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UNTOLD TALES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE # 15 The Triumvirate: Part 2 of 3 (Author’s Note: This story takes place a month before the Kree/Shi’ar War)
Deep within the former Kree Empire, there is a small spacecraft orbiting the planet of Pastala. Within the spacecraft are six Kree. Of these six, four are common, pink-skinned slaves hard on work on various controls. These four are overseen by the fifth occupant, a large, imposing Kree male in Accuser armor. However, even this impressive figure treads lightly before the sixth occupant. Currently, the Accuser is approaching the observation deck, where the sixth occupant is staring down at the planet of Pastala, as though his mere gaze can cow that planet’s inhabitants into submission. Such a thought could be believed at the sight of this man. Though he is dwarfed by the Accuser, he seems to radiate worship, and is used to receiving it. The Accuser kneels behind this man and speaks, “Master, how may I serve you?” The master turns to face his dog to speak. His words are harsh, but with a trace of satisfaction. Slaves with initiative don’t remain slaves forever. Indeed, life has been harsh to this former Kree ruler. His once magnificent blue skin is now charred black with crisscrossing red lines. He is Ki-Ree, the once and future lord of the Kree race! “Several years ago, I cast upon a child a spell that would age him to adulthood by now. This child-turned-man shall be the tool with which I shall wrest the Kree away from the Supreme Intelligence. You, my Accuser, shall go planetside and attempt to kill him. If he should survive, I will then proceed with my plans for him.” “And if I should succeed in killing him?” Ki-Ree’s lips twitch in what many would consider a malicious smile. “Then he will be dead; unable to oppose me later. Go forth, Gondar my Accuser! Strike in the name of Ki-Ree!” At those words Ki-Ree waves his hand over Gondar’s head, instantly transporting him below to Pastala. Ki-Ree turns back to the view of Pastala, contemplating what he told Gondar. Though the boy may become a thorn in the near future, he is integral to Ki-Ree’s plans. Without Mas-Kedd as a messiah, he will never be able to gather enough support to take control of the Kree. He may be able to conquer it, but that wouldn’t last. It would be just like his last reign, ruling by fear with assassins around every corner. While he has no doubt that he could retain power, further expansion would be impossible, and eventually the empire would shrink until only Hala was left. No, Ki-Ree would have to learn how to play the political game, forget the old ways in order to expand. And to achieve all that, Ki-Ree needs Mas-Kedd, the mythical next step in Kree evolution. If Gondar kills him, that oaf will die the worst death imaginable! He’s waited too long for this chance! Given up too much! At these thoughts, Ki-Ree touches his blackened face, pulsating with the sigil of immortality. Always a vain man, he sometimes wonders if he had given up too much for immortality. When he met the god Kee-Ree in his travels, he thought his prayers were answered, that he would gain his heart’s desire. Little did he realize that he would be forced to lose something of equal value. Only the chance to return home and rule for all eternity has kept him going. He will not lose it now that he has come so close.
Last year was not a good year for the planet of Pastala. First, the mysterious child under the care of the government developed bizarre powers and attempted to take over. Despite the warnings of the nurse, the people attempted to execute him. It was only with her help that he managed to escape into the mountains. Every search party that went up there failed to return, so the government stopped sending them and tried to forget about Mas-Kedd. Later that year Shi’ar troops arrived in order to assert the authority of their empire. With their superior technology and strength, the council was quickly cowed into submission. A few young men ran off to the mountains to find Mas-Kedd for help. Several weeks afterward, a small group of soldiers were mysteriously killed. The Shi’ar immediately hung fifty Kree slaves and sent a squad of 200 Shi’ar soldiers into the mountains to hunt the rebel Mas-Kedd. These soldiers have just entered a small canyon within the mountains; a perfect site for an ambush. Mas-Kedd seems to feel the same way, since he’s currently watching the soldiers from the cliffs overlooking the canyon. Once all the Shi’ar are in the center of the canyon, Mas-Keed raises his hand and drops it. This signals his own soldiers, who drop their cloaking fields and open fire. Unfortunately, the Shi’ar are well armored and far better trained. All the time, they had a force shield up, which is now absorbing the rebel fire. Confident in victory, the Shi’ar prepare to return fire. Suddenly, a Kree Accuser has teleported in their midst. While he is at first surprised at his location, he quickly acts, sweeping soldiers aside with his Cosmi-Rod. Recognizing the field generator, Gondar smashes it, lowering the force shield. Scores of Shi’ar scream in agony as they are shot numerous times. In minutes, all the Shi’ar are dead; the battle won. As his troops cheer, Mas-Kedd frowns. Using his surface-thought telepathy, he realizes that this Accuser is after him under orders from a man named ‘Ki-Ree’. Mas-Kedd immediatly activates his tactile telekinesis and silently flies down at Gondar, determined to get in the first blow. He doesn’t get it, however. Aware of Mas-Kedd the entire time, Gondar swung his Cosmi-Rod like a baseball bat, scoring a home run upside Mas-Kedd’s head. The rebels nearby watched in awe as their leader was thrown to the ground like a little girl. They immediately opened fire on the Accuser. Gondar doesn’t even bother to raise his Cone of Invisibility, trusting in his armor to protect him. His trust is not misplaced;the energy blasts bouncing off like popcorn. Gondar confidently strides over to Mas-Kedd’s prone form, raising his Cosmi-Rod for the final blow. “In the name of Ki-Ree, I sentence you to de-uhhh!” Dropping his Cosmi-Rod, Gondar’s hands go down over his groin, where Mas-Kedd had just kicked him. Gondar falls to his knees, writhing in pain. As Mas-Kedd staggers to his feet, he picks up the Cosmi-Rod. Now the roles are reversed, with Mas-Kedd standing over Gondar, the Cosmi-Rod raised in preparation for the final blow. “Now, why don’t you tell me a little about this Ki-Ree guy you work for.” At Gondar’s shocked face, Mas-Kedd laughs and speaks, “Don’t be an idiot. That name’s right on the surface of your thoughts. Now who is he!” At that moment, the light fails, rain falls down, and lightning strikes. Over the thunder, a voice speaks behind Mas-Kedd. “That would be me.” Mas-Kedd turns to see a darkened silhouette that’s impossible to identify. Lightning strikes again, illuminating the silhouette for all to see. Mas-Kedd gasps at the at the sight before him; a large, powerful man with black skin crisscrossed with red. For seemingly no reason this man begins to laugh, lightning striking the ground all around him. Ki-Ree has come! To be continued in Five Years! |