(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
CYCLOPS: So everything that's been happening to mutants in this area
is all because of you?
You and your little virus here.
BEAST: We knew someone had been tampering with their genetic structure.
I never imagined it would be you, Dr. Sasaki.
I knew this dame was trouble.
But why? What have you got against mutants that you would try to kill us?
-I'm not. I'm looking for a cure. -Oh.
I've been searching for a way to eliminate the side effects of mutant DNA.
And at last I was able to create a viral serum that targets the X-Gene.
STORM: Side effects?
What are these side effects you want to eliminate?
Our mutant powers.
That's it, right?
You want to eliminate everything about mutants
that actually makes us mutants, don't you, Doctor?
Yes.
You hate us that much?
Far from it.
From my time running the Academy,
and even before working with Charles,
I saw how the rest of the world treated mutants.
I saw how much pain being a mutant can bring.
The bigotry and ostracism those powers engender.
Seems to me the problem is with the bigots, not their victims.
It's true.
But how do you change the whole human race?
You can't.
And it seemed to me the only way
was to find a cure for the mutant condition.
And now, with this latest serum,
I was so much closer than I've ever been.
BEAST: I dread to think of you getting any closer than that.
Those people nearly died.
Yes.
You keep calling that thing a serum,
but what you created is a virus.
It's a disease.
(SIGHS)
You said you knew nothing about what was happening to the mutants here.
You lied to us.
And now we know why.
Yes, I lied.
But I couldn't let anyone interrupt my work.
Not when I was so close.
-HISAKO: Dr. Sasaki... -(GASPS)
You say you're only trying to help people,
but I've seen what happens, and you're not.
You're hurting them.
Sometimes it even kills them.
What kind of cure is that?
What you're doing is wrong.
BEAST: That's putting it mildly.
As a mutant and a scientist, I'm appalled by what you've done, Doctor.
To tamper with the DNA of healthy, living beings.
I don't care what your reasons are, it's unpardonable.
Why, even the Inner Circle don't meddle in genetics.
Emma can testify to that.
And they're as ruthless as they come.
Hmm.
-Where is Emma? -(GASPS)
Huh? I could've sworn she was here a minute ago.
WOLVERINE: That other assistant of yours is gone too.
Jun? Where is he?
Let's find him.
Before he loses it like the others.
Uh... Hold on!
I can't let you just go running around the facility!
BEAST: I think that's quite enough.
Let them go.
And you stay here.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
(DOOR OPENING)
The Professor needs to be told what's been going on here.
No, don't.
Please, just give me a little more time before you...
You've had far too much time already, if you ask me.
Uh... Oh.
(BEEPS)
Professor, you there? Come in.
Charles!
CHARLES: Scott. Logan.
Anyone?
Can no one hear me?
(GROANS)
It's no use.
It's like some impenetrable curtain is blocking my telepathy.
-(BEEPING) -(GRUNTS)
Huh?
No!
I can't stay here.
This place could drive me insane.
I have to find a way out.
Think. Think.
(SPECTRAL HOWLING)
(GASPS) That sound... A voice.
It's so familiar, and yet not.
It's coming from somewhere in the depths of this void.
Could it be that all this only exists in my mind?
That it's some type of illusion?
Only another telepath would be capable of such a thing.
And a formidably powerful telepath at that.
If my opponent is indeed telepathic,
I should be able to dispel this charade.
Very well.
My mind against yours.
Let's see who blinks first.
(COMMUNICATOR BEEPING)
BEAST: There's nothing wrong with the signal.
I fear something's happened to the Professor.
What do you mean?
There's Emma.
She could try contacting him telepathically.
If she were here.
EMMA: So, just what's so special?
There must be something very important behind those doors
to bring you all the way down here.
Miss Frost.
What on earth are you doing here?
Following you.
You do intrigue a girl.
I, uh, don't know what to say.
A hidden elevator followed by three checkpoints requiring a secret password?
This is a pretty exclusive club you've got here.
It's a restricted area. You're not authorized to be here.
Oh, and you are?
Well, of course I am. I'm on the research team.
Really?
Well, I admit that lab coat is pretty convincing, but...
