02x07 - Strange Land, Savage Heart

[bunniefuu]

[Rogue] Previously on X-Men...

[Nightcrawler] I was abandoned
by my mother, Mystique, as an infant.

Despite our shared blood,
I was too blue for her.

Then, I met Rogue years later.

We could have been enemies or strangers.

Instead, unlike our mother,

we chose not to abandon each other.

[Beast] Perhaps the Professor's vision
for the future was too near-sighted

and begging for tolerance
was our first mistake.

When Logan told me Graydon Creed
was your kid, I couldn't see it,

but now... [shivers]

can't unsee it.

Shoulda k*lled the little mistake
when I had the chance.

[Professor X] My X-Men must now evolve.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you X-Corp.

If Charles Xavier thinks
that he can skirt federal laws

by re-establishing his X-Men overseas,

he should be prepared for the blowback.

[opening theme music playing]

[people screaming]

Sister, what madness is this?

[gasps]

[grunts]

- You're safe now.
- [male mutant] Thank you.

Illyana.

Illyana.

Illyana!

No!

Illyana!

[male announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends of Humanity,

please welcome Mr. Graydon Creed!

[man] Humans were here first!

They say Genosha was a tragedy.

I say it was a consequence

of a world forced to live
in danger far too long.

If history has taught us anything,

it's that mutants
can't be trusted with their powers.

And what does President Kelly do?
He gives them more.

Using your tax dollars
to fund his X-Factor.

Not to protect you, but to protect them.

[woman] What about us?

Well, I say no longer.

Yeah, not on your watch.

For I have heard your call,

and with your support, tonight,

I officially announce my candidacy

for President of the United States.

A leader for humanity.

[crowd chanting] For humanity!
For humanity!

For humanity! For humanity!

[gasps]

[people screaming]

[Creed screams]

[Creed grunts] No. No!

[guard] Hands in the air.

Stand down! Stand down!

Sorry. But no.

They call themselves
the Acolytes of Magneto.

An emerging cult of radical extremists
devoted to the late "Master of Magnetism"

and his vision for mutant supremacy.

Moments ago, the Acolyte leader
known as Exodus

released a statement
claiming responsibility for their attack.

Four thousand, six hundred
and twenty-one seconds.

That's how long it took
for Genosha to be reduced to ashes.

And humanity's response?
Is to raise up men like this.

Men who paint targets
on mutantkind's backs

while we mourn our lost.

Magneto understood there is no appealing
to humanity's "better nature,"

for you have none.

So instead, we make these demands.

All mutants currently detained
by the race traitors known as X-Factor

will be released.

You will remand them to Acolyte custody,

and you will stay out of our way.

Fail to comply...

Graydon Creed dies.

I give you 24 hours.

Bonne journée.

Graydon Creed deserves
about as much sympathy

as a hungry crocodile
at a children's pettin' zoo.

But I reckon this can't be simple for ya.

In our family, sister,

nothing ever is.

Please tell me you're not going
to try to insert your people into this.

I'm already working with the UN
to approve activating X-Factor.

You cannot expect me to sit by

while Exodus and his followers

twist Magnus's name to justify their w*r.

So, you have located the Acolyte base.

My X-Men are already on their way.

Trust me, Dr. Cooper.

Where they are going,
you would not wish to follow.

Welcome to the Savage Land.

One of Earth's deadliest habitats.

A bio-evolutionary time capsule
quite literally frozen in time.

Pre-historic wildlife?

Ancient evil spirits?

Don't forget the leftover experiments

from when Mister Sinister
was king of the jungle.

Great. More things that can k*ll us.

There he goes. Our walking doomsday clock.

Always with his eye
on the worst-case scenario.

I may have read your file, Lucas.

[chuckles] So, what's your strategy?
Cause a scene?

- May have read your file too.
- Just sayin'.

Can't imagine there's anything
more dangerous here

than the man we're rescuin'.

Creed's actions may be detestable.

But I like to believe
that no one is above salvation.

[thudding]

[screams]

I'm detecting a familiar energy field.

Akin to a signature established
when Mister Sinister...

Oh, no!

You feel that?

Some type of radiation.

Oh, dear! Hold on everyone!

