POV: Baldur
Royal Castle of Genosha, Royal Chamber.
Two months after the events of Thor.
2012.
The last two months have been relatively calm compared to the rest of the year. I've primarily focused my time on getting the Destroyer operational, it would be a valuable asset in the future. Unfortunately, this task is proving to be a bit more challenging than expected. It's highly unlikely that it will be ready by next year.
I was surprised to learn that I'm now also considered a hero to the American people. During my battle against the Abomination, I was filmed by curious onlookers who should have been running in fear. I'm not sure what surprised the American people more: a giant monster appearing out of nowhere and wreaking havoc on a city, or a being that resembled a human capable of fighting on equal terms and even defeating such a monster. They were clever and deduced from the way my hair was braided and the runic tattoos on my body that I had Scandinavian origins, so they began calling me "Viking."
I am now the second hero of three to have appeared in this era, with the first being Iron Man and the third being the Hulk. The Hulk's opinion changed for some people after he helped fight against the Abomination, though a significant majority still consider him a monster, including the government. Civilians have not yet discovered that I am the king of Genosha, but governments found out shortly after the incident, with S.H.I.E.L.D being the only one with more information about me. Now, all governments are in a secret arms race to prepare for more superhumans appearing. I didn't mind being revealed to everyone, it was my mistake not to ask Alice not to deal with the cameras. In fact, I wasn't hiding, I just didn't inform them of who I am.
But not all the news was good. General Ross, the main reason for the destruction of much of Harlem, was dismissed from his army post. Unfortunately, he has many friends in politics who ensured he got the position of Secretary of State. WarDogs agents reported that he is working hard on measures that could prove hostile to me and Genosha. Even though the problems he may cause are almost insignificant, I was angry to think that everything could have been resolved on that rooftop.
I also haven't lost sight of the other two heroes who appeared. Tony Stark has just gone through the events of Iron Man 2, at the same time that Thor and I were apprehending Loki. He was also put on the Avengers Initiative by Fury as a consultant, and now he was dedicating his time to his horrible new tower. Hulk, as always, followed the same pattern and hid in the most distant and isolated place possible, but I'm still keeping an eye on him.
"You're lost in thought again!"
Amora grabs my attention. We were taking a break from our work and are now in the royal garden, sitting on one of its benches embraced. The royal garden is near the royal castle, it's where Amora and her mages grow herbs for potions and rituals. Few people have access to it. Even though it's used for cultivation, the garden doesn't lose its beauty, with various flowers and herbs of different colors scattered around growing without a determined pattern. At the center of the garden is a small structure with only a roof to protect from the sun, and a large sofa where we both use to rest.
"Sorry, my love." I kiss her cheek as a gesture of affection.
"What kind of man can be lost in his thoughts while having a goddess like me in his arms?"
"The idiotic kind, I presume."
"Indeed."
Amora snuggles closer to me and closes her eyes, enjoying the wind and the ambiance around us.
"I wish we could stay like this for a few years, things have been a bit hectic lately," she says.
Compared to previous years, this last decade has certainly been the most tumultuous, and it's only going to get more so until the final battle. We were literally going at a frenetic pace.
"Before the storm comes the calm, just as it does after the storm. I think we'll have enough time to enjoy our peace after a few years."
"I hope you're right," she says softly.
(Amora has been acting a bit strange this past year, like she's sensing something.)
I move Amora so she's facing me and gaze into her beautiful green eyes.
"Amora, I promise you nothing will happen to us. And may the gods help anyone who tries to separate us."
"I believe in you, Baldur."
I haven't revealed my knowledge of the future to her, but I haven't stopped dropping hints about what's to come, which has likely made her quite nervous. As a good husband, it's my duty to reassure her. Things started to heat up, and we both enjoyed our time together, this time in our chambers.
"Sorry to interrupt, sir."
After returning to our room, we spent hours together. I had asked Alice not to interrupt me unless it was something of utmost importance.
"It's good that Surtur himself is attacking the city, Alice."
