(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
(GRUNTING)
(CRACKING)
A sentinel? Oh, my God, oh, my God!
(SCREAMING)
No!
Okay, really high, really high!
That's it! I didn't sign up for this!
(STRAINING)
Let me go, you bucket of bolts.
I just started, I can't die yet!
Oh, come on. You don't really wanna do this, do ya?
I'm sure you and I could work something out.
(SCREAMING)
WOLVERINE: Up and at 'em, kiddo.
If that had been the real thing you'd be just a skid mark.
Sorry, Emma.
I really blew it.
You're still learning to use your powers, Hisako.
Rome wasn't built in a day now.
Just curious, what exactly have you been teaching her?
(GRUNTING)
Every one of us has to come to grips with what we are, Frost.
And learning the extent of her mutant powers should have been square one.
WOLVERINE: Yeah, not to mention, working on her guns.
Put it off any longer and who knows what sort of
morally questionable crowd she'll fall in with.
(SCOFFS)
Hey, hold on a minute! Are you talking about Emma?
You can believe whatever you want to, that's fine.
But Emma Frost saved my life
and she risked her own to do it!
You hear me? You owe her an apology!
That's enough, Hisako.
Why are you always so hard on her?
You insult her every chance you get!
Is that the type of teamwork I can expect from the X-Men?
Emma isn't a member of the X-Men, and I don't owe her a damn thing.
You just got here, Hisako.
Maybe you should get through middle school before you go pointing fingers
and passing judgment around here.
Wh... What the heck's that supposed to mean?
I'm in high school!
Don't mind him. He's cranky.
BEAST: It's peculiar. The U-Men abducted both of them,
yet Emma shows no signs of the virus in her system.
We definitely need to check on the other abductees.
I don't know what to make of all this.
Perhaps you can develop an anti-viral drug,
something to halt the progression.
I'm on it.
Once we have a solution in hand,
I'll need the team to pay another visit to northern Japan
to get to the bottom of this.
CHARLES: I think it's about time we added to our family.
And I'd like to nominate Hisako as a junior member of the X-Men.
Are there any objections?
STORM: You kidding? Please, that girl is smart as a whip.
It's settled, then.
I'd also like to propose we accept Emma as a member.
CYCLOPS: What? CHARLES: I think she'd fit in well with the X-Men.
WOLVERINE: Already sold. She protected that kid like a pit-bull in Japan.
CHARLES: What say you, Emma?
Mmm. CYCLOPS: Oh, you gotta be kidding me.
EMMA: Uh. Really? You still doubt me?
I told you, I had nothing to do with Jean's death.
Well, fantastic. Then you have nothing to hide, right?
Let's just let the Professor take a little peek in there, shall we?
I don't think so.
If that's the price of admission for joining the X-Men,
then you can all go straight to hell.
Thought so.
I'm not sharing my private thoughts with anybody, is that clear?
HISAKO: So what's the deal with Cyclops?
He always been such a tool, or what?
Scott?
I don't think I've ever even seen him smile.
(MOCKING CYCLOPS) "Uh, you just got here, Hisako.
"Maybe you should get through middle school before you go pointing fingers.
"Blah, blah, blah." Jerk.
He's the one who goes around judging everybody.
I know Emma feels bad about being part of the Inner Circle.
I can see how sorry she is.
But Cyclops just keeps salting the wound.
It doesn't make him seem like much of a leader.
Well, the truth is, Scott has a wound of his own. A broken heart.
What? One that most likely will never heal.
Give him time.
He's just struggling to find his way at the moment.
In very much the same way you are.
I hadn't really thought of it that way.
If Emma's uncomfortable with a telepathic screening,
it's not my place to force her.
Thank you, Charles.
It's settled, then. Emma is now a member of the team.
Well, it's your call, Professor, but...
But what?
I want you to remember this down the line.
When she stabs us all in the back.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
WOLVERINE: No one here thinks you did anything to hurt Jeannie.
But seeing is believing.
And Cyc is convinced he saw you there, Frost.
Which leaves us one question.
If it wasn't Emma he saw that day,
then who else could it have been?
EMMA: Possibly the head of the Inner Circle.
Projecting my likeness would be a fairly simple matter for him.
He is a powerful illusionist.
Indeed.
But we don't even know where to look for him.
He basically disappeared after our last encounter.
The Inner Circle seemingly ceased operations and vanished.
