Seeds of Change

[NPC]

The city below, if it could still be called that, was desolate. The power which had summoned him here was not the Nullifier; it was the residual leftovers of a massive nuclear attack. What was left of the city far worse than depressing, this island was a wasteland where once a paradise stood.

It never ceased to amaze the Surfer how intelligent sentient creatures could wage such hate filled sufferings upon one another. How the intelligent races of the universe could war with each over, could hate within and out their species. It was times like this, sights as horrifying as this which made him long even more for Zenn-La. He wondered why all races could not attain the same level of enlightenment as that from which he came.

The Silver Surfer, Herald of the Great and Terrible Galactus, stood in still silence atop his space board as a mute witness to the irradiated Island of Genosha. How he both hated and loved mankind so. They were capable of such passion, such love and happiness and yet at the same time such fury and rage as to burn the blood in his veins to cinders. So like himself while at the same time so different. To his people he was a great scientist, a man of great peace and yet unlike the others of Zenn-La he had, deep in his heart, a passion and a fury kept secret to all but Shalla Bal, his beloved. It was this passion and fury which set him apart, which caused him to confront Galactus and thus become the Surfer.
Below he could see survivors, Mutants and even some Humans moving among the crumbling roads and burnt out buildings. These were the true children of the atom. These men, women and children seemed to be the forgotten survivors of an uncaring people and this above all angered the Surfer. How could the nations of this world or even the so called heroes of earth had left these people here to either die in the deadly radiation left by this unspeakable attack or live out short lives in the squallier of such a dead zone.

It just made no sense…

[nimrod]

There is but a flash of white light. Above this Surfer outside of his vision. The Nimrod unit levitates soon gauging the radiation below him as not a threat. Yet there were minimal mutant threats all about him. When he alligned the data from some GPS satellite, and came to the decision of his destination. Nimrod took in a sight of pure perfection. The innevitable fate of the Earth's life, the mutant life. All of it was in his eyes destined to decimation. Slowly levitating down he watched some straggling family of mutates wandering blindly in the dirt. As did all the filth which was impure and often infectious.

After seeming to enjoy the sights. By whatever mechanized mind was meant to. There is the grief and shame in knowing his other half did take pride in life's suffering. The Nimrod dismissed the weaker half's sense of morality for it was useless to the mission. Instead, he turned about to the Surfer to inform him of the news.

Holding a moment, it had suddenly realized a great change of events. This Surfer whom looked onto the madness below seemed very different than before. His facial expressions were solid and hidden. Yet the simplest crease in any face that shows emotion tells many truths. One it had just felt pride for knowing. In his silent, emotionless metal gaze few could tell the dark thoughts behind the machine. It told Surfer, "I contacted the heroes of this world. They already know of an anomaly and are on route. However, there is a concern."

Nimrod replays the informitive hologram from his chest. Where Spider-man refuted the idea of Galactus willingly leaving Earth. Then the image of Ms. Marvel arguing that Galactus might turn in on his word for hunger. "The Heroes are very prone to conflicts. I am finding it more likely that they will attack this Galactus with the Nullifier if or when found. What would be your decision on this, Ally?"

Nimrod had to admit by Surfer's will to pity the pitiful. It was possible, if. Just if. He feared these heroes of this world that the Surfer would be capable of a doublecross. Or some other means that will allow Nimrod that perfect chance to copy this Nullifier. Something of a pipe dream it obtained recently.

"The device is in a territory called 'The Savage Land.' which is in the southern pole. If we go the heroes will arrive shortly. They are in transit and may already be upon the territory. For the time being, they assume us as accomplices for the Galactus. We will not be given quarter, I was in fact attacked by the leader of mutant resistance Magneto."

Nimrod turned his eyes back to the insects. Lord, it would be a good thing to wipe them from this world. All mutates, in time. For now much was residing on the Surfer. He looked back at Surfer awaiting any response. Possibly a order to move out and meet the heroes. They would not deny their actions. What happened is all truth. Merely, the partial truth.

[NPC]

The Surfer did not move nor acknowledge the machine as he appeared and hovered above the decimated island. He did hear all that it had to say but for a moment he was lost in his own thoughts. He did not know who had perpetrated this atrocity. Was it another war among countries? Was it another of the long line of humanities race wars or religious confrontations?

He wanted to know...

“Machine… what do you know of this island.” He was wasting time yes but part of him, a nagging need to understand why a person or persons would do this to a whole large community of people. He could understand the hatred of one man against another. In his time as both Norrin Radd and The Silver Surfer he had felt hatred and anger towards individuals but never towards a whole race bar the Brood whose existence was not singular but communal in nature. Humanity was not of a hive mind, not all could be blamed for the crimes of one or few… what could have warranted this devastation.

He needed to know…

[nimrod]

The Nimrod saw no importance in this knowledge. Yet, the Surfer wished it. Seeming to know that without his help he was undoubtedly stranded. Nimrod began downloading information within the moment. What information he obtained was mixed. As is common... humans and their need to diversify things. Lord it made it hard to gather facts.

