#Isca the Unbeaten | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sofiamantegafan110 · 21 days ago

Text

NEW X-MEN SEASON 3, EPISODE 8!

PLEASE NOTE: NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS EPISODE. EXCEPT FOR A GUY IN AN ALLIGATOR SUIT.

EPISODE 8: CONTEST OF SWORDS, PART 2

WE OPEN IN THE FLOATING GARDENS OF ROMA REGINA AS OUR HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS, SATURNYNE, ASKS TWO UNSEEN CHAMPIONS IF THEY’RE READY TO BATTLE. WE THEN CUT TO CESSILY AS AN EXPRESSION OF DISBELIEF CROSSES HER FACE.

CESSILY: YOU’RE FUCKING KIDDING ME. THIS GUY? AGAIN?

WE THEN PAN OUT AND SEE THAT SHE IS ONCE AGAIN FIGHTING POGG UR-POGG, UNARMED. MERCURY FORMS A BLADE FROM HER HAND AND ASKS THE GIANT GATOR IF HE KNOWS WHAT SHE LEARNED LAST TIME THEY FOUGHT.

POGG UR-POGG: YOUR ANSWER WILL BE DULL, SO DON’T BOTHER TALKING…

SUDDENLY, POGG UR-POGG GRABS CESSILY IN ONE GIANT HAND AND DROPS HER INTO HIS MOUTH WHERE HE SWALLOWS HER WHOLE.

POGG UR-POGG: …WHEN MY MOUTH IS FULL.

WE CUT OVER TO THE VIEWING ROOM WHERE THE NEW X-MEN ARE SHOCKED. VOLTA HANGS BACK, LOOKING ON IN INTRIGUE WHILE SYZYA SITS DOWN, WATCHING AS POGG UR-POGG LOOKS TRIUMPHANT.

POGG UR-POGG: WHAT AT FIRST TASTES YUMMY… NOW BEGINS TO TICKLE FUNNY… UNTIL POGG UR-POGG FEELS SUDDENLY CRUMMY…

SUDDENLY, POGG UR-POGG VOMITS OUT CESSILY, WHO’S HOLDING A SMALL GOBLIN-LIKE MAN, WHO COWERS ON THE GROUND IN FRONT OF HER.

CESSILY: LIKE I SAID, I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW. THE WORD POGG MEANS “SWORD” IN ARAKKII… I THINK. AND SO I REALIZED THAT YOUR LITTLE ALLIGATOR PAJAMAS ARE JUST ONE BIG SWORD. MIND-BLOWER, HUH?

REAL POGG-UR-POGG: NOW I KNOW YOU’RE MY OPPONENT, BUT I PRAY YOU WAIT JUST A MOMENT…

MERCURY PAUSES AS IF SHE’S ACTUALLY CONSIDERING IT.

CESSILY: MM. NAH.

WITH THAT, SHE PUNCHES POGG UR-POGG IN THE FACE, KNOCKING HIM OUT.

CESSILY: THANK YOU. NEXT.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 5 * KRAKOA: 3

CUE INTRO AND CREDITS

WE THEN BEGIN A MONTAGE TO “THE WARRIOR” BY SCANDAL AS THE CHALLENGES CONTINUE. IN OUR FIRST SCENE, WE SEE WAR FACING OFF AGAINST VIC, MONET, AND VOLTA AS THEY TRY TO WITHSTAND VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF TORTURE IN A DUNGEON.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 6 * KRAKOA: 3

IN OUR NEXT SCENE, DEATH, ISCA, AND POGG UR-POGG FACE OFF AGAINST CESSILY AS THEY TRY TO ROLL HUGE BOULDERS UP A MOUNTAIN. CESSILY’S ROLLS BACK DOWN, AND SHE LETS OUT A STRING OF INAUDIBLE CURSES.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 7 * KRAKOA: 3

NEXT, ISCA, THE WHITE SWORD, AND JULIAN ARE UNDERWATER AS THEY STRUGGLE TO MAKE IT PAST SEVERAL SEA MONSTERS. JULIAN AND THE WHITE SWORD ARE INDISPOSED WHILE ISCA SEEMS TO MAKE IT THROUGH UNHARMED.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 8 * KRAKOA: 3

