The air was crisp as Albedo made his way through the quiet streets, the distant hum of the city fading with each step. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his jacket, his hood pulled low over his face. He preferred the solitude of the moment, allowing his thoughts to churn as he processed the information Peter and Tony had given him.
Victor von Doom, he thought. The name carried weight. Even in a fractured world like this, Doom's reputation was ironclad. He was untouchable, a monarch who wielded both power and intellect with ruthless precision. And most importantly, he was a rival to Reed Richards.
Albedo's lips thinned into a grim line. The Maker is an alternate version of Richards, he reminded himself. That makes Doom more than just a potential ally. It makes him someone who might actually understand what I'm up against.
The faint sound of waves lapping against the docks reached Albedo's ears as he approached the shipyard. The air grew cooler, carrying the scent of salt and oil. Stacks of shipping containers loomed like silent sentinels, their painted surfaces faded and rusting.
He paused near a chain-link fence, leaning against a post as he stared out at the ships bobbing gently in the water. His mind continued to churn.
Doom is dangerous, he thought. Arrogant, prideful, and notoriously difficult to deal with. He doesn't trust easily, and his ego could make any alliance fragile at best.
The Irony was not lost on Albedo. When he really thought about it Doom was similar to himself, at least in terms of personality. To beings with immense pride always tend to struggle working together. It was one of the reasons he himself was alone on Galvan Prime.
But there was no denying Doom's capabilities. His intelligence rivaled even the greatest minds of this world, and his mastery of technology and magic gave him an edge that few could match.
More importantly, Albedo mused, he's still fighting. While the rest of this world's so-called heroes have fallen in line or disappeared, Doom has held his ground. That alone makes him worth considering.
Yet, despite all of Doom's strengths, Albedo couldn't shake his unease. Aligning with someone so unpredictable felt like inviting a viper into his plans.
Thoughts of Vilgax entered Albedos mind. He had trusted the conqueror and been betrayed twice. The first time Albedo had believed having a shared goal made an alliance the most logical step. All that happened was Albedo being captured by his supposed ally. Though Albedo admits he should've known better the second time.
Still, what other choice did he have? If anyone could help him dismantle the Maker's plans, it was Doom. From the memories in his head, Doom is the only person capable of consistently defeating Reed Richards. In any universe really. It's why the Council of Reed had to eliminate Doctor Doom on a Multiversal scale.
Albedo's eyes flicked to the thumb drive Tony had given him, still in his pocket. He has found a public library to look at some of the information. He hadn't had time to examine all the information, but what he'd seen so far painted a clear picture. SHIELD and Stane Enterprises had consolidated their power, their influence stretching into every corner of the world.
It didn't exactly make sense to Albedo though. The Reed Richards of this universe had been around since WW2 and both created and runs SHIELD. From the new clipping he has had found before Albedo noted that the Reed Richards on the Paige still looked rather youthful, yet he couldn't be the Maker as he doesn't have the scar on his face.
It bothered Albedo not to know something. He needed allies. Yet where would he find any if Spider-Man, a consistent paragon of hope, wasn't around. Dr. Doom was untrustworthy, damn it!
And yet, Doom had managed to carve out a space for himself, his kingdom of Latveria standing as the last bastion of resistance.
In a world where beings like Blue Marvel, Captain Marvel, and Hulk are at your enemies beck and call, yet they cant stop a singular threat, your best chance is to recruit that threat.
Maybe this is the way forward, Albedo thought. If Doom can hold his ground against all of this, then he's someone I need to speak to. Even if it means swallowing my pride to work with someone so… infuriating.
He pushed off the fence and began walking deeper into the shipyard, his footsteps echoing softly against the asphalt. The dim light from nearby lampposts cast long shadows across the containers, adding to the eerie stillness of the area.
The silence was broken by the faint hum of energy, a sound Albedo recognized immediately. He stopped in his tracks, his senses sharpening as he turned toward the source. A figure descended from the sky, their form silhouetted against the faint glow of the moon.
As they landed gracefully a few meters away, the hum faded, replaced by the quiet rustle of fabric and the faint clink of armor. The figure stepped into the light, revealing a tall, imposing woman with short blonde hair and a resolute expression. Her star-emblazoned uniform gleamed in the dim light, and her posture exuded confidence and authority.