But if Mastermind is still out there,
there's no telling what havoc he could wreak.
(DOOR OPENS)
Can we help you with anything?
We've come to a decision, Hisako.
You've been made a junior member of the X-Men.
Your training begins immediately.
You...want me to be part of the team?
Miss Frost? Will she be joining us as well, then?
I know Charles was seriously considering the idea.
She will. So both of us?
Hisako, let's go.
Look, I'm sorry, but I don't need you for a teacher.
Emma has always been the one... (GASPS)
Hisako, like it or not, I lead the X-Men.
Now come on, you've got a lot of work to do.
Hm.
(DOOR OPENS)
So what's on the docket this time?
Another giant robot, maybe?
Or maybe it's aliens?
I'm kind of in the mood for vampires if you can swing it.
You'll be fighting me. Huh?
When you're fighting imaginary enemies, there's no real risk.
If you know in the back of your mind that you'll never get hurt,
you'll never give your all.
But...what if I...
I'm your enemy in here.
Do not hold back, because I won't be.
Wait. Are you sure you wanna...
CYCLOPS: Here we go.
HISAKO: Hold on!
This is crazy! You're not my enemy!
What are you doing? Trying to kill me? This isn't funny!
That's good, it's not supposed to be.
(GRUNTING)
Ain't screwing around, is he?
(GRUNTS)
Okay, this is bad! Really bad!
We could stop at any time!
(YELLS)
Stop it! Are you actually trying to kill me?
I told you, I am not holding back!
I can see that.
He's out of his freaking mind!
Son of a...
I got nothing against a little bit of sparring,
but she's just a kid, what's he doing?
He's gone too far.
I'm stopping this.
EMMA: Wait.
Don't interfere just yet.
And if we're too late? Then what?
We won't be. Just wait.
Hisako hasn't unleashed her powers yet.
Seriously, what is your deal?
Please, Cyclops, don't do this!
Your enemies aren't going to let up just because you ask them.
And if you can't control you powers,
you'll just be another victim.
I don't want that to happen.
Then use what you were born with,
and see if you can stop me.
(GROANING)
(GRUNTING)
Cyc's visor's on too tight. He's lost it!
He's trying to provoke her.
To draw out her power.
No!
It's happening again!
Come on! You have to control it!
But I... I don't know how.
You can do this, Hisako.
Try to focus. Control your power, don't let it control you.
Summers... It's almost like he's talking to Jean!
No! Stay away!
Don't give in to it.
You're stronger than you think.
(GRUNTING) I'm not! I can't do it!
CYCLOPS: Clear your mind.
Focus everything you have on your power!
(GASPS)
She did it.
He's a dick, but it worked.
Nicely done.
There was nothing nice (INHALES) about it.
This power is turning me into a monster!
WOLVERINE: Give her some time.
It's always rough in the beginning.
And after seeing what the U-Men did to that kid on the Blackbird,
she should be scared.
It sucks.
It's no wonder she thinks she's a ticking time bomb.
Can you blame her?
If she can't learn to shoulder that burden,
she won't last a week with the X-Men.
HISAKO: Ororo.
Hey, there. Got a minute?
(SHIVERING) Cold.
When I first realized I had powers,
I honestly didn't know what to make of it.
It was a huge turning point in my life.
One that could've gone badly.
If I hadn't met Charles,
well, I was lucky.
So Professor Xavier, he was there to protect you.
What he did was so much more than that.
He taught me to know my own heart.
To really own my power.
He showed me the right path and then set me on my way.
There's no doubt mutants are different than humans,
but there's one thing we all have in common,
every one of us has a heart.
I guess so.
That's what we do.
We try to bridge the hearts of man and mutant.
I'm extremely proud of everything I've managed to achieve
because of the X-Men.
That's great if you want it, but I'm not sure I do.
I just want my life to be normal.
You would only be closing the book on the person you were meant to be.
EMMA: She's right.
You can't hide from the truth.
If you do, you'll never learn to master your powers.
Instead, they'll master you.
Which is exactly what Cyclops is afraid of.
Even if you had chosen otherwise,
the fact remains that you were born a mutant.
Like it or not, you can't run away from fate.
Fate? You have to accept who you are.
You'll have to be brave.
And show the courage I know is in you.
I don't know.
I mean, maybe I'm just not as strong as the rest of you.
Maybe... Maybe I never will be.
Come with me.
Of course, but... you're sure?
