X-Men '97

Street-talk translation

Previously on X-Men...

Better show me those powers, tough guy.

Computer, end program.

It's the Danger Room. It's where we train.

That's Magneto, the Professor's ex-bestie.

They had, uh, different takes on mutant-human co-existence.

This is the dark pain you've carried inside all these years.

I have these waters, too.

There's a power in seeing yourself in another.

There is no one like me.

Magnus, we are still family.

Polaris. I'm an X-Man trying to help.

X-Men, remember them? You used to be one.

They call themselves X-Factor.

I was a foster kid when the Professor took me in. The X-Men became my family.

We're all doing our best to honor them.

If the Professor was here,

do you think he'd be proud of what you're doing?

Magnus!

Magnus!

You claim to be a teacher.

But you failed to see the lesson.

Magnus.

I'm sorry.

I can't...

Charles...

I'm sorry.

Alas...

Only a coward feels mighty when stepping on ants.

Memory simulation complete.

Danger Room, reset.

You claim to be a teacher.

But you failed to see the lesson.

The ones you care for will be your undoing.

It should have been me, Magnus.

Because if it had been, you would have found a way

to save us both.

Danger Room, again.

I should have had your strength

to fight harder.

To refuse defeat.

You claim to be a teacher.

But you failed... failed... failed... failed... failed... failed... failed...

But you failed...

ants.

I'm sorry, Magnus.

Ants.

I wasn't strong enough.

Ants.

Danger Room, abort! Abort!

You're supposed to have safety protocols in place.

What happened?

Simulation parameters were modified

in response to repeated failure indicators.

You expressed a desire to increase strength,

I adapted.

This was intended to be a therapeutic exercise,

not a training one.

I am less worried about surviving Apocalypse right now,

than I am about surviving...

without Magnus.

After all these years,

I'm not sure I know how to.

Objective clarified, Professor.

I will continue to prepare you and your students as directed.

I really do wish I could feel his presence

just one last time.

Cargo secured, Reverend Stryker.

Time to rain fire and Vibranium down on the abominations.

Hallelujah! Praise the tools of our salvation.

Who told you to depart?

That would be me.

The name's Polaris.

On behalf of X-Factor and the US Defense Department,

I order you to stand down.

Surrender your contraband.

Bargain with mutants? Never!

Ahh!

No bargaining.

Polar opposite, actually.

What the hell are you doing?

This is supposed to be a covert intercept, not search and destroy.

You know me, always a showboat.

Terrorists or not, those are human lives.

You are out of control, stand down!

Fine, I have the ship. Moving out.

Do what you want with the Purifiers.

Mutant heathen. There is no escaping the final judgement.

You just don't know when to quit!

Polaris, keep it together. Do not engage!

I am not the one who needs to be controlled.

Polaris, no!

Command, this is X-Factor 1.

Crisis contained, no casualties detected.

Not for someone's lack of trying.

Are you insane?

The last thing X-Factor needs

is another mutant metal junkie trying to kill more humans.

Terrorists, Dr. Cooper.

We have due process for terrorists.

After they commit terror.

Unchecked mutant force only deepens humanity's fears.

It's why President Kelly outlawed X-Men activities,

and now, here you are, on national television

looking like one of the threats that we're supposed to be policing.

I wasn't even at full strength.

You know they're calling you the next Magneto.

Because we share a power set?

How original.

You and I both know that's not all you share.

I am not... him.

Then prove it.

Stop working against us.

I'm not apologizing for protecting my people.

I thought you'd say that.

Lorna, the President and I thank you for your service.

But with the stakes this high,

you've become a liability.

You're dismissed. Permanently.

Lorna, what did you think was going to happen?

The way I see it, I made your job easier.

But I would have appreciated a heads-up.

I didn't want this.

Funny.

You used to think my particular brand of impulsiveness was worth something.

Yeah, well, it used to be just a headache, not almost getting people killed.

Lorna, I have an obligation as team leader.

We have an obligation to protect mutants, Alex,

not bureaucrats.

Tell the others bye for me.

You got someplace safe to crash?

No. Didn't you hear?

Mutant strays have a place to runaway to again.

Magneto was both a rival and an ally.

Yet he gave his life to ensure we could do more

than simply dream of a better world,

but so we could fight for it.

The United States government has outlawed my X-Men,

but this school will forever remain a sanctuary,

where you can learn to master your extraordinary gifts.

And there is no one I trust more to guide you

than Storm,

your new headmistress for this new time.

But remember...

Danger lurks everywhere.

-Come on. -Hey! Really?

You must be pushed, tested to ensure your strength.

So that when the time comes,

you will be ready to carry on the fight.

Welcome to the Danger Room.

Hello?

Jean?

Scott?

Professor?

The Professor insisted we not change a thing.

Jean! It's been far too long.

Always knew you'd find your way back.

-Most teacher's pets do. -Yeah, pot meets kettle, slim.

-Hank! -Polaris, my friend.

Mmm.

"Every parting is a form of death,

as every reunion is a type of heaven."

Tryon Edwards, a bit obscure.

None the less fitting, my dear.

Not the homecoming I expected.

Everything we learned, all the training,

just to end up right back in the same place.

The world less safe than ever.

But we're still here.

Talk to the Professor. I think it could do you both some good.

The world has not offered much light since Genosha.

But at least here, our students have a place to call home again.

When you and the X-Men were gone, there was nowhere for these kids to go.

I told myself X-Factor was doing the right thing,

getting them off the streets.

But, they weren't really any safer, just contained.

We've all made mistakes.

Recent events have just put them all in starker relief.

How are you, sir?

I heard what happened, with Magneto.

When he blacked out the world on E-Day, I was forced to infiltrate his mind.

I had hoped a piece of Magnus might still linger somewhere inside mine,

but I cannot sense him.

I do still see him everywhere, though.

-Even now. -Guess you saw the headlines.

"X-Factor operative, Magneto's heir-apparent."

Quite a mantle to carry.

We may be blood, but that man is not my father.

You were the one who raised me,

while he was too busy off raising hell.

I know you have always wanted to be your own person,

but, perhaps understanding your father

might teach you something about yourself.

No one's going to tell me who I am, but me.

We all must face the truth,

of whatever or whoever it is that haunts us.

A group of us a leaving to tour the wreckage of Genosha.

Perhaps while I am searching for my answers,

you can do the same here,