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.            

      

[Beta Ray Bill]

Chirpa's garage. To the naked eye, the mere auto shop was nothing special, but if one were to dig deeper and head inside... they would learn that not everything was what it seemed. Entering the sanctum revealed that there were no hovercrafts that required fixing or simple mechanic parts and tools. No, littered there were droid parts and men hard at work. Building and supplying what one could only assume was illegal in the Empire. These men, these Ewoks as Luci called them, were attuned to the gang members' every whim to create what was necessary for the Westside. 

Honestly, Doom-- to some degree-- respected her. It was a thief's honor that she managed to gain command of an entire community of vagabonds and peasants. What she was really being paid for her part was the initiation of true, raw power. A power that only one with the ability to rule was able to muster up. What is power? some would say. Is it an ability that one has the inclination to do? Or is it the capacity of one's influence over the general of others? Yes, yes! It was all of these things, but Victor knew there was more to power than just charismatic sway or skill. No one needed to be born with the natural instincts of a leader and hunger, an ambition that could never be sated. For beings such as Doom, there needed to be neither failure nor fear of death. This was the only path to absolution. The only way of Doom.


Silently as if the whole world was watching Dr. Doom made his way to the garage's entrance. A small gust of man-made wind causing his green mantle flair behind his steps. Advancing upon the entrance swung open and four tiny and yet furry individuals stepped out. Doom's eyes narrowed but still held his approach meeting the one in the middle. 

"Chirpa is unaccounted for though I am under the impression that you will be ample compensation?" The Sovereign said folding his arms awaiting the tiny creature's response.

"Yes, I am Jev one of Chirpa's assistants. It is unfortunate that he is not with you. Are you prepared Lord of Latveria?" The Ewok asked a large smile growing on his face.      

 under his mask, Doom's face scowled at the little furry alien. 

"The subject is are you proficient enough in seizing the task?" Victor retorted.

"Yes, of course, my liege." Jev's grin grew even wider. 

"Silence!" Doctor Doom shifted his left-hand opening cloak. His right sifting through his inner pockets before bringing out a small briefcase. "Install these to my Doombots and prepare your lab. I will personally replicate the remainders." 

Doom placed the briefcase into the hands of one of the Ewoks and stepped into the garage. Jev scurried to keep up with the good doctor. 

"Your Highness with files you gave us, it took us a while but the armor you requested, It is ready."  

Still keeping his pace Victor brought himself to Jev's level. His intimidating mask and brown piercing eyes being brought close to his face. 

"It is complete? Prime the transferring process immediately." Doctor Doom brought himself back to full stature. Picking up the pace he tore off his cloak tossing it at one of the Ewok technicians.

Jev and various others darted off taking their places around an oversized terminal. The terminal itself had branching series of cables that connected to a platform like pad the had large mechanical hands that sat ready to pull and replace. Everything was set, everything was going according to plan. The tasked was complete and it was one more thing finished and out of the way in Doom's ever-revolving plan. 

Dr. Doom stepped on the metal platform. His boots making a metallic cling with each step until he came to halt at the center of the platform. Lifting both his arms in level with his masked head Doom slightly nodded at Jev. 

"Began armor transferring procedure! Is this machine connected to the city power supply!" Victor shouted across the garage. The machine humming to life drowning out any if all noise.     

"Yes! It's all-" 

"Then initiate it, you FOOL!" 

Frantically Jev smashed several buttons and flipped a series of switches. The machine's mechanical arms began to move on its own. One by one snapping and clicking armor pieces off and then replacing them with a new set. Slowly Doctor Doom's old armor was replaced with a newer model. A model that closely resembled his old self, back when it was on him the Fantastic Four and the world. 

"Armor and cloak are all set! Prepare for powering mode!" Jev shouted pressing another series of buttons and cracking several nobs. His technicians darted back and forth checking diagnostics and making sure cables were in place.

With a loud thud, a giant pod came over Doom. A Series of cords outstretched connecting with his new armor. Sparks started to pop out in the places the cords had connected with. The powering process was gearing up. This was it. The moment of truth. Would all their work be for nothing? Or would this be one of their most successful creations to date?      

"System is a go!" Jev quickly pulled one last switch. 

Loud ear splitting humming drained the entire garage of sound. The pod the encased Doom began to radiate with electricity. Lights all around started to flicker and the humming grew louder and louder until it was too much to bear.