Yes, I am, but only on one condition.
Which is?
EMMA: I want you to project everything you see inside my mind
to the entire team. Everyone?
EMMA: Yes. Including Hisako.
Emma...
Understood.
Then with your permission, I'll begin.
CHARLES: This is your childhood, I take it.
MOTHER 1: God, that girl gives me the creeps.
It's like she knows what you're thinking.
MOTHER 2: I know, I can't stand her.
MOTHER 1: They say she's a mutant!
MOTHER 2: Mutant? Ugh, gross.
CHARLES: And now, university.
WOMAN 1: I don't understand, how could he just dump you like that?
WOMAN 2: It's that Frost skank's fault.
MAN 1: Man, she's hot.
MAN 2: Yeah, but still, I wouldn't want her poking around inside my head.
CHARLES: And here we are at a birthday.
MAN 3: You look absolutely stunning, Miss Frost.
MAN 4: Yes, the embodiment of perfection.
CHARLES: And that is when he appeared.
Mastermind.
MASTERMIND: Life amongst humanity must be so tedious for you.
I can offer so much more to a woman of your
talents.
Welcome, my Queen, to the Inner Circle.
Forgive me, Miss Frost,
but we have to proceed cautiously with an investment of this size.
Uh, it is a wonderful idea.
Just tell me where to sign.
MASTERMIND: Excellent. His assets now belong to us.
Do keep up the good work.
CHARLES: Your transgressions became too heavy to bear,
and that man's death was the final straw.
MASTERMIND: Guilty conscience?
The man threw his life away, forget about him.
Jason, I can't do this any more.
I'm... I'm leaving the Inner Circle.
MASTERMIND: You're welcome to try.
You might find it harder than you think, though, my dear.
CHARLES: And this is when you decided you wanted to go back into teaching.
When you met a young boy.
A mutant boy. (SOBBING)
EMMA: Go ahead and let it out. You'll feel better.
But someday, you'll see.
That being different is what makes you special.
CHARLES: This was the moment of our battle with Jean.
When she finally fell that day,
Emma was nowhere near.
I dare say your innocence has been proven. (CHUCKLES)
Oh, Emma.
There, now you know everything.
I'm nowhere near as strong as you give me credit for.
I've made my share of mistakes.
Hopefully, shining a light upon my sins
will allow me to close the book on them for good.
I was able to change, you see.
And I've no doubt you can too.
I'll be there every step of the way.
Emma, you know I trust you!
I'll do the X-Men proud, I swear.
I've been out of line.
Sorry, Emma.
Every team has growing pains. Right, Cyclops?
Or do I finally get to call you Scott now?
Let's stick with Cyclops.
Being an X-Man's going to be fun.
CHARLES: I need you to return to northern Japan,
and do a few tests on the other mutants
the U-Men abducted.
We have to make sure this virus that targets the mutant genome
isn't spreading.
CYCLOPS: You got it, Professor.
Huh?
WOLVERINE: Whoa. Nice duds, ladies.
Thought of a code name yet?
I kinda like "Armor."
All right, now that everyone's assembled,
I want you all to see this.
According to Hisako, this is the area in Honshu
where we've seen a spike in mutant activity.
At the center of all these occurrences is a valley set here,
in a remote mountainous region.
If we take a look we might find a reason why Cerebro can't detect anything
or what's causing this bizarre virus.
I agree. This is your new priority.
Okay, let's get moving.
Come on, Armor. (CHUCKLES)
Just to be sure, is that all you want us to look into?
Just what are you referring to?
I'm a little curious, who is this Sasaki woman?
You've already read my thoughts, have you?
Charles, you of all people should know
some thoughts are so loud they demand to be heard.
Look, I wasn't poking about, it just sort of happened.
Fine, then. It wasn't my intention to pry.
Forget I mentioned it.
CHARLES: A spike in mutant activity.
The U-Men and this virus that's attacking the mutant gene,
the Cerebro dead zone and my strange visions.
I pray the X-Men can weather this storm.
STORM: With their two new members,
the X-Men return to northern Japan
to investigate the bizarre virus that's targeting mutants.
And soon find themselves facing the remnants of the U-Men,
hungry for revenge.
With the U-Men's high-tech capabilities giving them the upper hand,
the X-Men find themselves waging an uphill battle.
Backed into a corner,
their chances of survival appear grim.
Next time on X-Men: "Conflict."