"Captain Marvel," Albedo muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing.
Carol Danvers studied him for a moment, her arms crossed over her chest. "You're a hard man to track down," she said, her tone steady but laced with suspicion. "I received a call about a random stranger at these docks and I found you daydreaming. What are you doing out here?."
Albedo straightened, his expression calm but guarded. "Just taking a walk."
"In a shipyard?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Not exactly a tourist spot."
Albedo smirked faintly. "I like the quiet."
Captain Marvel's gaze sharpened. "Funny guy, huh. Well I have something funny to mention. Not to long ago a few of my colleagues got into a scuffle with an illegal hero. I got a call about someone breaking the rules, and that doesn't happen often anymore. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that scuffle would you."
Albedo said nothing, his dark eyes locked on hers as the tension between them thickened.
"Well," she said after a moment, taking a step closer, "since you're here, why don't we have a little chat? Something tells me you've got a lot to talk about, and I happen to be an amazing listener. When I'm not asking a bunch of questions that is."
Albedo's fists clenched slightly in his pockets as he prepared himself for whatever was about to come next.
Albedo's eyes narrowed as Captain Marvel took another step closer, her expression hardening.
"You're coming with me," she said firmly.
Albedo didn't flinch. "And if I refuse?"
"Then I make you," Captain Marvel said, her tone matter-of-fact. "You're possibly the unregistered vigilante who fought two government workers. After the mess you caused with Iron Man and Red Hulk, SHIELD wants answers. And even if you aren't that guy I have this gut feeling that you have some information I would love to hear."
Albedo smirked faintly, his fists unclenching. "You think I'm going to let you drag me off for 'questioning'? I've seen how that goes on dozens of other worlds."
Captain Marvel's jaw tightened. "Last chance. Come quietly, or I'll take you in the hard way."
Albedo didn't answer. Instead, his body shimmered as he activated his transformation, shifting into Fourarms. His massive red form towered over Captain Marvel, the ground trembling slightly beneath his weight.
"I'll take my chances," he said, his deep voice reverberating through the shipyard.
Captain Marvel sighed, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face. "Why does it always have to be the hard way?"
Captain Marvel launched herself forward, her fists glowing with crackling energy. Albedo raised one of his massive arms to block the strike, the impact sending shockwaves through the air.
She followed up with a rapid barrage of punches, each blow hitting with the force of a cannon. Albedo grunted, sliding back slightly but holding his ground. With a roar, he swung one of his colossal fists, narrowly missing as Captain Marvel darted out of the way with her enhanced speed.
"You're strong," she admitted, her voice steady as she hovered just out of reach. "But strength isn't enough."
Albedo growled, slamming his fists into the ground and sending a wave of debris flying toward her. Captain Marvel dodged effortlessly, weaving through the shrapnel as she charged forward again.
This time, she aimed for his legs, striking with a burst of energy that sent him toppling onto one knee. Albedo roared in frustration, shifting tactics as he slammed his fists into the ground again, sending a shockwave that momentarily knocked her off balance.
Albedo's deep voice reverberated as he replied, "Strength isn't all I have."
His massive form shimmered, dissolving into a sleek, black-and-white armored figure. His new form was angular and alien, with glowing antennae atop his head crackling with energy. Captain Marvel hesitated, her hands lowering slightly as she studied him.
"What the hell is that?" she muttered, her brow furrowing.
"This?" Albedo said, gesturing to himself. "I call it Feedback. Let me show you what it can do."
Without waiting for a response, Albedo surged forward, moving with surprising speed. Captain Marvel instinctively raised her glowing fists, unleashing a burst of energy aimed directly at him.
The blast would have struck true, but Albedo was able to react by raising his hand to absorb the blast. The energy seemed to ripple across Feedback's black-and-white body, energizing his entire being.
Captain Marvel's eyes widened. "What—?"
Before she could finish, Albedo extended his arms, sending his antenna forward Albedo struck Captain Marvel in the gut. Captain Marvel had to keel over from the strike, but she wasn't able to catch a break as the tendrils began absorbing her energy from her.
