Kristoff Vernard, aka Kristoff Von Doom (discardedheir) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-10-09 17:56:00

Entry tags:

awesome andrea, kristoff vernard, plot-"a game of thrones", team - fantastic four, vincent vernard

In Latveria
SHIELD was notified. Cassandra and the children were taken care of, and the Fantasticar was about to enter Latverian airspace.

Obviously, the automatic national defenses were on alert, but they could be temporarily disabled with a code that changed every hour of every day, but was based on particularly complex algorithm Doom had concocted at the age 24 and never shared with another human being, and into which one simply had to plug in the full date and time. And, of course, add the name Valeria.

It's been a very, very long time since he's disobeyed the Master. The Fantasticar touched own on the outskirts of Doomstadt unmolested; Kristoff deliberately does not look in the direction of the gypsy funeral grounds. He can't let himself do that right now.

Since the defenses hadn't been activated, Doomstadt is looking its normal calm, quiet self. People walk unmolested down the cobblestone streets, and the water flows in the fountains. The castle looks its normal self from this distance as well.

Time for them to see about making the Master of Latveria explain himself.

(Post a new comment)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-09 11:21 pm UTC (link)
	Andrea's sensors were on full alert, scanning for any particular signs of trouble. What was it Mr. Grimm had always said about Latveria? 'Like Disneyworld. But creepier.' She tended to agree with the assessment. Everything was entirely too clean and perfect. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-10 04:44 am UTC (link)
	That assessment was one of Vincent's own, among others. His stomach was one big knot, but he swallowed it down. He gives his cape a brief toss as he exits the Fantasticar, willing his knees not to shake as his feet touch Latverian ground. "How shall we approach?" He says to Kristoff with measured control. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2010-10-10 04:53 am UTC (link)

Kristoff has never liked that cape. He knows Vincent's a good sorcerer, but there's a part of Kristoff that will always think that only Doom can pull off a cape quite safely. He'd never worn the things even when he 'was' Doom.

Of course, the reason Kristoff is thinking about that is to distract himself from both the overwhelming emotion of being on his native soil again, and the overwhelming fact that he may well die today, that this brief time with his newborn daughter is all he will have had.

But there are some things for which one simply does not stand.

"No defenses activated, and most of the reserves spread across the various targets -- our way to the castle should be fairly unimpeded until he comes out. People in the streets, upon seeing us, should generally retreat inside; that's how typical emergencies commonly go. Everyone gives him a chance to come out and deal with the interlopers. It is to be hoped he will meet us outdoors. Fewer chances for someone to be surprised and cornered."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-10 04:24 pm UTC (link)
	"Preliminary sensor scans are within expected parameters," Andrea reported. "Overall environmental scans reveals pollution levels have dropped 6% since previous data was collected." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-10 10:26 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent took a deep breath, mulling over some of the countermeasures he'd reviewed before they had left the Baxter Building. This was a confrontation he'd been desperate to avoid since he was eight years old. "Let us be on our way then. We have several countries to save." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2010-10-11 03:31 am UTC (link)

As predicted, a lot of the townsfolk make their exit when they get a good look at the FF uniforms. Many of the older ones catch particular sight of Kristoff with a hint of recognition and a pained expression. As one would at a nice young man who's done something particularly stupid and unsafe. Vincent gets slightly less of both the recognition and the pity; fewer had contact with the boy, and the Master never actually told Vincent not to come back.

Kristoff keeps expecting the master to come out. Perhaps with some Doombots if they're not stretched too thin, perhaps alone. He'd bypassed the automatic defenses, but there is nothing stopping Doom from observing them from the castle and its systems as they approach.
"Sir, you have to be watching," he calls aloud by the time they're very near the castle. "This is madness. You have to realize that."