IN OUR NEXT BATTLE, REDROOT, VIC, MONET, AND DOUG ARE IN AN EATING COMPETITION. THE FOOD ON THE TABLE LOOKS OUTRIGHT DISGUSTING, BUT VIC IS ABLE TO PLOW THROUGH WHILE MONET AND DOUG LOOK READY TO LOSE THEIR LUNCH.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 8 * KRAKOA: 4

FLASHING LIGHTS PULSE THROUGH THE ROOM IN OUR NEXT SCENE AS WAR, BEI THE BLOOD MOON, LAURA, AND CESSILY ARE IN A DANCE-OFF. WHILE WAR AND BEI SEEM TO HAVE IT HANDLED, CESSILY IS TWERKING LIKE A WOMAN POSSESSED AND LAURA IS MAKING NO EFFORT TO HELP HER.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 9 * KRAKOA: 4

NEXT, REDROOT, POGG UR-POGG, JULIAN, AND MONET ARE TRYING TO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH AN ENDLESS LABYRINTH. ANY DIRECTION THEY SEEM TO TAKE JUST LEADS THEM RIGHT BACK WHERE THEY STARTED, AND JULIAN IS CLEARLY FRUSTRATED.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 10 * KRAKOA: 4

NEXT, WAR AND DEATH AND VOLTA AND CESSILY ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO SOLVE A JIGSAW PUZZLE. CESSILY IS CLEARLY TRYING TO GET VOLTA INTO THE TEAM SPIRIT, BUT SHE IS NOT INTERESTED.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 10 * KRAKOA: 5

NEXT, MONET, LAURA, REDROOT, AND WAR WALK DOWN THE RUNWAY IN COUTURE GOWNS. MONET LOOKS RIGHT AT HOME, BUT LAURA DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE SHE WANTS TO STAB SOMETHING.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 11 * KRAKOA: 5

IN OUR FINAL SCENE, ISCA, JULIAN, AND CESSILY ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE BLIGHTSPOKE DESERT. JULIAN IS EXAMINING A MAP WHILE CESSILY IS HOLLERING AT HIM AND POINTING AHEAD OF THEM WHILE ISCA IS WALKING IN A RANDOM DIRECTION, TRUSTING HER POWERS.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 12 * KRAKOA: 5

AS THE MONTAGE CONCLUDES, WE SEE VIC AND REDROOT IN THE CROOKED MARKET, WARMING UP FOR A FOOT RACE. A DAPPER-LOOKING MAN IN A PLAID SUIT, MAD JIM JASPERS, TELLS THEM THAT THEY CAN FIND ANYTHING IN THE CROOKED MARKET IF THEY LOOK HARD ENOUGH. EVEN A FINISH LINE. IN THE VIEWING ROOM, JULIAN LOOKS AT THE OTHERS AND SAYS THAT VIC’S GOT THIS IN THE BAG.

A GUN FIRES AND VIC AND REDROOT BOOK IT THROUGH THE MARKET. VIC IS HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE, RUNNING AND JUMPING OVER BOOTHS WHILE REDROOT IS DOING SOME SORT OF SPEED WALKING. SATURNYNE OBSERVES THIS.

VIC: TOO SLOW, GRANDMA!

SATURNYNE: THAT BOY’S GETTING TOO COCKY. HE NEEDS TO BE SLOWED DOWN.

SATURNYNE TURNS TO HER ATTENDANT, AN AMPHIBIOUS-LOOKING WOMAN.

SATURNYNE: RYL? FETCH THE FURY. LET’S EVEN THINGS OUT A BIT.

MEANWHILE, VIC IS STILL RUNNING AWAY WITH THE RACE. HE GRINS AND CONTINUES TO TEASE HIS OPPONENT, NOT NOTICING THAT SEVERAL BLACK MACHINE-LIKE CREATURE WITH FLASHING YELLOW LIGHTS ARE APPEARING IN HIS PATH. HE LOOKS UP TOO LATE AND THEY TACKLE HIM.

IN THE VIEWING ROOM, THE TEAM GASPS AND JULIAN ASKS WHAT THAT WAS. MONET TELLS HIM THAT THOSE ARE FURY CYBIOTES, MADE BY MAD JIM JASPERS TO DESTROY ANYTHING IN THEIR PATH. CESSILY LOOKS BACK AT THE SCREEN, SAYING THAT THEY NEED TO STOP THE RACE, BUT SYZYA SAYS THAT THERE’S NO WAY THEY CAN REACH THE CROOKED MARKET IN TIME.

