Infinity War: Origins (a short fic)
Content note: contains mild spoilers and speculation about the motivation behind the antagonist in the movie Avengers: Infinity War.
Interior Day: A splendid conference hall on the planet Titan (no not that one, I said planet, not moon.) Through the soaring floor to ceiling windows, we see Titan’s giant moon (not Saturn’s Titan), its night side illuminated by Titan-light.
A serious SENIOR ACADEMICIAN approaches the dais in their ceremonial robes. All the academicians in the audience rise to applaud them.
Senior Academician: Our world is running out of resources, too many of our children starve. We’ve convened to consider our alternatives.
An ACADEMICIAN IN GREEN stands, and the convocation turns their attention to them.
Academician in Green: We should redouble our efforts to transition to solar and wind power.
Murmurs of approval come from the assembly. Several OLDER ACADEMICIANS node sagely. As the ACADEMICIAN IN GREEN sits, an ACADEMICIAN IN RED stands, and the esteemed conclave turns their focus to them.
Academician in Red: We should provide birth control, family planning, and education to all of the child-bearing members of our people.
The OLDER ACADEMICIANS look at one another and shrug. The rest of the assembly is silent. The ACADEMICIAN IN RED sighs and takes their seat. THANOS, in purple and gold stands, chest thrust out, a grim look on his face.
Thanos: I will kill half our people, find the INFINITY STONES, and use their power to kill half the sentient life in the Universe.
The entire auditorium rises as one and salutes THANOS with thunderous applause and cheers. All except the ACADEMICIAN IN RED, who walks out unnoticed, their hand to their forehead in anticipation of a headache to come.
Random Academician in Audience: We’re exempt from the cull, right?
The ACADEMICIAN IN RED reaches into their robes, pulls out a PHONE and starts making calls they hope will not be in vain.
Originally published at emceeaich.dreamwidth.org.
