RIKER'S ISLAND - NIGHT
A souped-up armored car speeds along the lone road leading to a concrete bunker of a building.
THE VAULT: SUBTERRANEAN PRISON FOR CRIMINAL MUTANTS
RIKER'S ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY
Extremely tall perimeter walls are topped by razor wire and two guard towers. A big steel door in the perimeter wall opens to allow the armored car's entrance to a concrete courtyard. Ahead, the massive doors of The Vault itself slide open, revealing a huge elevator rising from below the ground. Seven prison guards exit the elevator with the Warden, followed by a large yellow forlift. Guards take positions. The Driver exits the armored car and walks to open the rear doors. The forklift goes to work, lifting a pallet from the truck. On the pallet, unconscious, is the mega-mutant Juggernaut, in a uniform of thick metal, with wicked brass knuckles and a round- topped helmet (all encompassing except for eye and mouth slots). The helmet is riveted to his chest armor.
"Why's he still wearing his metal skivvies?" Warden asks, surprised.
"Couldn't get it off. They tried. They can't even figure out what it's made of." Driver responses.
"Well, we'll get it off, believe me. I don't care if we have to use dynamite." Warden says, and motioned Driver to follow. They follow the forklift as it labors towards the elevator.
"How can you hold him, anyway? I mean, I hear once he's moving, nothing stops him." Driver asks, curious.
"Is he moving now?" Warden replies.
"No... but, he's all drugged up."
"And, that's pretty much how he's going to spend the next twenty years."
"Hie-de-hie-de-ho! Lookie, lookie..." Warden and Driver look to the sound of the voice. It's Sabretooth. He's up on the perimeter wall, near a guard tower, dangling an unconscious guard.
"Drop your guns, screw-heads. Or, Humpty Dumpty here will have a great fall." He says, dangling the guard over the side of the wall.
Several guards point their weapons. Warden waves them off.
"Hold your fire. Hold on... " Warden turns to see the mutant BLOB waddling through the open perimeter gate, then turns to look to the other guard tower... Toad is seated up there. He grins and waves.
THE VAULT, CENTRAL CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT
Several security monitors show Sabretooth. Technician stands, terrified. Security Chief is near, talking with a guard.
"Sir, sir... we've got trouble upstairs. " Technician says, terrified at the prospect.
Security Chief comes over, looks. His face says everything. He grabs a phone and dials someone.
"I need men up here, right now!" Secuirty Chief says into the phone.
THE VAULT – NIGHT
Toad helps Blob herd everyone into the rear of the armored car.
"Move it... squeeze in. Plenty of roam." Blob pushes the last guard in as Toad closes and locks the doors. Blob then goes to the front bumper and lifts the truck with a grunt, till it's propped up on its rear, nose-up with the men trapped inside.
Sabretooth tosses the unconscious guard into the tower, then slides down the wall, slowing his fall by dragging his claws. The villains converge around the forklift. Toad leaps onto Juggernaut's chest, takes out a metal-canister and opens it.
"Pure adrenaline." Toad pulls a large hypodermic needle from his shirt. He presses the long needle against Juggernaut's arm, but the needle, unable to pierce his skin, snaps.
"I was afraid of that."
"Nice going, Toad. Now what do we do?" Sabertooth asks, seeing how things went downhill quickly. Behind them, the perimeter wall door closes.
In front of them, The Vault's elevator doors slam shut.
"Uh oh." Blobs says, worried.
Toad leaps down, goes to look under the forklift's seat. He pulls out a tool box, dumps the contents and picks up jumper cables.
"I've had a spectacular brainstorm."
THE VAULT'S ELEVATOR - NIGHT
The elevator doors open to the Central Control Room. Fifthteen guards rush into the elevator as the Security Head barks orders.
THE VAULT - NIGHT
Jumper cable jaws are clamped to forklift's battery terminals. Toad clamps the other cable ends to Juggernaut's thumbs, then looks to Sabretooth, who's behind the forklift's wheel.
"Let her rip. "
Sabretooth turns the key. The engine roars to life.
Electricity shoots through Juggernaut. His body spasms. Not far away, Blob forces open the elevator doors and looks down. The elevator is slowly rising. Blob's worried. He shoves his hand into the NUMERICAL KEYPAD beside the doors, yanks out the sparking guts.
THE VAULT'S ELEVATOR - NIGHT
The elevator halts. The guards look up. Lights go out.
THE VAULT - NIGHT
Blob looks down the shaft, pleased, laughing excitedly.
Sabretooth keeps revving the engine as Juggernaut convulses violently.
"If this doesn't wake him up, nothing will." Toad says as he watches.
Behind them, the perimeter wall door explodes, pushed by some force off it's hinges and falls with loud BOOM.
