X-Men: The Hope Serum

[ZeroDarkThirty]

Disclaimer-I do not own X-Men movies, comics, shows, games, etc. This is a re-write of X-Men: The Last Stand featuring the cure storyline only. Some scenes and dialog survive from the original film, but many things have been changed, such as different characters, more drama, more detail, and more development.

INT. BATHROOM-TEN YEARS AGO

A straight razor lies gleaming on a white sink inside of a penthouse bathroom. Also up on the sink was a rope, rubbing alcohol, a pair of scissors, and other strange instruments. Ten year old WARREN WORTHINGTON III was standing in front of a mirror, sweating, and concentrating hard on cutting something.

Warren then gasped in pain when he accidentally cuts his back. Biting his lip, Warren stopped and placed the kitchen knife he was using on the sink with the other items then picked up a white towel that already had spots of blood on it and placed it on the cut.

Tears began to slowly run down the young boy's face which he quickly wiped away.

INT. PENTHOUSE HALLWAY

His father, WARREN WORTHINGTON SENIOR, a patrician in an expensive suit walked down the hall and saw his maid, SANDRA approaching.

WORTHINGTON:
Sandra, have you seen my son?

SANDRA:
He's in the bathroom, Mr. Worthington.

WORTHINGTON:
Still?

Looking concerned, Worthington walked further down the hall until he reached the bathroom door. He lightly knocked on it.

WORTHINGTON:
Warren? What are you doing in there?

INT. BATHROOM

Warren's head whipped around in a panic as he quickly stopped what he was doing and then began to scramble to put the objects around.

WARREN:
Nothing.

INT. HALLWAY

WORTHINGTON:
Come on, you've been in there for over and hour. Open the door.

He grabbed the door knob and found that it was locked.

WARREN:
One second!

INT. BATHROOM

The young boy quickly scurried to hide bloodied kitchen knifes. Feathers and drops of blood adorned the white, tiled floor.

Worthington then began to bang on the door.

WORTHINGTON:
Warren! Open this door!

WARREN:
Just a second!

But it was too late. Worthington forced the door open and rushed into the bathroom only to stop, frozen in his tracks when he saw the blood and feathers on the floor. Worthington looked at his son in wide-eyed horror.

WORTHINGTON:
Oh my god. Not you.

Warren looked back at his dad, his bottom lip trembled for a second before he began to sob.

WARREN:
Dad…I' sorry. I tried to make it go away.

In the mirror, bloodied stumps on Warren's back mark where a pair of wings began to grow in…

EXT. PRESENT DAY

Warren Worthington III, now twenty years old jolts awake in bed, sweating as he looked around the room while panting for air. It was only a nightmare.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and rests his feet on the floor as he wipes away beads of sweat from his brow. Suddenly, a knocking at his door gets his attention.

He quickly got up, pulling the blanket off his bed and wrapping it around himself to hide his now fully-grown wings as he walked over and opened the door. It turned out to be one of his father's many assistances, LOUIS.

LOUIS:
Warren, your father needs to talk to you. He says it's important.

Warren nods.

WARREN:
Tell him I'll be there in a minute.

After closing the door, Warren flexed his shoulders and his wings began to sink further into his back as he bunched them up as best he could before throwing on an extra large shirt and overcoat.

INT. WORTHINGTON'S OFFICE

Warren enters his father's office and saw him talking with a woman he recongized as DR. KAVITA RAO. Worthington saw his son and smiled.

WORTHINGTON:
Good morning, Warren. Did you sleep well?

WARREN:
What did you need to see me about dad?

WORTHINGTON:
You remember Dr. Rao, don't you?

Warren looked to Dr. Rao and nodded.

WARREN:
Yeah. Your company deals in pharmaceutical advancement right?

Kavita smiled.

KAVITA:
Yes. We try our best to help sick people. We've created new and far more advanced vaccines in the past few years-

WORTHINGTON:
Warren, Dr. Rao and her researchers have been developing a sort of cure…for mutants. And I've decided to start funding it.

Warren's brows furrowed as he looked from his father to Kavita.

WARREN:
What kind of a cure?

KAVITA:
A cure that will be able to supress the mutant X-gene. Permanently.

WARREN:
But why would I-

WORTHINGTON:
It's okay Warren, she knows.

Kavita approached him and placed a hand on his arm.

KAVITA:
We can help you become normal again.

WARREN:
But...it's not possible.

KAVITA:
It is, Warren. We've found the solution to fixing this mutant problem.

EXT. MANHATTAN-NIGHT

The city of Manhattan was in ruins. Fires light the night sky; buildings, cars, nearly everything has been lit aflame. An explosion goes upwards towards the sky.

ICEMAN and ROGUE charge into frame, pursued by an unseen assailant.

ICEMAN:
This way!

The two continued on before Rogue looked up and saw STORM flying over them.

ROGUE:
Storm!

Storm flu to the ground as lasers began to go off around her.

STORM:
Stay together.

She quickly realizes that two people are missing.

STORM: (Con't)
Where's Kurt and Pitor?

ROGUE:
I don't know. We got split up.

Lasers went off again and cause yet another explosion causing debris to come at the three of them.

STORM:
Watch it!

Storm used her powers to quickly spin out of the way. Iceman formed a large ice shield and grabbed onto Rogue as debris came towards them, bouncing harmlessly off the ice.

Elsewhere, CIVILIANS are running in between burning houses trying to get away before starting to disappear into blue puffs of smoke. NIGHTCRAWLER was teleporting them to the safety of a steel bunker. As he did, COLOSSUS ripped the door off a car, freeing two people trapped inside. However, as he watched the two run off, he was now oblivious to a missile headed straight for him.

BAMF!

Nightcrawler teleported Colossus out of the way of the incoming missile which struck the ground, causing a large explosion. Colossus gasped when he realized what just happened.

COLOSSUS:
Thanks.

NIGHTCRAWLER:
Don't mention it.

Nightcrawler teleported again, going after the two civilians Colossus had freed. As he did, Iceman was freezing incoming missiles headed for him and Rogue. Running out from behind a damaged car, Rogue attempted to run to the next place but tripped over something and fell to the ground.

She then found herself staring at a pair of boots before looking up to see LOGAN standing over her. He reached down and grabbed her hand, helping her back up.

ROGUE:
Logan?

LOGAN:
How much time you got left?

ROGUE:
Two minutes, tops.

LOGAN:
What the hell is she thinking?

Logan casually walked over to where Storm was crouched, watching a apporaching searchlight. Storm then realizes Logan is there and is surprised to see him.

STORM:
What are you doing here?

Logan lit his cigar with a piece of burning debris.

LOGAN:
Enjoying the scenery. You?

Iceman and Rogue trailed Logan while Nightcrawler and Colossus run to where Storm was and they all meet up.

STORM:
Kurt, did you get everyone to safety?

NIGHTCRAWLER:
Yes.

STORM:
Alright, everyone in position.

Before they can form up, a mortar explodes mere feet away. Everyone takes over for a moment before Storm addresses them all.

STORM:
We stay in formation, no matter what. Let's go!

They run out into the open and a massive ROBOT towers over them.

LOGAN:
Well this shouldn't take long.

He throws his cigar away and looked at Colossus.

LOGAN:
Hey tin-man. How good's your throwing arm?

COLOSSUS:
It's decent.

STORM:
Logan, we work as a team!

Logan ignores her.

LOGAN:
Throw me. Now!

Colossus grabs Logan, spinning himself around once before throwing him as hard as he could up to the robot.

SNIKT!

The rest of the team could hear the sound of metal and wires being torn apart before the robot's head plops to the ground, Logan riding it the whole way. When it comes to a stop, Logan leaps off and dusts his shoulders off.

LOGAN:
Class dismissed.

The X-Men regroup and Manhattan fades away, becoming…

INT. THE DANGER ROOM

…a massive hologram chamber.

Storm addresses the team.

STORM:
Alright everyone, much better this time around. But we still have some work to do. Your next session will be tomorrow, same time.

Nightcrawler, Iceman, Rogue, and Colossus all turn to exit the room. Logan goes to leave as well but Storm rounds on him.

STORM:
What the hell was that?

LOGAN:
Danger Room session.

STORM:
You know what I mean. I was trying to teach these kids something, Logan.

LOGAN:
I think I taught them something.

STORM:
It was a defensive exercise.

LOGAN:
Well you know what they say-

STORM:
No, I don't know what they say. This is a school, you can't just come and go as you please.

LOGAN:
Hey Ororo, I'm just a sub.

Logan walked around her and headed for the exit.

LOGAN: (Con't)
You gotta problem, talk to Scott.

INT. HALLWAY

Logan got off the elevator on the third floor of the mansion where his bedroom was and as he walked down the hall, a door opened and SCOTT left his room with a bag in hand.

LOGAN:
Well speak of the devil.

Logan began following Scott.

LOGAN:
Hey Scott, what happened to you? There was a Danger Room session for the kids, you never showed.

Scott stopped and turned to him.

SCOTT:
What's it to you?

LOGAN:
For starters, I had to cover your ass.

SCOTT:
Well it's about time you did something around here. I didn't ask for your help.

LOGAN:
No, you didn't, the Professor did. I was just passing through.

SCOTT:
So pass through, Logan. It's what you do best.

Scott turned to walk off but Logan grabbed his arm.

LOGAN:
Hey!

The other man turned to face him again.

LOGAN: (Con't)
Look…I know how you feel.

SCOTT:
Don't

LOGAN:
When Jean died-

Scott pulled his arm away from Logan.

SCOTT:
I said don't.

They looked at each other in silence for a moment.

LOGAN:
Maybe it's time to move on.

Scott scoffed and turned to leave again. Mid-way down the hall he called over his shoulder;

SCOTT:
Not everyone heals as fast as you Logan.

INT. XAVIER'S CLASSROOM

It was going on 11:30 when students began leaving the classroom of PROFESSOR CHARLES XAVIER. Ororo's brows furrowed as she waited until the last student, KITTY PRYDE left the room by phasing through the wall like she usually did before she walked in.

ORORO:
Professor?

Xavier turned his wheelchair to face her.

XAVIER:
Yes, Ororo. What is it?

ORORO:
That's the question I wanted to ask you. It's been three days in a row you've been letting the kids out early, and not giving them homework. Is everything alright?

Xavier smiled a little, touched by her concern.

XAVIER:
Everything is fine. I'm just a little worried about Scott.

ORORO:
So he really is leaving?

XAVIER:
I'm afraid so.

INT. FOYER

The leader of the X-Men was standing by the front door putting his jacket on, looking like he was heading out when Xavier and Ororo headed towards him.

XAVIER:
Scott?

Scott turned to look at them.

ORORO:
You weren't thinking about leaving without saying goodbye to us, were you?

Scott smiled slightly.

SCOTT:
I wouldn't dream of it.

Scott approached her and they hugged each other tightly. After a few moments they let go and Scott took a deep breath.

SCOTT:
I know I'm leaving you with a heavy burden.

ORORO:
It's no burden-

SCOTT:
Yes it is. I'm sorry you have to train the new recruits on your own but I know you're capable of leading the team. I wouldn't be leaving if I didn't think you could do it.

ORORO:
I appreciate that Scott.

Xavier then spoke.

XAVIER:
Scott, you know that if you ever need anything, we're here for you.

SCOTT:
Of course.

XAVIER:
This will always be your home.

Scott smiled and leaned down to hug the Professor.

SCOTT:
Thank you Professor. Thank you for everything.

XAVIER:
Thank you, Scott.

Scott then gave one last look at them before finally turning to open the door and head out. A few moments later, Xavier and Ororo could hear the sound of a car speeding away from the institute. Ororo then sighed heavily.

ORORO:
I know it sounds selfish, but I really wish he was staying.

XAVIER:
As do I.

ORORO:
It's just a big responsibilty. Leading the team, getting the others ready.

XAVIER:
But Scott is right, you are capable. I just hope that time away from here is what he needs. He's taken Jean's death so hard.

ORORO:
She was a great friend, my best friend. But with all due respect Professor, Jean's death has affected us all.

XAVIER:
But some more than others. Scott is a changed man, and Logan…I'm afraid he's getting ready to leave us again as well.

ORORO:
You're surprised? I didn't think he'd stick around for this long.

XAVIER:
Because we're now so short staffed, I had hoped that he might stay this time around.

ORORO:
Some things are out of your control. Logan is a loner, now matter how much we may want him to stick around he never will.

She gave him a warm smile as they headed from the foyer. Unbeknownst to them, Logan was standing on top of the staircase and had heard every word that was said.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. STUDENT LOUNGE

Bobby and Rogue headed into the lounge to see many of the kids gathered around the big screen television. Bobby was curious to see what they were watching and saw that it was some political thing.

BOBBY:
Hey change this. Who watches C-SPAN?

PITOR:
Be quiet. Dr. McCoy is going to be on.

That peaked Bobby's interest.

BOBBY:
Really?

ROGUE:
Who's Dr. McCoy?

BOBBY:
He was a teacher here. He left for Washington right before you came around to fight for mutants rights.

INT. UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

On campus at the University of Phoenix located at Washington D.C., HENRY MCCOY, a middle aged mutant covered from head to toe in blue fur stood before a large audience of students and began his speech.

HANK:
Throughout history, the human race has adapted, evolved to become the top of the food chain. But recently evolution has accelerated creating unpredictable changes in the fundamental nature of man. Some welcome these changes, seeing them as a blessing while others seek to stop them at all costs. William Stryker was one who tried to destory all mutants, while the mutant terrorist Magneto has used his abilites for criminal gain and vigilante justice. After Stryker's plans were exposed, many have seeked a détente in the conflict between homo sapiens and mutants but there are still threats out there that threaten the stability of our entire world.

INT. STUDENT LOUNGE

While they all continued to watch Dr. McCoy, Rogue placed her gloved hand over Bobby's, however he didn't acknowledge her show of affection. After a few more moments, Rogue gave up and walked away. Bobby slightly turned his head to see her leave before putting his attention back on the television screen.

INT. KITCHEN

Rogue walked through the hall and when she passed the kitchen she saw Logan sitting at the counter with a beer bottle in his hand as he stared straight ahead at the wall.

ROGUE:
Hey. You're still here.

Logan raised an eyebrow as he turned his head to look at her.

LOGAN:
Surprised?

ROGUE:
A little. I thought you were heading out again.

LOGAN:
I'm gonna stick around for a little while longer.

ROGUE:
Really? What are you going to do?

LOGAN:
Well, I overheard the Professor say they are short staffed now that Scott is gone, so-

ROGUE:
What? You're going to teach?

Rogue couldn't help but laugh at the thought, Logan too chuckled a little before taking another sip of his beer.

ROGUE: (Con't)
Can we talk?

LOGAN:
Sure. What about?

ROGUE:
Bobby and me. We're…we're not talking the way we use to. Ever since what happened with his family at Boston, and John leaving. When we got back from Alkali Lake, Bobby told me he wished he had stopped John from leaving the jet. I wish I tried harder too.

Logan shrugged.

LOGAN:
You, Bobby, and John. Had to be an odd man out. Rogue, no one likes to hear this but people grow apart. Especially young people.

ROGUE:
Like you remember being young.

The two of them smiled at each other.

LOGAN:
Are you and Bobby happy?

ROGUE:
We are.

Logan nodded.

LOGAN:
That's good. You hold onto him. Let him know how you feel.

Rogue headed for the door looking back at Logan and smiled.

ROGUE:
Thanks Logan.

LOGAN:
Don't mention it.

