What to do about Magik?
Author's note: In X-Men 16 we learn that the island of Arakko, and all of its mutants, are not going to joint up with the mutants of Krakoa (post X of Swords series). And the two societies are beyond different which is so going to cause problems, as I'm sure Marvel has planned. New conflicts, new villains, and I suspect conflicts with other groups (i.e. Avengers, Wakanda, nations and likely aliens). All of which is good as we should see a plethora of stories. So… just what might Arakko society be like? This story extends X-Men #16 a bit and is both a serious story, and some humor as well.
Part 59a: Concerns
THIS IS SPARTA!
Erik (Magneto) had just gotten done re-watching the film 300. A dramatization of course but he was quite concerned over just what he and Charles had experienced when the two of them had reached out to new newly arrived island of Arakko, which was now adjacent but not attached to Krakoa. Erik and Charles had journeyed to the island with a Krakoa gate flower as a gift to facilitate travel between the two islands. There they had met for the first time Isca the Unbeaten who had been one of the Arakko champions who had taken part in the now concluded contest of champions between Arakko and Krakoa.
She (Isca) had been rather bemused at the attempted gift of the transport flower as the concept of easing the effort of travel for comfort was amusing to her. From her Erik and Charles had learned several things about Arakko society. Things that were… concerning.
There were supposedly twenty times as many Arakko mutants as there are on Krakoa. And those mutants had lived with continual conflict with the demons of Amenth for many thousands of years. An endless war that created a society that had been able endure such travails. They had also learned that Arakko had a similar governing council called the Great Ring consisting of fourteen members as apposed to Krakoa's thirteen (twelve members of the Quiet Council plus the island).
Erik reflected upon the brief discussions between the three had been both enlightening and discouraging.
BEGIN FLASHBACK
…
Isca: "You are children running a child government. Which, of course, is not necessarily a bad thing… just inexperienced and prone to bearing fruit of that tree. Why don't you tell me of this world you rule? Tell me of Earth."
Xavier: "… It's a beautiful place. It has its problems, but what world doesn't. However, you should know, we do not rule it. We share it with humanity."
Isca: "Humanity? Humans? I must confess… I'm surprised that's… a thing that persists here. Still, thousands of years. Growth, invention, survival… these things have a way of sharpening a tool. And if you share the world with them, they must be formidable. Worthy of an impasse."
Erik: "They're just men."
Silence from Isca and a look of doubt and some astonishment as to both Xavier's and Erik's statements. Then…
Isca: "I know that our ways are not yours. Time has changed our two lands… changed us… but I need to you listen to me. We are a hard people made harder by war. We have… no peace in us. Perhaps, with time, with a little grace, we may become as you. Accepting. Gentle. Soft. But until that day… I have to warn you…"
Body language of rejection from Isca as she continues: "Do not come to this place again like this… with dreams in your head and flowers in your hand… For this is a land of swords."
Charles and Eric were silent as this was not anything they had expected.
She turned her back on them as she left some parting words: "I will take you offer of unity to the ring. We will… consider it."
…
END FLASHBACK
Erik mused on her words as she stood over the slain body of a demon. Words that now took on extra meaning. "Leave no enemy alive, ever."
A land of mutants with war and violence as the only social dynamic for untold millennia was Erik's thought as he began to write a memo to the Quiet Council.
To the Quiet Council:
From Erik and Charles:
A memo concerning Arakko, and a lesson from history.
Arakko society is an unknown, but one that has survived continual conflict for many thousands of years. Based upon the words of Isca, reference the prior memos from Charles regarding the discussions that took place with Isca the Unbeaten as well as the concluded Trial of Swords, this means that Arakko is a martial society as all resources were subservient to survival. There have been many empires on this earth of ours, societies dedicated to war, to conquest, to ruling. But one and only one truly stands out as a possible example of what Arakko society may have become.
Sparta.