"Stop!" she shouted, trying to push forward, but her movements were both slower and weaker as Albedo drained more of her power.
"You rely too much on this energy," Albedo said, his tone sharp and analytical. "It makes you predictable and rather untalented. Without it, you seem rather helpless."
Captain Marvel gritted her teeth and tried to fire another blast, but the attempt only fed more energy into Albedo's form. His antennae crackled with vibrant light as the power coursed through him, intensifying his aura.
Captain Marvel's glowing aura began to flicker, her flight faltering as she dropped to one knee. "What are you?" she muttered, her voice strained.
"Someone you don't want to fight," Albedo said coldly. He raised his hands, releasing the stolen energy in a focused blast that sent Captain Marvel flying backward. She crashed into a stack of shipping containers, denting the metal before collapsing to the ground.
Albedo straightened, his glowing form looming over her. "You're strong," he said, his tone almost mocking. "But strength alone doesn't win fights."
Captain Marvel groaned, struggling to push herself to her feet. She tapped her communicator, her voice shaky but determined. "This is Captain Marvel. I'm engaging an unidentified powered individual. I need backup at the shipyard—now."
Albedo's antennae twitched as he heard her call for reinforcements. I can't stay here.
Albedo's form shimmered again, Feedback dissolving into the sleek, winged figure of Jetray. His vibrant green-and-black body glowed faintly as he spread his wings.
"Another time, Captain," Albedo said before launching into the air.
Captain Marvel forced herself into the air moments later, her aura reigniting faintly. Despite her weakened state, she pushed forward, propelled by sheer determination.
"You're not getting away!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the wind.
Albedo glanced back, his antennae twitching as he adjusted his trajectory. Latveria, he thought. If I can reach Doom's borders, SHIELD shouldn't be able to touch me.
The night sky blurred around him as he accelerated, his bioelectric trail glowing faintly in the darkness. Captain Marvel pursued, her speed impressive despite the energy she had lost.
The night sky stretched endlessly before Albedo as he soared eastward, his sleek Jetray form cutting through the cold air like a missile. The distant lights of cities and towns blurred beneath him, and the dark waters of the Atlantic gleamed faintly under the pale moonlight. His wings glowed faintly with bioelectric energy, propelling him faster than any earthly aircraft.
Behind him, the faint hum of Captain Marvel's energy trailed, growing louder as she pushed herself to keep up. Albedo glanced back, his sharp eyes narrowing. Despite the energy he had drained from her, Carol Danvers was relentless, her faintly glowing form growing larger in his peripheral vision.
Captain Marvel's breathing was labored, each beat of her energy-driven flight costing her more than she wanted to admit. The drain from Feedback had left her reserves low, but she refused to stop. Her hands flickered faintly with energy as she gained ground on Jetray, determination etched into every line of her face.
"You're not getting away that easily!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the rushing wind.
Albedo turned his head slightly, his antennae twitching in irritation. "You don't know when to quit, do you?"
He banked sharply to the right, twisting through the air in an effort to shake her. Captain Marvel matched the maneuver, gritting her teeth as she fired a series of weak energy blasts in his direction. The streaks of light zipped past him, close enough to make him swerve but too weak to do any real damage.
"You're wasting your time," Albedo called over the wind. "You're running on fumes. Turn back before you hurt yourself."
Carol growled, her pride stinging as she forced herself to accelerate. "Not a chance."
Captain Marvel pushed herself harder, closing the gap between them. With a burst of effort, she surged forward, aiming to grab Jetray's wings and bring him down.
Albedo's sharp eyes caught the movement, and he twisted mid-air, his agile form spinning to avoid her grasp. "Persistent," he muttered, his tone a mix of annoyance and grudging respect.
He fired a bolt of bioelectric energy from his tail, the green streak of light forcing Captain Marvel to veer off course. The move gave him just enough time to regain his speed and put more distance between them.
"I told you," Albedo said, glancing back. "You're not stopping me."
Captain Marvel's chest heaved as she slowed slightly, her glow dimming further. She knew she was at her limit, but she couldn't let him go.
Before Captain Marvel could push forward again, a booming voice echoed through the air, stopping them both.
"That's enough, Carol."
