Ben Grimm once said to Victor, concerning Latveria, "Yeah, sure, Vic. As long as the whole country kow-tows to you, you're a real sweetheart." I don't deny the kow-towing part, but what a sweetheart he can be! The man knows how to run a country, even to the point of controlling the weather, which is why he could afford to buy up the Genoshan national debt.
The year the snowcap on Mount Doom melted away, we had a terrible drought. At our altitude, without so many meters of snowfall to melt away slowly over the months, we get very dry by the time the autumn rains start. Simply getting away from fossil fuels was not enough.
Rather than break the budget importing an awful lot of bottled water, Victor developed, built, and launched the orbital weather platforms, which not only control the weather but can be fine tuned to the point where a forecaster can say, "The first snowfall of the season will begin at 10 pm tonight, and continue until 4 tomorrow morning. Depending on your microclimate, you will get nine to twelve centimeters. Don't get too excited, kids, that isn't nearly enough to close the schools. You know the Master doesn't want you to miss a single day if he can possibly help it. Education is important. Tomorrow will be bright and clear…" and know the prediction would be absolutely accurate.
Latveria being a small country, the platforms could handle more territory than our postage-stamp, and soon we were providing optimal weather patterns to Romania and other parts of Eastern Europe. It proved so popular, so profitable, and a service so in demand that we had to build more, and now we are contracted to provide the weather for much of Europe and Russia. (The cost for ensuring a sunny day for a particular event, such as a private wedding, is exorbitant, but sports fans pay up for important games, added to the ticket surcharge.) The money is flooding in.
Genosha was now in debt to us for over 80 billion Euros, which may not be very much in terms of the United States' debts but which is a very great deal for two countries as small in terms of population and geography as ours were. It's all in the scale of how one does things—instead of buying us a fixer-upper house, Victor had essentially bought a fixer-upper country.
It was going to need a lot of work, the extent of which became clear during the twenty minutes we spent coming to terms with Magneto, and it was going to take a lot of money. Genosha needed to stop living on credit and build up a sound economic base, and it badly needed both a health care system and schools. The mortality rate for both mothers and infants was terrible, and the reason for that was because the mothers and babies were all mutants.
Some babies had bad mutations, by which I mean ones that are fatal. Being born without lungs of any kind is bad, even if they might have skin that was able to perform an efficient oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange— if the air were seventy percent neon instead of nitrogen. Genosha needed health care facilities that could diagnose that before birth—because if it were discovered afterward, it was almost always during a post-mortem.
Mutant mothers suffered problems of their own. A mutant might be a telepath of great strength and skill—but have no other differences from the human norm. If she was pregnant with a child who developed powers like the Human Torch's or the Thing's—before birth—it usually meant a dead mother and a dead baby.
If there is any human plight that moves Victor more than any other, it is that of a mother and child in danger. This is something very deeply rooted in him, going back to his own infancy, when his mother died so tragically young. So when Magneto started spouting Social Darwinism at him about how only the strong deserved to survive, it nearly prompted another fight.
As for the schools, I outlined my ideas for occupational and career development for mutants according to their powers, in lines of work other than 'professional assassin' or 'terrorist', emphasizing the possibilities that had gone hitherto unexplored.
Latveria would invade Genosha after all, it seemed, but with an army of doctors, nurses, scientists, economic advisors, and educational experts. Most of them would be ordinary humans, because most of the world population is ordinary and human. The mutants of Genosha were going to have to accept it. Magneto was inclined to complain about that, and about what he perceived as our interference. Victor pointed out that all he had to do to reclaim the independence of his country was come up with 80 billion Euros, which quieted Magneto down considerably.
There was more to it than that, of course. The island was forfeit Magneto would remain the leader of Genosha, with all honors and dignities intact, but with certain conditions attached. Politically, Genosha would now follow Latveria's lead when and as Victor required it; publicly, Magneto would speak of Latveria in general and of us in particular, with the greatest respect. He would also stay invited to the wedding, if he chose to attend. He probably would—to show he wasn't afraid or ashamed.
