when magneto put into action his plan to save charles xavier, gambit agreed to steal a shard of the m'kraan crystal with the aid of his x-ternals. gambit and the x-ternals were chased by mudir rictor and later faced the shi'ar imperial guard. however, gambit obtained the shard of the crystal, giving up in exchange for it his undying love for rogue. gambit thought that he had now lost his ability to love. the group returned to earth; however, gambit lost both the crystal shard and magneto and rogue's son, charles, to the traitor guido when he threatened to kill lila.