Carrot and Stick

Once again, I found myself within the throne room of Viltrum, this time though I made sure to sit upon the throne. Last time I hadn't, a means to not insult or offend the pride of the Viltrumites that I had just conquered. This time though I cared little if their pride was wounded, they had betrayed me once and I didn't care if seeing me lounge upon a chair hurt what was left after my soldiers had crushed it.

Beside me, Beta Ray Bill and Korg stood, my two strongest warriors and in the case of Korg, my closest ally. I still wasn't a hundred percent sure on where Beta Ray Bill stood, for now, he was loyal. But I am very much aware that could change in the future, so I'd keep an eye on him until I was certain.

I imagine finding and saving his people might secure his loyalty, but I just had no clue where they were. I had read a lot of comics and with my mind was able to recall the details of them perfectly. However, I hadn't read every comic book, my memory of the individual universes that made up this one I found myself in wasn't complete.

In some areas, I would be going in blind.

Enough of those thoughts though, I instead focused upon the present as I looked down upon the Viltrumite's kneeling before me. Around the room, the Spike Fathers stood, large towering beings who had made their appearance by my request. I had need of them during these 'negotiations.'

"It seems like not long ago we were here in a similar position," I said, voice echoing across the throne room, the Viltrumites kneeling before me saying nothing, just keeping their heads bowed. "And once more, you kneel before me; defeated." That stung them, the clenching of their fists upon hearing my words brought a smile to my face. "General Kregg, or is it Grand Regent now? Do you remember what I told you would happen if you betrayed me?

There was an echoing silence, I received no response.

"Usually when someone asks a question it's common courtesy to answer." I then looked to Korg with a raised brow. "Did you rip out his tongue?"

Korg chuckled lightly. "Not as far as I'm aware."

"Hmm, interesting." Turning back, I rested my cheek upon my fist, draping one leg over the side of my throne. The reactions that my lazy seating position earned was so amusing to watch, who knew people could get worked up over me simply relaxing on a chair? "Kregg, you're trying my patience and if you push it any further, I will not even bother with my threat, I'll just wipe out your race right now."

That elected a response, heads raised to glare out at me, but I also noticed the sideways glance that Beta Ray Bill gave me. He was uncomfortable with that idea, not agreeing with my words. It was good to know where the boundaries were, but Beta Ray Bill was worrying for no reason. I wouldn't kill the Viltrumites, they were of more use to me alive than dead. They didn't know that though and so long as they believed I would follow through with that threat, that was all the better.

"You would annihilate us." Kregg spat out angrily, I smiling widely.

"Ah yes, I did say that didn't I." The tone of my voice only served to enrage him further and by Rao it was easy. There was nothing he could do though and I needed to make something very clear to him; I was in charge. Ruling with love and respect was easily said, but much harder when put into action. Sometimes, to begin with, you had to rule with fear and then earn their love and respect afterwards.

Kregg and the Viltrumites had to fear me and what the punishment of rebellion would be. Once that was done, then I could earn their love and admiration. Even if I didn't get all of them to view me as a benevolent ruler, so long as most of them did then I was content with that.

But again, I needed them to fear me first.

"I could follow through with that threat, right now." I sat upright, resting both my hands upon my knees, eyes glowing red in a warning. "I don't want to, but if I had to, I would not hesitate to do so. However," my heat vision died down, I leaning back into my seat, one leg resting over the other. "I have no intention of sacrificing such useful...pawns."

A click of my fingers and the reason why the Spike Fathers were here was revealed. Five Spike children were released upon the five random Viltrumites I had brought alongside Kregg and Nolan. Each one cried out as the Spike children burrowed into their bodies and slowly assimilated them.

Nolan and Kregg watched on in horror, both attempting to move to aid their comrades. I had already predicted that though, bursting across the throne room, grabbing their heads and driving them into the ground.

"I did not give you permission to move," I warned them, forcing them to watch as the cries died down, the bodies of their fellow Viltrumites going still, before rising up. "They are called Spikes, a parasitic race which I found and allied with upon the planet I crash-landed upon after your little stunt. They fed off the suns energy, making it weak, that was the reason it took so long for me to return."

That was something I only discovered after overthrowing the Red King. The Spikes fed off energy, more so the energy that resided within the sun. That was the reason why my powers were so slow in growing, it was not just me being empowered by the sun, but the Spike Fathers feeding off it and they were far more adept at feeding off the sun than I.

A frustrating fact to learn, but it wasn't a huge bother.

"As you can see, they can also assimilate other races. I could make your entire race just like these five right here, then send them into battle as a mindless horde until they were all dead. But I don't want to do that." I also doubt that Spike Fathers would be happy with me sending their children into battle like that either, but I had already explained my reasoning for them being here, including this little threat.

They knew it was a bluff, or at least, they thought it was. The Spikes were part of my Empire and they would have to protect it just like everyone else. If that meant sacrificing thousands of Spikes to do so then I would do just that, just like I would do for any other race. Sacrifice a thousand to save millions.

Releasing my grip upon the two, I floated back towards the throne, the five Spike-Viltrumites moving to stand beside the Spike Fathers, my gift to them. Five powerful warriors to use as they saw fit, so long as it did not endanger my empire that was. "Your people will be spared from my original threat and will not be sacrificed to the Spikes," I said, sitting back down upon the throne. "But you still need to be punished for what you did."

This was something I had thought over for a long time, how I would punish the Viltrumites to make a clear message? I didn't just want to slaughter them all as that would cost me a valuable tool. But at the same time, I needed to make it clear what would happen to anyone else who joined my empire, the consequences of betraying me. I took treason very seriously and would not stand for it.

"Nolan, you have a son, don't you?" By the sharp look, the torn emotions that flashed across his eyes, I knew Nolan had figured out what I was getting at. "He shall accompany me, I will raise him, train him to be a member of my personal guard." What he really was though, was a hostage, a pawn to keep his father in line. Already from the emotions plain on his face, it was clear that his time upon Gaea and with the human-like species that inhabited it that his wife had done a number upon him.

Just like in the comics, despite his harsh words and demeanour, he loved his son. I intended to abuse that weakness until it made the Viltrumites nice and docile, starting with their Emperor.

"As for the rest of your race, they shall remain a second class one. Every race in my Empire shall stand above them, even those you once conquered. You will be nothing but dirt in the eyes of many. The bottom feeders of my Empire." That would suitably break their pride, to be treated as second-class citizens for their crimes, or more importantly, the crimes of Kregg. "Half of your race shall come with me, they shall fight in my battles upon the frontlines and for every two children born from this point on, an adult Viltrumite shall be sent to me."

And with Mark in my grasp, Nolan would make sure that was the case.

Now it was just time to deal with the main perpetrator of my betrayal; Kregg himself. "As for you, Grand Regent Kregg. You shall be stripped of your title and shall live your days as a slave, my slave. You will never earn freedom and shall never be allowed to have a wife or children. Your home and your grave shall be the battlefield, unable to join your brethren in the Ring."

My words gained the response I wanted, shock and fear. I had taken a gander and put emphasis upon the Ring being some sort of historically important burial ground for the Viltrumites, much like how the Vikings of myth desired a glorious death so they could go to Valhalla. Turns out I was correct to do so.

"However, not all is bad for you." I had given the stick, now it was time to give the carrot. "Should you prove yourselves worthy upon the battlefield, I will allow your people to return to Viltrum, no longer forced to send half your race to aid in my campaigns. And should you continue to prove yourselves loyal to the cause, I will consider removing your status as a second class race."

Carrot and stick were important things to consider. Punishment and reward gave in equal measure.