Research Mode

[ECKS]

(ECKS sits at his desk hard at work researching the data from the computer files he grabbed while in the Lower Levels of the mansion. He seems to be completely stumped, as if he's looking at something that just can't possibly be right. But there it is, right in his face.)

ECKS: "This... is impossible. It doesn't make sense at all. Nothin' about this makes sense. For somethin' like that to be way out there... and the readin's for the surroundin' area... It's gotta be some kind of glitch, a bug in the system. But every source I use says the exact same thing. I see it, right here in front of me and I just... I just can't believe it."

(He continues searching for a way to make this puzzle fit right, but the more he tries the more frustrating it seems to be for him. He finally reaches a point where he slams his fist into the desk, leaving a small dent in the wood, and stands up, crossing his arms. He slowly paces back and forth.)

[Nightcat]

(There is a soft knock at the door and Liz pokes her head in.)

Liz: ECKS? Ist everyzing ok?

(ECKS jumps slighly but he nods his head in consent.)

Liz: You mentioned eariler that you found somezing zat might interest us all. Vhat have you found that makes you so worried.

(He looks at her with a puzzled look on his face. Liz laughs nervously.)

Liz: I do not need either mien telepathy or our special connection to tell zat somezing ist bothering you.

[ECKS]

(ECKS stops pacing and turns to face Nightcat.)

ECKS: "A few weeks ago, a mutant sanctuary was discovered, no one knew about it until then. Save for the people there of course. Now that's it's been found, troops are already there tearin' it apart. Takin' mutants as captives and killin' the ones that don't go quietly."

(He pauses.)

ECKS: "But that's not what really bothers me. There doin' this as if they're lookin' for somethin'. Or someone maybe. But even that isn't what has me so confused. The part that has me so confused is where all this is happening. The location... it's impossible... it's... well come see for yourself."

(ECKS turns the computer screen to reveal a satellite enhanced image of an area that appears to be a large jungle. He looks to Nightcat.)

ECKS: "Now here's the best part."

(He presses a few buttons and the image begins zooming out, to show more of the surrounding area, which is revealed to be completely covered in ice. He zooms back even further to reveal something else.)

ECKS: "Impossible as it may seem, by all the info I've gathered, that jungle... is in the middle of Antarctica. And the worst part, the readings of the area show very large scale magnetic fields controlling some machines that maintain the warm climate for the jungle."

(He pauses to let that sink in for a minute.)

ECKS: "The last time anything like this was ever detected was almost seven years ago. On Ellis Island. That's what bothers me."

(He sits back in his chair.)

[Nightcat]

(Liz watches the Jungle become the conteneint of Antarctica with wide eyes. At the mention of the magnetic fields, she tilts her head to one side and her pointed eyes seem to rotate foward, like a cats.)

Liz: I remember hearing about ze incidence at ze island. Ze German ambassador was almost hit by the ray or vhatever es vas. Vho vas ze person zat orchastrated ze attack. All I remember ist zat es vas a very small band of mutants. I remember zat because ze villagers vere turning zere backs on me.

[binary]

(Binary and Varalf enter the office)

Varalf: Privet, moj tovarischi, I heard you outside and relayed it to Binary here, we are up to speed.

Binary: Well, that's one way of putting it......personally, I'd say we are just as in the dark as before, just now on a different topic.....for instance, this Ellis Island incident...........would that be the one with a Mister Erik Magnus Lehnsherr leading a group of Mutants??? I found a government file on it during one of my 'Unauthorized' field trips into the Pentagon's Mainframe....speaking of which.......I meant to say this earlier....I hated to lie about it, but I figured, 'It's about your past' would get your attention more that 'I have a warning'......The Pentagon has a program running......it deals with turning mutants into Super-Soldiers......the name of it is......umm............I have it on the tip of my tongue....umm..........Weapon X......yes??? No....wait....Yeah, that's it....Weapon X (He notices the look on Nightcat's face) What....what'd I say?

