(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
BEAST: Ah, the infamous Miss Frost.
STORM: Emma Frost. One of the four leaders of the Inner Circle.
BEAST: Their White Queen. We should be careful. She's an extremely powerful telepath.
Yeah, right, but what the hell's she doing here
playing Sleeping Beauty with the U-Men?
CYCLOPS: What the hell are you doing to Jean?
WOLVERINE: What are you saying, Summers? What's this woman got to do with Jeannie?
CYCLOPS: That day, when we lost her, Emma Frost was there.
WOLVERINE: What?
CYCLOPS: She was right there behind Jean, and she wasn't there to help.
Really?
STORM: Wait, hold on. We were there too. Why didn't any of us see her?
Maybe because I was closer, I don't know. Call it an astral projection, but she was there.
Just standing there while Jean died. Watching.
Just watching. What you're really saying is you think she killed Jeannie, right?
Don't be ridiculous. We know what happened. Jean took her own life.
She sacrified herself for us.
Who's to say this chick didn't put that idea inside her head? She's a telepath, right?
What the hell are you doing?
Now's not the time. We came here to find a missing girl, not to avenge Jean.
Who says?
We're X-Men first. Am I clear?
BEAST: Gentlemen, please. The very idea of attacking an unarmed, unconscious woman.
Frankly, I am appalled.
You think I care? If Frost killed Jean, she's going down.
Oh, why bother finding out if she's guilty? That might just complicate things, right?
Good Lord, you're as bad as the monsters we're fighting against.
BEAST: She's right, Logan.
(GASPS)
BEAST: Welcome back, Miss Frost.
KICK: How long are we going to sit here? Those organs are ready to harvest!
If we're going to attack, we need to do it now!
Don't be so impatient, Kick. After all, it's not every day we get the X-Men
delivering themselves to our doorstep. Let's not waste the opportunity.
Keep collecting your data.
KICK: How much damn data do we actually need?
We need to know the full extent of their powers.
We don't want any nasty surprises, do we?
After all, the last time we faced Wolverine, you ended up half a man.
Hmm.
All right. Secure the donors and continue the data feed.
U-MEN A.I.: Understood.
EMMA: Jean Grey? What are you talking about?
WOLVERINE: Oh, come off it. You used your mind voodoo on her, didn't you?
Manipulated her into killing herself.
You're barking up the wrong tree. You X-People aren't even on my radar any more.
You act like I still belong to the Inner Circle.
You're saying you don't?
Wow, you really are hopelessly out of touch, aren't you?
I'm not crazy. I saw you there right before Jean died!
I don't know who or what you saw, but it wasn't me.
Why should we believe you? You were part of the Inner Circle, and for all we know,
you still might be, and are just lying to us.
EMMA: Believe whatever you want. You have me confused with someone who gives a damn.
What made you quit the Inner Circle, if I may ask?
Yes, you may, Dr. McCoy. It'll be a pleasure to speak to someone rational.
It's nice to see that, contrary to rumor,
not all of the X-Men have gone completely around the bend.
Just answer the question.
Since you asked, Dr. McCoy, I was a very different person when I first joined.
It was a long time ago. Things got out of hand.
I couldn't be what Mastermind wanted me to be. So I left.
CYCLOPS: Yeah, according to you. Then you have nothing to hide, right?
(HISAKO GROANS) EMMA: Hisako!
Back off! Stay right where you are.
STORM: There you go. You okay? Don't worry, everything will be all right.
We're all friends here.
Emma!
I've got you.
EMMA: You'll be okay. You just overslept a little.
HISAKO: Oh, my God, I didn't know where you were, I was waiting and waiting.
It would appear you two know each other.
EMMA: Yes. You see, as more and more mutants began manifesting in the area,
Hisako's parents decided it was time to call in someone to help her with her
special gifts. They asked me to be her tutor.
STORM: About her powers. We were told she only showed them once, when she was very young.
True. But, as we all know, they were likely to emerge once Hisako hit puberty.
Her parents didn't want to sit by and wait for her powers to reemerge.
They wanted to make sure she was prepared.
Especially with all the mutants that have gone missing around here recently.
