"Why can't I move ?" " That's some wake-up call." " Something's going on outside." "Beast, see if everyone else is okay." "The rest of us, let's go !" "Outside ?" "Oh, wow !" "Who put on the laser show ?" "Something's kind of spooky about all this." "Elements are out of balance." "Our world is under siege !" "I don't believe it !" "That's right, runt !" "Ain't life just special ?" "All right, who's out there ?" "Come out now and you won't get hurt ! What sorcery is this ?" "No, please !" "Begone !" "No." " Scott, help me !" " Care to join her ?" "Must save them." "They're all gone !" "Gone ?" "Hank, what's he talking about ?" "Why can't we wake him from his nightmare ?" "How could a slight concussion do all this ?" "This is an unaccountable biological condition." "The Professor appears to be in no physical pain, yet he is weakening steadily." "As with the most powerful hypnosis, his mind is telling him that he's gravely hurt." "Are you saying that something can manipulate Xavier's mind ?" "He's the most powerful psychic on Earth !" "Jean, can't you contact him telepathically ?" "I've tried." "I can't get through !" "Oh, Jean, Scott, Jubilee !" "I couldn't save them !" "Beast !" "Those readings are getting worse !" " Professor !" " Charles, can you hear us ?" "I..." "I know this place." "Charles, you finally decided to join us." "How lovely." "Mother !" "Is this a dream ?" "How can you be here ?" " Where am I ?" " This is your home, Charles." "Don't you remember ?" "Yes, of course." "But it has been so long." " And I have missed you so much." " Yes, my darling boy." "I've missed you as well." "But now we can be together, forever." "After I lost you, I thought I would never see you again." "But what about my X-Men ?" "Don't worry, Charles." "They're here, too." " She's right, Professor." " Scott !" "I do not believe it !" "That life of contention and strife is behind us now, Charles." "Storm !" "Yeah, Professor." "And this place is great !" "No Sentinels !" "You are all so real !" "Yet, how can this be ?" "It's up to you, Chuck." "You don't have to worry about us any more." "Let it go." "I don't know." "To be with you, all of you, no more struggle, it would be so easy." "Yes !" "I feel so light !" "So free !" "Let go." "The universe will be yours." "Yes." "His readings are dropping again !" "Beast !" "You're a doctor, do something !" " We're losing him !" " Jean !" "Try your psychic powers again !" "Professor, we need you !" "Don't give up !" "Speak to me, please, please, please." "We need you, we need you, we need you," " we need you, we need you..." " Wait !" "That sounds like Jean." "But where is she ?" "Ignore her, come towards me, Charles." "Professor..." "Professor..." "Professor." "Come to me, and find rest." "I know you, but how ?" " You don't." "You can't." " But I must remember." "A small bag, please." "What in the world." "The little imp !" "All right, little one, hand me back my wallet." "Well done, sir." "Who are you ?" "I have not met another with psychic powers such as my own." "Join me at my table in the restaurant behind you." "That is the one." "I beg of you, sir, come in." "So, you do not approve of the way I do business." "Using children to steal ?" "No, I do not agree with that." "The little brat thought you were human." "Normally I would not steal from a fellow mutant." "A thief is a thief, no matter the victim." "I must disagree." "Non-mutants are hopelessly stupid creatures." "They deserve our most egregious exploitation." "Why am I reliving these memories ?" "You are the Shadow King !" "We met 20 years ago !" "We fought on the astral plane where the greatest telepaths go." "I battled to save Storm and all the children of Cairo from this madman." "I proved to be the stronger of the two." "And I've kept you there all this time, using my psychic powers." "I was young." "I had never met a mutant who possessed such merciless cruelty as the Shadow King." "I knew the human race must be protected from such creatures." "So, I formed the X-Men." "My X-Men." "Individuals dedicated to the belief that mutants and humans can and must co-exist peacefully." "No, they are gone." "And your dream has been destroyed." "There are no more X-Men." "It can't be true !" "I just saw them !" "In your world, you saw them destroyed." "If you would like to see your lost loved ones again, come to me." "Let go." "Lose yourself in me." "Be at peace." "This defies all my medical experience !" "He is slipping once more !" "Don't leave us !" "Professor, where are you ?" "Jean, I am here, on the astral plane." "Can't you sense me ?" "The