After sifting a load of digital information. Nimrod told Magneto, "What I have found is that the information gathered is used in a number of means. The attack on this island was caused by a terrorist group, that forged personnel files to infiltrate a facility. The information on the group is diversed into being a mutant renegade, anti-mutant propaganda forums and a restrained force. There was a massive attack that left most mutants on Genosha filed under lost/deceased by public."

He turned down again. Shame... it'd been nice if the Sentinels di... wait.... why didn't they? This did not...

Suddenly, Nimrod's form shifted in and out, like a shifty screen. It happened fast. It was a buzzy sound, where he was gone and appeared again. Caused by the severe fluxuations of his time line and this one furthering from one another. Nimrod stood silently as he compairs the timeline of his world, and this world... by main events correlating mutants. It is then he narrowed his visors coming to notice several key differences.

That was bad. Really bad. He turned down and told Surfer. "I have come to a realization, Surfer. We have not much time to act." Nimrod informed the Surfer. "This island is a victim. Without its Magneto it was destroyed. That is what all my sources say. The Magneto failed to protect this place and because of it the island was destroyed. There have been no attempts to return to the island or save lost people. I suspect that The Magneto now leader to the X-men, has chose his path there rather than this people's leader."

It was then he said something that, even he was later to realize fairly shocking.

"Mortal life forms like mutants and humans. Always are capable of sacrificing life for the basic need of survival. No matter the cost of many lives if one believes they can survive. At cost of minimal life. Then it is acceptable. After all that is why in my world Sentinels are made."

[NPC]

If the Surfer could still weep he would have for these the unfortunate survivors of a nuclear holocaust did not deserve their fate. But he could not shed a single tear for them and in this he saw, as in most massacres, the hand of fate.

"One wonders if this island, these people, were destined to such an existence. If this cataclysm was meant to be or if it could have been averted." He looked to Nimrod to see if there could be seen any emotion in the automatons features then went on. "Ostensibly then one wonders if the fate of this world, its eventual destruction can thusly be averted. Can we or any of the so called heroes of this world truly save it? In that said same logic so we even have the right too?" Once again he looked to Nimrod, half expecting an answer and half not.

This though had been a question had asked himself many times in both his adventures in the space ways and as the herald of Galactus. Who was he to interfere with fate?

[nimrod]

To that logic Nimrod understood. For Logic was in his way the utter truth. A simple answer was always the best. Yet can one simply answer the dilemma of life? Nimrod was not fast with his answer, it was a logic question. The worst kind. Was life worth saving? In his mind it was, in his programming only humanity. Falling short of a good answer the Nimrod formed the best sense it could with aid of the other mental form within its shell.

"If one does not try, then one can not see a future at all. If life has not the chance to change then it only ends. In ending, life may never truly become what it's full potential should be. The only way good can be part of that potential, is if there are good role models for the youth, for in the end it is the next generations that grow which will change this world."

After that. Nimrod stood there blankly. IT did not understand anything, it just said. Why? Because it was not able to understand it, it was illogical, it was emotional and more importantly even when it spoke, it sounded... saddened. Yet after its words of such drive, the Nimrod was once more monotone and senseless with, "My mission is to protect the future. I can not allow the Galactus to harm it."

[NPC]

“The device is not here, that much I am certain. Yet I cannot leave these people here to suffer like this. It would mean that their future would end, if this was but a random attack of terrorism as you say then can one honestly say that this was their fate or some cruel twist that shattered their lives irrevocably?” The Silver Surfer looked to Nimrod again not expecting the answer then hovered down lower towards the island where several mutants looked up to him in awe and fear as if he were some god come to finish the job of the bombs which fell. “We cannot take them with us, time does not allow that but I have the power to reverse the radioactive fallout left behind in their destructions wake. Do you possess a similar degree of power? If so then you may help me… if not… I will do this alone and then we will move one.”

Once he was in range that his voice could be heard by those below he stopped. “I am the Silver Surfer. I am the Herald of Galactus. This world may end soon but I am here to help avoid that fate. If I am successful I would be of sounder mind if I knew your people were safe and healthy… I will help you if you wish. I only ask that you remember this kindness and do not seek revenge on those who have wronged you. Revenge will only breed more pain and it will mean the gift I give you now is worth nothing.” He called out as the people cowered in fear and pain.

Quickly he moved across the island, his hands outstretched to the wasted land before him. He concentrated and called upon the power cosmic that was his. From his hands and board a silver light of blinding potency shown out upon the land as he moved across it, washing over it like waves on a beach and in its wake dispelling the deadly radiation which marred Genosha and its people. With help this would take moments, without it would be much slower yet this process would speed up the healing of this island, its lands would in time become fertile once more, its cities repaired and with its people healed it would live once more. He only hoped that this life he gave them now would be of benefit to the world and not a curse.