Preparations

"What?" She murmured.

Releasing a breath, I lowered my guard as to show I wasn't here to continue fighting or to capitalise on her vulnerability. She didn't respond in kind, but the fact that she wasn't continuing this fight proved to me that I had stumped her. That meant I had a limited window to speak before she went back to trying to kill me.

I wasn't about to let that opportunity go to waste.

"Think about it, why did the Spikes slaughter dozens of tribes of the Shadow People but miraculously stop after the Red King found you? You. A Shadow Tribesman in possession with the Old Power." I described the events and while not all of it was completely true, it was based on what I did know from the comics with a little bit of my own headcanon added into it which was backed up by my own little espionage here on Sakaar.

At the end of the day though, everyone who had read the Planet Hulk story knew that the Red King was a brat who did whatever he wanted to get what he wanted. While he hadn't manipulated the Spikes, what he had done was standby and do nothing. To further prove that the world of comics didn't truly touch upon the deeper intricacies of the world it was based in. It did what it needed to do in order to get the story moving, but not much more than that.

Caiera's tribe was not the only one decimated by the Spikes, there were in fact dozens destroyed before hers.

"You know nothing!" She spat out, stepping towards me dangerously and I stepped back to keep that distance between us. If Caiera came to attack me, I needed time to react properly because all things considered, she was a tough opponent.

"You're right, I don't," I replied simply. "But what I do know is that Hiroim and Elloe know more than me. The former made a vow of silence, but his body language and reactions to my words told me enough to paint a picture. Elloe filled in the blanks for me. So, I can tell you that while I don't know the full story, I know enough to put the pieces together and now, so do you if you're willing to look at them."

That seemed to make Caiera snap as she lunged at me, it was different this time around. Much like it had been with Thragg when he lost control of himself, so did Caiera as I targeted her insecurities. The fact it affect her this much to the point she was more of a wild beast than the skilled combatant she was, told me that she already had her suspicions and she had buried them. Then here I came along, ripping the bandaid off and it struck a nerve, enough so that she lost control of herself.

As soon as Caiera came in close, I gripped the wrist of her hands that had been reaching out for me and flipped her through the air. Quickly I slammed her into the ground chest first, it denting beneath us and Caiera gasping out. From the look on her face, I could tell it had winded her and brought her back up before throwing her at the wall.

Rushing forwards, I grabbed her just as she bounced off the wall and spun her around. Forearm pressing against the back of her neck while gripping one wrist tightly with the same arm, I then held the other arm behind her back as I pressed myself fully against her.

I strained to keep ahold of her as Caiera struggled to break free. "Your reaction proves it, you know or at least had suspicions and you wouldn't have reacted that way if you didn't," I whispered in her ear. "But look, you can go, think over things for a little while and try to make your own assumptions and when you do, come back and maybe, I'll then share my theories on the Sakaarson."

-X- Line Break -X-

"You were in there for quite a while." The Governor noted as he and I walked down the corridor of his home. "Did you make sure to satisfy of our customer, the room certainly seems a mess?"

I chuckled lightly. "Have I ever not satisfied your customers?" My response was quick and straight to the point, the Governor smiling. "But that's not why you're asking, you're wanting to know why Caiera of all people came to see me, aren't you?"

"For a slave, you're very smart. Then again, I should expect no less from Tah-Zod." That earned a reaction as I turned to look at him with a raised brow.

"You did your research?"

"I always do when I come across people who catch my attention like you. Not only are you strong, but you're also skilled. On top of that, you have an intelligent mind hidden beneath and that catches my eye." That made me laugh. "You find that amusing?"

I shook my head. "Well, if I was intelligent I wouldn't be in this situation in the first place."

"And how did you get this point in your life in the first place?"

"By rushing things. I got too much power, too quickly and it went to my head. I relied not upon the intelligence I had and on brute strength. It put me in a difficult situation and I was betrayed because of it." That earned the Governor's attention, he looked towards me in curiosity and that in turn, earned my own attention. I had been angry before, willing to kill anyone that had wronged me, but not thinking things through properly was the reason I was in this position in the first place.

