The Univengers: Reign of Doom

Chapter 5: A Different Kind of Enemy

It was 9:06 pm on Portum Ingressum. Everyone was in high spirits. Optimus was taking a nap in the garage while everyone else was in what they called the "living room", enjoying some Chilean sea bass provided by chef Nathan Jayson. Everyone called him Chef Nate. Morshower met Nate two years prior when was the head chef at the Empire Hotel. After he was done eating his salmon, he asked the waitress if he could have a word with the head chef. Nate walked over to Morshower's table and took a seat. He was expecting a furious rant but instead, he offered to be the chef for his new team. Nate gladly accepted. Nate worked in the headquarters kitchen alongside five cooks: Joe Alfaro, Colvin Scott, Jim Kershaw, Hannah Wicker, and Michael Moyher. Despite Reese's Pieces being his favorite food, E.T. loved Chef Nate's creations. Sometimes Nate would make him a peanut butter and chocolate shake with some Reese's Pieces sprinkled on top. While the alien was munching on his sea bass and drinking his favorite shake, he was listening to his friends joking around. The living room had a few sofas, four tables, and a 4K T.V. Hanging from the 35 foot ceiling from a few ropes was a skelton of an extinct marine creature that scientists have called "Pilosaurus sp".

"God knows how many pants I've gone through as the Hulk," said Banner. "Once or twice I transformed with pants that didn't have waists that expanded enough and I would be buck-ass nude." Everyone laughed and Letty spat a little bit of tequila in her glass. Then, they heard clanking footsteps. They thought it was Optimus outside at first, but it sounded like it was coming from inside the building.

"If you and your chefs are trying to scare us, Nate, nice try," said Morshower. "You haven't intoxicated us yet." A voice that sounded robotic but also human at the same time spoke.

"Good, then I'll have your full attention." A robot stepped into the living room. A Doombot. Everyone stood up.

"Are you a Decepticon?", asked Banner.

"No," answered the Doombot. "Consider yourselves lucky." Harry slowly pulled out his wand from his right pocket.

The Doombot's head opened back and a green hologram appeared. The hologram showed Doctor Doom from the neck upwards. He glared at the group.

"My name is Doctor Victor Von Doom," he said. "Scientist, statesman, and ruler of Latveria. Like all of you, I have gifts of my own. I've spent years building my own Doombots like the one you see before you. I have made many sacrifices to be where I am today, but still, my reputation seems to be tarnished by you ragtag celebrities. I specialize in the occult and science, so how come I don't receive credit? You changed the world and I was close to accomplishing it before you came along." Morshower was suspicious about this visitor but still wanted to hear his reasoning.

"Your point is?", asked the general.

"I am a national leader, yet I get overshadowed by a weak alien, a schoolboy magician, a doctor with anger issues, a spider gymnast, a pretentious racer, and a glorified robot," taunted Von Doom.

"That's funny," said Morshower. "You sound like what everyone said to me before the battle in New York. You're stuck in the past and haven't moved on."

"I will," said Von Doom. "Starting with your deaths." To the left of the hologram, a blast erupted through the dark-beige wall and another Doombot flew into the room. It had rocket boosters on its feet, all of them did. At break-neck speed, Letty and Morshower drew their guns at the incoming Doombot. But there was another that flew into the room from the backdoor. It headed straight towards E.T. and Banner. Harry cast Bombarda Maxima on the Doombot from the back and its legs and right arm blasted off. As for the front Doombot, it only got dents from the bullets of Morshower's and Letty's guns. Letty was finally able to shoot at the bot's left eye, powering down the behemoth. It collapsed to the floor with a loud clunk.

"Bombarda Maxima!", yelled Harry. The Doombot with the hologram exploded into several pieces. The hologram turned off from the explosion. A few seconds after though, the Doombot's head turned the hologram back on with a few flickers.

"Let this be a warning, Univengers," announced Von Doom. "Resign your duties or I'll resign you from this life." Doom disappeared. The Doombot to the back tried to crawl towards the group but Banner kicked it's head off and the crawling stopped. Everyone looked at each other. Harry's eyes widened and he started running out of the room.

"There might be more of them!", he panicked. Everyone followed. Harry, Letty, and Morshower had their weapons drawn. Everyone exited the main building.

"Harry, Banner, you check the garage," ordered Morshower. "E.T., Letty, you check the apartment building and ask everyone if they've seen anything. I'll check everywhere else." The group dispersed. Banner and Harry scrambled to the garage. Banner pressed the garage door button and the big door opened.

"Optimus!", said Banner. Optimus woke up.

"What's wrong?", he asked.

"There were intruder robots in the living room," said Banner. "There might be more here." Before Banner could finish his sentence, Optimus opened both of his doors.

"Get in," he said. Harry got into the passenger seat and Banner sat in the driver's seat. Optimus drove out of the garage and circled the island. Letty and E.T. went into the apartment building. They knocked on all of the doors of the chefs. The cooks walked out drowsily.

"We'd better get a raise for this, Letty," said Nate.

"Now's not the time for jokes, Nate," Letty slightly scolded as she and E.T. were inspecting the rooms. "There was an intruder here. Someone named Victor von Doom. He brought his robots here and there might be more." The cooks suddenly felt paranoid. There had never been an intruder on this island. This place was their home and hearing about an intruder seemed almost like a loss of innocence. They forgot that they made food for people who were practically soldiers but they viewed them more as family.

"Is everyone ok?", asked Joe Alfano. He had a goatee and faint eyebrows.

"Yeah, we're ok," responded Letty. "That guy though. He was not playing around." Morshower walked into the hallway where the AllSpark vault was. The touchpad was torched and the door was open. He stepped in to see that the AllSpark and its case were gone. Here we go again, he thought. The general walked to his desk and pushed a button on an intercom microphone.

"Attention all Portum Ingressum residents," he spoke into the microphone. "Please proceed to the garage immediately." He picked up a phone and dialed a number. "Dees, I need 30 troops stationed at Portum Ingessum ASAP."

Eveyone on the island was assembled at the garage. Morhsower stood in front of the Univengers to give an unfortunate announcement.

"I know we're all a bit shaken up by what happened, but I have some bad news. The AllSpark is gone." They gave out a collective sigh of disappointment. "I think Doom distracted us so he could get some other Doombots to get that item. He could be wanting us to find him. Going to Latveria now could be trap." Letty and Banner nodded in agreement. "We should pick up Peter in the morning," said Morsower. "Once we hear of any whereabouts of Doom, we'll be ready. I'll see you all tomarrow." Morshower walked out of the garage. Everyone pondered about this Doom character. Unlike Draco Malfoy or the Decepticons, no one knew who this person was, except for maybe...