Author's Note – I do not own any of the characters, Marvel and DC do.
Chapter warning – If you haven't had The Talk, be warned. Part of this chapter is based on a PM conversation about the unanticipated effects of technology on society.
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Chapter Fifteen
Thunderbolts
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"In a startling announcement today, the President has issued pardons to the former criminals once known collectively as the Sinister Six for their selfless actions in capturing the Sentinel known as Master Mold, the originator of the bio-Sentinel plague responsible for over a million deaths worldwide in the last few weeks. Doctor Octopus, Mysterio, Rhino, The Vulture, Sandman and Venom have declared their intention to abandon their former criminal careers and the philanthropist multi-millionaire Wilson Fisk has stepped forwards to help them do so. He had this to say.
"I was impressed at how these six have moved beyond their pasts and sought to become better than anyone expected that they could. However, echoes of their past will still taint them in the eyes of many, despite their recent actions that have avenged those killed by the forces of Master Mold and saved uncountable millions in future generations. Therefore, taking a lead from my esteemed competitor and friend Warren Worthington Jr, I am placing a portion of my own personal wealth into establishing a new team of superheroes, the Thunderbolts. It is my hope that those who feel they have been forced into a life of crime through circumstances beyond their control take heart from the existence of this team, a team that proves that it is never too late to seek to be a greater person and that there is a hero in us all."
"The Thunderbolts are currently still in New York, although they are going to relocate to Chicago where Wilson Fisk has arranged for a tower to be built for them to live in.
"It is understood that Superman himself has congratulated the team and offered to aid them should they need it in the future…"
"What?"
Clark paused the screen and turned to see Isaiah fuming.
"Do you know any of the Six?"
"Went up against Venom and Sandman during my independent days." Patriot grumped. "Got my ass handed to me each time. Of course, I had trouble thinking back then, before Xavier had me fixed up ready for joining you."
For a long moment, silence reigned in the meeting hall and Clark glanced at the other Protectors.
"Before anyone asks, yes. I am fully aware that the Thunderbolts are unlikely to be true heroes, especially given who their corporate sponsor is. That is why I offered them a base in Chicago, it's currently attracting low-level villains due to the lack of a permanent super-team there, mainly due to the local laws about secret identities. This way, we get at least partial coverage, good press for aiding in the rehabilitation of super-villains and it keeps them away from the largest cities. Plus, the local officials will finally be forced to confront the consequences of their no secret identities superhero policies. After all, the identities of the Thunderbolts are all publicly known…"
Clark managed not to smile at the looks he was being given. "I may not like playing political games, but I do know how to play them."
"And do they have access to the Hall of Doors?"
"They do." Clark nodded. "The Hall of Doors with multiple security systems and special sensors that can detect anything that passes through. I'm certain that they'll know that we'll be keeping a very close eye on them for a long time. Besides, I have a plan."
"Uh-oh." Patriot mock-whispered, causing Gatekeeper to cram her fist into her mouth in an attempt to not laugh.
"I intend to rotate other publicly-known superheros through the Thunderbolts. Having a true hero on their team will force them to at least go covert on any unlawful activities that they may try to do…"
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"Gentlemen, welcome to your new base." Wilson Fisk said with an expansive wave of his hand. "Nothing but the best for you. You each have a personal suite three times the size of the ones at your old base with your things already moved in, extra labs have been provided and Clark Kent himself brought a Portal to link this tower to the Hall of Doors, a portal-nexus that explains how they were able to get reinforcements to anywhere on the planet so quickly."
"Thank you, sir." Otto replied with a slight bow even as Vulture motioned for Rhino to be quiet. "I assume that phase two is ready to go?"
"Indeed." Fisk said, pulling out a small USB stick which he held out for Otto to take. "I had my people research the identities of every gang-aligned criminal in this city as well as who they work for. Quite a few independents are on this list as well. You will need to find a way to discover most of this information yourselves and do try to avoid targeting my people. I've been trying to protect them as best as I can, the local gangs are surprisingly resistant to outsiders moving in."