BACK IN THE MARKET, VIC IS STRUGGLING TO FIGHT OFF THE FURIES AND WHILE HE DOES, REDROOT PASSES HIM, SAYING THAT SHE’S ROOTING FOR HIM. VIC GRUNTS AS HE KICKS SEVERAL FURIES OFF OF HIM, AND TURNS BACK TO HIS OPPONENT, NOT NOTICING ANOTHER FURY BEHIND HIM WITH A BLADE-LIKE ARM.

JULIAN: VIC! WATCH OUT!

VIC TURNS TOO LATE AND THE TEAM WATCHES IN HORROR AS THE BLADE SLICES THROUGH VIC’S ENTIRE LEFT ARM.

THINGS SEEM TO HAPPEN IN SLOW MOTION AS VIC FALLS TO HIS KNEES, TRYING TO KEEP FROM BLEEDING OUT WHILE REDROOT IS STILL RUNNING. SHE BUMPS INTO A TABLE ON THE WAY AND A CRYSTAL VASE SHATTERS ON THE GROUND. EVERYONE WATCHES AS REDROOT CROSSES THE FINISH LINE, HUFFING AND PANTING.

REDROOT: I… I WON? BUT I’VE NEVER WON ANYTHING BEFORE.

SATURNYNE: YES. BRAVO, DARLING.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 13 * KRAKOA: 5

AS REDROOT STANDS IN TRIUMPH, MAD JIM JASPERS CONGRATULATES HER BEFORE TELLING HER THAT THERE’S ACTUALLY A SMALL MATTER OF HER DEBT. REDROOT LOOKS CONFUSED AND MAD JIM TELLS HER THAT THE OBJECT SHE SHATTERED WAS A RARE CRYSTAL IDOL OF BOMBU, CRAFTED FROM THE SALT OF AN OOBAGONIAN PRINCESS’S TEARS.

REDROOT: WHAT? OH, DEAR. I… HOW MUCH DID IT COST?

MAD JIM: IT WAS PRICELESS.

SATURNYNE STRIDES UP TO VIC AND WITH A WAVE OF HER HAND, THE FURIES ARE GONE. VIC LOOKS AT HER IN DISBELIEF, ACCUSING HER OF CHEATING, AND SHE TELLS HIM THAT HE IS PLAYING HER GAME, AND THEREFORE, HE MUST PLAY BY HER RULES. SHE THEN LOOKS AT HIS STUMP OF AN ARM AND SIGHS, KNEELING DOWN.

SATURNYNE: POOR DEAR. LET ME FIX THAT FOR YOU.

SUDDENLY, VIC YELLS IN PAIN AS HIS ARM BEGINS TO MEND ITSELF BACK TOGETHER, EXCEPT IT’S A DARKER SHADE OF GREEN, BIGGER, AND MORE MONSTROUS. SATURNYNE TELLS HIM THAT SHE USED A BIT OF MAGIC TO ACTIVATE HIS SECONDARY MUTATION, AND SMILES, TELLING HIM THAT IT’S GOOD AS NEW.

SATURNYNE: BUT I AM AFRAID THAT YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE AHEAD OF YOU, DARLING. POOR REDROOT IS DISCOVERING NOW THAT THIS REALM HAS A COST.

VIC WATCHES IN HORROR AS JASPERS SHRINKS REDROOT DOWN TO THE SIZE OF AN ANT BEFORE PLACING HER IN A SMALL GLASS VASE. SHE POUNDS AT THE GLASS, BUT IT’S NO USE. SATURNYNE THEN TELLS VIC THAT THE DAMAGE HE CAUSED IS SIMPLY INCALCULABLE. THAT IS, UNLESS, HE ASKS FOR HELP.

VIC: WHY WOULD I ASK YOU FOR HELP? YOU’RE THE REASON THIS HAPPENED!

SATURNYNE: I KNOW, MY DARLING. BUT JASPERS DOESN’T PLAY BY THOSE RULES. YOU COULD BE THROWN INTO HIS DEBTOR’S OUBLIETTE. BUT I’M OFFERING YOU A WAY OUT. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IN RETURN IS STAY IN THE COMPETITION, WITH YOUR FRIENDS, AND KEEP PLAYING THE GAME. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

VIC: YOU’RE EVIL.

