Rumblings of Thunder (Mach)

[Lex Luthor]

“An offer you won’t want to refuse.” The last time Lex had heard these words he had been dying on a hospital bed and it had led to a confrontation with the demon Neron, a situation which while Lex had managed to wriggle out of it expertly had been the most dangerous he had ever been in. Still it had paid off and now Lex was in the peak of his physical condition. Still it was more curiosity than anything else which prompted him to see this small time chump, what could an apparently ‘reformed’, whatever that meant, super criminal offer him?

As he gazed across his city through the glass walls of his palatial office Lex couldn’t help but wonder; since the war LexCorp had gone from strength to strength, once more it spread it’s glass and chrome branches out across the world, on black, white and of course grey markets. Yet still so much eluded him, the Alien still lived, despite his brilliance he had not yet garnered ultimate knowledge and most vexing of all his reputation, though much repaired by his war record, was still tarnished among the mouth breathers of the general public. Unfortunate but a small concern, he was already buying up political capital and influence; useful for the next time he was in court but he had far bigger plans than that. No Lex wanted the contract to produce a new army for America a real army of Super Soldiers homogenous, organised and totally loyal just as Project: Rebirth had been intended to. But first he had to restore this piffling detail of his public image.

“You’re four o’clock is here Lex, I don’t think he’s from the bank...” Mercy his personal assistant and the only one in the corporation with the brass balls to call him Lex, she entered without a sound; she had taken to Amazon training like a fish to water. Her voice dripped with sarcasm; dear lord this man hadn’t come in bloody costume? ‘Super Villain visit’s former convict Lex Luthor!' Splashed across the Daily Planet would hardly help his public image. So help this little man if he had.

“Fine Mercy send him up, let’s see what he has to say.”

[Mach V]

There had been little time to make the trip in anything other than the armour, and little point in changing. His identity was a matter of public knowledge, and Abe Jenkins could spark no more or less curiosity by visiting Lex Luthor, that his alter-ego MACH V could have done.
Abe hadn’t been too keen on the idea originally. The concept of utilizing the funds of an industrial giant headed by a psychotic criminal genius played on his conscience, but there was no real alternative. They needed each other, really. He would use Lex for his money, and Lex would use him for his image. It was an offer neither of them could afford to refuse.

Abe was here for one very specific and important reason – the reformation of the Thunderbolts. He had been hoping to re-form the team for some time, and had a host of reasons.
The Thunderbolts had given him redemption, set his life on a new path and allowed him to do good in the world. Not only did Abe want to give that chance to others who sought to change their ways, but the Thunderbolts would be a force for justice and reason to counter-balance the weight of the Avengers and the Justice League. Lord knows, somebody needed to be watching them.

Abe was conscious of the fact that some might see this as a chance for him to build his own army and return to his old ways, but they would be a minority, and easily ignored and denounced as the idiot conspiracy theorists they were.

Lex however, if he was to fund his own team of superheroes and be seen to be the silent, modest force behind the good deeds done by the Thunderbolts, he could accrue trust and adulation, and attain the political and social impetus and respect he so desired.
They could do each other a favour, and hopefully Abe could even keep an eye on the corporate fat-cat. He’d certainly try.

“Good afternoon Mr. Luthor.” Abe greeted the man behind the desk as he stepped into the office.

“You can call me MACH V, and I have a proposal to offer for your consideration.”