Of course, they tried calling the Xavier Institute, but it was shut down.
Apparently, you were all too busy dealing with your own problems.
Whatever the reason, the X-Men weren't available. And eventually, they found me.
Years ago, I'd been the headmistress of a mutant academy.
After I left the Inner Circle, I went back to it.
I enjoy teaching the next generation how to harness their powers.
I was tutoring a remarkable boy in South America when Hisako's parents contacted me
and asked me to come and work with her.
We began our lessons long distance, communicating telepathically sometimes,
but mostly by more mundane methods.
I have a surprise.
I should be finished here in a few weeks, and then I'm coming to see you.
That's awesome news, Miss Frost. I can't wait to meet you in person.
Same here.
EMMA: Then Hisako disappeared, and I came to Japan as quickly as I could.
I thought I'd be able to reach her with my telepathy but I couldn't make contact at all.
It's like this whole region is sort of a telepathic dead zone.
BEAST: Interesting. Our Cerebro is also unable to scan this area.
EMMA: I went to the spot where Hisako disappeared, hoping to get some trace of her.
But before I could, the U-Men ambushed me.
They injected me with something that inhibited my powers.
Then, everything went dark.
CYCLOPS: I'm sorry, Miss Frost, but it's a little hard for me to believe
that a person like you could be taken out by the U-Men.
EMMA: They were cyborgs, so I couldn't exactly use my telepathy on them, could I?
Besides, I thought if they captured me they might lead me to Hisako.
WOLVERINE: You got a tidy little answer for everything, don't ya?
Someone had to try and find her. No one else was.
Where were you? The vaunted X-Men were all away on vacation.
Grabbing a little me-time.
Emma, who are these people?
Oh, don't be afraid of them. They look scary, but they're all right.
They don't mean us any harm. Not you, anyway.
U-MEN A.I.: Biogenetic analysis complete. Cellular analysis commencing.
Query, continue data feed?
Keep it coming. We need every last genome.
U-MEN A.I.: Affirmative.
(CHUCKLING)
Aw, is the truth too hard to wrap your head around? Big tough guy.
Na, I'm just pissed off they didn't let me skewer you
before we had to listen to all that.
Honestly, I don't believe a word of it either.
EMMA: Hmm.
CYCLOPS: But right now our main concern is
getting Hisako out of here and back to her parents.
Is it just me, or does it seem a little too quiet around here?
They're too chicken to face us.
They probably headed for the hills when they saw us coming.
(MECHANICAL NOISE)
You just had to say something, didn't you?
Worked. Somebody had to draw 'em out.
You're still weak from that last fight, Storm. Leave this one to us.
You look after the girl.
STORM: Be careful.
(SNARLING)
CHARLES: Cyclops, where are you? Beast, Storm, Wolverine!
Why can't I reach you?
(WOLVERINE GRUNTS)
(CYCLOPS GRUNTS)
What's going on?
Hisako, open your eyes. I'm afraid you can't hide from it any more.
This isn't somebody else's fight.
I know.
(CEREBRO WHIRRING)
(GASPS)
Why is it, everything goes hazy
when I try to focus on that one part of northern Japan?
At the same time, I see that boy so clearly.
Could it be, could it have something to do with Yui?
BEAST: It's almost as if those cyborgs
were more interested in analyzing us than fighting us.
WOLVERINE: Well, they're extra parts now. You sure this is the way out?
Feels like we're going in circles.
(WOLVERINE'S CLAWS SLICE THROUGH METAL)
STORM: You feel better now?
I got tired of looking for the exit, so I decided to make my own.
U-MEN A.I.: Subjects designated. X-Men are moving beyond range of scanners.
Data feed has been interrupted.
(GRUMBLING)
KICK: If you'll no longer be needing me.
(GASPS)
What's the matter?
Whatever it was they injected us with, it's wearing off.
I sense a presence somewhere nearby. Dr. McCoy was right.
They are analyzing us. Evaluating our powers.
HISAKO: What is this place?
BEAST: It appears to be another operating room of some kind. Or a laboratory.
WOLVERINE: I don't even wanna know what goes on in here.
These tanks, there's something in them.
KICK: Don't touch!