You see, I've discovered something.
I lose my telepathic powers when I turn to diamond,
but there's another side effect.
I'm not susceptible to others' telepathy either.
(STIFLED GASP)
How you been, Jason?
Or should I say, Mastermind?
MASTERMIND: Now, now, don't get too pleased with yourself, darling.
It took you long enough.
But then, you're still learning about your new powers.
(SCOFFS)
I'd hoped you were dead. Oh, well...
What could it be, I wonder?
What's brought you to the backwoods of northern Japan?
Would you believe a sudden, irresistible craving for chicken yakitori?
No, I suppose you wouldn't.
Emma, Emma, what am I going to do with you?
Ducking out on us like that, I can't tell you how truly devastated I was.
(SCOFFS)
I knew I should have killed you then and there.
But better late than never.
No sign of her here.
HISAKO: Where could she have gone?
STORM: Maybe she went outside.
Nope.
She's here.
(SNIFFS) I can smell her.
Somewhere behind this.
STORM: What is that, a door?
(HOLLOW ECHO)
WOLVERINE: It is now.
(GRUNTS)
(WOLVERINE GRUMBLES)
(BEEPING)
WOLVERINE: Smartass.
(CHUCKLES)
(GRUMBLES)
STORM: Come on, Logan.
Put those overgrown toothpicks away.
-Let's get going. -(HISAKO GIGGLES)
HISAKO: Don't worry.
-I'm sure you'll find other stuff to slice up. -(GRUMBLES)
EMMA: Enough of your tedious banter, Jason.
Tell me what you're up to.
(MASTERMIND LAUGHS)
Of course, Emma.
You know I've always been putty in your hands.
It's just like old times.
(GRUNTS)
(SCOFFS)
When I found out that there had been a sudden surge in mutant manifestations
in this part of Japan...
Well, it was too good an opportunity to pass up.
How did you manage to find out about it?
Not even Professor X could get a clear picture of what was happening.
I used my powers of illusion to dupe the U-Men
into thinking I was someone just like them.
A mutant-hating bigot.
The fools fell for it like a ton of bricks.
They were delighted to share their intel with me.
The U-Men?
From what they said was going on here,
it was clear to me that some great, untapped power was at work.
Not untapped for long.
Whatever this power may be, you want it for yourself.
And since this research lab seems to be ground zero for all these anomalies,
you insinuated yourself onto the staff here.
Bingo.
You know, you're never sexier than when you're right.
The truth of the matter is that my coming here
turned out even better than I had expected.
You see, I discovered that the source of the power was right here,
behind those doors.
(GASPS)
It could be ours, lover, even now.
Yours and mine.
This is one of those moments you really want to share with that someone special.
Tell me one thing, Jason.
Only one?
You projected that illusion of me, didn't you?
The one Cyclops saw during your last battle with the X-Men?
(LAUGHS)
That was naughty of me, wasn't it?
Childish, I know.
But when you walked out on me, I was so upset.
I wanted to get back at you, so I decided to give you a little parting gift.
Who knows? I figured I might get lucky,
and the X-Men would kill you for me.
(SNIGGERS)
But no such luck.
So now I have the task of dealing with you and your newfound conscience.
Please!
And your little diamond trick isn't so new to me, or you.
I couldn't exactly control someone who might see through my illusions,
so I made you forget them.
EMMA: I hate you.
So...
Guess we're not getting back together, huh?
What a pity.
Ah, right on cue.
Sorry, my dear, but that's not going to intimidate me.
It may protect you from my psionic powers, and you do look smashing,
but as you said yourself, there's one drawback.
Namely, you can't use your telepathy while you're in that form.
And without that, how can you ever hope to beat me?
(EMMA GRUNTING)
Oh, Emma,
you wore my favorite heels today.
(CHOKING) No!
No...
(SNIGGERS)
(MUFFLED SCREAM)
(GASPING)
(COUGHING)
Emma!
STORM: Wait. Was that Marsh?
Forget him. That's the one. Don't let him get away.
STORM: What? Who?
HISAKO: Sanada?
EMMA: That's not Sanada.
That's just a disguise.
It's an illusion.
CYCLOPS: An illusion?