SATURNYNE LAUGHS.

SATURNYNE: SWEETIE… I KNOW.

LATER, THE DOOR TO THE VIEWING ROOM OPENS AND VIC ENTERS WITH HIS NEW ARM. THE TEAM CROWDS AROUND HIM, ASKING IF HE’S OKAY.

VIC: NO. I’M NOT OKAY! I’M OUT! I CAN’T TAKE THIS ANYMORE! THIS BITCH DOESN’T CARE ABOUT US OR THE ARAKKII! SHE JUST WANTS TO PLAY WITH US LIKE LITTLE HAMSTERS ON A WHEEL! LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO REDROOT! MAYBE MEGAN HAD THE RIGHT IDEA AFTER ALL.

CLARICE WATCHES AS VIC WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM. WHEN HE’S GONE, VOLTA SPEAKS UP.

VOLTA: NO ONE IS TO BLAME. THE BOY IS SIMPLY TOO WEAK. IN THIS GAME, IT’S ALL ABOUT SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.

JULIAN: Y’KNOW WHAT? I’M GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF YOU! YOU’RE ON TEAM KRAKOA WHICH MEANS YOU’RE WITH US! IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU’RE NOT AN X-MAN, BUT IF YOU WERE, MAYBE YOU’D LEARN TO TREAT YOUR TEAM WITH RESPECT!

VOLTA: I’M NOT ON YOUR TEAM. MY LORD DOOM REQUESTED THAT I BE HERE, SO HERE I AM. I’M NOT STICKING AROUND FOR ANY ONE OF YOU, AND I’M NOT ONE OF YOU. I NEVER WILL BE.

JULIAN: OKAY, WELL I’M SURE THE ARAKKII WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU! MAYBE WE COULD SWAP YOU FOR DOUG’S NEW WIFE! SHE’D BE A MUCH BETTER FIT THAN YOU AND WE CAN’T EVEN UNDERSTAND HER! HECK, EVEN THE ALLIGATOR OR THE SHIRTLESS HORNY GUY WOULD BE A BETTER TEAM MEMBER!

VOLTA: WELL, I AM HERE AND I AM ON YOUR TEAM, BUT THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US. I AM A SOLDIER, AND YOU ARE A CHILD.

SYZYA SUDDENLY STEPS IN.

SYZYA: IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT BEING A SOLDIER, VOLTA. TRUST ME, I KNOW THAT. YOU NEED TO TRUST YOUR PEOPLE, AND HELP THEM. AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE REPRESENTING KRAKOA. AND THAT IS WHAT MATTERS. WHO ARE YOU MOST LOYAL TO? THE LATVERIANS? OR ALL MUTANTS OF EARTH?

THE TEAM WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM, LEAVING VOLTA ALONE TO CONTEMPLATE SYZYA’S WORDS.

MEANWHILE, VIC STANDS ON A TERRACE OVERLOOKING A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET. HE STARES AT HIS NEW ARM IN CONFUSION AS HE LOOKS OUT AT THE HORIZON. SUDDENLY, SOMEONE WALKS UP TO HIM, AND HE REALIZES IT’S GENESIS.

VIC: I’M NOT PLAYING ANYMORE. YOU’LL HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO TORMENT.

GENESIS: I AM NOT HERE TO HARM YOU. I SIMPLY WISH TO SEE IF YOU’RE ALL RIGHT.

VIC: WHY? AREN’T YOU ALL JUST CUT-THROAT KILLERS?

GENESIS: WE MAY SEEM THAT WAY, BUT YOU FORGET THAT WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES FOR MILLENNIA. WE SACRIFICED SO MUCH SO YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF EARTH COULD BE FREE. I LEFT MY HUSBAND FOR THAT PURPOSE.

VIC: YEAH? WELL, WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST VOTE YES WHEN THE COUNCIL WAS DECIDING OUR FATE OR WHATEVER? DON’T YOU WANNA SEE HIM?

GENESIS: MORE THAN ANYTHING. BUT THE TRUTH IS… I AM SCARED. I’M WORRIED IF WE ARE SIMPLY TOO DIFFERENT AFTER SO LONG APART. BUT I AM THE LEADER OF ARAKKO, AND I MUST THINK FOR MY PEOPLE. PUT THEIR NEEDS BEFORE MY OWN.

