Doctor Doom was recalling where in his laboratory he had stored his bone saw as he glared at Lt. Surge balefully. This ignorant wretch did not know who he was talking to. Maggot? Instead of simply sawing him into pieces perhaps Doom would cut off a limb at a time and show this insignificant man what a maggot actually was.
Doom let Surge know Doom’s opinion of him. “Hmph. Doom knows talk is cheap, unlike you. You prattle on about this and that while just having sat back and watched that pathetic worm get himself killed. Doom despises hypocrites.” Some would have said that several opinions Doom himself had could be hypocritical. Those people had a tendency to be locked in a deep, dark dungeon somewhere far from anyone else who could hear anything they had to say.
Lt. Surge spat on the ground. “Necessary loss for proper recon on the opposing force. That’d be you, sunshine.”
“Doom shall see what you have learned then. Doom! Attack!”
The people scrambled out of the way as Doom the Gyarados reared up before lunging at the Raichu.
Lt. Surge was quick to counter. “Counterattack Delta.”
Raichu’s body lit up with electrical power before he delivered a lightning quick uppercut just as Doom was about to overtake him.
Doom was sent sprawling back from the attack, the electricity temporarily stunning him before he shook it off with a mighty roar.
“Again,” Doom commanded.
Doom rushed at Raichu again only for Raichu to perform the same counter. This time Doom was prepared for it and dashed out of the way of the punch at the last possible moment and smashed its tail into the Raichu knocking it roughly into the wall behind the electric Pokémon.
“Adapt or die, Surge. That is the law of Doom,” Doom said with quiet intensity.
Surge spat on the ground once again. “Raichu!” Surge barked. “Get up. This isn’t the time to be lying about.”
On cue Raichu did perhaps the world’s cutest kick-up and landed deftly on its feet looking no worse for wear.
“Doom sees that your Pokémon enjoys pain. Doom will be glad to accommodate.”
Surge’s harsh look turned into a cocky grin. “We’ll see about that, this battle is just getting started. Raichu and me have a few surprises up our sleeves.
Doom did not say anything, for he did not have to. Doom did not need such a paltry thing as surprise on his side. He was Doom with Doom, and that was all Doom needed.
--
Sir Chris
The Cult of Personality.