Synopsis / Summary / Plot
The Eternals attacked the mutants of Krakoa because the mutant X-gene derives from the Deviants, and their recent achievement of effective immortality marks them out as Excess Deviancy which the Eternals are compelled by their Celestial makers to root out. But a small group of Eternals conspired with the Avengers to turn the dead Celestial named Progenitor that was Avengers North Pole HQ into a new living Celestial who called a halt to the war. But unfortunately it then declared that it would judge all the inhabitants of Earth - human, mutant, Eternal and Deviant - and if on balance they were found wanting it would destroy them all.
At the Pole the Eternal priest Ajak tries to convince herself that this is a test because her newly-created god would not be so unjust. Her fellow priest Makkari reminds her that the Celestials have made such judgements in the past. Ajak tries to shift the blame to using Tony Stark as the basis for the god's nervous system. Captain America tries to turn their thoughts to solving the problem ... and Progenitor decides *he* will be the 1st to be judged. It describes Cap as an inspiration for America, the world-leading country. But that world is in a bad way and getting worse, so it adjudges Cap a failure.
The 6 ordinary humans the Celestial made us aware of last issue react in different ways to a broadcast of Cap urging people to remain calm. Except of course 1 of the 6 died last issue to facilitate the rebirth of the Eternal Syne of the Hex, and it is his widow who hears the message.
Druig, the latest Prime Eternal, was the 1 who organised the attack on the mutants to cement his authority. Now he consults with his 'grandfather' Uranos imprisoned in the Exclusion about the latest events. Uranos quite likes this new Celestial, the world needs cleansing. Druig has had Jack Of Knives spying on the Avengers and he's reported on the judgement on Captain America. Uranos' response is that the Eternals need to prove that they aren't failures by fulfilling the original Celestial edict by eradicating Excess Deviation, which Uranos as usual interprets as all Deviants and all mutants. But it suits Druig just to renew the assault on Krakoa. And he's certainly not going to let Uranos out (again).
In their bunker at the Pole the Celestial's architects (Ajak, Makkari, Iron Man, Phastos the Eternal smith, and the mutant Mister Sinister who the 2 priests kidnapped to help them) are conferring over tactics. Tony Stark says there is an internal node in the Celestial that if hit hard enough will cause the space god to fall apart. Ajak is horrified at this blasphemy. Phastos is worried that it would explode and cause immeasurable damage to the world. The priestly duo say they must find another way, and leave them to it. When they're gone Phastos says that they *should* kill the Progenitor if they can do it safely. But he must leave IM and Sinister to do it secretly because if any Eternals, including himself, actually *know* they're about to do it then their Celestial programming will kick in and force them to stop it.
Sinister takes the advice to heart by secretly mentally contacting Destiny on Krakoa which is under attack again by the 6 Hex monsters, armoured Eternals and Eternal psychics. She goes to inform the rest of the Quiet Council where Prof X has just been killed again and White Queen calls for a resurrected replacement. Irene Adler passes on the info about the Celestial's vulnerability. She also tells them about the risk of explosion but assures them that she hasn't seen it happening in the future. They have a vote and narrowly agree to go ahead. But Nightcrawler says they can't afford to send their best fighters away from defending the island. However Emma Frost then plays her trump card. She's been in communication with the Deviant leader Kro and they are now here to help the defence. Kro points out that their genes must be similar enough to the mutants because Krakoa let them use its portal gates.
The 5 occupants of the bunker are back together again comparing notes with a hologram of Cap. Then Ajak learns from Eternal monitors she put in the Celestial that a load of mutants are trying to infiltrate it. And Sinister pulls some wires out of a control panel which opens a hatch leading to the important node. The Celestial Protocols activate in Ajak, Makarri and Phastos and as 1 they intone "Protect Celestials".
The mutant attack force led by Jean Grey and Wolverine know they've been made so they abandon their stealth tech and launch into battle with Eternal defence forces. Exodus moves Ikaris out of the way so Marvel Girl can enter the hatch. Iron Man tries to stop her but she hits the node with a telekinetic blast. Tony lets Jean know that the result could level cities, which the Quiet Council hadn't told her about. He tries to limit the effect but the whole thing blows and they're all killed. As are lots of the nearest parts of the globe.
But then they awake to find it was all an illusion generated by Progenitor, who repeats its message to the world. It declares judgement negatively against White Queen, Destiny and her lover Mystique, but positively for Warlord Kro. It reserves judgement on the others involved. Jean Grey mentally berates Sinister while Makkari and Phastos stop Ajak from physically attacking him. Tony Stark, Cap via hologram, and Eternal Sersi who's joined them in the bunker agree that the only option left is to ensure that the world pulls together to survive the judgement. Sersi has an idea about that ...
... and she sneaks in to the Exclusion with Jack of Knives, getting past the warden Ur-Luciva. They open a cell containing someone who Sersi thinks can get the world to act in harmony. And we see that the prisoner is Eros/Starfox, ready to convince the world that all you need is love.