I speak with a hint of anger at being interrupted, even though I know she wouldn't do so unless it was a serious matter.
"We have intruders, sir."
"What!?"
I'm proud to say that Genosha has one of the best defenses on Earth and would surely rank among the most well-defended countries in the universe.
"Who invaded us? The damned Titan? Hydra? Someone from the other realms?"
With Alice's words and my panic upon receiving the information, Amora emerges from beneath the covers she uses to conceal her naked body.
"As we're not hearing any alarms, they must be a small group, not an entire army. Right, Alice?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Amora handles the situation more calmly and deduces correctly that if it's just a small group, they're here on a reconnaissance mission or an assassination mission.
"Show me the footage, Alice."
A large screen appears in front of our bed, displaying images of five young people walking through the streets of Genosha. They're all dressed as Genoshans and seem to be trying to blend in with the people as they head somewhere.
"Our system identified them as the mutants known as Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Ororo Munroe, Clarice Ferguson, and James Howlett, better known as Logan."
(What on earth are the X-Men doing here?)
"I remember these mutants from the WarDogs files. They really are a fantastic team, but I can't think of any reason for them to come to Genosha."
Amora has the same access to information as I do, and with the certainty of Xavier's existence and the mutants, I put them under WarDogs surveillance since our encounter in Korea. The X-Men made their debut a few years ago by saving a group of mutants from a government secret laboratory that was experimenting on them, only the intelligence agencies know of their existence. Charles also hasn't gone public, knowing how to use this invisibility well. It's not as if mutants are a secret in the world, they're emerging more and more, but an attack team like theirs is of importance to the world.
"The most important thing isn't what they're doing here, but how they managed to get in. Alice, show the footage from when you detected their presence."
All public streets in Genosha are monitored by security cameras, which I have given great importance to. If one is damaged, it must be restored immediately, with hefty fines imposed if a civilian destroys one. The image switches to an isolated alley where the five individuals appeared out of nowhere, and I see a swirling purple portal close behind them. I remember this same portal being used by a mutant known as Blink. The woman identified by Alice as Clarice Ferguson must be her. I recalled Blink's powers of creating portals, but I couldn't remember her real name.
"This is no ordinary portal, she's literally bending reality, connecting two points. Truly magnificent ability. I'm not sure of its limitations, but in theory, she could go anywhere, no matter how well defended," Amora analyzes.
I agree with Amora's assessment, these portals are indeed problematic. She easily bypassed all magical and physical defenses. Fortunately, she's not one of the bad guys.
"Should I issue an order for the army to capture them, sir?" Alice asks.
"No. I'm quite interested in why these five are here. Let's follow them to their destination. We can consider how to capture them alive once they arrive," I respond.
While my soldiers are well-trained, they may not be very subtle. Fighting in such a crowded area poses a risk of civilian casualties.
"Why not let my mages handle this?" Amora suggests.
Genosha's organization of mages is perhaps the most secretive group under the queen's control. They don't undertake many missions, mainly focusing on their studies within a mountain installation. Although individually they may not possess great magical talent, they are trained to work as a unit within the army. Even without much potential, one ordinary mage is worth five elite soldiers.
"Okay, I'll leave it to you, but don't kill any of them," I agree.
The mages were created solely through Amora's effort and dedication. While I cannot command them, it's out of respect for her, as they would still obey my orders.
"Notify Seig. When we carry out the attack, I want civilians evacuated," I instruct.
"I'll do it immediately, sir," Alice acknowledges.
"How long until your mages are ready for the attack?" I ask Amora.
"Twenty minutes at most," Amora responds proudly as she rises from the naked bed and heads for the door.
"You might want to dress before meeting them. I don't want to gouge their eyes out before a battle," I suggest.
"Possessive," she teases, then teleports to her organization.
"Alice, send the information about these mutants' powers to Amora. They're only five, but they're undoubtedly quite troublesome, especially Ms. Grey," I instruct.
I stand and observe the mutants walking through my streets, feeling a premonition that this is just the beginning of a larger plan in which the X-Men are merely pawns.
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