The Spirit Drinker couldn't take anymore as it exploded. Letting the souls it captured return to their bodies.
"I don't believe it." Rogue said in awe.
"What about Jubilee?" Danny said.
"I'm sorry, Danny." Xavier carried Jubilee's lifeless body. "But Jubilee is gone."
"No." Danny fell to his knees as he held Jubilee in his arms. "This can't be happening." He tried to stir her awake. "Jubilee, come on. Wake up, please! Don't leave me!"
"It's over, Phantom." In front of Danny appeared Valerie's ghost as she glared at him with all her hate. "You killed us. I was right; you are nothing but trouble."
Danny didn't bother to protest. She was right. It was all his fault.
"It's all your fault." Valerie aimed a hand at him, ready to fire an ecto-blast when she was hit from the side.
Danny turned to see who attacked her and gasped.
Dan Phantom floated above the ground as he gazed at Valerie impassively.
"Actually, that was me." Dan said to Valerie before he turned to stare Danny right in the eye. "And you, eventually."
Danny shot up from his bed, accidentally waking up Rogue in the process.
"Danny, what's wrong?" Rogue asked him.
"Nothing." Danny said quickly. "Just a bad dream."
"You've been having them often." Rogue pointed out. "Ever since that business with the Spirit Drinker."
"Yeah, I don't know what's caused this." Danny lied. He knew why. Meeting Valerie again, who looked just like she did in Dan's timeline, and having Jubilee's life in danger with a timer for how long he can save her before losing her forever. It all reminded him of Dan.
"Maybe you should talk to someone about this." Rogue suggested.
"No, I'm fine." Danny waved off her idea. "These nightmares will go away. They always do."
A couple days passed as Danny's nightmares faded away.
Xavier, however, was having a dream of ships flying through space. Some were fleeing from others who were trying to shoot them down.
"Help me, Charles Xavier. Help me." A female voice pleaded for him.
Soon the ships were disabled and caught in the tractor beam of their pursuers.
"Help me, Charles Xavier." The same voice begged; it was coming from someone piloting one of the fleeing ships. "Help me. For the sake of the future, help me."
Xavier woke up from his slumber. "They're coming!"
"All X-Men report to the War Room immediately." Xavier's announced over the PA system. "Repeat, all X-Men to the War Room."
"So what's the big deal that couldn't wait until morning?" Wolverine asked grumpily as they all gathered in the War Room.
Danny wasn't feeling annoyed like the others because he wasn't able to get any sleep tonight. Not because of nightmares, but due to Rogue being away on a mission, leaving the bed feeling empty without her.
"I..." Xavier felt guilty for waking them all up. "I'm sorry, Wolverine, but I shouldn't have disturbed you if I didn't feel it was important."
Wolverine sat down and smelled something. He turned to Jubilee. "Zit cream?"
"Oh no!" Jubilee wiped it off her face. "I forgot."
"Rogue is still out on a mission." Xavier said. "Does anyone know where Gambit is?"
"Probably in some woman's bed." Danny joked.
"Look like I come home just in time." Gambit said as he came in to the War Room dressed in a fancy suit.
"Late date, hey, gumbo?" Wolverine teased.
"Not for me." Gambit replied.
"The space shuttle Starcore is scheduled for launch tomorrow." Xavier said.
"Yes, I just recently spoke with Dr. Corbeau." Beast said.
"He intends to study a unique solar vortex phenomenon." Danny explained, geeking out over this.
Jubilee sighed. She was into space just like Danny, but not to this extent. "Danny, can you keep your space stuff to yourself? I don't think the mission's about that." She remembered how Danny once tried to convince Rogue to let him paint the starry sky and its constellations on the ceiling in their room.
"Actually, I was going to bring that up." Beast said.
While everyone was talking, Xavier saw more visions.
The X-Men noticed Xavier being quiet.
"Professor." Scott prompted.
"You must find a way to get aboard that shuttle." Xavier said. "And go to the Eagle One space station. Or Dr. Corbeau and his crew are doomed!"
