X-Men Evo 12 The Cauldron

Episode 12: The Cauldron

Smallville Kansas where a simple looking farm resides. Xavier arrives with Scott in Xavier's car, Pulling up to the driveway. Scott opens the door first and exits, Storm next in the driver's seat. While Storm removes Xavier's chair from the trunk of the car Scott helps Xavier stand.

"It's amazing to see you walking Professor."

Xavier smiles as a young man appears behind them helping push Xaiver's chair into position, "Here let me help."

Xavier sits turning to the young man, "Clark Kent I presume."

He nods, "Are you Charles Xavier?"

Xavier nods, "May we come inside?"

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"I still don't understand what your school can offer our son," Johnathan Kent asks suspiciously.

"Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters is a place for...unique...individuals to get support and training with their unique gifts."

"Clark is just a normal boy, what kind of gifts are you talking about." Martha protests.

Xavier puts his hand to his temple, 'I think you know exactly what kind of gift we mean.'

All the Kent's gasp.

Scott looks around, "Perhaps we could move to the barn, Ororo and my gifts are not quite as subtle."

The Kent hesitate a moment but eventually relent the party moving out to the barn where Scott tips his glasses, a optic beam blowing up a haystack as Storm summons a small rain cloud to refill some buckets of water.

"What? H-how?" Clark is stunned silent.

"The X-Gene expresses it's self in many varied ways, often with disastrous results. My school was founded to help these gifted youngster learn control and to harness their powers for the good of man kind."

"It all sounds very nice but Clark–" Johnathan starts protectively.

"I appreciate the offer but I can't go, there are to many responsibilities here fir–" Clark starts to say.

"I really must insist," Xavier say steepling his fingers, "Just how many of these 'meteor freaks' have you helped. Your concern is good but rather then simply stopping them and temporarily neutralizing their powers wouldn't it make more sense to help them through the psychosis? Teach them control of their powers and not be controlled by it."

"How dare you read our thoughts!" Johnathan says aghast, "Get out."

"It's not what you think," Xavier interrupts, "Do you really think your the only ones in Smallville who have noticed the trends, half the town has suspensions, that much psychic feedback is hard to ignore."

Before anyone could react the barn doors blew open, Kat and her gang were there. As was Magneto.

"It is time to decide who is the real Weather Witch, Storm." Kat growled.

The tractor came to life, twisting into bonds as it pinned Scott and Clark, storm clouds building as Kat summoned winds to blast Storm and she countered with lighting.

"Magnus," Xavier said in a soft voice, "What is this about?"

"A new age for mutant kind, a trial by fire."

Xavier's chair lifted up following Magneto, he turned back to look at Scott, "Will you come peacefully Summers?"

"And why would I do that," Scott said as he reached for his glasses but had his arms pinned.

Clark's eyes started to glow red.

"Brother....is that you?" A blond haired teen stepped into view.

"A-Alex?" Scott's voice strained, "Y-Your alive?"

A burst of heat vision from Clark cut through the steel bonds as he dropped to the ground, then running at a high speed he evacuated his parents back to the house, as they looked back they saw Magneto fly off with three steel balls behind him.

Clark looks to his parents, his mother nods, "Go Clark." Johnathan says as Clark runs back to the barn only to see Kat barley conscious.

"What just happened? Who is Magneto?" Clark wondered his eyes focusing as he peering at Kt with X-Ray vision, "No broken bones, that's good. Don't worry I'll get you to the hospital."

Kat hissed, "No hospitals. I'll be fine."

"But."

She hissed again, "I'm not letting some doctors cut me up!"

Clark watched the metal spheres vanish into the distance, and hefting Kat into his arms speed off after.

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Earlier, Hawaii, the beach, two surfers watch as Alex lounges out on the ocean on his surfboard.

"Alex! I don't see him."

The second surfer point out to sea, "There he is, lounging, the bum. Wanna paddle out there?"

"Nah. He looks like he just wants to be alone."

"We'll catch up to him later."

Alex continues hanging out on his surfboard as the two surfers wander off. Beneath the surface a shark moves closer, rams Alex's board tipping him into the water.

"Huh? Hunh!" Alex's hands begin to glow red, and blast the shark, it sinks away into the water. "Ah...man... what is goin' on with me?"

As Alex washes up on shore Magneto floats in behind him, "I know the kind of pain you're feeling, Alex. I once had it myself."