INT. UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

Hank had finished his speech and as the students got up and left he walked back behind the curtain, the principal of the university ALICA VARGAS approached him.

ALICIA:
Dr. McCoy, are you in some kind of trouble?

HANK:
What do you mean?

ALICIA:
A couple of Secret Services agents are here to see you.

Suddenly, two AGENTS wearing black suits and black sunglasses approached him.

AGENT:
Dr. Henry McCoy?

HANK:
Is there a problem, gentleman?

AGENT:
Dr. McCoy, we need you to come with us. The President has requested to meet with you.

HANK:
The President? Are you serious?

AGENT:
The President says that it is of great importance to the mutant community.

INT. WHITE HOUSE-HALLWAYS

Secret Service agents led Hank down the hall and naturally other workers stopped to stare at Hank, some remembering another blue creature in the White House not to long ago.

INT. OVAL OFFICE

A knock on the door got the attention of PRESIDENT MCKENNA as he was sitting at his desk looking over a document. The door then opened and Hank was led in.

AGENT:
Mr. President, Dr. Henry McCoy is here.

President McKenna got to his feet as he walked over to shake Hank's hand.

PRESIDENT:
Dr. McCoy, thank you for meeting me on such short notice.

HANK:
It's no problem at all, Mr. President.

Hank took a seat behind the desk as the President sat back down at his seat.

HANK:
I must admit, I'm rather shocked to be sitting in front of you right now.

PRESIDENT:
I'm going to get straight to the point, Dr. McCoy.

HANK:
Hank. You can call me Hank.

PRESIDENT:
Well, Hank. Ever since my re-election the people have been crying out for a solution to this mutant…situation.

Smiling a little, Hank appreciated President McKenna using a different word instead of 'problem.'

HANK:
Well, I've been hearing about the possible reintroduction of the Mutant Registration Act, and I have to be honest Mr. President, I think that is the wrong way to go.

PRESIDENT:
I agree. But mutants are an issure that require special attention. That's why I've decided to create a mutant's division in my cabinet. A special division that will focus on the mistreatment of mutants, getting mutants help with controlling their powers, and bringing mutant fugitives…like Magneto, to justice.

HANK:
Mr. President, I think that is a wonderful idea.

PRESIDENT:
I'm glad you think so. And like all divisions we need someone to head it. And that's why I asked you to be brought here today. I would like to offer you the job of Secretary of Mutant Affairs.

Hank stared at President McKenna, slightly stunned.

HANK:
Me?

PRESIDENT:
Yes.

HANK:
Of course I accept. But I have to ask, Mr. President, why me?

PRESIDENT:
Well, with all due respect I think it's fairly obvious that you're a mutant. People have seen you on television. In order for this to work mutants out there have to know that this is for real.

HANK:
When do I start?

PRESIDENT:
Immediately. In fact there is already one person already eager to join your staff. Senator Robert Kelly has a lot of interest in working with you.

HANK:
Senator Kelly?

PRESIDENT:
You know who he is, don't you?

HANK:
Mr. President, there is something you need to know about Senator Kelly.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. SAN FRANCISCO BAY-AFTERNOON

A Blackhawk helicopter flies past, overlooking the San Francisco Bay and hovering above the splendor that is the Golden Gate Bridge, iridescent in the afternoon sun that was slowly starting to set. Inside, SENATOR KELLY sits, gazing down at the ocean with two ESCOURTS sitting with him.

The helicopter approaches ALCATRAZ ISLAND where GENERAL STEVEN LANG stands, two bodyguard personnel at opposite sides of him as the helicopter lands and Kelly exits, rushing forward with his head low until he was a safe way away from the spinning helicopter blades.

KELLY:
Thank you for meeting me in person, General.

Senator Kelly and General Lang shook hands.

LANG:
This way.

Lang leads Senator Kelly into the facility

INT. ALCATRAZ PRISON

Inside the Alcatraz prison, Lang and Kelly walked inside a laboratory in the building where they were about a dozen SCIENTISTS working.

LANG:
In conjunction with Rao Labs, this facility acts a warehouse to further authenticate the cure serum.

KELLY:
Last I heard this was still being used as a prison.

LANG:
For mutants. Criminals basically. Ones we've managed to catch.

Kelly eyed Lang.

LANG: (Con't)
We're in full accordance with your committee's guidelines, Senator. President McKenna himself approved of this.

KELLY:
Very well. What is the origin of this serum?

LANG:
Rao Labs extracts blood samples from one of their own mutant subjects. It was how they were able to replicate it.

KELLY:
And that is where the subject is held?

LANG:
Yes.

Suddenly, one of Lang's BODYGUARDS got a message in his earpiece. After hearing it, he looked to the general.

SOLDIER:
General?

General Lang walked over to the soldier and he whispered something in his ear. Senator Kelly was paying no attention to the interaction as he watched the scientists continuing to work. Just then, Lang appeared back at his side.

LANG:
Senator. If you'd come this way, I would like to show you something else.

KELLY:
The mutant prisoners?

LANG:
Please come this way.

KELLY:
Very well.

INT. ALCATRAZ FACILITY-HALLWAY

Senator Kelly and General Lang walked forward down the next hall when suddenly of the soldier pulled out a tranquilizer gun and fired. The dart hit the back of Senator Kelly's neck and he stumbled forward before pulling it out and spinning around in shock. Kelly's eyes then turned yellow as his legs gave out and he finally collapsed to the floor.

They gathered around the fallen man as Senator Kelly began to fade away and they found themselves staring down at the body of MYSTIQUE.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM

The lights opened suddenly, temporarily blinding her. Mystique sat before a AGENT in his late forties.

Mystique looked down at herself and saw that her hands were cuffed behind her back. She was being kept in an interrogation room inside the Alcatraz prison. It took her a few seconds to fathom what was actually occurring as the man sitting in front of her began to speak.

AGENT:
Raven Darkholme. You've been impersonating a government offical to get into high security places you don't belong in. That's called fraud you know. Where is the real Senator Robert Kelly?

Mystique doesn't respond, the agent the opened a file and began to look through it.

AGENT: (Con't)
You've been pretty busy of the last few months. Attacks in London, Geneva, Alberta. A lot of people were killed. Does that make you feel like you are accomplishing something?

Again, Mystique says nothing.

AGENT:
Where is Magneto?

Mystique lowered her head, igorning the question. The agent leaned forward.

AGENT:
Raven, I asked you a question.

MYSTIQUE:
I don't answer to my slave name.

AGENT:
Raven Darkholme, that's your real name isn't it? You had a family once…or has he convinced you otherwise?

Mystique looked up and glared at the agent.

MYSTIQUE:
My family tried to kill me, you pathetic meat sack.

The agent sighs.

AGENT:
Okay…Mystique. Where is he?

Mystique morphs into Magneto.

MYSTIQUE as MAGNETO:
In here. With us.

AGENT:
Look, I don't want to play games with you. I want answers.

Mystique morphs into the agent.

MYSTIQUE as AGENT:
You don't want to play games with me?

AGENT:
Raven stop this!

Mystique turns into her normal self and smirked.

AGENT:
Listen to me, you are going to tell me where Magneto is!

MYSTIQUE:
You really want to know where he is?

She lunges forward and head butts the agent, kicks her chair into the guard, then leaps over the table and lands behind the agent, choking him with her hand cuff chains.

MYSTIQUE:
Homo Sapiens

The door bursts open and four guards coming rushing into the room. Mystique lets go of the agent and nails one of them with a roundhouse kick. She goes to hit another but is shot in the back with a Taser gun. Mystique fell to the ground, her body convoluting as the two other guards began beating her with their clubs.

INT. WHITE HOUSE-HALLWAYS

Hank moved deeper and deeper into the core of the building, swooping past two marine guards with machine guns. By the time they look up he is already gliding through an imposing high-tech door. An alarm beeps and the door opens as Hank walked in.

INT. SITUATION ROOM

President McKenna was sitting at the desk in the center of the room. Several other OFFICIALS were seated as well.

PRESIDENT:
Hank, good news. We've got her.

HANK:
That's great, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT:
Not bad for your first day of work.

Hank smiled a little as he took a seat in front of the President. The other officials at the table glanced at each other, looking a little uncomfortable which Hank ignored.

PRESIDENT: (Con't)
If you don't mind me asking, how did you know that Mystique was impersonating Senator Kelly?

HANK:
Well…let's just say I have my sources.

PRESIDENT:
I see.

HANK:
Did we find out why Mystique was there in the first place?

PRESIDENT:
Unfortunately, no. She was interrogated but it didn't go well. Not only did they not get any information but she managed to kill a federal agent.

HANK:
I hate to say that I'm not surprised. I don't think you're going to get anything from her unless you decide to go to the extreme.

PRESIDENT:
Well, the United States does not torture its civilians, mutant terrorist or not. And although she didn't say, we have a pretty good idea of what she was there for.

HANK:
And that is?

The President slid a file in front of the blue mutant.

PRESIDENT:
We've received intelligence that a pharmaceutical company has developed some kind of vaccine…for mutants.

HANK:
What kind of vaccine?

Hank opened the file and scanned through it as President McKenna remained silent. After a few moments Hank's eyes widened as he got to a part about Dr. Kavita Rao and her 'Project Hope.'

HANK:
My god. Is this viable?

PRESIDENT:
We believe it is, yes.

HANK:
This can't be possible.

PRESIDENT:
Hank, whether this is true or not, I want your full attention on it. We've begun hiring staff for you and an office building is being built downtown.

HANK:
Mr. President, do you know the level of impact this will have on the mutant community?

PRESIDENT:
Yes, I do. That's why we need you on this matter.

Hank got to his feet.

HANK:
I need to go to New York.

PRESIDENT:
Why there?

HANK:
I think my sources are going to need to know about this.

PRESIDENT:
How long will you be gone?

HANK:
A couple of days. I need a couple of days

PRESIDENT:
Very well. But do not forget that we have need of your...diplomacy, right now.

HANK:
All the more reason for me to be where I belong.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. MANSION SUBCOMPLEX-CONTROL ROOM

The following morning, Storm was in uniform preparing the controls for the Danger Room. She pressed a couple of buttons and set the level at five before stepping out into the hallway to see Logan leaning against the wall with a smirk on his face.

LOGAN:
Preparing for a Danger Room session?

STORM:
You're still here.

LOGAN:
Yeah. I've decided to stick around for a little while.

STORM:
What are you going to do?

LOGAN:
I know that you need to train the others. And with Scott gone I figured that I could help you.

STORM:
You really want to help?

LOGAN:
I'm not good at much but I've been fighting all my life. I think I could teach them all a thing or two.

Storm looked down at the floor.

LOGAN: (Con't)
What's that look?

STORM:
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you want to help...but you're not exactly a team player. You don't follow orders, you don't use team work-

LOGAN:
So what? You can't always depend on the team for help.

STORM:
The reason this team works is because we know that out there, we can rely on each other. If you're going to be with us, than be with us.

That was the last thing said between them as Nightcrawler, Iceman, Rogue, and Colossus came around the corner all in uniform. Logan was the only one without one on. He looked down at himself and sighed.

LOGAN:
Just give me a minute.

INT. THE DANGER ROOM

Wolverine joined the others in uniform as the doors behind him closed. The lights than turned off for a second before the room began to change its size, shape, color, and soon found themselves standing in...

INT. DESERT WASTELAND

Beneath their feet was the cracked, scorched earth of a desert. A couple of completely dried up, dead trees stood in his distance as several tumbleweeds blew by them. The room even simulated extremely hot, dry air. There was nothing around, except when they turned to look behind them, a large pyramid stood in the center of the desert.

COLOSSUS:
So what do we do?

His question was quickly answered as several large DRONES came down from the yellowish sky and began firing down upon the pyramid, blasting pieces of it off with their laser guns.

STORM:
Stop them from damaging the pyramid at all costs. Logan, Kurt take the right side. Bobby and Pitor take the left. Rogue and I will stay in front.

To her surprise, Wolverine did what he was told with no argument. As one of the drones came down again, Iceman released a wave of ice at it but it was too high up and it nailed the pyramid again. The second drone came down and Wolverine looked at Nightcrawler.

WOLVERINE:
Get me up to it!

Nightcrawler grabbed him and teleported up into the sky, dropping Wolverine down on the back of the drone. Wolverine drove his claws straight into the machines 'brain'. It exploded and began spinning out of control in mid-air.

BAMF!

Teleporting back up, Nightcrawler grabbed Wolverine and got him back down to the ground safely. The pyramid was hit once again by another blast from a drone.

ICEMAN:
That's it.

Iceman pointed his hands to the ground and formed a wave of ice beneath his feet. He extended one of his hands and continued forming more ice that he began 'surfing' on. He circled around the pyramid, coating it in a thick lair of frost, giving it some protection from further strikes.

As Iceman continued on, Storm looked to Rogue and held out her hand to the younger girl.

STORM:
Absorb some of my power, Rogue.

ROGUE:
Are you sure?

STORM:
Yes.

Reluctantly, Rogue tore off one her gloves and touched Storm's hand for a brief moment. Suddenly, she began to levitate high off the air. The second drone came down but before it could fire, Rogue looked over and saw that Storm was now flying right next to her. Feeling the power, Rogue held out her hands and fired a lightning bolt at the drone. Storm did the same and together, they electrocuted it.

WOLVERINE:
Two down, one to go.

The drone that Storm and Rogue took down began falling to the ground. Colossus in his metaled up form ran and jumped up, catching it. He spun himself around once and hurled it like a Frisbee at the third and final drone.

It crashed right into it, causing an explosion in the sky. The team got out of harms way as pieces of flaming debris came raining down. Storm and Wolverine looked at each other and grinned as the session came to an end.

STORM:
Great job, everyone. I think that his was our best session yet.

Wolverine looked upon the four newest members of the X-Men and couldn't help but feel proud of them.

WOLVERINE:
I think we'll give you all the rest of the day off. You deserve it.

The room went back to normal and they all stepped out.

INT. MANSION SUBCOMPLEX-HALLWAY

After changing Ororo stepped out of the dressing room to see ARTIE and JONES, two of the younger students standing together, seemingly waiting for her.

ORORO:
What are you two doing down here?

JONES:
Ms. Munroe, there's someone here to see you. He says is name is Henry McCoy.

ORORO:
Hank?

INT. STUDY

Henry was staring a picture on the wall. It was of him, Scott, Jean, and Ororo, all in their X-Men uniforms. It was taken years ago, right before he left. Suddenly, Ororo ran into the room.

ORORO:
Hank!

Henry spun around and laughed heartily.

HANK:
Ororo!

The two of them hugged tightly as Kurt walked into the room. After they separated, Ororo motioned for Kurt to walk over.

ORORO:
Kurt, this Henry McCoy. Hank, this is Kurt Wagner.

The two shook hands.

HANK:
Pleasure to meet you Kurt.

KURT:
Likewise.

By the other doorway of the room, Logan now stood there, watching the reunion with a bemused look on his face.

LOGAN:
Who's the furball?

Henry slowly turned his head to look at Logan, a slight growl escaping his mouth at the insult.

ORORO:
This is Hank McCoy. He was one of the first X-Men, Logan. Even before me.

Suddenly, Xavier appeared and rolled his wheelchair into the room.

XAVIER:
I heard that we have company.

HANK:
Professor.

He walked over and leaned down to give the Professor a light hug.

XAVIER:
It's nice to see you again, Henry.

HANK:
You too. Sorry for just springing in on you like this.

XAVIER:
It's no problem at all, Henry. You're apart of this place.

ORORO:
How long are you staying?

