Chapter Text
Vilturmite Warship, The Moon, Two Weeks Ago
Thula looked out to the stars where their home planet once was, where their family’s remains were, “I killed Conquest and now I’m going to kill you!” That was what Nolan’s spawn said, he had killed Conquest, it made Thula want to go out and kill him, to strangle him with her braid while she pried his eyes and tongue out with her blade, but no, Thragg called them all here and she’d obey.
Kregg was angry, he had lost proud soldiers in the struggle against The Coalition, he wanted to mourn them, to honor the fallen Viltrumites, but there was no time to do that, they needed to proceed with the newest mission that Grand Regent Thragg had given them, as he had went and walked towards their leader to be by his side, The General was curious on what their next move was.
Lucan was ashamed, ashamed that he couldn’t stop his home from being destroyed, ashamed that he was unable to stop those… those monsters from destroying their home planet, now they had nowhere to go and nowhere for their children, if he was a weaker man, he would have cried there, but that would be weakness, and he couldn’t be weak with the new mission before them.
Anissa was irritated that they had retreated instead of killing the other two, Thragg had slain Thaedus, but the second Traitor and The Weakling were still alive, they should be hunted down and destroyed! Now they were at their home and they were going to take something from him, this made her give a smile as she had waited for the order to destroy their home like they did theirs.
“We have lost our home.” Thragg had told them, “We have lost much and many, our Emperor, many friends and loved ones due to the cowardly tactics of Thaedus, and now, we have no home to return to,” he said, all of them angered by that, wanting to destroy the planet Earth, “So we must take a new home, and we must take it in a way that The Empire hasn’t in all of our long history.” he told them.
That made them confused, how would they take the planet without conquering it like so many times before? “You will walk amongst humanity, act as them, hide from their government and in that time, we will grow in numbers.” he said, confusing them, “The Son of The Traitor, Mark Grayson, he is a human, but he has the strength to slay Conquest,” he said towards them all.
“Our blood mixed with theirs will will allow our ranks to grow.” he had told his people and hearing that, the Viltrumites had nodded at this, “We will grow, we will replenish our numbers, and when we have our numbers restored, THEN we will take this planet as New Viltrum.” he had told them, making many of them cheer at the promise, “We have studied their information.” he told them.
“Identities have been created for each of you to initially utilize, keep contact to a minimum, understood?” he had demanded of them, “Yes! Grand Regent!” Was the general response towards his statement as they had seen that there was a member of their servants had approached offering the needed information to The Warriors so that they would be able to proceed.
As they had looked over their identification, Thragg spoke, “Thula, I need to speak to you.” He had said, making the Viltrumite approach him while the others had went and started to get ready as they had went and got ready to fly downwards towards Earth, “How may I assist you, Grand Regent?” She had asked of him, making Thragg motion for her to follow, “I need you to be my shadow.” he told her.
“You are patient, efficient, and not uncontrollable like Conquest.” he had said towards her, But Thula gave no response to that, he had fought, he had lost, it was as simple as that, “IF there is anything that requires us to intervene, you will be the one to act.” he had told her, “What would be the required parameters?” Thula had asked of him, “Extraterrestrial threats from The Coalition, enemies of The Empire,” he said.
“If they come here, you are to quickly and quietly deal with them as soon as you are notified, understood?” he had questioned of her, at that, Thula had nodded, understanding it, “Good, then proceed to join the others.” he had told her, she had nodded at that and walked away to go and do as much, looking at the identification and seeing the surname, just like she had wanted.
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Thragg had watched as his people had continued to fly downwards, avoiding the sensory technology that they had installed with ease while he had remained, watching from up above as they had moved out to do what was needed of their people, going down amongst their people so that they could replenish their numbers, it was a plan and as he watched them, he remembered what they lost.
Thragg would remain up here on the moon, watching them and being ready for when Nolan and his sons return, none of them were fatally dealt with like Thaedus the First Traitor, sitting down besides his Emperor’s skull, Thragg had watched as The Thirty Six members of their Empire had spread out there, The Grand Regent watched as their plan unfolded to save their people from extinction.
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Brooklyn, New York
Thula was walking through the street, she was wearing a White sleeveless blouse with jeans, she didn’t understand the need for plant based clothing, but she liked the shoes, Thula started to play with the unarmed end of her braid, having to hide it in her baggage as Thula had walked up the steps, opening the door, “Hello ma’am, can I help you?” a man in uniform had asked.
