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UNTOLD TALES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE # 16 The Triumvirate: Part 3 of 3 (Author’s Note: This story takes place a month before the Kree/Shi’ar War)
“What the jurnk are yo-uhhhf!” Mas-Kedd is abruptly cut off by a bolt of lightning that strikes the ground in front of him. While his tactile telekinesis prevents him from being thrown to the ground, his mouth fills with dirt. His soldiers nearby now aim their guns at Ki-Ree, the source of the lightning. Ki-Ree ignores them, shaking his finger at Mas-Kedd. “Tsch, tsch. I will not permit foul language. You will have to behave yourself if you wish to work with me.” Mas-Kedd, having finally spit out the dirt, quickly retorted. “Work with you?! Over my dead body, you - " Ki-Ree waves his hands, and Mas-Kedd’s voice can no longer be heard, though his mouth is moving. “I talk, you listen. And to insure privacy...” Ki-Ree waves his hand again. All of Mas-Kedd’s troops vanish in a burst of light. “Don’t worry about them. I merely teleported them to your little base. We’ll be needing all the troops we can before long.” He turns to Gondar the Accuser, still writhing on the ground clutching his groin. “Gondar, after you’ve applied an ice pack, have the slaves prepare the ship for warp. I won’t be remaining long.” Ki-Ree waves his hand once again (he does that a lot), and Gondar also vanishes in a burst of light. Ki-Ree turns back to Mas-Kedd, who has been silently advancing towards him. “Keep your distance boy. Though I have no desire to use my magic directly on you, I can still indirectly affect you. For instance, shufficet!” At this word, Mas-Kedd’s eyes bulge out and his mouth gapes open. There’s no air for him to breathe! ”A simple vacuum spell. You have only to step out of the area of effect.” Mas-Kedd steps out of the area towards Ki-Ree with his hands outstretched. However, lightning bolts are still striking the area all around Ki-Ree. Mas-Kedd is thrown back into and then out of the vacuum area. Ki-Ree gives him a look of what might be considered pity, then speaks again. “While I could do this all day without tiring, I would much rather win you over to my cause.” Ki-Ree waves his hands again and the two of them vanish in a burst of light. As they disappear, Ki-Ree’s final words are heard, “You and I are going on a little trip.”
The two materialize within a vast arena, all but empty except for three people and a large structure. Mas-Kedd looks around in wonder, both awed and angered by the power of Ki-Ree. He attempts to read the surface thoughts of those around him, but can’t. {It’s as though they aren’t really here,} he thinks to himself. {Or we aren’t.} He looks over to Ki-Ree, who gives him a condescending smile. “We cannot affect anything here, because we aren’t really here. We are observing a past event; one that occurred before the Shi’ar conquered our people.” He indicates the three Kree in the room. “That is Marr-Curr, once a prominent scientist within the empire. That is Ronin, the mightiest of the Accusers. Gondar is nothing but a trikk* compared to him. The one battling him is Yon-Rogg, a traitor that was among the first of our evolved race. The events that took place here allowed for the continued evolution of the Kree. This is the true origin of your power.” *(A bug native to Pastala) Mas-Kedd and Ki-Ree watch the scene play itself out, then vanish for their next destination. * *(Read “Kree/Shiar War: A Prequel” for the whole story)
They reappear on what can only be the Kree homeworld of Hala, at the capital city of Kree-Lar. It is truly a breathtaking sight. The gleaming towers, the clean streets, the happy inhabitants. Mas-Kedd is truly speechless before such beauty. Ki-Ree, however, wears a look of sadness. “You see before a city that truly embodies the order and precision the Kree have sought for all millennia. This city is every inch the capital of a star-spanning empire. This city is what Kree-Lar used to look like.” Ki-Ree waves his hand, causing the city to shimmer. “This is what Kree-Lar looks like now.” It is a sight that brings tears to Mas-Kedd’s eyes. The once perfect city is now nothing more than rubble. The once towering buildings have been reduced to skeletons. The happy inhabitants are now wretched homeless that weep in corners for their fallen cities. Several feet away a Shi’ar soldier callously kills a young Kree child for daring to beg. Mas-Kedd now feels rage. Ki-Ree turns to him once more and speaks. “This is what the Shi’ar have done. This is what the Kree have become. This is what the ‘heroes’ of Earth brought about with their meddling. This is what the Supreme Intelligence planned.” Seeing Mas-Kedd’s look of shock and hatred, Ki-Ree quickly continues, “You see, Mas-Kedd, the dropping of the Nega Bomb, coupled with the Omni-Wave projector, saw to it that only those capable of evolving would survive. It also brought about the Kree’s Age of Marvels.” At these words, a figure appears in the shadows, unseen to all but Mas-Kedd and Ki-Ree. This figure ambushes the Shi’ar soldier, beating the soldier to death with his bare hands. Ki-Ree indicates the figure, a masked pink-skin wearing a white jumpsuit. “That is Grieve, changed by the Omni-Wave and Nega Bomb to feel the deaths of every Kree, and be empowered by those lost souls. Because of the immense mental anguish, he is constantly weeping.” Now Mas-Kedd can see Grieve’s face clearly; sees the tears flowing. “We now have one final destination.” Once again, Mas-Kedd and Ki-Ree vanish. Grieve melts back into the shadows, continuing his quest of vengeance.