HANK:
Unfortunately, not long. This is not a social call. I have news.

ORORO:
Good or bad?

HANK:
Both.

XAVIER:
Why don't we hear the good news first.

HANK:
Well, after my television appearance, the President contacted me and offered me a job in his cabinet. And I accepted.

ORORO:
Henry, that's terrific.

XAVIER:
It seems the President is becoming much more acceptant of mutant kind.

LOGAN:
What's the bad news?

Hank sighed.

HANK:
The President gave me a report on something that a company called Rao Labs has been working on. It can supposedly suppress the mutant X-gene. They're calling it a cure.

Ororo looked to Xavier and they stared at each other for a moment, taking in the news before Ororo looked back at Henry.

ORORO:
That's ridiculous. You can't cure being a mutant.

HANK:
Well, scientifically speaking—

ORORO:
What is there to "cure", Henry?

KURT:
Ororo.

Kurt was watching the television that stood in the corner of the room.

KURT: (Con't)
They're announcing it now.

INT. STUDENT LOUNGE

Rogue was sitting on the couch, watching the same broadcast as a reporter on screen began speaking.

REPORTER: (On Screen)
We are now about to go to Warren Worthington Senior, who has made a breakthrough discovery about a possible cure for mutation.

Rogue sat up, on the edge of the couch, her full attention now on the broadcast.

INT. WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES

Warren Worthington Senior stood at a podium. Seated to his left was Dr. Kavita Rao. He began to speak.

WORTHINGTON:
They've been called saints and sinners. They've committed atrocities, and been the victims of atrocities themselves. They've been labeled monsters, and not without reason. But these so-called monsters are people, just like us. And we want to help them. Dr. Rao.

Kavita stood and takes the podium.

KAVITA:
Ladies and gentlemen, thanks to generous funding of Mr. Worthington, I and my team at Rao Labs have finally found the solution that mutants out there have been looking for. Like Mr. Worthington has told you, mutants are people. People like us. People with a disease. The mutant gene is nothing more than a corruption of healthy cellular activity.

INT. STUDENT LOUNGE

Rogue continued watching the television as now other students had gathered in.

KAVITA: (O/S)
Ladies and gentlemen…we have found hope.

Rogue's gaze intensifies as Kavita holds up a test tube with a glowing purple liquid inside of it.

KAVITA:
Finally, we have a cure.

INT. STUDY

Ororo and Kurt were sitting down on the couch, just finishing watching the same broadcast. Logan sat on the desk, Hank stood off in the corner with the Professor. They all were quiet for a moment before Ororo finally spoke.

ORORO:
A 'disease'? Since when are we a disease?

LOGAN:
Bet our government boy knows all about it.

HANK:
I can assure you, the government had nothing to do with this. Rao Labs is a private venture.

ORORO:
Who would want this cure, anyway I mean what kind of coward would give up their gift just to fit in?

Kurt looked down at his three-fingered hand.

KURT:
Not all of us have such an easy time fitting in, you know.

Ororo closed her eyes for a moment before touching Kurt's hand.

ORORO
Oh…I'm sorry, Kurt. It's just—

XAVIER:
Believe me, I understand. Forget the personal crises—this is a veritable Pandora's box. I'm not so worried about what this cure can do, as I am about what the government can do with it.

LOGAN:
And Magneto? How do you think he's going to react to this?

Before any of them could answer, Rogue suddenly ran into the room.

ROGUE:
Hey! Is it true? They can cure us?

XAVIER:
Yes, it appears to be true, Rogue-

ORORO:
No!

Ororo stood up and walked over towards Rogue.

ORORO: (Con't)
They can't cure you, Rogue. Because there's nothing wrong with you. There's nothing wrong with any of us for that matter.

As she turned to look at the others Hank finally spoke up.

HANK:
I don't think you're qualified to make that statement, Ororo! There are plenty of mutants who-

ORORO:
What do you want me to think, Hank? Our powers are part of who we are. It's part of our identities!

ROGUE:
You think I want this to be part of my identity?

Everyone in the room looked at Rogue.

ROGUE: (Con't)
I'm Sorry, Ms. Munroe, but if that's the case, you gotta think again. I don't care what anyone says, there is something wrong with me, and I wanna fix it.

Logan frowned heavily as he stared at Rogue.

ROGUE:
And it's my choice.

Rogue then slowly turned around and walked out of the study. Everyone else in the room just stood in silence.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. FOREST-AFTERNOON

Black combat boots glided over the grass of the forest as a figured moved at a brisk pace until reaching a rather large distinctive looking tree. PYRO pushed on a branch that opened a door that led down to the underground hideout Magneto had designed for The Brotherhood.

INT. MAGNETO'S LAIR

Inside was grey and metallic in look and texture. Pyro walked down the stairs and went through a set of corridors until he finally came to a set of metal double-doors of Magneto's office. Inside, the leader of the Brotherhood was sitting quietly at his desk.

PYRO:
They've just announced it.

MAGNETO just continued to sit there, staring at the clanging balls of Newton's cradle game on his desk.

PYRO: (Con't)
Have you gotten any word back from Mystique?

MAGNETO:
No. I'm afraid something has gone wrong.

PYRO:
How could she of gotten caught? She can imitate anyone.

MAGNETO:
We will have to go to San Francisco tonight.

Magneto stood up, ignoring the question. The plan always was to attack Alcatraz to free the mutants being held there, it just wasn't supposed to be this soon.

MAGNETO: (Con't)
Save your strength, we'll attack late in the night, so not to risk interference from Charles.

PYRO:
I don't understand something. If the Professor is intent on always interfering in your plans why don't you just attack the mansion and get rid of him?

MAGNETO:
For the same reason you wouldn't turn against your old friends.

PYRO:
Just say the word and they're ash.

Magneto smiled a little. He clearly didn't believe the younger man.

MAGNETO:
Even now, despite everything that has happened between us, I still have far too much affection for the Professor to attack his very own home. Hopefully Pyro, the day will come when you and your friends will be reunited in a world free of humanity's prejudice.

PYRO:
They aren't my friends.

Magneto ignored him and began to walk out of the office. He then called over his shoulder.

MAGNETO:
Be ready at midnight.

INT. WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES-HALLWAY

Worthington Senior and Kavita walked down a long hallway of their large office building, making their way to the room of James Hawkins, also known by the name 'Leech'. The mutant child who's DNA was responsible for the creation of the cure.

KAVITA:
I'm afraid we might have a little problem, Mr. Worthington.

WORTHINGTON:
What is it?

KAVITA:
I've just gotten word that the President has appointed a mutant to be part of his cabinet.

WORTHINGTON:
So what's the problem?

KAVITA:
Well, we are keeping a mutant child here, and his powers are the focal point of the serum. The new appointee might insist on an investigation of the cure before we can release it to the public.

WORTHINGTON:
We're not mistreating the child, and his father has been compensated very generously. We'll keep everything on schedule.

KAVITA:
Very well. Tonight we will test the cure on several of the mutant prisoners at Alcatraz. Just to be absolutely sure that it works.

The two of them then stopped outside a room with a viewing window. Worthington looked inside and saw his son playing video games with LEECH. The child was bald with bright green skin and yellow eyes.

KAVITA:
Your son has been keeping him company ever since you two arrived.

INT. JIMMY'S ROOM

The room was all white and padded. A bed was at the side and a flat screen television in the corner of the room. Warren and Jimmy sat in front of it, playing the new Burnout game on the PlayStation 3.

WARREN:
Ready to lose this time?

LEECH:
Not on your life.

WARREN:
Are you saying you want me dead?

Jimmy laughed as their cars crashed into each other on the screen. Warren maneuvered his car around and now was in the lead.

WARREN: (Con't)
How much longer do you have to stay here?

LEECH:
I don't know. Not too much longer I hope. It's boring here.

WARREN:
How did Dr. Rao find you anyway?

LEECH:
My dad works for her.

WARREN:
Really?

Jimmy nodded as his car again crashed into Warren's.

WARREN:
Where were you before you were here?

LEECH:
At a school.

Warren looked over at Jimmy.

WARREN:
What kind of school?

LEECH:
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. It's a safe place for people like me.

Warren stared at the screen absent-mindedly. It caused him to lose his concentration and Jimmy's car regained he lead. The door then opened up and Warren's father stuck his head in.

WORTHINGTON:
Warren. We have to go.

He smiled a little as he put the controller down.

WARREN:
Sorry. We'll play longer when I visit again. And I'll beat you next time.

LEECH:
Please, I beat you three straight times.

WARREN:
I was just taking it easy on you.

Jimmy smiled as Warren finally got up and left the room to head back to the penthouse with his father.

INT. MANSION GROUNDS-NIGHT

After the sun went down and the stars came out most of the school had turned in for the night. But outside the mansion grounds, Rogue was sitting on a bench looking at the massive fountain before her. Bobby opened the door and walked outside, slowly approaching her from behind.

BOBBY:
Hey.

Rogue turned her head to look back at him.

ROGUE:
Hey yourself.

Bobby took a seat next to her.

ROGUE: (Con't)
I wonder why it's not snowing yet. That's the one thing I didn't like about Mississippi. Hardly ever snowed.

BOBBY:
We can fix that you know.

ROGUE:
Oh yeah? How's that?

BOBBY:
Just watch.

Bobby got up and placed his hand on the fountain, covering it in ice.

BOBBY: (Con't)
Give me your feet.

ROGUE:
What?

BOBBY:
Come on, give me your feet.

Rogue sat on the edge of the fountain, and Bobby makes ice skates for her. He does the same for himself, and they began skating. After skating around in a complete circle hand in hand, Bobby spoke.

BOBBY:
Thinking about the cure?

ROGUE:
I think we all are.

BOBBY:
But you're not actually thinking about taking it are you?

Rogue took a deep breath.

ROGUE:
Do you know what it's like to kiss a boy-

BOBBY:
I don't actually.

They both laughed but the moment doesn't last long.

ROGUE:
I'm serious Bobby. I want to be able to touch people without worrying about killing them. A hug...a handshake...a kiss.

Bobby looked over at her.

BOBBY:
This isn't about me, is it?

ROGUE:
No. It wouldn't be for you...it'd be for me.

The two skated in another circle quietly before Bobby spoke up again.

BOBBY:
I'm sorry we haven't been spending that much time together.

ROGUE:
It's okay, you went through a lot. With John leaving, and what happened with your family-

BOBBY:
That's what I wanted to tell you. My mom called earlier, she asked me to come see them. I'm taking a bus there tomorrow morning. I'll probably be gone by the time you wake up.

ROGUE:
It sounds like they've finally come around.

BOBBY:
Yeah, I hope so.

They both looked at each other silence for a moment before Rogue nearly trips but Bobby caught her and they both laugh. They then skate over to the fountain's edge and sat down. Rogue leaned forward and kisses him lightly on the cheek, as lightly as possible so not to hurt him.

ROGUE:
This was nice.

BOBBY:
I thought it could take our minds off things.

ROGUE:
Good night, Bobby.

BOBBY:
Good night.

Taking off her shoes, Rogue got up and headed back inside the mansion with Bobby watching her the whole way. Once she was inside, he looked up towards the night sky and smiled.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. MANSION-GYM-NIGHT

Inside of the mansion, Logan was in the second floor inside the gym. In addition to the Danger Room, the gym had weights and other exercise equipment, along with mats so they could practice hand to hand sparring. Logan stood at a punching bag, hitting it as hard as he could. As he continued on, images of William Stryker began flashing in his mind as heard his voice.

STRYKER: (V/O)
People don't change, Wolverine. You were an animal then, you're an animal now. I just gave you claws.

SNIKT!

Logan quickly unearthed his claws from his knuckles and stabbed the bag. He glared down at the floor as the insides of the bag spilled out when a voice got his attention.

VOICE:
Excuse me

Logan looked over and saw Hank standing by the entrance of the gym.

LOGAN:
Am I bothering you?

HANK:
Not at all. I just finished talking to the Professor, trying to catch up on things I missed in the time I've been away. He told me a lot about you.

LOGAN:
Oh yeah?

HANK:
He said you helped stop Magneto at Liberty Island. And you helped stop Stryker at Alkali Lake.

LOGAN:
Yeah, I did.

Logan walked over to the weight set and picked up a fifty pound dumbbell.

HANK:
Very brave of you. I wish I could have been there, but I don't know if these old bones could handle that kind of thing anymore.

Logan turned his head to look at him.

LOGAN:
How old are you?

HANK:
Just turned fifty five. How about yourself?

LOGAN:
Couldn't tell you, I don't remember.

Hank nodded.

HANK:
The Professor also said that you're taking over for Scott.

LOGAN:
Not really. I'm just helping getting the new recruits get ready…and then…

HANK:
What?

LOGAN:
I don't know.

HANK:
Why don't you just stay here?

Logan didn't respond, but that was what was bothering him. He'd been chasing after his past for so long, now that Striker had taken what he'd known about Logan to his grave he really didn't know what to do with himself.

LOGAN:
I don't know if I really belong here.

Logan then looked as if he shouldn't have said that out loud.

HANK:
If you've really done all the things the Professor said you did, than I can assure you, you do.

Logan didn't get a chance to respond as Hank turned away and walked down to his room. Placing the dumbbell down, Logan went after him and called down the hall.

LOGAN:
Hey Hank! Want to have a beer?

Hank turned around.

HANK:
Beer? We have beer here?

Logan smirked.

INT. KITCHEN:

Logan opened up the refrigerator for Hank to see a six pack of beer on one of the shelves. It had a note pinned on it that read 'This is Logan's beer. I know your smell'.

LOGAN:
Now we do.

Logan took out two bottles, handing one to Hank. He then used his claws to take off the bottle top. He then does the same for Hank's bottle. The blue mutant glanced at the note again before looking back at Logan.

HANK:
Must work like a charm.

EXT. ALCATRAZ FACILITY-NIGHT

Several guards walked into the room where Mystique was being held, leading a lizard-esque mutant to a table. Once he was on it they clasped his wrists and ankles so he couldn't move.

MYSTIQUE as PRESIDENT MCKENNA:
Let me out of here! I demand that you release me!

One of the guards rolled his eyes as he turned and walked towards the holding cell. The President was right up against it, gripping the bars.

MYSTIQUE as PRESIDENT MCKENNA: (Con't)
Do you know who I am? I am the god damn President of the United States!

GUARD:
Mr. President, shut the hell up!

The guard turned back around but then hears the cries of a little girl.

MYSTIQUE as LITTLE GIRL:
Let me go. Please.

Turning back around, the guard took out his pepper-spray.

GUARD:
Get away from the bars or I'll spray you in the face, *****.

The girl smiled evilly.

MYSTIQUE as LITTLE GIRL:
When I get out of here, I'm going to kill you myself.

GUARD:
Yeah, we'll see.

General Lang then walked in with a DOCTOR by his side. The doctor had a syringe in hand that contained the cure. The general looked over at the holding cell and addressed Mystique.

LANG:
We've already tested this on several different mutants already. I just wanted you to see it for yourself what this does.

Lang then nodded towards the doctor, who came forward and injected the mutant on the table with the cure. Mystique watched as the mutant spasmed as slowly his greenish-grey scales went away before they all found themselves staring at a now normal looking man.

The general looked over at Mystique and smirked as he saw that her façade cracked, and saw fear in her eyes, if only for a moment.

LANG:
Raven Darkholme, you've put thousands, if not millions of lives in danger. You're going to answer all the questions I need from you.

MYSTIQUE:
I'd rather die a fighter than a traitor.

LANG:
Tell me where Magneto is!

