WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Inferno #2, now on sale
Inferno has been poised to radically alter the future of Krakoa and potentially break apart the major alliance of mutants that was forged at the on-set of the mutant nation. And now, a major Quiet Council member might be poised to turn on the other members of the Krakoa ruling body.
Inferno #2 (by Jonathan Hickman, Stefano Caselli, David Curiel, and VC's Joe Sabino) reveals the truth about Moira MacTaggert's multiple lives to Emma Frost -- and her furious response teases her potential role as Krakoa's ultimate wild card.
One of the greatest secrets of Krakoa has been the resurrection of Moira MacTaggert. Long-believed to be a human ally of the X-Men (and to have died during the "Dream's End" storyline), House of X and Powers of X revealed she'd secretly been a mutant all along -- capable of resurrection upon her demise, allowing her to relive her life and lead it differently. In fact, only two mutants seem fully aware of her current resurrection and role in helping craft the Krakoa nation -- Charles Xavier and Magneto. Since the formation of Krakoa, Moira has remained under the radar, operating as an ally and pouring over the Diaries of Destiny (the precog mutant she perhaps most feared would be restored and reveal the potentially doomed fate of the mutant race).
With Destiny's revival, however, Moira, Xavier, and Magneto find themselves in a precarious position. Moira is convinced that it won't take long at all for Destiny to use her powers and discover Moira's resurrection. Neither does she think will it take long for Krakoa to collapse into in-fighting. To that end, Xavier suggests bringing a new mutant into their secret circle, arguing that they can trust the White Queen to see the purpose in their actions and to be a strong enough force of will to be a crucial ally. Despite her misgivings, Moira agrees, and Emma is brought into the fold. However, she isn't as excited by the prospect (or the truth) as Xavier and Magneto had assumed she would be.
Using her telepathy, Emma witnesses the many lives (and deaths) of Moira MacTaggert, and all the attempts she made over the years to protect people through any means necessary. Emma rises to her feet, infuriated that two men she'd grown to trust and respect had betrayed that faith for some time. She confronts them on how long they've been hiding this, and is clearly furious with the deception. Moira, Xavier, and Magneto argue that by telling her the truth before anyone else, that they've shown just how much they trust in her. Emma -- recalling how they recruited her to the concept of Krakoa because it was "for the children" -- storms off, considering their arguments persuasive.
But she openly declares Xavier and Magneto arrogant fools and tells them they've lost her loyalty by keeping these secrets from her for so long -- with Moira and Xavier openly wondering if they've just made an enemy out of the White Queen. While she does ultimately vote in favor of their selection of Colossus for the open seat on the Quiet Council, there's no telling what Emma specifically has planned for next. Emma discovering the truth about Moira is a huge shift for the Quiet Council and could position the former villain to quietly begin amassing her own influence and power (much as Mystique had before her). She's also got whatever mysterious advantage Mystique gifted her with to procure her vote for Destiny's appointment to the Quiet Council, suggesting she's already got other plans in motion.
With Inferno opening on Emma Frost standing before a resurrected Xavier and Magneto, it's clear that blood is about to be shed and that the loyalties that had defined the Quiet Council are about to be tested more so than ever before. By jeopardizing Emma's loyalty to their cause, the pair may have opened a very dangerous pandora's box. There's perhaps no greater manipulator on Krakoa than Emma Frost, who can command the loyalty of many figures around Krakoa but has a history from her darker days of getting dangerous (and sometimes bloody) missions completed regardless of the morality of the situation. Emma Frost just became Krakoa's most powerful -- and potentially dangerous -- wild card, at a time when the mutant nation is already splintering apart.