But there is no response.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-11 03:39 am UTC (link)
	"I am afraid we may need to take more aggressive action if we are to accomplish anything," Andrea said. "But the lack of response is most curious. And well outside the statistically likely responses from him." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-11 04:19 am UTC (link)
	"I am prepared to disarm the doors if necessary, Andrea. I simply was expecting to deal with the matter outside. This is... statistically unlikely, yes." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-11 01:45 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent is recognizing the wrongness of the scenario as well, moving close to Kristoff's side. He lowers his voice. "Should I call him out?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-11 04:21 pm UTC (link)
	Andrea was a step or two back from them. She waited to see what would happen next. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-11 06:33 pm UTC (link)
	Kristoff sets a hand on Vincent's shoulder and shakes his head. "You don't have to. If he will not face this... wee will insist. He presses a long series of buttons on his gauntlets, and the castle doors open. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_misc 2010-10-11 06:49 pm UTC (link)
	And out come a few 'bots of the lesser, around-the-castle variety. Still dangerous to most people, though. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-11 11:15 pm UTC (link)
	Andrea moved into an action pose, but did not bring any of her weaponry to bear just yet. She would wait to see if they were hostile. "On your signal, if need be, Kristoff." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-12 01:21 am UTC (link)
	Vincent raises a hand to about waist-level, stepping in front of Kristoff. He wants to test something. "Sentries. Vincent--" He pauses, for just a split-second. "-von Doom commands you to stand down. Take no offensive action against the individuals accompanying myself." As an added precaution, the mystical formula for a ferromancy spell are ready in his mind. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_misc 2010-10-12 01:59 am UTC (link)
	The doombots were under no such orders to follow commands from anyone, save Doom, so when Vincent stepped forward he gave the Doombots a nice big target. They opened fire without hesitation with their weapons on stun. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-12 02:23 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff gets off his first repulor shot as quickly as he can. Andrea can certainly consider the signal given, even if he's too distracted to say it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-12 02:30 am UTC (link)
	Andrea brought both arms up, panels opening all over and flesh disappearing, to be replaced by gun barrels. She opened fire on the nearest doom-bot. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-12 03:05 am UTC (link)
	Vincent raises a shield against the first blasts, then completes the other spell. A wave of crushing force attacks the metal components of the robots, pushing to collapse them inwards. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_misc 2010-10-12 03:30 am UTC (link)
	A few doombots are blow back by Kristoff's repulsor blast and two are damaged. Vincent's attack catches two more of the doombots and they start to collapse inward, but they are still firing. The other undamaged ones are moving toward them and firing. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-12 04:16 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff moves down and to the side, both to avoid any damage to his armor and give Andrea a clearer shot. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-12 04:03 pm UTC (link)
	Andrea continued firing with her weaponry, focused currently in laser canon configuration. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-10-12 09:29 pm UTC (link)

"I will not waste my time with this.." Vincent hisses under his breath, deflecting oncoming fire skyward, away from his family and any possible bystanders.

"Andrea, on my mark, shut off your optical reception for two point seven seconds." He conjures an intricate light spell, the pattern of which is designed to disrupt robotic systems.

"Mark!" The area immediately around the robots pulses with illumination.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_misc 2010-10-12 10:32 pm UTC (link)
	Doom's creations would not be so easily defeated by casual spells. The robots paused for a moment and shut off their optical sensors. The light had hit them just enough to mess up their targeting systems though. The optical sensors were renabled and the Doombots started firing again, but this time their shots were erratic. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-13 12:13 am UTC (link)
	While this is going on, Kristoff shifts the frequency on his repulsors to overlay with Andrea's shots for maximum effect. Then he fires. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-13 12:36 am UTC (link)
	Andrea shut off her visual sensors for just slightly longer than the recommended time. Not that she did not trust Vincent, but even the exceptionally intelligent could not measure time quite as accurately as her own instruments. In the meantime, her non-visual sensors more than kept up the slack, letting her still aim and fire. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

quitethecharmer
2010-10-13 12:47 am UTC (link)

"Devel..." Vincent growls and clenches his fists, reaching into the Pym-pocket of his cape to retrieve his staff. "CLEAR!"

He takes to the air, runes on his staff flaring to life, as he positions himself directly above the Doombots. It puts himself in prime targeting position, but he's not concerned at the moment. Crimson colored silk seems to burst forth from the staff, adhering to the Doombots. It doesn't seem to initially do anything, then Vincent turns his staff in a circle.

"Flame on."

The webbing doesn't explode into a fireball, but rather creates a white hot superheated grid across the Doombots' structures.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_misc 2010-10-13 02:23 am UTC (link)
	The remaining Doombots went down to the ground under Kristoff's repulsor blasts coupled with Andrea's blasts. Vincent's spell melted them into slag. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-13 02:56 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff flashes a concerned look too Vincent at the unexpected spell. Overkill like that can take a lot out of someone. But mostly he manages to stay on task. "Andrea, please commence scanning," he says as they head further into the castle. "We need the location of everyone in the castle you can find." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-13 03:03 am UTC (link)
	"Commencing scanning." Andrea's eyes flashed briefly with a soft golden light as she commenced a deeper sensor scan. "I am detecting four lifeforms at present. Mapping to known castle configurations and maps suggests they are in the servants' quarters. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-13 03:56 am UTC (link)
	Vincent gives Kristoff what he hopes is a reassuring nod, thumping the end of his staff against the ground in a hearty fashion. "Can you infer from the readings if they're under any significant stress, or alternately, incapacitated?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-13 03:59 am UTC (link)
	"Four is reasonable in terms of actual staff residents, from what I recall," Kristoff says, heading in that direction. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-13 04:02 am UTC (link)
	"Their life signs are stable," Andrea said, "but other than that I can make no determinations at this distance." She followed Kristoff. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-13 04:49 am UTC (link)
	Vincent keeps himself alert as they move forward. "I... don't sense anything." He furrows his brow. "No magical defenses." He pauses. "Or presences even." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

discardedheir
2010-10-13 05:12 am UTC (link)

"Indeed. I don't think your Father is among the people to whom we are going to speak."