MYSTIQUE:
Go to hell.

He glared at her.

LANG:
Have it your way.

General Lang looked at the doctor.

LANG: (Con't)
Go get another sample. And then I'll inject her personally.

EXT. THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE-NIGHT

Meanwhile, a rush of late night traffic crosses The Golden Gate Bridge. Suddenly, several of the cars screech to a halt. Two other cars crash into each other. Many drivers look around, panicked. Down at the end of the bridge, Magneto and Pyro begin walking down it, Magneto's hands outstretched. He magnetically parts the sea of cars, sending them crashing to either side of the bridge.

Citizens have now begun to leave their cars and run away. Magneto smirks as he comes to a stop and then looks down to the end of the bridge.

Extending his arms grandly, he focused all his power, and began to tear the bridge from the supporting cables and columns. Soon, the entire section of the bridge was free, and began floating forwards Alcatraz.

INT. ALCATRAZ

Troops rush up observation towers to get a better view, and react in astonishment as they see the bridge moving towards them. It moves over them, and some of the soldiers manage to run away before Magneto released his hold, and the bridge landed on the steep rocky shore of Alcatraz Island.

INT. ALCATRAZ PRISON-SURVEILLANCE ROOM

General Lang followed a Sergeant into the surveillance room. He was concerned and in a hurry to see what had happened.

LANG:
Damn it, what the hell is going on?!

The cameras then showed what was left of the Golden Gate Bridge landing on the island and Lang's eyes widened, knowing there was only one mutant he knew of that was strong enough to do that.

LANG:
Get soldiers to the front of this facility!

After hearing the order, the soldiers grabbed their guns and began rushing to the front of the complex.

INT. ALCATRAZ GROUNDS

Magneto smirked when he saw them and looked back at Pyro.

MAGNETO:
Follow my lead.

Magneto summoned a car from behind him and sends it into the air. Pyro sent a fireball up, turning the car into a grenade and it landed on a group of soldiers.

SOLDIER:
Get back!

Magneto sent two more cars up into the air which Pyro lit on fire. One hit an observation tower, the other crashed onto the ground, flipping twice before settling.

Lifting up three more cars, Magneto launched them forward as Pyro sent up three different jets of flame, lighting them all on fire. One of the cars actually stuck the facility itself. The power inside went off as one of the laboratories caught fire.

Sending up one more car, Magneto sent it flying towards the facility, right at where the surveillance room was. General Lang looked as the flaming car came right at him, but before he could even try to run from the room or even scream it crashed right through, killing him instantly as an explosion went off.

Feeling the damage was done, Magneto stepped off the bridge and onto the island. By this time the soldiers had recovered and began firing at him but he easily stopped them all and pushed back all the bullets, causing them to go back and pierce through the dozens of soldiers.

INT. ALCATRAZ FACILITY-HOLDING ROOM

The guards had lost their bearings due to the attack. The one guard who had threatened Mystique earlier had lost his footing and fell back against the cell.

Mystique slithered her legs out and captured the guard's neck with her feet, breaking it with a sickening crack.

MYSTIQUE:
Told you so.

Mystique then used her toes to take the keys off the dead guards belt and unlocked her cell.

INT. FACILITY CORRIDORS

Magneto walked down a corridor filled with cells. He continued walking and with a simple nod, the cell doors began falling down one by one. Curious mutants slowly walked to the entrance of their cell, sticking their head out to see who had freed them.

INT. ALCATRAZ GROUNDS

Back outside, Pyro walked forward and before a soldier could have a chance to shoot, he manipulated his deadly fire and scorched his body. He then noticed a tank of oxygen nearby the facility and sent a fireball at it, causing a huge explosion to go off before he made his way inside.

INT. FACILITY

As Pyro went in, a bunch of people in prisoner uniforms began running towards him.

PYRO:
Get out of here. Go up the bridge.

INT. FACILITY CORRIDORS

Magneto continued on until the door down the hall opened and Mystique walked through. They both smiled as they walked towards each other.

MYSTIQUE:
About time.

MAGNETO:
I've been busy.

They both stopped once they were standing together.

MAGNETO: (Con't)
Did you find what you were looking for?

MYSTIQUE:
The source of the cure is a mutant. A child, being kept at Worthington Industries in New York. Without him, they have nothing.

Magneto looked over as Pyro was now by his side.

MAGNETO:
Well then, that's where we are going. We will destroy this cure at its very source.

EXT. ALCATRAZ ISLAND (Overhead Shot)

The prison that once stood strong had been completely destroyed. Fire was everywhere, totaled burning cars littered the island as dozens of soldiers lay dead on the ground. Several helicopters began flying towards the island but it was too late. By this time Magneto, Mystique, and Pyro, along with the mutant prisoners being kept there were long gone.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. PENTHOUSE-DAY

Waking up early the next morning in his fathers penthouse apartment in the city, Warren got out of bed and extended his wings. The curtains in his room were drawn and the door was locked. No one was going to see.

His wings began to flap gently, and slowly he lifted off the ground and kept going up until his head reached the ceiling. Warren grinned as he looked down at the floor. He had done this only a couple of times ever since his wings had fully grown a few years ago.

He glided across the room when suddenly a knock on the door caused him to drop back to the floor.

WARREN:
Just a second.

Warren threw on his overcoat and walked over to open the door to see his father standing there.

WORTHINGTON:
Warren, can I come in?

WARREN:
Sure.

Warren stepped back and his father walked into the room, shutting the door behind him. Worthington took a seat on the leather recliner while Warren sat down on the bed.

WORTHINGTON:
I have some good news. I just got confirmation that the cure works and it is safe to take. We'll have a sample ready for you this afternoon.

He then looked to the side for a moment, not bothering to tell his son about the attack on Alcatraz by mutant terrorists.

WARREN:
Oh. Dad, I wanted to tell you something.

WORTHINGTON:
Go ahead.

WARREN:
I was talking with Jimmy the other day, and he told me that he use to go to a school…for mutants.

WORTHINGTON:
Really?

WARREN:
Yeah, he said the name was Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. I looked it up and it's only an hour away from here, in Westchester. And I was thinking…maybe…I could go check it out.

Worthington shook his head.

WORTHINGTON:
Warren...that's no place for you to be.

Warren got to his feet and walked to the windows, throwing back the curtains.

WARREN:
Dad, all my life I've been sheltered because of this. I didn't go to public school, hell, I didn't even go to a private school, you hired a teacher to come here. It's like I've been living in a cave. All because you're ashamed that I'm a mutant.

WORTHINGTON:
I've never been ashamed of you.

Worthington got to his feet and put his hands on either side of Warren's shoulders, looking him in the eye.

WORTHINGTON: (Con't)
I was just trying to protect you. After your mother died you were all I had left. I didn't want something to happen to you.

Warren nodded.

WARREN:
I know.

WORTHINGTON:
But we don't have to worry about that any more. Today it will all be over, from now on you'll be normal. All mutants out there will have the chance to become normal again. And then one day I'll step down from this company and you'll take over.

WARREN:
Sounds good.

Warren said that with false cheer as he looked down at the floor. His father then gave him a look.

WORTHINGTON:
It is what you want, right?

WARREN:
Yes.

WORTHINGTON:
Alright. Be ready around three o'clock.

Warren nodded as his father turned and walked out of the room. He then sighed heavily before sitting back down on the bed and putting his face in his hands

INT. MANSION-STUDY

Hank was standing next to Professor Xavier as they watched a news broadcast. The Golden Gate Bridge had been completely destroyed and all off the mutant prisoners had been broken out of Alcatraz Island. Xavier looked at the shots of the twisted metal and all the other damage before lowering his eyes, full well knowing that his old friend was responsible for all of it.

HANK:
I'm going to have to get back to Washington, Professor. I'm sure the President is going to want to see me about this, and figure out what to do about Magneto.

XAVIER:
I understand, Henry.

HANK:
We should have expected something like this.

XAVIER:
Yes. No doubt Erik sees the cure as a weapon that will be used against mutants.

Hank took a deep breath.

HANK:
I can't stop thinking about it, Professor. I want to know. I want to know if this so called 'cure' will work or not. And if it's safe for mutants to take.

XAVIER:
As do I.

HANK:
It's not that I don't trust the company that's developed it…I just want to know for myself. From what I've been hearing it's going to be released to the public anytime now.

XAVIER:
Could you request a sample? With your new position in the President's cabinet there must be a way.

HANK:
I'm afraid I don't know how much power I have. And like I said, Rao Labs is a private company, I don't know if can just go in and ask for a sample without being denied.

And idea then came to the Professor.

XAVIER:
Henry…I think I know a way to get you in there. Without being detected.

HANK:
Oh yeah? How?

Xavier smiled.

XAVIER:
I happen to know a girl who can walk through walls.

INT. THE DRAKE HOUSE

Bobby had arrived at the house after getting off at the bus stop and was staring at the doorbell. He shook his head, he couldn't believe that he was actually afraid to walk into his own house.

Finally, he just rang the bell.

After a few moments of waiting, MADELINE DRAKE answered the door and found herself staring into the eyes of her oldest son. She smiled and to Bobby's relief she hugged him.

MADELINE:
Bobby, come on in. We were about to have breakfast.

INT. DINING ROOM

Bobby walked in to see his father WILLIAM DRAKE at the table, reading the paper with a plate full of bacon and eggs in front of him. He looked up from the paper and grinned when he saw his son.

WILLIAM:
I'm glad you made it. Have a seat.

BOBBY:
How have you guys been?

Bobby was about to mention the last time he was here, but didn't know if he should bring it up or not.

MADELINE:
Everything's been fine.

Madeline brought in a plate of food for him and sat it down on the table.

BOBBY:
Where's Ronny?

MADELINE:
I think he's out with his girlfriend.

Bobby nodded as he began eating.

WILLIAM:
So, whatever happened to that boy?

BOBBY:
What boy?

WILLIAM:
The one who attacked the police.

BOBBY:
I'm sorry about that.

WILLIAM:
Was he ever arrested?

BOBBY:
It's a long story.

They ate in silence for a few moments before Bobby decided to bring up a question that had been on his mind ever since he left the house last time.

BOBBY:
Do you still want me here?

WILLIAM:
What do you mean?

BOBBY:
You know.

Madeline sighed.

MADELINE:
Bobby, I think it's best we not talked about it.

BOBBY:
No, I want to know.

William and Madeline looked at each other for a moment before he answered.

WILLIAM:
Of course we do. You're our son, we told you that already.

Bobby smiled and nodded.

MADELINE:
And now that there's a cure, everything will go back to the way things were.

Bobby's expression quickly changed.

BOBBY:
What? You think I'm going to take the cure?

Madeline looked at her son in surprise.

MADELINE:
You're not?

Bobby's jaw dropped.

BOBBY:
You actually want me to take it?

MADELINE:
Honey…you would be normal again. Why wouldn't you want to take it?

BOBBY:
Maybe because I like being a mutant, mom. Did you ever think of that? I like that I'm different. I don't want to go back to being the way I was.

Bobby watched as his parents just looked at each other, both had looks of disappointment of their faces. He could only shake his head, they didn't understand.

BOBBY: (Con't)
I'm out of here.

He got to his feet and headed to the front door.

WILLIAM:
Bobby, wait!

BOBBY:
No, forget it. Don't worry about me, I won't be coming back here again.

They called after him again but he continued his way out of the house.

EXT. DRAKE HOUSE

Bobby walked down the porch. He then stopped and took a deep breath before looking back at the house one last time, what was once his family inside, now knowing that his real family was back at the mansion in Westchester.

INT. RAO LABORATORIES

Pulling up next to the curb, a Rolls Royce parked outside the Rao Labs building with Hank in the drivers seat and the Professor and Kitty Pryde in the back.

INT. ROLLS ROYCE

HANK:
This reminds me of the early days, Professor. When I use to drive you and Erik everywhere, remember?"

XAVIER:
How could I forget?

Kitty then looked over at her teacher.

KITTY:
Professor, I'm nervous.

XAVIER:
Everything will be okay Kathrine, I promise. I wouldn't put you into harm's way.

Hank turned around to look at the teenage girl.

HANK:
Remember Kitty, just stay at my side and nothing will happen, okay?

Kitty nodded.

KITTY:
Okay.

HANK:
Alright, let's go.

EXT. ALLEYWAY

Hank and Kitty stood in the alleyway of the east side of the building.

HANK:
Anything I should know?

KITTY:
Nope. Just walk forward.

Hank took Kitty's hand and slowly, methodically, they phased right through the wall and inside the building.

INT. RAO LABS-BATHROOM

A strange jolt went through his body as he passed through the wall but when he realized they were both in, Hank quickly looked around and saw that they were in a bathroom with several stalls that luckily were empty.

HANK:
So far so good…

They approached the bathroom door and were about to go through it but she stopped him.

KITTY:
Wait, why don't I take a look first?

Hank was then taken aback when Kitty phased her head out the door. After a second she pulled herself back in and looked at him.

KITTY: (Con't)
All clear.

Hank nodded and the two of them phased out of the bathroom.

INT. HALLWAY

Looking around, Hank saw a sign on the ceiling that read 'Main Lab' with an arrow pointing to the right.

HANK:
Come on.

They went down the hallway together and were about to turn the corner when they saw two men talking to each other coming their way, not paying any attention. Hank quickly swung himself around so before they saw him and phased through the wall behind him with Kitty.

INT. BREAKROOM

They were now in a room with a soda machine and vending machine in it. A table was in the center of the room and a man was sitting at it with his head down so he didn't notice them or hear them as a flat screen was mounted on the wall and was showing some sitcom.

Hank motioned for Kitty to come along as they phased through the opposite wall.

INT. HALLWAY

They were now back in the hall and Hank was now face to face with a scientist wearing a pair of glasses, and looked to be in his late thirties. His eyes widened in shock when he laid eyes on the beast.

SCIENTIST:
Hey, you're not supposed to be in here!

Balling up his fist, Hank reached back before leveling the man with a punch, knocking him out cold.

Putting his hands on her shoulders, Hank looked Kitty right in the eye.

HANK:
Stay here.

Kitty watched with her mouth open as Hank leaped forward and ran with cat-like speed on all fours, like a true animal to the main lab. He was breathtaking to behold, beyond agile, a blur of acrobatic blue fur. Hank worked his way through the maze of equipment jumping over a couple of desks and finally entered the main lab.

INT. MAIN LAB

Hank looked widely around and continued moving along through a couple more desks until he saw a large refrigerator in the corner. Leaping over to it, he grabbed the handle, opening it to see dozens of test-tube racks inside of it which contained countless samples of the cure.

Snatching one, he placed it in his pocket before growling and running back to where he left Kitty.

INT. HALLWAY

Hank charged forward on all fours before taking Kitty's hand.

HANK:
Let's go Kitty!

The two of them ran forward to the east wall and kept going, phasing through wall after wall until they were finally back outside.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. TRAIN-PASSENGER CAR-AFTERNOON

The mutant prisoners that were broken out of Alcatraz, about forty-five in number sat together on a train that Magneto had commandeered last night soon after the attack.

Just then, Magneto entered the compartment and stood before the mutants.

MAGNETO:
My brothers, we shall take you all somewhere safe. However, if anyone wishes to join my Brotherhood and fight, the invitation stands.

A figure all the way in the back, hidden by all the others suddenly stood up and moved towards the older mutant. Magneto smiled as he recognized his old protégé, Mortimer Toynbee, better known to him as TOAD.

TOAD:
Hey, boss. I thought I'd never see you again.

Magneto gave him a nod.