It would be a revenge like no other, a lingering one, with a special sting to it—every time Magneto looked around him at the new Genosha, when he saw the medical facilities, the farms, the schools—it would be another twist of the knife, because his enemy—no, his enemies, for I was counted along with Victor—were doing for his people what he could not.
I was very glad when Victor stated, spontaneously and without any word from me, "While of course my greatest concern in this matter—the life and welfare of my wife—has been resolved to my satisfaction, there remains the cold-blooded murder of three of my people—doubly my people, being both Latverian and in my personal service. I require that the perpetrator be handed over to my justice."
"That will prove difficult, if not impossible. The assassin, a mutant called Malice, is a purely psychic entity who has no physical existence without a human host." Magneto replied.
"I am sure I can devise some fitting form of punishment. Where is this Malice?"
"That is the other problem. I do not know. After your—wife defeated her, she jumped to Sabertooth: after that, to Mastermind, and I do not now see the 'choker' on him which indicates her presence in a host." Magneto stated dryly. "As you can see, my neck is bare, as is Lady Doom's. Perhaps if you were to reveal your own neck?"
"She isn't riding him." I refuted. "If she did not try to impersonate me because she didn't think she could pass herself off as me, she wouldn't succeed in convincing me she was him. Besides," I spoke directly to Victor, in Latverian, "she wouldn't be able to begin to comprehend your mind, or appreciate what a solid, well shaped—personality you have."
"Or speak Latverian, either, apparently." A private moment seized in that important meeting. He turned back to Magneto. "Are you so certain she needs a specifically human or mutant host?"
"Ah—what other host might she have found, on this barren island?"
"A sea bird, a dolphin, some such creature."
"A shark would suit her admirably." I added. "How highly developed a central nervous system would she need to sustain her consciousness, do you think? I've neither seen nor heard any birds, and the only living non-human animals I've seen were a starfish and a mouse. I doubt the starfish would be complex enough, but where there is one mouse, there will very likely be dozens. At least it would be mammalian."
That brought us to the present moment, as Victor and I watched the mutants prepare to go. Malice could not be located, which troubled me deeply. Magneto's other three stooges evaded further punishment on the grounds that I had already done enough to them.
Curiously enough, Magneto had not asked Victor why he had chosen me. Perhaps he had forgotten, or not wanted to make Victor any angrier. He might have drawn his own conclusions on the matter, after observing us together.
I turned to the man who stood by me in the deepening shade of a half-fallen tower. "Victor—please forgive me for accepting your gifts with such poor grace this morning. I spoke without thinking or considering, so of course I said all the wrong things. Thank you for making me such a magnificent present."
"You are forgiven." He paused. "It was not my intent to make you uncomfortable by the gift, but rather the opposite. In the circles in which, as my wife, you will move, jewels are expected—almost required—as essentials of formal dress. Were you to appear without any, it would be commented on, unfavorably, even to your very face."
"I hadn't thought of that." I considered some of the dignitaries' wives I had encountered, who appeared in enough diamonds to make it look as if they had freezer burn.
I went on with what I had to say. "I missed you this morning, when I woke, and you weren't there."
"I woke and found I could not get back to sleep. After an hour and a half, I abandoned the effort, and got up. I am not accustomed to sharing a bed, as pleasant as it is to do so. The adjustment may take some time."
"I understand completely. I—at the time, I felt—like you had taken your pleasure and left. Right now, I feel full of questions and uncertainties. The adjustment may take some time."
"But no doubts?" he asked.
"No doubts whatsoever." It was true. In some respects that day had been very good for me. I was a lot more confident now. I could handle four mutants with no more than my wits and the contents of a grocery bag. I could talk down Magneto. I could change the world!
I could even talk to Victor about the promise to obey. "I am concerned about getting up in front of the entire world and promising to obey you, although if the ceremony was held in a closet at midnight with only the Bishop, Boris and my mother there, I'd still feel the same way. Not because I don't trust you, or intent to go around being disobedient, but because it would feel as though I were agreeing to be annihilated as an individual.
"When I promised to obey you as your minion, that wasn't an issue, because I knew where the dividing line was. I knew where you ended and I began. I could think my own thoughts, and make my own decisions, even when the order was very personal. Like when you told me my attire was inappropriate and I should dress in keeping with my position." That had been at the very beginning, when all I had were ratty old jeans and oversized sweatshirts.
