Pyrrhic

[Beta Ray Bill]

Darkness mixed with the stench from the lower levels of Coruscant. Yet again, as loathsome as it was, Dr. Doom had found himself pacing through an alleyway. By this point, it was beginning to look like a pattern. Coruscant, the crown jewel of the so-called Empire as most call it. Doom almost laughed at such a thought. The Empire, from what he had gathered from Luci and her lover Jacket, was by all economic standpoints a superpower. A force to be reckoned with but Victor could see past its guise. It was damning. Palpatine's Empire, his perfect little regime, was in the midst of a cold war. They're failing, cracking from underneath from the pressure. The cracks could not be seen by the ignorant nor what passed as scholars here. They were blind or were to entrapped in the war machine to even care. Doctor Doom's eyes were not theirs' though, his analytical mind left no stone unturned. 

There was first the issue of mass poverty. The Empire was too busy and didn't much care about such trivial things. Let the poor be damned was their most probable answer. To the faint of heart, it was a sickening thing. Those lost and bewildered by poverty, to Doom that was a sign of weakness. An error that would cost any nation a toll if there were to be any revolt. The Empire's second issue was the war front. Their policy of waiting out their enemies was sloppy, a poor tactic indeed. Do they not comprehend that their armies were far more advanced then enemies'? Were it be Doom commanding such a fighting force, he would have crushed weak and feudal army that amassed Camelot. The superiority of Doom would have been spread throughout out their streets and they would learn their most important lesson of all: Eventually, all will bow to the iron will of Doom.  

"Such thoughts as those and many others remind dearly so of my fate, the fate of destiny of course. A destiny that even in the palm of my hands was snatched away. That accursed Richards and his not so Fantastic Four have caused me such torment and pain for too long. In this Omniverse I am free of their most bothersome acts of what they call justice. How long has it been? A lifetime of hate? A lifetime of seeking the destruction of Richards?"  

An inferno raging in his eyes, Doom began pacing harder through the corridor-like alleyway. Fury built inside of him until he came to a stop. His gauntleted fingers clenched tight and his eyes narrowed as his head shifted upwards to what should have been the sky. Gutter water started to drip onto to his metal mask, only adding to his hateful rage. The sheer utterance of the Fantastic Four caused imaginary images to loom over him. They were taunting him, laughing at his failures of the past. No, never again will shadow of "The World's Greatest Heroes" be cast over him preventing his destiny, his ultimate plan. 

"Richards!" Doom shouted the sound echoing across the city walls. "It was you all along! The one I hate the most! The one who ruined my plans and damaged my near perfect face! You somehow freed Odin from his manacles. Allowing him to take his power back and leaving me to be cast out. Blackened by my actions, have it be that I suffer an eternity!" 

Dr. Doom's eyes widened.

"Koal and the others, what am I doing? They were mistaken, misguided by my actions, just as the heroes of Earth are. They do not understand that I have seen the future. A future that is riddled with despair, a future that only by my rule as there supreme leader will save it. Yes! They are my Tarrant card, my checkmate. Koal, Luci, and Jacket are the keys to creating a new Latveria. Bringing forth my unrelenting wrath upon those who are a footnote to my ever onward success. I will become a god among my fellow men I will rule, not even death nor Hell shall stop me." 

Slowly, Victor calmed himself lowering his head and losing his tension. Like a wind-up toy, Doctor Doom went back to pacing exiting out of the alleyway and unto the streets. With a flail of his forest colored cloak. He was off, his mind set on a new plan, he needed to get back to Chipra's garage.