Phoenix #2

For the next week Jean Grey adjusts to her new role amidst the stars, answering every psychic call for help, no matter where in the universe it would take her and, although as a comic entity she doesn’t need food, water or oxygen, her human side is exhausted. She slumps down on her bed, admitting she even misses the weak coffee Scott brews. A proximity alert blares. Annoyed, she checks it out.

The ship is damaged, about to explode and she can telepathically sense only one lifeform. She tries to alert the one lifeform, when suddenly a voice announces he always wanted to be the damsel in distress, and what better way to reconnect with his favorite daughter-in-law than a daring rescue? Major Christopher Summers, aka the space-faring pirate and Starjammer Corsair, grins. Jean is surprised but, at that moment, the ship explodes. She protects them both with a forcefield and takes them to her ship.

Meanwhile on another world, the girl Adani has finished burying her father. His murderer Perrikus asks if she feels better, now that she has covered her father with dirt. Enraged, she runs at him and hits him several times with her shovel, until she is exhausted. Perrikus doesn’t react, then he sits down and asks what her father loved most in the universe. When she can’t reply, he continues he has known many men like her father who think that power lies in belief. True power is not something you believe in. It’s something you wield!

As he speaks, energy crackles in his hands. He orders her to touch his hand. He will not harm her. Adani complies. The energy touches her hand and now she finds herself able to do the same thing. Is she still afraid? he asks. She never was afraid, Adani replies.

Back on Jean’s ship, while Corsair is showering, Jean contacts Cyclops to let him know. He warns her that his father isn’t trustworthy. She knows what he is like, Jean sighs. What is he like? comes a voice from behind her. It is Corsair, dressed only in a towel. Other than charming, of course, he adds. Where are his clothes? Jean bursts out. Scott, still in contact, asks why his father isn’t wearing any clothes. Jean tells him they will talk later. Scott again warns her not to trust him.

What is he doing? Jean demands. Corsair assures her he didn’t plan to embarrass her. Jean clarifies, she is talking about the ship she rescued him from, not his state of undress. Where are the rest of the Starjammers? Abandoned him for no good reason, Corsair claims, but you can always count on family, right? He grins.

Jean points out she could just read his mind and find out the truth. Why doesn’t she? he asks. She respects boundaries, Jean replies. Sitting down on her bed, Corsair states he doesn’t need to read minds to know she and his boy see him as nothing more than a liar and a thief. And leaving his sons on Earth… maybe doesn’t earn him any of those #1 dad mugs. He’s embarrassed to say that it took him losing everything to realize he needed to change but, as it turns out, no number of good deeds can erase his past. Something he thought she could relate to…

He tried playing hero and making Scott proud. It all started on Gameworld… he was talking to a guy there and learned people were going missing. He started asking questions, retracing their steps…

Corsair’s narration:
That’s how he found out a ship docked weekly at Gameworld. No papers. Paid off the guards. And the arrival of the ship coincides with a wave of new appearances.

In his own, small ship, he followed. When he got a proper look, he recognized it as a ship belonging to the Black Order, the servants of Thanos. He followed the ship to a small moon just a few lightyears from Gameworld. But, when he tried to get closer to see what they were doing there… she saw his ship. It didn’t go well.

End of narration
Thanos’ generals are kidnapping people form Gameworld? Jean summarizes. It doesn’t sound right to her. He agrees. That’s why he was trying to find her - these people kidnapped by the Black Order need help. Jean tells him to put in the coordinates of that moon, but please, please put some clothes on first!

On said moon, Proxima Midnight orders a group of chained prisoners to move. A Skrull tries to get out of his chains and is warned by his fellow prisoners. He gets out of his chains and runs.

Black Dwarf wants to give chase but Proxima Midnight tells him to stop and watch.

Suddenly, the ice under his feet breaks and he falls. Unfortunately, more ice breaks and the rest of the prisoners also are endangered.

She told them to keep moving! Proxima Midnight shouts. A moment later, she is hit by a fiery blast courtesy of Phoenix.

Proxima Midnight tells her she shouldn’t get into Black Order business. Jean suggests they skip ahead to the part where Proxima explains what she’s doing, so Phoenix can stop them.

Rather foolhardy, Proxima Midnight attacks with her energy lance.

Corsair is left to face Black Dwarf. He’d prefer a smaller foe, say Corvus Glaive. No offense to Black Dwarf. He just fears fighting Corsair is going to be so boring for him. Unimpressed, Black Dwarf tries to hit him with his axe.

The prisoners see Phoenix fighting and are confused- Maybe she is on their side? A Centurian, however, announces the Phoenix is bad. Whatever she is here doing, it is not to help.

The ice cracks and they fall. Phoenix tries to get them out again. Suddenly, arms grab her from below the ice and she finds herself facing an army of Asgardian zombies.