Toad, Sabretooth and Blob turn to look... The X-MEN (in armored battle gear) enter with Cyclops leading the way. He's handsome, lean muscled, and his eyes hidden behind a visor with a horizontal ruby red slit across it. Behind him is the stunning Jean Grey, and Beast, who is surprisingly attractive for a knuckle walker covered head to toe in blue fur. Hovering above, flapping his vast, white feathered wings, is Angel, the youngest X-Men. Iceman brings up the rear. His name says it all. Composed of rough-hewn ice, when he moves you can hear his limbs crackling.
"Knock, knock! Who's there?" Cyclops asks.
"X-Men!" The trio says.
"That's right." Cyclops says as Sabretooth runs at him. Jean Grey rises into the air. Cyclops shoots a concentrated red beam of energy from his visor slit. The ray blasts Sabretooth back, into the forklift. He's hurt. Blob looks with shock to the stunned Sabretooth, then runs towards the X-Men, angry, while Toad runs and leaps another direction.
"You hurt my friend!" Blob yells as he rushes the X-Men. Toad lands on the armored car. Angel and Jean Grey come to hover above him. Toad tears the metal front-bumper off the truck and swings it, keeping them at bay, hissing angrily. Blob charges towards Cyclops, Beast and Iceman. Iceman steps up and holds out his arms, and giant balls of ice energy fly from his hands The ice balls bounce harmlessly off the thundering Blob's flab
"Who is this guy?" Iceman yells, stunned.
Cyclops lets out a visor blast, but it does not slow Blob one bit.
"Scatter!" Cyclops yells as the group jumps out of the way. Blob lunges as Cyclops and Iceman split up - but Beast falls backwards and kicks with both legs just as Blob arrives, adding to Blob's momentum, sending him past, flipping and screaming... Blob lands flat on his back with a huge THUD.
Across the courtyard, Angel and Jean still hover around Toad.
"Give it up, Toad." Angel says, very cocky.
"We don't want to have to hurt you." Jean says, raising her hands up.
"How's a girl like you going to hurt me?" Toad answers then flings the bumper, missing Jean. Angel swoops from behind. Toad jumps straight up and Angel grasps empty air, coming up behind Toad. Toad lands. Angel spins in the air, looking back. Toad turns, opens his mouth and squirts spittle from his tongue. The black spittle covers Angel's face. He cries out, flying up.
"Angel!" Jean yells. Toad leaps at Jean, but she projects a blast of Psionic energy knock him down. Toad crashes through the armored car windshield.
"That's how." She says as she looks up, rising to follow after Angel.
Cyclops, Beast and Iceman circle Blob, who gets to his feet.
"You should have stayed down." Cyclops says, as the 3 men surround Blob.
"I don't think so." Blob says, confidently. Beast leaps from one side, but Blob backhand swats him away.
Iceman jumps up behind Blob, wraps his arms around his throat.
"Bobby, no!" Cyclops yells, angered at the youngsters rashness.
Blob struggles, then falls to one knee and bends forward quickly, throwing Iceman into Cyclops. Both heroes tumble. Blob turns to see Beast trying to get up. He goes to Beast and lifts him into a bear hug, crushing. Beast roars in pain.
"You're going to be my great big Teddy Bear, aren't you? Aren't you?"
Blob throws Beast to the ground. Beast gasps, hurt, crawling.
"Where you going, Teddy Bear?" Blob continues as Beast crawls away when he stops, face to face with two massive, iron clad feet. Beast slowly looks up in horror... Juggernaut towers over him, angry eyes peering from his helmet.
"X-Men. I hate X-Men." Juggernaut says, with fire in his eyes.
FAR AWAY, HIGH IN THE NIGHT SKY
Angel flies erratically, pulling at the gummy Toad spittle. Jean soars after him.
"Warren... wait for me... " She yells. She catches up to him, grips him. He struggles, frightened. "It's me, Warren. It's Jean."
FAR BELOW, ON A GRASSY FIELD OF LA GUARDIA AIRPORT
Jean brings Angel down to the ground, comforts him as she pulls at the goop.
"It burns, Jean... it burns."
"It's coming off. You're going to be okay." She looks towards the battle scene. "I have to get back, Warren. I have to. You just stay here."
Angel pauses, then nods. Jean stands, raises her arms and rises up.
THE VAULT - NIGHT LATER Jean moves through the air, heading back towards the Vault. She lands on the perimeter wall, aghast. Below, Iceman, Beast and Cyclops are down, wounded, crawling. The bad guys are gone. She lowers herself to Cyclops. Helicopters are heard flying closer.
"Scott!"
"Jean... where were you?"
"Angel was hurt. I'm sorry..."
"We have to get out of here... before the police come. Can you carry us all?"
"I think so. Hold on to me." Cyclops grabs her hand. Jean holds out her hands, making a great effort. Beast and Iceman rise, still stunned and limp, enveloped in a invisible mental energy field. All four X-Men rise up, into the night air, beyond the Vault's walls.