Closer to the Flame

• Writer - Terry Kavanagh
• Penciler - Roger Cruz
• Inker - Bud LaRosa
• Colorist - Mike Thomas
• Colorist - Graphic Colorworks
• Lettering - Comicraft
• Lettering - Richard Starkings
• Editor - Jaye Gardner
• Editor in Chief - Bob Harras

Summary

  Threnody relates Maddie's history (Sinister's clone of Jean, became the Goblin Queen, died), then realizes she is still dead. Maddie refuses to believe it, pulls a baffle from Threnody's head, contains the resulting explosion, then clobbers her. Ripples on the psi-plane alert Cable and Havok (Maddie's son and ex-lover).

  Sanctity appears to Jean, warning her about Maddie.

  Nate's mind wanders to Threnody, then to Maddie, and he realizes she's nearby. He follows her to the graveyard, not noticing Threnody, and then to Switzerland. She tries to figure herself out and collapses. Nate takes her to Claris's cabin (iss. 5); they kiss but are interrupted by a mental command from Jean, who has flown the Blackbird there. Maddie crashes right through it; Nate keeps it from crashing, and Maddie calls him traitor. Jean strikes out at Maddie, so Nate defends her. Sanctity reappears and goads Jean to kill him.

  Nate asks Maddie to explain Jean, but she just makes the ground erupt, forcing Nate to put up a TK shield, which makes his nose bleed. Jean realizes Maddie is feeding off him and tells him to shut off his power. She wants his help to invade her mind, but Maddie knocks him down first, then lets Jean in, to taste the dark side and trap her there.

  Nate reaches out to help Jean, and they all realize the truth: when Nate first crashed to earth (iss. 5), his subconscious sought the AOA Jean and reassembled Maddie. He tries to reverse it and let her rest in peace, but she continues to live on her own, and leaves.

  Jean invites Nate back to the X-mansion, but he's a loner. Maddie goes to bed with Shaw in Hong Kong. Nate realizes his TK is burnt out, and only his telepathy is left.