Albedo's antennae twitched, his sharp eyes scanning the sky ahead. A figure emerged from the clouds, his imposing silhouette lit faintly by the moonlight. Blue Marvel hovered effortlessly in the air, his cape fluttering behind him as he placed himself directly in Albedo's path.
"Blue Marvel," Albedo muttered under his breath, his wings slowing slightly.
Captain Marvel let out a breath of relief as she pulled up alongside him, her energy barely sustaining her flight. "Glad you could make it," she said, her voice strained.
Blue Marvel's piercing gaze fixed on Albedo, his tone calm but firm. "You've caused enough trouble for one night. This ends here."
Albedo didn't respond immediately, his mind racing as he assessed the situation. Captain Marvel was weakened, but Blue Marvel was fresh and far more dangerous.
"Great," Albedo muttered to himself. "Just what I needed."
The tension in the air was palpable as the three figures hovered high above the dark waters of the Atlantic. Captain Marvel's breathing was labored, her glowing aura dim from the energy she'd already expended. Blue Marvel, however, was calm and composed, his imposing figure standing as an unyielding barrier in Albedo's path.
"Carol, stand down," Blue Marvel ordered, his voice steady but commanding.
Captain Marvel hesitated, her fists flickering faintly with energy. "I can still—"
"You've done enough," Blue Marvel interrupted, turning his gaze briefly toward her. "You need to recover. Let me handle this."
Reluctantly, Captain Marvel lowered her hands, her expression hard. "Fine," she muttered, glancing at Albedo with a glare. "But don't let him get away."
Without another word, she turned and began descending, her weakened form disappearing into the clouds below.
Albedo's antennae twitched as he watched her retreat. "One down," he muttered under his breath.
But his moment of relief was short-lived. Blue Marvel's gaze returned to him, sharp and unwavering.
"Your escape ends here," Blue Marvel said, his tone firm. "You're not going to Latveria."
Albedo smirked faintly. "You're welcome to try and stop me."
Before Blue Marvel could respond, Albedo surged forward, his Jetray form accelerating at full speed. The bioelectric energy from his wings illuminated the night sky as he shot toward Latveria.
Blue Marvel wasted no time, propelling himself forward with incredible speed. In seconds, he closed the gap, his sheer velocity forcing Albedo to twist and dive to avoid being overtaken.
"You're fast," Albedo admitted, his voice carrying over the rushing wind. "But I'm faster."
He fired a concentrated bioelectric blast from his tail, the green energy streaking toward Blue Marvel. The hero dodged effortlessly, his movements smooth and controlled.
"You'll have to do better than that," Blue Marvel said, his voice calm as he surged closer.
Realizing he couldn't simply outrun his pursuer, Albedo transformed mid-flight. His sleek, winged form shimmered and shifted, becoming the hulking figure of Fourarms.
The moon hung high above the Atlantic, its pale light reflecting off the dark waves far below. Albedo, in his sleek Jetray form, soared through the air, his wings glowing faintly with bioelectric energy. Behind him, Blue Marvel closed the distance effortlessly, his imposing figure slicing through the night sky like a missile.
"I've already told you, you're not getting to Latveria. I won't allow you to team up with that monster," Blue Marvel called, his voice calm but commanding.
Albedo glanced back, his antennae twitching with irritation. "You keep saying I won't reach Latveria, but I'm closer to it now then when we started."
Blue Marvel surged forward, his fists glowing with an immense amount of power, as he prepared for another strike. At the last moment Albedo twisted in midair, narrowly avoiding the blow. Albedo noted that if that blow had struck him, he possibly could have died.
Time for a new strategy, Albedo thought.
With a sharp shimmer of green light, Albedo's Jetray form dissolved into the hulking, red figure of Four Arms. The sudden loss of his wings sent him plummeting toward the ocean below, the wind howling around him as he fell. But his goal was to the man just under him.
Blue Marvel blinked, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected transformation. That moment of confusion allowed Albedo to use the momentum of his free fall to swing all of his massive fists downward, meeting Blue Marvels skull with all of his fists. The impact echoed like a thunderclap, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
Blue Marvel grunted as the force of the hit sent him hurtling downward, his trajectory shifting violently as he tumbled toward the ocean.
