SINISTER: Xavier, you must help me!
What's happening?
A being of immense power has attacked
my base of operations.
The creature consumes matter! It can take on any form!
Professor, behind you! Professor!
-Logan! -Get out of here, Hank!
You gotta... Get...
[GROANING]
Do not resist, mutant. You will be assimilated.
But not this night.
Do not be alarmed. Self is friend.
I am heir apparent of the Phalanx.
-What it cannot assimilate, it destroys. -Good heavens!
This thing could be far more dangerous than we realized!
I believe all life on Earth may be at risk.
Can we meet somewhere safe?
Sid's Grill on Oakhurst. One hour.
BEAST: Though Mr. Sinister may seem an odd ally.
Go! Go!
It appears that if this Phalanx organism
proceeds unchecked,
76% of the world's population
will be assimilated within four days.
It is Self's fault.
Now your world is doomed!
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
[CROWD EXCLAIMING]
This is a priority one SOS. Do you read?
Nothing. I cannot tell
whether the Phalanx is causing some sort of interference, or if...
Or if the whole world has been assimilated?
Don't give up hope yet, Dr. McCoy.
Warlock and I have compiled a great deal of data
on the assimilation rates of different substances.
You're right about the rate being related to conductivity.
Metals are more quickly absorbed than non-metals.
And while most living tissue
is assimilated very rapidly,
mutants seem to be immune.
Perhaps that's why my lab was attacked. It is...
Was the largest storehouse of data on mutant genetics
in the world.
Add Xavier's records...
And the Phalanx may be learning how to assimilate mutants.
The combined powers of every mutant on Earth...
I shudder to think of such a possibility.
This obsession with mutant power
may be the key to stopping the Phalanx.
We must have time, and a lab,
to study Warlock's reaction to various mutant genes.
Muir Island! It is isolated,
and its mutant research facilities
are among the finest in the world!
[GROANING]
Let me out of here!
Temper, temper, Mr. Logan.
I don't believe we've met. I'm Cameron Hodge,
former liaison to the Genoshan government.
You sure picked lousy friends.
Your mutant friends cost me an arm and a leg!
Thanks to the Phalanx, I've made a complete recovery.
In return, I am a kind of guide for their operation on Earth.
But enough about me. Let's talk about you.
Your healing factor poses quite a problem for us.
You resist assimilation even more than other mutants.
But your entire skeleton is bonded with adamantium,
a very good conductor.
By assimilating your bones, the Phalanx will examine you
from the inside out.
For all we know, we could be the only ones left.
Precisely why we must work quickly.
Blast it! This isn't working either!
Sorry, we have been on the run since last night,
and I fear it is taking its toll.
Hank, have some coffee.
Hm? Oh, thank you. Amelia?
I know. Bad penny turning up again.
I thought I'd pick up the career I dropped for Charles.
Amelia's a first-year resident here.
Mom always wanted a doctor in the family.
Listen, we can catch up later.
I heard the situation. How can I help?
I need a gas chromatograph of each of these samples.
You got it. How long do you think we've got?
[BIRD SCREECHING]
Is this a computer virus, or a common cold virus?
Both, actually. The Phalanx, like Warlock,
is part biological, part mechanical.
Our virus combines organic and cybernetic self-replication,
attacking the Phalanx's basic programming and structure.
Like confusing and smashing a computer simultaneously.
This magnetically shielded chamber
should isolate the sample Warlock assimilated.
-You did it! -It worked!
Hold on! Don't celebrate yet. We have to trick the Phalanx
into assimilating the virus quickly,
before it knows what it is.
One of us will have to act as bait.
Query.
If the virus is successful,
what will happen to Self's Lifemate?
We're really not sure, Warlock.
Perhaps with a bit more research.
No, it is Self's fault that your world is in danger.
But if Self's Lifemate must be destroyed to save your planet,
then Self will act as bait and be destroyed with her. Alarm!
