The following contains spoilers for Marauders #6, now on sale from Marvel Comics
Thanks to the Five, numerous long-dead mutants have returned to the Krakoa era and been given major new roles. This group includes some short-lived but fascinating figures. And, these characters could quietly but surely change the future for all of Marvel's mutants.
Birdy and Somnus work together in Marauders #6 (by Steve Orlando, Andrea Broccardo, Matt Milla, and VC's Ariana Maher) to give the Marauders a bit of extended therapy. But this new development could actually be the key to helping the mutant nation move through some serious interpersonal complications that are endangering the mutant nation.
Birdy was a mutant and associate of Sabretooth. Introduced in X-Men #6 (by Jim Lee and Scott Lobdell), Birdy was a mercenary mutant, who'd found steady work alongside Sabretooth. Her powers -- a form of telepathy infused with strong empathy that she nicknamed "the glow" -- made her ideal for such a role, as she could enter Sabretooth's mind and calm the berserker when things got too out of hand. Effectively serving as a villainous answer to Jubilee in the days when she was Wolverine's sidekick. Birdy ultimately met an untimely demise at the hands of Graydon Creed, but she was one of the mutants who was revived by the Five and has found new duties in Krakoa. Her most recent assignment is to assist the Marauders in their Judgment Day tie-in and it turns out that Birdy has been more or less freelancing as a therapist for Aurora.
She's helped the Alpha Flight veteran gain a better sense of herself which allows her to operate at a better level. With the Celestial judgment hanging above them, Aurora suggests recruiting her to do the same for the rest of the team. Pryde agrees, and with the help of Somnus -- whose abilities to put people to sleep can stretch telepathic conversations from seconds to hours -- Birdy could meet with everyone and get them into the right head space to take on any threat. Most of the team quickly reveal their fears to her and -- with her help -- confront the questions posed by the Celestial. Afterward, they all feel emotionally lighter and are quick to rally behind Kate Pryde (who earned the Celestial's approval on her own) to fight for the Earth.
Birdy's powers make her the perfect therapist for the Marvel Universe, especially when paired with Somnus. The mutant technology that combines powers allows people to have major psychological breakthroughs in the time it takes to nap, and could help a lot of people. It's exactly the kind of mission statement at the heart of Nightcrawler and Legion's efforts in Legion of X -- a title Birdy has also appeared in. It's a possibly crucial means towards rehabilitation, the sort of process that could help turn more enemies of Krakoa into allies without necessarily using telepathy as a weapon.
It could also be a useful tool to force discussion and healing -- which could be a major aspect of reuniting the splintering mutant nation. The disparate motivations of forces like Mister Sinister, Sebastian Shaw, and Destiny have left the leadership of Krakoa in a state of disarray. Books like Sabretooth have shaken the faith of the populace, and figures like Charles Xavier aren't yet recognizing the importance of opening up to Krakoa's citizens. Birdy could be the ultimate peacemaker in Krakoa, visiting the minds of the inhabitants and helping them empathize with each other instead of moving into opposition against one another. Together, these two mutants could effectively force Xavier's dream to come true, and for the rivals un Krakoa to work through their motivations and problems. Birdy and Somnus could be the therapy duo to save Krakoa from itself -- and with events like Sins of Sinister coming up, those bonds might be the key to saving the Marvel Universe.