Mas-Kedd looks around in puzzlement. Though he recognizes Kree design in the nearby buildings, he can see that none have walked among them for ages. Ki-Ree strides to nearby building, beckoning him to follow. Within the building is a chamber filled with machines, wires, and a very big jar. Within that jar, hooked up to the machines by the wires, is the Supreme Intelligence! Ki-Ree speaks again, “After the Nega Bomb was dropped and the Shi’ar took over, this...thing relocated here to Earth’s moon. Its plan was to wait for the Kree to begin evolving, then return to take power. The waiting period was estimated several thousand years. Even as I speak, soldiers loyal to it are coming to bring the Supreme Intelligence back to the Greater Magnetic Cloud.” Mas-Kedd turns toward the entrance, where soldiers and technicians are now entering. “It’s because of me, isn’t it. Supremor sensed the development of my powers, and is leaving early because of me.” Ki-Ree nods, watching the technicians rework the wires. “It plans to control you and use you as a symbol of rebellion. I learned of this move, which occurred several hours ago, and got to you first.” “So, what’s your angle?” “I ruled the Kree before the Skrull arrived and introduced space travel. Because of the advanced technology and rising rebellion, I fled to other dimensions. The Omni-Wave brought my attention back to my people, and the Nega Bomb explosion created the rift I needed to return. I originally intended to rule again, but the scope of the situation is beyond my capabilities. I now intend to bring a true ruler back to the Kree; you.” Ki-Ree waves his hand again. He and Mas-Kedd are back on Pastala, where in actuality they never left. Mas-Kedd looks over at Ki-Ree. “So, what now?” “You stay here and lead your soldiers. My scrying tells me that the Kree rebellion against the Shi’ar will take place within a month. During that time, the Supreme Intelligence won’t have time to come after you. My magiks will be able to shield you from it, prevent it from discerning your exact location. Just keep a low profile, limiting your soldiers to the local rebellion here on Pastala. Once the war ends, I will come to you, and we will comence with the construction of your empire.” Done talking, Ki-Ree vanishes in a burst of light. Mas-Kedd stands there for what seems like an eternity. A year ago, he was just a boy that attempted to overthrow a local government. Now he is in a position to become the next Emperor of the Kree Empire. If Ki-Ree can be trusted, of course. He begins to plan for that eventuality as he goes to base to meet with his troops. The End
Whew! In less than a month’s time, I managed to finish three issues! Ok, I admit it; they’re not very long, and they’re probably not very good, but it’s a start. Hopefully, this storyarc will lead to other things. I’m a little worried about the section with the Supreme Intelligence. So far, it’s only appearance here in MV1 has been in the Kree/Shi’ar War Crossover. Last I saw at Marvel, it was on Earth (I think it’s last pre-Heroes Return appearance was that crappy Imperial Guard mini-series). I felt somebody had to explain how Supremor got from point A to point B, and I hope I did a good job of it. As you’ve probably noticed, this story ends on something of a cliffhanger. Did Mas-Kedd survive the war? Will Ki-Ree take the Empire away from the Supreme Intelligence? What’s the deal with Grieve? To tell you the truth, I’m thinking of writing a huge mini-series that will explain all of that and much, much more (Don’t worry, I may have another writer script it). I probably won’t start it until the summer though, and I’ll still have to get it approved by the BEs. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll mention somewhere that all these characters died in the war. Keep reading! |