"But...wha? What? Where did you come from?"

"I've just arrived to see you because I know-"

"You don't know nothin', man! Just back off! Creep."

"Your bones, they burn. Your hands ache. The pressure in your head. I can give you relief and answers. You never have to feel pain again."

"You some kind of doctor?"

"No, Alex. I am Magneto. And I have come to offer you sanctuary."

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Back to the mansion Mystique talks into a radio, overlooking the main doors, "Still on target, it's time to make your move."

Lance responds as he shakes the grounds tearing open the gates, "Time to prove who is top dog once and for all."

"What is going on?!" Kurt says leading the X-Men outside.

"It's Lance Alvers and his buddies!" Kitty announces.

Mystique slips inside as the two teams square off, "I'll slow him down!" Tori says tossing a ice patch at the Brotherhoods feet.

"Now, avalanche!" Quicksilver shouts, the ground shaking again.

Tanker charges, Blob intercepts, catching her fist, "Grrr! Come here often? Nala?"

"Let's party." Lance says setting off another tremor.

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Logan arrives pulls his bike to a stop at the ruined gate, sniffing the air, "Sabertooth."

Sabertooth leap down from a tree, but Logan dodges, "Hmm. You look tired. Why don't you take a nice long nap."

Logan growls, "Give me one good reason to gut you Sabertooth."

Sabertooth growls, "No holding back Logan, not this time, it's time to prove who deserves it, which actually suits me just fine."

"Deserves what Creed!"

"Evolution!" Sabertooth lunges at Wolverine.

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Mystique huffs, "I shouldn't have to prove myself, not after everything I have done to for him."

"I don't know why you have started a war on the front lawn," A large man swung off the stairs and drop kicked Mystique, "But you are not welcome in this house Mystique."

Mystique got to her feet and charges making a high kick, the man knocked her feet out from under her, "Who are you!"

"Hank McCoy, Dr. Hank McCoy, a old friend of Xavier."

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"Is this the side you have chosen Toad, a X-Man?" Man-Eater protested.

"After you tried to melt me Marley, yeah, yeah I think so!" He countered spitting slime at Man-Eater, blinding her.

"Look out!" Lance said diving to knock over Quicksilver as Man-Eater fired blindly.

"Thanks Avalanche," Quicksilver says getting to his feet as he charges Angela, "Time to prove yourself, Angel!"

"You know only one of us can win this," Tanker argues and Blob drops on her. But she raises up, muscles straining as she tosses him into a near tree cracking it in half. "And it's going to be me!"

"We could have done this together Kitty," Lance says as he buries her and Kurt under some rocks. Kurt unable to port out fast enough to save Kitty.

"I got you beat, and you know it, Angel! 'Cause I always speed to the top!" Quicksilver quickly buries Angela in a cyclone of dirt.

Rogue corners Man-Eater, "I'm dropping you right here, right now Marlene, before you hurt someone."

Shifting to wolf form she and Rahne pin Man-Eater, her powers doing absolutely nothing to them as Rogue presses her hand to her head until Man Eater passes out.

Toad trips up Lance, as Sub-Zero freezes him, The Cat cornering him "What is going on Lance."

Lance scowls, "It's over." as several metal spheres fly overhead dragging Nala, Quicksilver, Rogue, Rahne, and Toad into the spheres and flying off, another tears of X-Mansion Leaving Man-Eater, Avalanche, Angela, Sub-Zero and Blob behind. "And I'm afraid only mutant's get in."

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In the metal sphere Alex and Scott share, "Alex? Is it really you?"

"Man, it's like you came back from the dead! I've had dreams just like this." Alex says hugging his older brother.

"Me, too! But siding with Magneto? He's the bad guy!"

"No, no, no. You got it wrong. He told me all about it. He just wants to show us all something. Something huge. It's going to change things for all of us!"

"All?"

"Yeah, you know, mutants. He told me you were one. And guess what, so am I. see? Check this out. I couldn't believe it. I got these powers growing inside of me. man, I was freaked out until Magneto clued me in. He's great, Scott. He knows so much. He want the light the way to a new future."

"This just doesn't smell right, Alex."

Ahead Magneto flies the spheres up to a giant rock suspended in the sky, Asteroid M. As the other spheres fly past them Magneto lands with Charles on a overlook.

"What is this place Magnus?"