“Yes, I am the new tenant of 1010.” she had told him, making the man smile revealing the key she snatched from the key wall, “Pleasure to meet you, Miss…” he started, a little confused by the name, “Thula, you can call me Thula.” she had told him, stern faced as she had went and walked into the elevator, as she had done as much, Thula had wondered what her cover would be here, she needed to blend on Earth.
Thula continued to read the travel book that was written by Nolan Grayson, Omni–Man, The Traitor, and as she did, Thula had wondered what that would be like, but she was never much for writing, her mother said that she was more of a visual learner, she had to see a murder or tactic to know how to use it, as the doors to the elevator opened, she had walked out.
“Oh hi!” a man said, smiling towards her, bald and in a three piece suit, “I’m Don Cranston, I live in 1009.” he said pointing to his door, “I am the new Tenant of 1010.” she said, taking the key out and unlocking her new residence, “It appears that we will be seeing each other.” she said, scanning his body, Don smiling back at her, “I didn’t get your name.” he said to her, curious .
At that, Thula gave one last look, “Thula, Thula Conquest.” she had told him with a look, closing the door and walking in, she had dropped her bag before heading to the balcony, looking out to the city that she had claimed as her Base of Operation, looking out to the sunrise, she wished there was a way for for to capture the moment before she would get to work on her mission.
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Raleigh, North Carolina
Kregg didn’t like that he had to hide his cybernetic, it was annoying to say the least, but the machine that he was told to have, a motorcycle, it was an interesting piece of tech, like a primitive form of The Space Ranger’s vessel, he liked its design and speed so this was preferred for him when there was a voice, “Hey, Cyclops!” a voice said, but Kregg just examined the cigarette he had.
“I’m talking to you!” a voice said, grabbing Kregg by the shoulder and trying to turn him, Kregg just let it happened, looking at the man, he was a young man that looks like he made his body for beauty, but not for strength, “Did you see her?!” he asked, confusing Kregg, “See who?” he asked, making him grab The General by the lapels of his vest, “Brunette! Green eyes! Did you see her?!” he asked.
That made Kregg curious as he noticed that there was a woman that matched the description, looking scared and silently pleading towards him, seeing that, Kregg saw a chance to acquire the first, Kregg looked at the burning end of his cigarette, “Hey! I’m talking to–! Aaaigh!” He went as Kregg had went and placed the end on his tongue, “Mah ‘ongue! ‘Ou ‘urn mah ‘ongue!” he said.
Disliking whiners, Kregg added enough pressure to snap one of his wrists, making him back away in fear, “Run.” Kregg simply said and he turned and ran away, stumbling and falling on the ground as he continued to run, “You should be fine now.” Kregg said to the woman who had walked out of the store, looking nervous, “Thank you.” she had said towards him, “I’m… I’m Nancy…” she said to him.
“Kregg.” The General told her, watching her as she had looked at him, “W… Why did you help me?” Nancy had asked him, making Kregg look back to where his handiwork ran, “Where I come from…” he started before realizing what he was saying, “Where I come from… your lover isn’t something you fear, it’s someone strong who has earned you, not one that tries to break you.” he said.
Nancy had looked at Kregg then, “Craig.” she had said towards him, “I’m not sure if you’re a serial killer or something, but Julian took my phone, my wallet, and I don’t have any friends in Raleigh.” she said to him, “You have no lodgings and wish to seek refuge in mine?” He had asked of her, making Nancy nod towards him, “Very well,” he started before thinking on something.
“Here.” he said, offering his communication device, “Contact one you trust, give them my location and an image of me, that way, if anything happens, they will know who target.” he had said towards as he rattled of his address to her as Nancy had complied, taking a picture of him before texting her best friend what happened, “Okay, all done.” Nancy told Kregg who nodded before going onto his cycle.
The two of them had started to head towards the lodgings that he had acquired, as Kregg had driven, he had felt the females arms wrap around his torso, Kregg felt her nestle onto his back, he had liked that, it meant that she trusted him, good, it would make his mission that much easier as The General had went and approached the apartment building and the next part of his mission.
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NYC, New York
Lucan was walking through the streets, wearing a brown suit with a VERY floral tie, he didn’t understand the need for so much color, it was odd as he had tried to use his jacket to hide the tie, “Killer tie.” a woman said as she passed by him, Lucan was unsure what she meant, how could a tie be ‘killer’? Maybe it was an expression common amongst this species.
“Thank you.” he had said, still confused while she had went and smiled towards him, Lucan was unsure why she would smile towards him like that, but he decided it wasn’t something that he should focus on right now, instead, he needed to focus on his occupation that he had acquired, unsure why they were so eager for his work as Lucan had went and entered the tower.
