X-Men - Dark Phoenix

PROLOGUE

A lavish chamber of gold and silk, with featureless panels, large pillars on either side to suspend the ceiling, and a constant dull hum of large engines. The chamber is dimly lit and empty. The enormous windows to the side of the chamber indicate the vastness of space, and it is safe to assume this is an alien vessel of some kind.                                           

In the centre of the room is a sparkling energy matrix with a pink gemstone the size of a football hovering within it.  The stillness within the chamber is unnerving. Sterile.  Just outside the grand doors is the low chatter of the guards. 

Beyond that, all is quiet. 

Until the crystal begins to scream — a high-pitched, otherworldly cry, faint at first but growing ever louder, emanating from the heart of the crystal.

Flashes of light dance across the smooth surface of the crystal as the cry grows louder. The odd behaviour alerts the guards and four alien males with avian features rush in. They looking humanoid but were altogether hairless, with sharp facial features and a triangular crest of feathers atop their heads in lieu of hair. Each one was armed with what appeared to be a futuristic halberd of some sort. 

 The crystal flashes again as the guards try to makes sense of the situation.

Egypt, 2016                                                                                                                                                                                

Xavier battles Apocalypse within the X-Mansion on the Astral Plane. Apocalypse grows to an immense size and thrashes Xavier, pinning him bloodied and beaten beneath his colossal fist.

But Xavier is not done yet.                                                                                                                                        

"You will never win."  Xavier assured, his teeth stained red with blood.                                                                                                                                                                 

"And why is that?"  

"Because you are alone," Xavier lifts his head, "and I...am not!"

He looks ahead as Jean enters, having projected her consciousness here to aid her mentor. 

Apocalypse leaves Xavier be and advances on Jean.

"Let go, Jean. Unleash your power..." said Xavier, urging her on. 

Jean closes her eyes to concentrate for a moment, drawing her energies towards her and saying a quick mental prayer.

 Help me. Help us. Please... 

Back in the alien space craft, more guards have entered the chamber now, though none can make any sense of what to do. The crystal shifts out of place within the matrix, causing an electrical display that sparks and crackles.

It screams again, louder than ever before and this time the cry is the clear, unmistakeable screech of a bird of prey. 

On Earth, Jean opens her eyes. There is a brief glint of light within them.  

Xavier calls out to her one final time.  "Let go, Jean! JEAN! LET GO!"

Jean throws her arms out like a bird taking flight, expelling fiery psionic energies from every cell of her being. 

On the craft, a fracture tears through the middle of the crystal, releasing light brighter than the sun, momentarily blinding the guards. Another birdlike screech as the light bounds across the chamber, becoming corporeal. 

The guards recover but are awestruck as the light takes on a distinct firebird format least 12 feet tall. The guards raise their weapons, firing destructive energy beams at the bird. 

It retaliates —  sweeps across the chamber with burning wings and talons of fire, tearing into the guards. The room is in utter chaos; guards screaming, flying into walls with bone-breaking force, haunting screeches ring out as blood splatters thick across the windows. 

Then a burst of light and all is still once more. 

The silence is heavy, a daunting hush. 

The light recedes, the room grows dark once again. The chamber doors fly open and a tall, muscular warrior sporting mauve skin and a mohawk runs in, stops at the ghastly sight — 

...bodies are strewn across the room, some in pieces. 

Something off to the side catches his eye and he glances at the bloodied windows, out into the expanse of space where a phoenix made of fire and light has taken flight amongst the stars.