Unfortunately Albedo wasn't done with his attack yet. It's basic fighting one o one to follow up an attack with a greater attack.
Still in free fall, Albedo's massive Four Arms body shimmered again, transforming into the compact, spherical form of Cannonbolt. Curling into a tight ball, he angled himself downward, accelerating toward Blue Marvel like a meteor.
The wind screamed around him as he closed the gap, slamming into Blue Marvel with incredible force. The two figures spiraled downward, the ocean rushing up to meet them.
Blue Marvel gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he tried to right himself, but Albedo's relentless assault gave him no room to recover.
As the water loomed closer, Albedo transformed again, his spherical Cannonbolt form shifting into the sleek, raptor-like shape of XLR8.
The instant his transformation completed, Albedo's legs blurred with speed, and he darted across the surface of the ocean, his claws skimming the water as he used his incredible velocity to stay aloft.
Albedo raced across the ocean, his XLR8 form blurring into near invisibility as his claws skimmed the surface of the water. Each step sent ripples dancing outward, the sound of his velocity blending with the roar of the waves beneath him. Latveria loomed on the horizon—a distant promise of safety.
Behind him, the ocean churned violently as Blue Marvel erupted from the water like a torpedo. His form was soaked, but his speed and resolve remained undiminished. In an instant, he closed the distance, the air splitting with the sheer force of his acceleration.
Albedo's enhanced reflexes caught the movement, his head snapping back just as Blue Marvel slammed into him from behind. The impact sent Albedo skidding across the water, his XLR8 form flickering as he struggled to maintain his balance.
"You don't get to run from me!" Blue Marvel growled, his deep voice cutting through the roar of the waves.
This time it was it was Albedos confusion prevented him from fully recovering. Without mercy Blue Marvel blitzed forward like a man on a mission. Blue Marvel zoomed in front of X-LR8 and had his hands closed around Albedo's throat, lifting him off the water as he hovered above the ocean. The wind howled around them, and Albedo's claws flailed uselessly against the iron grip.
"You're fast," Blue Marvel admitted, his tone cold. "But speed won't save you."
Albedo clawed at Blue Marvel's arm, his legs kicking repeatedly at Blue Marvels chest, as he gasped for air. "You… don't know… what you're doing," he managed to choke out. Albedo was mentally going through transformation options to fight this man. He decided to go Waybig.
Blue Marvel's gaze was unyielding. "What I'm doing is stopping a threat before it reaches Latveria. You don't get to decide how this ends."
Suddenly, a sharp mechanical hum filled the air, cutting through the tension. Blue Marvel frowned, his sharp senses picking up the sound just before a barrage of energy beams streaked toward him.
He dropped Albedo, twisting midair to block the incoming attacks with a glowing energy field. Albedo tumbled toward the water but quickly shifted into Cannonbolt, his spherical form splashing harmlessly into the waves before bouncing back to the surface.
Blue Marvel turned to face the source of the attack, his eyes narrowing as a fleet of Doom Bots descended from the clouds. Their green-and-silver forms gleamed under the moonlight, their glowing eyes fixed on him as they raised their weapons for another volley.
"Doom Bots," Blue Marvel muttered, his voice low with irritation. "Of course. It's always Doom Bots with you."
The Doom Bots moved in unison, their calculated precision forming a defensive line around Albedo. A mechanical voice echoed from one of the bots, its tone monotone and authoritative.
"The Sovereign of Latveria has issued orders to protect the traveler. Stand down, or face the wrath of Doom."
Blue Marvel hovered in place, his glowing fists clenching as he calculated his next move. "You think I'm just going to let you take him?" he called, his voice rising.
The Doom Bots didn't respond verbally. Instead, they unleashed another coordinated barrage of energy blasts, forcing Blue Marvel to retreat slightly to avoid the onslaught.
Transforming back into Jetray, Albedo shot into the air, taking his place in the protective formation of Doom Bots. He glanced back at Blue Marvel, a faint smirk forming on his face.
"Looks like my ride's here," he said, his voice tinged with defiance.
Blue Marvel's eyes narrowed. "You're not off the hook. Doom won't protect you forever."
The Doom Bots began escorting Albedo toward Latveria, their weapons trained on Blue Marvel as they moved in a tight formation.