"Welcome, Charles, to sanctuary. Asteroid M."

"What is all of this about?"

"A rebirth. As we speak your X-Men face a trial by fire, as do my own... recruits. Mutant pitted against mutant. One shall lose, one shall win. Only those who emerge victorious shall take their place here on Asteroid M. Once gathered here in this place of solitude, they can then fully realize their mutant abilities, safe from those who might mistreat them."

"Magnus, don't do this. We can introduce ourselves to mankind as friends, not enemies."

"You are an idealist, Charles. I am a realist. It's a dark future that rushes towards us, and we must face it prepared. The gathering is almost complete. Just Wolverine and Sabretooth to go. A storm is coming for mutantkind, Charles. And our resolve must be iron-clad. Side with me, not against me."

"Your invitation begs the question- what happens to those who won't come willingly?" Magneto says leading Charles into the facility.

"If necessary, sometimes salvation must be force-fed." the victorious X-men, including Dr. McCoy are asleep in glass tubes. Xavier gasps.

"Magnus, you haven't saved them. You've abducted them."

"A certain amount of persuasion may still be needed, I'll admit. But for every unbeliever... there is a new convert."

Scott and Alex enter dressed in matching jackets and jeans.

"Scott, no!"

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"Scott, I- I don't understand."

"Professor, wait! We're just here to listen, that's all."

Professor X motions to the captured X-Men "What about them? Are they here to listen as well?"

Scott glares Magneto's way, "Ohh! Hey, what is this?"

"Simply a precaution, Scott. Not everyone has the maturity to accept the need for change as you do, not yet."

"Let them out! Now!"

"I will. We just need to proceed cautiously. Trust me. they are perfectly safe."

'Are they safe, Scott? Are any of us safe? I know this man well. His motives cannot be trusted. He's bitter-' Xavier starts to transmit but Magneto catches wind tossing Xavier into a tube, Xavier quickly changes targets 'unh! Logan! Logan, lose the battle! Magneto is-'

Scott moves to blast the tube, Magneto intercedes.

"No! Do that, and he'll not survive the decompression."

Scott gets ready to remove his glasses, "Yeah? Well, odds aren't that great for you, either."

"Hey, hey, hey, Scott, come on, man! This is no good. They're having a little time-out. So what? Look, I don't get it either, but no one should be getting hurt here. You can't blame Magneto for being careful. And all I know is he just wants to help, and I need his help. So, come on, holster that thing, would you?" Alex begs.

Scott sighs, but relents "Ugh. I don't like it."

"But your brother is right, Scott. I'm not your enemy, nor am I Charles'. Very soon, you will see the truth."

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Logan pauses as he get's Xavier's note, Sabertooth taking the upper hand and knocking him on his back, 'Argh! Lose the battle? I don't get it, Charles.'

Logan rebounds and growls, pouncing Sabertooth, 'Rargh! Grr! I know about Magneto.'

'Huh! Then you know I'm the one who belongs at his side, not you.'

'You're right. Not me.' Logan retracts his claws and stands still.

Sabertooth smiles and knocks him into the wall, as a sphere comes and picks up Sabertooth.

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Kitty leads the remaining X-Men into the mansion, "Dr. McCoy? Dr. McCoy!"

"He's out. Can I take a message?" Mystique say slipping in.

"Ha! If you're still here, then that means you're a loser, too!" Lance taunts.

Mystique growls, "Don't ever call me that!"

"What are you here for...mother?"

"Simple truth. Nobody discards me, especially not Magneto after all I've done for him. So, I'm paying him a visit. We can go together, or I can go alone."

"Oh, you won't be alone. If Magneto's got our friends, then we're going after him." Logan says storming in.

"Good. But I know the man, so I'm calling the shots."

"Heh! Then get your own ride. X-men, let's go." Logan waves to the X-Men who seperate from Marlene, Mystique, and Lance"

Mystique growls, "Oh, all right, fine! But I expect to be consulted."

"Wait, before we go," Tori says, "We have one more X-Man to pick up."

Shortly in the hanger Logan leads Mystique, Lance, Marlene, Kurt, Kitty, Greer, Tori, Fred, Angela, and Sektor into a new aircraft, "Welcome to the first test flight of the XM-Velocity."

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Up on the asteroid Scott and Alex are talking as they wait for Sabertooth to arrive.

"Scott..."

