[Val Verde]

[April 3rd, 2021]

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“Welcome Reach Ambassador, to the island of Val Verde!” I gave my best smile to the tall, blue man in front me.

He was a tall, and lanky person. A warm smile was on his face. A fake one as I knew that Reach where here to conquer, and this was all a pretense as they researched humanity.

“Gratitude, Supreme Leader of Val Verde.” The blue man replied with a humble bow that had him perfectly bend forward from the waist up. He in turn gave me his best smile.

Then we shook hands, and dozens of flashes filled my vision.

“The Reach has come with open arms to this land, and we do not come empty handed! No, with the support of our liaison, LexCorp, we are donating the fruits of our combined might. From today onward, food will never be an issue on this island again!”

The crowd cheered, and many of the same camera operators took their pictures as well. It was a sea of gaunt looking people. Wide eyed at the alien, and now cheering at the fact that we would have food tomorrow.

It would look good. The Ambassador of the Reach, helping the troubled nation of Val Verde.

The fact that the crowd was comprised of my most trusted Jade Falcons was also helpful. No potential hazard of boos, jeers, or awkward questions.

Their gawking at the alien was all real though.

We, who was struck by the international terrorist Bane, were now saved. If you ignored the fact that Doctor Doom had already done something similar, a season ago.

I smiled as I spoke my lines, simple as they were.

A hidden ear piece, and my ‘coach’ prompted my lines. I regurgitated them dutifully.

The Ambassador answered them with the ease of his own planned answers.

There was some variation, and I even stumbled once. I was nervous and my mouth outpaced my brain. The Ambassador smiled, and repeated the question. This allowed me to choose the correct line.

Lex Luther smiled, and waved to the camera on occasion.

“In fact, here are the supplies!” Ambassador smiled as he opened his hands, palm up, to the ocean.

Then the cameras panned to the sea, where a two dozen small blue shuttles were flying in a V formation.

They landed on the beach, and in a bizarre moment of Deja Vu, blue clad workers began to unload boxes. They walked across the beach, up to the rebuilt parking lot, and set those boxes down.

“The ships here are for North City. All across the country they will provide! From major cities, towns, and even villages, our Reach Ships are delivering fresh food." The Ambassador was almost glowing at his own praise at this point.

"Then, tonight, the equipment needed to grow newest, and most advanced indoor farms, will be set up. Reach engineers will help setup the new equipment. The first batch of food crops will start tonight!”

The cameras flashed again, and I allowed myself to tear up. It wasn’t even fake. as I only had to think about my dying children. Th

Cameras flashed as I once again, shook the Ambassador’s hand. Tears glistening in my eyes.

The Ambassador was shrewd enough to know what was going on. His smile was most genuine.

Lex’s smiled deepened. His business acumen was singing praise to his foresight, and decision. This was a important moment for the Reach’s PR movement for the future.

Lex liked the shot so much, that he sent me a two copies of the Daily Planet. One was on a brand new, still be to released later this year, LexCorp tablet. The other was a paper copy.

Front page held the two of us shaking hands, and a satisfied looking Lex. In the center was the smiling Ambassador, and my myself. I was in the middle of my tearful gratitude.

—

“You have exceeded my expectations.” Doctor Doom’s voice sounded more mechanical across the communication device.

The small, bowl shaped communicator looked ornamental. It wouldn't look out of place on top a shelf over the fireplace, or on the coffee table.

The face of Doom flickered as his unchanging iron face showed only his eyes.

“Val Verde will always strive for its best, Doctor Doom.” I smiled back.

The teleportation device looked simple enough. A huge circular platform with two large arches. Framed so that it looked like another half of the circle was placed in the middle.

“I am opening the portal.” Doom’s tone barely shifted.

The arches lit up, and a forest green portal flickered to life. It sat between the two arches, and Doombots came through.

They exited, scanned the room, and saw the pile of boxes laid out before them. They moved forward, and began to pick up boxes, and move back through the portal.

“Excellent. These specimens interest me. It seems I was right in depending on you.”

I smiled at the man. “It is payment for service rendered, Doctor Doom.”

“I am a man that will always aim for perfection. Your situation allowed you a certain enthusiasm for services rendered.” For the first time that night, I could feel Doom smile back.

I watched as the Doombots picked up the last container. It didn’t pause or stop as it made it through.

“Haha. No doubt.” I agreed with his words. Starvation had a way of motivating even the laziest of people. With this, we were almost even. Almost.

“I understand that the loss of equipment is inconvenient. Let it never be said that Doom was inconsiderate, nor ungrateful.” The man smirked.

Doombots came back, holding different boxes.

I recognized those designs. They were exactly like the ones we received last September.

“Jobs well done are to be well rewarded. This is the style of Doom.” The man sounded pleased with himself as I stared at the large pile of boxes.

From what was taken, we had received twice as much. Doom took a hundred and six boxes, and now he had delivered two piles of the same size. Except one of the piles had a extra box. It was much smaller, and slimmer then the rest.

“These incorporate my newest designs, though its only a twelve percent increase. I have also included a tablet with a few extra rewards. Use them well Supreme Leader.”

I gave Doom the same bow I saw the Ambassador use earlier today. It was humble, but not subservient.

“Gratitude, Doctor Doom.” I was earnest, because it was what I felt. Without Doom, Val Verde would have been in far dire straights.

“Many thanks, Supreme Leader. Please do read up on how the portal works. Included with the tablet is a one time use key to connect to a similar portal here in Latveria. I will try to give you as much advanced warning as possible.” Doom turned serious, and then hung up.

I stared at the inert bowl, and sighed.

Candice made her way forward, leaving the ranks and picking up the slim box. She then made her way over to me.

I nodded, and waved my hand at the pile of boxes.

Like a flood of worker ants, the soldiers began to move the boxes into smaller groups. They were all labeled, and each of them contained the same things. More equipment for aquaponic farms.

While it was true that the Reach and LexCorp had delivered a lot of equipment. They were roughly as advanced as what Doom had given.

I sighed, it was a sad day when I trusted a megalomaniac over a businessman, and alien ambassadors.

The box opened up to reveal a thick, yet light tablet. It was designed for industrial use. Or perhaps the manhandling that the creator’s armored hands required.

The system booted up in an instant and ran like how any computer would.

I clicked on the first file called Doom Tubes. It revealed specs and notes for Doom’s special form of secure movement. Based on Boom Tube technology.

There was other files as well.

New powered armor, based on our Type 34 Wolfpeltz.

A massive upgrades for our P1.3 Warthogs. A whole new design for our P0.5 Pelican. A whole new design for various ships. Combat ships.

It seemed Doom was a little more motivated then I had expected.

How Doom found out the project names was annoying, but I knew our security was far from good enough to keep that man out.

The issue was that our plans were physical documents. We also only used computers independent of any network.

He must have some Doombots stationed on the island or something.

I sighed again.

Even when the man was helpful, he was damn frustrating.

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Chapter 16: Helping hands, and Reaching for tomorrow