Later that evening in Lilandra's Chamber…

"By the goddess, what have you done Lilandra?!"

The Majestrix turned swiftly to face Storm. "Exactly what needed to be done. Does it not please you?"

Storm hesitated. What had she been thinking by going along with this?

"Part of me is… but, what's the price?"

"Above all the X-Men, I believed you would be the most understanding," Lilandra said with fists clenched tight. "Just accept Sharra and K'thri's good will."

Storm's thoughts fell on how unlike Lilandra's actions had been lately. First, the ruse of being someone else in order to quench her curiosity, then the mysterious visit inside the Temple, and thirdly the absolute blindness of the possible consequences by bringing back Xavier's soul inside a Shi'ar male body.

It was so unregal of Lilandra. So selfish. But, wasn't she guilty of the same thing? She too wanted to see and talk with Xavier again. And the sad thing was…she didn't stop to wonder if this mission should've been executed in the first place. All she cared about was getting him back. Storm missed him, even now when he was right outside the door. Maybe it was the inhuman eyes or the different voice she couldn't get passed. Yet, frighteningly enough…it was Xavier.

"What's the price of this good will?" Storm heard herself ask.

The Majestrix's eyelids dropped half way over glazed dark eyes. "It is none of your concern."

Storm frowned in disgust. "You're not the only one to have lost him."

"He meant more to me than just a mentor or friend!" Lilandra cried out. "He was…He is my first and only love. How could you even try to comprehend our psi-rapport."

"I cannot." Storm said with a sigh. "But that still doesn't-."

"Give him time Ororo. Trust me, for this once."

She stepped closer to Lilandra and glared straight into her eyes. "Just tell me one more thing Majestrix…Are you going to keep him for yourself? Or will you allow him to return to Earth? At this moment you have everything you've ever wanted. A Shi'ar male with Xavier's soul and heart. He could become your consort, if you so desired."

Lilandra winced briefly, then left Storm alone in the chamber.

Sometime later, in her own guestroom, Ororo wept harder than she had during Xavier's funeral. What had been done, could never be undone she realized painfully. The words selfish and arrogant repeated over and over inside her mind.

Storm awakened to the door chime. Gracefully she slid out of silken sheets and stretched her long limbs. "Enter," she said and tightened her bathrobe before the door opened.

A young Shi'ar servant girl greeted her with a message. "Good morning, Ororo Munroe. You have been cordially invited to the First Meal with the Majestrix and fellow guests. Will you be accepting this invitation?"

Fellow guests? Storm thought briefly. Would Lilandra's court and entourage know of Xavier now living inside a Shi'ar male body? What could they be thinking now?

Storm accepted the invitation and the girl quickly left. The door hissed to a close.

Her stomach growled in hunger, but a wave of nausea silenced it. All of yesterday's events crowded her head and sickened her heart…

Lilandra warmly introduced Storm to the breakfast guests. Some she recognized, others she did not. Though the only person she was really concentrating on was Xavier. Storm was seated on the opposite side of him, with Lilandra placed at the head of the rectangular table.

Conversations over politics and planetary rule were merely whispers to Ororo. She only wanted to speak with Xavier to know that he was all right. But what title would she give him? Did the others know whom this Shi'ar male was impersonating?

She turned to Lilandra. "May I ask who your special guest is?"

Lilandra spoke warmly towards Ororo as if their heated conversation never took place the night before. "Ororo Munroe, this is D'kar. My new consort."

Storm's heart plunged to new depths. Xavier warmly smiled at her, but it was an unrecognizable smile. So strange, so alien. By the goddess, Lilandra had gone mad!

"Congratulations Majestrix," Storm replied and didn't try to hide the sarcasm.

Lilandra never noticed because she was too busy flirting with Xavier. How unseemly she was becoming, especially of her high position, Storm thought to herself. Love could make you more than you were before, but in the same stroke it could make you less…if you allowed it too.

Storm couldn't take anymore. She had to leave and get some fresh air. Even though that was impossible seeing that they were inside the Orbital Palace, with no place to actually walk outside. She had to go somewhere though, as long as it wasn't in this room.

"If you'll excuse me Majestrix. I'm not feeling so well." Storm bowed her head in respect, but didn't wait for Lilandra's response.

Storm practically ran after she had left the dining room. She could go back to her room, but all she would do there is weep. And frankly, she was tired of crying, tired of the heartache, and most of all the emptiness. What a fool she had been!

She wandered aimlessly for hours through vast corridors and hallways. At the end she reached a huge glass atrium filled with hundreds of plants and trees. The sight momentarily made her forget the pain. She walked though one of the many jungle-like paths and then decided to rest on a metal bench. Storm never realized how exhausted she was until she sat down. What was she going to do with a mad ruler and the Xavier impersonator?