MAGNETO:
Toad, it's been some time. Where is Sabretooth?

TOAD:
Beats me. He escaped while being transferred to Alcatraz. He could be anywhere.

MAGNETO:
Very well. Follow me.

INT. SLEEPER COMPARTMENT

Magneto led Toad to a different part of the train. Toad turned his head to look at Pyro, who was sitting and flicking his shark lighter open and closed.

TOAD:
Who's this?

MAGNETO:
Pyro. Pyro, this is Toad. A former member of the Brotherhood.

Pyro glanced at him for a second but didn't speak or offer his hand to the other mutant.

TOAD:
You recruited a kid?

PYRO:
This 'kid' has done more for the cause than you've ever done.

Toad glared down at him.

TOAD:
You sure about that?

MAGNETO:
Enough. We should be arriving in Manhattan early in the morning. Get some rest.

Magneto moved on to the engine to be with Mystique who was operating the train as Toad sat down across from Pyro who continued flicking his lighter open and closed while staring out the window. Toad twitched visibly with annoyance.

TOAD:
Can you stop that already?

Pyro smirked.

PYRO:
Nope.

Toad smirked at him and in a flash his long tongue flew from his mouth, wrapping around Pyro's hand, pulling the lighter out and bringing it to him.

TOAD:
Mine now.

PYRO:
Give it back.

Toad looked at him before flicking the lighter open and closed, mimicking Pyro.

TOAD:
Hmm…nope. Don't think so.

Pyro got to his feet.

PYRO:
Give it back, tadpole.

The other man also got to his feet.

TOAD:
Come and get it.

Toad lit the lighter and waved it in front of his face, tauntingly. Pyro smirked as suddenly a small fireball went off causing Toad to fly backwards and drop the lighter. Pyro picked it up, wiped it off on his jacket before sitting back down.

PYRO:
Now you know why my name is Pyro.

Toad glared at him as he got up but didn't retaliate cause Pyro had a fireball in his hand, just in case the other mutant made a move.

TOAD:
What's so special about that thing anyway?

Toad sat back down across from him as Pyro sighed as he looked down at it.

PYRO:
A friend of mine gave it to me.

TOAD:
So, where's this friend now?

PYRO:
In the past. He means nothing to me now.

TOAD:
So why keep it?

A look of surprise came over Pyro's face but he didn't have an answer.

INT. MANSION-XAVIER'S OFFICE

Kitty stood in the Professor's office as the older man smiled, assuring her she did well in helping Henry get in and out of the building safely.

XAVIER:
Katherine, you did a wonderful job. I'm very proud of you.

Kitty smiled.

KITTY:
Does this mean I get to be part of the X-Men, Professor?

Xavier laughed.

XAVIER:
I'll have to think about that. But for now I believe you have school work to finish.*

Kitty sighed, playfully as always.

KITTY:
Okay.

INT. STUDENT LOUNGE

Rogue was sitting on the couch, thinking quietly to herself as she stared at her gloved hands. Suddenly, Logan walked into the room.

LOGAN:
Hey Rogue, where's Bobby? I can't find him anywhere.

ROGUE:
He left to go visit his parents.

LOGAN:
When was this?

ROGUE:
Early this morning.

LOGAN:
Well, come on, we've got a Danger Room session.

Rogue shook her head as she got to her feet.

ROGUE:
No, I'm not training today.

LOGAN:
Why not?

ROGUE:
I'm just not in the mood, alright?

She walked past him and headed for the stairs.

INT. FOYER

LOGAN:
Rogue! Hold on!

Logan walked after her.

ROGUE:
What Logan? What do you want from me?

He stared at her, seeing that she was clearly upset.

LOGAN:
Okay, what's wrong with you?

ROGUE:
It's nothing…I'm just really confused right now, okay. I just need to be alone.

LOGAN:
It's the cure isn't it?

Rogue didn't respond as she continued her way up the stairs. Logan turned away and walked down the hall to see Kurt sitting by one of the large windows.

LOGAN:
Let me guess, you don't want to train either.

KURT:
If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not.

LOGAN:
Something wrong?

Kurt smiled a little.

KURT:
A lot of things.

Logan turned away and saw Ororo walking towards him.

ORORO:
Logan, have you found the others?

LOGAN:
Bobby isn't here, Rogue and Kurt don't want to train.

ORORO:
Why not?

LOGAN:
The cure. It's tearing this whole team apart.

INT. INFIRMARY

Hank stood looking through a microscope down at a slide which contained a small drop of the cure. After a few more seconds, Hank backed away and picked up a syringe.

HANK:
Hello, Logan.

Hank sensed the other man standing by the entrance.

LOGAN:
Where have you been?

HANK:
I snuck into Rao Labs.

Logan raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat impressed.

LOGAN:
Really?

HANK:
You're not the only one with animal instincts. Although I'm sure you've already guessed that.

Logan then noticed the test tube that was laying on the table. After seeing that it was filled with a glowing purple liquid he looked at the other mutant coldly.

LOGAN:
What is that?

He didn't even have to ask. He knew what it was.

HANK:
It's nothing that may interest you.

LOGAN:
Why did you bring that here?

HANK:
I had to examine it to see if it truly works.

LOGAN:
You too huh?

Logan walked further into the room.

LOGAN: (Con't)
You know I'm a little sick of hearing everyone complaining about this and that of being a mutant. So you think you have a disease too?

Hank shook his head.

HANK:
You have no idea what it's like...to be chased for simply trying to cross a street. Or having problems just…touching a woman. I'm a human being Logan, I have the right-

LOGAN:
No, you're not. I think you of all people should know that. Do you know how hard some of the kids around here are taking this? What kind of example do you think you'll set for them if they see someone like you take it?

HANK:
I honesty don't know. Please just leave me alone.

Suddenly, Logan went straight for the tube but Hank grabbed him and forcefully pushed him against the wall.

HANK:
Logan, don't try it-

LOGAN:
If you don't throw that crap down the drainpipe, I'll make you.

INT. HALLWAY

Xavier and Ororo were walking down the hall when they suddenly heard the sound of glass breaking and equipment falling to the floor, coming from the infirmary. They both looked at each other for a moment before continuing their way-

BANG!

Logan and Hank crashed through the door and into the hallway, throwing punches at each other.

XAVIER:
Enough!

The two pulled away from each other, both glaring at one another while taking deep breaths.

ORORO:
What the hell are you two doing?

HANK:
He tried to throw away the sample of cure I took.

ORORO:
You stole a sample of the cure?

HANK:
I needed to know if it really worked.

ORORO:
And does it?

HANK:
On principal yes…but I can't be one hundred percent sure until it's tested on a mutant.

LOGAN:
And how are you going to do that?

Hank ignored the question as Ororo came over to help him up.

ORORO:
Hank, I know what you've went through over the years, but surely you aren't thinking about-

HANK:
I need to finish my exam. If I could please just have some more time...alone.

XAVIER:
Very well, Henry.

Hank was about to turn away but looked one last time towards Logan.

LOGAN:
You're a mutant. Try not to forget, okay?

EXT. WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES-EXAM ROOM

As Kavita and her staff were getting ready, Worthington Senior was standing by the window inside the exam room, watching the cityscape as a TECHNICIAN then called from the far side of the room;

TECHNICIAN:
Mr. Worthington sir, he's arrived.

WORTHINGTON:
Good. Bring him in.

Kavita walked over and lightly touched his arm.

KAVITA:
Are you sure you want to start with him?

WORTHINGTON:
I think it's important, yes.

She went off to prepare for the procedure as two ORDERLIES brought Warren into the room. Warren seemed a little nervous as he looked around before his eyes settled on his father.

KAVITA:
Hello, Warren.

Warren nodded as his father clasped him on his shoulders.

WORTHINGTON:
I'm proud of you for doing this. You know that.

He nodded again as he shrugged off his bulky overcoat, and then pulled his shirt over his head. A harness restrained his wings. The orderlies guide him to the restraining table, now in an upright position that will allow Warren to remain standing. Kavita approached him with a needle and syringe in hand.

KAVITA:
The transformation can be a little jarring.

Warren swallowed.

WARREN:
Dad can we…can we talk about this for a second?

WORTHINGTON:
We already talked about it, son. We agreed.

Warren squirmed as Kavita swabbed his arm with alcohol.

WORTHINGTON: (Con't)
It'll all be over soon.

WARREN:
Wait, just wait a minute!

Kavita looked up, taken slightly aback by Warren's outburst.

WORTHINGTON:
Warren, just calm down. Relax, son.

WARREN:
No…I don't want to do this.

Worthington ran over and joined the orderlies in trying to hold his son still.

WORTHINGTON:
Do it quickly!

WARREN:
No! Stop!

He struggled, breaking the harness and restraints holding him back. His father and the orderlies fly away from him, and his wings extend to their full span. It was a magnificent sight, truly inspiring to behold. Everyone in the room freezes, even his father was speechless. Warren pants and looked towards him. Finally Worthington speaks;

WORTHINGTON:
It's a better life, Warren. It's what you want.

WARREN:
No, dad. It's what you want.

Seeing the orderlies blocking the door, Warren spun around to the glass windows and charged forward.

WORTHINGTON:
Warren no!

Warren crashed through the window, falling at first, and then flying. The people on the sidewalk look up as glass fragments explode from the side of the building.

They watched in awe as an ANGEL soared over them.

Some cross themselves, others merely stare, but none of them will forget this moment. They shield their eyes as the angel disappears into the sky.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. MANHATTEN-HOTEL ROOM-NIGHT

An attractive young, blonde woman walked into the hotel room and as she closed the door behind her, the appearance went away as Mystique became her blue, scaled form and headed over to the television where Magneto, Pyro, and Toad had gathered to watch a reporter.

REPORTER: (O/S)
History will be made here tomorrow morning. For the first time ever, the so called mutant cure, being referred to as 'hope' will be made available to the public. As we've seen since the announcement, reactions have been mixed. Some mutants are desperate for the cure while others are insulted by the mere idea of it.

Magneto muted the television and turned to Pyro.

MAGNETO:
Tomorrow you will raze Rao Laboratories to the ground. You will prevent any mutant from this cure being used against them.

PYRO:
I'll be going alone?

Magneto noticed his reluctance.

MAGNETO:
Are you a god...or an insect?

Toad snorted.

TOAD:
Never send a boy to do a man's job.

Pyro glared at Toad.

PYRO:
I'll do it.

Magneto nodded as he turned the volume to the television back on.

REPORTER: (O/S)
From what we've gathered, Rao Labs is planning on opening their doors to the public as early as nine o'clock...

EXT. MANSION-FOYER-DAY

The following morning, wearing black gloves and her green hooded cloak, Rogue was standing by the front door and she had finally come to a conclusion though deep down it was still bothering her. Rogue took a deep breath as she slowly put her hand on the doorknob.

LOGAN:
Where you headed, kiddo?

She froze. Rogue didn't want to turn around, she was to an extent ashamed to reveal her decision. Finally, she turned to face Logan. She didn't say anything but she didn't have to, Logan already knew where she was going.

LOGAN: (Con't)
I hope your not doing this for some boy.

ROGUE:
No…it's not that. I've tried to deal with this, but I can't ignore what could be my only chance at a normal life. You don't know what it's like to be afraid of your powers, to get close to anyone.

LOGAN:
Yeah, I do. But if I told you I know exactly what you're going through I'd be lying. I honestly don't know what I'd do if I was in your position.

ROGUE:
I know you don't approve, and it's a bad example to set for other mutants, but-

LOGAN:
Hey, I'm not your father.

Rogue then smiled at Logan.

LOGAN: (Con't)
I'm your friend. If you wanna go, go. Just be sure that it's what you want. And I'll still be here for you, whatever you decide.

She slowly walked up to him and hugged him, Logan hugged her back.

LOGAN:
Be careful, Rogue.

They let go of each other.

ROGUE:
Marie.

He smiled.

LOGAN:
Marie.

Logan turned away and Rogue continued her way out.

INT. HALLWAY-THIRD FLOOR

Bobby walked out of his room, fully dressed. He had arrived back at the school last night. He walked down the hall to Rogue's room and stopped to see the door open. Bobby slowly headed in and sat down on the bed, looking depressed. As he stared at the floor, Pitor walked by and saw Bobby inside.

PITOR:
Hey.

Bobby looked up.

PITOR: (Con't)
Storm wants to see us. Where's Rogue? I've been looking everywhere for her.

BOBBY:
She must have left.

PITOR:
Oh…you don't think?

He stared at the other boy.

BOBBY:
What?

PITOR:
Rao Labs just started releasing the cure to the public.

BOBBY:
No…she wouldn't.

Bobby got to his feet. He quickly walked past Pitor.

BOBBY: (Con't)
Tell Storm I had to go.

INT. XAVIER'S OFFICE

Xavier, Logan, Ororo, and Kurt all sat, talking amongst themselves.

LOGAN:
Has anyone seen Hank?

XAVIER:
He spent all night examining the cure. I think he went to sleep only an hour ago.

Suddenly, a knock on the door got the attention of all of them. A blonde young man was standing in the doorway.

ORORO:
Hello.

Ororo stood up as Warren Worthington III was standing in the entry way, his wings concealed under a overcoat.

WARREN:
I'm sorry to intrude, but I…I heard this was a safe place for mutants.

ORORO:
Yes it is. What is your name?

WARREN:
Warren. Warren Worthington.

Xavier looked at him.

XAVIER:
Worthington? Then your father-

WARREN:
Yeah.

Warren hung his head, disgusted.

WARREN: (Con't)
Because of me.

Ororo touched his arm.

ORORO:
Not because of you, Warren. It's not your fault.

She looked back at Kurt.

ORORO: (Con't)
Kurt, could you show Warren a room?

KURT:
Certainly.

INT. HALLWAY

Warren followed Kurt down the hall as he led him to a room he could stay in. They made their way up the stairs and they soon arrived at a room. He opened the door and Warren walked inside.

INT. BEDROOM

KURT:
You can stay in this room. I know it's a little empty-

WARREN:
It's perfect.

Warren then removed his overcoat and expanded his wings. Despite himself, Kurt gasped.

KURT:
Oh my.

Warren turned back around.

WARREN:
Oh, sorry.

KURT:
You're an archangel.

Warren looked at Kurt and raised a brow.

WARREN:
Uh…what are you-

Kurt approached him.

KURT:
Which archangel are you? Are you Michael, or Raphael? Or could you be Gabriel?

WARREN:
My name is Warren. I'm not an archangel.

KURT:
Of course you are. You have angel wings.

WARREN:
It's my mutation. I'm only a mutant, not an archangel.

KURT:
Oh.

Kurt now looked disappointed and a uncomfortable silence followed. He finally looked back up and smiled a little.

KURT:
You have an amazing gift.

Warren smiled back.

WARREN:
Thank you.

EXT. RAO LABORATORIES

Downtown, a crowd formed outside of the laboratory. Rogue got off the bus and went over to stand in the back on the line. She looked over across the street at the group of mutants who were protesting against the cure.

They began to chant;

CROWD:
We don't need a cure! We don't need a cure! We don't need a cure!

Rogue stared down at her feet as she continued to wait.

Just then, Bobby got out of a taxi he had managed to flag down and quickly made his way through the crowd.

BOBBY:
Rogue!

Bobby continued pushing his way through people and looking around widely before he bumped into someone very familiar.

PYRO:
Taking the cure so you can go home to mommy and daddy?

Bobby now had a look of surprise on his face.

BOBBY:
John.

Pyro shook his head.

PYRO:
I gave up that name months ago.

