Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #220

In the realm of imagination, two birds fly freely, unburdened. Symbolizing Storm and Forge, the birds fly in harmony until one is overtaken by metal and circuitry. This bird attacks and maims the other bird, leaving her broken and making sure she can no longer fly. In the realm of reality, Wolverine perches alone amongst the vast mountains, when he’s approached by Storm. Frustrated that he was found, Wolverine listens to Storm reflect on the loss of her powers. Deciding she needs to see if Forge can restore them, she asks Wolverine to lead the X-Men while she’s gone. He refuses, not feeling up to the job, until she practically forces him to agree and he eventually relents.

Four days later, Storm arrives outside Eagle Plaza, Forge’s towering skyscraper home, having gotten no answer when she attempted to call. She enters to find the lobby deserted and discovers a condemnation notice, realizing no one’s been there in months! Not only that, the power is completely out in the building, meaning she needs to take the stairs up the long trek to Forge’s penthouse at the top. In said penthouse, Forge’s mentor Naze is communing with the spirits when he becomes aware of Storm’s presence and decides he needs to offer her a proper welcome. Storm reaches Forge’s penthouse to find it as trashed and deserted as the lobby downstairs. She then hears a voice and follows it out onto the balcony, where she discovers holograms playing of her last encounter with Forge (From UXM #186).

The holograms continue, replaying her entire experience from that fateful day and she wonders if Forge is taunting her. With the holograms active, she realizes the penthouse must have its own power source. Logically then, the defense systems boot up and start firing lasers at her! The holograms replay her losing her powers, making her feel worse than ever, when she gets grazed by a laser. She ducks into the kitchen where she’s safe from the lasers, and the holograms continue to replay her Lifedeath as she makes her way to Forge’s control room. She finds the button to shut off the holograms, only to get accosted by a broken and disheveled Forge, completely out of his mind from grief! However, she soon discovers that this Forge is yet another hologram.

She’s found by Naze who admits he’s been here awhile and set the defenses on her to test her. He asks her to help him find Forge, worried that he may have been taken by his destined enemy, the Adversary. She feels it isn’t her problem but Naze points out that the hologram showed that Forge’s hand in removing her powers utterly broke him. Though she continues to try and convince herself otherwise, she still cares for Forge and eventually agrees to help Naze find him. However, things with Naze may not be what they seem! To be continued!