-[ALARM RINGING] -Phalanx! Phalanx is here!
-I see nothing! -BEAST: Look there!
My jet! Someone will pay for this!
We've got to get the patients out of here! Amelia, come on!
What are you waiting for? Use the virus!
We only have six ampoules.
We don't know what it will take to destroy the core.
I won't use them unless there is no other way.
[THUMPING]
Moira! We've got to get out of here!
-Do you have a plane? -But my patients!
If we don't make it out of here with this virus, the entire world is doomed.
-Now where's the plane? -All right, it's this way.
Resistance is futile! You will join with the Phalanx.
Start the engines! I'll hold this thing off!
[WHIRRING]
Sean! Run!
[SEAN GROANING]
No! Sean! Sean!
-Moira! You cannot help him! -Drop her, McCoy!
No, I can't!
You want her to infect the whole plane?
AMELIA: I know an old friend who can help!
Sinister, set a course for the Arctic Circle!
[WIND WHOOSHING]
No entrance! How do you propose we get inside?
-Stand aside! -Hold it, hotshot!
Is he always like this?
What do you want?
-We need your help. -To do what?
The Earth is in danger from an alien infestation.
It has swallowed entire nations whole.
Thousands of mutants, including Charles, have disappeared.
You enter my sanctum unbidden, bringing with you that vile creature,
and you ask my help?
You arrogant fool! You don't...
Magnus, you must believe us.
This alien is a threat to all life on Earth, including your own!
It is only a matter of time before...
Then let it come.
Losing Asteroid M has made me weary of this life, Dr. McCoy,
weary of this endless struggle. Go!
Leave me in peace!
The Phalanx has also captured Quicksilver, your son.
Pietro? My son...
It is not too late. We believe we can save him and all the others.
But we cannot do it without your help!
This is where your magnetic gift shall prove invaluable.
Where do we begin?
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
We have reached goal undetected.
Self-friend Hank's plan is working.
Self's body was sufficient to shield your organic tissue
-from detection by the Phalanx. -Very well.
Let us collect our sample before we are discovered.
Self believes it is time to retreat!
You have a gift for stating the obvious.
[BUTTONS BEEPING]
It is pointless to flee!
There is no refuge from the Phalanx!
You will be assimilated!
Fascinating.
It appears to be attempting to
re-establish its link to the group mind.
Mr. Sinister, prepare to administer the virus.
With pleasure.
Just a minute, it's quieting.
BEAST: Cameron Hodge?
Just a reasonable facsimile, Dr. McCoy.
Warning! Self-friend Hank, this is the human that abducted my Lifemate!
Warlock is correct. But as you can see, I am no longer human.
Apparently not. What precisely, then, may I ask, are you?
Earth guide to the stars!
Through me, the great unity of the Phalanx
will soon absorb all living things of value, and we will prosper.
After Genosha, I joined the government's UFO Task Force,
analyzing artifacts recovered from crash sites.
The Phalanx found me, but it was I who let it know
the urgency of absorbing mutants, to increase its own power!
But the Phalanx cannot assimilate mutant tissue!
It is only a matter of time. Don't you see, Dr. McCoy,
this is the final solution to the scourge of genetic mutation!
The assimilation of the entire human race?
No, the assimilation of all organic life,
everywhere in the universe!
My word...
Organic reproduction is imprecise at best,
often resulting in inferior mutant strains.
But the Phalanx creates exact copies of itself, a digital system.
Precisely. Random errors are eliminated.
With Phalanx-perfected reproduction, the universe will be cleansed.
And forever free of individual thought and emotion.
Love, hate, curiosity, wonder.
All the things that make life life!
A small price to pay for perfection.
I've heard enough.
What's this? An appetizer?
[EXPLODING]
Congratulations, gentlemen. It worked.
Then there is hope that the assimilated humans will be restored,
like this stone.