VOICE: YOU DON’T HAVE TO THINK LIKE THAT.

VIC AND GENESIS WATCH AS CLARICE WALKS IN.

CLARICE: I’M FIGHTING BECAUSE I WANT TO GET SOFIA BACK. I’M FIGHTING BECAUSE I LOVE HER. BUT I’M ALSO FIGHTING SO ARAKKO AND KRAKOA CAN BE REUNITED. I’M FIGHTING SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR HUSBAND AGAIN. THE GAME MAY HAVE TURNED AGAINST US, BUT I KNOW WE CAN PUSH THROUGH. I BELIEVE WE CAN WIN THIS.

GENESIS AND VIC LOOK ON IN UNDERSTANDING.

VIC: BUT WHAT’S THE POINT? LOOK AT US. WE’RE BARELY SCRAPING BY. AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN HURT. MEGAN, SUMMONER, WAR, LAURA, REDROOT… SATURNYNE DOESN’T CARE WHO WINS AND WHO LOSES. SHE JUST WANTS A SHOW.

CLARICE: THAT MAY BE TRUE, BUT IT’S WORTH IT. VIC, THIS ISN’T ABOUT US. IT’S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING. ISN’T THAT WHAT X-MEN DO?

VIC NODS AND CLARICE SMILES AND HUGS HIM BEFORE TURNING BACK TO SEE THAT GENESIS IS LEAVING. SHE SIGHS BEFORE TELLING VIC THAT SHE THINKS HIS NEW ARM IS COOL. HE SMILES AND THEY HEAD BACK INSIDE AS CLARICE ASKS WHAT ELSE SATURNYNE COULD POSSIBLY THROW AT THEM.

ANOTHER MONTAGE OCCURS AND “THE WARRIOR” PLAYS AGAIN AS WE CUT BACK TO THE FLOATING KINGDOM OF ROMA REGINA. BEI, DEATH, POGG UR-POGG, CYPHER, AND MERCURY ARE ON A STAGE AS ROMA ANNOUNCES THAT CESSILY MUST STEP FORWARD.

ROMA: HERE IS YOUR CLUE. PLEASE SPELL. YOUR ANSWER. A WHITE RABBIT PULLED OUT OF A HAT, A SPELL CAST BY A WIZARD, AND THE VERY LIFE FORCE OF SATURNYNE. WHAT AM I?

CESSILY CROSSES HER ARMS, THINKING BEFORE COMING UP WITH HER ANSWER.

CESSILY: WELL, THE LAST ONE THREW ME OFF A BIT, BUT BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER.

CYPHER: YOU GOT THIS, CESS.

CESSILY: THE CORRECT ANSWER IS SPELLED… B-I-T-C-H.

DOUG FACEPALMS AS CESSILY LOOKS MIGHTY PLEASED WITH HERSELF ONLY TO LOOK SHOCKED AS ROMA SAYS THAT THE ANSWER IS INCORRECT.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 14 * KRAKOA: 5

IN ANOTHER ROOM, LAURA AND THE WHITE SWORD STAND IN FRONT OF A MIRROR. AN UNKNOWN VOICE TELLS THEM THAT THEY WILL OBSERVE THE FACES OF ALL THOSE THEY HAVE KILLED, AND THE FIRST TO LOOK AWAY LOSES. WE DON’T SEE WHAT’S IN THE MIRROR, BUT THE TWO COMPETITORS LOOK ON SOLEMNLY BEFORE LAURA CLOSES HER EYES, A TEAR RUNNING DOWN HER CHEEK.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 15 * KRAKOA: 5

NEXT, ISCA, WAR, VOLTA, MONET, AND JULIAN ARE STANDING OUTSIDE WITH SATURNYNE, WATCHING THE WAVES CRASH ON TWO GIGANTIC ARCHES OF ROCK.

VOLTA: WHAT ARE THESE?

SATURNYNE: THESE ARE THE ROCK SIRENS OF CLEVERMORE. FEW CAN RESIST THEIR CALL.

CUT TO A FEW MINUTES LATER AS JULIAN RUNS INTO THE WATER, WORKING TO REMOVE HIS UNIFORM.