"Yes!" Danny cheered, making everyone look at him strangely. He realized his mistake. "I was saying yes to the part about going onboard the shuttle, not the part about the crew being doomed." He turned to the professor excitedly. "You can count on us, professor."
Xavier couldn't help but crack a smile at Danny's enthusiasm.
"Breaking into government installation's not usually our style." Gambit said to the professor.
"Hey, we did break into the Mutant Registration headquarters that one time." Danny reminded him.
"What are we supposed to do on Eagle One?" Scott asked.
"I..." Xavier hesitated. "I wish I could tell you."
"I don't much like getting blown off the planet without knowing why." Wolverine replied.
"I don't mind." Danny said, happy to be going on a space shuttle.
"All I can tell you is that an event of immense importance is about to occur in space." Xavier revealed. "You must be ready."
"I've always been ready for this." Danny said before turning to the rest of the team. "You heard the professor. We've got a shuttle to catch." He raced out of the War Room to get ready.
Storm raised an eyebrow at Danny's behavior. "I think he's enjoying this a little too much."
"I wish he was more excited for our other missions." Scott said.
"Oh well." Wolverine said at Xavier's lack of an explanation. "Makes about as much sense as some of the stuff we do."
Xavier came up to Storm. "Storm, you'll help the others board the shuttle, but I want you to remain on Earth."
Storm couldn't help but chuckle. "At least you're not saying this to Danny. I feel like he would have a heart attack if you kept him from going into space."
Xavier laughed.
Xavier was in his room, looking out into the night sky. When he saw Scott enter through the reflection in his window. "I thought you might come."
"Sorry to bother you, professor, but I wanted to talk to you in private." Scott said. "Why can't you tell us what this mission is really about? Don't you trust us? Don't you trust me to lead the team?"
"Of course I trust you, Scott." Xavier told him. "I wish I could tell you more, but the visions I have seen these past days make me feel as if I'm losing control. Even I don't know what they mean."
The Blackbird took off as they approached the site of the shuttle.
"Stealth mode initiated." The Blackbird's computer said.
The jet then landed, with everyone coming out.
"We'll need some invisibility if we're going to get to those buildings." Scott said.
"You got it." Danny said. "Everybody hold hands."
When they did, Danny turned them all invisible as they walked toward the fence.
"Guys, I turned us intangible too, so we can just walk through the fence." Danny told everyone.
They then got to a door leading to where the crew was getting ready.
"This one's mine." Logan said to Danny as he used his claws to open the door.
"Who says this was a competition?" Danny replied.
They entered slowly before they came to a corner.
"Jubilee, it's time to get yourself caught." Cyclops told her.
"I know." Jubilee said disappointedly.
"Look, you know they have to catch somebody or they'll scrub the launch." Cyclops said.
"It's just not fair." Jubilee said. "I wanted to be an astronaut too!"
"Don't worry, Jubilee." Danny tried to cheer her up. "I'll bring you back some pictures." He pulled out a camera.
Cyclops raised an eyebrow. "You brought a camera?"
"To capture some memories." Danny said. "You know, if we have the time."
Cyclops rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Jubilee. "Storm and the professor will get you out as soon as the shuttle's launched. Good luck!"
The X-Men all left Jubilee.
"I never get to have any fun." She complained.
"Hey! Kid!" A pair of guards entered. "What do you think you're doing here?"
"Wow, is this like totally embarrassing?" Jubilee tried to act innocent. "I mean, I just thought I'd have a look. I didn't think it was a big deal."
"You're coming with us." A guard said. "Now!"
"Sure." Jubilee went along as they escorted her out. "Whatever you say, officer."
The crew was getting ready for takeoff when the X-Men barged in.
"Hey, what..." One crewmember exclaimed before he was interrupted when Scott knocked them all unconscious with his optic blast.
"Sorry, gentlemen, but if the professor's right, I may have just saved your lives." Scott said to them.
