Phovus
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| Phovus | |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Last Son of Khoria
|
| Relatives | Rick Hernia (Friend)
Keith Cumshoes (Friend) General Grievous (Sworn Enemy) |
| Affiliation | Combine Empire
|
| Occupation | Director of NCRI
Director of Black Mesa Research Facility Commander in Combine Army |
| Biographical information | |
| Marital status | Daniel Sproule |
| Place of birth | Khoria-1 |
| Date of death | N/A |
| Place of death | N/A |
| Physical description | |
| Species | Khorian |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 9' 1 |
| Eye color | Red |
| Appearances | |
Phovus was a Khorian warrior and reality scientist who had the rare distinction of working for both the Combine and Waifurian Empires. It is unknown when he was born, but it had to have been born sometime after the Combine took control over the Khorian system, as he was a conscript in their army.
Service in the Combine Empire
Conscription
Phovus was conscripted as an officer as part of the Combine Armament Initiative which was a mandatory conscription bill issued by the Combine Emperor in order to prepare for the Combine Empire’s invasion of the newly-discovered Milky Way Galaxy.
Training
Phovus consistently ranked top of his class during training sessions, which sparked the beginning of his infamous egotistical nature. During this time, Phovus willingly took an apprenticeship with a Jyykisian reality scientist who’s name has been lost to time.
Military Career
Phovus’ first combat deployment was the Combine invasion of the Trappist system. Phovus almost instantly gained fame as he fought on nearly every planet in the system, and did not allow himself or his troops rest until he famously dropped the heads of each of the Trappistian Confederacy’s leaders at the feet of his commanding officers.
Phovus’ next deployment was to quell the Cybertronian revolt in the Andromeda Galaxy. Phovus was displeased his talents were being “wasted on a petty peasant revolt”, but cooperated to prove his prowess in any combat scenario. The Cybertronian and Combine forces had been fighting for weeks on end with only the loss of the city of Kaon to the Cybertronians marking a turn in the war. Despite this, the war’s favor immediately switched back to the Combine’s favor when Phovus and 500 Combine Elite Legions were deployed to the surface of Cybertron. Phovus and his legions carved through Cybertronian defenses like a hot piece of starmetal through 10,000 vortigaunts, leaving thousands dead in their wake. As the war neared it’s end, Phovus and his legions faced heavy resistance from what remained of Cybertron’s forces. Phovus, in a fit of impatience, ordered Combine driller units to dig into the very core of the planet.
Grand Cybertron Factorium
During his time on Cybertron, Phovus had come across ancient tablets describing an ancient power source at the heart of the planet which excited him greatly. The diggers eventually returned after 7 weeks of drilling through several thousand kilometers of pure cybertronium. Phovus descended into the recently-made cavern, and came across the source of Cybertron’s power: The Nexus Core. Phovus greedily snatched the ancient power source from it’s resting place and hurriedly rushed to a ship. While Phovus was searching, a cybertronian by the name of Megatron stepped forth to oppose him. Phovus gladly accepted the duel, and the two fought for hours on end, never seeming to best the other. Phovus was fast, but Megatron was clever. Megatron predicted Phovus’ movement pattern and caught him before throwing him into a nearby wall. Cornered, Phovus drew the Nexus Core and triggered the device which knocked Megatron unconscious. Phovus, seizing the opportunity, ordered Megatron to be loaded onto a ship and taken with him.
The removal of the Nexus Core from the heart of Cybertron would go on to effectively kill the planet, due to the ceasing of energon flow, and as the war had decimated most of their ship capable of inter-planetary travel, the cybertronians slowly either starved or were killed in battles for what resources remained. This left Megatron as the last living cybertronian in the Omniverse.