[Beta Ray Bill]

Darkness. It is a maelstrom that surrounds me. Darkness. It is what becomes over you as you fall to slumber. It is a powerful thing... With its deep dark void. Sometimes if you're not careful it will swallow you whole and grant you a special gift. I can tell you what that gift is: Its dreams. I had those once, but that was long ago when I was just a boy. That was before my mother and father's untimely death and the quest to save my mother from her damnation. Now when I sleep, when I thought I had everything, I no longer dream. Now they are but nightmares and horrible visions of demons, monsters, revenge, and of something that I'm missing. I know what I'm missing... It is the world. only several years ago I discovered the fate of Earth and it haunts me to my very core. I know what I must become and I hope that I'm the greater evil, but they must understand. If they had seen what gazed upon with my very eyes. They would understand. Understand that I Victor Von Doom must rule the world or even the multiverse with an iron fist. 

-

Whistles and the angry shouts of guards bellow outside. This was an all too familiar sound to Victor with each and every passing day. The Baron's guards beating his friends, his people. It built a deep hate that burned like embers his heart. Most of all, what made him so more than upset was what they had done to his mother. He was but a mere infant when it had happened but yet still it bothered him that they had stolen her from him. He hoped that someday his father, the Zefiro tribe's medicine man would- No... no, he must not think that way. No his father would kill him for thinking like that. Victor continued what he was doing previously. Before the Baron's men barged through the village. 

Silently, he sat back down at the dining room table and continued to read one of his mother's books. Books that he was not supposed to read or even take out of his mother's chest. Books that father did not want him to read. Books that were forbidden. His eyes darting and fingers fumbling through pages, he found himself entrapped, spellbound by what the mere paper and glue had to offer. Through the book, he found his mind wandering through the vast idea of other plains of existence and the very idea of magic and sorcery. 

His mother's books were all-inspiring and truly fascinating to him. Victor would have never imagined that even here in the cold Hell of Latveria that even he could gain just a tidbit of power. That the idea of the Baron being a hiccup of what the real world was like. Victor enjoyed and savored the idea that knowledge was power. He craved it. He wanted it. It was everything he needed and maybe it could bring back- 

"Victor! Come, my son! Come now! there isn't much time!" Werner shouted bursting through the front door. 

"But Father! What is happening? W-What happened!?" 

Werner's fingers gripped tightly onto Victor's right arm snatching him out of his chair.

"We need to leave! The Baron, he... He wanted me to cure his wife's cancer. He wanted me to come up with some elixir or miracle potion. It was impossible! I couldn't save her and now he blames me and you next for her death. He claims that we have put a curse upon him and his wife, that we must be executed for our crimes. Come, my son, we must leave Latveria."  Werner’s said his voice raising before turning to a hushed tone. 

Quickly as if Hell itself were biting at their feet, Werner smashed back through the front door. His right hand still gripping tightly onto Victor. Swiftly with hesitation, they made it through the village streets. It didn’t take long for King Vladimir’s men to spot them. The armed guards shouted after them and soon following bullets begin to fly. Victor and his father kept running. They needed to escape Latveria. They needed to get away from Vladimir’s men. They needed a place to hide. 

Pulling Victor in front of him Werner ushering for him to keep moving to keeping running, and running, run more than they had ever done in their lives.

-

Hours passed but they still kept running. The Baron’s men, those guards, those monsters they kept their pace. It was all of Werner and Victor’s effort to keep their own distance from the king’s men. Short of breath Victor darted through the green yet cold forest of Latveria. Quickly he vaulted over a tree branch, his father right in behind him. 

“Why? Why do we keep running father? We can fight them.” Victor said shooting past tree branches that stung at his face as he went past them. 

“Always ready to fight no matter the odds, Just like your mother.” 


“Mother would be alive if not fo-”


Dropping hard to the ground Victor shouted in pain as hard as his lungs could let him. Werner came to halting stop swooping his son into his arms. Not taking the chance Werner kept running, not letting Victor’s weight get to him. No, if anyone must live it had to be his son. Victor was young and he was old. Victor could do great things in his lifetime possibly accomplish more than he would ever dream of. Going as far as he could go. Kneeling down Werner placed Victor behind a rock before placing himself in-between him. 

Quietly they waited, waiting and waiting, silently in hopes that the guards had given up on their chase. It was probably that they were in hopes that the weather would drive them out. Werner peeked over the rock they had hidden behind. It was probably the thousandth time he had done so, but he had to make sure. Make sure they were gone. Bringing his head back down and noticing that Victor was beginning to shiver. He took off his brown jacket and placed it over his only son. 

