"Do not fear, Lilandra." Xavier assured the Shi'ar. "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." Lilandra revealed.
"I am." Danny said as he pulled himself up.
Lilandra then saw a ship coming towards them.
"A ship!" She cried fearfully, believing it to be her brother.
"It isn't your brother, Lilandra." Xavier explained calmly. "It is a friend."
The Blackbird landed, and out came Cyclops, Jean, Storm, and Beast.
"Where's Danny?" Cyclop asked.
"Searching the skies." Rogue said, pointing to Danny, who was floating in the air with his eyes closed. "He's alright. Best I can tell."
Danny used his senses and felt D'Ken's ship getting closer.
"Danny?" Rogue called. "Danny?"
Danny turned to his girlfriend. "It is good that you are here." He caressed her face, and amazingly, it didn't burn her, despite the fact that he was made of fire. "Help me to prepare the others."
"For what?" Rogue asked.
"For the battle to save the galaxy." Danny said.
"I can help!" Rogue said getting a determined smile on her face. "Just tell me how!"
"I will tell you what I can." Danny said. "But there is much I do not know, and there is much I must do alone."
While this was going on, Beast was talking with Lilandra.
"I was heartened to discover that you were not a figment of the professor's unbridled imagination." He said. "I am anxious to learn more about your people."
"Looks like you'll get your chance." Wolverine said as Danny and Rogue came over.
"Listen up, everyone." Rogue said. "Danny has something to say."
"In our hands lies the fate of a billion star systems of lives beyond measure." Danny announced.
"Just what I wanted to hear." Gambit said sarcastically.
"It is time to go." Danny said. "Farewell."
He teleported away with Cyclops, Gambit, Lilandra, Wolverine, Beast, and Rogue, leaving an energy pulse that was felt by psychics around the world.
One was Captain Britain.
Another was Emma Frost.
And finally, there was Dr. Strange.
"Danny!" Xavier cried as his student took off, leaving him behind with Storm, Jubilee, and Jean. "Don't leave!"
"It's no use, Rogue." Jubilee said solemnly. "The way he said goodbye, it's like they're not coming back, ever."
Danny and the X-Men then found themselves teleported to Lilandra's ship.
Wolverine shivered. "Next time, I'll take the bus."
Danny then collapsed into Rogue's arms, exhausted by the display of power.
"I've got you!" Rogue assured him.
"No, I'll be alright." Danny said as he got up. He walked towards Lilandra, who was observing the crystal.
"Thanks to you, we have arrived before my brother." Lilandra said.
Rogue pointed at the crystal. "That's what all the fuss is about?" She wasn't that impressed by the crystal.
"How you fit a whole galaxy in there?" Gambit questioned.
"Its faceted configuration gives the crystal infinite storage capacity for refracted light energy." Beast explained.
Rogue chuckled. "I knew there had to be a simple explanation."
"You like it, Rogue?" Danny teased. "I'll see if I can get you one for Christmas."
Rouge rolled her eyes playfully.
Danny sensed a ship coming towards them. "We must move quickly to safeguard the crystal."
The ship fired at Lilandra's cruiser, destroying the shield.
"Take evasive action!" Lilandra ordered.
The ship was then hit by an energy pulse that everyone felt. Lilandra's ship was now being docked by the invaders.
Wolverine stirred awake. "Who knocked?"
Beast groaned. "It was some sort of stun ray."
Rogue saw that Lilandra was still unconscious. "Lilandra's out colder than a leftover hush puppy."
"The ray may have been specifically attuned to Shi'ar life forms." Beast guessed.
They were then approached by three beings. One was a rather human-looking one in a red uniform. This was Corsair. The other was a pale-skinned female with white hair and a white cat tail called Hepzibah. The final was a man-sized lizard whose name was Ch'od, and on his shoulder was a small pink creature called Cr'reee.
"Aliens, Corsair!" Ch'od said to his leader. "Ugly ones, too!"
Wolverine took offense to that. "Who are you calling ugly, lizard lips?" He pulled out his claws and made a move at them, only for Corsair to blast him with his guns.
"Get the crystal!" Corsair ordered his crew.
Beast evaded the shots and tackled Corsair. He picked up one of his guns. "Interesting weaponry." Before he was shot by Hepzibah.
"Effective too." Beast said as he was slammed back onto the floor.