Otto nodded in understanding. "Of course."
"Naturally, public appearances, rescuing kittens from trees, saving children from cars and all that stuff will be expected of you." Fisk continued, then his gaze sharpened as he scowled at them. "If you screw this up, you damage my reputation. And I do not like my reputation being damaged."
"U… u… understood, sir!" Otto managed as Fisk loomed over them, somehow even managing to make Rhino seem small, before he reverted back to being a genial multi-billionaire playing with a new toy.
"So, let me show you around your new base and introduce you to the staff."
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"…and now, from their headquarters, the Lightning Rod Tower, we present, the Thunderbolts!" The announcer said enthusiastically as behind him, six symbols were projected on hanging fabric screens. "Formerly known as the Vulture, the lord of the skies, Victor Toomes, the Bald Eagle!"
The first screen dropped and Victor stepped forwards, dramatically expanding his now-golden-brown wings before bowing to the cheering crowd.
"The amazing, stupendous and unstoppable… Aleksei Sytsevich is the one and only Rhino!"
The second screen dropped, puddling on the floor as Aleksei clomped forwards, his face-plate up to reveal his huge grin as he waved at the cheering crowd.
"He can go anywhere and will knock out those who seek to harm others, Flint Marko is the Sandman!"
The third screen dropped to reveal a pile of sand that projected itself forwards like a jet of water, reforming into a Flint as the cheers increased.
"Master of illusions and shaper of reality, Quentin Beck is Mysterio!"
The sixth screen fell, revealing only empty space behind it, then flecks of light started to appear, rushing over the crowds as they converged to form Mysterio.
"Chicago's own arachnid hero, a webslinger without equal, once called Venom, Eddie Brock is Tarantulas!"
As the fifth screen fell, Eddie somersaulted forwards, then the symbiote retracted from his head, letting him grin at the screaming horde.
"And leading them, the scientific genius and connoisseur of the arts, Otto Octavius, Doctor Octopus!"
The final screen fell as a pair of tentacles lanced forwards around it, then Otto used his mechanical limbs to pick himself up and position himself in the line that the others had formed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, here to protect you, the THUNDERBOLTS!"
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"So, why did you two change names?" Rhino asked as he slumped into the reinforced sofa while in the corner, specially-programmed manipulators ran diagnostics on his powered armor.
"Spiderman called me Baldy so many times, I decided to appropriate the appellation for myself." Toomes shrugged, one hand briefly stroking his hairless scalp. "And I needed a bird-name to go with my upgraded suit, so Eagle was the best choice."
"We are a hero now." Brock said as he picked up the medicinal drink that Octavius insisted that he imbibe daily to offset the negative effect his Symbiote was apparently having on him. "We need a heroic name and Venom is not very heroic. This still tastes awful."
"But until we get a new med-pod from New Krypton, it is needed." Otto said as he walked in, pausing to check that the armor was being maintained correctly. "I have contacted Reed Richards as his scientific knowledge is comparable to my own and if all goes to plan, we will be able to help you and your Symbiote achieve a true symbiotic relationship without any negative side-effects."
"Good." Eddie grumbled. "We did not like the idea that we were at risk of getting cancer because of our dietary requirements."
"How long before there are enough med-pods to let the private doctors have them again?" Aleksei asked, earning several surprised looks. "What?"
"Just… it's not the sort of thing we thought you'd be interested in." Toomes admitted. "I have to ask… why?"
"Elissia's forcing me to use a condom."
The silence that descended on the room seemed magnified by the whirrs of the mechanical arms reassembling Rhino's suit, then Octavius finally broke the silence.
"I… I'm fairly certain that I do not want to know, but I have to ask. How do med-pods have anything to do with wearing condoms?"
"She and her friends used a med-pod after each fun-time." Rhino shrugged. "That way, no babies and no diseases."
"That… actually makes a fairly disturbing amount of sense." Otto admitted. "I understand now. The use of the med-pod removes the negative consequences usually associated with unprotected intercourse while still allowing for maximum intimacy and the sharing of pleasure. Assuming each treatment concentrates primarily on the lower torso, I would say it would take less than ten minutes to remove any potential disease vector or… huh."
