Previously onX-Men...
Your destiny is at its end, X-Men.
The Dark Phoenix has come to destroy you all!
That thing, whatever it is, just destroyed an entire star system.
We must destroy that creature before it feeds again.
Gladiator, assemble the Imperial Guard immediately
and make ready the Imperial Star Cruiser!
What has happened, my Empress?
Our worst nightmare.
I won't allow you to enter my...
Jean. Help me. Help me. Help me.
This can't be! No!
The Phoenix is contained, for now.
Lilandra!
It is the decision of the High Council of the Shi'ar Empire,
that the being known both as the Phoenix and as Jean Grey,
must be destroyed!
Capture Jean Grey!
Don't let them through!
You got that right!
Do not resist, X-Men!
No!
They stopped! Why?
Maybe they want to live a little longer.
I have probed Lilandra's mind.
The Shi'ar have an ancient law,
the challenge to a duel of honor which cannot be refused.
I have made the challenge in our names.
In all of our names?
It is the only way to save Jean's life.
So let's get to it.
What happened?
I believe that the technology involves molecular dispersal and reconstitution.
In the vernacular, we were moved.
Lilandra, the X-Men were your friends, why have you kidnapped us?
You are my friends. I owe you my life and my throne.
Then why not trust us to deal with Jean?
The Phoenix is too powerful.
Once, she existed only to serve our empire.
Now she lives only to experience new sensations.
The planets were, fortunately, uninhabited.
But what of next time? Soon single stars will not satiate her.
She will consume galaxies.
Like the crystal that spawned her, she can destroy all that is!
I have no choice.
But Professor Xavier has cured her!
Scott, the Phoenix may be under control, but she is still within me.
To kill an innocent creature to get at another is barbarous!
Lilandra, I have invoked the challenge of "Arin'nn Haelar!"
You cannot refuse it!
Take no solace in your cleverness.
You have only compounded the tragedy.
The Shi'ar empire does not act alone,
Phoenix is a creature of such immense power,
that she threatens stellar empires
that were ancient before your sun had planets.
I must consult them.
Earthers are a stubborn breed, but honorable.
The Kree do not object to this duel!
Nor do I, Empress of the Skrulls,
provided the X-Men are not permitted to win!
You'll have your duel, Charles Xavier.
Though I fear you will live to regret what you have done this day.
Beast, there is a question I must ask of you.
You wonder if we are on the right side.
She is someone I love, as I would love a sister.
Of course, but there is far more at stake here, Ororo.
Jean has committed no crime, has injured no one.
Yet, we are asked to allow her to be destroyed
to prevent the possible future crimes of another.
But she has given Jean a trial by combat.
Such a trial is no contest of reason, it is a war.
Such a position mocks justice. Lilandra is wrong.
You're getting slow, gumbo!
Gambit will be ready.
Could Lilandra be right?
Is Phoenix too dangerous to exist?
Maybe,
but if push comes to shove I stand by Jean all the way.
Lilandra, let our minds join as one.
We must not let these events wither our love, Lilandra.
I wish only to cherish you, Charles.
Then help me. Join with me to contain the Phoenix.
That was unworthy of you.
Lilandra, you do not understand...
I am Empress of the Shi'ar Empire.
My duty, before the longings of my heart,
is to protect those in my dominion!
Please, Lilandra, it doesn't have to be... No!
I can't help thinking, Rogue, what if Lilandra's right?
If the psychic circuit breakers Xavier placed in Jean's mind fail,
a universe full of innocent life would be at the Phoenix's mercy.
I know how much you love Jean.
It's the kind of love I've always wanted in my life, but never had.
This must be tearing you apart.
I know what you're asking yourself.
If I were in Lilandra's place, would I act any differently?
I'd like to think, I would.
No matter what the cost?
You're wearing your old X-Men uniform.
It is how you first knew me. It felt right.
My daddy always said,
"Two's company, and three's an eavesdropper."
Jean...
I destroyed a solar system and reveled in it.
Phoenix did! Not you.
What if she breaks free? What if...
What if the next world we ravage is Earth?
Jean, you're not evil. You can win.
We can stop Phoenix!
No, Scott, before you say any more,
see my fears and then give me your answer.
I can imagine losing control again.
Only this time, my victims would be my friends.
And the world that I call home.
Am I worth the risk?
You're worth everything there is.
I love you, too, Scott. With all my heart.
The X-Men will battle the Imperial Guard
in the uncharted blue area of Earth's moon.
If the X-Men win, those who survive will be set free.
