Riot was used to this sort of thing. Dealing with insubordinate underlings was practically a hobby for him. Cruelty came as naturally as breathing.
In their homeworld, he commanded millions. At that scale, the death of one or two didn't even register. If anything, he relished killing them personally, it was an indulgence, a reminder to the rest that their leader was not to be trifled with.
But Drake… Drake was a different story.
The human host had seen the monstrous dog in action. He'd watched it transform. He'd witnessed that raw, ridiculous power, and he wanted nothing to do with it. Even without a symbiote, Doggo would have been terrifying. With one? It was a waking nightmare.
Drake's plan was simple: survive, return with an army, and let others do the fighting while he barked orders from a safe distance. Unfortunately, Riot had zero interest in that plan, or in Drake's safety.
Theirs was a "partnership" in the loosest sense of the word, with the balance heavily weighted toward Riot.
As Doggo plummeted toward the ground, Venom, some distance away, casually shuffled back another step. Eddie's voice inside was urgent, "We should help it!"
Venom ignored him completely. He'd sized up the situation and decided that the safest place to be was anywhere else. That dog was not going to splatter on the pavement, and Riot was about to learn why.
In fact, Venom was quietly rooting for the dog.
After what felt like an eternity to their enhanced senses, especially to Doggo, who was now yawning mid-fall, the furry missile was about to land right in front of Riot. The leader of the symbiotes stood ready, arm transformed into a five-meter blade, sharp enough to cleave a bull in half.
But then Doggo's body shifted.
Yellow goo exploded outward, covering fur and flesh in a heartbeat. Limbs lengthened. Muscles bulked. A tail lashed. His head morphed into something more dinosaur than canine, and his mouth… his mouth was huge, easily larger than Riot's whole body.
Doggo lowered his head and bit down, not on Riot, but on the blade itself.
Riot's cruel grin faltered for just an instant. Then, thinking Phage had lost his mind, he prepared to skewer the beast in retaliation.
From above, Luke watched, his lips curling upward. He noticed that while Venom might lack muscle, he at least had a working brain, his choice of retreating was clearly the most wise.
The moment of impact came.
With a sharp, metallic crack, Doggo's teeth sheared through the weapon like it was brittle candy. Shards clattered to the ground. Riot froze, eyes wide, his mind struggling to process what had just happened.
What kind of mouth is this?!
Panic bled into his movements as he retreated a step, then another. He was the strongest of their kind. Phage shouldn't have been able to threaten him, yet here they were.
Drake's voice cut in sharply, "Be careful! This dog is strong. Don't take it lightly!"
Riot finally nodded, muscles tensing. This time, he'd proceed with caution.
Venom, meanwhile, wore a cartoonishly wide grin. "See? I told you," he said to Eddie. "That dog is a monster."
Eddie, still staring, muttered, "So… we're keeping our distance then?"
"Absolutely." Venom backed up again, leaving the battlefield to the two titans.
Doggo landed with a ground-shaking thud, shook his massive head, and spat out the metallic remains. His head alone dwarfed Riot's entire body. From above, Phage's eyes glittered, a predator sizing up prey.
Since bonding with Doggo, Phage had changed. Once, he'd shared Riot's ambition to summon the rest of their kind. But Earth… Earth had good food. And fun. And his new friend Doggo. Why ruin a good thing?
He had no desire to bring others here, not when life was already perfect as it is.
Riot finally spoke, voice edged with command. "Phage. Come with me. We'll bring our people here. Don't be stupid."
It was phrased like an order, but with more respect than he'd ever shown Venom, whom he considered nothing more than trash.
Phage laughed, low and raspy. "Life here is good. Better than good. Why would we share it?"
Riot's expression darkened. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm saying," Phage bared his teeth, "life on Earth is wonderful. And I'd rather enjoy it… alone."
"You'll have to die then." Riot's voice was pure venom.
Spikes sprouted as his arm reshaped into a massive hammer. Combat experience was on his side. Leadership was on his side. He was sure he would be the final victor.
Doggo's enormous mouth began to drool.
He'd been whispering in Phage's mind the whole time, urging him to stop talking and start eating. Symbiotes were a new flavor he wanted to taste, and there was a human snack inside too, it was a combination too tempting to resist.
Saliva poured in ropes from his jaws.