UNDER REVISION
Meanwhile, in the future...
Cable is leading the charge to destroy Apocalypse once and for all. However, it is all a trap for Apocalypse to obtain the one power he does not possess himself... the ability to travel in time, which he steals from Cable. Cable vows someday, someone will destroy Apocalypse. These words seem to rattle the immortal tyrant, who muses that he has been struggling for millennia to conquer and rule and yet is no closer now than he was at the beginning. With his new power to travel through time, Apocalypse vows to find his own answers and escapes into the time stream. However, because Bishop was traveling at the same moment (it's complicated) both are thrown off-course, into the very Nexus of Time.
In the present day, Scott and Jean have gotten married, for real this time. However, just as they're leaving on their honeymoon, they're attacked by the Nasty Boys, who make off with Jean. While the X-Men pursue them, to no avail, their boss appears in the mansion to abduct Charles himself.
In 2055, Shard and Forge try to work out what's become of Bishop, but the time machine can't get a reading. The closest thing Forge has to a trace is somewhere in upstate New York in the late 20th century. Figuring the X-Men might have some connection to her brother's disappearance, Shard demands Forge send her back. She arrives in time to thwart Sinister's abduction of Charles, but she can't help the X-Men get to Jean.
In the Nexus, Jean comes to in a glass tube of some kind, one of several. When she asks Sinister why he's abducted her, Apocalypse tells her the reason: because he told him to.
This episode provides examples of:
- Above Good and Evil: Despite everything he's done and is, Apocalypse honestly doesn't see himself as evil.Apocalypse: "Evil?" I am not malevolent. I simply am!
- Armor-Piercing Response: Cable vows others will finish his work to destroy Apocalypse, which actually seems to rattle the immortal tyrant.
- Balance Between Good and Evil: Apocalypse bristles at Cable calling him evil, but then he starts to wonder about how he's been fighting opponents for as long as he can remember and never achieved his goal of ruling unchallenged. This disturbed realization is what prompts him to travel through time.Apocalypse: I am to have triumphed long ago, but what if like tortured Sisyphus I cannot win... ever? What a cruel joke. Am I doomed to struggle with such filth, until the end of time?
- Bat Deduction: Shard reasons that since Bishop's last temporal position tracks back to the X-Men, they might know something about his disappearance, or at least point her in the right direction. She arrives just in time to prevent Sinister getting away with the Professor.
- Batman Gambit: The Nasty Boys could've just thrown Jean through a time portal the second the X-Men were incapacitated, but they made a show of taking the car and heading far down the road. They wanted the X-Men to give chase so that Mr. Sinister would have no trouble getting Xavier. It would've worked if not for Shard showing up.
- Bouquet Toss: When Jean tosses the bouquet, it's Rogue who catches it. Due to her powers, though, she doesn't see the point in being considered the next to get married.
- The Bus Came Back: Cable and his resistance fighters return after last being seen in "Time Fugitives."
- Call-Back: Numerous ones to past episodes, including previous encounters with Apocalypse, as well as season two's arc with Scott and Jean getting married (again) and Sinister. There's also the mention of "One Man's Worth," when Bishop left after saving a young Xavier, as being a plot point.
- The Cameo: Morph appears in an unspeaking cameo at Scott and Jean's wedding.
- Chekhov's Gun: The glass tubes in the Nexus, which Jean rightly suspects are going to be used to hold other people.
- Damsel in Distress: Jean gets abducted by Sinister, on Apocalypse's orders.
- Delayed "Oh, Crap!": After Scott and Jean's car suddenly crashes, the others rush to attend to them. When Gambit points out this is no simple prank, Xavier exclaims that he turned off the mansion's security grid for the big day.
- Emerging from the Shadows:
- Sinister makes his entrance this way.
- It's catchy, because Apocalypse does it as well, when Jean comes to in the Nexus.
Jean: (to Sinister) Why have you kidnapped me?Apocalypse: BECAUSE I TOLD HIM TO! - Evil Laugh:
- As Bishop gets knocked off course, Apocalypse is doing this.
- Mr. Sinister's reaction to Scott asking what time has to do with where Jean is.
- Faux Affably Evil: Before attacking Xavier, Mr. Sinister remarks he's "deeply hurt" over not getting to attend the wedding.
- Immediate Sequel: From Bishop's point of view, from "One Man's Worth," reusing footage from the last few minutes of it.
- Incoming Ham:
- In the war room, Xavier tries to use Cerebro to find Jean, but he comes up empty.Xavier: There have been a few spikes of unusual energy.
Mr. Sinister: [off-screen] Like me? - Someone does Sinister one better in the final scene.Jean: Sinister! What is this place?! Why have you kidnapped me?!
Apocalypse: BECAUSE I TOLD HIM TO!
- In the war room, Xavier tries to use Cerebro to find Jean, but he comes up empty.
- Like a Son to Me: Xavier pulled out all the stops for Scott and Jean's wedding, sparing no expense.
- Lured into a Trap: Cable thinks he's gotten a good shot at Apocalypse, but it's a ruse so Apocalypse can mug him of his time travel computer.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Cable's defiance in the face of apparent imminent death provokes Apocalypse to think, really think, about how despite how long he's been trying to conquer the world he's never actually succeeded.
- Oh, Crap!: Xavier's response to Mr. Sinister being in the war room.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Beast points out it's very odd that the Nasty Boys left Scott behind when Sinister has always wanted both him and Jean together.
- So Proud of You: After the ceremony, Xavier beams with pride over how Scott and Jean have come so far since they first became his pupils.
- Who Dares?: Mr. Sinister's reaction to Shard suddenly interrupting his attempt to abduct Xavier.
- You Fool!: Sinister over Jubilee trying to attack him.
