HOPE SUMMERS: Page 10 of 10

Publication Date: 29th Apr 2021
Written By: Monolith and Ruth.
Image Work: Douglas Mangum.
Biography

Biography page 10

An unprecedented event in mutant history came when Charles Xavier and Magneto reunited to change all the rules. They founded a new mutant homeland in the living island known as Krakoa. With mutant scientists working with the sentient isle, revolutionary pharmaceutical drugs were cultivated on Krakoan soil, allowing the nation of Krakoa to essentially buy their way into legitimacy as a recognized country of the United Nations. All mutants, past and present, allies or otherwise, were offered citizenship and clemency for past crimes on Krakoa. But the truly game-changing development came from the idea of mutant technology (several mutants using their powers together to achieve a greater effect), and Hope Summers became a pioneer of that field. By conquering death itself.

Krakoa brought about a group known as the Five, teaming Hope Summers with Tempus, Elixir, Goldballs and Proteus in a fantastical union. Goldballs (reasonably enough) had the power to create golden balls conjured from inert biological matter. Possessing mutant DNA, they were effectively non-viable eggs. Proteus (an Omega-class reality warper) could act upon these eggs to make them viable for sustaining life. Krakoa’s new ally of convenience, Mister Sinister, had a storehouse of genetic samples from every known mutant. Elixir could use his Omega-class bio-kinesis to bind a specific mutant’s genetic sample to an egg, causing a duplicate biological husk of that mutant to grow within. Cloning, by nature, is an unstable process because it requires artificial age acceleration to produce an adult body. Tempus was a mutant with the power to control temporal progression, however, and so the husks could reach optimal aging through her power without the dangers of cellular acceleration.

The unique synergy of these various, unconnected mutant abilities was only possible thanks to Hope Summers. Hope had always been inherently connected to the mutant race in her role as the messiah, beyond ever her influence on the Lights. Her ability to augment and manipulate the powers of others had always seemed secondary to her ability to manifest others’ powers herself. Now, Hope became the central link that brought together the Resurrection Five and their abilities to create new bodies for dead mutants on command. Professor Xavier had been planning for this day for years, and used Cerebro to constantly create brainwave pattern copies (back-ups) for mutants around the world. The Five could create the bodies and Xavier could restore their minds up to the last back-up. In this way, mutants of the world no longer needed to fear death. [House of X #5]

The cultural significance of the Five had placed them at the center of Krakoan society. Because most of the Five are among the younger mutants in age, they live in the Akademos Habitat collection of biomes on Krakoa. Their quarters, the Pod, are shared only by the Five. The Resurrection Protocols have created a deeper sense of community and fellowship among the Five. Indeed, they are now rarely apart from one another for long. This is not just personal preference, but the practical demands of their job. The number of mutants who died in the Genoshan massacre alone would take years to resurrect at the Five’s current pace. Most of their time is spent at the Arbor Magna hatchery where the eggs cultivate in Krakoa’s soil before husks become viable. X-Factor Investigations has been established to field death confirmation reports and help regulate the resurrection queue so the Five can focus on the act itself. There is some evidence to show the Five have bonded together in ways that are unexpected, perhaps even unhealthy, but more may be revealed in time.