Obligatory Disclaimer : I do not own anything (except maybe OC characters) all characters, places, worlds, universes…etc mentioned here belong to their respective owners and/or companies.

This is purely a work of fiction. Not meant to offend or incite, but to entertain and (maybe) inspire.

DREAMS AND TEAMS

They were in a medically induced catatonic state, the modified E-Scape headset interfaced directly with their brains from surgically mounted intracranial connectors and electrodes. I gave them paradise, their deepest desires and fantasies brought to reality—well a reality within their heads— smiles hung on their unconscious faces while I extracted valuable genetic material and ran a variety of scans on them, prepping them up for future procedures.

“File the extrapolated data under meta-gene research and practical application procedures.” I said, pulling off my sterilized gear as the machines went to work cataloguing their unique genetic makeup.

“Done”

“Run simulations on the mutagenic after-effects of exposure to ultra high frequency cosmic energy.” I cast one last glance at the Maximoff twins as I exited the bio-chamber. I could do so much with what I was actively learning here.

“High priority?” she asked, filing it away on her tablet. She didn’t even need the thing, but as my supposed private personal assistant, she had appearances to keep up.

I did have a secretary who ran the political side of the company, Eve was better at the technical side of things. And regardless of her jealous protests, I decided to keep them both on board.

“Mid. Stay dedicated to TitanFall execution outcomes.” I was interested in harvesting their powers, discovering whatever mutant gene triggered it and possibly successfully replicating said process in others with or without the mutant gene.

This is evil.

Yeah well we were never the good guys. Plus, did you really expect me to leave a mentally unstable, potential reality bender on the loose? In my own native reality when I had a say in it?

C’mon you know me better. And it’s perfectly legal, there’s a certain line in the newly instituted constitution that allowed me to lawfully enlist civilians towards the betterment of Latveria.

We might have been able to convince them.

True, but that would’ve been least cost effective and inefficient. Things have a way of blowing up in the faces of those who rely on the power of friendship without having adequate plot armor. The last time I tried reasoning with someone of immense power to favor my cause, I barely made it out alive.

It was too much power to leave alone in their hands. Killing them would’ve been easier but that was too short sighted, I could forcefully make use of them instead and even if they died, I still had much to gain. Hell, even if they died, I’d still possess incredible and substantial data. And if shit hits the fan, I could always reanimate their corpses, the profits were immense no matter how you considered it.

“The Hellfire club reached out for another appointment.” Eve said, handing me my attire, a smart looking suit that was deceptively armed and astoundingly comfortable. Soft electronic systems lay embedded beneath the very cozy fiber as did a variety of shrunken gadgets in miniaturization pouches—which was just a fancy way of saying that my pockets could shrink down whatever I could fit in them given I had enough Pym particles of course.

“Put them on hold till we’re done with the current event timeline.”

“Ok Boss.”

I got into the shower and put the water on cold, it vaporized on contact with my skin—a virtue of my increased control over fire or more specifically, heat generated or touched by my god-force. I got into my underwear and approached the mirror, using my nails as razors to shave the stubble on my chin, “your beard gang status has been temporarily revoked” I said aloud, imitating what my brother would have sounded like.

I caught the ghost of a smile that crept across my face from the mirror’s reflection. This was an oddly familiar situation similar to when I first arrived in this world, when I gained all my memories I mean. The difference being that pitch black eyes with golden almost reptilian irises stared back instead of the normal clear black eyes. Short, side faded brown hair instead of the funny sand blond mop rested on my head.

Most important of all, the man looking back at me wasn’t the same man from years ago. This guy in the mirror was as scarred and ruthless as he was good looking, a borderline sociopath. A post-human with the blood of demon lords, primordial dragons and gods running in his veins, pumped there by a cold metal heart. A recently crowned king of a failed nation.

One chasing after the seemingly impossible goal of immortality and power. The same guy who could barely even keep up a smile anymore because…hah, who cared even? I wanted immortality and power; this is just the starting price, I still had much to pay for. I’m not one for complaining.

Who am I? I am me; The ideals; The man; The demigod; The semi demon; The half dragon; The mission; The summation of my choices; Justin; Victor; Hammer; Von Doom. Me. I.

Can I do this?

I can’t stop. I won’t stop. I’ve given too much to stop now. There’s only one way I can go and it’s—

—Forward.

I stared intently at my eyes. My only path was forward and onward. There can be no place for self doubt, there isn't space for it.

“Boss you okay?”

Eve’s concerned voice pulled me out of my reverie.

“Never been better Eve.” I smiled my best, pulled her close into a hug and whispered “You’re the only one I can truly trust.”

She was frozen within my embrace, and yet her temperature was astronomical. This was a first for her—I was taking initiative in making intimate body contact. Her reaction was…cute. And as pleasing as this was it had to be cut short, there’s work to be done.

“C’mon Eve, we have places to be.” A pout developed on her face as she reluctantly pried her arms from the small of my back, she re-adjusted her suit and helped me in mine.

“Looking good boss.” She complimented as we stepped into the portal that led to one of my private villas on Earth. The watch signaled that I was down to 85% charge on the Time Platform. Each use of the device took unreasonable amounts of power, I never mentioned it before because I could always harvest exotic radiation and particles in certain locations, but my resources were dangerously low at the moment.

I wonder why that is?

Investments and returns brain, this has to be done. It was exponentially more difficult to revitalize a failed state. I could’ve bought Japan with the money I spent on Latveria. But that wasn’t what even took the most resources. The plan did.

Eve handed me my phone; the caller silently waiting on the other side.

“Saw your missed calls. I’m available if you need me.”

“Thank God.” He said, masked relief rolling off his voice. “I’m sending a pickup to your location asap.”

*.*.*.*