Chapter 32
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The day that the whole world had long feared had now arrived. Galactus was on his way, they had only one month to prepare. President Kelly had tried to prepare for this, had gotten many nations to agree to temporary alliances. Magneto, Dr Doom, even Phoenix, they all had to work together if they were to have any chance of surviving against Galactus. They would need all hands on deck for this. Xavier traveled to Antarctica to speak with his old student Warren Worthington, hoping he could persuade some of these citizens to fight against Galactus. The Savage Land had adopted a mostly isolationist stance, most of its citizens didn't trust the outside world. Worthington had promised them sanctuary and a capitalist utopia. The rest of the world had left this place alone, so on that promise Worthington had delivered. But the Savage Land was hardly a utopia. A select few lived in great luxury, the rest mostly lived in extreme poverty. They worked twelve hours a day, seven days a week, yet could barely afford food and rent. Upward mobility was difficult or impossible. Desperate to keep idle citizens entertained and out of mischief, the government approved of great shows in the Colliseum. It included bruta fights, sometimes even to the death. In theory all the participants all chose this voluntarily, but for most of these gladiators it was their only way of providing for their children, their only hope of giving their children a better life. Their was a general feeling of apathy and hopelessness here. Theft was not uncommon, despite the harsh prison sentences for those caught. Sentences usually included becoming conscripted labor, which most knew would happen either way. There was a dark joke that your only options were to starving to death, or stealing and eventually becoming slave labor. At least with the second choice, you'd be guaranteed some food to survive, at least while you were still useful. When Xavier came to see Worthington it was clear that his former student had become a functioning alcoholic.
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Warren: Professor, it is good to see you.
Xavier: It is good to see you too my friend. I take it you've heard what's coming.
Warren: Galactus. He comes, wipes most of us out. Then Apocalypse rules the rest of the world by promising us order and food. Let me ask you one question professor. Is Apocalpse working with Galactus, or does he just take advantage of the situation after Galactus leaves?
Xavier: I don't know. Bishop says no one in his time is really certain about that part. Why do you ask?
Warren: I wonder, if all of us have fallen into his trap. If Bishop and Wolverine hadn't saved president Kelly, if the world had fallen apart then, maybe I wouldn't have been able to follow through on my plan to bring mutants to Antarctica. I wonder if we've all been pawns in Apocalpse's plans. There are rumors you know, that thousands of years ago he created this cult, they call themselves Hydra.
Xavier: I've heard of Hydra, they were a secret part of the third Reich, mainly experiments on mutants.
Warren: According to legends they are thousands of years old, technically they were just allied with the Nazies and went underground after the war. If one believes the legends, Apocalypse has been waiting underground, quietly manipulating events and waiting for the right opportunity to strike, him and his horsemen. I wonder, in a time when we all needed to be united, I helped tear this world apart.
Xavier: You did what you thought was right. Maybe it's not too late to make up for past mistakes.
Warren: I will do what I can. There is something else you should know, I have talked with Apocalypse.
Xavier: When?
Warren: Yesterday, shortly after president Kelly and Maximus warned us of the imminent arrival of Galactus. He says that he and Hydra would have as much to lose from Galactus as we do. He says he wants an alliance. A very temporary alliances, but an alliance nonetheless.
Xavier: Do you think he can be trusted, or is this whole thing just his master manipulation.
Warren: I don't know, but I think you and the other world leaders need to know about the offer.
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Maximus came to Earth with the leaders of the alien refugees, their scientists were already working together to find a way to destroy Galactus. Bishop came with the Professor to this meeting of world and extra terrestrial leaders. Professor Xavier told them of the offer from Apocalypse. The alien diplomats knew nothing of Hydra or Apocalypse, so they let the humans talk for this part of the meeting.
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Magneto: During the war, when I was his lab rat, I occasionally heard Sinister and his assistants mention Hydra. Whether it was a Nazi organization, or merely allied with them, that I couldn't say. I do find the legends, that one being or group could manipulate world events for thousands of years, I find that hard to believe. Hatred and bigotry need not rely on any one person, their ideas always survive. I speculate that he is an opportunist who took advantage of the situation after Galactus left, rather than being the cause of it.
Bishop: That is possible. From what the Wolverine in my time said, the world was in chaos even before Galactus came. There were some efforts to unite when Galactus came, but too few groups even trusted each other. It is possible that Apocalypse was one of those who tried to fight Galactus.
Kelly: What about Maximus and the alien refugees, did they offer to help as well?
Bishop: If they did, I doubt any alliance came of it. So much anti-mutant hatred, they weren't about to trust space aliens. But that was a timeline where you were assassinated Mr president, and you have done a fairly good job of trying to unite the world. Hopefully, if we can work together, there might be hope. You are the leaders, not me, if you do choose to ally with Apocalypse I will respect your choice. But I do not feel his desire for conquest will ever be abated. Know exactly who you are allying with.
Magneto: Indeed. If Hydra was not created by the Nazis, at the very least they allied with and worked with the Nazies. Are you so willing to work alongside nazies Mr president?
Kelly: It is not an easy decision to make. I am well aware that every member of this coalition comes with its own separate interests. I know that when our common threat is over, we may find ourselves at odds. On the other hand, even Nazies have everything to lose if Galactus destroys our world.
Magneto: And if Galactus is destroyed, and Hydra is still standing, what then? Are we all supposed to simply coexist together as neighbors.
Xavier: Perhaps an amnesty for surviving Hydra soldiers. Not all would neccesarily take the amnesty, but at the very least we would have fewer Hydra operatives to worry about.
Magneto: Call me biased if you must, but I do not like the idea of amnesty for Nazis.
Kelly: I don't like it either. But if Galactus succeeds there will be nothing left for any of us to fight over. I will speak with Apocalypse. I'd like you to come with me for this meeting professor, maybe give some indication about his intentions.
Xavier: I had sworn never to look into someone's mind without their consent, but these are extraordinary times. I may wish to haggle over the price, but I will agree to the bargain.
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Xavier and president Kelly spoke with Apocalypse via closed circuit television. Xavier was unable to read his mind from such a distance, he could only try and read his face as best he could. But Apocalypse had thousands of years to develop a poker face.
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Kelly: Thank you for agreeing to speak with me.
Apocalypse: Let us not waste time with pleasantries. I have as much to lose if Galactus comes as you do. Perhaps if our scientists, along with the alien scientists, work together, we might find a way to stop him.
Kelly: That is our hope yes.
Apocalypse: But make no mistake, I believe in survival of the fittest. If Galactus is truly powerful enough to destroy this planet for his own sustenance, then he should do so with no regard for who else might die, than he should do that. If we are that weak, we deserve to die. But, he must earn this, and I will not go down without a fight. So, for this and only this time, you can include me as an ally.