This is Chapter 2 of my X-Men Story that takes place in the X-Men Animated Series Universe and my own few additions. Hope you enjoy. And do go back and check out the previous chapter first if you missed it.
FADE IN:
TITLE CARD: "Dark Reunion"
PREVIOUSLY ON X-MEN: A RECAP OF THE X-MEN BEING SHOCKED TO SEE JEAN GREY ALIVE AFTER SHE MERGED WITH THE PHOENIX. ALTHOUGH THE M'KRAAN (PRONOUNCED M-CRON) CRYSTAL WAS DESTROYED; THE PHOENIX WAS CORRUPTED AND JEAN GREY IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE DARK PHOENIX. HER POWERS GREATLY APPLIFIED; JEAN IS IN DANGER OF HAVING HER BODY TORN APART. THE DARK PHOENIX FLEES THE X-MANSION AND FLIES TOWARDS NEW YORK CITY.
FADE IN: SCENE: HELLFIRE; HELLFIRE MANSION, MANHATTAN 840 FIFTH AVENUE, BETWEEN 66TH AND 67TH.
The shot is from the building across from the Hellfire Club looking down to the mansion's entrance. Wolverine tracked Jean's scent to this location but is unaware of who the Hellfire club is yet.
WOLVERINE
(Speaking into the X-Communicator in his belt, whispering)
No sign of Jean, Professor but I am sure she is inside this mansion.
PROFESSOR XAVIER
What can you tell us about the mansion Logan?
WOLVERINE
Not much. There were a lot of different scents. Too many people have gone in and out of that building. Jean's scent was the only one I could recognize.
CYCLOPS
Don't just go barreling in Logan. Wait for us. We are coming.
WOLVERINE
Yeah… Yeah, Cyc. Just don't ta… Wait there is someone coming out onto one of the balconies. He's some big guy. He's talking to someone inside. Can't see who.
QUANTUM
Can you make out what they are saying Wolverine?
WOLVERINE
Didn't get all of it. The person inside called this big guy Sebastian Shaw. They're talking about using Jean somehow!
QUANTUM
(Distressed)
NO WAY! THAT WAS THE MAN WHO TOLD ME OF MY GIRLFRIEND EMMA'S DEATH!
WOLVERINE
Really? What is he doing with Jean? He better not have hurt her.
CYCLOPS
(Realizing Quantum has run out to the hanger of the X-Mansion)
Mitch, where are you going? Logan, wait for us!
END SCENE
SCENE: CALM BEFORE THE STORM; SOMEWHERE ABOVE MANHATTAN
Cyclops shines the X-Jet's searchlight onto Quantum who slowed his flight when he realized that barging into this mansion was useless.
BEAST
(Over the X-Jet's intercom)
Please my friend, wait for us. Return into the X-Jet.
QUANTUM
I am sorry Hank. Cyclops, Storm open the gate and let me in. Let us do this together and save Jean.
CYCLOPS
Glad to hear that, Mitch. Opening the ramp now.
The X-Jet's ramp lowers down and Quantum flies into the X-Jet. The X-Jet then soars towards the Hellfire Mansion.
END SCENE
SCENE: BRIMSTONE; THE X-JET (NOW HOVERING AND CLOAKED OVER THE MYSTERIOUS HELLFIRE MANSION).
Wolverine has now joined the other X-Men in the X-Jet. Unseen in the last scene, Rogue and Gambit are also aboard the X-Jet.
WOLVERINE
What are we waiting for?
CYCLOPS
Just wait Logan! Rogue, quietly fly down and place this device onto that mansion's skylight.
ROGUE
Sure thing, Shugah; but what does this thing do anyway?
BEAST
It is a listening device, Rogue. It shall allow us to hear this Hellfire Club's plans.
ROGUE
No problem then.
Rogue quietly places the device onto the skylight and then quickly flies back into the X-Jet. The X-Men listen as the Hellfire Club performs some sort of ritual with Jean Gray.
SHAW
You see my darling, is this not lovely?
DARK PHOENIX
Yes, I can finally experience pleasure that I have never experienced before.
Unbeknownst to the X-Men, two other members of the Hellfire Club have placed an illusion over Jean Grey and the Dark Phoenix. These two then begin to sever Shaw from this connection.
SHAW
I must leave you for a moment my dear.
DARK PHOENIX
Don't make it too long.
SHAW
Not in the slightest.
(Now speaking to the man outside of the illusion where the Dark Phoenix cannot hear him.)
She does not expect a thing. Excellent work Mr. Wyngarde.
MASTERMIND
(Bowing)
Thank you, my lord.
WOMAN HELLFIRE CLUB MEMBER
What of me? I work tirelessly for this club, Shaw!
Back on the X-Jet, Quantum reacts to this woman's voice.
QUANTUM
That woman's voice is so familiar to me. I can't put my finger on it.
The intercom interrupts as the Hellfire Club continues to speak.
SHAW
Yes, my dear. But without Mastermind's illusions, your abilities would be ineffective on the Dark Phoenix. We need him more so than you. Even now his powers are holding her in her trance, and you have lost focus.
WOMAN
I'll show you lost focus! I will show you that I can control her myself.
The woman hits Mastermind and attempts to control the Dark Phoenix herself. The X-Men at this point crash through the skylight and begin attacking the Hellfire Club, attempting to save Jean.
WOLVERINE
You won't do anything to Jean, lady.
SHAW
Interlopers! You dare break into the Inner Circle of The Hellfire Club! You will pay dearly. Jason, Donald, Harry; destroy them!
A big fight breaks out. Rogue and Gambit are surprised by Harry Leonard. He smashes Rogue through the floor by increasing his mass and they fall through the five levels of the Hellfire Mansion to the basement. Gambit who was standing next to Rogue slips into the large hall created by Leonard.
