Latveria: 3 years from now

Doom sat in his private viewing room with his arms crossed tapping his metallic fingers together. Before him, several large screens showed various scenes. To his far right was security footage of his own castle. To the left were news feeds from the government controlled news network in Latveria. Doom would never allow just any news to be filtered out, and he ensured all was passed before him. An anchorman was talking about Doom's current plans to reduce poverty. Doom's own attention was on the middle screen. The large face of General Nicholas Fury looked sternly down at Doom.

"You must release him to the American government Victor!" Fury stated for a third time. "You cannot give a war-criminal of that magnitude asylum!"

Doom shook his head, his eyes scanned Fury. He thought little of this career solider. Fury had intruded into his plans too many times. Doom punched up the security video of his jail cell, "As I have stated before, I have not offered Mister Osborne asylum." He patched the feed through to Fury, so that he could see for himself. Within a small holding cell sat Norman Osborn. He was chained to the bed. His eyes had a glazed over look. Doom's physicians had given the lunatic a heavy sedative that kept him incapacitated. "Osborn is a prisoner here, and not a welcome guest. He will remain here until I see fit."

Doom could see that Fury did not trust him. The old general stood his ground. "Norman Osborn must come to America and stand trial for his crimes!"

"I will not allow that." Doom remained stoic, "He will remain here until I have decided the correct punishment".

Fury gritted his teeth, "You understand that this is a direct violation of the treaties between Latveria and the United States".

Doom smiled under his mask, unaware if Fury could see, "I am aware that there are treaties. However, it is my opinion that America rarely keeps to such documents."

Fury was taken aback at what appeared to be humor from Doom. He continued his attempt at persuading the megalomaniac. "If you do not return Osborn, I am authorized to sanction any action deemed necessary to see him brought to America!"

"Are you threatening violence?" Doom was amused at this inference.

"I didn't say that Victor," Fury caught himself before he slipped on his words. "But the President has stated that brining Osborn to justice is of the highest priority," Fury took a breath, "and I'm authorized to allow any action short of military force!"

A voice from behind Doom spoke in the same stern manner as Doom himself, "That is good," the female voice had a tinge of intimidation in it, "because any incursion of even one U.S. solider would be most unwise!" Doom felt a soft female hand on his shoulder. He didn't even need to turn his head. The voice was all too familiar, besides, no one save her was allowed in this room.

"Hello Susan!" Fury acknowledged here entrance. He could swear she now had the same calm yet calculating gaze that Doom displayed behind his mask.

The Queen of Latveria corrected the American. "That is Baroness...General Fury!"

"My apologies 'BARONESS'" he mockingly stressed the word. He was still uneasy at the idea of the former Susan Richards being Doom's wife, even after several years. Seeing Susan dressed in armor mirroring Doom's own, with a green cape to match was unsettling. "You must both understand that this is a matter of utmost importance."

"We do 'GENERAL'", Sue returned the mocking tone. She could tell that Fury's eyes were fixed in her stomach. She was eight and a half months pregnant and it showed. Like Doom, Susan had come to enjoy taunting the American officials. It seemed so easy and fun. "We will contact you when we have come to a decision". Susan reached forward to end the transmission. "Goodbye General!"

"Susan be reasonable, we..." Fury attempted to say something but Sue cut him off.

"I said goodbye General." Sue pushed a button, which ended the feed.

Doom was unhappy that Susan was putting stress upon herself. "You should not be up and about like this. Where is Helzeba?"

Susan looked down at Doom with cold eyes. If anyone else had looked at him in such a manner, they would be dead. "I will not sit by while my country is threatened!"

Doom nodded, "You are more stubborn than even I."

Susan laughed. She loved the rare occasions when he showed a sense of humor. Her right hand rested on his metal glove as it rapped the side of his chair. She pointed to the news feed which now showed the adoring mass of people outside the castle. "They utterly adore you!" She smiled.

Doom looked at the signs the people held in the air. They all referenced Susan, many proclaiming, "Long live the Queen! Long live Susan Von Doom!"

"It is not I they adore!" he answered.

Susan put Doom's metal gloved hand on her stomach, "Nor is it I. They await their prince!" Even through the heavy metal, Doom could feel his child kick.

Now...

Susan was taken back by the staff as she entered the living quarters of the Latverian Embassy. They all bowed and chanted, "Long live the Queen! Long live Susan Von Doom!" The words echoed throughout the hall. They made Susan sick to her stomach.

As the multitudes of servants bowed their heads, the large hall went quiet. Susan waited for a time to speak. She turned to Helzeba and whispered, "What are they doing?"

Helzeba smiled, "They await the command of their Queen!"

Susan shrugged, "Uh...I guess go about your business!" Almost instantly, the people sprang to their feet, and the Embassy was a buzz with movement. The chefs returned to the kitchen, and the cleaners began their daily routine. Two servants began dropping Latverian rose peddles at Sue's feet. "That won't be necessary," she told them.

The young female servants looked at Helzeba with scared eyes; she nodded and turned to Sue. "It is their sole job. You must never touch normal ground!"

Sue waved her hand, "Fine whatever!" They walked slowly before Susan, who was guided up a long winding stairway to the penthouse royal suite. Helzeba opened the large doors and motioned for Susan to enter. Susan stood slack jawed at the size of the bedroom. The bed itself was larger than her room at the Baxter Building. Her eyes darted across the foyer.

"Do you request anything else before dinner?" Helzeba asked.

Sue shook her head, "I'll be fine."

"Dinner is in one hour your majesty," Helzeba said as she pulled the servants out of the room and closed the doors.

Susan walked slowly around the room. The mirror on the wall took up almost the entire left wall. She noted the door next to the mirrored dresser. Susan walked over and opened the door. She figured it was the closet. When she entered, her eyes went wide. It was a room even bigger than the bedchamber. Inside were dresses, and clothes of every size and manner. An entire wall was devoted to shoes, something that Susan had a little of an addiction too. The dresses were of the finest materials. "It's like they planned this for months," Susan thought to herself.

She walked back into the bedroom and slowly came to the bed. Above the bed was a portrait of Doom himself, almost as large as the mirror. "Ugggh!" Sue cringed. She walked by the bed, but had the distinct feeling the eyes in the painting followed her. "I'll fix this!" she thought. With little effort, she was able to make the painting disappear. It would not take much concentration to keep it that way either.

She walked to the far corner. Large windows overlooked the river to the east. It was quite an amazing view. She continued until she came to another door on the far wall. She turned the knob and opened the door. A vast bathroom lay before her. However, it could hardly be called that, as she could not see a toilet. Instead, there were two large mirrors. In the middle of the room was a tub the size of a pool. Water poured from small golden cherubs above the bath. In fact, the entire room was decked out in pure gold. Even the toilet and bidet Susan eventually found where gold. Being a woman of good tastes, Susan knew it was all real gold.

The aromatic smell of Latverian rose petals wafted from the tub. Susan walked over to the tub. It must be constantly filled, she thought. Sure enough, the water was warm and inviting. "Well it has been a long day." Susan began to unzip her uniform.

Downstairs Helzeba helped the kitchen staff prepare the dinner meal. As she set the table, she smiled. The visions in her head were becoming clearer now. The visions of a bright future for the House of Von Doom. She was taken back by a new vision. The vision of a young boy with the eyes of Doom and the features of Susan. "A child!" She clapped her hands in joy. "An heir!" Doom would be pleased. The clearer the visions got, the more likely the particular future would occur.