I encourage all Quiet Council members to research just was Sparta was, but in summation:
Sparta, located in Laconia area of Greece, was unique in ancient Greece for its social system and constitution, which were supposedly introduced by the semi-mythical legislator Lycurgus. His laws configured the Spartan society to maximize military proficiency at all costs, focusing all social institutions on military training and physical development. The inhabitants of Sparta were stratified as Spartiates (citizens with full rights), Mothakes (free non-Spartiate people descended from Spartans), Periokoi (free non-Spartiates), and Helots (state-owned enslaved non-Spartan locals). Spartiate men (and some Mothakes and Perioikoi) underwent the rigorous training regimen, and Spartan phalanx brigades were widely considered to be among the best in battle. Spartan women also enjoyed considerably more rights and equality with men than elsewhere in classical antiquity.
Sparta had a double effect on Greek thought: through the reality, and through the myth. The reality enabled the Spartans to defeat Athens in land war; the myth influenced Plato's political theory, and that of countless subsequent writers. Sparta ideals have also contributed a great part in framing the doctrines of Rousseau, Nietzsche, and National Socialism.
Bear in mind that the Spartans were a minority of the Lakonian population. The largest class of inhabitants were the helots who were originally free Greeks whom the Spartans had defeated in battle and subsequently enslaved. Helots were given a subordinate position in society more comparable to serfs in medieval Europe than chattel slaves in the rest of Greece. In other Greek city-states, free citizens were part-time soldiers who, when not at war, carried on other trades. Since Spartan men were full-time soldiers, they were not available to carry out manual labor and thus the helots were used as such, tilling Spartan land, but with many more rights then slaves in the rest of Greece society.
Sparta was above all a militarist state, and emphasis on military fitness began virtually at birth. Shortly after birth, a mother would bathe her child in wine to see whether the child was strong. If the child survived it was brought before the Gerousia by the child's father. The Gerousia then decided whether it was to be reared or not. It is commonly stated that if they considered it "puny and deformed", the baby was thrown into a chasm. One aspect of the regards Sparta had for combat was when Spartans died, marked headstones would only be granted to soldiers who died in combat during a victorious campaign or women who died either in service of a divine office or in childbirth.
When male Spartans began military training at age seven, they would enter the agoge system. The agoge was designed to encourage discipline and physical toughness and to emphasize the importance of the Spartan state. Boys lived in communal messes and, according to Xenophon, whose sons attended the agoge, the boys were fed "just the right amount for them never to become sluggish through being too full, while also giving them a taste of what it is not to have enough." In addition they were trained to survive in times of privation, even if it meant stealing. Training was for both body and mind as special punishments were imposed if boys failed to answer questions sufficient briefly and wit. Disturbingly, and quite indicative of the society thus created, some Spartan youth apparently became members of an irregular unit known as the Krypteia. The immediate objective of this unit was to seek out and kill vulnerable helot as part of a larger program of terrorizing and intimidating the helot population. Less information is available about the education of Spartan girls, but they seem to have gone through a fairly extensive formal educational cycle, broadly similar to that of the boys but with less emphasis on military training. In this respect, classical Sparta was unique in ancient Greece as in no other city-state did women receive any kind of formal education.
How to sum up Sparta? Supposedly Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, sent a message to Sparta saying "If I enter Laconia, I will raze Sparta", the Spartans responded with the single, terse reply: "If". Completeness and terseness combined as one, the Quiet Council must remember such responses as they do give pause to one's potential foes. And lastly a Roman historian once wrote "Those who see Athens will think them ten times what they are. Those who see Sparta will think them ten times less then what they really were."
Leaving us to wonder just how Arakko functions? Historically one looks at the top when one views Sparta, but that warrior society rested on a base of many helots. Just… how many Arakko may in the helots role? And just how… might they feel about that? Might makes right may have become the distilled essence of Arakko, but those of lesser abilities may be less then pleased with their lot in life. Converse, one such raised is unlikely to suddenly embrace the rights of individuals if they are now in a position of might. Now distill this over many millennium and there may in fact be no common ground of discussion.
Untold generations of tyranny is not conductive to an environment of open thought and a willingness to accommodate others. There are many powers in this world of ours. Conflict… is inevitable. But with whom? Conflict between Krakoa and Arakko? Or conflict between Arakko and… the vast plethora of potential foes and sometimes allies that is our current lot? And if so how might this affect Krakoa?