Scott holds his head a moment, a memory flashing through, him and Alex younger. A crashing plan, they leap, pull the cords but the two drift apart, "Ahh!"

"Are you ok?"

"I'm just... I don't know, remembering."

"Yeah. Still wakes me up at night."

"I hit the ground pretty hard, and I spent a month in a coma. The hospital said I was the only one who made it. I wanted to be there for you, Alex. Really, I did. I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't sweat it, you know? I got along all right. My foster parents are pretty nice."

"What's wrong?" Scott notes Alex rubbing his wrists.

"Ah, man, joints are on fire. I've been to a bunch of doctors, but nobody could tell me what it was. Until today, when I met Magneto. Now I know what I am."

"How has he promised to help you, Alex?"

Magneto floats over, "Not just Alex, Scott, you as well, everyone! Together, we shall embark upon a wondrous renaissance. I invite you to be a part of it. I built it right into the asteroid. Behold the next step in mutant evolution."

Magneto leads them over to the large vault set in the wall.

"What is it?" Scott asks skeptically.

"A genetic enhancer. Perhaps you've heard of the legendary Gems of Cyttorak. Well, they do exist. Once believed to possess mystical properties, these stones actually emit a very distinctive radiation."

"Hey, wait a minute! You mean you're gonna nuke us?"

"I'm going to evolve you! To finish your growth. No more pain, Alex, and no more hiding behind that visor, Scott. Your powers will be fully realized, giving you complete control."

"What about them? I want 'em released." Scott motions to the captured X-Men.

"They will be, but only after you've gone through the transformation. I want them to see what I'm offering. And it is an offer, Scott. I won't force you to go through it."

"We're supposed to just trust this thing works? You go through it, then."

"I have. I'm fully advanced. But why don't I provide you with a real firsthand demonstration."

Magneto motions with his hands, calling over Sabertooth, Quicksilver, and Nala.

"Sabertooth," with a motion the vault door opens, and Sabertooth enters the machine, the door closing behind him, "In a few moments, he'll emerge...reborn."

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The XM-Velocity Logan cheers for the pilot's seat, "Hh! Oh, yeah! This thing cooks!"

"Hear that metal straining? We're breaking up, I know it!" Lance says as he tries to hold down his lunch.

"Couldn't be. This crate's built without an ounce of metal."

"None? That means we're flying in what, cheap plastic? I need an airsick bag." Greer remarks.

"I've got something huge on scanners. Asteroid m... 463 miles and closing." Mystique navigates.

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Back on the asteroid Sabertooth emerges looking bigger, buffer, furrier and with digigrade feet and fangs befitting his name.

"For some enhancement will prove subtle, such as Sabertooth, stronger, faster. For others the effects will be more pronounced. Boys... it's time to reach your full potential."

"What do you think, Scott? I want to, but... but not without you."

Scott nods as Magneto opens the chamber.

"Hey how about letting me go first, we're your Brotherhood! We should have priority."

Magneto smirks, "You may all enter, together." as he frees the captured X-Men.

"Scott, no! Don't!" Jean pleads.

"What are you planning Magnus." as he glances over to Scott, "Get out of there, please! There is more here at work then is obvious!"

Scott moves to leave the machine, but Magneto slams the door, locking in Alex, Scott, Pietro, and Nala.

"Too late, Charles. He's mine now." Using his powers he pins the X-Men to the walls, "You must really trust me Charles, they will need this if they are to survive what is coming next."

"And that is?" Jean demands.

A figure appears wearing a white tunic and straw hat, "Mortal Kombat, of course."

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Inside the conveyor of the machine.

"Alex? Huh? Huh? We have to get out of here." Scott tries to turn and leave.

The machine kicks in.
"Come... The world awaits you." Magneto's voice projects inside as lights fill the area and they are locked onto their platform with foot shackles.

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"Mortal Kombat? I thought that was every 100 years," Charles protests.

"New terms have been set, and if Earthrealm is to survive it's champions must be at their very peak." the white tuniced man explains.

An alarm sounds at the chamber opens, a Older version of Scott, Alex, and Quicksilver emerge.

"Pain's gone." Alex comments rubbing his wrists.

"Aircraft!" Sabertooth growls.

"Really. Let's see who it is." Magneto says waving his hand to bring some monitors to life, seeing the XM-Velocity, then waves his hands again, "No metal!" he smirks, "Very clever Charles.