"And fulfilled my dreams." Danny added.
"Plenty of food and water." Wolverine said as the unconscious crew members were placed in an isolation chamber. "With any luck, nobody will find them until we get back from the mission, whatever it is."
"They'll be safe in the isolation chamber." Scott said as everybody suited up. "Okay, finish suiting up, everyone."
"Already done." Danny said in his spacesuit. "I always wished I could wear one of these."
Dr. Corbeau then walked in, and Jean entered his mind.
"What?" Corbeau said. His mind had been altered so the X-Men looked like the shuttle crew.
"What is it, Dr. Corbeau?" Scott asked. "Is something wrong?"
"For a moment, I thought you were..." He stopped. "Never mind. It's time to board the shuttle."
"Yes!" Danny cried out, startling the others.
"We're ready, doctor." Cyclops said.
They all got onto the shuttle, with Danny bouncing in his seat with excitement as the countdown went off.
"This is the second greatest moment of my life." Danny said.
"What was your first?" Wolverine asked.
"My first kiss with Rogue." Danny answered.
"I'm sure she's happy to know that you mean more to her than going into space." Scott said. "Which is saying something when it comes to you and your desire to be an astronaut."
"Yeah." Danny smiled at the thought of Rogue. "Now if only she could let me paint the ceiling in our room."
The shuttle took off as Storm and Xavier watched it from the crowd.
"I just wish I knew what they were facing." Xavier said.
"Trust them, professor, as they have trusted you." Storm advised him.
Xavier used his mind to search for Jubilee when he saw her in custody.
"They have Jubilee." Xavier told Storm.
The shuttle separated from its components as it exited the atmosphere.
The X-Men were surprised that Danny's screams of joy were louder than the roars of the engines.
"I just wanted to see the shuttle up close." Jubilee said to the guards.
"Right!" One guard replied. "Maybe you'd talk better in a federal prison cell!"
The window shattered as the wind blew in.
"Look out!" The guards got away from the window.
A whirlwind came in and took Jubilee. "Hey!" She cried as another one knocked the guards off their feet.
"Hey, look!" One guard pointed out Jubilee's disappearance. "She's gone!"
Storm carried Jubilee down next to Xavier.
"What a kick!" Jubilee exclaimed. "Can we do it again?"
"Starcore to Eagle One station." Dr. Corbeau said. "All systems normal for rendezvous and docking."
"We'll be ready for you, Starcore." Eagle One replied. "Eagle One out."
"Make sure all personnel are secure." Dr. Corbeau said to the X-Men.
"Yes, Dr. Corbeau." Scott replied as he activated his boots artificial gravity as he left the room.
"Fascinating." Beast said as he, Wolverine, and Danny were observing a piece of equipment as they floated with zero gravity.
"Manned close orbital solar probe." Danny stated. "Complete radiation shielding. A magnificent piece of technology." Danny took a couple of photos.
Wolverine didn't share Danny's happiness about the situation. "All these gizmos get on my nerves. Does anyone have a clue why we're on this tub?"
"Quit dampening the fun." Danny said.
"Ours is not to reason why." Beast quoted. "Ours is but to do and..." He heard a knock at the door and saw Cyclops.
"Get ready." Cyclops told them.
Beast looked out the window and saw the Eagle One. "Fascinating."
Danny agreed. "I know what you mean, Beast."
"Docking sequence initiated." Dr. Corbeau said as the shuttle prepared to dock.
The X-Men then began to leave the ship.
"I hear the station personnel planned a great welcome for us." Dr. Corbeau said to them. "They don't get many guests up here."
Jean moaned as she sensed something.
"What is it, Jean?" Scott asked.
"I don't know." Jean answered. "A presence, one I've never felt before. A trap!" She saw Corbeau about to open the doors to the Eagle One. "No, Dr. Corbeau!"
"Huh?" Corbeau said.
"Quickly! Back to the shuttle!" Jean ordered.
