The return of the Goddess.
We open with the preview pages and see the central sun of the Storm System which is also the castle of the Brotherhood. Narration is in the form of a Lodus Logos poem and calls this the last castle at its last stand.
Jon Ironfire looks out at space with his Cyclops-dog, reflecting, knowing the Queen in Red (Emma) is coming to break them. He says after the Diamond Jubilee disaster they are a shadow of their former strength and not ready. That they need hope, a symbol. Khora does not agree with his plan, that trusting Sinister to resurrect Storm is folly and against their old ways as Arakkii. Jon says they are committed now and the Arakkii New Five gather.
She's coming.
(These chimera are Sage Advisors made from the dna of Sage, Captain Britain, Artie, and Madrox. They provide "infinite information processing, communication".)
King Jon is unaware of how close she is. The ritual begins as Sinister uses his last treasure, a single vial of Hope blood, and injects it into an egg created by Old Oda. Craana the Commander gives the egg the order to live and bear life. Bloodroot the Bone-Shaper forms veins and limbs, sculpting the flesh. Genas Mind-Flayer pulls memories from Jon of their Goddess of old. Khora bathes them all in her heart's fire, creating union. (I'm listing them here because knowing Ewing we might meet them again.)
She repeats, "Ororo", asking if that is who she is. Jon kneels and says it is. She likes how it sounds and says it is good to meet him, "little cloud." Jon thanks Sinister who reminds him that she has the knowledge Jon supplied but no memories, that the Storm he knew remains dead. Sinister is about to bring up the Moira engine but alarms go off saying the enemy has been sighted.
Data page detailing the chimerae Emma has brought with her: High Summers (Cyclops, Havok, Vulcan, Living Monolight), Loud Hailer (Lodus Logos, Siryn, Frenzy, Random), Hot Claw (Feral, Thornn, Mercury, Wisdom) and the Sage Advisors.
The chimerae are horrifying and the battle is brutal. The poem tells us the survivors are few from the initial attack wave. Back on her ship, Emma steps into a diamond-shaped bath prepared by her minions. This will serve as her comfortable driver's seat as she connects to an overbody via diamond synaptic fluid. She merges her consciousness with the enormous Mistress Mold...
Crazy! Soldiers within the central sun castle pray for Ororo to protect them. Emma hears them and says they are breaking her first commandment, praying to another goddess. She lashes the castle with her giant whip and kills the guards in the flaming spires, the blow causing a "sun-quake". Ororo says they must reach the surface as it is too enclosed where they are. She can hear the sky and stars in pain. Sinister suggests they head to the center of the sun, to the Moira engines. Jon says no, that even though they owe Sinister for helping bring Ororo back, the center vault will never be opened. Sinister begrudgingly accepts this and rips the Doombot's hand off which he can now use as a gun. They battle the chimerae and lives are lost. Ororo uses wind and lightning against their foes, saying she is born to battle. She has the knowledge of what she can do thanks to Jon but not how to do it. Jon tells her to trust her instincts, trust the Storm!
Khora fires up and encircles her flames around Ororo, telling her to drink deep. The poem tells us the burning heart gave of herself all that she could give once again.