Claremont captures the internal conflict that rages between Jean Grey and her dark half.....
Scene. A room in the Hellfire Club. Jean Grey watches the unsuspecting Jason Wyngarde, preparing to confront him.
She stands motionless, a shadow among shadows, feeling dark fire consume her soul. Her face is supernally calm. Her face lies. Jean Grey is terrified - more afraid now than she's ever been - because she knows what is happening to her. And she cannot stop it.
Wyngarde (thinking to himself):
" The Hellfire Club did its best - and it wasn't good enough. I've lost my telepathic tap on Jean's mind. That means she must have broken my control. But how? I anticipated every contingency."
She laughs to herself. The man is a fool. She will enjoy what happens next. And realising that, she weeps.....
...... The obsidian flames burn brighter within her. And in the distance, she hears music - a symphony of power long-sought and well-remembered. Transfixed by an unhuman joy, her burning soul spreads its wings and soars to a destiny that will no longer be denied.
-- The Uncanny X-Men #135 "Too Late, The Heroes" (Marvel Comics)
Art by John Byrne and Terry Austin
The final moments of Phoenix's life.....
Scene. The Blue Sector of the moon, where the X-Men have pitted themselves against the Imperial Guard of the Shi'ar Empire in a bid to stay their teammate's execution. But Jean Grey has inexorably transformed into the Phoenix again, and the X-Men are instead forced to stop her before she becomes the malefic Dark Phoenix. Colussus throws a tentative punch, and Phoenix falls....
Jean:
...Wow. You...pulled your punch, Peter. And even so.....I'm surprised
my head's still attached to my body. Thanks, though, for knocking some "sense" into me. Now I truly understand what I am, and what has to be done. (She weeps.)
Two beings -- Jean Grey and Phoenix -- separate.....unique.....bound together. I. A symbiote, Peter; neither can exist without the other. Phoenix provides my life-force , while I provide a living focus for its infinite power. So long as I live, the Phoenix will manifest itself through me. And so long as that happens, I'll eventually, inevitably, become Dark Phoenix.
The Phoenix is a cosmic power. It can neither be contained nor controlled - especially by a human vessel. Return it to the cosmos which is its home. Kill me!"
Cyclops
No! It doesn't have to be like this! You have an intellect, Jean, a will, a soul
-- use them! Fight this dark side of yourself! We'll help you!
Jean (thinks)
The power -- changing me -- it's too soon!
Cyclops.
Jean - wait!! You're not giving us any choice!
Jean (anguishedly).
The choice was never yours to begin with. You see, Scott? (She has become the
Dark Phoenix) I told you. Jean to Phoenix to Dark Phoenix -- a progression as inevitable as death. You, of all people should know how I feel, through the psionic rapport we share.
I'm scared, Scott. I'm hanging on by my fingernails. I can feel the Phoenix within me, taking over. Part of me.....welcomes it.
You want me to fight? I have. I am -- with all my strength. But I can't forget that I killed an entire world -- five billion people -- as casually, as unthinkingly, as you would crumple a piece of paper. I want no more deaths on my conscience. Your way, I'd have to stay completely in control of myself every second of every day for the rest of my immortal life. Maybe I could do it. But if I slipped, even for an instance, if I...failed...if even one more person died at my hands..... (As she speaks, she telekinetically prepares an energy cannon in the tunnel...)
It's better this way. Quick, clean, final. I love you, Scott (Weeping, she caresses Cyclops' face) A part of me will always be with you.
She psionically activates the energy cannon, which strikes her. All that marks her passing are ashes...
-- The Uncanny X-Men #137 "The Fate of the Phoenix" (Marvel Comics)
Art by John Byrne and Terry Austin
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