Chapter 134
.
Nick and Annie brought Tyrone, Claire, Elle, and Maximus to their camp. Tyrone was actually excited to meet John Brown. So many people from that time, even those who professed to believe in the abolition of slavery, harbored racist tendancies in their private lives. John Brown was one of the few people from his time who genuinly believed in racial equality. John Brown came out, with Tandy. Tandy and Tyrone hugged, each relieved to see the other.
.
John: I take it this is really your friend.
Tandy: Yeah, he helped me out back home. Made me into a better person.
Tyrone: It's good to see you again. It's also good to meet you, captain Brown.
John: Good to meet you too Tyrone. You'll have to excuse my friends, we are a bit cautious these days.
Tyrone: Yeah, I heard that you have some trouble with collaborators.
John: It's more than that. Please, you ladies and gentlemen step into my tent.
.
The six of them went into John's tent, and he explained the situation. Two of Brown's female followers stood by, as lookouts.
.
Tyrone: So, why all the precautions?
John: Perhaps you have heard about our alliance with Lenin.
Maximus: Yeah, it's a neccessary alliance right?
John: We have similar goals, similar enemies.
Tyrone: Makes sense. For all their faults the communists were the first political party whose platform included an end to lynchings.
John: Indeed, things like that, made me think an alliance was possible. Certainly neither of us were strong enough on our own. But now Lenin wishes to expand our coalition. Have any of you heard of D'Hoffryn?
Claire: I think so. Rumor was he was human, once. Sold his soul to become a vengeance demon, he eventually rose to become the top vengeance demon.
John: I cannot confirm he was once human, or that he was top vengeance demon. The fact that he calls himself a "lower being" does suggest he has superiors. I fear what might happen by allying with a vengeance demon. On the other hand, what would happen if D'Hoffryn were to ally with our enemies?
Elle: Kind of weird that Lenin wants to ally with a demon, I always heard he was an athiest.
John: Indeed, he was considered the father of athiesm in some ways. Or at least of fanatically persecuting believers. Sending them off to "re-education camps." Giving soldiers who believed in God much more dangerous duties. Perhaps this alliance was doomed from the start. The men and women of this camp, they follow me. I never wanted this kind of power. But I do not wish to fight for a vengeance demon either.
Maximus: So you're breaking away from Lenin?
John: Perhaps.
Tandy: Ty, did you come here to ask me to leave with you?
Tyrone: Yes.
Tandy: I can't leave, there's too much to do here.
Tyrone: And I won't leave you. So, I guess I'm staying. Room for me in your army?
John: Always.
Maximus: I take it you liberate people from slavery and nazism?
John: Yes.
Maximus: Do all of them want to be fighters, or do some prefer coming to Antarctica?
John: Every man and woman is free to stay and fight, or leave.
Maximus: There is mistrust of these refugees, even in Antarctica. You'll need a contact, someone who could protect them there.
Elle: Wonder who that would be. Magneto was right, you're just interested in power.
Maximus: Someone has to protect them, especially with Magneto gone.
John: I've heard of Magneto, he survived the nazi concentration camps, tried to create a homeland where mutants would be free of persecution.
Maximus: Yes, he came with us, gave his life to protect us all.
John: There were people, like you, during reconstruction. It was after my time, but I heard they were mainly interested in their own power. Still, they did help the freed slaves. They were smart enough to realize there was plenty of votes to be gained from this. They might have ben opportuists, but neccessary ones. We have heard stories of where the dead go when they die here. Noone comes out, unless Evil allows it. By that point most are so broken, they fall into the service of Evil. Recently, we have obtained intel, of how to free them from this torture chamber.
Claire: The obvious question is, how do we know it's not a trap?
John: We don't, and in fact it stands to reason that they merely want to kill us, and then break us. But if we are serious about fighting Evil, we'll need all the good soldiers we can get. We have to take our chances.
Maximus: What do you need from us?
John: I'll brief the others, but you should return to Antarctica. You were right about one thing, if nothing else. We will need allies to protect the refugees. I can tolerate you being an opportunist, but you had better deliver on your promises. Or I will show you that I am not completely oppossed to vengeance.