"What?" Corbeau's influence faded as he saw Beast's actual appearance. "Hank McCoy? What are you..." He noticed the rest of the X-Men. "Who are these people?"
Gas started coming from the vents as Corbeau fell unconscious.
"I'll blast the hatch!" Scott said, but the gas knocked him out as well.
"Scott!" Jean coughed.
"If I die," Danny said, "at least I die in space."
Soon, all of them were sleeping on the floor.
The door then opened, revealing a man in some ancient-looking armor.
"Shi'ar emissary Eric the Red welcomes you to Eagle One station." Eric said. "It is unfortunate that you shall not be staying."
Eric then contacted his emperor. "The shuttle crew has been neutralized, your excellency. They..." He looked at Beast and realized they weren't the crew. "Stowaways?"
"What do you mean?" The emperor demanded. "They must know of my plans for the crystal! How could they?"
"Lilandra!" Eric realized.
"Why did you not prevent this?" The emperor accused him.
"I shall!" Eric responded passionately.
"You will not fail me again." The emperor ordered as the brainwashed satellite crew entered the room.
"Bring Dr. Corbeau to the control room." Eric told them as Corbeau was taken out of the room. Eric left the X-Men alone in the room. "The others serve no purpose. Prepare to open the airlock. Let the galaxy know the price for aiding Lilandra."
The crew began working to fulfill their orders.
"Initiating airlock safety systems override." The satellite's computer said.
Jean managed to regain consciousness. "I must stop them." Jean tried to connect her mind to the brainwashed humans.
"Nine." The computer began the countdown.
Jean found resistance from them. "Some kind of device."
"Five." The computer counted down.
"Too strong." Jean was forced out of their minds.
"Three, two, one." The computer said. "Safety override sequence complete. Emergency hatch activated."
The hatch opened as the X-Men were slowly pulled into the vacuum of space.
Jean grabbed on to Scott. "Scott!" She then got an idea. "Got to close that hatch!"
She used her powers to take control of the satellite's controls.
"Safety systems reactivated." The computer said as the hatch closed.
The X-Men then woke up.
"Scott." Jean tried to awaken him. "Wake up, Scott!"
Two satellite crewmembers came in with guns. Jean used her telepathy to throw one to the ceiling, knocking him out as the other shot at her.
Scott woke up and saw the brainwashed man aiming his gun at Jean. "Jean!" He knocked him out with his optic blast. "Jean! What happened?"
"I started to put up a psychokinetic shield around me just before I lost consciousness." Jean explained. "It must have done some good. All I remember is someone standing over us, gloating. I'm sure he's got Dr. Corbeau."
"What about the space station crew?" Scott inquired.
"Mind control." Jean answered. "So strong, I can't override it. Some sort of device has been implanted in their brains."
Wolverine pulled out his claws. "Someone called for a surgeon?"
"First, we rescue Dr. Corbeau without destroying the space station crew." Scott told him.
Eric the Red was observing the vortex phenomenon on his monitor. "The vortex you've come to study is what your primitive science would designate as a wormhole, a tear in the fabric of space." He said to Corbeau, who was tied up to a chair. "We Shi'ar are capable of opening such galactic passageways when circumstances require it. My purpose here is to intercept an enemy of my emperor, the rebel Lilandra, who will soon travel through the wormhole. I have mounted an energy weapon capable of disabling her rebel star cruiser, especially when fired from an unassuming primitive space station."
"But who are you?" Corbeau asked.
"I am an agent of the Shi'ar emperor for this sector." Eric sneered. "All the years I have waited for my emperor to need me! Watching your pathetic, backwater little world! Walking among you! Perhaps now I can be assigned to a more important planet. One that is not infested with lower life forms."
"Looks like the professor sent us to the right place!" Scott said as the X-Men appeared in the room.
"You?" Eric was shocked to see them alive. "You were to have been space debris!"
"Think again!" Scott fired his optic blast at Eric, but it did little damage.