MONET: C’MON, VEE. LET’S GO. I THINK JULIAN’S GOING TO SHAG THAT BOULDER.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 16 * KRAKOA: 5

FINALLY, IN THE HOLY REPUBLIC OF FAE, WAR AND ANOLE STAND IN FRONT OF A SMALL BLACK KITTEN. WAR CURRENTLY HAS A BANDAGE AROUND HER HAND AFTER HER ENCOUNTER WITH LAURA.

WAR: WHAT IS THE TASK.

SATURNYNE: SIMPLE. KILL THE KITTEN.

THE KITTEN LOOKS UP AT THEM WITH BIG EYES AND MEWS ADORABLY AND VIC TURNS TO WAR, LIKE HE KNOWS WHAT SHE’S ABOUT TO DO.

VIC: YOU WOULDN’T DARE…

CUT OVER TO VIC AND WAR BOTH WRESTLING ON THE GROUND WITH WAR REACHING FOR THE KITTEN WHILE VIC IS GRABBING ONTO HER, TRYING TO GET HER TO STOP.

SCORE: ARAKKO: 17 * KRAKOA: 5

LATER, BACK IN THE NEW X-MEN’S QUARTERS, CLARICE IS WALKING AROUND JULIAN, LAURA, VIC, AND CESSILY, EXASPERATED.

CLARICE: WE ARE GETTING MURDERED OUT THERE! AND NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY, IT’S LIKE YOU GUYS ARE DETERMINED TO FAIL! WHETHER YOU’RE THROWING SHADE AT OUR HOST…

CESSILY: IN MY DEFENSE, SHE TOTALLY IS!

CLARICE: …OR WRESTLING WITH YOUR OPPONENT…

VIC: THAT WAS A CUTE KITTEN!

CLARICE: …OR JUST NOT LOOKING AT ANYTHING AT ALL…

LAURA DOESN’T RESPOND.

CLARICE: …OR EVEN FUCKING A BOULDER!

JULIAN: IT WAS A SEXY BOULDER! SORRY, LAURA.

MONET: CLARICE, WE’RE TRYING, OKAY? YOU CAN’T PUSH US THAT HARD.

CLARICE: MAYBE I WOULDN’T IF WE ACTUALLY WON A MATCH!

SYZYA: TO BE HONEST, YOU HAVE STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. SUMMONER IS DEAD, REDROOT IS CAPTURED, AND NO ONE HAS SEEN SOLEM SINCE HE TOLD LAURA TO SUB IN FOR HIM.

CLARICE: SYZYA HAS A POINT. WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE. BUT THEY HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE. REMEMBER WHY WE’RE DOING THIS, GUYS. I NEED YOU TO GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSES AND FOCUS!

CESSILY: YES MA’AM!

ALL EYES TURN ON CESSILY AS SHE SALUTES.

CESSILY: WHAT? YOU DON’T GET OFF ON BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO?

VOLTA GROANS BEFORE SAYING THAT SHE’S GOING TO GET SOME AIR. BEFORE SHE LEAVES, SYZYA LOOKS AT HER AND TELLS HER TO REMEMBER WHAT SHE SAID. VOLTA NODS AND WALKS OUT THE ROOM. AS SHE KEEPS WALKING, A HAND SUDDENLY GRABS HER FROM BEHIND, YANKING HER INTO DARKNESS.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, VOLTA’S VISION CLEARS, AND SHE LOOKS UP TO SEE DEATH’S MASK STARING AT HER.

DEATH: WAKE UP. IT IS TIME TO BEGIN.

VOLTA SITS UP, HOLDING HER HEAD AS DEATH EXTENDS A HAND TO HELP HER UP.

VOLTA: I FEEL… STRANGE.

DEATH: YOU’RE NERVOUS. THAT’S ALL. AND HOW COULD YOU NOT BE…

WE THEN ZOOM OUT AS VOLTA AND DEATH STAND IN AN AMPHITHEATER-LIKE AREA MADE OF PURE OBSIDIAN. THE SKY IS RED AND THE SUN IS ECLIPSED. VOLTA LOOKS AROUND, CONFUSED.

DEATH: …IN A PLACE SUCH AS SEVALITH.

VOLTA: IT… IT SMELLS LIKE THE DEAD.

DEATH: NO…

THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON SATURNYNE, LOUNGING ON A THRONE. VOLTA LOOKS AROUND AGAIN AND REALIZES THAT THE AUDIENCE IS NOT HUMAN. THEY’RE VAMPIRIC CREATURES.

