The Univengers: Reign of Doom

Chapter 4: Enter Doom

In Central Europe, there was a small country named Latveria. It was bordered by Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and Symkaria. The ruler of this country was a tyrant named Victor Von Doom. Victor was born in a Romani tribe outside Haasenstadt, Latveria. His mother, Cynthia, specialized in witchcraft and when she made a deal with a demon that backfired, she was sent to hell as punishment. Victor's father, Werner, was a folk doctor specializing in healing. When he was unable to heal the Latverian Baron's wife, he fled the country with his son. The two trekked through the frozen wilderness until Werner froze to death while clutching his son to keep him warm. This was the tipping point for Victor as he swore to avenge his parents. After he was taken under the care of family friend Boris Karela, Victor found a chest that belonged to his mother. This chest had magic potions and papers containing scientific secrets. As a result, he dabbled in the black arts and science and used his scientific specialties to create weapons that would drive the baron's soldiers from his clan. When Victor grew up to be a young adult, word of his talents spread and he was offered by General Masterson to study in the U.S. along with being a scientist for their military. He accepted the offer as he just wanted to leave Latveria. At State University in Hegeman, New York, Victor met his roommate, Reed Richards. The two students formed an intense rivalry. It was at this time that Victor would start building his own robotic servants he called Doombots. With each day at the university, Victor's intellect and power would increase. Eventually, he built a machine that fused magic with science to cross dimensions and save his mother from damnation. Richards told him of the errors in his calculations but Victor bitterly ignored him. The experiment turned against him though as the machine exploded and permanently scarred his face. Victor was expelled from the university as they prohibited using science to breach the veil between life and death. Humiliated and angry, the scientist traveled to Tibet to study with monks. His wrecked ego inspired him to build a suit of armor for himself to hide from his past trauma. The monks suited him and created a mask for him to protect his scarred face. Clad in a green cloak, Victor returned to Latveria and killed the Baron that caused such misery for him and his parents. He took the cape that symbolized leadership from the baron and donned it on himself. From then on, Doctor Victor Von Doom ruled Latveria with an iron fist.

Von Doom's home was called Castle Doom. It was your standard medieval castle but with no chivalrous charm, only brute strength.  The castle sat on a hill, peering down at the Latverian capital city, Doomstadt. It was previously named Hassenstadt but Victor renamed it in honor of his mother. Behind the castle, two identical towers were being constructed. Doom watched from the back window of his throne room. Four Doombots stood on each side of the room. These brutes were shaped like bodybuilders. Their chests, legs, torsos, and elbows to their wrists had purple plating. Everywhere else was silver. Their shoulders had a few bumps on them and a sturdy tube circled the backs of their heads. Their eyes were horizontal rectangles that glowed red. Their mouths were also small rectangles.

A woman walked into the room; the lighting woman. She stopped a few feet from the throne that was between her and the leader. The woman put her head down.

"Doctor Doom...", she spoke in an African accent. Von Doom kept looking out the window but he could read the woman's shameful tone.

"Let me guess," he assumed. "You failed to obtain the AllSpark."

"Yes," the woman said dishonorably. Von Doom turned around. His mask had several bolts around the top and eye holes. The holes were squared and the "mouth" had a small bar in the center. Above the mouth was a sharp nose.

"Doom detests many things, Storm," Von Doom scolded. "Disappointment is one of them."

"The Univengers were there," informed Storm. "I tried to take down Potter but he got the upper hand. They have the AllSpark. I'm sorry, your highness." Von Doom's right fist tightened and his eyes were filled with anger.

"Good," he said. "Then you'll learn your lesson." Two of the Doombots from behind grabbed Storm by the arms and escorted her out. She knew what was coming. She couldn't fight back because she would be killed for doing so.

"Fail me again, and you'll end up like the Fantastic Four," warned Von Doom. The two Doombots pushed Storm into a chamber. The walls were dark yellow. One of the Doombots closed the chamber door and the other pushed a red button to the left side of it. The walls and ceiling started to move forward and eventually cave in around Storm. She started to lie down in the fetal position and cry. Her crying turned into soft screaming. This was a regular occurrence when Storm would fail with one of Doom's tasks. Von Doom knew where the Univengers lived. A few months earlier, he sent some Doombot scouts to find their location. Once it was found, Doom programmed the coordinates in all of his robotic servants, just in case the group interfered with his goals. Now was the time. In the throne room, the tyrant gave the order to his minions.

"Go to Portum Ingressum and take the AllSpark."

The Univengers face the wrath of Doom next Thursday. To be continued...