Symbiote 0220: Subordination

A few minutes before Ayesha's appearance.

In Alex's soul. Two Infinity Stones — Mind, yellow; and Time, green were floating. They constantly released a glow that layered over Wanda's red that was the closest to Alex's soul. The three variants of Thor were also floating in the paradoxical place that was Alex's soul. They weren't being devoured yet, their innate energy resisting any instinctive encroachment.

Abruptly, Alex's soul was filled with a green glow that contrasted against the green of the time. Just as the green Soul Stone appeared in his soul, Alex 'told it' to turn to the true color scheme and it followed his will. It turned into the familiar orange that the Soul Stone should be. Taking its place beside the Mind Stone, the Soul Stone started releasing an orange glow that layered over the other lights, covering Alex's soul.

'I can't believe that this clusterfuck —' That was Alex's personal moniker for the Convergence of Earths, '— even has pre-MCU retcon Stones from when the Infinity Gems all had a different color scheme …' He thought about how the Marvel Cinematic Universe's introduction had essentially induced a retcon in the comics, changing the color scheme for the Infinity Stones.

As for his status panel, not much changed other than Soul Authority being added to the Authorities column.

Soon, however, a similar green glow appeared once again, illuminating its surroundings as it was attracted by the Soul Stone in the center of Alex's soul. The green glow of the new stone disappeared as it merged into the already existing Soul Stone, strengthening its orange glow by a factor as the stone let out a pulsating hum, expressing its satisfaction.

{ «Skill Acquisition»

«EP: 783»

«CP: 0.0000»

«Manipulation Abilities»:: ‹Advanced Lightning Manipulation› ‹Basic Blood Manipulation›

«Innate Abilities»:: ‹Biological Manipulation› ‹Host Enhancement› ‹Devour› ‹Copy›

«Derived Abilities»:: ‹Low Cosmic Physique Creation› ‹True 6th Sense› ‹Inventory› ‹Advanced Camouflage› ‹Elemental Immunity› ‹Hypnosis›

«Magical Abilities»:: ‹High Magic Affinity› ‹High Chaos Affinity› ‹Host of the Scarlet Witch›

«Authorities»:: ‹Time (2.5%)› ‹Mind (2.5%)› ‹Soul (5%)›

«Cosmic Abilities»:: ‹Low Cosmic Manipulation (Incomplete)›

}

"Time to leave, Jane," Alex said before turning to Ayesha, "Get us a ship that can travel to Morag."

"Why do you think I would ever help you?" She asked with disbelief etched on her flawless golden face, "Not to mention I have no idea what that planet is."

Alex sighed, "I don't know," He looked around and saw Adam, who was still under his sleeping spell, "… I'll spare your son or something. I can steal a ship anyway. Your help is only going to make our work marginally easier."

Seeing the nonchalant way Alex threatened Adam's life, she couldn't help but bite her lower lip while feeling helpless, "Fine," She growled out before touching the control panel on her arm. She contacted some of her trusted aids to bring a ship for the duo of Alex and Jane. She was smart enough to know that she didn't have anything to contend against Alex and Jane without the immensely powerful gems. "Please," She pleaded, "Leave as soon as possible so that I can prepare something against the High Evolutionary."

[Who said I'm leaving?] Alex asked in her head, his voice incomparably amused, [Ayesha, honey. Allow me to loop you in. I haven't freed you from the High Evolutionary. I've merely stolen you from him.] An outraged expression appeared on her face, but before she could respond to Alex's words, she felt the choker that she hadn't noticed yet tightening right in such a manner that she lost all manner of speech. Alex gave her a subtle look while shushing her telepathically, [We will talk once I'm on the way to Morag with Thor. I will have more than enough time to help you come to terms with your new status as my subordinate.]

"Jane," Alex said, "Can you take away the hammer?" He asked her, "Let her check up on her son. It's the least she deserves."

The goddess of thunder nodded to Alex and summoned her hammer to herself, "The only reason I'm letting these two live is because I understand that they most likely had no choice but to do what they did."

"And she's grateful to you for your mercy," Alex said, "Right, Ayesha?" He glanced over at the woman who hurriedly nodded and thanked Jane.

