Night

• Story - Scott Lobdell
• Script - Ralph Macchio
• Penciler - Cedric Nocon
• Inker - Chad Hunt
• Lettering - Richard Starkings
• Lettering - Comicraft
• Colorist - Joe Rosas
• Enhancement - Graphic Colorworks
• Editor in Chief - Bob Harras

Summary

  Ororo is not alone in her attic; Candra in Scott's body attacks her but dis-possesses him when Ororo counter-attacks. She tells Ororo to meet her at the Temple of Dendur (Egyptian room in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 5th Ave., Manhattan).

  Ororo explains to Scott: as a child thief in Cairo, she stole a ruby from Candra, then watched in horror as the empty case erupted, killing the guards and destroying the mansion. El-Gibar berated her youthful brashness and didn't entrust the ruby to her until she was an adult.

  Scott goes to assemble the team, but Ororo flies off alone.

  Jean meets Sam at the Washington Monument, after Graydon Creed's funeral (see X-Factor 130).

  In the museum, Ororo asks Candra why she shouldn't just destroy the gem. The answer: Candra has Karima hostage and Jamil as her ally. She explains that she stored her "heart" energies in the gem as protection, since that's the only way she could be killed.

  Jamil enters Ororo's mind, reminding her of her brief affair with the Black Panther. Ororo zaps Jamil, then blows him and Candra down. She pulls out the gem, triumphant, but then realizes that Jamil is still playing with her mind and has snatched the gem from her. Then he announces he is the Shadow King. (Bet 'Ro wishes she waited for Scott.)