Chapter 8
"How great a threat is America facing?"
"America, Cameron?" I gave him an eyebrows raised smile like he was just telling a joke to an old friend. "Don't tell me you've been having lunch with the CNN boys now have you?" I said leaning in playfully.
"Plotting, trying to make Americans scared of their shadows?" I finished by making a fake scared face with trembling fingers.
Cameron skillfully played along and looked fake hurt for a moment.
"Ha! They'd rather eat dirt then have me at their table, but considering they're vegan…well" He said nodding the obvious to the camera.
He smirked, I laughed, the audience laughed even the camera guy laughed.
"Look Cameron" I said turning serious. "To call this guy a supervillain is sensationalist, clickbait it's the media trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. Anyone with two eyes and a brain could see from the video that this guy was disoriented and toppled over in pain before he literally exploded."
"This isn't some mastermind supervillain or some terrorist this is a man in pain than is not in control of his powers, he obviously needs help. The man is probably in hiding because he is scared of what he did." I said and paused briefly then turned directly to the camera.
"Now this does not mean that he is not dangerous. A lot of people have died in this incident and we can't let that happen again. Everyone at home should take caution and if they see anyone matching the description please report it to your local police station or to Vought 1-800-TIPS number."
"We are in full collaboration with our brave officers to safely bring in this individual in and determine exactly what went on."
I turned back to Cameron.
"The Stormchasers, Stormfront's supporters, said on 4chan that this whole thing was an attempt by Stan Edgar to discredit you." Cameron pushed on.
I chuckled a bit.
"Right. Yea. Well, look, I-I don't know anything about Stormchasers, but, uh, look, I can understand why they might think that."
"The minute we free Vought of the corruption and the lies, the moment we try to take the company in a new direction to help people" I pause for a split second "and trust me when I say the new direction of the company will help not only Americans but all mankind. Now I'm not going to say anything now since the team is working tirelessly on it."
I made a motion to continue but Cameron interrupted.
"I'll get the exclusive interview?" He playfully asked.
"Is there anyone else I could trust to tell the truth?" I said motioning the obvious.
"You heard it folks! VNN Exclusive only here you will find out how Vought will change the world." Cameron said to the camera then turned back to me.
"Like I said Cameron the moment we try to do good. This happens!"
"Smells like a false flag." He said in his questioning tone.
"Well, you said it, pal, not me." I replied not fully denying it.
"And what do you say to the mayor who wants to, uh, impose a citywide curfew until the terrorists are captured?"
I rolled my eyes in a very obvious way.
"Oh please, they would have us be afraid of our own shadows. Since when have we become such a nanny state?"
I turned towards the camera.
"This isn't some mastermind supervillain out to get you. Is this individual be dangerous. Obviously!"
"We are all red-blooded Americans here. I trust you all to use your common sense, the politicians may not but I do. If you see someone matching the description report it, don't approach them. If you feel like you are in danger then leave the area calmly."
"In case of an emergency follow the instructions of our officers and heroes. If someone needs help, help them if its safe to do so or call for help."
"Look this is common stuff. Go live your lives, go about your day, have fun."
"Don't give in to cowardice, don't let them scare you. If you're scared you can be controlled and that's what most of these politicians and media outlets want."
I said finishing my speech.
Our interview lasted a few more minutes of banter where we more or less made fun of the liberal elite. Though there was some shitting on Fox news as well.
Fox was more of a mixed bag in this universe since VNN existed here. They did pretty well in covering non Supe topics. They put the fear of god into poor white Americans that liberal gay vegan immigrants were going to come and suck the Jesus right out their children by licking their but holes.
Between VNN and Fox, America was never going to get universal Healthcare. But hey they loved Homelander and I needed my power base.
I had a very important meeting with a very important man that I needed to get on my side.
This man was Martin Schultz, Chief Science Officer of Vought.
He was Vogelbaum's successor not only in title but in brains as well.
In short he was a brilliant man, a loyal company man.
"Martin, thank you for coming up." I asked him to come in the penthouse. It was by far the most secure place I could think of.
Homlander didn't like to be monitored he regularly checked for devices with his enhanced senses though considering how advanced technology was getting I don't think I could ever be sure no one was listening in.
Still this was by far the safest choice for a private conversation. Not like I could pop in the local coffee shop.
"John" he said in acknowledgement. "How could I not when you called." I beckoned him to sit on the couch.
"Coffee, tea?" I asked and made to go to the kitchen.
"No thank you. I just want to get this over with. If you're going to fire me then say it and let it be done."