Do you know how difficult it is keeping organs viable?
And these aren't just any old organs, no.
These possess the secret of unimaginable power.
And why's that? Because they were all harvested from mutants just like you.
What's up, Kick? Miss your lower half?
KICK: Oh, we'll see about that.
(KICK LAUGHING)
(GASPS)
Cyclops, you all right?
(GRUNTING)
You're dead, freak!
(GRUNTING)
(WOLVERINE SCREAMING)
(LAUGHING)
Your adamantium skeleton makes you an easy target for an electromagnet, Wolverine.
And Cyclops' visor is useless if he can't reach it!
I have to admit, Sublime's data is really paying off.
Storm!
Who do you think you're kidding, weather girl? We both know you don't have
enough strength left in you to power a light bulb.
Now, then, it's harvest time, and I see we have a bumper crop.
And start with the girl's organs. After all, she was here first.
But don't worry, I'll get to all of you.
Hold still, now.
It's no use. My telepathy won't work. There's some kind of interference.
BEAST: Cyclops, now!
(KICK SCREAMING)
Both of you, follow me! We're getting out of here.
KICK: I don't think so! I'm not through with her yet!
If you want her, you'll have to go through me.
KICK: If you insist. This will only hurt for a second.
Hisako, please be careful!
HISAKO: That's enough. Stay away from her! I won't let you hurt her!
(KICK GRUNTING)
(YELLING)
(SCREAMING)
WOLVERINE: Huh. Kid's got a mean right hook.
STORM: Wow. So those are Hisako's powers.
It's like a suit of armor. A psionic exoskeleton.
But she's still learning how to control it.
(HISAKO SCREAMING)
EMMA: I was afraid of this!
Why does it hurt so much? What's happening to me? I can't see anything!
Emma, where have you gone? Tell me how can I turn it off!
She's lost control!
It's all new to her. And she's never generated this much power before!
HISAKO: Somebody, anybody! Please, I can't stop!
EMMA: Concentrate, Hisako!
You can stop yourself! Pretend you're riding a bike, kid!
HISAKO: That's not helping!
WOLVERINE: Use your brakes! Hit the brakes, kid!
HISAKO: I'm trying. I don't know how.
Scott, what are you doing?
CYCLOPS: Don't be afraid! You control your power, it doesn't control you!
(SCREAMING)
Hisako! Don't give into it! Don't let it take you over!
I'm not strong enough to make it stop!
You're strong enough! You can do this! Fight it, Hisako!
(HISAKO SCREAMING)
EMMA: Believe, Hisako!
Just believe in yourself.
HISAKO: Emma.
EMMA: We're all here to help you. We all believe in you. But we can't do it for you.
Think of this as your very first lesson. Believe in yourself.
I can do this.
That's it. Now, take a deep breath, and let your powers know that you're in control.
The first lesson's the hardest, and you passed. Well done.
HISAKO: Really?
Most people never manage it. I'm so proud of you.
Thank you.
Okay, I'm man enough to admit it. I was wrong about her. I don't think she killed Jean.
Maybe you didn't see what you thought you did, Cyc.
Whoever you saw with Jean, it wasn't her.
It's hard to believe she had anything to do with it.
I have to say, I'm inclined to agree with them, Scott.
That's fine. But let's not forget.
She's a telepath. And for all we know, she could've been controlling our minds
the whole damn time.
SUBLIME: So much for our base of operations.
That's what I get for letting Kick off his leash,
letting him attack the X-Men and forgetting about our end goal.
Let's wake 'em up and take 'em home.
Yeah.
BEAST: We found the Ichiki girl, Professor, and a number of the other missing.
They seem to be well. The U-Men's plan has been thwarted at least for the moment.
Huh?
KICK: You think you've won, don't you, you little brat?
Well, surprise!
EMMA: No! Hisako!
STORM: Emma Frost has a few surprises up her sleeve
when she attempts to save Hisako from a last-ditch attack by the U-Men,
and the X-Men find the fight isn't over when they're attacked
on the way back to the Xavier Institute.
Meanwhile, Professor X and Beast discover a horrifying truth
about what may be happening in Japan.
Next time on X-Men... "Transformation."