Synopsis by Jeff Harris: "They have just accomplished the improbable." Gambit and his team, with the aid of Deathbird's Starjammers, have dropped into the "most heavily fortified solar system in the Shi'ar Imperium." Unfortunately, they still have the minor tasks of sneaking onto the planet and getting past an army of troops to steal the M'Kraan Crystal which they will then use to send Bishop back in time to stop Legion's killing of Professor Xavier. As the Shi'ar defense fleet begins to attack, the ships computer beams down the group to the planet. The team splits in half, Sunspot, Jubilee and Strong Guy taking on the troops while Gambit, Lila Cheney and Deathbird go for the Crystal. They subdue the guards surrounding it, but Lila is suddenly pulled into the Crystal by an unknown assailant. Deathbird holds Remy back from following her, but he breaks free and the two enter the M'Kraan, where they meet their "host" Jahf, the guardian of the nexus of realities. Outside, the other X-Ternals are doing a reasonably good job of holding their own against the Shi'ar, but the Crystal has begun to fracture and Gladiator and Rictor drop in after their successful escape from the planet that was turned to crystal in issue #2. As Jahf gives them something of a tour, they see both Lila and Emperor D'Ken himself transfixed by a beam of red light exuding from a brilliant sphere that could only be the heart of the M'Kraan. Deathbird is stopped as well when she tries to kill her brother, apparently because she and the other two wanted something in return, unlike the X-Men. Jahf explains how their reality occurred, giving truth to Bishop's claims, and unwittingly destroying all other realities. And Gambit is the only one that can stop it. Meanwhile, Sunspot does a little hand-to-hand combat with Gladiator, but suddenly Roberto begins to glow white as he absorbs the surges emanating from the Crystal. Gladiator and most or all of the Shi'ar troops are turned to glass as well, and Sunspot decides that he, Strong Guy, Jubilee and Apocalypse's lackey Rictor must go into the Crystal themselves if they hope to survive. Jahf knows that he won't fail because he wouldn't disappoint Rogue, so Remy cracks open the M'Kraan's heart, giving it its freedom. Sunspot however has absorbed too much energy and is burning himself up, so Gambit has Lila teleport them all, minus Deathbird and D'Ken, back to earth before it's too late.