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UNTOLD TALES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE # 14 The Triumvirate: Part 1 of 3 (Author's Note: This story takes place one year after Operation: Galactic Storm)
After months of searching, I arrive at my destination, the planet of Pastala. Pastala is second planet of the Nagask System in the Greater Magnetic Cloud. Pastala has always been a minor planet of the Kree Empire, one of the last conquered worlds before the Empire's fall. I look down at it in amazement. Who could possibly believe that such an insignificant speck would contain the tool that would herald my return to power. I look over what I can of Pastala’s capital as I float down towards the shack that serves as a medical center. There isn’t much to see except more shacks, farms, and a square that serves as a marketplace. While there are undoubtedly fewer people now than before the war, this planet is dreadfully primitive. I float down towards the medical center, unobserved thanks to my cloaking spell. Even though there are now other mystics in the empire, none would have the skill or power to penetrate my spell. For, you see, I am Ki-Ree, former Mystic Master and ruler of the Kree. At a time when magic began dying out among our people, I ruled supreme. But that was before the Skrulls came with their science. I knew that revolutionaries would attempt to use that art to try and overthrow me. I knew also that others would join them, and that the time of magic was drawing to a close. Thus I fled. The circumstances were unfortunate, and as I land in front of the medical center, I think back to that moment in my life. The moment when I lost my power...
I lean against the wall, exhausted. Though the assassins lie dead at my feet, the energy required to repell their attack leaves me drained. I’m used to shielding myself from projectiles, but the speed and force with which these ‘guns’ fired very nearly penetrated. I weakly stagger to my alter, and by concentrating on the symbol of Kee-Ree, my energies are restored. The door to my chamber bursts open, and I turn, prepared to defend myself once more. But it is only Cyrule, my personal attendant. He looks down at the bodies in horror, obviously ashamed at his failure to protect me. “Lord Ki-Ree! Praise Kee-Ree, you live!” “For the moment Cyrule. But with each attack, I grow weaker. In these days of waning magic, there is only so much that even Ki-Ree himself can do. This last recharge was the last; there will be no more. There shall be more attacks, and one shall end in my death.” “But lord, there must be something that you can do! Surely you possess enough power to destroy this ‘science’ at its source.” “Alas, faithful attendant, that I cannot do. Perhaps five years ago, I would have been able; the Age of Magic is drawing to a close. I am the only mystic left, and I am now but a shadow of my former glory.” Even as I say this I gather several items upon the alter. “However, I have learned of dimensions outside of our own. Dimensions more attuned to magic. I plan to go to one of these dimensions and wait out this coming Age of Science. This final spell shall use up all the remaining magic of our world, and so the Age of Magic shall end.” However, as I prepare to cast the spell, I hear the click of a gun. I look up, and see my ‘faithful attendant’ Cyrule pointing a gun at me! “The Age of Magic, ‘lord’, can also end with your death.” Saying this, he fires the gun. Fortunately, his is inexperienced with such a weapon, and so his aim is wide. Quickly, I grab the sacrificial knife from the alter and hurl it at him. My aim is true. Cyrule collapses to the ground, the knife in his chest. Without a second thought, I cast the spell of dimensional travel, and leave my homeworld of Hala.
Once I enter the medical center, I drop the cloak and approach the first person I see. A tainted* female Kree who stares at me in a mixture of surprise and terror. I smile, knowing fully well how I appear to others. One of the arts I had learned was a mystic sigil that granted immortality. Unfortunately, I was horribly disfigured. My once-beautiful blue skin was now black, with the white sigil criss-crossing over my face and neck. Though I was hideous, the immortality was well worth it. (*tainted: pink half breed -Scholarly Steve) Using my appearance to my advantage, I glower at the woman and speak up. “You! Tell me, have any children been born within the past month?” She hesitates, most likely her motherly instinct to protect children. I frown slightly and cast a minor spell to make my eyes appear red. Any semblance of courage within her quickly fades and she answers me. “O-only one s-sir. A b-boy.” “Then take me to him now!” I snarl as I step toward her. She gives a shriek and hurries to a nearby room. It has been many years since anyone’s looked upon me with such fear. I revel in it. I follow her in and gaze down at the room’s sole occupant, a newborn baby boy. Relatively cute, with light blue skin, the baby cooed softly and looked up at me. He at least is pure blooded. That should make him easier for the cattle to accept him. I look again at the female. “What of this child’s parents?” “The mother died in childbirth. R-radiation poisoning. The father was tried and killed for...for...” She can’t bring herself to continue. I nod, aware that the child is a product of rape. It’s just as well they’re dead, for it saves me the trouble. I gently place my hand upon the child’s forehead and chant words of ancient power, learned during my long exile. The spells I cast probe at the child, confirming that he is what I seek. This is the first child conceived after the Nega Bomb was dropped to survive. Though I detect irregularities within him that may prove fatal, I dare not touch them, for that may make him worthless to me. However, because time is of the essence, I cast one minor spell. I turn again to the female and speak. “For every year that goes by, this child, whom I name Mas-Kedd, will age 4 years. I will return to him in 5 years, by which time he will have aged 20. If he is not here when I come for him, I will destroy this pitiful planet and everyone on it.” Smiling at the look of terror on the female’s face, I turn from Mas-Kedd and walk out of the building into the brilliant sunlight. Having achieved what I sought, I cast a teleportation spell and fade away. I reappear instantly on a planet at the other end of the galaxy that I decided to make a temporary headquarters. On this planet is a vast mountain range, and underneath that is a network of tunnels larger than Kree-Lar. The cold, dank atmosphere comforts me as I strode down a corridor to a dead-end cave I use as a cell. Calmly I walk through the wall of fire to the other side and gaze down at the cell’s lone resident. The Accuser before me is a mere shadow of his former self. Without his armor and Cosmi-Rod, he is nothing but a cowardly, skinny whelp. Numerous scars mar his skin, a sign of several escape attempts. He whimpers as I approach, well aware of what I plan to do. I playfully mock him as I place my fingers upon his forehead and concentrate. “Could it be that one of the mighty Accusers is afraid? What would Ronan say to that, do you think?” At my words, the Accuser attempts to struggle, both hoping that Ronan will rescue him yet fearing Ronan will punish him. I quickly extinguish these thoughts by stimulating the pain receptors within his mind. I enjoy his screams immensely as I shatter his mental defenses. As I make him my slave I think of the infant Mas-Kedd, and how I will be able to control him. The methods I use at the moment would render him useless to me. I would have to leave him independent and manipulate him through other means. I continue to ponder this as the Accuser’s screams echo throughout the tunnels. To be continued in Five Years!
Hey! I'm Stephen Crosby, and thanks for reading my first MV1 story! I've had a story similar to this in my head for a while, as part of a huge Kree/Shi’ar story I had. When I first discovered MV1 and saw that they already did a war story, I decided to try and pitch this story, altering it to take place after the Kree/Shi'ar War. This story arc, the prequel, remains almost exactly as I first envisioned it. As you may have guessed, I'm setting Mas-Kedd up to be the next step in Kree evolution (a sort of mutant). My original story saw him as a leader of the rebellion, manipulated afar by Ki-Ree. His powers were weak, but still enough for him to defeat Ki-Ree and become the Kree Emperor. This story arc will basically just introduce Mas-Kedd's powers, and see him breaking free from Ki-Ree's control to become the third major Kree leader (the other two being Ki-Ree and Supreme Intelligence: magic, science, and nature). I hope you enjoy the next two issues (I'll try and improve my writing), and send me any criticism or praise you may have here. |