But such ruminations absent of any information is less then useful, the conclusion is simple, we need to know more. Therefore it behooves the Quiet Council and Krakoa to appoint one or more ambassadors to Arakko. And likely receive such as well as Arakko will seek to learn of this world. Thus Charles and I put forth a few possible candidates for the Quiet Council to contemplate. Those mentioned in this memo are by no means exclusive as we encourage the nomination of additional names. Keep in mind that any ambassador appointed by the Quiet Council will need to be one that can… function in such a society, one that will be respected. The names below, in no particular order, were selected after much contemplation by the two of us as they are already known to Arakko and have demonstrated that they are worthy of respect.
Logan.
Ororo.
Tomi Shishido (Gorgon), assuming his resurrection is without issues.
And lastly Magik.
The duties of the ambassador will be to convey the dictates of the Quiet Council to Arakko and to observe the functional reality of Arakko society to allow better insight.
Sincerely: Magneto
Part 59b: Some Quiet Council Texts
The following subset of texts from the Krakoa Quiet Council were collected by technical means. Forwarded to the X-Desk for analysis:
…
Shawn (Black King) Text: I doubt sending Logan would be a wise choice, regardless of any respect he may have. His propensity to stab, while effective in many situations, is less then appropriate for all situations. Not to mention his choice of stabbing weapons has something to desired, meaning do we want a sudden population explosion of Arakko stabby spawn?
Kate (Red Queen) Text: What?
Emma (White Queen) Text: Offspring. I believe the Black King is referring to Logan's tendency to engage in sexual activity with…
Raven (Mystique) Text: Anything with female genitalia.
Emma (White Queen) Text: Almost anything.
Xavier (Professor X) Text: Ororo?
Kate (Red Queen) Text: What?
Ororo (Storm): What?
Kurt (Nightcrawler): What?
Shawn (Black King) Text: Unexpected, even I was not willing to go there.
Xavier (Professor X) Text: I mean any thoughts of Ororo as an Ambassador?
Emma (White Queen) Text: Of course you did Charles.
Kurt (Nightcrawler): A good choice, worthy of discussion and consideration.
Shawn (Black King) Text: No. Ororo is a worthy woman, but I would not support any member of the Quiet Council.
Bennet du Paris (Exodus) Text: In this I agree with the Black King.
Erik (Magneto) Talk: What is your reasoning?
Bennet du Paris (Exodus) Text: Arakko is an unknown. I have concerns that anybody we send may become compromised or seek personal power opportunities. They will have their own telepaths, and power structures. Anybody sent must be beyond temptation, and manipulation. No need to dangle temptation before those who may wish to empire build. As such Tomi Shishido, may his resurrection be successful, would likewise not get my vote due to his prior history.
Xavier (Professor X) Text: He died for us, for Krakoa.
Bennet du Paris (Exodus) Text: None the less.
Kate (Red Queen) Text: Then Illyana may be a good chance. Her mental shields and the fact she does rule an entire dimension.
Nathaniel (Mister Sinister) Text: Really? The one who just recently became a zombie queen and declared all to be her slaves?
Kurt (Nightcrawler): She was under an enchantment. She recovered after it ended.
Nathaniel (Mister Sinister) Text: Why, if the enchantment had not so fortuitously ended when it did, I fear we would observed our esteemed council member Nightcrawler, and his member, engaged in the act of coitus with her for all to see. Tsk tsk, and there were children present. I fear the poor urchins would have been scarred for life.
Xavier (Professor X) Text: Nathan, I think you are veering off the topic of discussion.
Nathaniel (Mister Sinister) Text: Perhaps, but this is so much more deliciously fun. Suddenly, I wonder as to alternate reasons for Kurt's nom de plume. Nightcrawler does refer to a worm, but add a space and night crawler becomes so… carnal.
Kurt (Nightcrawler) Text: Enough, back to the topic of Arakko.
