Episode Nine - Survival of the Fittest

Aired: March 3, 2001

Stars: Xavier, Cyclops, Avalanche

Appears: Jean, Rogue, Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, Mystique, Quicksilver, Spyke, Toad, Blob, Wolverine

Cameos: None

Guests: Juggernaut

First Appearance(s) of: Juggernaut (Cain Marko)

Written by: Greg Johnson

Summary

In the mountains, the X-kids (Jean, Rogue, Kitty, Kurt, Evan, and Scott) have just shipped in to a survival training camp. Scott is chosen to be group leader due to his scholastic achievements. When Sgt. Hawk (the camp trainer) leaves the kids grumble about being there. Rogue says she's going AWOL and asks if anyone knows how to hot-wire a school bus. Scott stops them and Jean says it's either this or survival training with Wolverine. They all grab their bags and move off grumbling.

The Brotherhood (Quicksilver, Toad, Blob and Avalanche) are mad because Scott was chosen to be leader. Blob says he wants to get them alone and lose them in the woods. Lance says that they'll beat them where it'll hurt the most, in public.

Back at the prison, Mystique tries to make a deal with Juggernaut. She says she'll get him out and take him to Xavier for revenge, all he has to do is bring her Cerebro. She gives him back his helmet and turns around to lead him out. He knocks her down and tells her that no one takes him anywhere, or gets in his way. Then he smashes his way out of the prison.

Back at the camp, Lance and Scott race over an obstacle course. Lance uses his power to dunk Scott in the river. Spyke starts to go after Lance, but Jean stops him and says that they've agreed not to use powers. She says Scott can deal with Lance like a leader. Scott uses an optic blast to knock Lance out of his raft. He then takes Lance's raft and wins the race. Jean says "or not".

The X-Men and Brotherhood face off and argue over who should have won fairly. Hawk blows the whistle and makes them all do push-ups. He tells them that if they want to prove how tough they are, they have to get a flag from the top of Mt. Humiliation. Quicksilver says he can get the flag while his team takes a break, Nightcrawler says "not before I can". Hawk tells them that the whole team has to reach the top and retrieve the flag together.

Lance and Scott go after each other again and Jean breaks them up. They all agree not to use their powers to get the flag, but to play "fair". Both teams take off.

Back at the Institute, Xavier is keeping track of the X-Kids with Cerebro. Wolverine asks if Xavier told them not to use their powers. Xavier tells him that he had hoped they'd use their own judgment and decide not to. Wolverine says that he should have taken care of their survival training himself, and Xavier tells him that the kids felt they had a better chance of surviving the camp.

Cerebro picks up a signature and Xavier finds out that it's Juggernaut on the loose. Xavier explains to Wolverine that Juggernaut is Cain Marko, Xavier's half-brother, and how he used mysticism to awaken his dormant X-gene. Juggernaut is now virtually invulnerable and wants to take revenge on Xavier for having him locked away. They show Juggernaut trashing police cars.

At camp, the X-kids are running full tilt, and complaining about Scott, how all he cares about is winning the race. Meanwhile, Toad scouts ahead for the Brotherhood, while Blob drags Quicksilver and Avalanche up the side of the mountain with ropes.

Storm takes off in the X-jet, she flies above the area where Juggernaut is traveling and creates a dense fog. Xavier believes that it will keep others (police, etc) from trying to catch Juggernaut and getting hurt. Wolverine suits up and heads out to try and stop him.

The Brotherhood find an abandoned mine that leads to the top and starts through it. Scott sends Kurt up to make sure that the flag is still up top. Then he gets Evan to spyke a rope up to the top so they can win. Evan asks if he's sure he wants to do it that way and Scott says yes. Scott starts up the rope, but when he looks back, the other X-Men are staring at him disapprovingly. Jean starts climbing up the mountain by hand.

