issue summaries

Uncanny X-Men 475 The Rise & Fall of the Shi'Ar Empire Part 1 of 12 Writer: Ed Brubaker Penciler: Billy Tan Inker: Danny Miki Colorist: Frank D'Armata Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos Assist. Editor: Sean Ryan Assoc. Editor: Nick Lowe Editor: Mike Marts Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada Date: September 2006

This story takes place several weeks after the end of Deadly Genesis.

Polaris (Lorna Dane) is being chased through an Egyptian market by Apocalypse's enemies. She avoids them, and keeps running, not because she's afraid of them, but because she's afraid of what she's become. (Lorna was depowered on M-Day, transformed by Apocalypse into Pestilence, and then left the X-Men to search for Apocalypse in Egypt).

Two days earlier at the Xavier Institute in New York, Professor Charles Xavier and Dr. Hank McCoy (Beast), are working on Cerebra, while discussing sending a signal to the Shi'ar. Hank tells Xavier that the equipment is working, so the problem is not on their end. Xavier is running out of hope. He needs to warn the Shi'Ar about Vulcan, and Scott still wants Xavier out of the Institute. So, Xavier begins working on Plan B.

Xavier goes to talk to Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler), who's reading the book The Origins of the Species by Charles Darwin. He tells Kurt that he needs to stop his past mistake from destroying everything he still cares about. Kurt replies that he'll of course help, since Xavier will always be the man who saved his life.

Back in Egypt, (two days later) Lorna is attacked again. Kurt and James Proudstar (Warpath) teleport onto a roof. Kurt tells James to keep the assault vehicles busy while he gets the innocent bystanders to safety. Warpath jumps off the building and starts fighting.

Previously, in a wooded area of the Institute, Xavier speaks with James, who is testing some knifes Ororo gave him. James feels boxed in with the Sentinels standing guard around the Institute. Xavier offers him the opportunity to go on a mission. James questions why Xavier would choose him, since he's never been part of his inner circle. Xavier explains that none of the X-Men have hated him the way James once did.

Back at the fight in Egypt, as James keeps brawling and Kurt teleports pedestrians, Havok (Alex Summers, Rachel's uncle) jumps out of a jet onto the roof with Lorna. She explains to him that some sort of Anti-Apocalypse cult has been after her for weeks,

Rachel goes to help Warpath with the assault vehicles. She tells him that she and Alex found Lorna, who was freaking out so Alex stayed with her. James complains that their most powerful member is playing doctor. Rachel's Phoenix energy signature glows and he questions, "Most powerful? Says who?"

Flashback to the Institute, where Xavier is reminding Rachel once again that this mission will be dangerous to her more than anyone else, as they walk down a hallway. Ray asks how many different ways she needs to say yes, and tells him she can't wait to go. Xavier admits that's why he's reluctant to let her go, but he needs a telepath he can work with now that he has lost his powers. Loosing his telepathy is like being deaf to him. She agrees that it's not worth loosing his telepathy to be able to walk.

Ray questions if the only reason he wants her for the team is since she's a telepath. He replies that he's bringer her because she needs to come, but warns her that it's not a revenge mission. There's no excuse for what was done to her (the Shi'ar massacring the Grey family) but they will deal with it Xavier's way.

Rachel agrees to the stipulations and ask when they're leaving. Xavier resounds that he needs her to use Cerebra for him since there's one last thing to do (which is locating Lorna).

In Egypt, as Ray and Jimmy continue to fight the assault vehicles, while Lorna and Alex talk on the rooftop. Lorna tells him that Apocalypse's people gave her some semblance of her old powers, but she can't control them and she's dangerous. Alex hugs her as she starts crying and says she deserves to be in prison for what she's done. But Alex tells her she deserves a second chance.

James and Rachel continue to battle assault vehicles, as James reminisces about once kidnapping Professor Xavier. Alex blasts an assault vehicle, nearly hitting James, and tells them that Sentinels are on their way and they need to leave. Kurt 'ports them out.

In their jet, Xavier fills Lorna in and ask her to join the team. They're going after Vulcan (Gabriel Summers, Alex and Scott's long lost younger brother) to stop him from taking vengeance on the Shi'ar. Xavier has been unable to get a message to Lilandra, Majestrix of the Shi'ar, and the two aren't on good terms since their marriage was annulled. But Xavier needs to clean-up this mess he's created, to try to bring Vulcan back his humanity and prevent him from destroying the woman Xavier loves.

There next step is they need to steal a spaceship...

In space, Vulcan destroys everything in his path.