[Polaris] Incoming
surface-to-air-missiles, on our six.

[Beast] Taking evasive action!

[Nightcrawler] We are hit!

[Bishop] Losing pressure,
we're goin' down!

Rogue, can you level us out?

On it, Beast. Ahh!

- [Nightcrawler] Rogue!
- My powers. They ain't workin'.

Our gifts have abandoned us.

- [screams]
- [Beast] Bishop!

Polaris, don't!

Come on, come on.

Closer. Closer.

[both grunt]

Well...

at least we stuck the landing.

[distant thumping]

- [roars]
- [Bishop grunts]

Startin' to see why they call it
the Savage Land.

- Honestly, might be underselling it.
- [chuckles] Yeah.

- [groans]
- Bishop? Are you all right?

Before the jet got hit,
there was some sorta energy.

I can feel my powers
building up inside me,

but I can't release them.

Sinister's old Inhibitor Tower.

The Acolytes must have rebooted it
to suppress all of our mutant powers.

How long can you contain it?

Let's just say
I don't got a lotta time left.

We need to find the others
and get Creed the hell outta here.

[grunts]

[metallic creaking]

[grunts]

- Greetings, comrades.
- Peter!

[groans]

Almost forgot what pain feels like. Ahh!

- Are you injured?
- I am now.

Thank you for answering our prayers.

Stand down.

I know these mutants as friends.

What brings you here?

We're here to rescue your hostage

so you and your Acolyte buddies
don't start World w*r Three.

I cannot give him to you.

[Nightcrawler] You misunderstand.

Creed is my brother.

Half-brother.

He and I share a mother, Mystique.

He is family.

We do what we must for our kin,

but I still cannot release Creed.

We may not have powers here,
but we're not just gonna turn around--

Rogue, please.

Perhaps instead you will
allow us to tour your home

and look upon your work.

Should we come to understand your cause,

imagine the message it would send.

You would view our home with an open mind?

So long as we can ensure
the prisoner is being treated fairly.

Treat us with respect

and we will return such.

And perhaps your powers, too.

We seek a simple life here.

Food, water, and power.

Simple concerns.

Exodus found me in the darkest of places.

He may have his eccentric qualities,

but each day I have been here,

another mutant finds safety.

For that, he has given me a purpose

and earned my trust.

But your sister would never
want you to join the Acolytes.

How can you know, Beast?

How can any of us know
the desires of the dead?

[Nightcrawler] A beautiful painting.

Yours?

To honor her.

I'm sorry, Peter.

The time for sentiment has passed, Rogue.

Each of us must act
to ensure others like us

will not lose their brothers and sisters.

In this, we share the same goal.

[door opens]

Awaken, you have visitors.

Greetings, brother.

[Creed scoffs]

A shame that even now
he cannot accept his kin.

"He does not treat us as our sins deserve,

or repay us according to our inequities.

For as high as the heavens are
above the earth..."

"So great is his love
for those who fear Him."

If you're going to k*ll me, k*ll me.

Skip the sermons.

How painful it must be
to be so hated by one's own family.

Exodus.

Colossus, I see you have brought friends

to witness our crusade.

Any mutant hand is welcome

to help build
the better world we are creating.

And in this world,

you threaten to m*rder a man
without so much as a trial?

You yourself
have born witness to his sins.

And yet, he was exonerated
by humans at every turn.

But we have not had
our day in court, have we?

These were crimes
against our kind. Mutants.

[scoffs] How brave and bold.

You suggest a trial
here in the Savage Land?

To prove what?

Whether the soul of my brother

is beyond all hope of redemption.

- No, I ain't letting you--
- [in German] Fräulein.

I have faith I can prove
our brother is worth redeeming.

But does our dear Templar have faith
in his ability to prove otherwise?

[Colossus] And if Exodus wins...

What then?

I will join your flock.

- [Rogue] Kurt, don't.
- It's all right, sister.

It will be a signal
to mutants across the world

that even an X-Man can see the light.

All this I offer, with one condition...

Colossus will preside over the trial.

[Polaris] They must've moved off.

Nah, more like carted off.

Place is a fortress.

Gonna need a mighty big advantage
if we're gonna bust them out.

Also, need you to not
implode on me before we get there.

