Previously onX-Men...
I've come for the Princess Lilandra.
She's still a bit under the weather,
but you didn't specify what condition she had to be in.
Tell me where the M'Kraan Crystal is.
You must save Lilandra.
Our job is to find Lilandra and get out fast.
Anybody know what she looks like?
She's from another galaxy.
You see a woman you don't know, rescue her.
Forget these freaks!
We must get Lilandra to my ship.
No!
Let Lilandra go.
Gladiator!
I have Lilandra.
But where is the M'Kraan Crystal?
Why do you serve a madman like my brother?
Take her with my respects to the Emperor.
I am sorry, Princess, but you must give your brother the crystal.
No! For the sake of the universe, no!
Phoenix must go!
Lilandra is under my protection.
Learn the power of Phoenix.
Are you the child of the crystal?
Yes.
You must help me to keep the crystal
from falling into the hands of my brother, the Emperor!
The crystal is here. I can feel its power.
Do not fear, Lilandra. The X-Men will do all in our power
to help you safeguard the crystal.
But I must return to my ship at once,
and my transporter is not strong enough to bring you with me.
(PHOENIX SIGHS) I am.
Funny, you don't look it.
This body is young and strong. It recovers quickly.
(GASPING) A ship!
It isn't your brother, Lilandra. It is a friend.
Where's Jean?
Searching the skies.
She's all right, Cyke. Best I can tell.
Jean? Jean?
It is good that you are here. Help me to prepare the others.
- For what? - For the battle to save the galaxy.
I can help! Just tell me how!
I will tell you what I can.
But there is much I do not know,
and there is much I must do alone.
I was heartened to discover that you were not
a figment of the Professor's unbridled imagination.
I am anxious to learn more about your people.
Looks like you'll get your chance.
Listen up, people.
Jean has something to say.
In our hands lies the fate
of a billion star systems, of lives beyond measure.
Just what I wanted to hear.
It is time to go.
Farewell.
Jean! You must not leave me behind!
It's no use, Professor.
The way she said goodbye, it's like they're not coming back, ever.
Next time I'll take the bus.
- (MOANS) - I've got you!
(STAMMERING) No, I'll be all right.
Thanks to you, we have arrived before my brother.
That's what all the fuss is about?
How you fit a whole galaxy in there?
Its faceted configuration gives the crystal
infinite storage capacity for refracted light energy.
(CHUCKLES) I knew there had to be a simple explanation.
You like it, chere? I'll get you one for Christmas.
We must move quickly to safeguard the crystal.
Take evasive action!
Who knocked?
It was some sort of stun ray.
Lilandra's out colder than a leftover hush puppy.
The ray may have been specifically attuned to Shi'ar life forms.
Aliens, Corsair! Ugly ones, too!
Who are you calling ugly, lizard lips?
Get the crystal!
Interesting weaponry.
Effective, too.
There ain't hardly room to swing a cat in here!
These are not the Emperor's troops.
They are intergalactic pirates who call themselves the Starjammers.
Pirates? Where do they keep their swords and eye patches?
- Raza! - Aye, captain.
Re-calibrate the stun ray for humans!
But, Captain...
Just do it!
Surrender, or I'll fire!
No, Scott! You can't!
What? Fire, Raza!
Come, Hepzibah.
Who turned out the lights again? Jean.
They took the crystal, Logan.
They took Scott, too.
Jean, why did you stop Cyke when he was about to blast that joker?
I can't tell you.
That he's Scott's father.
Why have you taken him, my captain? As a hostage?
No, Raza. Not a hostage.
He's a weapon. The last one we'll ever need.
Identify yourself.
Scout ship of Imperial Agent Davan Shakari, Majesty.
Code name Eric the Red.
He wishes permission to report to you.
Shakari, I ordered you to intercept Lilandra
and recover the M'Kraan Crystal.
Why have you not done as I commanded?
You say a group of pathetic Earth creatures defeated you?
You, an Imperial Shi'ar agent? Fool!
Gladiator, tell me what has happened.
My lord, is it not said that the crystal is protected
by a guardian of immense power?
The Phoenix is only a legend.
My lord, I have seen her.
Corsair! Impudent rebel dog!
Pirate traitor!
I'm glad you haven't forgotten me, D'Ken.
Do you remember this?
The M'Kraan Crystal. Name your price, thief!
I know you'd give everything you've got to get your hands on it,
but I'm only asking half.