And in their respective quarters are a decidedly agitated cook, two of the other resident members of the castle staff, and, in his own room, not in any position to get out of his chair, a very old man.

He looks at the two males in turn. "Young Master," he says, nodding to each of them in turn.

"They do say the memory is the first to go." Kristoff actually manages to be wry. "Hello, Boris. Are you all right?"

"Fine, fine."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-13 05:16 am UTC (link)
	Vincent blinks, looking between the man and Kristoff. Boris had been an active fixture in his time in Latveria, and he had no ill to speak of the old man. Being addressed as 'Young Master' by him didn't even set his skin to crawl. "Hello.." He manages, it almost sounding more like a question than a greeting. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-13 05:24 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff certainly had no problems with Boris that actually involved the real Boris. But obviously, it is hardly time to chat. "Where is he?" Antecedents were unnecessary. Boris shakes his head. "I don't know." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-13 05:38 am UTC (link)
	"Then I would ask you to guess." Vincent gives the old man the benefit of the doubt for honesty, for now. "Is he gone, or is he taken? And where?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	awesome_andrea 2010-10-13 03:37 pm UTC (link)
	Andrea, from the stories Kristoff and Vincent had both told, had little doubt of Boris's basic honesty, still kept her scanners tuned on him, just in case there were any aberrations. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-13 05:24 pm UTC (link)
	The old man seems authentically real and not under any of the usual physical strains associated with duress or invention. "He left several days ago, mentioning only that he would have arrangements elsewhere for dinner." Obviously, the old man had asked no further. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-13 05:36 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent visibly relaxes, looking between Kristoff and Boris. "What mode of transport did he take? Did he depart in one of his personal craft or by mystical means?" Divination wasn't Vincent's strongest study, but a mage of Doom's caliber did not easily move without leaving a trail. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-13 06:53 pm UTC (link)
	"I assumed he used the teleportation platform," Boris said quietly. "The Doombots' coordinating broadcasts," Kristoff mutters, along with an "Excuse me," before taking off to another room. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-13 09:18 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent blinks at the abrupt departure. "Andrea, please wait here for now. I think this is about to become a private exchange." Concern on his face, he moves to follow Kristoff. "Be well, Boris." He says over his shoulder, inclining his head, before pursuing his brother. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-13 09:21 pm UTC (link)
	He'll find him pouring over the communication equipment deep in the castle. When it's clear someone's behind him, Kristoff will speak. "The last acknowledgement signals from the Doombots are all confirming search-and-rescue missions. ...But..... there's indications of potentially hijacked signals." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-13 09:24 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent looks over the data, drawing several hypotheses from it. None of them inspire confidence. "Search-and-rescue protocols can be altered easily to designate individuals not in need, or willing to be, rescued." He raises a thumb to his mouth, biting a nail as he thinks. "Your analysis?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-13 09:32 pm UTC (link)
	A little nod, and then. "It is a setup. Whoever hijacked these signals is trying bring all of these countries into war, facing no threat themselves because they direct all the rage at Latveria." Kristoff's voice is cold. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-14 12:12 am UTC (link)
	"All right, that makes sense." Vincent reviews the data further. "The unfortunate question that follows... is who benefits?" His face curls slightly. Doom has no shortage of enemies, and while Symkaria isn't exactly popular on the world stage, Atlantis and Wakanda have made various first world nations unhappy for quite some time. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	discardedheir 2010-10-14 06:08 am UTC (link)
	Kristoff nods. "But I am afraid that before 'Cui bono?' must come 'Please don't shoot,'" he says as he makes his way to the main communications suite. "After a message to SHIELD, the first people whom we must try to reach are the Atlanteans." At least he knew Namor personally and had met Princess Marrina. That made this a little easier. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	quitethecharmer 2010-10-14 01:21 pm UTC (link)
	Vincent gives himself a quick check. When addressing royalty, or whoever they have taking their messages, presentation is everything. "Check if Doom has him on speed-dial." He manages a bit of dry humor. The life is clearly coming back into him now that he knows Doom is elsewhere. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	redheadspy 2010-12-07 09:45 am UTC (link)
	((END)) (Reply to this)

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