Synopsis / Summary / Plot
On the nameless alien world, the X-Men and the Starjammers have defeated the forces of Emperor D’Ken when suddenly the light from the nine mystic Deathstars struck the M’Krann Crystal causing the universe to blink out of existence for a second. Meanwhile, on Earth Dr. Peter Corbeau is briefing the President, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four on this dire threat to the cosmos. Back on the nameless world, the X-Men confront the first guardian, Janf, a gnomelike creature with astonishing strength, who sends Wolverine into orbit with a single punch. Not even a falling meteor can stop Janf; it takes a strongest most focused scream from Banshee to disrupt the creature’s programming. The second guardian then arises, Modt, a massive robot a thousand times stronger than Janf, creating another cosmic blink. Raza seizes the Emperor and hurls him into the Crystal and suddenly the X-Men and the Starjammers are transported inside the Crystal to confront a glowing sphere. There they confront the final guardian: beams of light piercing their minds and recreating their worst nightmares. Jean Grey, however, has already faced and overcome her worst fear: death. She alone has the presence of mind to confront the sphere, but first she must stop Cyclops whose eye beams are out of control. She renders Scott unconscious but his beams have damaged the sphere. Jean enters it in her Phoenix form and discovers that the lattice of energy that binds the universe is breaking down, which will lead to the destruction of the cosmos and the birth of a new one. Jean must draw upon her power to repair but lacks strength; she draws upon Ororo and Corsair (after revealing to him that Cyclops is his son Scott) for the support she needs to reweave the patters to rebind the universe. The X-Men return to Earth through the Stargate, where Firelord tells them that Professor X has explained everything so he remained as guard. Lilandra also arrives through the Stargate, telling them that the experience has driven the Emperor D’Ken mad, and she will stay on Earth while her legal right to succession is established.