Beast is tackled by Donald Pierce. But Storm uses her powers to create a huge icy wind to blow Piece through the door into the hallway. Beast and Wolverine chase after and begin to trade punches and kicks with Pierce. Mastermind creates an illusion in Storm's mind, and she believes herself to be in a horribly enclosed space. She falls to the floor in fear (Storm has awful claustrophobia).
Back in the basement, Leonard tries to land punches into Rogue as she is down, but Gambit recovers and hits him with ten of his kinetic cards in succession.
GAMBIT
Hands off her Mon'Amie.
ROGUE
(Aggravated)
I had him, Cajun!
GAMBIT
It didn't look like that to me Cheré
Gambit and Rogue's bickering is interrupted by Leonard jumping at them again. Rogue is ready this time and uses her super strength to catch him. Gambit throws a fully charged full deck into Leonard's face sending him high into the air and back into his normal form. When he comes down Rogue punches him very hard, breaks his jaw, and knocks him completely unconscious.
ROGUE
See Gambit?
GAMBIT
You da best, Cheré
Rogue then sees Beast being thrown down a set of stairs by Pierce.
ROGUE
Beast!
Rogue flies through the hole in the ceiling and catches Beast before he crashes down to the bottom of the stairs.
BEAST
I am much obliged for the assistance Rogue.
ROGUE
I don't know what you just said, darlin' but y'all are welcome.
Meanwhile, back at the inner circle, Cyclops is trying to reach Jean inside the Dark Phoenix and Quantum goes to attack the woman holding Jean in her power but before he does, he is greeted by a sight he did not expect.
QUANTUM
EMMA?!
The woman (Quantum's ex and thought to be dead girlfriend Emma) looks up and recognizes him as her former lover. She loses all focus on Jean and attacks Quantum! She tackles him to the ground, turns to her diamond form and begins reigning punches into Quantum's face. He begins to bleed from the wounds.
EMMA
(In between each punch)
HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO MY FAMILY! I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME! I WILL NEVER FOGIVE YOU FOR KILLING THEM!
Emma stops punching and stares angrily down at Quantum. Quantum looks at her dumbfounded and has no words due in part to the brutal beating he just took. Just before Emma can slam another diamond punch into Quantum, the Dark Phoenix regains control of her senses. Seeing this Shaw runs out of the Inner Circle. Emma turns back into the normal form, but it is too late as the Dark Phoenix shoots a huge flame outward. This knocks Cyclops through a table across the room, Mastermind out the hole that used to be the Inner Circle's door and down the stairs knocking him out and burns Emma as she attempted to use her astral projection to separate her from her body to lighten the blow. The force crashes her through the brick and into a fall into the mansion's gardens. Storm now has regained her senses. She then sees Jean in front of her.
STORM
Jean! Please Jean, don't you recognize me?
DARK PHOENIX
Jean Gray no longer exists! There is only the Dark Phoenix!
The Dark Phoenix then slams Storm into the hole in the skylight and into the hole created by Leonard. Luckily Gambit has found a way out of the basement and catches Storm before she goes all the way into the basement. The Dark Phoenix sees Emma recovering on the lawn and goes after her. Emma screams as she is engulfed in the flames. She is saved when the Dark Phoenix sees Shaw attempting to escape. She quickly grabs him without reabsorbing the flames around Emma. They burn out and Emma collapses.
Wolverine then comes back into the Inner Circle after knocking out Pierce. He is soon followed by Rogue, Beast, Gambit, and Storm.
STORM
Scott! Are you okay?
CYCLOPS
I'm fine.
(He stands back up with some help from Storm)
Where's Jean?
As the X-Men look around they do not see Jean but Beast rushes to check on Quantum. Quantum slowly sits up with Beast's help. Wolverine then spots the Dark Phoenix outside burning Shaw alive. Shaw's energy absorption abilities save him from death at the Dark Phoenix's fiery hand, but he is severely injured.
WOLVERINE
JEAN! NO!
Dark Phoenix then sees Wolverine and starts after him but as she reenters the mansion through the wall, she falls to her knees. She screams and the Phoenix flies out of Jean and into the ceiling creating another hole. The Phoenix then reenters Jean's body. Now the Phoenix has magically returned to her normal green clothes.
PHOENIX
X-Men; your love for Jean Grey and the purity of her soul has relieved me of my evil intents. I realize now, how wrong I was acting. I must find a way to atone for my misdeeds. I will use my remaining powers to separate myself from Jean Grey and return to the sun. I bid you all farewell.
The now purified Phoenix separates from Jean and flies off. Jean feints and is caught by Cyclops before she hits the ground.
CYCLOPS
Jean? Jean? Can you hear me?
JEAN GREY
Scott? Is it over? Is the Phoenix gone?
CYCLOPS
Yes Jean. It's over. It is so wonderful that you are alright.
The other X-Men look on happily and Jean and Cyclops kiss (except for Wolverine who turns away angrily). The peace is interrupted by a scream from Quantum (who is now being held up by Beast).
QUANTUM
Emma! Where is Emma?
Quantum limps to the hole in the brick wall to look for Emma Frost in the garden but she and Shaw are gone. Quantum sadly stares into the burn marks on the grass left from the Dark Phoenix's powers.
BEAST
Perhaps Miss Frost taking the brunt of those flames, allowed the Phoenix to come back to her senses. Do not worry my friend, we will find her.
QUANTUM
I must find her. I need to save her.
CYCLOPS
She said you killed her family, but didn't you tell us that she lost control of her powers and killed herself and her family?
WOLVERINE
She looked pretty in control of her powers right there.
QUANTUM
Shaw must be behind this somehow. I will figure this out and save her.
END EPISODE