako?
BEAST: Look. Another one.
Emma Frost. What the hell is she doing here?
STORM: The X-man are relieved to find Hisako alive and unharmed.
They're not so happy to find Emma Frost,
a powerful telepath with a dubious past.
She claims she's there to help Hisako, but Scott has his doubts.
While the X-Men are distracted, the U-Men finally spring their trap,
and in the fierce battle that follows, Hisako's mutant powers are awakened.
Next time on X-Men... "Armor."