BOBBY:
Why'd you do it?

PYRO:
Do what?

BOBBY:
Go with Magneto. Come back to the school, you still can.

PYRO:
It's a prison. People always telling me what I can and can't do, how to be. Who to be.

Pyro formed a fireball from the wrist lighter Magneto designed for him, leveling the flame. He took a step forward, and Bobby steadied, forcing a stare.

PYRO: (Con't)
This is who I am.

He snapped his palm shut and the flame disappeared for a second. Then it was there again, the fire incredible this time, and Bobby watched, nearly dumbstruck, as strangers cried out, pushing and stumbling to get by. Pyro laughed as he handled the growing blaze with the skill and poise of an experienced juggler.

PYRO:
Come on, Iceman. Make a move.

Bobby shook his head, a look of disappointment on his face as he turned away from him and continued his search for Rogue. He finally spotted her at the end of the line.

BOBBY:
Rogue!

Rogue looked over when she heard his voice.

ROGUE:
Bobby! What are you doing here?

BOBBY:
I don't want you to do this, we can find another way.

ROGUE:
I told you that I'm not doing this for you. And there is no other way.

Before either one could say another word, Pyro unleashed a large stream of flame at the laboratory. The building exploded on impact and immediately caught fire as people screamed and began to run away. Rogue screamed when she saw what had happened.

ROGUE:
No! I have to get in there!

She ran forward but Bobby grabbed her and held her back.

BOBBY:
It's too late, Rogue!

ROGUE:
No!

Meanwhile, several cops who saw Pyro ran over towards him but were immediately engulfed in flame. Bobby pulled away from Rogue and ran over to where Pyro was standing. Pyro smirked and prepared himself by lighting another fireball while Bobby got himself ready, he had no choice now.

ICEMAN:
What the hell do you think you're doing John!?

PYRO:
My name is Pyro.

Pyro shot a stream of fire at him but Bobby used ice to shield himself from it.

PYRO:
Are you still afraid of a fight?

Firing another steam of fire he concentrated, weaving it around Iceman before it blew him a good few feet back until his back slammed into the side of a parked car. Iceman coughed as he wiped away a small amount of blood that trickled from his mouth, eyes narrowing as he clenched his fist so hard it began to turn blue. Getting to his feet, he stalked his way back over towards Pyro.

ICEMAN:
You want to do this, we'll do it.

Iceman quickly shot a stream of ice at Pyro which nailed him in the chest, knocking him off his feet. However, Pyro only smirked as he got back up.

PYRO:
You're in over your head, Bobby. Maybe you should go back to school.

ICEMAN:
You never should have left.

Pyro didn't respond as he then sent a line of fire straight at his former best friend. Iceman retaliated with ice and the two powers collided. Both pushed each other back and forth, trying to get leverage. People on the street who hadn't ran away watched the fight in awe. Finally, Pyro pushed forward and used more strength to get the advantage.

Pyro continued to engulf Iceman in flames as he fell to his knees, barely able to hold them back. After a few more moments, Pyro pulled away and Iceman collapsed to the ground, weakened.

He raised his hands to finish his former friend off, but as Pyro watched Iceman crawling, trying to get back up, he hesitated. Pyro then heard the sounds of sirens coming. He looked down at Iceman one last time before turning and running away from the burning building as fast as he could.

Taking a deep breath, Iceman pushed himself back up to his feet and saw that his former friend was gone as more cop cars made their way towards the burning lab. He ran over to where Rogue last was but when he got there, she was gone too.

ICEMAN:
Rogue!

He yelled while frantically looking around for her.

ICEMAN: (Con't)
Where are you! Rogue!

INT. WESTCHESTER PARK

Gasping for air when he finally stopped running, Pyro dropped down to one knee trying to get oxygen back into his lungs. His legs were dead and there was a slight pain in his right side. After about a minute, he pulled himself back up and noticed he was in the Westchester Park District. Suddenly something slammed into him from behind.

He stumbled forward, almost knocked off his feet and quickly turned around, ready to launch a fireball at whoever it was, but to his shock, it was Rogue who was coming straight at him.

ROGUE:
You bastard!

She shouted while swinging her hands widely, hitting him wherever she possibly could.

ROGUE: (Con't)
You destroyed my chance of being normal again!

Pyro finally regained his composure long enough to grab Rogue's wrists in his hands, stopping her from hitting him.

PYRO:
So you're the reason Bobby was there. I should have figured you'd want the cure.

Pyro looked her up and down as she thrashed in his grip.

PYRO: (Con't)
You're pathetic.

Rogue suddenly went still in Pyro's grip after he said that and the look of rage her face had was replaced by a look of hurt.

ROGUE:
I'm not pathetic for wanting a normal life.

PYRO:
Newsflash, Rogue. You're not normal.

Pyro then let her go and Rogue rubbed her arm.

ROGUE:
I thought I knew you. I always knew that your were wild John, but I'd never guess that you'd join Magneto.

PYRO:
You never knew me. You haven't been through what I have.

ROGUE:
You think you're the one who's been through something? So you're gonna cause harm for others, and why? Because you're angry?

PYRO:
Are you even gonna try to understand?

ROGUE:
What's to understand? I saw the reports of what happened at Alcatraz. You killed people didn't you?

PYRO:
I don't know...maybe.

Pyro then flexed his hand into a fist.

PYRO: (Con't)
Try to understand, please.

ROGUE:
You want me to understand? Turn yourself in, you can help us stop Magneto, turn him back over to the authorities. You can put things right…

PYRO:
Things aren't ever going to be right again, Rogue. The battle lines are drawn, we're both going to have to live with it, like it or not.

Pyro then grabbed Rogue's hand. She gasped as he placed his shark lighter in her hand.

PYRO: (Con't)
Give this to Bobby. Tell him I don't need it anymore.

He then turned and ran off. Rogue watched him until he was finally out of sight before looking down at the shark zippo lighter John placed in her hand.

 

[Rike]

nice. some of these ideas were from the original x3 script, right?

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

I believe so, yes.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. MANSION-STUDY

Professor X, Ororo, and Kurt were together in the study as a news broadcast cut to a tape sent to them by a 'mutant terrorist'. Xavier's eyes narrowed as he now stared at the face of his old friend. Magneto began speaking to the nation.

MAGNETO: (O/S)
Today's attack on Rao Laboratories will be the first of many. As long as this cure, this so called 'hope' exists, your cities will not be safe, your streets will not be safe...you will not be safe.

Ororo and Kurt looked at each other as Magneto continued.

MAGNETO: (O/S)
And to my fellow mutants, I will bring you true hope. And I ask for only one thing of those who would oppose…don't get in my way. Enough mutant blood has been spilt already.

The transmission ends abruptly.

XAVIER:
Things are getting worse.

ORORO:
What are we going to do?

Xavier sighed heavily.

XAVIER:
We have to wait.

INT. HALLWAY

Ororo and Kurt then left the office, walking side by side down the hall with students amongst them.

KURT:
I think this is a situation that calls for prayer. I'm going to a church nearby tonight, any interest in joining me?

Ororo smiled at Kurt, and for a second wished that she could have the kind of attitude he had. No matter how bad things got, he never lost his faith.

ORORO:
That sounds nice, Kurt. When all the kids are in bed, we'll go.

Kurt smiled back. It was a nice smile, once you got past the pointy teeth.

KURT:
I'll seen you then.

INT. WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES-WARREN'S OFFICE

Meanwhile, at the Worthington Industries building, Worthington Senior was on the phone with his housekeeper who took care of things in property he owned in Canada. He was still on a desperate search to find his son. He wasn't at the penthouse in the city, he wasn't at the house they owned in California, and he soon found out that no one at property they owned in Canada had seen him either.

Worthington hung up the phone just as Kavita walked in.

KAVITA:
Any luck?

He shook his head as he took a deep breath and wrung his hands.

WORTHINGTON:
My son's gone. Your lab has been destroyed. And what happened at Alcatraz, this whole thing has gotten so far out of hand…everything's happening so quickly.

He looked up at Kavita.

WORTHINGTON: (Con't)
I think I've made a terrible mistake, Kavita.

KAVITA:
This cure is a good thing, Warren. There are mutants out there who need it.

WORTHINGTON:
But it wasn't supposed to be like this.

KAVITA:
You can't blame yourself.

Worthington stood up and went over to the window.

KAVITA: (Con't)
Change always happens slowly. You'll see. One day we will be remembered as the ones who came up with the solution for this mutant problem.

Worthington slumps, just a little.

WORTHINGTON:
I just want my son back.

EXT. CHURCH-NIGHT

BAMF!

Later that night, Kurt teleported himself and Ororo to a abandoned church he discovered soon after he came to live at the mansion and went there from time to time. When the smoke of his teleportation cleared, the two of them walked towards the church.

KURT:
Thank you for accompanying me, Ororo.

ORORO:
It's my pleasure.

However, as they got closer they could hear voices from inside. And the words 'Mutants Against the Cure' was painted on the outside wall.

ORORO:
What's going on?

KURT:
I don't know. This church is always empty when I come.

ORORO:
Let's go in.

Ororo opened the door and the two of them stepped inside to see a gathering of MUTANTS, at least a hundred in number. Standing on a stage in front of all of them all was CALLISTO, a woman with a patch over her left eye and wearing a torn army jacket with cargo pants. She tried to silence the din.

CALLISTO:
People, listen! This is about getting organized! We have to band together, show the whole world that we mean business!

A mutant standing in the far right shouts;

MUTANT:
Why should we care about getting organized, Callisto?

ARCLIGHT, a Dominican female mutant who was standing on the stage with Callisto shouts back;

ARCLIGHT:
They want to exterminate us!

A random mutant sitting in the front row responds;

MUTANT:
This cure is voluntary, Arclight. No one is talking about extermination!

VOICE:
No one ever talks about it!

Suddenly, Magneto stood up, dressed in a ratty black sweater and cape. Mystique, Pyro, and Toad were also with him.

MAGNETO: (Con't)
They just do it.

Ororo's eyes widened in shock when she saw them and she quickly grabbed a hold of the sleeve of Kurt's jacket, pulling him over to sit on a bench so they would be hidden by the other mutants who were standing. Meanwhile, Magneto walked to the front of the room, taking the stage as the church got silent. He continued on;

MAGNETO:
By all means, go about your lives. Ignore all of the many signs around you. Then they'll come for you, and the rest of us will be better off without you. And then you will realize, that while you sat here prattling on about committees and organizations and DMAs, the extermination had already begun.

Magneto stares intensely into the audience.

MAGNETO: (Con't)
They wish to cure us…but I say to you that we are the cure. Make no mistake, my brothers, the humans will use this poison against us. And when the air is still, and the night has fallen, there's only one question you must answer. Who will you stand with?

All the mutants continued watching him in silence as he spoke again.

MAGNETO:
Will you stand and fight? Or wait for the inevitable genocide? Choose now and choose wisely. This is the beginning of the end, and your choice will make all the difference.

He strides off as quickly and suddenly as he began. In no time at all, CALIBAN, an albino-like mutant with no hair or eyebrows was at his and the Brotherhood's heels.

CALIBAN:
You talk pretty tough for an old geezer in a cape.

Pyro turned to him and formed a fireball in his hand.

PYRO:
Back off.

Caliban stared at his hand for a moment before Pyro extinguished it. By this time, Callisto, Arclight, and SPYKE a black male mutant who's face and upper body was covered by armadillo-type bone plates had walked over to them as well.

CALLISTO:
You're so proud of being a mutant, where's your mark?

MAGNETO:
I've already been marked once, my dear.

Magneto pulled up his sleeve to show his serial number from Auschwitz.

MAGNETO:
Let me assure you, no needle with ever touch my skin again.

TOAD:
You punks know who you're talking to?

Spyke's face and arms suddenly spiked up with sharp, protruding bones.

SPYKE:
Do you?

Toad smirked in his face, unimpressed.

CALLISTO:
Relax, Spyke.

Ororo and Kurt continued watching the exchange with the rest of the mutants who hadn't moved. She then whispered to Kurt;

ORORO:
We have to do something.

Ororo began to get up but Kurt stopped her and shook his head.

KURT:
Not in the house of god.

Meanwhile the conversation between Magneto and Callisto continued.

MAGNETO:
You know who I am?

CALLISTO:
Of course. I defy any mutant in here that doesn't.

MAGNETO:
And who might you all be?

CALLISTO:
We call ourselves Morlocks.

MAGNETO:
You named yourselves after the subterranean creatures from The Time Machine novel?

CALLISTO:
That's right. We're outcasts. A lot of us can't pass for human so we stay underground. There are tunnels beneath New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, built by the government in the 1950's as shelters in case of a national emergency. Most of the public don't even know these tunnels exist. Caliban here helps me find mutants who rebel against society.

Magneto looks to Caliban.

MAGNETO:
And how do you do that?

CALIBAN:
It's my power. I know that you control metal...

He then looked to Mystique, Pyro, and Toad.

CALIBAN: (Con't)
And that you're a shape-shifter, you control fire, and you have all the enhanced abilities of a toad.

Magneto responds, politely bored.

MAGNETO:
So you have talents.

He began to turn away but Caliban continues.

CALIBAN:
That and more. I can tell you how many mutants are on this block. In this city.

Magneto became more intrigued.

CALIBAN: (Con't)
This state.

MAGNETO:
You can sense other mutants and their powers?

Caliban nodded.

MAGNETO:
Could you locate one for me?

Ororo finally grabbed a hold of Kurt.

ORORO:
Get us out of here.

BAMF!

The others mutants who were around them looked to see the blue puff of smoke slowly dissipate. Magneto too heard the noise but didn't see anything.

INT. MANSION-XAVIER'S OFFICE

Once Kurt got them back to the mansion, Ororo quickly found the Professor and was currently telling Xavier and Logan what she had seen involving Magneto and the mutants from the church.

ORORO:
Apparently this guy can locate any other mutant on the planet, like a living Cerebro.

LOGAN:
I wonder who Magneto wanted located.

VOICE:
Maybe I can help you with that.

They all turned their heads when they heard the voice and saw Hank step into the room. Logan raised an eyebrow.

LOGAN:
Still a mutant, I see.

HANK:
Yes.

Hank had a file in hand that he put on the desk. Opening it up, he turned a few pages until he reached a picture of a young green-skinned mutant child.

HANK:
Do any of you know this young man?

After glancing at the photo, Xavier and Ororo looked at each other.

ORORO:
That's Jimmy.

LOGAN:
Who?

XAVIER:
James Hawking. He was a student here up until a few months ago when his father pulled him out for unknown reasons.

HANK:
Well, this young mutant's DNA is the source of the cure. I have a feeling he is the one Magneto is after.

LOGAN:
What's Magneto gonna do with him?

HANK:
I'm not sure…kill him maybe. He's being kept at the Worthington building here in New York. And he and everyone else working there is in mortal danger if Magneto does decide to attack that building.

XAVIER:
Then we have to rescue him.

LOGAN:
Wait a minute. Should we really do that?

They all looked at Logan.

LOGAN: (Con't)
Should we really stop Magneto from destroying the cure? Isn't that what we want too?

ORORO:
If you recall, I was never happy about a cure for mutation being released. But we can't let Magneto continue to kill innocent people, especially a child.

HANK:
The President has given me a job on his cabinet. He's offered an olive branch to the mutant community. All of the destruction Magneto has caused could undo that.

Xavier nodded.

XAVIER:
Yes. If we stand by and do nothing, than the war that Erik has been trying to start may become a reality.

LOGAN:
So we have to get to the Worthington building before Magneto does.