DEATH: …IT SMELLS LIKE THE UNDEAD.

SATURNYNE: YOU MUST BATTLE UNTIL FIRST BLOOD. BEGIN.

AS “PLEASE” BY BLANCK MASS AND ZOLA JESUS BEGINS, DEATH AND VOLTA BATTLE IN SLOW MOTION. DEATH SLASHES AT HER, BUT VOLTA PARRIES WITH HER DOOM SPEAR. THE NEW X-MEN WATCH AS SHE JABS AT HIM, BUT HE DODGES. HE SLASHES AT HER AGAIN, BUT SHE JUMPS OUT OF THE WAY, TRYING TO USE HER POWERS, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

DEATH: WHY DO YOU FIGHT FOR THEM? YOU HARDLY KNOW THESE PEOPLE. YOU ARE A WARRIOR, VOLTA. YOU ARE ABOVE THEM.

DEATH SLASHES AGAIN AND VOLTA DODGES. SHE GRIPS HER SPEAR TIGHT AS THE NEW X-MEN CONTINUE TO WATCH, INTRIGUED. VOLTA PAUSES BRIEFLY, AS IF SHE’S CONTEMPLATING SYZYA’S WORDS. THEN FINALLY, SHE SPEAKS.

VOLTA: THAT MAY BE TRUE. BUT I AM VOLTA DOOM. I AM NOT JUST A LATVERIAN. I AM A MUTANT!

EVERYONE WATCHES AS VOLTA JUMPS INTO THE AIR IN SLOW MOTION, BRINGING DOWN HER SPEAR IN AN ARC. SLOWLY, THE SPEAR SLASHES THROUGH DEATHS SWORD, AND HE WATCHES AS THE BLACK BONE OF AMDUAT BEGINS TO CRUMBLE.

DEATH: THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH. NOW LOOK UPON THE LAST FACE ALL LIFE SEES.

THE CAMERA PANS BEHIND DEATH AS HE SLOWLY REMOVES HIS MASK. SOMEWHERE IN THE BACK OF VOLTA’S MIND IS THE VOICE OF TARN THE UNCARING, REMINDING HER THAT DEATH CAN KILL WITH A LOOK. SHE THEN TURNS TO SEE THE REFLECTIVE SILVER OF HER SPEAR AND GRINS.

VOLTA: YOU FIRST.

SUDDENLY, VOLTA HOLDS HER SPEAR IN FRONT OF HER, AND DEATH LOOKS IN SHOCK AT HIS HAZY REFLECTION. A PURPLE MIST GOES FROM DEATH TO THE SPEAR, AND THEN BACK TO DEATH AS HE IS OVERCOME BY HIS OWN POWERS.

VOLTA: THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT YOU AND ME. THIS IS ABOUT US. ALL OF US. AS MUTANTS. AND THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH.

THE NEW X-MEN WATCH WITH BAITED BREATH AS VOLTA SURGES FORWARD IN SLOW MOTION, HOLDING HER SPEAR HIGH. SHE YELLS AND THE MUSIC SWELLS AS SHE LUNGES FORWARD, IMPALING DEATH THROUGH THE CHEST WITH HER SPEAR. BLOOD GUSHES FROM THE WOUND AS VOLTA PULLS OUT HER BLOODY SPEAR, WATCHING AS DEATH FALLS. IN THE VIEWING ROOM, CESSILY PUMPS HER FIST AS HER TEAMMATES LOOK IMPRESSED.

VOLTA LOOKS AROUND, A BIT OF DEATH’S BLOOD ON HER FACE. HER EXPRESSION IS CALM.

VOLTA: WELL? HE’S BLEEDING, ISN’T HE? HAVE A TASTE AND FIND OUT.

THE VAMPIRES SURGE INTO THE ARENA, TEARING DEATH LIMB FROM LIMB, AS VOLTA WALKS AWAY, THE MUSIC SWELLING. AS SHE CONTINUES TO WALK AWAY, SHE LOOKS OVER AT SATURNYNE AND HOLDS UP HER MIDDLE FINGER. THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON HER CALM YET BRAVE FACE BEFORE CUTTING OUT JUST AS THE MUSIC ENDS.