Still, on her knees, Ayesha crawled over to Adam and caressed the side of her face, "My son …" There was an expression of genuine pain on her face as she looked at the state of her son. "I'm so sorry," She tightly closed her eyes, trying to suppress her tears but was unable to. With misty eyes dripping with her tears, she traced the wrinkles on her son's face that represented his emaciated status after the Soul Stone sucked away his vitality.

Jane looked at the scene of the mother grieving over the state of her son with a complicated expression on her face. Her eyes had many mixed emotions that Alex easily noticed. He walked up to her and held her hand, [Are you thinking of what might have been?] He asked her.

A faint hum came from Jane's throat as she kept her gaze fixed on the mother-and-son duo. Ayesha had already awoken her son after Alex dispelled his magic and was talking to him with pain and regret. It was clear that Adam's mind wasn't truly completely developed from the way he was only responding with simple sentences and wasn't completely able to empathize with his mother's emotions.

[Look at me.] Alex said, but Jane ignored him, keeping her gaze focused in front of herself. [Jane.] Alex grabbed her hand and cupped her cheek, gently guiding her to look at him, [You can talk to me, you know that, right?]

[Don't you already know?] She asked him, looking away from his eyes, [You could read me and my entire life like an open book in that cell.]

[I want to hear it from you.] He said while moving her face again, forcing her to look at him.

[Stop forcing me to look at you!] She shook him off and looked away.

Alex sighed helplessly, [Fine. We'll talk on the ship. Come with me.] He told her while grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the stairs that led to the balcony at the exit of the room. Jane's mild resistance was useless as Alex pulled her to the exit of the room. He'd already intercepted Ayesha's communication with her aide and knew where their ship was docked.

…

As he left with Jane, Alex decided to start working on his new subordinate who needed to be 'inducted' into her new life.

She was still talking to her son when Alex spoke in her head, [Ayesha.] Just him calling out her name made the woman stiffen up, [Send your son to the medical bay. He has multiple internal injuries. Then you are to move to your personal chamber. That is where we will be having our talk.]

"What makes you think that I will listen to you?" Ayesha spoke out to nothing as Adam looked at her with confusion.

"Mother?" He asked her.

"Nothing, love. Rest." She pressed his forehead and caressed his hair with a forced smile on her face.

[Because I'm your only chance to survive the High Evolutionary. You know I'm right.] Alex said, [If you want some kind of reassurance then I can confidently say that my punishments are very different from your creator. Mine are much less permanent and much more … fun.]

Ayesha couldn't make much sense of the implication behind Apex's words, but she understood that he was correct about the first part. He was her only chance at survival after having gotten rid of the High Evolutionary's fail-safe that was in her head.

'Understood,' She thought to Alex, attempting to use his telepathy. Not receiving any feedback, she showed a confused expression.

[No, that's not how it works. Our telepathic connection is a one-way thing. I can speak in your head, not the other way around.] Alex clarified, [Yes, this also means that I can't specifically read your thoughts either.]

Suppressing the sigh of relief that threatened to escape her mouth, Ayesha nodded, "Understood," Confusing Adam once again. She didn't address his confusion and spoke, "You need to be healed, son. I will call someone to bring you to the medical bay."

A few minutes later, Adam was taken care of and Ayesha was standing in her personal chamber within the temporary — and now damaged castle of the Sovereign.

[You can be of a lot of use to me, Ayesha.] Alex spoke to the unsettled woman who didn't know what was going on. The abrupt change in her life was still going to take time for her to get used to. Alex continued, [As long as you are obedient and helpful to my cause, I will make sure that you are satisfied and happy. I can even heal your son's damaged vitality.]

Alex's final words made Ayesha's dull eyes light up, "Truly?" She asked, "If you can truly heal my Adam, I will fully support you with everything."

[Really.] Alex confirmed, [I think you saw firsthand how easy it was for me to take care of the High Evolutionary's fail-safe. My abilities when it comes to biology are something completely unfathomable for you. Not only can I heal your son, but I can even make you immortal.]

The hard facts that Alex put in front of her made Ayesha feel that there was some weight to Alex's words. Even if he wasn't telling her the truth, she was willing to bet on him. Especially considering that the High Evolutionary had definitely decided to kill her and wipe out the Sovereign.

"I-I will agree to your demands," She said, "As long as you can heal my son …"

[Good Queenie.] Alex's nickname for her made her cheeks darken as he continued, [Show me your sincerity. Kneel.] His words left Ayesha stunned.

***

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