Then we better take out
that Inhibitor Tower first.

Got any bright ideas?

Bright? No.

But fun?

Hell, yeah.

[Senyaka] The court of the Independent
Haven of our Lord Magnus is in session.

Bring out the accused.

I do not recognize this kangaroo court!

No muties jury's ever
gonna let me walk. Ahh!

[Colossus] Senyaka, behave yourself.

This court will have order.

Now, Exodus?

Plead your case.

Thank you, honorable Colossus.

Graydon Creed is a name
familiar to many in this room.

He founded the Friends of Humanity.

Created a virus that kills mutants.

Tried to frame a mutant
for k*lling the President.

The humans would not
make him pay for those crimes.

Is it not just that we do?

Creed is a serpent in our garden,

whose wretched actions
are born from one original sin,

a hatred of mutants.

[audience clamoring]

Freaking bigot!

The prosecution rests.

Thank you, Exodus.

Nightcrawler, for the defense.

So, why do you hate mutants?

[scoffs] How long we got?

Let us err on the side of brevity.

Because you were born.

What are we even doing this for?

Ah.

Und how were you born, brother?

Were you born with powers?

[chuckles] Heck, no.

Strange, born with no powers,

considering we both were born
of a mutant mother Mystique.

Last I checked,
she chucked you off a waterfall.

[audience gasping]

What about that scar?

Were you born with that?

Ah, it seems to be a claw mark.

Your father.

His name is Sabretooth.

That man is not my father!

The defendant will take his seat

and answer the question.

[Creed] You got no idea.

Think you're the only guy
who's had it hard, hmm?

Our mother booted me as a baby,

but Sabretooth,

he wanted a cub.

And when I couldn't live up to his name...

He would punish you?

Calls himself Sabretooth,
what do you think?

Every night, I reminded myself,

make it to 13,

I'd get powers like he did.

Then I could hunt like him.

Hell, even better.

But you were human.

And so he abandoned you,

just like our mother did.

Graydon, you do not hate mutants.

You hate the two who hurt you,

who failed you,

who made you feel like
being human wasn't good enough.

Und even now, with your life on the line,

you let them control you,

let them make you risk your life

just so you can continue hating them.

When all you need to do
is forgive yourself

for thinking you weren't strong enough.

[sighing] Oh, enough of this.

Colossus,

speak the verdict.

Peter, please!

I know you see it.

He is just a man, haunted.

Just like us.

I find the defendant...

Heretic!

- Peter!
- Let him go, Exodus!

Put him down!

This is how you honor your sister?

[Colossus groans]

[Exodus] Fine.
Let me reunite you with her

so you may see
the disappointment on her face.

[screams]

Hmm?

Target the Inhibitor Tower.

Time to turn the power on!

Ha-ha!

No! No, no.

[grunts]

- [Bishop screams]
- [Polaris grunts]

No more holdin' it in.

Let's end this with a bang!

[all screaming]

[chuckles softly]

[pants] Ahh!

Your death shall salvage the day.

Pray you wield your sword
better than your tongue.

En garde!

[groans] Huh?

You truly are a demon.

[gasps]

You are as you were born, Exodus.

A vain soul clamoring
for his 15 minutes of faith.

Yield!

[scoffs] My faith
will keep me protected from--

Get me out of this freak show,

or I will blow your brains out.

- Brother, what have you done?
- What I have always done.

Survived.

- Polaris!
- On it.

"You cannot conceive, nor can I,

the appalling strangeness
of the mercy of God."

But who, more than you, deserves to die

for the horrors you have unleashed?

[groans]

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?

Alas, this is what higher powers are for.

But allow me to grant you this, brother...

You may not be a mutant,

but you are very much your parents' son.

[coughs]

So X-Factor found Creed alone,

wandering in the snow.

Alone, but alive. As promised.

You're playing a very
dangerous game, Charles.

Cross the line and, our history or not,

I'll take away your corporation

and your school.

[Nightcrawler] Welcome home,
[in German] mein Freund.

I sense you have a question, comrade.

I do.

My verdict?

Did I make my case?

No, you did not convince me.

But...

you would have convinced Illyana.

[Cable and Jubilee gasp]

How?

How could this be?

Um, guys...

[closing theme music playing]