Hours passed. The weather kept its unrelenting cold until it began to snowfall. Daylight was starting to shift, It was closing in towards night time. Trying to stay warm Victor tried to pick himself up but his father's arms wrapped around him were tight. 

“Father… Father?” His heart started to beat in his throat. He tried not to think of the worst. Tried to get himself up, to wake his father. Tried to keep the unstoppable cold from getting to him. Shouting, his efforts were in vain. Slowly his eyelids became lead, With the last image being something approaching. 

-

Nervously Boris paced back and forth in the village tent. He was lucky to have gotten to Werner and his son as fast as he had. If he were only minutes late they would have surely have met their demise from hyperthermia. But Saving them at this point had done much of nothing but bad. The Baron has ordered that the people of the Zefiro tribe are to be punished unless Werner is to be released unto him. Turing to Werner laying in what little they could make as a bed for him, Boris rushed to his side as he began to slowly wake. 

“Bring… Bring Victor I must… must speak with him.”

Werner’s words were quiet and raspy. The cold had done more damage to him that it had for his son. It didn’t take long for word to spread to the other half of the village. Victor entered the tent his heart pounding in his throat. He feared the worst for his father. No, he mustn't die he mustn’t surrender himself to the Baron and his cruel ways. Slowly he stepped close beside his father. 

“Father?” 

Werner slowly tried to raise himself up in his makeshift bed, his lungs gasping for air as he tried to make words. 

“Victor… You- you must fulfill your destiny. Your mother would have been proud of you son. My son, Victor I love my son but I must- must go back to the Baron. The people of the village depend on me to… Boris, you must protect… protect the b-boy.” Quietly Werner slumped back onto the bed falling back into slumber. 

Wet hot tear dripping from Victor’s cheeks. His fists curling into a ball. Slowly he rose them in the air shouting at the top of his lungs. 

“They have taken my mother and now my father! The world will pay for what they have done!”

[Beta Ray Bill]

As if some monumental force made a full-on collision upon him. Doctor Doom's eyes snapped wide open. His vision taking a few seconds to adjust to the dim light that encompasses the powering pod. It had been eons since he had dreamt of that very day. The day that sealed his fate forever. The day that he was no longer a mere boy but a grown man. It was, how laughable, the story of his origin/the birth of Doom. One none the less worthy of Shakespeare. However, those times were years past. No longer was Doom in search of a way to defeat the demon lord Mephisto and free his mother from his wretched realm. Back then there were also lesser of the heroic types as well.

Darkness encompassing around his armor, he tried to shift his body weight to escape the powering station. To open its pod door and continue with his ever moving onward plans. His efforts, however, were but in vain. The door was sealed tight and the space between him and the steel door was far too little to blow a hole without his magic and causing himself to be harmed in the process. 

"Lord Doom if you can hear me, powering your armor temporarily disabled the power." The voice outside the pod was clearly Jev's. It was an unmistakable tone such as someone licking boots. 

"You unearthly clod what are you waiting for? Reset the power!" 

"Your kingship the power has just recently been restored. You have been unconscious for several hours." 

"Then free me at once!" 

Frantically, Jev and several of his fellow technicians worked their way at the command console. Pressing series of buttons, turning valves, and flipping switches. With the hiss of various gases pouring out, the pod door gradually opened. Putting one metal foot after another Doom stepped out folding his arms. Jev was already standing in front of him waiting for his next moves.


"My lord we are happy to see that the energizing of your armor is successful and I personally am happy to present to you." Jev waved his hand beckoning for something to approach. from the right corner of the garage, several (twelve to be exact.) humanoid machines made their approach. Doom's eyes narrowed and widened at the sight before him. It was everything Luci had bargained for, rarely would he accept it but he was content pleased with the matter. 

"Your Doombots my most doomful one. We and all of Westside present to you the tools for your army and for whatever it is that you plan to use them for." 

Doom unfolded his arms kneeling down to Jev's hight. His eyes narrowing once more. 

"I am pleased with what you have brought me. Now watch as a true master and king takes reigns of his army." Doom said turning around, facing his newly acquired soldiers. Taking his right gauntlet he pressed a series of buttons activating his mask's HUD display. The mask scanned each and everyone. Acquiring their serial number and linking them only to Dr. Doom. 

The Doombots were virtually and permanently his. No one, not even a highly skilled hacker could take control of these masterpieces of robotics. 

"Lord Doom if I may before you continue?" 

Victor stopped in his tracks and slightly tilted his head. 

"You may speak."