The Brotherhood reach the end of the tunnel, but it's blocked. Avalanche starts to get angry, but Quicksilver and Toad talk him into using his powers to "shake" the debris loose. When he tries the tunnel collapses in on them. The X-Kids are almost to the flag when the tremors start. Spyke is knocked off of the wall, but Jean saves him with her TK. When Scott tries to get her to levitate them all to the top she refuses. He says that she just used it for Spyke and asks her what's the difference. Jean gets mad and tells him that a real X-Man would know the difference. Rogue finds the Brotherhood at the bottom of a shaft. Toad begs them not to leave them behind over a stupid race. Scott tells them they won't.

Juggernaut finally arrives at the Institute, with Mystique not too far behind. Wolverine meets him at the front door and tries to bring him down. Juggernaut flings Wolverine through the front of the house and follows him in, with Mystique sneaking in behind. As Juggernaut and Wolverine fight they cause massive damage, including destroying Cerebro. Mystique finds Cerebro and is furious.

Juggernaut reaches the Danger Room (where the prof is hiding) and knocks out Wolverine. Mystique comes in, yelling at Juggernaut for not holding up his end of the deal. He knocks her away and tells her that he doesn't make deals. Mystique crawls backwards and is trapped with Xavier as Juggernaut advances.

On the mountain, the X-Kids save the Brotherhood. As they're pulling out the last one, Avalanche, the Blob points towards the flag and Quicksilver takes off. Nightcrawler ports up and they reach the flag at the same time and begin wrestling over it. The X-Jet pulls up suddenly and Storm tells them over the loud speaker that Xavier and Mystique are in trouble. Scott asks Lance if he's ready and he replies "Let's go!". The X-Jet flies by Sgt. Hawk and the flag and a pic of all of the X-Men and Brotherhood at the top of the mountain drops to the ground beside him.

At the Institute, Xavier tries to talk Juggernaut out of harming him. When Juggernaut won't listen Xavier activates the Danger Room. Juggernaut destroys everything in his path and is about to reach Xavier when the X-Kids and the Brotherhood arrive. He reaches for Xavier, but Jean uses her TK to pull him away. She can't hold him long though and collapses.

Wolverine tells them to try to get Juggernaut's helmet. Juggernaut goes for Jean, but the Blob rushes in and knocks him away from her. Nightcrawler ports in while he's stunned and unlatches one of the four latches holding on his helmet. Juggernaut throws Nightcrawler and then charges the Blob and knocks him back across the Danger Room.

Cyclops blasts him, but Juggernaut picks up a piece of the DR wreckage and throws it at him. Avalanche uses his tremors and is able to make him stumble. Quicksilver is able to get to him long enough to open another latch. Juggernaut throws Quicksilver off, but Storm steps up and disorients him with wind gusts. He stumbles back and falls. Kit and Rogue phase out of the wall and are able to get the last two latches. Toad uses his tongue to grab Juggernaut's helmet and yank it free. Xavier is then able to use his powers to take out Juggernaut.

As the X-Kids and Brotherhood cheer and congratulate one another, Mystique comments about it not being a sight you see everyday. Xavier agrees and Mystique takes the Brotherhood home.

Later Xavier returns Cain to prison. On the way out Jean and Scott flirt and then talk about how good it was to fight along side the Brotherhood.

Summary written by Denaill for her site -

Quotes

Logan: I still say you should have let me handle their survival training.
Xavier: I gave them that choice Logan. They felt they had a better chance of surviving the camp.

Kit: Hey Kurt, can't you like make yourself useful and just teleport us up to the top?
Kurt: This trip is of the power-free variety I'm told.

Mystique: (To Juggernaut) You lumbering imbecile! What did you do? Sit on Cerebro? You smashed it!

Blob: (To Juggernaut) Unstoppable? Meet the unmovable!

Mystique: (About the X-Kids and Brotherhood working together) Now, there's something you won't see everyday.
Xavier: I agree, and that's a shame
Mystique: Come on boys, let's get out of here before you're invited to a slumber party.

Quick Review

Good episode, all of the characters get some screen time.

Beyond Evolution Copyright © 2004 Denaill.