Chapter 135
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Note: Xerxos was a minor character from "Hercules the legendary journeys."
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Over the next few days, the group waited in John Brown's camp for news of Magneto. Finally, they heard where he was being held. John's source, a man named Xerxos. Xerxos prepared to tell what he knew, and his price. But first John Brown wanted to know exactly who Xerxos was. He might very well decide that allying with Xerxos was a neccessary evil. But he was not going into this alliance blind, he was going in with his eyes wide open.
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John: Before we do business, I want to know who you are, specifically how you wound up in Hell.
Xerxos: You first.
John: Very well, I was an abolitionist, dedicated my life to ending slavery. Towards that end, I did some violent things. I fought in the Bleeding Kansas conflict. When the pro-slavery forces massacred an abolitionist town, me and my followers retaliated. We killed five prominent pro-slavery men, we did not give them quick deaths. I tried to encourage a slave rebellion in the south, we failed. Our cause was noble, our methods were ruthless. Apparently the good lord felt we deserved to be in Hell for that. Tell me, why are you in Hell.
Xerxos: I was, I believe the term now would be, serial killer. My first victims were my own parents. I was 16 at the time, became the first juvenile ever sentanced to death. I escaped, after that I was blamed for every murder that went unsolved. Truth is, I actually was responsible for more than a few of those murders. Hercules brought me back for my execution. Hades decided that I was too evil, even for Tartarus.
John: I can understand his logic.
Xerxos: I was sent to Hell, not too different from this place. But, eventually Evil trusted me too torture the recently deceased. Magneto was sent to me, I can help you free him.
John: And what price would I have to pay?
Xerxos: Just take me, and a few of my friends, home with you to Antarctica.
John: Your friends, are they sadistic murderers like yourself?
Xerxos: They were, but they're not interested in doing that again. We just want to escape from this place.
John: And I'm suppossed to trust that you won't commit murder again.
Xerxos: You want our help, that's our price. Consider this, we stay here, we have no chance of atoning for our past sins. Which side do you think we'll be on in the final battle? We go there, we have a chance of atoning, and being on the side of Good for the final battle.
John: Or you kill others, send them here, and some of those souls end up fighting for Evil in the final battle.
Xerxos: Isn't it always a numbers game? Doesn't every decision have potential risks and rewards?
John: I supposse they do. This is one difficult decision a leader must make.