The baggy pants and plain T-shirt were a stark contrast to my typical fighting attire, but there was a weirdly comforting aspect to them. It was as if I had shifted from a cumbersome tank to a streamlined sports car. No less importantly, this new look made me less threatening—a welcome adjustment when trying to make a good impression on a group of superheroes that can snuff me out of existence with the slightest wave of their hand, if Marvel's comic book scaling holds any water.
"Hey, Conquest," Reed said as he gazed through the laboratory window where I was thoroughly engaged in the workings of yet another contraption. "You know, it's pretty wild having you around here. The kids love Dinosaur...uh, what did you say his name was again?"
"Dinosaurus," I said with a grin, my eyes riveted on the circuit board I was carefully disassembling. It looked like a treasure chest overflowing with technological marvels—much better than anything I had seen in my travels. I felt an electric shiver of excitement at the prospect of the secrets this treasure trove of knowledge might reveal. Having Timeless Mind was coming in handy, I had to admit, particularly when I chose subtlety instead of brawn as a problem-solving methodology. "He's quite the charmer, isn't he?"
The lab hummed with a powerful energy, a beat that was not recreated by the collection of machinery that rested in these walls. The Fantastic Four had the uncanny ability to make one feel as though a crucial component of something greater, something of immense importance. True, I was going through motions then, entranced by the presence of every hero and every villain of the Marvel universe. But it was challenge that had drawn me in knowing that I was weaker then those same heroes and villains. The Butcher's Voice had enticed me with promises of tantalizing whispers, of a whole host of... upgrades from their technology. But I knew better to exercise caution, that if I played them well, they might prove to be valuable assets.
I looked up at Reed, who was watching me with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "Sue's pretty cool too," I said, trying to sound casual. "Actually, she's very nice." The words grated on my tongue like sandpaper. I could clearly see the dangerous road The Butcher was trying to lead me down—one of chaos and betrayal. But for now, I had to play it cool.
From the day we met, Sue Storm, The Invisible Woman, fascinated me. She had a smart mind and unbending strength, her fiery personality complemented by the fiery blonde of her hair. Also, she was married to Reed, which in effect made her off-limits to me, unless I was willing to gamble and get myself kicked out of the Baxter Building sooner than I could say 'It's clobberin' time.' But the murmurs of The System were becoming ever-more persistent in tempting me to move in on her, tempting me with all the machinations I could use to bring Reed as my cuck. But that was not the individual I wanted to be—or at least, not yet.
With renewed interest, I concentrated my attention on the technology. "What does it do?" I asked Reed, picking one of the devices that looked like a very interesting combination of a Swiss Army knife and a lightsaber.
"It's a prototype for a new universal translator," he said, advancing closer. "It's programmed to operate in any language, alien or otherwise."
"That's... really interesting," I said, spinning the device around my fingers. "Would you mind if I tried it?"
Reed hesitated for a moment before nodding at last. "Certainly, but be careful with it. We're still working out the specifics."
I grinned, feeling the device snug in the palm of my hand. "Don't fear, I'll handle it as gently as spun sugar." At the back of my mind, The Butcher's Voice waited patiently, greedily imagining the wreckage I might cause if I were to decide to behave... less than honorably with it. But I knew the value of keeping clear-headed, if only for now.
Reed looked at me inquiringly. "I'm certain that you will," he replied, his voice unnervingly level. It was clear that he had a contingency in this situation, in case of any mishap. "But there is something I'd like to talk to you about," he followed up.
I put the device aside and turned to look at him. "What is it, Reed?"
He rested back on the lab bench, arms across his chest. "I've given it a lot of consideration. You and your... pet are both outsiders here. Your abilities, your powers—it's all really interesting. If you don't mind, I would be delighted to conduct some experiments on you two."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," I protested, throwing up my arms. "Dinosaurus isn't a pet; he's a mischievious partner, though without the mischief, naturally." The Butcher's Voice quietly laughed in my head, enjoying the irony. "But I really believe in science so I accept. Just swear that you'll keep your fingers away from poking and prodding Dino without his permission, okay?"
Reed's eyes twinkled with the joy of a thousand Christmas trees. "Got it," he exclaimed, his hands together in hopeful expectation. "But we're not talking poking and prodding here. I just want to see what the two of you can do. I have some non-invasive technology that can analyze your skills safely. It will be like a video game, but with science!"
I couldn't stifle a laugh. "All right, Doc. Just remember that I'm not your typical lab animal. And Dinosaurus is not very comfortable in restricted quarters either."
He nodded, his eyes lighting up with interest. "Don't mind; everything that can be done to make it comfortable for the two of you will be done. If you would kindly follow me, I've a small test arena set up in the hangar."
