WARNING: The following contains spoilers for X-Men #17 by Jonathan Hickman, Brett Booth, Adelso Corona, Sunny Gho, & VC's Clayton Cowles, on sale now.
Ever since joining the X-Men, Storm has been an integral part of the team. Many times she has taken a leadership position, keeping the team going in a positive direction and helping shape the mutant world. Now that all of mutantkind is living on the island nation of Krakoa, her struggles should be over. Yet Storm is having a difficult time adjusting to the ways of Krakoa and appears ready to leave her new home.
Living on Krakoa has put Storm at odds with herself. To fulfill her obligation in the X of Swords tournament she was forced to steal a sword from Wakanda, making her an enemy of another place she once called home. Recent events made Storm cross her "no killing" rule several times. This culminated in her playing executioner in the island's Crucible, a practice she has long condemned. If she were to leave Krakoa, where would Storm find a new home? After X-Men #17, Storm just might be moving to space.
Soon after Storm had joined the X-Men, Professor Charles Xavier began to have dreams of a being from space asking for his help in X-Men #97 by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum. The being would soon be known as Lilandra of the Shi'ar Empire. Her plight pulled the X-Men, and Storm along with them, into space to fight Lilandra's evil siblings and save the universe. This interaction laid the groundwork for a long, occasionally tumultuous, relationship between the mutants and the Shi'ar. Much of their technology became important parts of the X-Men's lives.
In the current series, the connection and symbiotic relationship remain. On the throne world of the Shi'ar Empire, Chandliar, members of the New Mutants team live and interact with the Shi'ar regularly. When Xandra, the new regent of the Shi'ar Empire and daughter of Professor Xavier, went missing the Shi'ar contacted the X-Men for help. Cyclops, Storm, and Jean Grey tracked down Xandra's kidnapper, Urr, a zealot wanting to bring down the Shi'ar Empire. As they fought to rescue the Empress, Urr threatened Xandra's life. Storm stepped in and warned the would-be assassin to back off. When he moved to attack, Storm sent a giant blast of lighting down on him, effectively ending the confrontation. Xandra showed her appreciation to Storm by saying she owed the mutant a debt. Storm could ask Xandra for "anything" and collect whenever Storm felt the need to.
This new avenue comes at an interesting time for Storm. Before killing Callisto in the Crucible, so Storm's longtime frenemy could be resurrected, Callisto asked Storm if she had told anyone that she was leaving. Storm may have been ready to go but did not feel she had a place to go on Earth. All of her mutant family resides on Krakoa and because of her ties to Krakoa she has cut herself off from Wakanda. This open-ended debt could take Storm traveling in space or maybe place her within the folds of the Shi'ar Empire itself. Storm might be ready to start a new chapter in her life among the stars.
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