Aboard his father’s ship the Starjammer, Scott Summers
shows Madelyne Pryor the magnificent view of Earth from space. Corsair
accidentally interrupts their peaceful moment but offers to give Madelyne the
full tour. On the tour, Scott discovers that Carol Danvers, as Binary, has
joined the Starjammers, feeling that there’s no longer any place for her on
Earth. Corsair asks Scott about his previous comments about wanting to join
Corsair next time he leaves for space but now Scott isn’t so sure. Elsewhere on
the ship, Charles Xavier continues to try to workout his legs with Lilandra.
Lilandra must leave to try and reclaim her throne soon, while Xavier says he
needs to stay on Earth, worried for his students, especially Scott. The two
discuss Madelyne and her uncanny resemblance to Jean, wondering if perhaps she
is really Jean reborn, as Xavier can’t read her mind, and he can sense Scott
having the same worries.
Meanwhile, in Northern Japan, Wolverine storms into
the home of Mariko Yashida to once again ask why she called off their wedding.
She responds once more that he is unworthy and he returns the honorary sword
she gave him. It’s collected by her brother, the Silver Samurai, and she tells
Logan to leave her land forever. Back at the mansion, Kitty Pryde takes a break
from her studies to read a comic with Lockheed, before stopping in on Colossus.
She finds him struggling with his painting, and offers to show him something, a
surprise. She has him stand back and close his eyes, before leaping into his
arms and giving him a big kiss! She admits that wasn’t the surprise and was a
spur of the moment thing and has him close his eyes once more and walk forward.
And he does, she uses her phasing powers to phase him as well, causing them to
walk on the air and up through the ceiling to Ororo’s attic. Colossus is
stunned and impressed at the extent of Kitty’s abilities. Later, Storm arrives
in her attic to find Kitty and Colossus making out and the two spring apart
embarrassed, before Kitty notices that Ororo’s gotten rid of all her plants!
Elsewhere in the mansion, Nightcrawler tends to Rogue,
who’s still recovering from her injuries from last issue. Rogue asks Kurt why
everyone is so jumpy around Madelyne and Kurt recounts to her the story of
Jean’s transformation into Dark Phoenix and subsequent sacrifice. He then
wonders to himself if that really is the end of the story, pondering if
Madelyne could be Jean reincarnated and what would happen if the Phoenix was
ever reborn. He realizes he misses Amanda greatly and is pleased to discover a
doll of herself she sent to him. Later, Madelyne and Scott pilot a commercial
plane back to Alaska, Madelyne admiring her new engagement ring after Scott
proposed that morning. Scott goes to check on the passengers and an old priest
hands Scott a picture he dropped. Scott is floored, realizing the picture is of
Jean and it isn’t his, while the priest thinks to himself that there’s more
surprises to come!
That evening, Madelyne marvels at the fact that she’s
now engaged, while also worried that Scott has seemed off since the flight.
Unseen by Madelyne, Mastermind watches over her, laughing in triumph as his
plans are about to be set into motion! Madelyne finds Scott deep in thought and
he admits that he’s been wrestling with something for a while. Scott then asks
Madelyne straight out if she is actually Jean reincarnated and she responds by
decking him right in the face and running off! Scott’s glasses are knocked off
and he switches to a backup pair, feeling like an utter tool. Scott heads
upstairs to see if they can talk, when he’s suddenly blasted back by a huge
amount of energy! Scott’s fears are apparently realized, as Madelyne steps out
of room, the Dark Phoenix seemingly reborn! To be concluded!