As Logan said that, a figure appears from behind the doorway. It was Warren and he had overheard what they had discussed.

WARREN:
I have to go with you guys!

Warren ran into the room and all the adults turned to him.

ORORO:
How much of that do you hear?

WARREN:
Enough. My dad is going to be at the center of whatever Magneto has in store. I can't let him hurt my dad.

LOGAN:
Kid, you have no idea what you're in for out there, and you aren't trained. We can't risk it

ORORO:
For once I agree with Logan. We cannot risk having you come with us. It's too dangerous.

WARREN:
As long as I have my wings, I'll be fine.

Hank looked at Warren and saw the determination in his eyes. He then looked back at the others.

HANK:
I don't think the lad's going to budge.

He turned back to Warren.

HANK: (Con't)
Am I right?

WARREN:
Listen, I can go with you guys, or go myself. If you haven't noticed, I can fly myself over there you know. My dad might not have done the most responsible thing but he's still my dad, and I'm not just going to sit here and let something happen to him.

Logan, Xavier, Ororo, and Hank all looked at each other for a moment. Finally, Ororo spoke.

ORORO:
Hank, get Warren a suit. He'll need one.

Warren smiled as Hank led him out of the office. Ororo then turned to Logan.

ORORO:
Logan, get the others down here.

EXT. BAR-NIGHT

Inside of a bar in Manhattan, four men were sitting around a round table with cards spread out and chips and money in the center as they were playing a game of poker.

Meanwhile, a large, seven foot tall mutant with a mane of thick blonde hair sat at the bar counter, drinking. SABRETOOTH looked up at the television as once again, Magneto's threat was played.

Sabretooth gripped the glass he had in his right hand so tight it shattered. The BARTENDER turned around as Sabretooth turned his hand over to see a nasty gash in the palm.

BARTENDER:
Jesus, mister don't move, I'll get...

He stopped when the gash in his hand began to slowly heal until it was completely gone. The bartender than looked at him in shock.

BARTENDER:
Holy ****! We've got a god-damn mutant in here!

He quickly reached down and pulled out a shot gun he kept hidden behind the bar but Sabretooth roared and lunged forward, slicing the shotgun in half with his claws. He then swung his left hand, slashing the bartender's throat. Blood sprayed against the display case behind him as he fell to the ground, dead.

The men from the poker game jumped up and overturned the table. One guy who looked like a biker pulled out a switchblade and approached him.

BIKER:
You mutant freak!

Sabretooth caught his arm, picked up the biker and threw him onto a table. It broken, sending him to the floor in a blast of wooden shards. Lifting up his boot, he then crushed the biker's throat with his foot.

Two of the other biker's fellow poker players rushed at Sabretooth but he reached down and picked them both up, tossing them casually backwards. They landed behind the bar, shattering the mirror above it in the process.

Everyone else who had been in the bar had ran for their lives. Sabretooth breathed heavily, like a wild animal as he licked the blood from his claw-like fingernails.

SABRETOOTH:
It's been a long time since I've killed anyone. I almost forgot how good it feels.

As he cracked his neck, a voice from the entrance of the bar spoke;

MAGNETO:
Victor.

Sabretooth spun around to his see his former boss and teammates standing together along with several other mutants he didn't recognize.

SABRETOOTH:
Erik.

Magneto looked upon the carnage he had just caused.

MAGNETO:
Nice to see you still have your talents, Victor. I could use you by my side again.

SABRETOOTH:
Looks like you have all the help you need.

Sabretooth turned to sit back down at the bar.

MAGNETO:
I take it you don't wish to see your old friend, Logan, again?

Slowly turning back around, a look of pure hatred was now clearly visible on his face.

INT. MANSION SUB-COMPLEX-DRESSING ROOM

Wolverine and Beast were finishing changing into their uniforms, Beast pulled on his old X-Men jacket snugly.

BEAST:
I can't believe this used to fit me.

Wolverine chuckled as they walked out into the hall, meet up with Storm, Nightcrawler, Iceman, Colossus, and Warren.

WOLVERINE:
As anyone seen Rogue?

They all shook their heads. Wolverine sighed and looked towards Warren.

WOLVERINE:
We all have code-names. What do we call you when we're out there?

Warren smiled and looked to Nightcrawler.

WARREN:
Archangel.

WOLVERINE:
Well, I've heard worse.

Wolverine then glanced over at Iceman who gave him a look of incredulance in response.

STORM:
All right, everyone, listen up. You're not all the most experienced, and I'm giving you this chance to back out now. This isn't going to be like the Danger Room, we might not all make it back. Can you handle that?

ICEMAN:
We're not kids anymore. We know what's at stake here.

COLOSSUS:
We're ready.

VOICE:
So am I.

They all looked over when they heard that and Rogue came around the corner, having a uniform on just like they all did. Wolverine smiled when he saw her as did Iceman.

WOLVERINE:
All right. We're in this together. X-Men, all of us.

They all nodded in agreement.

WOLVERINE: (Con't)
Let's move out.

The X-Men file into the hangar and walked up the ramp and onto the jet.

INT. X-JET

They all then took their seats. Rogue and Iceman looked at each other, both clearly scared out of their minds.

Storm took the pilot's seat, Beast next to her.

BEAST:
Everyone ready?

ROGUE:
As we'll ever be.

Beast started up the jet.

BEAST:
Alright. Let's see if this thing is as fast as I remember.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

I'm having a lot of trouble posting the next chapter. Hopefully I can get it out soon

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. 54th STREET MANHATTAN-UPPER EAST SIDE-NIGHT

Horns were blaring at each other on the packed highway. Drivers leaned out their windows, craning their necks to see ahead where two cars have collided. A COP stood between two DRIVERS who looked ready to tear each other's throats out.

COP:
Just calm down. We'll get all this reported, then we'll-

DRIVER:
This dumb bastard should have been watching where he was going!

DRIVER #2:
You shouldn't have been riding my ass!

A groaning then takes the air. The cop stares down the street as the drivers stop honking. They eyed on another, confused. Suddenly, several cars are levitated high into the air before crashing back down onto other parked cars.

At the end of the street, Magneto led Mystique, Pyro, Toad, Sabretooth, Callisto, Arclight, Caliban, and Spyke with his hands outstretched. He magnetically parts the build up of cars, sending them crashing to either side of the road, slamming them into buildings.

They kept walking until they reached a skyscraper that was thirty stories tall with twenty-six full floors.

The words 'Worthington Industries' was printed on the front of it. Magneto eyed the building for a moment before turning to Caliban.

MAGNETO:
You're sure the boy is still inside?

CALIBAN:
Positive. He's in the southeast corner of the tenth floor.

MAGNETO:
This is where it ends. Pyro?

Pyro looked to him.

MAGNETO: (Con't)
Find the boy. And kill him.

Pyro swallowed nervously before nodding and heading towards the building.

Magneto then looked to Mystique.

MAGNETO:
Mystique, find and kill Dr. Rao.

MYSTIQUE:
My pleasure.

She too began heading inside to find her target.

MAGNETO:
The rest of you, stay out here. I have a feeling we'll have company soon.

Several police cars then began speeding towards the Brotherhood and the Morlocks. Magneto scoffed as he raised his hand and sent them all flying backwards. Other police officers on foot began firing at them but Spyke took them out with sharp bone projectiles.

INT. WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES-WARREN'S OFFICE

Worthington watched from the window down at the carnage below as Kavita came into the room and walked over to his side.

WORTHINGTON:
They're coming after us.

Kavita looked to the sky and saw the X-Jet.

KAVITA:
What is that?

EXT. BUILDING GROUNDS

The X-Jet then landed on the roof of a building opposite of Worthington Industries.

After a few moments, lightning suddenly lights up the sky as Storm flies down from the roof. Beast follows her, roaring and landing like a true animal. Iceman forms an ice slide under his feet and hangs onto Rogue's waist as together they go down it. Nightcrawler teleports himself down, Colossus in his metal form jumps off and roof. And finally, Wolverine descends a chute, using his claws to slow his descent.

Magneto glared at them as they lined up beside each other. He then whispered to himself;

MAGNETO:
Traitors to their own cause.

By this time, Wolverine and Sabretooth had locked eyes on each other while Toad stared at Storm with pure hatred and revenge in mind. Beast looked from side to side at his teammates.

BEAST:
I'll go find the boy. I just need a clear path to get in the building.

Wolverine nodded but before they could remotely plan, Magneto lifted up two cars and sent them straight at the X-Men.

Storm flu up in the air and blasted one away with lightning while Iceman froze the other mid-air. Arclight narrowed her eyes and came forward before clapping her hands together, knocking all the X-Men off their feet with a massive shockwave.

Storm who was still mid-air was the only one who wasn't hit. She flu over The Brotherhood and unleashed a tidal-wave onto them all. The massive amount of water came down and engulfed them all, temporarily taking them out as the water carried them all away from the front of the building. Callisto's head struck the ground upon impact and while the others managed to stop themselves, the tidal wave dragged her away as the water rushed furiously down the street.

Beast quickly took this opportunity to charge forward, leaping and running on all fours before crashing through the front glass doors.

INT. WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES-LOBBY

Spinning around while looking widely, Beast spotted the large staircase that he began sprinting up in search of the boy.

INT. BUILDING GROUNDS

A now drenched Magneto grinded his teeth while getting back up as he looked at the large metal mutant and held out his hand, freezing him in place. Colossus could do nothing as he levitated off the ground and then was sent flying backwards at a great speed.

BOOM!

He finally crashed miles away into an abandoned tanker truck that exploded on impact.

Wolverine's eyes filled with pure hatred as his claws came out from his knuckles. He ran toward Magneto while screaming with rage but Magneto simply outstretched a hand and Wolverine stopped and levitated from the ground.

MAGNETO:
You really never learn, do you?

Wolverine snarled.

MAGNETO: (Con't)
Against me, you're nothing!

With a flick of the wrist, Magneto sent Wolverine flying yards away until he crashed landed in a construction site.

Meanwhile, a still mid-air Storm starting firing lightning bolts down upon Magneto. Toad looked up and glared at Storm before running and jumping up, leaping from rooftop to rooftop until tackling her to the ground. Toad kicked Storm in the face before punching her twice.

TOAD:
Remember me?

Toad then pulled out a chain from his jacket and wrapped it around Storm's throat-

BAMF!

Nightcrawler grabbed Toad and teleported him away from Storm. Twisting in mid-air after being dropped, Toad's tongue grabbed a light pole and as Nightcrawler came back at him he launched himself at the blue mutant, tackling him through the plate glass window of a strip bar.

INT. STRIP BAR

Toad kicked Nightcrawler through a table before leaping up and coming back down, dropping a knee onto his back.

TOAD:
Looks like I've got some competition.

Nightcrawler teleported then wrapped his legs around Toad's head. Throwing himself backwards, he launched Toad head-over-heels right against a striper's cage that stood on an elevated platform in the center of the bar. He landed hard but got right back up and threw a roundhouse kick to Nightcrawler's head which knocked him back down.

Toad tried to follow up but was hit with a punch before Nightcrawler teleported and nailed him with another punch to the other side of his face.

TOAD:
Stay still!

Flinging out his tongue again, it wrapped around Nightcrawler's ankle and lifted him straight up. His chest collided with the ceiling before being thrown down again to the ground. Toad launched himself up in the air and was about to bring his knee down upon Nightcrawler again but he moved out of the way and came back to drop-kick Toad in the back.

BAMF!

He teleported himself again with Toad in his grasp, right into the cage, leaving him stuck inside. Upon realizing his predicament, Toad grabbed the bars and began violently shaking them.

TOAD:
Hey! Get me the hell out of here!

Nightcrawler looked at Toad while wiping some blood from his forehead.

NIGHTCRAWLER:
I'm sorry, but I wish to fight with you no more.

BAMF!

INT. WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES-EIGHTEENTH FLOOR-HALLWAY

Worthington and Kavita walked briskly through the hall, looking for a way out. As they turned a corner, Wolverine appeared. Worthington and Kavita promptly turned the other way, but Wolverine yelled out;

WOLVERINE:
Wait, I'm here to help you!

Worthington and Kavita stopped in their tracks before looking back at him

WOLVERINE:
Magneto came for you, but I can get you to safety.

Kavita approached the other man while Worthington followed, cautiously.

KAVITA:
Thank you.

WOLVERINE:
You're the one who invented the cure, right?

KAVITA:
I am. What bearing that has on what's going on now is lost on me.

WOLVERINE:
Sure.

SNIKT

Wolverine then stabbed Kavita in the chest.

WORTHINGTON:
No!

Wolverine looked to Worthington and smirked as Mystique reverted back to herself and let Kavita's lifeless body hit the ground. Worthington turned to run but Mystique grabbed him and kicked the back of his right knee causing him to yell out in agony. Mystique grabbed the back of his suit and began dragging him along with her to the stairway.

INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE:

Slowly pulling himself back up, the real Wolverine staggered a bit when a roar echoed throughout the area and he was suddenly grabbed and tossed into heavy machinery. Spinning around, he saw Sabretooth standing before him, a sick smile on his face.

WOLVERINE:
You want me so bad, bub? Here I am.

Wolverine charged at Sabretooth, stabbing him once in the mid-section before Sabretooth nailed him with a opened hand that left four nasty scratch marks on his face. He rolled backwards and snarled while the marks began to heal.

SABRETOOTH:
You don't remember me, do ya runt?

WOLVERINE:
I course I remember you. Liberty Island, a year and a half ago. You still sore about that?

SABRETOOTH:
I mean from before.

Wolverine looked confused so Sabretooth went on.

SABRETOOTH: (Con't)
Well let me refresh your memory. We were partners, you and I. We worked together for Stryker, bringing in the worst kind of people we could find. But then you left, went AWOL. Silverfox and Deadpool wouldn't even hunt you down. Left it to Omega Red and I.

WOLVERINE:
Who the hell are you talking about?

Wolverine then tried to hit him again but Sabretooth stabbed him in the upper right shoulder. Picking him up, Sabretooth began walking forward with him as Wolverine grimaced and struggled in his grip.

SABRETOOTH:
We hunted you for years. Meanwhile you did as you pleased. Getting as much money as you could for every job you did. Finally you kidnapped a former Prime Minister's daughter. That's when we finally captured you, but not before you killed Omega Red. And then you accidently killed the daughter.

Sabretooth then tossed Wolverine forward and he landed hard on the ground. Slowly lifting his head up, Wolverine glared up at the larger mutant.

WOLVERINE:
You're lying, I would have never-

SABRETOOTH:
Keep telling yourself that. Kidnapping a Prime Minister's daughter was actually one of the better things you did. You did things that would make most men's stomach turn. Murders, maiming, kidnapping, robberies, arson. You did it all, Wolverine. You were the worst of the worst.

WOLVERINE:
Shut the hell up!

Tackling the larger mutant to the ground, Wolverine began rapidly stabbing him in the chest. Right hand, left hand, one stab after the other as Sabretooth roared in pain. Finally he got a hand up and gouged Wolverine's eyes, causing him to fall off him.

Sabretooth then got up and grabbed Wolverine by the throat, picked him up and choke-slammed him through a pile of wooden pallets.

SABRETOOTH:
And Stryker did exactly what you wanted him to do. He wiped your memory clean and gave you a fresh start. He kept his part of the deal, you on the other hand, you know what you did.

INT. WORTHINGTON INDUSTIRES-TENTH FLOOR

Elsewhere in large building, Pyro walked through the halls trying to find the room of the boy when several security members began running towards him.