Magneto turns to Alex and smiles, "And you shall be called... Havok." then to Scott, "Go on, Scott. Show us the color of your eyes."

Scott removes his glasses, his eyes visible for the first time.

"Go now, show your friends here, we do not have much time. They have managed to make it here on their own, I will extend the same invitation."

Scott nods as he leads Alex off, Magneto magnetically moving the next set of X-Men into the chamber, Jean resists, but his power is overwhelming.

"What wasn't there a 4th one," Sabertooth growls.

A monster, some terrible mix of Juggernaut and a lion leaps from the chamber roaring, "Nala!" Pietro says with alarm, "What did you do to her!"

"I...I don't know, this is unprecedented, "Magneto releases his hold on the others, "Quick we must stop her before she brings this entire asteroid down around out ears." Nala was already tearing huge chunks out of the walls and hurling them at the others. Blob moves quickly deflecting them with his body as the rest of the team arrive.

"Raiden!?" Sub-Zero exclaims as she sees the white clad man.

Just then Clark speeds join with Kat nearly fully recovered, "What is going on here."

"Subdue that beast, before she wrecks the chamber!"

Mystique spies the chamber slipping away and into it as a all out brawl opens on Nala.

"Ung! She's as strong as the Juggernaut!" Fred grunts.

Lance starts rocks tumbling to get the beast off her feet, as Toad blinds her with some slime and a tongue leg trip.

Man-Eater blasts it with everything she has, it does nothing, as the beast tears up the floor and tosses it at her, But Kitty passes them through it in time.

Kitty moves quick phasing the beast into the floor but she tears her way out.

The chamber opens as Mystique slips out, larger and scaled, Magneto notes this and floats over, checking his machine, "Everything looks normal, what went wrong."

Raiden's eyes spark a moment as he teleports over by Magneto's side, "there is a outside influence around the girl, a mystical force is tied to her, it must have altered the process."

Magneto nods ensnaring Lance, Fred, Toad and Man-Eater in steel beams and forcing them into the chamber.

Kurt ports around, keeping the beast distracted and Clark charges forward, body checking the beast, "Get everyone to safety This place is coming down around us!"

"No" Magneto demands, "I must enhance everyone I can, we can't let Earthrealm fall, we need as many warriors as we can get!"

"Sektor your with me! Keep this place intact," tori shouts and she fires off ice blast to secure cracks in the asteroid."

"Understood," Sektor nods as he fire energy nets to do the same.

Fred, Lance, Toad, and Man-Eater emerge next and rejoin the battle as Magneto grabs and throws Kitty,  Kurt and Clark in next.

Jean lifts the beast off her feet, as Angela hurries around healing the injured, while Kat (and her thugs) and Storm hit the beast with everything they have got.

"Jean, Angela, Kat, Storm your next!" Magneto says roughly switching them to the machine as Kitty, Kurt and Clark rejoin the fight.

Clark matches her blow for blow while using heat vision and ice breaths to slow the beast down.

"Need to borrow some power and you seem to have plenty to spare," Rogue says coming up beside Clark.

He looks confused but nods, "Go for it."

She touches he shoulder as Fred body checks the beast again.

"This place is coming apart at the seems!" Tori shouts. "We're gonna crash!"

A large segment of the asteroid breaks off as Jean, Angela, Kat and Storm emerge, Jean grunting as she immediately expands her power to hold the asteroid intact. Magneto grabs Rogue, Hank, Tori, Greer, and Rahne next flying into the chamber with them.

"We are out of here." Raiden says as lighting cascades around them those not in the the chamber and they vanish. The beast howls as Asteroid M comes apart around her crashing to the ground.

"Nala!" Marlene cries out.

Some distance away Raiden reappears with the others as metal sphere shoots from the asteroid, as the asteroid crashes to the ground into shards. As Magneto's sphere lands with the others he emerges with the Gem of Cyttorak in hand.

Before anyone else can react the sky darkens, Raiden's voice getting lower, "Mortal Kombat begins."

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As the rubble settles a figure digs through it, a well built man with a skull over his face until he uncovers a furry arm, Nala out cold as green energy swims around her, "It's not over for you my little kitty, not by a long shot."

Nala digs herself free, dropping to her knee with a bow.

"Who is your master beast?"

"You, Shao Kkkhan."