We moved on, and we came upon Sue playing a boisterous game of hide and seek with her children Franklin and Valeria. Alongside them towered Dinosaurus, his massive size unexpectedly benign as the children ascended on top of him. Seeing those little children playing with the creature I had imagined for sinister means evoked in me a strange feeling—a mixture of nostalgia and a much kindlier feeling. Even the Butcher's Voice was for a moment silenced, as if enthralled by the beautiful scene in front of us.
"Hello, everyone!" Reed said, waving in a warm motion. "We are going to test our new friends here. Do you guys want to come and look?"
Sue raised her eyes, a smile playing across her lips. "Oh, that would be perfect," she said in her honey-like voice. "Conquest, may I?"
I nodded, fighting to keep my mind away from darker climes. "Not at all," I said, trying to maintain a cheerful tone, even if it was one of appearance only. "In fact, I'm really looking forward to it."
The hangar stretched out in front of me, a large cavern housing an impressive collection of vehicles that seemed ready to conquer the world—or, if nothing else, a large city. In the middle of it all was the test arena, that was packed with a collection of contraptions and machinery that I had concluded were meant to challenge our skills. Dinosaurus eyed me with his large, calculating eyes, and I automatically reached out to scratch his scale-covered head. "Don't you worry, pal," I whispered softly. "This'll be a breeze."
Sue had opted for wearing something a bit more... practical to witness our plight, I observed. It was her Fantastic Four costume, similar to Reed's, but cut to her shape in all the most becoming ways. Butcher's Voice was definitely responding to it, muttering about how much DP I would get if I made her my cocksleeve. I gulped, roughly pushing the idea out of my head. I needed to keep myself in the role of the hero here.
Reed Richards, or Mr. Fantastic to many, had planned a series of exercises that seemed to have come directly from the Avengers' montage. The initial one was a strength test, and I was happily unaware of what I was in for. The device facing me was something straight out of a science fiction movie, gleaming in shiny metal and colorful lights, topped by a prominent red button that seemed to be calling me to press it. I flexed my arms, feeling muscles ripple under my skin, and flashed a grin onto my face. This was going to be easy.
"Alright, Conquest," Reed ordered, his voice echoing off the hangar. "Just put as much pressure as possible onto this plate. It will measure your maximum force capability."
I walked towards the plate, feeling the cold metal beneath my sneakers. I took a deep breath and braced myself for the challenge. I grinned and pushed downwards with all my strength. The plate creaked and groaned, but it wouldn't budge even a fraction of an inch. The readings on the screen surged like a spaceship blasting off in orbit. Reed's eyes widened in surprise, and even the jaw of The Thing dropped in utter disbelief.
"Well, I'll be," he said, his tone saturated in both surprise and confusion. "Your readings are off the charts."
They were wide as she regarded me. "What does that mean?" she asked, her voice quivering slightly.
"It means," Reed started off in a tone that indicated he was thrilled, "Conquest here can generate a force that is like a planet colliding with another planet."
Other than the soft beeps of the device, the hangar was silent. Ben Grimm, the Thing, took a step back, holding his rocky fist clenched. Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, stared at me like I had said I'd eat the sun for breakfast. Sue was worried too. But Reed was not; his mind was racing ahead of all the things he would be able to accomplish if that was his power.
Next was durability. They had me stand in the middle of a firing range in underwear as various objects were fired at me—energy beams, missiles, etc. I did not budge. My vision screen tallied the projectiles that struck me and reported what percentage of damage I would've taken. It was like someone was hurling Nerf darts at a tank. I grinned as Reed's expression shifted from anticipation to disbelief to utter awe.
"Well, you're definitely not going down without a fight," he murmured, scribbling notes on a clipboard.
The next was a flight test. Reed constructed a runway that led from the hangar upward in the air for a few moments. "Conquest," he said, "if you can get up in here and give it a try."
I smiled as I stepped onto the runway. My short hair was blown back by the wind, and I breathed in deep, feeling my strength. The Butcher's Voice was silent now, perhaps comprehending I was going to do something extraordinary. I lifted off the ground, my legs pushing me high for a man of my size. The Fantastic Four gazed in awe as I took to the skies, the hangar dwindling below me to a small model.
The wind whizzed through my ears as I ascended, higher and higher, until the air was very thin and the world was a combination of blue and green. I was now able to see the form of the world, a curve of planet that dissolved into the infinite air. I remained motionless in the air, where the thin air was surrounding me, and waved my arms. I felt a powerful force in me, a sensation that was almost exhilarating. My eyes gleamed with a message: **Flight capabilities confirmed.**
"Oh wow," I heard Reed utter on the radio. "You can fly."
"Yes," I replied, feeling nothing for something that I could do all my life. "I can fly."