Yes, now we must administer
the virus to the Phalanx core.
And where might that be?
Logically, at the focal point of Phalanx activity.
The Empire State Building.
[GROANING]
[EXPLOSION]
[INDISTINCT LAUGHTER]
Wolverine gets a gold star! Thanks to your help,
the Phalanx can now assimilate mutants!
The X-factor is ours!
[GROANING] The only thing I'll help you do
is carve your tombstone.
Assimilation of the remaining mutants will begin immediately.
HODGE: Absorbing their powers is much more complex than the other life forms.
They must be processed one at a time.
PHALANX: Begin with mutant designate, Charles Xavier.
His telepathic powers
will exponentially increase
our ability to communicate.
Hodge! Stop this!
Stop? We've only just begun!
Did you lose your humanity
when you were assimilated by the Phalanx?
Or did you have any to begin with?
I believe the Phalanx nucleus is here, in this central chamber.
There is a lower chamber here,
where we've detected multiple life signs,
probably unassimilated mutants.
That's where we'll begin our assault.
Amelia, can you get us to the lower chamber?
I'll give it a shot.
[METAL CLANKING]
FORGE: The power cell will only last a few minutes.
[BEEPING]
We've got to find Jean and Lorna before the force field gives out.
Amelia? Where am I?
In big trouble, Ms. Grey. We need your powers to back up the force field.
Keep it up, Jean! I'll get the others!
Now we need offensive power!
[EXPLODING]
Summers, you fool!
Sinister! I should have known you were responsible!
Cut it out, Scott! He's on our side!
Amelia! Start teleporting them to safety. We'll try to free the others.
[FIRING]
Oh, the beauty of digital reproduction.
Is it alive, or is it Phalanx?
MAGNETO: The Phalanx appears to be preoccupied.
Are you sure you want to do this?
It is Self's responsibility. Thank you, Self-friend Hank.
We are at your disposal.
Perimeter alert! Core integrity compromised!
Mutants designate, Magneto, McCoy, Phalanx entity, Warlock!
You will be assimilated!
Magneto, the beard's a new look for you!
Somehow you pull it off.
[FIRING]
Some people just can't take a compliment.
Let's see just how much power
your little force bubble can absorb,
before it pops!
This is it! Make it look good. I must reinforce the field!
BEAST: Warlock!
You will fulfill your destiny
by merging forever with the core of the Phalanx!
Self's destiny is far from fulfilled!
Danger! Virulent agent! Purge core!
You fools! What have you done?
It's working!
[EXCLAIMING]
[GASPING]
What? Flesh!
Flesh! No!
Warlock, you're all right.
That is debatable, Self-friend Hank.
Lifemate! Was she restored?
I'm afraid there is no sign of her.
It was necessary, was it not, Self-friend Hank?
Lifemate? Lifemate!
[CRASHING]
Lifemate! Query. Can you monitor Self?
Warlock? Query: where is Self?
Self cannot recall anything of the last 39 cycles!
Another controlled you. But now you are safe and we are together!
This is all that matters!
It appears that everything and everyone has been fully restored.
It is ironic that a virus would prove so curative.
Thank you, all.
I never thought I'd see the day when we would all be working together.
I sense no new mutant solidarity, Charles.
With the fate of the planet hanging in the balance,
many acted to save their own skin.
Including Sinister! Where is he?
Slunk back into the shadows where he belongs.
Let it go, Scott. I just want to go home.
Self also wishes to return home.
Self-friends Hank, Forge,
you have done much for Self and Lifemate already.
But will you help Self to return to the home world?
I'm sure we can construct a new ship.
But why do you wish to return?
To fulfill Self's destiny! And free the home world from the nexus forever.
Self has run from Self's problems long enough.
Even if you have given up hope for yourself, Magnus,
there are reasons to work for a better future.
Here comes one now.
Pietro, thank God you're safe.
Sentiments shared by every parent on Earth.
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]