Beginning of Phovus’ Scientific Career
Having captured the Nexus Core, Phovus proudly presented his spoils of war to his superiors, and requested to experiment with the object. His request was granted, but Phovus had to sacrifice continuing service in the Combine Armed Forces. Phovus accepted this, seeking to combine his grand knowledge of reality science with the newly-obtained heart of Cybertron. Phovus immediately used his given funds to launch his own branch of the Combine’s scientific research division named the Nexus Core Research Initiative. Phovus immediately set to testing the Nexus Core’s seemingly-limitless potential.
Improbability Drive
The NCRI tested the Nexus Core’s limits, resulting in the countless deaths of personnel and the complete annihilation of several planets. Eventually, they discovered that the Nexus Core held the power to rewrite reality but it just needed something powerful enough to channel it. Despite the NCRI’s efforts, no machine they could make seemed to be able to contain the sheer power of the Nexus Core. This continued for years on end, and with the outbreak of the Great META War, the Combine Empire was considering shutting down the NCRI. This terrified Phovus, as the years he had spent attempting to utilize the power of the Nexus Core had convinced him it was his destiny to unlock its power and learn the secrets of how to manipulate the very fabric of reality. Phovus diverted all of his focus and resources into attempting to create the machine, even selling Waifurian technology to humanity to procure more funds. One night, while Phovus was incredibly stressed at the prospect of his life’s work being undone by mere economists, he was visited by the Auditor. The Auditor came to Phovus with a prospect: Given a machine powerful enough to harness the Nexus Core’s power, Phovus would utilize it in coordination with his own power to act as an enforcer of the Employer’s will. Phovus quickly accepted, signing off on the contract which would come to be known as the Nexus Charter. The Auditor then disappeared, promising Phovus his machine would be delivered to him soon. Phovus awoke the next morning to alerts that a “strange machine” and seemingly appeared from nowhere. Phovus quickly rushed to the NCRI HQ, where he discovered the machine the Auditor had gifted him. The machine was dubbed the Improbability Drive, given it’s sudden appearance.
Grand Capabilities
Following the construction of the Improbability Drive, a power that was nothing like what had been seen before was introduced to the Omniverse: Dissonance Energy. Dissonance Energy was capable of upgrading troops’ fighting capabilities across light years, opening dimensional gateways and generating entirely new materials from seemingly thin air.
Creation of the Binary Sword
Phovus quickly used the power of the drive to create a weapon for himself which came to be known as the Binary Sword. The Binary Sword was a sword comprised of an entirely new material created by the Improbability Drive known as Unobtanium. It was essentially the perfect alloy, light enough to be easily transported and stored but also durable enough to withstand the greatest of physical stresses.
Defection
Despite his revolutionary “discovery”, Phovus kept the rest of the Combine Invasion Force in the dark about it. This was primarily due to the Combine’s willingness to cut his funding which had greatly displeased him. Having sold off technology to them prior, Phovus had connections within the forces of Earth. Given his previous cooperation, and the potential to gain from his scientific advancements, the MTO agreed to assist Phovus in fleeing Combine-controlled territory. The agreed location of transfer was the Jovian moon, Ganymede. However, unbeknownst to both Phovus and the MTO, a certain cyborg general had already learned of Phovus’ betrayal.
Battle of Ganymede
See the Battle of Ganymede.
Post-Defection
Following his defection to Earth, Phovus was assigned as the head of the Black Mesa research facility. He promptly devoted nearly all the facility’s resources into researching the capabilities of the Improbability Drive.
Nefarious Incidents
The facility operated as usual, discovering several new dimensions and elements, until one day Mister Nefarious approached the facility with the prospect of the Gigamagnet. Phovus initially dismissed his request until Mister Nefarious provided blueprints, which intrigued Phovus enough to approve his request. The Gigamagnet was constructed out of unobtainium, (hence why it survived its collision with Triton) and when the Gigamagnet was set to be fired, it’s internal mechanism to extend itself was fueled by pure dissonance energy. When the Gigamagnet obliterated the Combine presence in the Sol System, Phovus and Black Mesa were not credited whatsoever for their efforts. Noone at Black Mesa took this very kindly so Phovus kidnapped Nefarious and tortured him with entirely new methods developed by the Improbability Drive. When Phovus was prepared to send Nefarious off to the CIA for expungement, he firstly sent in Nefarious to the Guinness World Records, in hopes of winning the “Most Deranged Prisoner” award. However, the award was given to Nefarious instead of Phovus. This infuriated Phovus, resulting in him cloning Nefarious hundreds of thousands of times over to be executed by firing squad. He then sent Nefarious to the CIA where he was never seen or heard from again.
