Appearing in "Part 6:The Devil’s Party"
Featured Characters:
- Black King (Sebastian Shaw) (Main story and flashback)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Progenitor (Impersonates Mystique, Emma Frost, Hellions, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Stepford Cuckoo, and Emma's dead students)
Other Characters:
- Doctor Stasis (Mentioned)
- Avengers
- Eternals
- X-Men
- Beast (Dr. Hank McCoy)
- Wolverine (Logan)
- Hellions (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Ellie Phimister) (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Stepford Cuckoo (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Jacob Shaw (Only in flashback)
- Uranos (Mentioned)
- Legion (David Haller) (Mentioned)
- Black Knight (Eobar Garrington) (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- God (Invoked)
- Five (Mentioned)
- Harry Leland (Voice only)
- Sage (Mentioned)
- Orchis (Mentioned)
- Sentinels (Mentioned)
- Angel (Warren Worthington III)
- Black Queen (Selene Gallio) (Mentioned)
- Mother Righteous
Races and Species:
- Mutants (Main story and flashback)
- Eternals
- Celestials
- Humans
- Demons (Illusion or holographic simulation)
Locations:
- Sol (Main story and flashback)
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
- Iceland (Mentioned)
- United States of America
- Pennsylvania (Only in flashback)
- Pittsburgh (Only in flashback)
- New York
- Pennsylvania (Only in flashback)
- United States of America
- Arakko (Mentioned)
- Hell (Mentioned)
Items:
- Iron Man Armor Model 70
- X-Uniforms
- Captain America's Uniform and Shield
- Mjolnir
- Black Knight Armor (Illusion or holographic simulation)
Synopsis for "Part 6:The Devil’s Party"
As the Progenitor unleashes its judgement upon the world, Destiny is contacted by Mr. Sinister, who had been kidnapped by rebel Eternals and forced to help construct the Progenitor. Sinister tells Destiny of the Progenitor's plan to judge the population of Earth, and the low chances that Earth will pass, and also informs her that the Progenitor has an "off-button", which could destroy it though with the risk of destroying Iceland. While the Avengers and Eternals either do not wish to destroy the Progenitor or do not wish to take the risk, Sinister encourages her to use her powers to ensure the Quiet Council votes to destroy the Progenitor.
With her gift of precognition, Destiny ensures the ideal conditions for passing the vote come into being. Krakoa launches an attack that seemingly works, destroying the Progenitor at the cost of Iceland, but this is quickly revealed to be just another test from the Progenitor, which the assailants have now failed. The Progenitor appears before Destiny in person, and while Destiny attempts to defend her decision, the Progenitor judges her, not for risking Iceland, but for lying about her powers to cause the future she desired to come into being, and for her fear of losing her wife Mystique.
Some time later, the Quiet Council convenes to discuss their failure and their coerced participation in the Progenitor's judgements. Emma Frost reveals that she was judged, and also found wanting, for abstaining during the vote in order to play both sides. Kitty Pryde reveals that she passed, though she is unsure why, Professor X muses that because of the telepathic strain he is under due to combating the Uni-Mind, he would most likely not even notice if the Progenitor tried to judge him, and Mystique reveals that she failed, though refuses to provide more details. The rest of the council have not been judged.
As he listens to the others speak, Sebastian Shaw's mind begins to drift, and he remembers a scene from his childhood, when he excitedly tried to share an achievement with his father, only for his father to yell at him, asking why Sebastian should take priority over his father's important work, and telling him to come back when he has something to offer, prompting a weeping Sebastian to leave.
Years later, when Sebastian was an adult and had made his first million dollars, he visited his father's grave and burned the money, declaring that he'll make more, and musing that while the medieval church once allowed the living to pay off the sins for the dead, Sebastian wished for his sacrificed money to keep the hellfire his father surely dwelt in burning nice and hot.
As the council meeting continues, Sebastian demands action, and when Emma informs the council that she has been contacted by another faction of Eternals hoping to end the war, Sebastian pounces on the opportunity and offers to handle it, telling the council that while they may not all trust him, they can trust him to make a good deal. The council agrees, but the meeting is abruptly disrupted as the Progenitor arrives to judge Exodus, appearing as a demonic creature. After considering the situation, Sebastian saves Exodus, who passes his judgement, as he knows that they cannot afford to lose one of their heavy hitters in a time of crisis.
As Shaw prepares for the meeting with the Eternals, he receives a message with a business opportunity; an Orchis shell account looking for investments to produce a new generation of anti-mutant weapons. Shaw, who muses on his role in creating the Sentinels, orders his underlings to purchase every share they can, fully aware this was a test by the Progenitor. Shaw, having expected the Progenitor to appear to him as his father, is surprised and angered that it appears to him as Emma Frost. He angrily dismisses the Progenitor's judgement as it fails him, responding that he gave his fealty to hell long ago and will gladly burn when his time comes.
Shaw's meeting with Starfox goes splendidly. Afterwards, having investigated Selene's reanimation of the External Gate, Shaw deduced she had made a deal with a new player. Shaw summons this new player, the mysterious being known as Mother Righteous, and asks to make a deal.
Solicit Synopsis
STAND FOR JUDGMENT – AN A.X.E. TIE-IN!
Judgment comes and the Quiet Council grows suspiciously quiet. An exception: Do you think a man so devoted to the Hellfire cares one jot? Let’s find out.