Rogue lifted up Hepzibah by her tail as she meowed.
Gambit threw his cards at Ch'od, who blasted them with his blaster.
"There ain't hardly room to swing a cat in here!" Rogue said as she swung Hepzibah into Ch'od.
"These aren't the emperor's troops." Danny said. "They are just some stupid space pirates who call themselves the Starjammers."
"Pirates?" Gambit repeated. "Where do they keep their swords and eye patches?"
Corsair pulled out his gun to fire at Cyclops, only to be hit by his optic blast.
Corsair activated his communicator. "Raza!"
On his communicator appeared a man with a long ponytail on the top of his head, elf-like ears, and a metal plate over a part of his face.
"Aye, captain." Raza answered.
"Re-calibrate the stun ray for humans!" Corsair ordered.
"But captain." Raza protested.
"Just do it!" Corsair demanded.
"Surrender, or I'll fire!" Scott commanded Corsair.
Danny then entered Corsair's mind and realized who he was.
"No, Scott!" Danny cried. "You can't!"
Scott was flabbergasted. "What?"
"Fire, Raza!" Corsair said.
Raza pressed a button on the ship as the X-Men and Corsair were hit by the massive stun ray and fell to the floor.
Ch'od picked up Corsair. "Come, Hepzibah."
They got on their ship and left.
The X-Men slowly woke up.
"Who turned out the lights again?" Rogue said before seeing Danny stumble to his feet. "Danny."
"They took the crystal, Rogue." Danny said in defeat. He looked around and noticed that Scott was missing. "They took Scott, too."
"Danny, why did you stop Cyclops when he was about to blast that joker?" Rogue inquired.
"I can't tell you." Danny said. "It's something personal related to Scott." He then muttered under his breath. "He was Scott's father."
Corsair entered the prisoner room on his ship to see Scott held captive with his arms hanging to the ceiling.
"Why have you taken him, my captain?" Raza asked. "As a hostage?"
"No, Raza." Corsair said. "Not a hostage. He's a weapon. The last one we'll ever need."
Gladiator was flying through space, holding Eric's damaged ship in one hand, when they reached D'Ken's ship.
"Identify yourself." D'Ken ordered.
"Scout ship of Imperial Agent Davan Shakari, Majesty." Gladiator said. "Code name Eric the Red. He wishes permission to report to you."
D'Ken then spoke to Eric through the ship's communicator. "Shakari, I ordered you to intercept Lilandra and recover the M'Kraan Crystal. Why have you not done as I commanded?"
Eric and Gladiator boarded D'Ken's ship as they made their way to the ship's throne room.
"You say a group of pathetic Earth creatures defeated you?" D'Ken said to Eric. "You, an imperial Shi'ar agent? Fool!" He turned his attention to Gladiator. "Gladiator, tell me what has happened."
Gladiator bowed his head. "My lord, is it not said that the crystal is protected by a guardian of immense power?"
D'Ken wasn't worried by the question. "The Phoenix is only a legend."
"My lord, I have seen it." Gladiator said before a hologram appeared in front of them.
D'Ken recognized who it was. "Corsair!"
Gladiator glared at Corsair. "Impudent rebel dog! Pirate traitor!"
"I'm glad you haven't forgotten me, D'Ken." Corsair said. "Do you remember this?"
The hologram changed to that of the crystal.
"The M'Kraan Crystal." D'Ken exclaimed in shock. "Name your price, thief!"
Corsair made an offer. "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!" Gladiator cried.
D'Ken raised his hand. "Silence!" He gave Corsair his answer. "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." Corsair said. "One of the Earth creatures who've been helping Lilandra." He turned to Eric with a smug look. "Though your forces failed, I was able to deal with them."
The connection then ended.
"Gladiator." D'Ken prompted.
"Yes, my emperor?" Gladiator replied.
"As soon as the crystal is mine, you will destroy Corsair and his Starjammers." D'Ken told him.
Gladiator was taken aback by this. "But my lord, you swore the sacred oath!"
"You will do it!" D'Ken reiterated.
"Yes, my emperor." Gladiator obeyed before turning to his troops. "Imperial Guards, your emperor honors us by sending us against the rebel Starjammers in battle. The leader, Corsair, will be taken and destroyed."
Scott was trying to get out of his restraints when Corsair entered the room.
"The emperor and I had a friendly chat." Corsair said.
