Rachel X

Rachel Summers travels thirty years into the past and quickly realizes that she has traversed into a divergent timeline. Rachel seeks out her family, the X-Men, who protect her from the demon-huntress Selene. Although Rachel is embraced by the X-Men, she finds it difficult to adjust to the variations of this new timeline. With her father, Scott Summers -- wedded to Madelyne Pryor, and her mother, Jean Grey -- now deceased for many years, the possibility of Rachel being born in this timeline becomes improbable. Rachel struggles with the effects of the prolonged trauma of her past; she becomes preoccupied with grief and loneliness. Memories of her past surface when a group of anti-mutant students beat and almost kill Professor Xavier and Kitty Pryde. Full of rage and bitterness, Rachel reverts to her Hound persona and is set on killing them. Ironically, it is Magneto who intervenes to convince her otherwise.

More memories resurface when Rachel discovers the Shi'ar holempathic matrix crystal created in memory of Jean Grey. While communing with the crystal, Rachel realizes her connection to the Phoenix Force. Her powers increase exponentially as she taps into this primal force of the cosmos, which derives from the psyches of all living beings in the universe. After the birth of her brother Nathan, she vows to protect him and humanity by eliminating the biggest threat to the universe, the Beyonder. Rachel absorbs the life forces of the X-Men and heads towards the great M'Krann crystal. Rachel intends to unleash the neutron galaxy inside, drawing the entire universe into its gravity well and creating a new cosmos, hopefully killing the Beyonder in the process. However, as she envelops the universe and experiences all its living beings, she realizes that she cannot be its executioner.

The influence of the Phoenix Force, which embodies emotion rather that intellect, begins to alter Rachel's perception of her responsibilities and amplifies her dissociative confusion. Rachel becomes consumed with reckless, righteous rage. She attempts to silence some of her ghosts by killing the Hellfire Club's new Black Queen, Selene. However, Wolverine stops Rachel by clawing through her heart and lungs. Outraged, distraught, and near death, Rachel abandons her teammates and escapes the pursuing Lords Cardinal and Nimrod. Unfortunately, she encounters Spiral's Body Shoppe. Rachel is spellbound and rendered amnesiac. She is transported to Mojoverse, and unknowingly accepts a contract to become a star of Mojo's insane entertainment.

After months in Mojoverse, a displaced and confused Rachel Summers escapes from chained imprisonment, back to mainstream Earth and onto the streets of London, England. Unfortunately, Mojo sends Warwolves to retrieve her. Rachel eludes them, but she is captured by Technet. Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, Meggan and Captain Britain join the melee and help chase away Technet and the Warwolves. Later, Rachel learns of the X-Men's sacrifice, (giving their lives to stop the Adversary), and entreats her friends to re-consecrate Professor Xavier's dream. With might serving right, Excalibur is formed. The group allies with the authorities and relocates to a lighthouse on the west coast of England. Even though Rachel is contented with her new home and friends, she is quietly afflicted by her experiences in Mojoverse and the Phoenix Force within her.

Rachel becomes akin to the Phoenix Force, as she must rely on her emotional realities rather than her fragmented and altered memories. Although, the Phoenix Force grants Rachel the raw power to rectify any situation, her mental blocks impede her skills. Rachel's inability to recall true memories has narrowed her conscious awareness. She must live for the moment. Eventually, Rachel realizes it's the Phoenix Force, that is preventing her from accessing her long-term memories. To heal and recover her memories, Rachel decides to will the Phoenix Force dormant. Regrettably, a powerful sorcerer from another dimension named Necrom comes to claim the Force. Rachel must employ the Phoenix Force to battle Necrom and overloads him with its entirety. Rachel dies too, but Rachel's body is sustained by the Phoenix Force. The Phoenix Force entity consoles Rachel's friends and retells the events of Rachel's life. The Phoenix then takes Rachel's comatose body into space to regenerate.

The Phoenix Force learns of its intended nature - immortal, without time, space, or consciousness. It decides to return to that state of existence. Rachel awakens with her memory fully healed and free of manipulation. With her restored mind and resolved sense of responsibility, Rachel returns to the future to stop the Sentinels. With the help of Excalibur and the British anti-Sentinel resistance, Rachel reprograms the Sentinel hierarchy to protect all life. Rachel confronts Ahab and her past but chooses to forbear revenge. She returns to the mainstream timeline with Excalibur, reconciles with Jean Grey, and a now grown-up brother, Cable. Rachel is overjoyed when Jean and Scott finally marry; everything seems ideal. However, her time-lost friend Captain Britain calls to her from the timestream. Rachel accepts her responsibilities, says her good-byes, and replaces Captain Britain in the timestream.

"Kitty?! I'm in luck, I'm in time, I can sense a heartbeat."

The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1, No. 196

"I sense thoughts -- emotions -- but most importantly, her presence... as if she was actually here!"

The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1, No. 199

"I was your catspaw. I was to do your dirty work for you -- break the crystal, destroy the universe."

The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1, No. 203

"Without that second chance, I can never make up for the awful things I've done! Wolverine -- please!"

The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1, No. 207

"If I die, it's only to be reborn -- Hopefully better and brighter than before."

Excalibur Special Edition

"...We may all end up somewhere far worse..."

Excalibur Vol. 1, No 12

"He's still manipulating me... and I'm through playing by his rules."

Excalibur Vol. 1, No 50

"This cannot be. I am separated from Rachel Summers."

Excalibur Vol. 1, No 63

"Kate, I've broken through the last psionic shield. We're linked with the psybertronic brain..."

Excalibur Vol. 1, No 67