Half the Imperial treasury.
My lord, he insults you!
Silence! By the sacred ancestors of the Shi'ar,
I agree to your price.
I'll bring you the crystal and a present for your amusement.
One of the Earth creatures who've been helping Lilandra.
Though your forces failed, I was able to deal with them.
Gladiator.
Yes, my Emperor?
As soon as the crystal is mine,
you will destroy Corsair and his Starjammers.
But, my lord, you swore the Sacred Oath!
You will do it!
Yes, my Emperor.
Imperial Guards, your Emperor honors us by sending us against
the rebel Starjammers in battle.
The leader Corsair will be taken and destroyed.
The Emperor and I had a friendly chat.
What are you to him?
A festering wound in his side.
He calls me a pirate and worse.
I think he's right.
Perhaps.
But today, I'm D'Ken's best friend.
Today I'm selling him the M'Kraan Crystal.
You can't do that! Don't you know that if that madman
unleashes the power of the crystal,
it could destroy the entire galaxy?
D'Ken will never touch the crystal,
because you are going to end his miserable existence.
The only way I can get close to D'Ken is to offer him the crystal.
Why are you so determined to destroy him?
D'Ken has destroyed millions in his quest for power.
One of those millions was my wife.
Does he know what he's done to you?
He knows.
Then he'll expect an attack.
From me, yes. But not from you, a helpless prisoner.
You should have one clear shot from your eyes at full strength.
I won't take a life in cold blood.
If D'Ken lives and gets his hands on the crystal,
and eventually he will, billions of lives will be lost.
Is your sense of honor worth so much?
Is one woman's life important enough to risk the fate of an entire galaxy?
It was to me.
The Starjammeris too fast. We cannot overtake it.
Fascinating.
Hey!
How can we fight something we can't catch?
Don't worry, we'll fight little green men soon enough.
You must transport us to the Starjammer,
just as you brought us here.
I'm still weak, but be patient. I will recover.
Each time I use my powers, I grow stronger.
The time has come. Will you help me destroy the Emperor?
You know that, for the sake of the galaxy, I have no choice.
If we fail, get the Starjammer to safety.
We shall not abandon you, Corsair.
As long as I'm captain of this ship, you'll carry out my orders.
If we fail, someone has to carry on the fight.
I come from your planet.
How is that possible?
That's a long story.
We're so close to Earth now. I would've liked to have seen it again.
Do you have any children?
No.
I wouldn't know mine now if I saw them.
Except I remember my oldest boy. He had his mother's eyes.
If I can contact Cyclops telepathically,
I can use the mind-link like a homing beacon.
Emperor, the prisoner is the leader of the X-Men.
So? Such a pathetic creature is of no interest to me.
Scott, Scott.
Scott.
It's Jean!
He's on D'Ken's ship.
I'm coming, Scott!
The crystal is here. I can feel its power. Corsair! Show me the crystal!
It is mine! The greatest power in the universe.
Do it now!
Imperial Guards!
It is the Phoenix!
D'Ken! You've lived too long!
Jean!
Corsair, you fool.
A shape-shifter!
Destroy them all!
Start the ball, Cajun!
X-Men! Get the crystal!
Drop it, bub, or I'll drop you!
Out of my way, woman.
Get out of your own way!
Thank you, Rogue.
I enjoyed it.
Gladiator! Cut off their retreat!
Everyone! Head for the Starjammer!
Let's move it!
The bigger they are...
Help!
What's cooking?
Come, my friend!
Stop fooling around, Gambit! We gotta go!
"Our safety is our speed." Ralph Waldo Emerson.
I'll help you, Beast!
It was the thought that counted.
I got it, Beast.
Is that everyone?
It is now.
Scott!
Let's go!
You don't have to tell me twice!
Corsair to Starjammer. Get ready to... D'Ken!
One false move, X-Men, and Gladiator will crush Lilandra!
No, Logan. It's up to me now.
In the name of Sharra and K'ythri,
and the sacred ancestors of the Shi'ar...
D'Ken! No!
I call upon the nine dying stars, and the world that has no name!
Stop!
I am the guardian of the crystal.
Unlock the power of the M'Kraan and make the galaxy mine!
You are too late!
I was not yet strong enough to stop him.
It has begun. By opening a breach in the crystal,
D'Ken has unleashed the power of the negative galaxy inside.
You mean it might get out?
I mean we and everything we know
may soon be pulled in.