Exiles #60

Publisher
Marvel
Year
2005
Month
5
LastChanged
1/17/2024 9:34:40 PM
Son of Apocalypse

Summary

  Nobody who lived through it will ever forget the Age of Apocalypse, when mutant criminals tried to exterminate humans. The Pens, where Sinister experimented on mutant children (Factor X 1), is now a historic landmark (#7148). Like the Nazi death camps, they are monuments to the dead and a warning against such depravity, as a guide explains to some tourists. The Timebroker appears, followed by the Exiles; that isn't on the tour, and everyone flees. Creed and Clarice immediately know they're home, and they're not happy; the Timebroker means to punish them here, but they're surprised this universe still exists.

  Calvin realizes Beak didn't make the jump, like Heather (last iss.); the Timebroker says they were useless, and he introduces their new teammate: Holocaust, the son of Apocalypse (last seen as "Nemesis" in X-Man 44, Nov-98). Creed orders the team into defensive positions, and Clarice acquiesces to his leadership.

  Timebroker introduces himself to Holocaust, who immediately tries to kill him, but the blast does nothing because Timebroker is a figment of their collective unconscious. He takes over all the team's minds to show them this, his favorite universe, which under Apocalypse was a danger to all others. Magneto defeated Apocalypse, but the nukes that were to destroy his empire (X-Men: Omega) were diverted, and Sinister survived. The X-Men are about to confront him, but their victory will doom this universe and the effect will spread to others. Their punishment is that they have to kill the X-Men, though Holocaust will probably enjoy it. The Timebroker disappears.

  Holocaust is convinced; he knows other universes exist, and he's ready to do the job. Just kidding: he's going to claim his father's throne and defeat the usurper Sinister; he blasts the Exiles and flies away. Flying over the desert, he's glad he's no longer on that backward Earth, but he refuses to obey a "butler." He senses a familiar harmonic and locks onto it, even more important than conquering the world.

  US Air Force Research Post Bravo-Echo: Huntley reports two new contacts with familiar energy profiles at the Pens; one is now rapidly approaching. They have the M'Kraan crystal (Gambit and the X-Ternals) in the top secret lab, and he'll scuttle the facility if needed. Too slow: Holocaust crashes through the ceiling and learns the scientists don't even know what the crystal is; Huntley has his finger on the button to detonate an H-bomb but is curious to learn what Holocaust knows. He says it's a nexus of realities, where universes intersect. Magneto wanted to use it to change the past; X-Man stabbed Holocaust with a shard of it (X-Men: Omega), and they were both transported to a universe where Apocalypse was defeated. Huntley realizes you could use it to alter history; Holocaust has a second chance now. He explains his mutant power isn't the armor, but the ability to drain life energy, and Huntley withers and collapses. Next on the menu, a scientist begs for his life, saying he has information. There was a second contact, but Holocaust already knows what it is: the Tallus.

  Creed takes the team to the Bureau of Mutant Affairs and demands to see Magneto, but the receptionist says he's busy with an emergency; Creed says that's why he's there and demands she notify him he's there. Calvin tries to calm him down, but he's not their buddy. Namora doesn't know why they're still listening to the Timebroker, since he's either insane or sadistic.

  An explosion outside: Holocaust has arrived. Creed orders Namora and Calvin to attack, and for Clarice to blink his blasts back to him. But Holocaust is there to talk: between the M'Kraan crystal and the Tallus, they can free themselves from the Timebroker.

  Note: It's the 10th anniversary of the Age of Apocalypse, cf. X-Men: Age of Apocalypse '05 LS.