Shadow King has been manipulating my mind, luring me away from you !" "Yes !" "You are right, Charles." "You are on the edge of mortal surrender." "And it is too late to resist me now." " Your mental powers are depleted." " Never !" "I shall leave this prison as you enter it." "Your mind held me locked here, but that innocent blow to your head weakened your hold on me, permitting me to escape." "I will not allow it." "Jean !" "Help me !" "Hank !" "He spoke to me !" "He asked for help !" "What sort of help ?" "I can't tell." "But he seems to be in a desperate struggle with someone." "How can we fight what we can't see ?" " Jean !" " Professor !" "Raise him gently." "We were so worried !" "We thought we'd lost you." "Yes, but now I'm back." "Who's there ?" "This better not be somebody's idea of a joke !" "You're the joke, hairball !" "Who's there ?" "I know I heard something !" "Someone please stop this !" "Professor !" "Who is responsible for this ?" "No." "Not him !" "It cannot be !" "There's a security breach !" " Everybody report in !" " What's happening ?" "Wolverine !" " Let me go !" " Jubilee !" "Storm !" "You will not get to me !" "The alarms have come from the sleeping area, but strangely, there is no physical evidence of intrusion or danger there." "That's odd." "There's a foreign life form reading in this room !" "Foreign life form ?" "Think of me instead as the new proprietor of this imperfect vessel ! Just wait until I get my hands free !" "What's going on ?" "Professor ?" "Anybody ?" "What have you done with Xavier ?" "Only what he once did to me." "For more than 20 years, I was exiled in a cold, formless prison." "Today, I repaid the favor to the man who put me there." "You're not going to believe the weird dream I just had." " Man, the weird dream I just had." " They were not dreams." "The Shadow King has been attacking our minds." "Storm !" "Little Ororo." "How I've missed you." "It's only one of his illusions !" "Don't be afraid !" "It will do you no good to contact him, Jean Grey." "He is mine now !" "Come on, Professor, come on !" "Professor !" "I know what to do !" "Jean, if we fail, we shall both be stranded here !" "We will not fail, Professor." "You have taught me too well." "I pray you are right." "My only hope is that our two minds are powerful enough to set me free." "I say we do a Shadow King-ectomy !" "Are you crazy ?" "Just put them away !" "Although any assault would weaken the Shadow King, it would also permanently damage Professor Xavier's body." "The ultimate protection, gentlemen." "A beloved hostage that never leaves my side." "No !" "I know what you are doing, Xavier !" "I will not let it happen !" "It is up to Jean and the Professor now." "As the struggle begins on the astral plane, we can only wait and hope." "You are a fool to confront me, Jean !" "Even with Xavier's help !" "Your little student cannot protect you." "Perhaps she may console you in your lifelong imprisonment !" "Now I shall make both of you feel the cold helplessness of astral plane exile !" "The endless void !" "No touch, no taste !" "Not living, but never at rest !" "Jean !" "Stay with me !" "I understand, Professor." "When we are done here, I shall emerge in your world, Charles, using your body to spread chaos throughout a planet you long to heal !" "You shall be forever frozen in emptiness !" "Fight him, Jean !" " No !" " Fight him !" "Use your mind !" "Not this time !" "Focus all your powers !" "No !" "You cannot deny me !" "He's too strong !" "Stay with me, Jean !" "Together we can do it !" "If I must go back, Xavier, I will not go alone !" "Thank you." "It's done." "Now let's go home." "I hope that's good news." "I can hardly believe it !" "I think we are home !" "Excellent news !" " Scott ?" " That's right, sweetheart." "I've got you." "Everybody's safe." "I'd sure like to know what the heck just happened." "Wolverine, the Shadow King just reminded us that it is only through eternal vigilance that destructive powers such as his are kept at bay." "A moment's weakness, and he will return." " Yet, he also gave me a priceless gift." " Gift ?" "Yes, he forced me to think through why I formed the X-Men and why we fight for our ideals and for each other." "In short, why I live." "For that, I will always be grateful." "In short, why I live." "For that, I will always be grateful." "Well, make your move, tough guy." "Another time, short stuff when I'm in the mood !" "I see it, and I don't believe it." " Do we follow ?" " No, Scott." "He chose not to continue his attack." "I believe that is his way of saying thank you."