Service to Waifuria
Some time after the formation of the Waifurian Empire, Phovus relocated his office from Black Mesa to Waifuria Prime and reorganized the private Black Mesa Corporation into the public Waifurian Science Institute. While Phovus’ obsession with reality science certainly still loomed over most of the Institute, other scientific fields were still studied and taught. 20 years following his defection, Phovus utilized the Improbability Drive to forge a halo-shaped artifact capable of creating and harnessing dissonance energy entirely on its own. Phovus dubbed this item the Keystone Fragment.
Phovus spent many weeks training himself to use the Keystone Fragment properly, and eventually came to a point where he could entirely disintegrate beings on a lower tier than himself.
Grand Mutinies
As a member of the Waifurian Security Council, Phovus was one of the few people in the Omniverse to know about the mutiny plot within the highest ranks of Waifuria’s officials. However, Phovus grew impatient with the plotting and scheming and began to question why he couldn’t walk into the Throne Room and simply eviscerate Biden himself. During one of the meetings, Phovus interrupted the conversation to declare he was going to kill Biden, with or without the help of the other members. The rest of the council disagreed with Phovus, as not everyone had completely organized their sectors and a very obvious coup by Phovus could send the entire empire into ruination. Phovus retaliated by evaporating 2 council members and threatening the rest with a similar fate.
Visitations
Following his announcement to the Waifurian Security Council, Phovus elected to set things right one week before his confrontation should he fall to the Brainrotten Emperor. First on his list was Rick Hernia. Phovus had not seen Rick in several years, and as such did not trust him enough to inform him with the full story. Phovus fabricated a lie that he had contracted a terminal disease and may not survive. Rick was deeply distraught by this, and wished Phovus the best. Phovus then visited his lover, Daniel Sproule. Phovus informed Daniel of his plan, and that should things go awry, he was to receive the Improbability Drive. Phovus explained to Daniel that he should construct something with it powerful enough to threaten even the Employers. Daniel acknowledged this, and wished Phovus luck. Normally, Phovus would have visited Keith Cumshoes, but he had not been seen since since the Glue Factory Incident. With everything in order, Phovus set out to rid the Omniverse of Mummyrot forever.
Grand Mummy Murder Attempt
Armed with the Keystone Fragment and Binary Sword, Phovus approached Biden’s throne room. The guards stopped Phovus, asking what the purpose of his visit was. His response was to molecularly disintegrate them. This attracted Biden’s attention, and he mumbled something about “MAGA worms” and “Our democracy”. (Despite the fact democracy had been globally outlawed since the dissolution of America) Phovus raised his hand to Biden’s forehead, and attempted to obliterate him. This proved unsuccessful and merely annoyed Biden, who called Phovus fat. Frustrated, Phovus raised the Binary Sword to split Biden’s skull open. Before he could swing however, the sword was yanked from his hands by the Force. Phovus spun around to see Rick Hernia and Keith Cumshoes, weapons drawn.
R: “I thought you were terminally ill, Phovus.”
P: “I am, Rick. Ill with dissatisfaction at this pathetic excuse for an emperor’s ruling. An entire faux civil war was fought because of this rotten maggot’s disordered mind.”
R: “I dislike him as much as you, Phovus. But if you kill him that could spiral the entire empire into chaos. Millions could die.”
Phovus recognized this argument. He had heard it before, and it only annoyed him even more right now.
P: “So the council sent you then, that it? You’re their lapdog now?”
