Chapter 30
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Professor Xavier had offered his services as a mediator to help solidify the alliance with Attilan. Thus far he had been able to negotiate with the leaders of other nations to become allies against Galactus. President Kelly wasn't exactly eager to ally with Phoenix, who had kidnapped the vice-president. But if Galactus really posed as big a threat to Earth, than they didn't have time for personal grudges. Creed however seemed more bent on revenge than ever before. He even claimed that Galactus was just a myth, something Kelly and the mutants made up to bring about a one world government. His followers had never been big on logic, they seemed to believe whatever idiotic conspiracy theory allowed them to have their hatred. But despite this most people, including most Americans, were more afraid of Galactus than of mutants. Mutants were slowly, but surely, becoming more accepted by the majority of Americans. The election between Kelly and Creed happened peacefully. Kelly won more than 60% of the popular vote, and 351 electoral votes. But Creed refused to concede defeat, he just pushed baseless conspiracy theories about the election being stolen. He claimed that inhumans from Attilan were voting illegally for Kelly. Despite many lawsuits and independent audits no evidence was found of illegal voting or stolen votes. On January 6th Congress convened to officially certify that Kelly had won the election. Normally the vice-president would certify the results. Every vice-president since John Adams had done this, even when it meant that their part, even themself, had lost the election. Creed refused to commit himself to even the honesty and honor of Richard Nixon, instead of simply confirming the results and leaving with as much dignity and class as possible he doubled down on claiming it was a stolen election. He encouraged his followers to "Fight like Hell." Kelly and the mayor of DC were forced to call in the National Guard and even sentinels to provide extra security for the confirmation. It was ironic, sentinels were now being used to defend Congress as they certified that Kelly, a pro-mutant politician, had been re-elected. But than most sentinels, Ben Riley not withstanding, were merely robots, incapable of free will or independent thought. They just followed whatever orders they were given. Rather than go into Congress and fulfill his duties Creed spoke at a nearby rally, riling up his followers even more. When he told them to march on the Capitol, they obeyed. The sentinels saw this mob coming, many were chanting about murdering members of Congress who'd pledged to certify the election. A few were even trying to build a makeshift gallows for this hanging. Some of these insurgents were even carrying swastikas and saying "Hitler was right about mutants." Although Creed and some of his allies had at times denounced Hitler and the Holocaust, in the end it seemed that they liked what Hitler stood for, they just didn't like the word "Nazi." The sentinels saw these traitors as threats to members of Congress, and they opened fire. Over 100 of these traitors were killed before the others could flee. Creed was among those killed. Whether the sentinels saw him as a threat or their firing system malfunctioned, subsequent investigations would have to determine that. With the vice-president dead it fell to the speaker of the House of Representatives to officially certify the election results. This she did, and Kelly was officially elected to a second term.
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Even when he was first considering running for president, Robert Kelly knew he would face hard and difficult times if he were to win. But he had underestimated just how difficult they would be. After he saw Bishop's future, he knew he had to put aside his stupid hatreds and prejudices, everyone had to come together to stop Galactus. That had not been easy, but there had been progress. Giving his heart to Jesus Christ didn't necessarily mean victory on those fronts, but it had given Robert Kelly a certain peace of mind, a certain clarity of purpose. He would need it in the days ahead. This was not the first time a new vice-president had to be chosen, but it was the first time a vice-president died commiting treason. Of course the Friends of Humanity and like-minded yahoos refused to believe that these traitors were anything but patriotic martyrs. New conspiracy theories were popping up on the internet before the bodies were even removed from the Capitol. Still, there was something ironic about sentinels being used against mutants haters. Kelly had often told professor Xavier that the president needed to appear somewhat neutral in mutant affairs, that if they were seen as too pro mutant they might not be able to do that job for much longer. Xavier often speculated that he was merely being a politician, but perhaps he was right. Xavier had seen what Graydon Creed was capable of, and he had seen what such hatred could lead to from Bishop's memories. But Creed was gone now, and the cameras clearly showed who was at fault to anyone willing to listen to the facts. Sabertooth somewhat mourned his son, but even he wasn't seeking revenge for what happened. Many were glad that Creed and over 100 of his followers were dead, even Charles Xavier wasn't sure they were wrong.
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When Amanda discovered that she was with child, she and Kurt were overjoyed. Hope was excited about being a big sister, promised to protect her little brother or sister. Hope even made a card for the new baby. But then the doctor told them some bad news, their baby had very little chance of surviving outside of the womb. The doctor recommended that she have an abortion, but Amanda coudn't bring herself to kill her unborn child. She had one idea, but it was not without its own risks. Phoenix had healed the plague, maybe they could heal what was wrong with this baby. But Phoenix was considered a traitor, asking them to come to Earth posed its own set of problems. President Kelly might be forced to work alongside Phoenix against Galactus, but that didn't mean Phoenix was exactly welcome on Earth. But Amanda was a mother fighting for her child, she would literally go to the Moon itself to protect this baby. With Kurt's help Amanda tried to telepathically contact Phoenix. She concentrated all of her mental strength to contact them, and before she knew it Amanda was on Attilan, and sure enough Phoenix was here. The citizens of Attilan were surprised to see this strange woman suddenly appear, but since it was clear that Phoenix knew her they said nothing. This was not the first time someone new came like this, it was well known that Phoenix would heal anyone who needed it. Phoenix did indeed heal Amanda's unborn child, even told her that it was a girl. Amanda made a decision on that day, to name her daughter Jean, after Phoenix's mother.