issue summaries

Uncanny X-Men 476 The Rise & Fall of the Shi'Ar Empire Part 2 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

Approximately a day after the previous issue, Polaris (Lorna Dane) opens the doors to an access tunnel with a little more force than she intended, since she's still trying to get used to using her powers. She is accompanied by Havok (Alex Summers) and Warpath (James Proudstar) into the tunnel where they are attacked by several robotic guards. Alex and James argue about who gets to take out the robots and Alex's blast nearly hits James. Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner) teleports in and yells at them.

James radios Professor Xavier that they are in.

In a jet circling above, Rachel complains that she should be helping the others. But Xavier replies that what she is doing is equally important. She is holder he hand on Xavier's head, absorbing his spaceship piloting knowledge so she can train the others in their sleep.

Rachel questions whether she should be invading the other's minds and how that is suddenly okay to do.

Earlier that day at the Xavier Institute, as Xavier and Darwin are leaving, Scott and Xavier argue over whether Darwin is ready for field work. X thinks Darwin is their best chance at reaching Vulcan (Gabriel Summers), since they were friends. But Scott doesn't care about saving Gabriel. He is more concerned about Alex. Xavier says he should also be worried about Corsair (Christopher Summers - Scott, Alex and Gabriel's father) who is out in Shi'ar space.

Scott threatens Xavier that if anything happens to Alex or Corsair and then adds Rachel, but Xavier interrupts, saying that he is trying to prevent a tragedy. Xavier insists he wants to make up for what he did. But all Scott sees is Xavier taking people he cares about into danger.

Alex comes in and tells Scott to lay off Xavier. Gabriel is a Summers and they take care of their own. He is mad at Xavier too, but more is at stake. Scott puts his arm around his brother.

Xavier says they need to leave before the Sentinels find their jet. Scott tells them to come home safely.

Later, the entire team approaches the abandoned Shi'ar base, where Gabriel had grew-up as a slave. Darwin comments that Gabriel's life there must have been a nightmare.

Alex replies that Gabriel is a Summers and a mutant, so what other type of childhood could he have?

Darwin asks why the Shi'ar would leave this base for anyone else to find. Rachel replies that the Shi'ar are arrogant. Xavier agrees with her, but adds that when the Emperor D' ken was left in a coma and his sister, Lilandra, became Empress with help from the X-Men, Lilandra removed all Shi'ar from Earth.

As the X-Men enter the base, several Imperial Shockers scan them to access their treat level. They deem Polaris and Havok as the most dangerous, followed by Rachel. (see note)

The Shockers shoot Lorna and she collapses to the floor in pain. Kurt, Warpath and Rachel go after their attackers why Alex tends to Lorna.

Rachel yells to James to look out, but James is tackled by a Shocker.

Kurt teleports behind the Shocker Rachel is fighting and kicks him. Rachel yells that she had it, but Kurt replies that the Shockers seem to not feel pain. He wants her to get into their heads. Rachel tries to argue, but Kurt insists. She gets into the minds of the Shockers and learns that they are Shi'ar prisoners who have been turned into cyborgs. The living part of them wants to die.

James says it is mercy and smashes one of the Shockers.

Another Shocker attacks Xavier, but Darwin grabs it and they fall out of a window. Darwin adapts and is uninjured by the fall.

Rachel holds one of the Shockers telekinetically, but James destroys it.

Kurt teleports down to Darwin, and Darwin tells him he found the ship they are looking for.

As they board the Shi'ar ship, Xavier tells James off for killing the Shockers. But James sees it as freeing slaves from their torment.

They all take their seats on the command deck and take off. Darwin thinks it's cool, and Rachel looks upset.

They find the first stargate, which will help them travel quickly to Shi'ar space.

Xavier tells Alex to set the auto-pilot to the next stargate. He kneels down next to Rachel and asks her what's wrong. She explains that what she saw in the Shi'ar prisoners' minds is still bothering her. She thinks the Shi'ar are monsters. Xavier corrects her that the Shi'ar were monsters.

Alex calls to Xavier that there is a problem. He can't get a reading on any of the other stargates. They have all been destroyed.

Xavier gasps that it has to be Vulcan. He has stranded them in space.

Notes:

- Ed Brubaker was asked on CBR about why the Shockers thought Havok and Polaris were more powerful than Rachel. His response was: "Or maybe it's just that Lorna is pulsating from their scan, whereas Rachel is, you know, a mutant, not filled with energy. The Shockers aren't making a stat page for an encyclopedia of the Marvel U. they're just scanning some targets. Rachel's power is less obvious, at least for now... Mwaahahahahaha."