If my Imperial Guard wins,
Phoenix, Jean Grey, is ours to do with as we will.
Technician, beam them down.
The X-Men face hopeless odds, Your Majestrix.
But they're exceptional beings. Suppose they win?
They will not win, Araki. They cannot win.
Looks like some spooky Mardi Gras.
Fascinating!
These ruins mean the moon was once inhabited!
I can fly and we can all breathe.
Wait! I'm picking up multiple telepathic impressions.
Over there.
Looks like it's show time.
Remember the plan,
we split up into teams and start hitting and running
until we whittle them down!
You can neither hide nor escape from us!
Guess again, hot shot!
The party's started without us!
Oh, dear, we have met the enemy, and he is big.
We offer you the choice of honorable surrender.
Stuff your offer, tin man!
Where'd you come from?
Gambit!
Gambit is much obliged, my brave belle.
I look forward to making it up to you.
Nice try!
But you can't fight a man who controls the ground under your feet.
Controlling the dirt is nothing to one who commands wind and rain!
First round to the Imperial Guard, Hussar.
A good omen!
You have angered Starbolt!
My rage is feared throughout the empire!
Honey, you're giving me goose bumps!
If you want me, you got to catch me first.
You're fast as a swamp bug on a hot skillet!
Let's see if you're as nimble!
Guess not.
Organics are too slow to fight Warstar.
Your elimination is inevitable.
Initiate repair sequence.
Take your time.
Arrogant fool!
To fight the Imperial Guard is to face the wrath of Gladiator!
I get the message.
Your loyalty to this Jean creature speaks well for your species, human.
Jean.
Oracle, you're making this too easy.
We have fought before, Rogue.
You know you cannot match my power.
Come on, give a gal a little credit.
My X-Men! I never dreamed it would end like this!
Why do you not go to him, Majestrix?
The part of me that is woman wants to comfort him
with every breath that I take.
But an Empress must be made of steel, even at the cost of her heart.
Scott, I've lost telepathic contact with the other X-Men!
I think we're the only ones left. In here!
It's too shallow. They'll spot us.
Leave that to me. We're safe, for now.
Jean, we don't have much time.
There's so much I feel, so much we haven't done,
so much I want to say to you!
Where I'm concerned, it's the thoughts that count.
And yours, like you, are beautiful.
Ready?
Scott!
I let you down.
Majestrix! Sensors are registering off the scales!
Go to plan Omega! Now!
Araki, get the weapons online and fire at will!
The Phoenix must be destroyed!
Lilandra was right.
I know it now. I must stop Phoenix!
Hear me, X-Men! You must revive!
Phoenix must be stopped!
This has gone too far!
You must strike while you still can!
The great Gladiator!
How I have missed the pleasure of thrashing you!
Scott, destroy Phoenix now, before she fully re-energizes!
Professor, there must be some other way!
There is not!
I can't do it, Jeannie...
How touching!
Rogue! Now!
Beast, now!
Forgive me, Jean!
It's done.
Scott.
Scott, help me.
The Phoenix is growing within me. I can't control her.
Stop us, now!
Jean! Fight it! Use the powers of your mind!
I can't fight it! Not every second of every day.
Never slipping, not even for an instant.
Scott, please. Do it!
I can't!
The weapons just came online.
But how?
It's Jean!
Jean, come back! Come back!
I love you, Scott.
Jean!
Part of me will always be with you!
She's gone!
You've won!
You've got your justice, Lilandra. The universe is safe!
I take no pleasure in this, Scott Summers.
Don't. Not a word.
I am the entity known to you as Phoenix.
To save all that exists, I became one with Jean Grey.
We preserved the crystal.
But I discovered an element to humans called emotion.
I lost my way.
Now that the fire within Jean Grey has been extinguished,
I am as I was, guardian of creation.
And what about Jean?
Or are the dreams of a mortal beneath your notice?
The radiance within her is no more.
It can be rekindled only by taking the flame from another.
Then take mine.
Sorry, bub, you're out of line.
I'm your man.
Don't even think about it.
I ain't giving you a choice!
The gift need not come from a single entity.
A smaller portion from many is possible. Be warned!
Your own flames would be diminished by the amount sundered.
We understand and we accept.
Scott? Scott?
Jean! Oh, Jean!
I love you, Scott.
My time here has ended. I must depart.
The Mansion? The control room?
We're home!
Farewell, Charles.
Lilandra,
part of your mind is hidden from me.
You have never denied me before, why now?
As Empress, there is a part of me that will forever be alone.
Goodbye, Charles.