MTG Salvation

Quarter-Finals

“And looking at global events,” the newscaster said, “the eastern European country of Latveria is experiencing what appears to be a civil war with crime lord. Here’s Amanda Adams with more on the unfolding crisis.”

The screen switches to a dark haired news caster. She is dressed far too formally for the grey surroundings. GNN LIVE flashes at the bottom of the screen as she clears her throat.

“Thanks, Jim,” she says, holding a microphone in one hand and pressing an earpiece with the other.

“It’s calm right now, but earlier today several high ranking officials of Victor von Doom’s government were assassinated and it’s hard to deny that Latveria is preparing for anything but war. GNN has been able to obtain information that links the attacks to an Eastern terrorist organization called the League of Assassins. Go to tape.”

The image cuts to an image, much earlier in the day, of Amanda talking to a Latverian soldier.

“Yes, someone name Ra’s al Ghul thinks he can make cell in our great country,” the man says, pounding his chest. “We show him and his sword men about our King’s special guns. He holds up an augmented rifle that could have been taken out of a sci-fi movie.

“Will von Doom make a public statement?” she asks.

“He has ordered us to make the statement,” he says, cocking the rifle.

The TV snaps off to reveal Dr. Doom in the black reflection standing beside an aide.

“There’s a good chance that was one of al Ghul’s assassins. He’s trying to bring this into the public, no doubt to harm public opinion of Latveria and force me to allow his League into my nation.”

He paced around the small stone room. “Or that soldier’s just an idiot. Either way find that man and have him killed. Make sure his troop sees it.”

“Yes, sire.”

He turns back to his aide. “Then get a message to al Ghul. If he’s so insistent on challenging me to personal combat, then let it be. Set up a meeting. I need to end him before this becomes a situation that I need to actually worry about.”

“Yes, sire.”

The aide bowed and walked out of the room. He walked swiftly through the labyrinthine stone corridors until he came to a hall darkened with a burned out light. He hesitated for a moment and then walked into the darkness.

The squish of the cutlass opening the aide's lungs and the slow stream of blood was all the evidence that Ra’s al Ghul had been there. He wiped his blade and continued toward the throne room. This arrogant Doom was going to have a word with him whether he liked it or not.