That surprised me.
"Martin, what the hell are you talking about? What gave you that idea?"
"Stan's gone, Stillwells's gone, half the board is gone and Ashley told the remaining exec team about your space ventures. I assume you're going to need our budget for that, for acquisitions and such. You're going to keep a skeletal team. It's obvious, out with the old and in with the new. " He said reluctantly.
Well he wasn't completely wrong. We did have a fairly new board, it hadn't been just Stan that got accused most of the board came down with him and a few of the Vought execs.
But he was completely wrong about why I called for him here.
"Martin I would never do that to you." I said and hell, I almost meant it. Homelander's emotions were surging up again.
You see Martin Schultz was now the closest thing Homelander had to a…not a father but more like a distant uncle.
At the bright age of almost twenty a very brilliant young man who had already completed his PHD in biology and genetics joined Vought, quickly becoming the protégé of one Jonah Vogelbaum.
Martin, now in his sixties, was one of the few people that were left from the team that experimented on and practically made Homelander.
"Ashley told you only half the story. Yes the space ventures are going to be important but we will also plow money back into R&D, optimizing ops and more importantly our talent. If anything your budget will increase."
He looked at me unblinking for a moment trying to determine my intentions.
"You're serious aren't you?"
"I am. About everything. Space, investing in our people, helping mankind. New company, new heroes." I said as heartfelt as possible. I really needed him on my side. There were only so many V experts out there. It's not like Vought let any run of the mill scientist touch their magic juice.
"I can't help but ask why? You've never showed any…care or interest for…well this?" his hands gestured at Vought Tower itself, the symbol of the company.
"Legacy" I said firmly. "I am the strongest man in the world literally and now at the head of Vought figuratively as well. This is a different kind of power. A power that can truly enact change, a power that can build, a power than can help mankind."
"The moment I helped removed Stan I saw myself in him." I continued my little heartfelt speech. "You know the skeletons of this company better than anyone. I'm not naïve to believe that it couldn't happen to me."
"So that night I asked myself, what will Stan be remembered for? Record profits for shareholders? Cleaning up after a bunch of rowdy supes, corruption and scandals? He was at the helm of this company for decades and what did he do with that power?" I paused.
"In a decade his name won't be remembered. Even I will eventually be pushed to be back of people's minds when a younger better me takes my place." I said wistfully.
"So that's why you're aiming for the stars?"
"Exactly! And that's why your work, your team will now be more important than ever!"
That confused him.
"How? We're not in aerospace?"
I gave him a wicked smile.
"Martin, from a biological point of view what is the one thing that affects humans when they spend long periods of time in space?"
He thought for a moment then his eyes widened, dots connecting, gears spinning Eureka.
"The lack of gravity! Muscle and bone atrophy, calcium seeping in the blood, fluid shifts, heart problems, you want V, don't you? You want V to fix these!"
"Bingo! V gives people permanent super powers, when it doesn't kill them. 24-V does it for a short term period but what if we didn't want to give people super powers?"
"What if we wanted something weaker? Something that will simply help folks maintain, regulate or just slightly enhance. Not everyone should have superpowers, not on a spacestation, a small accident could kill everyone." I said faking concern.
He took a moment to think, features furrowed in concentration.
"The company has always been focused on creating stronger, faster specimens, using V to draw out as much potential as possible, we have barely explored unlocking powers in small increments. But that's also for good reason. Vought's research indicated better results with shock doses of V."
"The compound has changed since Vought's time right? There's been improvements, new discoveries, new technology, new understanding of genetics. I mean 24-V is proof of that. I know Stan would not have bet on 24-V if he wasn't sure you were able to crack the code."
He stood up and started pacing around my spacious living room.
"You're right we're close. And this idea of yours could work." He seemed fired up now. "We could even go further than that. We could use V to express certain traits adapt people to different environments. They won't have to be super they just need to breath less oxygen or create oxygen to feed their cells using other compounds. We could colonize the planets." He said excitedly.
"Martin, one step at a time. First low and micro gravity, space station and moon, it will be long time before we can get to Mars of Venus."
"Right. Of course." He said and sat back down. "I'll need samples, many samples, all supes get an enhanced body to support their powers, ideally from someone with more regenerative capabilities."
"Oh I think I have just the right person in mind." I said with a smile.
We talked for another two hours, the man left fired up with a purpose renewed. He almost looked ten years younger.
AN: Yup, I'm making stuff up to expand the world building. Let me know if you all have any interesting you for reading.