X-Men '97

Previously on X-Men...

So much pain, my children.

So much... death.

How wise your mother, abandoning you.

You will always be a monster!

The ones you care for

will be your undoing.

- - Professor...

I fear there's more to this darkness than we have yet to understand.

The X-Men.

I must strike them at their most vulnerable.

The 1990s.

Apocalypse resurrected a Horseman from the grave.

Death is evolution.

Find Gambit, now!

Warned you, chère. Somethings, they be deeper than skin.

Everything will be fine, sister.

We have witnessed our share of miracles.

The Assassins Guild calls upon

- its covenant with the X-Ternal. -

Sorry...

gotta cut this game short.

- You ready? -

Remy, end this madness!

In the battlefield of the mind, my will shall prevail.

We must be strong, Nathan...

Dig deep and be our son.

To do what they cannot.

Apocalypse is in there, and it's my destiny to kill him.

Cable, don't do this.

For would it really be mercy

to spare the monster who would let mutants suffer?

- Or is mercy found in ending you... -

and sparing us instead?

Come on, sugar!

Apocalypse will not stay contained

inside Remy's consciousness much longer.

If we do not move quickly, he will take him over for good.

If you think you're takin' us in, you're in for a surprise.

Hey, chief.

What do you say to both of us getting what we want?

The woman who raised me told me I had a destiny.

To kill Apocalypse.

Not stop. Not reason with. Destroy.

He may have thought he could hide inside of Gambit,

but he can't hide from me.

Apocalypse's consciousness emits a celestial energy signature.

Ole Chuck's mind games contained it for now...

...but it's already fighting to get out.

And when it does?

Gambit as we know him will be gone,

and Apocalypse will take over his body for good.

Then what's our move, soldier?

We want to end Apocalypse?

Gambit has to die.

I ain't losing Remy.

Not to Cable, not to Apocalypse.

And this here's space bucket's our best shot in the dark of saving him.

Ah, Ship. When navigating uncertain waters,

there's no truer compass than an old friend.

Strange to think we were just here.

Give or take, 5000 years.

Ship is where En Sabah Nur was turned into Apocalypse.

It stands to reason it could hold the key to defeating him

and saving Gambit. Hmm.

Low power signature. Perhaps...

- Greetings, Hank McCoy. - Ship, you live!

Thank to you rebooting my motherboard.

Well, wouldn't you know, we got the perfect way for you to repay us.

We need you to tell us how to destroy Apocalypse.

Apocalypse was forged by the celestial will.

If you try to end him, you risk offending powers beyond your comprehension.

We appreciate your protection, Ship.

But we have also come to protect a friend of our own.

Just be forewarned,

those who enter the celestial shrine do not come out

without paying a price.

Rogue, that shrine.

We watched En Sabah Nur enter it and emerge a tyrant,

consumed by its darkness.

I know, Kurt.

But I ain't turning back now. Gambit wouldn't.

- Sister! -

Rogue!

- -

Well, well. X-Factor.

Guess it was only a matter of time.

Dr. Cooper,

you do not want to do this.

You're right. I don't. But you've left me no choice.

You are harboring a weapon of mass destruction.

His name is Remy LeBeau.

We have him contained. Why can't you trust me on this?

Because we're not talking about Remy LeBeau here.

We're talking about the threat inside him.

I thought the Charles Xavier that I believed in

understood his dream was bigger than just one person.

Then you clearly did not understand my dream.

God, Charles, when will you get it?

I've only ever tried to save you and your people

from yourselves.

So, if you won't turn over Gambit, I will take him

and your X-Men by force.

You should know by now my X-Men and I will not stand down.

- So be it. -

Prepare to breach the EMP field.

Val, we can't do this.

We'd be declaring war on mutantkind.

Not mutantkind. Just Charles Xavier.

- Cable, get us inside. - Hmm.

There's only one way they could break that shield.

Nathan, he's on that ship.

X-Factor and X-Force working together.

Two birds, one stone.

All teams,

- clear to engage. -

Initiating launch.

All pilots scramble. We are the only air support they've got.

Hold the bay door!

In position outside Gambit's location.

I'm sure it ain't easy going up against your old team.

I'm an X-Man. Pretty sure I always was.

Professor, any word on Rogue?

I... I cannot sense her.

Wherever she's gone, it is to a realm beyond Cerebra's reach.

You do not belong here.

And that does not belong to you.

Came here 'cause I was down to a hope and prayer.

The man I love, he's been taken by the monster you created.

Life only advances at the expense of other lives.

Not through mercy,

but through struggle.

Through... Apocalypse.

Apocalypse, apocalypse, apocalypse, apocalypse.

And if your friend cannot survive,

the world will be stronger for his loss.

Then you clearly ain't never met Remy LeBeau!

- -

You fight against the impossible.

That's what you do

for the people you love!

Hmm.

Then, there is only one way

for you to prove it.

Sacrifice.

Your life for his.

For Remy, I'd give anything.

Then you shall have what you seek

for one last fight.

- -

- - Ah!

Oh, my stars and garters.

Quite literally.

Mein Gott.

Sister, you are alive!

I prayed for you and Remy.

Good. We're gonna need it.

Go, we'll see you on the other side.

Rogue?

Just

thank you, Elf.

For keeping the faith.

Always.

Kurt, everything all right?

What is it Ship said?

No one enters that shrine without paying a price.

- -

Cooper's goons are not letting up.

I need more flyers out there.

I'm on it. I've got the plasma cannons.

'Berto, you have those mechs under control?

Uh, define "control"? Meu Deus.

This is our opening.

Make your approach.

Then hit 'em hard and hit 'em fast.

- - Ah!

- -

X-Factor's breached the tower.

We are facing mech Sentinels by the dozens.

Human pilots. This will require a delicate touch.

Ah.

We have them on the ropes, Cable.

Now go in for the kill.