[Nightcat]

(Liz just closed her eyes, shook her head, and clapped her hand to her head.)

Liz: Nozing Kevin.

(She removed her head from her hands and looked up at Kevin.)

Liz: Remember vhat I said about parts of Chris's past zat ve do not talk about. Zat ist vhat I vas talking about

[ECKS]

(ECKS stands up and looks down at the desk.)

ECKS: "Yeah, I know about Weapon X. I know all about'em. They've been experimenting on mutants for years. I was one of the experiments. I had a healing factor, a lot like Wolverine from the X-Men. They found me and tried to make me like him, a weapon, only they couldn't control me either. I found out I was being used and I broke out the day the X-Men arrived to save Xavier from Stryker."

ECKS: "I even found a second base, 'bout a hundred miles farther north, but I took that one out, too. These guys attackin' now seem different, not the same style. No, this is somethin' else. But I do believe that they found Magneto somewhere down there. It explains the magnetic fields and it explains the whole shoot first attitude. But what we don't know, is whether or not they found him."

(He turns quietly to Binary.)

ECKS: "Be careful what you look at when goin' through the computers here. Like my file, you might find out things you really don't wanna know. And also be careful who you share that information with. Might raise a few of the wrong eyebrows."

. . .

[binary]

(Binary listens to ECKs, then turns to him after he finishes)

Binary: You were part of that program? Oh, jeez, I'm sorry. About the going through computers thing...I don't go through a friends computer....not without their permission at least.

(He then thinks hard and says)

Binary: You know.........I could hack back into the Pentagon's mainframe and see if they've transferred personnel, or supplies anywhere....it would give us an idea as to whether these guys (gesturing to the screen) are official or not.

[Nightcat]

(Liz looks between the two men and just watches their volly of words. Finaly she speaks up, talking to ECKS.)

Liz: Zat might be a gute idea, no. Ve really need to see vether or not ve are in true danger before we go off to train for the combat of our lives.

[ECKS]

. . .

ECKS: "Yeah, that's a really good idea, Binary. Don't alarm anyone just yet, I wanna get a better handle on what's happenin' before decidin' whether we join in or not. Report back to me if you find anything, I've got a few more leads to follow here."

(He turns to Liz.)

ECKS: "Do me a favor, make sure we know where everyone is, anyone busy or away from the mansion doesn't need to be called in or alerted just yet, but I'd like to know where we all are."

. . .

[binary]

Binary: All right, and don't worry about them discovering me.......I have alot of experience in not being seen as I enter someones computer......if anyone needs me, I'll be in the Danger Room........ah, well......do I need some sort of Administator to open it for me or anything???

[Nightcat]

(Liz turns away from Chris for a moment to answer Kevin's question.)

Liz: Ja. You need either me or Chris to go in. Hold on one moment und ve can go down togezer.

(She turns back to Chris, closes her eyes, and does a mental scan on everone on the team to see where they are.)

Liz: Christina ist in ze entrace vay vith a voman named Storm and Anna und Kitty are at an ice rink. Every vone else ist in zis room.

[ECKS]

(He stops for a second to think over what Liz said. Then looks up from the computer at her.)

ECKS: "Good enough. Go ahead and let him in so he can get started. I'll let you guys know if I find anythin' else."

(He goes back to work.)

[Nightcat]

(Liz nods her head and turns back to Varalf and Kevin.)

Liz: Come on Kevin. Let us see vhat ve can dig up.

(She grabs Kevin's hand in her own and leads them out of the room and back down to Evelina.)

[Nightcat]

(There is a loud BAMF outside the door and Liz and Joseph reamerge into the office. Liz walks up to Chris to address him.)

Liz: Kevin here has found some infomation zat vill interest you.

(She turns to back to Joseph and sees a puzzled look on his face. She sends him a telepathic message to explain.)

Liz: Do not vorry. Your secret ist safe vith me until you vish to reveal es.