"What are you to him?" Cyclops interrogated.
"A festering wound in his side." Corsair said. "He calls me a pirate and worse."
"I think he's right." Scott replied hotly.
"Perhaps." Corsair agreed. "But today, I'm D'Ken's best friend. Today I'm selling him the M'Kraan Crystal."
"You can't do that!" Scott yelled. He was angered that this space pirate was willing to damn the whole galaxy just for money. "Don't you know that if that madman unleashes the power of the crystal, it could destroy the entire galaxy?"
Corsair got closer to Scott. "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."
Cyclops was now curious. "Why are you so determined to destroy him?"
"D'Ken has destroyed millions in his quest for power." Corsair admitted. "One of those millions was my wife."
"Does he know what he's done to you?" Scott asked.
"He knows." Corsair said sadly.
"Then he'll expect an attack." Cyclops pointed out.
"From me, yes." Corsair said. "But not from you, a helpless prisoner. You should have one clear shot from your eyes at full strength."
Cyclops was disgusted with the idea. "I won't take a life in cold blood."
"If D'Ken lives and gets his hand on the crystal, and eventually he will, billions of lives will be lost." Corsair disclosed. "Is your sense of honor worth so much?" He was leaving the room when Cyclops asked him one more thing.
"Is one woman's life important enough to risk the fate of an entire galaxy?"
"It was to me." Corsair muttered.
Lilandra's ship was taking off as they tried to find the Starjammer.
"The Starjammer is too fast." Lilandra was frustrated. "We cannot overtake it."
Beast was looking over the schematics of Lilandra's ship. "Fascinating."
Gambit was throwing cards in a bucket while Wolverine was pacing. Eventually, Wolverine got fed up with it and kicked Gambit's bucket.
"Hey!" Gambit protested.
"How can we fight something we can't catch?" Wolverine said to everyone.
"Don't worry, we'll fight little green men soon enough." Gambit replied.
Lilandra went up to Danny. "You must transport us to the Starjammer, just as you brought us here."
"That stun ray took a lot out of me." Danny said. "And before that, I was still feeling drained."
"Be patient, gal." Rogue said to Lilandra. "He'll get better. He always does."
Danny nodded. "Each time I use these powers, I grow stronger."
Corsair approached Cyclops. "The time has come. Will you help me destroy the emperor?"
"You know that, for the sake of the galaxy, I have no choice." Cyclops said bitterly.
The Starjammer then prepared to dock with D'Ken's ship.
Corsair had Cyclops in cuffs as he turned to his crew. "If we fail, get the Starjammer to safety."
"We shall not abandon you, Corsair." Raza told him.
"As long as I'm captain of this ship, you'll carry out my orders." Corsair asserted. "If we fail, someone has to carry on the fight."
Corsair shook hands with Raza and Ch'od before getting kissed by Hepzibah. He then placed the crystal in a small capsule.
Scott and Corsair then made their way to D'Ken's ship.
"I come from your planet." Corsair admitted.
Cyclops was intrigued. "How is that possible?"
Corsair chuckled. "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." Scott said sadly.
"I wouldn't know mine if I saw them." Corsair added. "Except I remember my oldest boy. He had his mother's eyes."
Back on Lilandra's ship, Danny had an idea to find Scott.
"If I can contact Cyclops telepathically, I can use the mind-link like a homing beacon."
"You sure?" Rogue asked. "I don't think Jean could do that if she were here, nor could the professor now that I mention it."
"Well, let's hope Phoenix can pull it off." Danny said.
Corsair brought Cyclops before D'Ken.
Gladiator recognized Cyclops. "Emperor, the prisoner is the leader of the X-Men."
D'Ken wasn't alarmed by this. "So? Such a pathetic creature is of no interest to me."
"Scott." Danny tried to contact him. "Scott. Scott."
Cyclops heard Danny's voice in his head. "It's Danny!"
"He's on D'Ken's ship." Danny told the X-Men. He then said one last thing to Scott. "We're coming, Scott!"
Danny then teleported them all to D'Ken's ship.
"The crystal is here." D'Ken said excitedly. "I can feel its power. Corsair! Show me the crystal!"
Corsair pulled out the crystal as he slowly placed it on a stand.
"It is mine!" D'Ken raced to it. "The greatest power in the universe."
Corsair then whispered to Scott. "Do it now!"
