X-Men '97

Previously on X-Men...

Just hard to believe that we might

finally be able to punch our ticket home.

What is awaiting you there?

It's more about what's not waiting for me.

Someone... I lost.

Someone... special.

Everyone I have ever known, I've lost.

Love is pain.

And the only thing that makes life worth living...

And there's the rub.

I do hope you get to experience it one day.

For all our sakes.

How? How could this be?

Remember, chère.

Oh.

Some things be deeper than skin.

Hold on, Jean. I thought we said no powers.

It's not my fault that your tells are so obvious.

Your turn, Professor. Are you in or out?

Sadly, I must fold.

Well, that leaves myself und the very quiet Dr. McCoy.

Don't let him sucker you in, Beast.

Aces over eights.

The Dead Man's Hand. Fortunately, mine is much livelier.

Three threes from your fellow friend in blue.

Way to go, Beast.

At least tell me how you broke my streak.

"Life is not always a matter of holding good cards,

but sometimes playing a poor hand well."

- Jack London. - Yeah, yeah.

Save it for the book club.

Is everything all right, my child?

Just glad to be among friends.

Now, who pulled the fire alarm?

An unidentified military bomber, heavily armed with psionic jammers.

Unidentified aircraft, you are trespassing private airspace.

Please state your purpose.

Surely only a madman would try and breach our EMP field.

This is your final warning.

Alter course immediately.

Hank, prepare to engage.

Wait! I can sense a mind through the jammers.

Presence drawn to

me and Scott?

Nathan?

Oh, dear.

- Hi, guys, we need help. - We're coming in for a landing.

- Son. - Nathan.

It's, um... good to see you again.

Yeah, there's a lot to catch up on.

Right now, there's been a murder.

And that's not even the bad news.

Rogue...

There's something you need to see.

Apocalypse overestimated his ability to control

a Horseman who's been resurrected from the grave.

So, what you're saying is, whatever has been brought back

might not really be Remy?

We'll know when we find him.

Which is why we need you to use Cerebro to do so.

No way we're helping you add Gambit to your posse's dirty hit list!

This isn't about killing him.

It's about undoing the evil in him.

Rogue, years ago, you freed me from Apocalypse's corruption.

We sneak you in close

so you can use your gifts to restore Gambit's soul.

But how do we know his soul is there to restore?

We have to believe

that a part of Gambit endures.

Such questions will have to wait until we've recovered him.

That mean we have a deal, Chuck?

On one condition, this is our rescue mission.

Brute tactics will not be tolerated.

Gambit's not himself.

We're just here to make sure he doesn't put anyone else in danger.

Gambit's alive?

And he's killed Apocalypse?

We have witnessed our share or miracles.

Huh.

My daddy used to say, a miracle is just

wrapping paper for the next tragedy.

Rogue, this is not the time for your colorful lamentations.

Remy is back.

I know, Kurt. I know.

And I'm afraid of what that means.

Everything will be fine, sister.

I promise.

We've made some updates. We call it...

Cerebra.

If Gambit is out there,

this will help me find him.

Mighty untoward, peekin' at another man's cards.

Professor, did you find him?

I fear there's

more to this darkness than we have yet to understand.

Just tell us where he's gone.

He's gone home.

Evenin', Robert. What's goin' on?

You tell me, Bella Donna.

It's you who invited us here, no?

Don't be stupid.

Why would I send myself this invitation?

The invitations were mine.

Surprised to see me?

I know I am.

Remy? But you...

Aw, petite, you don't look so happy to see your thieving ex.

What the hell happened to you?

What happened, big brother?

For starters, I died.

Then the Devil snatched me out of the grave.

A real bad customer.

Remy, please.

Don't be scared, chérie.

Death is evolution.

Hey, I...

I'm sorry. I know this will be hard. Facing Gambit.

Got nothing to be sorry for, sugar.

Remy's weighing on all our hearts.

Can't let regret make it feel heavier.

Heck, probably best X-Force stayed clear of Remy, anyhow.

Sure, they can be a little intense.

But tracking Apocalypse these past few months,

I've learned that you can't shut your heart off.

'Cause that's the thing that's gonna get you through this.

Family reunion time already?

We wanted to check in...

See how you're holding up.

It must have been strange, finding Apocalypse.

Not exactly how I'd pictured my destiny.

Why didn't you tell us, Nathan?

That you'd met us as a boy?

Why not reach out when we got back?

Time would have ripped us apart again,

like it always does.

Well, I've about had my fill of what happened yesterday,

or could tomorrow.

For once, son,

can we focus on what we could be today?

A family.

We scout for Gambit quick and quiet,

unless we want X-Factor and their Mech-Sentinels on our butts.

No way Val Cooper and her government stooges found us.

I sense no Mech-Sentinel pilots outside, but I do sense...

A swarm of black holes where minds and souls should be.

Bella Donna? Robert?

What's he done to ya?

Skip the shock and awe.

Find Gambit. Now!

Remy?