I had not thought things through when I conquered the Vrangs.

I had not thought things through when I conquered the Viltrumites.

Two mistakes, two critical mistakes that left me enslaved on Sakaar. I didn't particularly like the Governor because he was the one to do so, but at the same time, he had done a great deal to make my situation more favourable. He even gave me access to the chance to absorb more yellow sun radiation. Despite my distaste for his actions, I couldn't deny that he was much like Miek, even if it was a comparison that the Governor wouldn't want.

After all, both didn't enter a fight without first being completely sure of victory. They also allied themselves with the strongest and did so until that person was no longer the strongest present. Furthermore, he was a smart man that weighed the pros and cons of his actions, only ever choosing the venture that offered the most profit.

As much as I didn't like the man, I would need men like him around me in the future. So for now, I'd spare his life and make use of him until there was nothing left he could give me or until someone better came along. When that did happen, I would take my revenge and it would be sweet.

Something only served better when he imagined I had forgotten everything he had done. But I hadn't nor would I ever, perhaps I'll even make a show of it. All my former enemies turned temporary allies gathered to my citadel of power under the belief of being rewarded only to be executed.

It was something I would look forward to.

"The downfall of many." The Governor nodded his head. "And what power are we talking about exactly?"

I had his curiosity, that was good.

"Well, I came across a solar system with a much healthier and stronger sun that enriched my powers far greater than the one here." That alone seemed to make the Governor's eyes twinkle as he imagined what that would be like. "And then I took that power and started carving out my own little empire. The Vrangs, the Viltrumites and then I made my way towards the Vega System. But I was betrayed because I didn't think properly."

"I'm surprised." The Governor stated. "All you've ever done is portray an image of perfection. You've always seemed to be making calculated moves to put yourself in the most advantageous position. You haven't put a foot wrong, so it's strange to see you admit your faults."

I scoffed. "A man that lives purely on luck, has a very low ceiling. Do you know why? Because he gets so used to winning, that when his luck runs out and he loses, he can't recover from it. But a man that struggles and makes mistakes has a much higher ceiling."

"Because he can acknowledge and learn from his mistakes."

"Exactly and now that I've learned from my mistakes, I don't intend to repeat them."

"Yet you didn't learn why Caiera came, something I've asked you to do for all clients."

I nodded my head. "So you can use it as leverage, I know." I agreed, stopping and looking at him. "The fact is, you were just as surprised as I was when I found her waiting for me. She isn't the type of woman that I'm usually called to satisfy. In that situation, you can't reveal all your cards straight away, because that's too easy. Keep a few cards close to your chest and let her come back, then we can learn all we need to."

"And what cards do you have close to your chest?"

"Now that would be telling, Governor." I returned with a smile. "Just trust me on this and I can assure you, everything will work itself out."

-X- Line Break -X-

Nothing mattered.

Nothing mattered at all.

Everything he had done, from the moment he had been born was to save his people. He had been selected to lead them to safety from the Fire Demons. But all that had been for nought as only he remained now.

He didn't care about anything anymore, he just wanted to die but he couldn't even do that right. His mind and soul was shattered, craving death, but his body refused. Fighting for his people, protecting his people and even attempting to take his life, all resulted in failure. No matter what he did, all it did was end in failure.

Hearing footsteps coming down the corridor, his head raised up. "Who do I have to kill today?" He asked as he watched the Red King round the corner, his gaze looking upon the dark and dirty cell in disgust. It was well within his ability to provide his champion with much better accommodations, but he had refused, preferring this dark place. His champion didn't even allow healers to tend to his injuries.

The Red King had tried, but all had ended up dead.

"There's a new gladiator making waves within the arena. A Kryptonian called Tah." The Red King smiled. "Put on a show for me my champion. The Governor has been getting too cocky and I want you to put him in his place by crushing his slave."

"Very well." The champion agreed, slouching back down. 'It doesn't matter anymore.'