issue summaries

Uncanny X-Men 481 The Rise & Fall of the Shi'Ar Empire Part 7 of 12: Crossing the Rubicon Writer: Ed Brubaker Penciler: Billy Tan Inker: Danny Miki and Allen Martinez Colorist: Frank D'Armata Letterer: Joe Caramagna Assist. Editor: Sean Ryan Editor: Nick Lowe Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada Date: February 2007

At the Shi'ar Royal Retreat, Empress Lilandra, accompanied by two guards, asks an attendant where Chancellor Araki is.

The attendant, Karanda, replies that the Chancellor has a communication to attend to and asks if the empress needs something. Lilandra says that everything is fine and her time at the retreat has helped her recover from Cassandra Nova nearly destroying her mind. But, it is time for her to return to her duties as empress.

Meanwhile, Araki speaks to Vice-Chancellor K'Tor on a monitor. He agrees with K'Tor that it couldn't have been someone associated with them that free "her". (They are referring to what happened in the previous issue where Vulcan broke Lilandra's sister, Deadbird, out of jail). Araki is surprised by how quickly everything is happening. K'Tor asks if Araki needs help with his part, but Araki is offended.

Araki goes outside, pulls a gun, and walks over to Lilandra. He shoots her two guards and the attendant Lilandra is shocked and demands to know what Araki is doing. He pistol whips her and she collapses to the ground. Araki explains that he is returning the Empire to greatness, something Lilandra could never understand.

Far away on the X-Men's ship, the remaining team (Havok, Warpath, Polaris, Nightcrawler and Marvel Girl) are gathered on the command desk with Korvus, shortly following the Uncanny X-Men 479, arguing about what to do. (Rachel has a blanket wrapped around her, since her uniform was shredded in the last issue)

James wants them to hear him out and for them to stop taking advice from Korvus, who had just attacked them. Rachel argues that Korvus was forced to do that, and Korvus added that if he meant to kill them, he would have done it while they were all knocked out. James gets ticked off and lunges at Korvus, but Alex jumps between them to break-up the fight.

Alex yells at James, reminding him Professor Xavier and Darwin have been captured by people who want to kill Xavier. If Rachel's seen into Korvus' mind and trusts him, then he's okay with Korvus too, and Korvus is the only one who can help them.

Kurt, trying to get the conversation back on track and asks how the catch the other ship. Korvus explains that they can't catch a jumpship that can produce it’s own stargates. He suggests that there might be a way to produce their own stargate. They need to bring their ship’s jump engines back online and that’s going to take an additional power source: Alex, Rachel and himself. Lorna will need to prevent the engines from tearing apart.

The ship will need to jump to someplace safe, and Kurt suggests the Starjammers. Korvus is surprised that they know them, and Rachel explains that the Starjammers’ leader, Corsair, is Alex’s father (and failing to mention that Corsair is her grandfather).

The two Shi'ar who captured Xavier end up at the Shi'ar High Council’s ship, since the jumpship had a preset jump coordinates. They radio that they have a gift for the Vice-Chancellor - Charles Xavier.

Alex talks to Lorna as she practices with her artificial powers. Both of them are concerned about whether or not she will be able to handle it. But she had been training with Professor Xavier and Rachel and her powers are feeling more natural. They aren't sure how long it will be before the engines are ready.

Alex is also worried about having to tell his father about Vulcan, and doesn't like having to run to his father for help after how badly this mission has gone. As Alex leaves, Lorna tells him he’s twice the man his father is.

In the engine room, Korvus is working on the engines while Kurt and James look on. Kurt asks how much longer it will be. Korvus replies that he’s nearly ready, but he hasn't worked on engines like this since he was a child. James asks if Korvus’ father was a mechanic, but Korvus explains that that was after his father’s death when he was worked a slave.

There is nothing for James to do, so Korvus tells him and Kurt to get some rest while he finishes up.

As James and Kurt walk through a narrow corridor, they discuss Korvus. James still doesn't trust him. There’s some scent he’s giving off that James can't place, but he doesn't think he’s suicidal, so he trust him with the engines.

Kurt is more concerned about Rachel, since some of the Phoenix Force from the Blade of the Phoenix took to her and he thinks even a small piece of the Phoenix in Rachel could be dangerous.

Rachel is asleep in her room. Suddenly, she wakes up, having a nightmare about Korvus being tortured. She gets up, wearing only a thong and sees the tattered remains of her uniform. Her eyes glow blue.

A bit later, Rachel walks into the engine room, wearing a new uniform (she telekinetically rearranged the molecules in her old costume to form a new one). She tells Korvus that he is in her head. He replies that she is the telepath, so why can't she shut it off. She realizes the same thing is happening to him. Rachel says it’s like parts of his memories have mixed with hers.

She asks him about the sword and it’s connection with the Phoenix.

Korvus explains that hundreds of years ago, the Phoenix possessed his ancestor, Rook’shir, who only had the Phoenix for a few days and destroyed worlds. Rachel says she thought Jean Grey was the first person who the Phoenix bonded to, but Korvus tells her that there were two others that also ended in disasters.

Some how, when Rook’shir was killed, a piece of the Phoenix Force went into his sword. But it is not the true Phoenix. Rachel adds that it’s like an echo or shadow of it. But that isn't all bad, since even though it is less power, it is easier to control. Rachel says that even a shadow of the Phoenix wants to be used.

Rachel tells him to stop looking at her like he knows her. He replies that he does. She puts her hands on his bare chest. He continues that he knows why she is there in her new costume - . She cuts him off and tells him to stop. He continues that it’s the same reason he can't. She tells him to stop again, as he leans in to kiss her.

They kiss, and Rachel says they are in trouble now. They kiss again and Korvus said he has known nothing except trouble and they will survive.

On the Shi'ar High Council ship, Professor Xavier is tortured by Vice-Chancellor K’Tor, who has Xavier in a device that delivers the Kiss of Agony. Xavier tells him that he doesn't have his telepathy any more, but K’Tor doesn't believe him. Xavier shouts that Lilandra will have K’Tor killed for his. As the device is activated and he screams in agony, K’Tor smirks and says Lilandra is as helpless as Xavier is.

The two Shi'ar who captured Xavier watch walk down a corridor, discussing what they will do with their rewards. They are jumped by Darwin who viciously smashes the face of one. The other pulls a blaster on him, but he brutally smashes his face as well. Darwin tells him he wants to save Xavier and he is going to help him.