He scoffed and quickly launched a line of fire at them, taking them all out.

INT. JIMMY'S ROOM

Leech was sitting on the bed when suddenly the locked doorknob started to rattle. He gasped and hides under the bed just as the door is blown off its hinges.

Pyro looked around the room until he saw the boy hiding behind the bed.

PYRO:
Get up.

When he didn't listen he formed a fireball in his hands and walked closer but it extinguished. He looked at his hand in surprise for a moment before reaching down and pulling the boy up.

LEECH:
Pyro?

Pyro looked at the young boy, stunned to see him as he remembered him from his days at the school.

PYRO:
Leech?

LEECH:
Are you an X-Man now? Can you get me out of here?

PYRO:
A lot has changed since you've been away.

Pyro roughly took Leech's arm and dragged him out of the room.

INT. HALLWAY

Again, Pyro tried to form a fireball but still found that he couldn't.

PYRO:
What the hell is happening?

LEECH:
Your powers won't work around me, remember?

Before he could respond, someone spoke;

VOICE:
John.

Pyro spun around to see Beast coming down the hall, slowly with his hands up.

LEECH:
Hey! I've seen you on T.V!

PYRO:
What do you want?

BEAST:
I can't let you run away with the boy, John. Let's talk.

PYRO:
I'm not going to run away. I'm going to walk. As long as I have this brat, you're not going to do anything.

BEAST:
Do you really think this is the answer, son? To threaten the life of a innocent child, a mutant like yourself because you are angry and afraid?

PYRO:
And the Professor's plan is so perfect? Make nice with humans when they want to kill us all? You know what humans do when they find out their kid is a mutant. If mutants aren't safe from their own parents, then who the hell are they safe from?

BEAST:
Obviously not fellow mutants, as Jimmy can now attest to. John, we're all flawed. The humans that you speak of are no more evil for doing what they do to mutants than Magneto is for trying to do the same thing to humans.

PYRO:
The humans are the bad guys, not us.

BEAST:
So you'll kill any one of them? And any mutant who potentially stands in your way? Man, woman, child...doesn't matter?

PYRO:
I'm not going to...damn it, you're putting words in my mouth!

He inadvertently tightened his grip on the younger mutant's arm and a cry was then was heard as Leech tried to pull away from his captor.

BEAST:
John, please just let Jimmy go. You know you don't want to hurt him.

Pyro looked down at Leech. Brown eyes met tear-filled yellow ones.

LEECH:
Let me go? Please?

The two continued to stare at each other with unblinking eyes. Then the older boy's façade finally cracked. He let go of Leech's arm who then ran to Beast's side. Pyro stared at his feet for a moment, looking a little unsure if he just made the right decision. He then met the stare of his former teacher.

BEAST:
What are you doing, John?

PYRO:
Consider this my last favor for the X-Men.

Beast nodded.

BEAST:
I'm grateful.

He then took Leech by the hand and led him down the hall while Pyro watched them until they turned the corner and were out of sight.

EXT. BUILDING GROUNDS-NIGHT

The X-Men continued their battle with the Brotherhood and Morlocks outside of Worthington Industries. Since he had no long range power of his own, Caliban carried a gun on him and was currently firing at the X-Men. Iceman formed a shield to protect himself and Rogue as Storm prepared to fire a lightning bolt to take him out.

Before she could, Archangel came flying down from behind Caliban and lifted him up under the arms and began soaring back up into the air. Caliban yelled out when his feet left the ground and turned his head to see what grabbed him.

CALIBAN:
Hey! Put me down!

ARCHANGEL:
As you wish!

Archangel then dropped him mid-flight and Caliban came crashing down onto the roof of a Honda. The windows of the car exploded upon his impact. Suddenly, Archangel was then hit by a shockwave from Arclight. She then focused her attention on Storm, nailing her with a shockwave as well which knocked her to the ground below where Spyke was waiting. He formed a long, sharp bone from his wrist and slashed Storm's arm.

Arclight then continued, sending shockwaves at Rogue and Iceman, who continued to stay crouched down behind the shield. More and more shockwaves were being sent at them and the ice-shield was slowly but surely breaking.

ROGUE:
I need to get close to her!

Iceman nodded as Rogue removed her gloves. She carefully touched his cheek, absorbing his powers before forming a large sheet of ice on the ground that went all the way to where Arclight was standing. Taking a running start, she then slid towards the other female mutant. Arclight tried to move but the ice covered her feet and held them to the ground. Before Arclight could do anything, Rogue grabbed her face and began draining her powers. After a few seconds, she let go and hit Arclight with a shockwave of her own.

Storm and Spyke were continuing their fight as Spyke was able to slash her once again. He then grabbed a hold of her and tried to cut her throat. Storm struggled in his grip as she grabbed his wrist, stopping him before using her powers to spin like a tornado and Spyke was flung off her, crashing against a building on the opposite side of the street. Storm then struck Spyke with a lightning bolt, knocking him out.

Still obtaining Arclight's powers, Rogue turned around towards Magneto who was standing about thirty feet away from her. Giving him a look of reckoning, she came forward and clapped her hands together, sending a shockwave in his direction. Magneto attempted to raise a car up to protect himself but the shockwave came at him too quick and it nailed him, knocking him off his feet. Upon seeing what Rogue did, Iceman quickly 'surfed' on a stream of ice towards Magneto.

As he whizzed around him, Iceman iced Magneto to the ground to the point where only his head could be seen.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

INT. WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES-STAIRWELL

Mystique continued to drag Worthington along up the stairs, taking him up to the roof.

WORTHINGTON:
Please don't kill me!

MYSTIQUE:
You mean the way you've killed mutants?

WORTHINGTON:
No one's died because of this cure! I never meant for it to come to this! The cure was meant to be for those mutants who wanted it!

MYSTIQUE:
Yes…they're called the weak ones.

They continued to climb the stairs until they reached a door that took them to the roof.

INT. ROOFTOP

Mystique walked Worthington over to the edge. He gasped when he looked down and saw just how long a way down it was.

MYSTIQUE:
Either you'll fall to your death, or you'll grow wings.

She then shoved him off and Worthington fell. But suddenly, at the last second Archangel swooped in and scooped him up, saving him from death.

Worthington looked at his son in shock.

WORTHINGTON:
Warren!

ARCHANGEL:
It's okay, dad. I've got you.

Archangel continued flying until he was a safe distance away from the building and set his father down on the street.

WORTHINGTON:
Warren, I'm sorry. I…I was wrong.

ARCHANGEL:
It's alright.

He spread his wings.

ARCHANGEL: (Con't)
I have to go back.

WORTHINGTON:
Okay. Just come back to me, okay?

ARCHANGEL:
I will.

Archangel then turned around and took off into the sky as Worthington watched in awe.

INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE

Sabretooth slammed Wolverine to the ground again and prepared to claw his face but Wolverine lunged up and headbutted Sabretooth and stabbed him in the stomach. Roaring in frustration, Sabretooth pulled the claws out of him and hurled Wolverine into a chain-linked fence. He clawed at Wolverine's throat, going for his jugular. Pressing his feet against the fence, Wolverine rocketed himself back at the larger mutant, stabbing each one of his shoulders with his claws as they fell to the ground yet again.

Getting right back up, Wolverine screamed and began to go at Sabretooth in a full berserker rage. Sabretooth tried blocking but Wolverine stabbed his arms, chest, and abdomen over and over again. He tackled him to the ground and stabbed Sabretooth in the lungs.

As Sabretooth sputtered up blood, Wolverine slowly raised his claws up into the air, then dropped them down at Sabretooth's neck in order to behead him.

SLAM!

Slowly turning to look at the claws that hit the ground, mere inches from his head, Sabretooth then looked back at Wolverine in confusion. Breathing heavily, Wolverine got up and backed away as he glared down at his nemesis.

WOLVERINE:
That's not who I am anymore.

The two continued to stare at each other.

BAMF!

Nightcrawler then teleported next to Wolverine.

NIGHTCRAWLER:
Logan, come. We need to get to Pitor.

Wolverine allowed himself to be teleported away as Sabretooth's wounds healed and he got back up to his feet. The fight was over.

INT. BUILDING GROUNDS

By this time both Pyro and Mystique had ran out of the building and looked around to see the X-Men gone and Magneto frozen to the ground. Pyro carefully melted the ice as they helped Magneto up.

MYSTIQUE:
The doctor is dead.

PYRO:
So is the boy.

Magneto's teeth chattered as he looked from Mystique to Pyro. The younger mutant had a hard time holding his stare, knowing he was lying.

MAGNETO:
Very well. Let's go, our mission is complete. Pyro, start a fire.

Pyro then turned and launched a wave of fire at an apartment complex across the street. It gave them a distraction to get away as a SWAT team was currently making their way to the building in order to deal with the situation.

Just as they arrived, the X-Jet took off into the air.

INT. HANGAR

The Professor was waiting as the X-Jet slowly landed in the hangar. The ramp opened up and the team slowly began to exit out.

XAVIER:
Are you all okay?

ORORO:
We'll live.

Leech then came running down and Xavier smiled upon seeing the young child. He then came over and hugged him.

LEECH:
Professor!

XAVIER:
Welcome back, Jimmy. We missed you.

LEECH:
Thanks for rescuing me.

XAVIER:
Oh course. I always protect my students, you know that.

They all filed into the infirmary as Hank checked them all out. Save for Wolverine, they all had cuts, bumps, and bruises but thankfully nothing that was life-threatening.

INT. DRESSING ROOM

The rest of the team had changed and went to rest their exhausted bodies but Wolverine was still in uniform as he just sat and stared ahead at the wall. Everything that Sabretooth had told him was still fresh in his mind.

Wolverine unearthed the claws of his right hand and stared down at the blades as he moved his other hand over them.

ORORO:
Logan?

He looked up to see Ororo standing by the door, a look of concern of her face.

ORORO: (Con't)
Are you okay?

LOGAN:
I'll be fine.

ORORO:
So how did it feel? Officially being part of the team this time? It wasn't Wolverine and the X-Men. It was just the X-Men.

He grinned.

LOGAN:
It felt pretty damn good.

ORORO:
Thanks for sticking around.

LOGAN:
I'm glad I gave this place a chance.

INT. HALLWAY

Bobby and Rogue walked side by side, Bobby's arm around Rogue's shoulders.

BOBBY:
You did great out there.

ROGUE:
So did you.

BOBBY:
You want to stay with me tonight?

Rogue nodded.

INT. BOBBY'S ROOM

Bobby and Rogue walked in. While he went to his bed, she went to go sit on the bed right next to his, the one that once belonged to John when they were roommates. Rogue then remembered something and pulled the shark zippo lighter out from her pocket, holding it out to Bobby.

ROGUE:
He asked me to give this back to you.

Bobby took the lighter and stared at it.

BOBBY:
It still hurts, you know?

ROGUE:
I do.

Bobby let out a long breath as he placed the lighter down on the stand that was in-between the beds.

BOBBY:
Well...I guess we've really lost him.

ROGUE:
We never really had him, Bobby.

They looked at each other with blank expressions for a moment before finally turning in after a long, long night.

INT. HIGHWAY-NIGHT

Pyro drove at a steady pace in the car he had just stole. He knew he couldn't stay with The Brotherhood anymore. Who knows what Magneto would do if he ever found out that he let Leech live than lied to him about it.

He didn't know where he would go or where he would end up. But he wasn't afraid. He had been on his own before.

EXT. XAVIER'S INSTITUTE-GROUNDS-DAY

The following morning at the mansion, Warren had just finished giving his father a tour of the school. Worthington marveled at the size of it as well as all the mutants that were here.

WORTHINGTON:
Seems like quite a place.

WARREN:
Yeah, it is.

WORTHINGTON:
Are you sure you want to stay here?

Warren nodded.

WORTHINGTON: (Con't)
Okay. It's fine with me.

WARREN:
You mean it?

WORTHINGTON:
Of course. You were right, I have been hiding you away all your life. When Kavita came to me about a cure for mutation, I wasn't just thinking about you, you know? I was thinking about all mutants. I thought it would be a start to ending all the bigotry out there. I couldn't imagine why anyone would still want to be a mutant if there was a cure out there for it. But now I do.

WARREN:
Thanks, dad.

Warren reached out and gave his father a tight hug.

INT. VERANDA

Rogue was standing out on the veranda, looking up at the sky. Hank walked out to join her and slowly came up next to her. She turned her head to look at him once she realized she was no longer alone.

HANK:
Hi.

ROGUE:
Hey.

HANK:
I'm on my way out. It felt good putting on that X-Men jacket, one more time. By my place is in Washington now, taking up a different kind of fight.

Rogue nodded.

ROGUE:
So that's it isn't it? All the samples were destroyed when the laboratory was burned down. The doctor who invented it was killed, and Jimmy's here now. There's no more cure for mutants. Magneto got what he wanted in the end.

HANK:
Yes.

Rogue sighed heavily as she lowered her eyes. She had lost her opportunity.

HANK:
Rogue, I wanted to talk with you before I left.

ROGUE:
About what?

HANK:
I didn't always look like this, you know. I had big hands and feet because of my mutation and I hated my appearance. So much so that I worked non-stop on a cure, or what I thought was going to be a cure...and it turned me into this. And there is not a day that goes by that I don't wish I could go back and stop myself from taking it.

Rogue listened carefully, unsure of where the conversation was going.

HANK: (Con't)
I understand what it's like, Rogue. Being unable to touch someone without frightening them. But I came to learn something over time. Something I wished I realized from the start.

Rogue and Hank stared at each other for a few moments.

HANK:
You decide the outcome of your life. Just because you are different doesn't mean you need to change or that there is something wrong with you.

Hank then held out an envelope for her. Rogue looked confused as she took it from him.

HANK: (Con't)
In the end, you'll know what the right decision is for yourself.

He then turned and walked away, leaving her to herself. Rogue opened up the envelope and took out what was inside of it. A test tube that was filled with a glowing purple liquid. The sample of the cure he stole when he infiltrated Rao Laboratories.

It was the very last sample of the mutant cure...the hope serum.

INT. XAVIER'S OFFICE

Professor Xavier was sitting in his office going over today's lesson for his class when a knock on the door got his attention.

XAVIER:
Yes, come in.

The door opened and Kurt walked in.

KURT:
Professor.

XAVIER:
Yes, Kurt. What can I do for you?

KURT:
Well...uh...

He didn't quite know how to say it. Xavier however only smiled at him as he already knew.

XAVIER:
You're leaving.

Kurt nodded.

KURT:
I am not suited for this kind of life, Professor. I am a simple man.

XAVIER:
I understand. I thank you for all that you've done. Our doors are always open to you if you ever feel like returning.

KURT:
Yes, thank you. We have a term in German, 'Weltschmerz', it means despair over the world. I see it too much around here. You should know that you all are doing wonderful things.

XAVIER:
It is hard to be positive knowing how much we've all sacrificed in this fight for equality. I can only wonder of how much more we're going to have to go through before it is all over.

EXT. CANADIAN ROCKIES-DAY-(Overhead Shot)

It was daytime in the Canadian Rockies as Scott Summers sped down the highway in his viper. Past the expansive woods lie ALKALI LAKE, still flooded from the X-Men's previous outing there...

The End.

 

[ZeroDarkThirty]

If you are like me and hated The Last Stand, hopefully you found this version to be an improvement. I tried my best to give this the same feel that X1 and X2 had.

I'm currently writing a sequel to this, my take on the whole Phoenix storyline. Sinister and the Marauders will also be introduced as the new villains.