"Imperial guards!" Gladiator summoned. As the guards arrived, a fiery bird appeared before them.
"It is the Phoenix!" Gladiator growled.
D'Ken tried to run off when Corsair tackled him. "D'Ken! You've lived too long!"
The fiery bird then vanished, leaving Danny and the X-Men in its place.
Scott saw his teammates. "Guys!" He used his optic blast to destroy his cuffs.
Danny fell to his knees, tired, when Rogue came to his side.
"You alright, sugar?" Rogue asked.
Danny nodded. "I'll survive. Go help the others."
"Corsair, you fool." D'Ken choked as he was being strangled by the space pirate. He then turned into a purple alien with antennas on its head.
"A shape-shifter!" Corsair exclaimed. He had been tricked.
Up above, on a balcony, stood the real D'Ken.
"Destroy them all!" He ordered his subjects.
The Imperial Guards started to attack.
"Start the ball, cajun!" Wolverine prompted Gambit as the X-Men fought against the guards.
Cyclops was standing over the weakened Danny.
"X-Men! Get the crystal!" Cyclops ordered.
The X-Men made short work of the guards before they saw Gladiator pick up the crystal.
Wolverine placed him in a chokehold. "Drop it, bub, or I'll drop you!"
Gladiator knocked him aside as Rogue got in his way.
"Out of my way, woman." He demanded.
"Get out of your own way!" Rogue punched him as Lilandra grabbed the crystal.
"Thank you, Rogue." Lilandra thanked her.
"I enjoyed it." Rogue said casually.
"Gladiator!" D'Ken shouted. "Cut off their retreat!"
"Everyone!" Corsair cried. "Head for the Starjammer!"
One guard tried to attack the defenseless Danny when Rogue threw them over her shoulder. "Get away from my honey!"
"Let's move it!" Cyclops ordered as they all prepared to escape.
Gambit prepared to throw a card at a large guard. "The bigger they are..." He was interrupted as the guard tackled him.
A guard grabbed Lilandra, who was holding the crystal. "Help!"
Wolverine sliced the arm off, freeing Lilandra, only to be hit in the back by another, who was taken out by Scott's optic blast.
"What's cooking?" Wolverine moaned as Lilandra helped him up.
"Come, my friend!" Lilandra said as she ran towards the exit.
Rogue saw Gambit struggling with another guard, so she knocked it off her teammate. "Stop fooling around, Gambit! We gotta go!"
The door was about to close to stop their escape, but Beast used his strength to keep it open. "Our safety is our speed." He quoted. "Ralph Waldo Emerson."
"I'll help you, Beast!" Wolverine joined him in keeping the door open, but was unsuccessful.
Beast still appreciated his efforts. "It was the thought that counted."
Rogue then lifted it open. "I got it, Beast."
"Is that everyone?" Scott asked.
Corsair shot a guard. "It is now."
Scott was then knocked out of the room by a blast from another guard.
"Scott!" Rogue cried.
Corsair picked him up as he left. "Let's go!"
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Rogue responded.
Corsair activated his communicator. "Corsair to Starjammer. Get ready to..." He stopped as he saw D'Ken in front of them. "D'Ken!"
D'Ken stood there with the crystal in his hands. Next to him, Lilandra was being held captive by Gladiator. "One false move, X-Men, and Gladiator will crush Lilandra!"
Wolverine growled as he flexed his claws.
Danny stopped him. "No, Wolverine. It's up to me now." He tried to summon his power.
D'Ken began chanting. "In the name of Sharra and K'ythri, and the sacred ancestors of the Shi'ar..."
"D'Ken!" Lilandra tried to get out of Gladiator's grip. "No!"
Gladiator covered her mouth as D'Ken continued his chant.
"I call upon the nine dying stars and the world that has no name!"
"Stop!" Danny ordered. "I am the guardian of the crystal."
D'Ken still kept going. "Unlock the power of the M'Kraan and make the galaxy mine!"
Danny's powers finally responded as he charged towards D'Ken as the crystal shot the emperor with a beam of energy.
"You are too late!" D'Ken boasted as Danny was thrown back.
"Damn it!" Danny raged. "I wasn't 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?" Rogue asked as D'Ken grew in size. The emperor fired lasers from his eyes at the heroes, but they were protected by a shield Danny summoned.
"I mean, we and everything we know may soon be pulled in." Danny clarified.