"You cannot comprehend the power of the Shi'ar." Eric turned to his minions. "Destroy them!"
Two brainwashed men fired at Gambit and Beast. Eric pulled out his gun and was about to fire when he heard the computer's voice.
"Warning. Vortex event horizon. Intergalactic matter transference proceeding. Shi'ar class Y cruiser."
"You cannot stop me from completing my mission!" Eric prepared the energy weapon as Wolverine slashed one of the men's guns apart.
"He's going to destroy the alien spaceship!" Corbeau informed the X-Men. "Whoever you are, please stop him!"
Scott fired at the controls as the room started to explode. The energy weapon was fired, but due to Scott's interference, it missed its target as the ship was unharmed.
Eric prepared to leave the satellite with his men following him. "Retreat to my ship!"
Danny phased Corbeau out of his restraints.
"The whole station's beginning to break up!" Corbeau cried.
"Reactor containment systems failing." The computer said.
"Back to the shuttle!" Scott ordered. "It's our only chance!"
They ran back to the shuttle, where they came across the unconscious crew.
"We can't leave the crew behind!" Scott said.
"Come on, fella." Wolverine threw one over his shoulder. "Have I got a story to tell you."
Eric was piloting his ship away when he got a message from the emperor.
"Agent! What is happening?" The emperor wanted answers. "Has Lilandra's ship been stopped?"
"Not as yet, excellency." Eric answered. "But her agents will soon be destroyed."
He turned his ship around to head back to Eagle One.
The X-Men got to the pilot's room as Corbeau prepared for takeoff.
"Can this thing still fly?" Scott asked him.
"We're about to find out." Corbeau said.
"Warning." The computer said. "Reactor overload imminent. Warning. Reactor overload imminent."
Eric's ship fired on the satellite as the shuttle took off. With that out of the way, Eric then went back to complete his original mission.
"We made it, doctor!" Scott said triumphantly.
Eric was now targeting the Shi'ar cruiser.
"Target locked. Initiating firing sequence." His computer informed him.
He fired at the cruiser, but its shields sent them back at Eric, knocking his ship off course.
"The Shi'ar star cruiser!" Corbeau said. "We're going to fly right through the energy contrail!" He tried to change their course but couldn't. "Controls have been damaged. Fuel is low and leaking. We can't change course!"
"Can the ship take it?" Scott asked.
"I don't know." Corbeau replied. "I'm getting powerful, unknown readings, so intense they're completely off the scale!"
"Look like there gonna be a barbecue and we gonna be the main course." Gambit quipped.
Danny then had an idea. "Doctor, the solar probe! Its shielding should be able to protect us."
"Yes, of course." Corbeau said. "But the autopilot is shot. I'll have to stay behind and pilot the shuttle for re-entry."
"If the radiation level is high as you say, you would never survive long enough to land us." Danny informed him. "I can fly it. I know how, and I can turn intangible to protect myself from the radiation."
Scott refused. "I won't allow it! It's too dangerous!"
"You said it yourself; the team's mission comes first." Danny said. "Trust me, Scott. I've been training how to pilot shuttles from a simulation, and I've scored perfect every time. I know what I'm doing. Also, I'm not letting you talk me out of flying a space shuttle."
Scott sighed. "Alright then. Just come back in one piece. I don't need Rogue to tear me apart when she finds out I let you fly the shuttle."
Corbeau and the rest of the X-Men got inside the solar probe. They also brought the motionless crew in.
Logan turned to Danny. "Danny, I..."
"Don't try to stop me, Logan." Danny said.
"I wouldn't." Wolverine said as he held out his hand. "I just wanted to say good luck."
Danny shook his hand before he headed back to pilot the shuttle.
As the shuttle passed through the energy contrail, Danny felt something come into contact with him, but he didn't feel it. He was so engrossed in piloting the shuttle that he didn't notice the presence enter him. If there was sound in space, one could hear Danny's shout of absolute joy.
"I'm an astronaut!"