She's insane!
She attacked me for no reason!
She just went crazy!
The virus. She's got it like the rest of 'em! She's losing it!
(WOLVERINE SNARLS)
Wait a minute.
-(GASPS) -Something ain't right.
My nose is picking up a scent.
Someone we haven't met yet.
More than one.
It ain't a pretty smell.
And there's something else.
Something I can't make out.
Coming from behind those doors.
You want to tell us what's really going on, bub?
Wolverine!
Huh?
JEAN: (ECHOES) Logan...
(GASPS)
Jean.
Save me...
I need you, Logan.
(GROWLING)
What are you doing?
Logan!
Don't do it.
What's happened to Wolverine?
It's not his fault.
He's been tricked into seeing Cyclops and the rest of us as enemies.
There's the man behind it right there.
HISAKO: But how?
(GROWLING CONTINUES)
Stop it!
CYCLOPS: Careful!
(GRUNTS)
Now you die.
He's really lost it.
HISAKO: Stop it! Wolverine, it's me!
No! Hisako! It's no use!
-HISAKO: Snap out of it! -(GROWLS)
It's us! We're your friends!
(HISAKO SCREAMS)
(WOLVERINE GRUNTS)
Hisako, stay back. You too, Emma.
Beast, we need you, quick!
BEAST: What is it?
Cyclops and Wolverine are about to kill each other.
Oh, no, not again.
It's not the usual, Hank.
Wolverine's gone berserk. He's trying to kill us.
Trying to kill you?
We have to stop him. Now.
What's your location?
We're in the lab sub-basement.
(GASPS) Not there.
(WOLVERINE GROWLS)
(WOLVERINE GRUNTING)
Once again, he gets someone else to do his fighting for him.
What are they doing? I don't understand.
This isn't their fault. It's Mastermind.
And I'm going to stop him.
Hisako, I need you to stay put, please.
(CRIES OUT)
(MARSH SNIGGERS)
HISAKO: (GRUNTS) Emma!
MASTERMIND: Like she said, little girl.
You stay put, you hear?
You always were stubborn, Emma. (CHUCKLES)
But this is one argument where I get in the last word.
Have at it, Marsh.
Make the lady squirm.
-(SNIGGERING) -(EMMA STRUGGLING)
(MUFFLED GROAN)
Pardon me for cutting in.
(GRUNTS)
(GROWLS)
BEAST: Hisako!
Hey! I'm one of the X-Men too, aren't I?
(WOLVERINE SNARLING)
Calm down, or I'm going to have to put you down.
Now, Cyclops!
(GROWLING)
He gave me no choice.
-(GRUNTS) -YUI: No, Jun!
Open those doors, and we could all die!
I got him.
(GRUNTS)
(GASPS)
CYCLOPS: What happened?
BEAST: Marsh, I suspect. He deflected the beam.
Now or never.
Jason, I think it's about time you showed your true colors.
(GASPS)
EMMA: I've deactivated his psionic field.
Now you can finally see him for who he really is.
BEAST: Mastermind.
STORM: It can't be.
Just who I've been wanting to see.
STORM: That explains Marsh and Rat being here.
Greetings, X-Men.
Always a pleasure.
Cyclops, it was him.
He used his psionic powers to make you think you saw me there with Jean.
MASTERMIND: Ah, yes, the death of Jean Grey.
Terrible thing, that.
I don't blame you for being upset. She was a looker.
Bastard.
CYCLOPS: I will kill you.
Wait a second, Cyclops.
There's something behind those doors.
We may need him.
CYCLOPS: Stay out of this, Hank!
No, wait!
Listen to him.
WOLVERINE: Yo.
What just happened, anyway?
Wolverine!
So, did I miss the party or what?
Huh?
(SIGHS)
Guess not.
Looks like I'm just in time.
(GROWLS)
STORM: It finally comes down to this.
The X-Men square off against their old enemies, the Inner Circle.
But the question is, will they fare any better than they did the last time?
And just what is the mysterious source of power
that lies behind those massive laboratory doors?
The X-Men finally discover what Dr. Sasaki has been hiding from the world.
Next time on X-Men... "Countdown."