R: “They told me what you were planning to do, and noone else besides us has the potential to stop you. You’ve lost your mind, Phovus. You’re constantly rambling to yourself about overthrowing the very Employers themselves.”
P: “They will be, soon enough. They are like him but on a far grander scale.”
R: “I don’t want to have to kill you, Phovus, but I will.”
P: “I am not doing this for my own pleasure. This is what must be done to set the Omniverse down the correct path.”
R: “For someone who claims to not enjoy it, you sure did eviscerate plenty of people to get here.”
P: “Collateral damage, Rick, collateral damage.”
R: “They were innocent, Phovus. You could have just scared them off.”
P: “Unlike the Employers, I rule through strength rather than fear.”
R: “You’ve lost your mind…”
P: “And gained so much more.”
Phovus reclaimed the Binary Sword using telekinesis granted to him by the Keystone Fragment, and pointed it towards Rick and Keith. Both of them knew what this meant, and charged towards Phovus. Despite Keith’s greatly increased power and Rick’s recent awareness of his connection to the Force, they we both barely able to match Phovus. The three dueled for hours, never once landing blows on the other. This would change when Phovus used the power of the Keystone Fragment to launch Rick with enough force to dent the wall of the throne room which knocked him out. Keith now stood alone against the Last Son of Khoria. Despite holding less power, Keith managed to hold his own against Phovus. The two clashed and Phovus, grinning devilishly, sidestepped out the blade lock and severed Keith’s left arm. Keith let out a yell of pain, and looked down to his arm to inspect the damage but found a strange energy pouring from it. Suddenly, a blast of pure Legumic Energy released from Keith’s arm which blasted back Phovus all the way to Biden’s throne, temporarily subduing him and separating the Keystone Fragment from him in the process. Keith sheathed his sword and picked up the Keystone Fragment using his remaining arm and placed it on Rick’s head. Unbeknownst to anyone in the room, the Dissonance Energy inside the Keystone Fragment awoke Rick’s full potential in the Force, and allowed him to regain his consciousness. Rick thanked Keith but as he went to grab his friend’s hand, blood bursted from his chest. Phovus had recuperated and impaled Keith. Phovus then threw Keith, still bleeding, across the room and grabbed Rick by the neck.
P: “You think wearing that suddenly makes you my equal? It took me years to unlock its full power, even with it you don’t stand a chance.”
Before Rick could say anything, Phovus ripped the Keystone Fragment back and placed it on his head, but Rick’s full Force potential was retained. Rick’s anger at Keith’s injury resulted in him releasing a massive wave of Force energy which flung Phovus back and caused a crack in his single red eye. Rick then charged Phovus while he was recovering, stabbing him through the chest. This sent Phovus into a rage and he backhanded Rick across the face, promptly leaping onto him and, increasing his own strength with the Keystone Fragment, laid punch after punch into Rick. Just before Phovus could throw another punch, Rick grabbed his fist and, enhancing his own strength with the Force, threw Phovus off of him. Picking up his sword, Rick took a minute to recover. Phovus merely laughed to himself while standing up.
P: “My victory is the will of the Employers, Rick.”
R: “Their destruction is their own goal?”
P: “No, but Biden’s is. Their time will come after his.”
R: “They will stop you even if I can’t. They do not abide by our rules.”
P: “Neither does dissonance energy.”
It was in this moment Rick realized that it was actually feasible that dissonance energy could harm the Employers themselves. The Employers could not be harmed by weapons from this reality, but dissonance energy was never meant to exist in it. Phovus had discovered a loophole.
P: “Only now in the end do you realize, Rick.”
Rick then placed himself between Phovus and Biden, forcing Phovus to come to him if he wished to accomplish his goal. Phovus accepted and casually approached Rick. Their blades met again, but this time intermixed between blasts of Phovus’ dissonance energy and Rick’s use of the Force. Eventually, Rick tired himself out. Accepting defeat, he fell to his knees. Phovus raised his blade, and swung. However, the Binary Sword did not meet Rick’s neck, but instead the sword of Keith Cumshoes, barely alive enough to defend his friend. Phovus backhanded Keith, and walked to meet where he lay.