Nathaniel (Mister Sinister) Text: How quick you flee the topic of Magik. And after she confessed her lust for you. After all I (with my dashing goatee), and so many others, were there, and her words, I quote, were "Dashing blue demon boy, you will serve me most of all as I found your appearance to be…" but then it twas midnight and our Cinderella regressed to her prior form sans any public copulation. I confess her words makes me wonder as so many think she's more of a woman in comfortable shoes kind of person. Any… hookups after the fact Kurt?
Kate (Red Queen ) Text: Yana was under the influence of that weird staff.
Bennet du Paris (Exodus) Text: Apart from some slight disappointment as to not being selected for special duties, as I was denoted to be just a common slave, did she not state afterwards "I regret nothing." Kurt my fine fellow, I recommend you follow up that statement, and opportunity, in private of course.
Kurt (Nightcrawler) Text: Stop all of you… just stop.
Nathaniel (Mister Sinister) Text: Perhaps you should check with your Mother Kurt. Mystique must have all kinds of birds and the bees advice, although in this case it is demon and mutant, but yet another situation she does have first hand knowledge about. Hmm… but now I wonder just who is more… demon? Just imagine the possibilities.
Raven (Mystique) Text: Return to the original topic or I shall amuse myself with you Nathan. And by amuse I mean in learning just how many cuts would it take to bleed you dry.
Kate (Red Queen ) Text: I like Yana.
Bennet du Paris (Exodus) Text: Of course you do. It's not like we don't all know. But I commend you for your willingness to publicly state it and come out. But that does perhaps raise issues with Kurt if he is going to pursue the Magik opportunity?
Raven (Mystique) Text: I recall that Kitty… oops, Kate, always had a bit of a crush on Kurt so less of an obstacle then you might think.
Bennet du Paris (Exodus) Text: Thanks for the clarification, relationships are oh so open now on our island, as Logan/Jean/Scott/Emma have shown us. So a threesome? Or are others involved as well?
Kate (Red Queen) Text: What?
Nathaniel (Mister Sinister) Text: You're not fooling anybody Kate. We all know.
Text from Kitty: Know what?
Bennet du Paris (Exodus) Text: You are supposedly, or so I've been told, an endless fount of queer subtext on your interactions with other women.
Raven (Mystique) Text: Yes, quiteclear to some.
Nathaniel (Mister Sinister) Text: Most obvious to me.
Kurt (Nightcrawler) Text: What?
Kate (Red Queen) Text What?
Ororo (Storm): What?
Emma (White Queen) Text: Sigh… stop by Kate, I shall illuminate what the others are hinting at.
Shawn (Black King) Text: Again some of us are going off topic. The details of what sexual practices Kate engages in and with whom is not the current item on the table.
Kate (Red Queen) Text: What?
Erik (Magneto) Text: To return to the actual reason for this group text, I would mention that Bei, the bride of Douglas, is by her very presence a sort of ambassador, and a definite source of intelligence for Arakko as to the workings of our society.
Nathaniel (Mister Sinister) Text: Don't forget bedroom talk, so much can be learned from pillow talk.
Shawn (Black King) Text: Likewise others may/will come. Some under official pretense, others covertly. A series of policies will be needed from the Quiet Council.
Xavier (Professor X) Text: Henry (Beast) and the others of the Intelligence and Monitoring staff have been notified and will be watchful.
Erik (Magneto) Text: The issue of immortality will come up. We have it, they likely do not, apart from some who are long lived. This… will cause both internal issues within Arakko, as well as with Krakoa. With that will cause conflict if not properly handled.
Shawn (Black King) Text: I suggest that controls be imposed upon any travel between Arakko and Krakoa. To be worked out with the controlling powers of Arakko.
Xavier (Professor X) Text: Regrettably I agree at this time.
Kate (Red Queen) Text: What makes you thing that Yana's hasn't already been there?
Raven (Mystique) Text: Has anybody told her not to travel there?
Xavier (Professor X) Text: Um….
…
End of intercept.
Part 59c: X Desk
Well… shit was the operative word.
Question: What's worse then an island of mutants?
Answer: Two islands of mutants. And the second one makes the first look positively benign.
Part 59d: Arakko?
Damn... this place is a blast. Thought Illyana. Such… fun. My kind of fun!