"I asked you what you considered appropriate, so I would get it right—I was extremely relieved that steel bustiers were not involved, by the way—"
"Steel bustiers?" he asked, amused.
"Well—I didn't know. Once I knew, I went and made Bisitra very happy. I knew if I wanted to, I could wear my old sloppies in my time off. Now that we're married, where is that line? Do I ever have time off?"
"I believe I see." he considered a moment. "If I were to issue an order such as, 'That tree's coming down—get back!' you would obey, would you not?"
"Immediately."
"Would such an order compromise your autonomy?"
"Not in the least."
"And if I were to say, 'I must prevent Galactus from devouring the planet. Rule Latveria in my absence.' would this order intrude upon your sense of self?"
He did not wait for my reply. "I doubt there is anyone who has a greater respect for your individuality than I. So far from wanting to suppress your thoughts and decisions, I want—no, expect— that you will think, decide, and act of your own volition. If you were no more than a parroting mirror of what I am, if you had no thoughts of your own, and always deferred to me—you would not be Joviana. I do not seek to destroy such valuable aspects of your being. We are married, ceremony or no. I assure you I will give you the same orders whether you promise to obey or not."
I considered that for a moment. It is very difficult to disagree with a man when he believes you are capable of running a country.
Did it matter if those two words were included in the vows or not, when he and I had such an understanding between us in private?
"If I promise to obey, will you promise to respect?" I asked finally.
"With my given word." he said.
Magneto had left and taken his band with him. The vocal grille in the mask turned out to be removable, and I finally got to say hello and thank him properly, if carefully, due to the armor.
After a kiss that made me regret there was not a sleep mask handy, or anything to serve as a bed, I did sober up a bit.
"I've made an enemy." I told him. "I don't mean Magneto and his merry crew. I mean Malice. When I fought her off with my memories, I revealed too much about myself. She knows my original name. She knows something about where I grew up, and what my birth mother looks like. She could be dangerous. She could use that knowledge against me. "
"If she dares." Victor replied, his tone making it clear he thought that unlikely.
I had a better sense of how things must work themselves out, however. Stories have inevitable patterns. Malice would trace her way down the torturous footpaths of my past. I would have to confront her again, and this time she would not make it as easy for me.
I also knew, as the night follows the day, that I would end up face to face with my mother, whom I dreaded more than the torments of Hell. And I was one person who could say that and mean it.
The End of Part One
But wait! This is only the end of part one of Minion. The story of Victor and Joviana will continue right herein Part TWO, 'Lady Doom'!
A sneak preview—Before returning to Latveria, the most intelligent couple in the world will be heading to the Embassy in New York, where they will spend 36 to 48 hours.
During that time, Sue will whisk Joviana off for an afternoon of shopping with two of her super powered girlfriends-- the Wasp, AKA, Janet Van Dyne, a socialite-heiress turned superhero and fashion designer, and the She-Hulk, Jennifer Walters, a lawyer (and cousin to the Hulk) and the bustiest of all the Marvel heroines…
Joviana will also grant one interview, complete with photos taken by one Peter Parker, AKA Spiderman. Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer who is secretly Daredevil, will also appear.
One of these heroes shares a secret past with Joviana, from before she ever met Victor…
Learn why Joviana is down on the very idea of super heroism!
Still more! More flashbacks! More about the trip to Hell and back! More romance! More danger! More villains! More passion! More witty give-and-take!
Keep Reading!
A/N: Hello, Chantrea Savann! I'm afraid I'm a little stuck on Happy Phantom at the moment. I hope I can get back to it soon. In the meantime, here's more of Minion. I'm glad you liked the way in which Victor declared his feelings--I worked hard on that part.
Julietsdaughter: There's still several days to go until the wedding, but when the time comes, it'll be here with lots of detail, I promise.
GothikStrawberry: I know what you mean. Sometimes I like Magneto and sometimes I don't.This was one of the don'ts.
Madripoor Rose:What a compliment--I'm glad you thought the eyestrain was worth it!