After only a few minutes of sitting, Storm felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Ororo." An alien voice said, yet the warmth was all Xavier's.

She stared up at him. "Professor?"

"Yes," he replied and then hesitated, "For now."

"I don't understand. What's happening to you?" She almost cried out, but desperately tried to keep her calm.

He only squeezed her shoulder and then sat down beside her.

"What has she done?"

"I-I don't know. I'm so confused Ororo. There's another presence inside this body and I'm constantly having to battle with him." Xavier pressed his fingers tightly to his temple. "I-I was somewhere else. There was light there like I've never seen it before. Indescribable…and love. So much love Ororo and understanding…"

Storm held his hands tightly and she watched tears form inside the alien eyes. "I saw Ilyana. She's so happy Ororo. And there were others…"

"Are you saying there's another side?"

"Yes-yes. Very much so-I." His hands started trembling inside her own. "The voices are calling me again. I can't fight this other presence much longer. Do not blame Lilandra, Ororo. She only did this act out of love, however foolish it may seem."

"Charles-" Storm cried in a whisper.

He interrupted her before she could say anything more. "How are my students…my X-Men doing?"

"We're-they're fine. Some things have changed since you passed on…" Storm caressed his cheek. "There's so much to tell you-"

"Unfortunately, there's no time," he finished. "I can't stay in this body much longer. It's not right, or fair for the other presence. From what I can tell, his soul and psychic energies are still enclosed in this body. He hasn't found his way to the light…at least, not yet." He hesitated with a deep concern on his face. "There's something I need you to do…"

"No!" Storm grabbed him by the shoulders. She knew what his next words would be and what he was going to ask of her. "Please Professor, I don't want to bury you again!"

Gently, he wiped a tear that was streaming down her dark cheek. Then he smiled lovingly at her. "It was nice, even if briefly, to feel my legs again."

"Yes. However, they are not yours." She heard herself say breathlessly. He was trying to stay positive for her sake, even though he knew what actions lay ahead of her. How could he do this to her?

"Ororo, tell Lilandra that I thoroughly enjoyed our last night together." He blushed slightly, deep in his thoughts. "Tell her-that I will never stop loving her and one day we will be united…and it will be for as long as we like. Because once we're there, none of our titles will mean anything. We can be equal in all things."

"Charles-please."

He moved slightly away from her. "You must do this, Storm. Not only for me, but also for him. We don't belong here…"

Storm's shoulders heaved into sobs. Oh goddess! Where was she going to get the strength?

Then after several moments and many silent prayers, she stood up and became Storm. A student of Professor Charles Xavier, and one of the bravest X-Men. She would do as she was told. It was the right thing to do…no matter what her personal emotions were.

Storm gathered moisture from the atrium area and formed large clouds above their heads. The room darkened…and also Ororo's heart. She wished Jean were here to lend her the strength…and her light.

Xavier stood up and met Storm's eyes. "Take care, my beloved Ororo. Please don't tell the other X-Men of what took place here. I wouldn't want them to be hurt twice."

"I understand." The room surged with electrical charges. Storm spoke before her eyes turned milky white with the flow of power. "But, know this Charles Xavier…that we love you very much and we'll never forget your dream…"

With those ending words, Storm formed all the charges into one blade of pure lightning.

It struck.

And Xavier died.

Again.

Storm could only stare down at the Shi'ar male's lifeless body. Her eyes saw the medical personnel surround the body. Even with their high technology, there was no way of giving it life again. She had made sure of it. And it broke her inside because of it.

Lilandra's cries and screams soon came and she held his body tightly to her breasts. She stayed by his body for hours, until they had to pry her loose. The medics took her away and all eyes that had witnessed Lilandra's sorrow, understood that she would not be well for quite some time.

Ororo prayed for her well being. It was all she could do, for now.

Storm stayed several days after Xavier's death and comforted Lilandra as much as humanly possible. It seemed to Ororo, that after she relayed Xavier's heartfelt message to Lilandra, there was a renewed peace in her eyes. Maybe in time, the rest of her would heal…

Storm never asked where or how Lilandra had acquired the Shi'ar male. It was all water under the bridge now and at least he had found peace also. Xavier would make sure of it. He always kept his promises, even at his final breath.

As she walked across the hanger bay and entered the Shi'ar transport that would take her back to Earth, Ororo began to feel a sense of peace warm over her. She wasn't sure what started it…but she had the slightest hint that Charles had given it to her.

And in return, she gave him a silent blessing and words of love.