"Do you believe that sentient beings contain souls?"

Ororo Monroe leaned back in the co-pilots chair of Lilandra's private space cruiser. Her gaze wandered out at the multitudes of stars. "I do."

The Shi'ar woman smiled compassionately at her. "Then my choice of a comrade was a good one."

Ororo blinked in surprise and reminded herself to never underestimate Lilandra's intelligence or perceptions. She had been chosen…and for a good reason. Not only for her spirituality, but also for her ability to be open-minded and open-hearted. However, what was Lilandra asking of her anyway? Was it really true that she had a way to bring Professor Charles Xavier back? How far was Lilandra going to pull her beliefs and then release the cord of hope she desperately clung too? Ororo had already fallen from that cliff of loss once, but did she want to do it again?

Yet, this confident alien ruler who sat next to her, only had assurance in her eyes and a strong belief in her heart. Ororo identified with these kinds of people. And rarely did they lose. Xavier was one of them, and like most of the X-Men, she followed him half-blind with his dream of peace between Mutants and the rest of humanity. Some people would call her a fool. And they might be right… Still, she had to carry on Xavier's dream and make it her own. Goddess willing that Lilandra was able to bring him back and then there would be hope to unite the divided X-Men as of late. Ororo would keep reminding herself that was the reason she was on this mission. Not only for her, but also for the X-Men and Earth.

"And do the Shi'ar believe they carry a soul?" Ororo asked quietly.

"Yes, of course," Lilandra said. "We believe only the strongest of souls reach the temple of Sharra and K'ythri. The weaker souls might be fortunate enough to find refuge with our lower gods. However, the wicked souls, who've been corrupted by bitterness, greed, or jealousy will become stranded and eventually die."

Storm shifted uncomfortably. "An entire death of the soul?"

"We call it-the chasm of Kru'ces. The word means 'slow death…' Lilandra's lips tightened and the shadows appeared over her deep black eyes. It was several moments before any light passed over her sad features. "Charles," she said, with more brightness. "Taught me a few human beliefs. Though I'm aware of how there are literally hundreds of different religions on your planet. It's always amazed me how one race can exist on one planet, yet be so diverse in beliefs."

"It comes with a cost Lilandra. Either by hatred, fear, or death." Storm sighed deeply and violent images appeared in her mind. "We've had numerous wars over religion. And even with thousands of years of evolution behind us, it seems we still haven't learned."

"If it gives you any ease my friend, other worlds have the same problem."

"Does that still make it right?" Storm said and tried to swallow the bitterness out of her words.

The Shi'ar woman gracefully bowed her head. "No, not really. But at least there are some of us who are accepting of another races faith."

"Some." Ororo agreed.

"You're one of those people Ororo Monroe, and that's why I chose you over the other X-Men. Soon we will be arriving at Temple and I'll be asking you to take a jump of faith."

Ororo struggled to hold back a chuckle. Her effort failed completely and Lilandra stared at her with an amused expression. "Did I choose the wrong word?"

"Yes," Ororo replied and tried not to laugh too hard. "It doesn't matter though, because your meaning was understood."

After a little while Storm composed herself and tried hard to remember the last time she had laughed. Her memory told her, that it had been too long…

XAVIER'S SCHOOL FOR GIFTED CHILDREN

AKA: THE MANSION

"Alison?"

The tall blue-eyed girl gave Logan a tiny smile. "How could you forget a girl like me?"

"It'd be a little hard darlin'."

For a few moments Logan could only stare. Alison Blaire had definitely changed since the last time he saw her, which had been eons ago. Her once long blonde hair was now short and more of a strawberry color. Her body was just as lithe, but her muscle tones were more sculpted. Alison had always been an attractive girl, Logan secretly thought to himself. But at the time, blondes had never been his thing and her diva attitude was a bit of a turn off.

And then there was Jean…

By the harder appearance of her eyes, Logan could tell the diva attitude was gone. Married life did that to people. Some changed for the good, but others were not the marrying type in the first place. He was the later type-except that one time.

Logan opened the large front door wider. "Ya wanna come in?"

Alison walked across the entryway. "I see the Professor hasn't changed his interior decorator."

Logan held back a flinch. She didn't know. At least, not yet. He really didn't want to be the one to break the bad news. But if he had too, he would.

"So darlin' what brings ya back to this neck o' the woods?"