I returned to the hangar floor once again, and my descent created dust and tiny pieces flying everywhere. The Fantastic Four were gazing upward toward me, and both were scared and amazed by what was happening. But Reed just kept scribbling away on his clipboard, concerned with what he saw.
Then it was Dinosaurus's turn, and although I knew he was weaker then me, I was a little thrilled. He approached the same machine that had tested how strong I was, moving slowly through with his tail. Reed gave him a pat on the shoulder, his eyes lighting up. "Okay, big fellow," he said. "Let's see if you strong you are."
The large reptile scanned his surroundings, indifferent to the device and tool-filled room he was in. He made his approach to the plate, his claw-like feet digging deep into the ground, and bending his powerful body to his full strength, he rammed it downward. The machine howled loudly, and the figures on the screen kept rising. But it was apparent that although he was powerful, he was not as powerful as me. Butcher's Voice was calling me again to impress them further, to really show them how much I was capable of. But I had to keep a check on myself—for now.
The Dinosaurus endurance test was terrific. He was hit repeatedly by various objects without displaying any sign of pain. There was a glow reflected in his scales, and it was as if I was witnessing a fight between a T-Rex and a contemporary military base. Butcher's Voice was chattering away in anticipation of how we were going to wreak havoc together. But I had my eye on the prize—gaining the confidence of the Fantastic Four.
When the flying test began, I couldn't help feeling sad that Dinosaurus would not get to fly. He was a huge talking lizard, and of course everybody would wish for a flying dinosaur. Reed and the others looked on sympathetically and interestedly, but I was wise enough to keep my true feeling to myself. I had to be a humble hero, the one striving to assimilate. I therefore cheered him on, gave him a thumbs-up and all that. "Great job, pal," I said, patting his head. "You're still the coolest thing in this hangar."
But Reed was not finished. "Hold on a minute," he said, his eyes lighting up with a new idea. "Let's conduct a speed test." He pointed to a gleaming red racing track that seemed like it had come right out of a movie of the future. "We've got a fantastic tool that can test speeds of up to light speed."
The dinosaur gazed at me with a twinkle of anticipation in his eyes. I heard him in my head, ready to demonstrate what he was capable of doing. "Are you ready for this, friend?" I asked, reaching out to tenderly pat his scales. He responded by letting go of a thunderous roar in affirmation, and I couldn't stop smiling. It was like watching a child on Christmas.
We headed to the track, and Reed began explaining the rules. "Alright, Dinosaurus," he grinned. "All you've got to do is make it across the other side of the track as quickly as possible. If you can, try to break the sound barrier."
My Butcher's Voice in my head was also quieter than usual, as if mulling over what was to come. Dinosaurus prepared himself, his muscles coiled like a spring waiting to spring. The atmosphere in the hangar was so intense it seemed it was slicing through the air—or if you were lucky enough to own one, slicing through the air using a lightsaber. The Fantastic Four moved in closer, anticipating what my reptile friend would do.
"Ready?" Reed yelled, lifting a hand in which a sign was displayed that read 'get ready.'
The dinosaur bellowed and smashed his tail onto the ground. Then, in a blur of red scales and powerful muscles, he was gone. Noise would not deter him. He was a meteor cutting swiftly through the air, but this one had teeth and a fierce personality. My HUD estimated his speed with beeps and whistles that grew louder and louder until they were nearly painful. Numbers on the screen beside us slid rapidly by like they were competing in a race.
The hangar trembled beneath his every step, and the air surrounding him grew distorted as he moved toward the speed of light. Sue shrieked in astonishment, covering her mouth in disbelief at what she was witnessing. The Thing's rocky features betrayed utter surprise, and Johnny look like he was wondering how best to get a ride from Dino without appearing too thrilled. Reed had dropped his clipboard and stared, his eyes wide in awe, at the speedometer as if it was the most captivating sight he had ever had the privilege of gazing upon.
By the time Dinosaurus reached the finish line, the figures on the screen flashed rapidly, displaying a speed that comprised mainly nines and several others. He skidded to a halt, and his tail burst into flames. The hangar was silent, then the whole room broke into cheers—Reed, Sue, Ben, and even Johnny ceased playing it cool. They were nothing more than lab fans witnessing something extraordinary.
I felt a little proud, but it was not of anything that I had done, it was of the creature that was accompanying me. My Butcher's Voice was excited in my head, going on and on about the DP I would earn if I unleashed him. But I silenced that notion. At this moment, we were here to gain people's acceptance, not to cause issues.
"incredible," he breathed softly, almost inaudibly. "Just... incredible!"
I couldn't prevent a triumphant smile creeping onto my face. "Thanks, Doc," I replied, flexing a casual shoulder. But deep inside, I was savoring this terrific moment. The Fantastic Four were precisely doing what I wanted, and I wasn't even doing anything to cause chaos. Not yet.