As he had went and approached the receptionist, she had given him a look, “Greetings, I am Lucan Dane and–” “Mr. Dane! Welcome!” a old and aging man had said towards him, “I’m so glad that you’re here!” he had said, “I’m Haleck Rushman, I’ll be your team leader.” he had said as they had headed towards a lift, “It’s incredible that someone such as yourself is joining us.” he told Lucan.
“Your designs are incredible! As if you took them from another planet.” he had told Lucan who tensed at that, “I’ve just always had an eye for odd things.” he had told Haleck, the man had nodded at that as the elevator had continued upwards, “We’re glad that you had decided to join our company.” he had told the Viltrumite who had nodded at that when the door had opened up to reveal their floor.
“This is where we’ll be working.” he had said as they had walked through the floor and seeing the cubicles where there were boards and tools to start on drawing up prototypes, “Development is in the basement level,” he told Lucan as they stopped by an empty cubicle, “This one will be yours, Mr. Dane.” Haleck had said towards the man as Lucan went and sat down in the chair.
“We’re happy to have you join us.” he had said, going and patting him on the shoulder while Lucan nodded and went to see the set up, “I am happy to get to work.” he had told the man, “I’ll let you get to it.” he had said cheerily before walking away while Lucan started to get working on designing his first project, thinking on how he could use it to assist his empire.
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Concord, Massachusetts
Anissa hated this, she was a warrior, she had killed men for less then these lines that the pathetic men were saying to try and get her to bed them, it made her want to tear out their tongues, but she couldn’t, it wasn’t the time to do something like that, now she needed to get away and vent her stress somehow, making her getaway by standing up and walking away, “Hey, where you going beautiful?” one asked.
But Anissa had ignore him as she had went and walked the street, needing SOMETHING to distract herself with as she walked the street, cars honking as she had continued to walk, “Hey!” “What do you think you’re doing, bitch?!” one said as she had continued to walk into an alley so that she could vent in frustration, about to punch a wall in irritation when there was the sound of a blade making her turn.
“Your wallet or your life.” he had said, looking pathetic, annoying, and just the kind of stress relief that she needed as Anissa had went and grabbed at him, “What the–?” he had went as he had tried to stab her, only for the metal to break, making him scared as the two of them started to go up, “I really needed this.” she had told him as they had flown upwards, high into the air.
He had looked down, terrified now, “Please… don’t–!” he had went, scratching at her arms as she had added some pressure, “And why should I listen to you?” she had asked him, glaring at the sight of the pathetic organism as she had went and flown out from there to go and properly deal with the organism that is in her hand, making sure that he survived long enough.
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Atlantic Ocean
Anissa had stopped in their waters, looking at the struggling little creature, “I’msorry!I’msorry!I’msorry!I’msorry!” he had continued, making Anissa tired and annoyed right now, she had given a sigh at that, “I really needed this, thanks.” she had told the human before letting him go, watching as he had went and fallen down, screaming in fear as she had watched him.
The man had continued to fall, screaming, as Anissa had watched, she had smiled, liking this, it feeling good as she had watched, watched him plummet to his death, it would probably be a splatter in the ocean, as Anissa watched, she saw him getting closer, and closer, and closer to the Ocean down below her and his fate and that was when …
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Concord, Massachusetts
He had found himself back on the ground safe and sound, shivering as he looked up, “Tell anyone, and I will make it slow, and painful.” Anissa had said, the mugger had nodded at that, scrambling up and running away, Anissa couldn’t just kill, she needed to be stealthy, she needed to be smart, so she’ll keep it to a minimum, try and find an outlet, and as Anissa walked, she knew that this was going to be VERY difficult.
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Earth Skyline, New York, Now
Thragg had been watching them as they had entered the planets atmosphere, searching food them and as they did, Thragg had approached them as Nolan joined his son, “Did you see any–” “Nothing… I don’t see any–” the pair had went, “Me neither.” Nolan said, “They’re not here.” Mark Grayson said, “They’re not here.” he had went which is when Thragg had revealed himself.
“Mark?” Nolan had said as he was the first to notice him, ‘We very much ARE here.” Thragg had told the pair, Mark was the first to react, “I swear if you’ve done anything to this planet… to these people…” The Earthling said before reacting, “I’ll… I killed Conquest.” he said, repeating that ‘accomplishment’, if he kept doing that, Thragg would just break him, “I’ll find a way to kill you.” he promised.
“Mark! Nolan went as he had went to attack, Thragg grabbed him by the throat as he had punched the Grand Regent, “I–” he went, but Thragg was not in the mood, “I have done nothing to this planet.” he said, increasing the pressure to make him focus on survival, “Not yet.” he said, tossing him back to his father, “You can fight me if you wish, But I am not alone here.” he had warned.