Her face practically sagged and then forcefully lifted itself. "Longshot and I have decided to separate for a while."

"Oh…" Logan said. "Sorry t' hear that."

Alison struggled to grin. "Well, I guess it's what I deserve for getting knocked up by a spaceman."

"Sorry about the baby too."

"That was several lifetimes ago Logan, it doesn't really matter anymore." Alison replied. She struggled to bite down her anger, but it always surfaced. Again and again.

Logan shrugged. "Whatever you say…" The emptiness in her soulful eyes told him the opposite of the words coming out of her mouth. It was sad, really.

He turned away from her and headed towards the kitchen. Thanks to his keen sense of smell he always knew when dinner was being served. "Soup's on. You're welcome to join us."

"Thanks. I'm looking forward to catching up with the rest of the X-Men."

Logan glanced over his shoulder. "A lot's changed Alison. It ain't the same anymore."

His tone startled the young woman. It wouldn't be the first time tonight…

After a smooth landing on Shandilar, Storm and Lilandra took a small shuttle towards Temple. On the way there Storm asked her how she had left all her duties behind. The Majestrix smiled intelligently and mentioned something about a clone. She explained that she had left Gladiator, leader of the Imperial Guard and Yrinx, the Minister in Chief, in charge. And everyone who caught brief glimpses of the clone would not be aware that she was absent

Lilandra had obviously gone to great lengths for this mission and it made Ororo doubt less and less that it could be accomplished. However, would there be a high price? What would Sharra and K'ythri want in return?

Only a street away from the triangle shaped Temple, Lilandra gently set down the shuttle. Before they stepped out the alien woman changed her form back to Storm's mysterious night visitor. She couldn't take the chance of being recognized. Then she offered Storm some clothing that would help her blend in with the crowd on Throneworld. Storm slipped the loose hooded robe over her casual earth clothes and then gently tucked in her noticeable white hair inside the hood. Besides she could use the extra cover due to the cooler nights here.

Storm admired Lilandra's world and it's people as they walked towards the Temple. Even though most of the planet was composed of cities with very little in the way of greenery, there was a beauty to it. Shi'ar architecture held some similarities with the humans. Maybe that's why she suddenly didn't feel so far from home.

In fact, as they reached the steps of the Temple she noticed it had an unusual relation to the pyramids in Egypt. But it was obviously in better condition and less wind beaten than the Earth pyramids. The outside of the Temple appeared to be composed of a smooth and shiny black metal. And with Throneworld's suns setting low in the sky the light reflected warmly off of it. The humans were not alone in building places of beauty to worship their God or gods. Or even goddesses, Ororo thought with a smile.

Storm followed Lilandra closely up the steps. The Majestrix suddenly turned and stopped. "I'm sorry my friend, but you must wait here. I don't want you involved with what I must do at this point."

"If it's because I don't worship Sharra and K'ythri, I understand." Storm said.

Lilandra's lips tightened. "It's not that…I must do this alone, for it was my idea in the beginning." Her hand touched Storm's lightly. "If my idea does come to fruition, please trust that the rest will turn out well also. Ororo you must understand that I'm doing this out of my love for him and the loss of our psychic rapport. It's as if half of me is missing."

The desperation in Lilandra's voice made Storm feel queasy. What was she going to do in there? It was too late to stop her now. They had already come this far.

Lilandra quickly took to the steps and entered the front doors of the Temple. Storm could only wait now…and it felt like an eternity.

THE TEMPLE ON SHANDILAR A FEW HOURS LATER…

Ororo found herself pacing once again and watching for any movements at the top of the steps. This was taking too long. Well, what was she doing by thinking that? What sort of time limit was there on getting back a soul? And where would you place a soul once the body was already dead?

Before she could think any farther into the later question, the double doors opened. She recognized Lilandra easily because she was now back to her normal form, but then a male Shi'ar followed her out. As they walked down the steps and came closer to Storm, she noticed that he seemed confused and disoriented. And Lilandra was lighter footed and her faced glowed against the even lower setting suns.

Lilandra was the first to approach Storm. "Everything went very well Ororo." Then she turned to the Shi'ar male. "Charles… I'm sure you'll recognize this young woman."

The man met Storm's eyes. They changed from being dazed to becoming frightfully aware. "Ororo?"

Her tightened throat strangled her voice. "Professor?"