P: “You’ve caused me much trouble in a short time span, Keith. I wish we could have met again under different circumstances but you refuse to see the truth.”
With these words, Phovus tore off Keith Cumshoes’ head. One of the Great META War’s greatest heroes was now dead. Slaughtered by the Violator of All Reality. However, in his last moments he knew his death was not in vain.
What Keith knew is that Rick was integral to the Employer’s plan, as he was informed of this by G-Man following the Glue Factory Incident. He also knew Phovus was contractually tied to the Employers as an enforcer of their will, so by attempting to kill Rick, he had violated his side of the deal, stripping him of his status as an asset.
This would bring down Unforeseen Consequences.
Employer Intervention
As Phovus returned to where Rick kneeled, he suddenly felt a great wave of blackened fire rush over him. This signaled the presence of the Auditor.
Aud: “You are a fool to believe we were not aware of your scheme, Phovus.”
Next, the great roar of a dragon rang out in the Throne Room. This signaled the approach of Chraunor, AKA Akatosh.
Chr: “You are not worthy to meddle with time.”
And finally, an unearthly noise that sounded like spacetime itself shattering signaled the arrival of the Author.
Aut: “Phovus...”
Phovus chuckled to himself. He realized what Keith’s sacrifice had really done.
P: “So be it then, your hypocrisy ends here, Employers. A god stands before you now!”
The Binary Sword then engulfed itself in an unholy purple flame, fully charged with dissonance energy.
The Employers knew what this meant, and all but the Author engaged Phovus in a fight. Chraunor in his dragon form and the Auditor wielding pure Employeric energy both fought Phovus in a duel to decide the fate of the Omniverse. The three fought for what must have been hours, all the while Rick Hernia and Joe Biden observed. Phovus had not managed to land a hit yet, and this angered him. He was running out of time and he knew it. Despite Chraunor’s size as a dragon, Phovus kept him at bay with a beam of pure dissonance energy. This gave him enough time to strike the Auditor with the Binary Sword. To Phovus’ delight, it left a wound. He could hurt them. The Auditor felt something he had never known before, pain. Pain and fear. Feelings completely alien to a being of his status rushed over him, and for a moment he knew what it was to be mortal. This sent the Auditor into shock, unable to properly defend himself against Phovus. Chraunor had seen all of this, but was still pinned by the dissonance energy which rendered him paralyzed for the time being. It was in this moment, with both of the other Employers nearing defeat, that the Author stepped forth to oppose Phovus. Phovus directed his attention toward the Author, and swung the Binary Sword. The blade was stopped mid-air by the Author, and he hadn’t even lifted a finger. Phovus was confused, and couldn’t move his arm. The Author calmly raised one of his arms, and phased his arm through Phovus’ chest. Phovus felt no pain, but was terrified at his own powerlessness. The Author then ripped Phovus’ soul from his body which promptly fell onto the floor. The Author approached Rick Hernia, and using his power, regenerated his wounds. He then told Rick to “Seek the Legume.” Afterwards, all three Employers disappeared.
The “Death” of Director Phovus
Having returned to the Outervoid, Chraunor and the Auditor both recuperated fairly well. However, all three still had work to do. Primarily, they had to decide what to do with Phovus’ soul. They could not send him to The Nothing, as his soul would simply be recycled and they would have to descend again to face him. Eventually, they all mutually agreed to shatter his soul and scatter it across the border of the Omniverse and the Outervoid. This technically did not kill Phovus, as his consciousness was still retained, albeit shattered into pieces and spread across millions of light-years.
Epilogue
When Daniel Sproule had the Improbability Drive arrive at his front door, he knew what had happened. He quickly devised a plan to grow the largest eggplant the world had ever seen, and he would utilize this eggplant as a container for the Improbability Drive’s untold power. This eggplant would come to be known as The Aubergine.