"Doctor Doom the Imperials they come for us. The blackout was enough for them to track us." Jev nervously turned his head towards the garages only door then back. "We have only but mere seconds before they are upon us." 

Doom jolted back to his soldiers pointing his right index finger at the Doombot in the center. 

"Unit Delta X1602 run program series 1209 phrase word 'Doom's men'." 

The Doombot stepped forward, its conventional ebony plated armor which still closely resembled the good doctor shifted. Changing into armor and green cloak that very much made it seem as if a very clone of the Latverian king.  

"Request complete. This unit's new primary directive is to be Doctor Doom's doppelganger and bodyguard. Awaiting new orders Lord Doom." 

Doom folded his arms once more. A smirk under his mask began to grow. 

"All other units take battle formations phrase word 'Doom War'. Unit X1602 gather subject Cracklers also retrieve and foreword file code name 'Demon's Pride' before termination of this building's main terminal."


Unit X1602 stepped off to the side and proceeded off to complete its task. The other Doombots moved forward, taking their positions beside Doom. Every one of them pulling out their own handcrafted plasma canons and taking aim at whatever was in front of them or picking up movement at anything their built-in sensors picked up.     

"Incoming potential hostiles are approaching this sector's entrance. Awaiting next orders Lord Doom." 

Doctor Doom whipped his head in all directions taking in his surroundings. He was plotting. Any true and knowledgeable sovereign would understand that they would need to have sound plans. To be a tactician of grand proportions especially in the time of war. 


"Jev, take your men evacuate them to the building's exit I will follow shortly. I would hold off the Imperial forces for as long as I can." 



Jev was dumbfounded by how quickly Doom had taken his soldiers and effectively taken control of them. Quickly he darted off shouting for the other Ewoks to stop what they were doing and make a B line for the garages only other exit. 



"How close are they." 



Doom's eyes wildly shot back and forth keeping count on his Doombots and keeping track of the garages front sliding door. 



"Prepare to fire on my command." 



Within just the second of finishing his sentence, the garages front entrance blew open in a fiery explosion. Stormtroopers pour out of the now gaping entrance instantly opening fire on Doom and his Doombots. 



"Open fire!"



The Doombots took their shot. The programming built into their processing chips completely taking hold. They would do anything for their Lord Doom.  



The Doombots plasmas canons tore through each and any trooper unlucky to get show themselves in the garage entrance. Doom taking his chance as well blasted several of them with magical energy blasts. 



The onslaught was by all standards a great effort but stormtroopers kept coming. It was clear that in a matter of seconds the Imperial soldier would have completely stormed the garage. 



"Cease your fire! Doombots take place with Jev and the others." 



The Doombots unanswering did as they were told. As it was said in Latveria Doom's word is law. The Stormtroopers still poured into the building this time they did not open but gathered in a select formation as if they were honoring someone's arrival. Stepping out from the flaming entrance a bearded man dressed in what seemed to be an officers uniform made his way towards Doom. His hands were held together behind his back and a smirk grew on his face. 



"Ah you must be the one everyone's been raving about." He said his tone almost as if he was mocking the Latverian king. "My name Annton Veers I'm with the Imperial Warboard or what was left of it. It's now what you know as Hydra." 



Doctor Doom folded his arms his narrowing into a sneer. 



"Doom does not associate with mere Preposterous heathens such Hydra. What is it that low life defectors of their own Empire wish with Doctor Doom?" 



Veers' smirk grew into a full blown smile. 



"We are here to offer you a warm welcome to a beneficial partner ship. Hydra has big plans for the Omniverse and we want your expertise as it'll be a great addition to our growing forces. Please don't refuse our gift. Most of the Westside are already in prison." Veers smile died into more aggravated face and sighed. "If you will only shar-" 



"Doom does not share anything!" Raising his right gauntlet Doctor Doom let out a blast of energy that knocked Veers off of his feet. The Stormtroopers quickly jumped out of their positions and resumed their gun fire. 



With a flare of his green cape Victor was off sprinting for the exit. Blaster bolts smashed and burned holes into the equipment and walls. How quaint it was, Doom felt the same feeling he did when he and his father were running from the Baron's men. 



Smashing through the garages back exit door Dr. Doom didn't waste time and summoned a large aircraft vehicle. An aircraft that closely resembled a Latverian transport from his own universe. 



"Where are we going now that the Empire has taken our garage our likelihood, what will we do Lord Doom?" 


"We departure for teir six we have friend to reacquaint with and warnings of things to come."