“If by chance you were able to injure me, I couldn’t guarantee the rest of my forces wouldn’t lay waste to this planet.” he told the pair, “I suggest that we TALK, the three of us.” he said, “Your choice. Fight or talk.” he said, the father and son looking at each other before Mark answered, “Talk.” he said, “Wise choice… I am pleased.” Thragg said before starting to explain.
“I have come to offer you a truce. There are exactly thirty–seven of us left alive, some of us severely injured.” he had threatened them with, “That is enough to tear this planet in half, killing every creature here, and there is nothing you could do to stop that.” he had stated, knowing it was true, “And it would be fair retaliation for what you did to out homeworld.” he told the two.
Thragg took a breath though as he got ready to explain their plan, “But I was not made Grand Regent of The Viltrum Empire for revenge.” he had told the two, “I was made to rule in order to ensure the survival of our people…” he said, “And I have learned…” Thragg went, hating that he had to say this, “…This is not a war we can survive.” he said, telling the bitter truth.
“So it is over, I offer our surrender, under one condition.” Thragg told the two, “You took our planet… no we’re going to take yours.” he said, shocking the two of them, “What?!” Mark had said as Thragg went to explain, “We are already here.” he told them, “We do not wish to leave.” Thragg said, speaking for The Viltrumites, “Are you insane?” Mark went, “I’ll never–” “Before you overreact,” Thragg said, interrupting him.
“Take notice of the fact that you couldn’t make us leave if you wanted to.” Thragg had warned, “What I propose is this…” He said, seeing that they were listening now, “We will live among you. The people of Earth will not even know we are here.” He had told them, “You will have no contact with us. We will not interfere with any matters on Earth. We do not want our presence to be known.” Thragg promised.
“We will not attack you… but we will not help you.” he had told them, “My people will blend in, live as humans with humans. We will intermingle…” he had explained, “…we will interbreed.” Thragg had said, revealing their true goal, “This is the only way to ensure the survival of The Viltrumite people.” Thragg had told them, “We will restore our ranks over the course of thousands of years.” The Grand Regent explained.
“Human DNA has been proven to make near perfect hybrids… the closest thing we have to pure–blooded Viltrumites.” he had told them, impressed with the strength of warriors such as Nolan’s Human Son, “Our children and our children’s children will join our ranks, their children will have children and our ranks will swell with the infusion of Human DNA.” he had told them, explaining the process.
“You will allow us the time to restore our numbers… to rebuild our empire.” he ordered of the pair, “Though the two of you were responsible for the destruction of our home world, you will provide us with our ultimate salvation.” he had warned of them, “The two of you represent the future of our people, what we will become… what we must become in order to survive.” he had told the renegades.
“This is how things must be.” Thragg stated, “I will have your answer now.” he told them before remembering that word, “Please.” he added, “Do not make me destroy what could be our last hope for survival.” he told them as the two went silent for a moment, “What you are proposing…” Mark Grayson, Invincible, said, “You want us to wait and resume our fight when there are more of you– and your are stronger?” he said.
“How could I agree to that?” he had asked, “Today is not tomorrow.” Thragg had told them, “You know the results of fighting us today… why wouldn’t you want to put that off until tomorrow?” he had asked, “We are in a stalemate… do not think that you have the upper hand. You are backed into a corner.” he told them, “Make your decision. Strike out blindly or surrender to fight another day.” he told Invincible.
“I tire of this.” he said, no more convincing, only his answer now, “To have you here, hiding under our noses… poised to strike at any moment. I can’t live with that.I can’t allow that.” Invincible said, upset, “I can’t live under the constant threat of your attack– I can’t allow these people to be at risk like this!” he said, angry, “I can’t– I won’t!” he said when his father placed a hand on his shoulder, “Mark.” he said,
“No. No. NO! My answer is–” he started before it sunk in, what would happen if he refused, “My answer is yes.” he said, good, “You have chosen wisely.” Thragg said, “You have my word. While we live among you, no harm will come to your people by the hand of any Viltrumite.” he said, “The truth is, by allowing us to live here, the two of you may have become the saviors of our people. Ironic.” he told them.
“My god… what have I done?” Invincible asked, “You have saved the lives of every living thing on this planet.” he told them, “You will not hear from me again.” he had promised them, “I leave you.” The Grand Regent told them before going back to the base, needing them for now as his people went to continue with their plans, they would survive, they would grow, and no one would stop them.