A Long Night For The Weary

[Beta Ray Bill]

Racing almost silently through the gleaming city tops of Coruscant, the Latverian transport Doom had only seconds ago conjured had successfully made its escape from the clutches of the Empire. It was official, the Imperials were watching his every move. They knew exactly what he was doing, but there was one thing that didn't add up. Why would Hydra be allied or even exist in the premise of such a large militant force? It wasn't possible- unless-  those Imperial forces were some storm faction. 

Doom's metal hands folded together as he thought deeply to himself. Meeting Koal once more should be top priority, especially now that Hydra made themselves present. Perhaps it is now the time for more alliances to be formed. Though, Doom knew one thing for sure Hydra being in the Omniverse meant a liability of war. 

Shifting in his ships control seat Dr. Doom brought his right gauntlet and flipped a series of switches setting a course for Koal's energy signatures. Above Victor, a monitoring screen came alive jumping to the image of what looked like a debating show. 

Three people sat on sofas across from each other. The one in the middle a hardy looking fellow with no hair smiling as the other two, male and female, argued over their topic.

The man to the right shot out his right index finger. A sneer grew on his face. 

"Alright, you can say the Avengers a force of good until the cows come home, but it doesn’t change the fact that they are masked vigilantes and our government does not condone them. It's illegal! Best of all it's preposterous! And to even think the fact of letting some man or women in a cape decide what's good or bad is purely fascist. What we need are real Imperial cops with real badges and training!" The man shouted standing up from his seat.

Doctor Doom's eyes behind his metal mask narrowed toward the view screen. 

"Then clearly you're blind! They have done nothing but good to this Omniverse. The Avengers is only here to help the people and they aren't tied up in the political affairs of the many factions that dot the verses. And the last time I checked the Empire was having trouble trying to get that prison riot under control."

"What you're saying is treason!" 

"No! Is it wrong for us to want the betterment of all? The Avengers-"

The view screen cracked with electricity and smoke steamed from the blast hole Doctor Doom created. Lowering his clenched fist he brought both his hands back together. Continuing to plot together piece by piece a plan. A new one at that, one that was carefully outputted. One with utmost caution for now the Earth's Mightiest Heroes are once again the enemy. 

"The Avengers here in the Omniverse? Bah. It seems where ever I end up, so-called heroes are there to tamper with things they don't even understand. Well then, if the Earth's Mightiest Heroes are here they will soon know that their impending doom is only inevitable. For now and then ever onward will no one be able to stop DOCTOR DOOM." 

-

"Haha! You've had quite an adventure  Koal. You know I like a man who enjoys a bit sport." 

"Charmed." 

"Why don't you two get a room?" Tobias said, turning away from Koal and his partner. 

"So what exactly are you two doing here knee deep in the Empire?"  Koal said taking a swig of whiskey from his shot glass.

Sarah ignoring the answer shifted her head as if something caught her eye.  

"Sarah?"

"Hm, I'm sorry, don't look now but it looks like tall, brooding, and scary sitting at that table behind us is gawking,"  Sarah said turning her attention back to Koal giving him a smile. 

"What?" 

Turning around Koal narrowed his violet eyes at the large figure sitting in the corner of the pizza shop. The man was large sporting a black suit and fedora but his face, it was clouded by the corner's shadows. The man was doing a great job at hiding it. 

"Hey, honey if you're looking for something why don't you just ask?" 

"Of course my dear, it is only that I inquiry if that is the way you converse to all those of a higher stature? As if we are simply plebeians in the same way? It does not matter, I merely wish to confabulate with Mr. Lynch."

Turning to Tobias a confused look grew on Sarah's face.

"What did he just say?" 

Koal stepped off of his bar stool making his way to the strange man before taking a chair in front of him. 

"Doom is that you?" 

The figure tilted his head forward revealing a steel mask. 

"In the flesh." 

Koal's face grew to a sneer. 

"You son of a bitch! You have a lot of nerve showing your face." Flashing his fangs he put both hands on the table. "You left Luci as she died, you left us! give me one reason-" 

"Doom- I had a deal with Luci. In a simple parlay, we both agreed to gain something in that... Heist. She would give me the means to power my army, my Doombots and I was to give access to a group of them." 

Koal cocked his right eyebrow. 

"So went to fulfill your end in a bargain?"

"Of course I did. Doom is not some common criminal I always honor my end." Doom said letting out a low sigh. "Koal I'm not here to argue over the many things I do. My old friend  and son, I was never given the chance to have I've come with a favor to ask." 

“A favor. Oh, yeah. You get to leave and fabricate some story about fulfilling a deal, but how the hell do you expect me to trust you, Doom?!

Doom's narrowed before letting his head down. 

"If you insist." He said lifting his head back up and taking a moment to collect his thoughts. 

"In my world, I am considered to many evil by my actions. There are men and women my world, as how laughable as it is, who are what some would call superheroes. There are many in my world and they as so many people don't understand my actions. The many that were always there to... save the world from me. The two I'll indulge you in are the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. The Fantastic Four were my most hated of enemies, especially that accursed Richards. You will not have to worry about them for I suspect that they are not in the Omniverse, but the Avengers, however, they are here in this very Omniverse and I need you Koal to spy on them." 

“What? You want me to spy? For what?”

"Because they can not stop my plans. Koal they do not understand my actions. My actions are justified, for I have seen many realities and only but one does not lead to destruction. That world is the world where I rule. Do you understand my friend?" 

“I... will help you. This time. You’ve got my support, but you’ll have to earn my trust back. Now, where do I need to go?”

"To tier one they are currently in a fight and, Koal one more thing." Doom reached into his overcoat taking out a thumb drive and tossing to Koal. Catching it in his right hand Koal studied it. 

"What is it?" 

"Simply a flash drive. Consider it a gift. You'll find the files inside it to be to your liking, I call it operation Demon's Pride."