"Damn, and we thought the internet caused a shift in those things." Eddie chuckled. "Med-pods make random sex safe. I wonder if Superman knows about this? I'd love to see his expression when he finds out…"
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"Doctor Octopus." Clark said, offering his hand in greeting and Otto took it in his flesh-and-bone hand. "Welcome to the quarterly meeting for the team leaders."
"I am honored to have been invited." Otto replied, then he smiled. "This may be the first time a villain, albeit a former one, has attended the meeting."
"Actually, King Marko was the first former villain to attend one of our meetings." Clark chuckled as he escorted Otto into the large room and ushered him to a chair beside a familiar-looking Minotaur, a chair which had been constructed in a way that allowed him to sit down without interfering with the use of his tentacles. As Otto pulled out a small datachip and slotted it into the computer terminal in front of him, Clark moved to the head of the table.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the fifth quarterly super-team conference. There are several new faces amongst us today, so on their behalf, let us each introduce ourselves. Clark Kent, Superman, leader of the Protectors."
"Scott Summers, Cyclops, X-men field leader. Xavier sends his apologies, he's having problems sleeping and isn't quite with it today." The brown-haired man next to him said with a nod.
"Phil Coulson, SHIELD team Alpha." The forgettable-looking man next to Cyclops stated.
"Captain Britain, Excalibur."
As the introductions continued, Otto concentrated on memorizing names and faces, matching them up with the briefing he had received.
"Tauros, Companions of Rao." The New Olympian rumbled, jolting Otto back to full awareness.
"Otto Octavius, Thunderbolts." He said, glancing round to see if there were any untoward reactions. Although a couple of people were giving him considering looks, none of them seemed to be overtly hostile.
"Galatea, Genosha Guardians, second in command. Marko sends his apologies but… matters of state." The woman sitting on Otto's other side introduced herself and Otto raised a mental eyebrow as he looked at her, recognizing her as being the cloned Kryptonian who had been one of Magneto's Acolytes before falling to Apocalypse. Turning his attention back to the introductions, he managed to catch the final one.
"Night Thrasher, New Warriors."
"Thank you." Clark said. "To those of you for whom this is your first meeting, welcome. For those who have been here before, my mother is overseeing the buffet which we will have afterwards."
A rumbling of approval rose and Otto leaned slightly towards the New Olympian.
"Is she as good as the rumors say?" he whispered.
"No, she's better." Tauros replied, licking his lips. "And she gives cookies to take back to your team as well."
"Amongst the topics I wish to cover tonight are the new influx of Kryptonians, including methods of neutralizing any who become a threat, as well as the recent Sentinel crisis. If any of you wish to add a topic to this meeting, please enter it at your terminal now and once I have covered the first three topics, I will pass leadership of the meeting to the person presenting the next topic."
Galatea quickly typed several words, as did several others around the table. Clark looked at the screen in front of him, then he glanced up. "Reed, Rhodey, both of you wish to cover the same topic."
"Rhodey can present it." Reed stated. "I can never seem to do proper public speaking without lapsing into what Johnny keeps calling geek-speak."
Several of the team leaders chuckled and War Machine nodded.
"Thanks, Reed. Send me your notes and I'll try to do them justice."
"Is this normal?" Otto asked Galatea and she nodded.
"Seems to be. Of course, this is only the second meeting I've attended."
"The first order of business is the case of Karima Shapandar." Clark stated. "Due to her mutant power, she survived the bio-Sentinel transformation and we have confirmed she is in full control of herself, although she is still adapting to the use of her powers. However, she has been dismissed from the NYPD and has asked for a chance to join a team…"
"The East Coast Avengers'll be happy to take her." War Machine said. "We have Squirrel Girl already, if things go wrong, we can handle it."
"Squirrel Girl?" Otto asked.
"Pray you never go up against her." Galatea warned. "She took down Thanos. While he was using the Infinity Gauntlet…"