Begin Again In Marvel

POV Rio

It had been several weeks since we ended our vacation and I was watching the news to see Lex's press conference. Lex was revealing several new products.

Lex: "Thank you for coming today. I wanted to hold this press conference to answer the many questions my company gets. The first product I wanted to reveal today is the first smartphone of my company. I call it the Lucy 1. It can browse the internet, make calls, text, and be used as a GPS, and its processing power is better than everything on the market, it can also survive being dropped from the Empire State Building with no damage. Further, its security makes it nearly impossible to hack."

The crowd was ecstatic by the reveal and were applauding. Lex pointed to a reporter.

Reporter 1: "Mr. Luthor, you make some bold claims. Many would assume this is a ploy to steal the market from Apple. What do you say about that?"

Lex: "My phone will prove its value and capabilities. Apple made an impressive device but mine is better. Testing has shown my phone has 12 times the RAM and 20 times the storage capacity. It can take photos in 8k and display them as well. It can fully integrate with 3G and we are working on getting an even more powerful cellular network operational. With all that I think it will be Apple that is seen as the imitator."

Reporter 1: "Wait you said 8k? I have only heard of 4k."

Lex: "I welcome everyone to come up and test it. After the rest of the press conference."

Reporter 2: "Mr. Luthor, there have been rumors that you have created a car that runs on electricity but the US Government has stalled you. Care to comment."

Lex: "Yes, I have made some very effective and powerful vehicles but unfortunately several companies that I won't name have lobbied Congress to prevent my cars from becoming legal. However, you are not talking about the other cars and trucks I made. One runs on water and the other on Fusion Power."

That statement caused the reporters to go into a frenzy all trying to speak over the others. Lex waited for them to calm down before accepting any questions.

Reporter 3: "Mr. Luthor, you said that you have invented a car that runs on water. You must admit that is a very bold claim. Can you prove this claim?"

Lex: "Indeed I can as you see the cars are legal in Europe and I have already sold millions they are quite popular. I am not too surprised you haven't heard of such things since certain companies have been trying to hide the news for months now. Most news agencies are unable to report since they are 'pressured' to say nothing. In fact, I am not the only one to make water-powered cars. Jinn Enterprises has done so as well. The only thing they don't have is a Fusion Powered Car. Fusion power is the project made in collaboration between LexCorp and the Techno Union."

Reporter 4: "Mr. Luthor, you said at a previous interview that LexCorp invented a Fusion Reactor. Many are worried that a powerful nuclear reactor is in the city. What do you say about this?"

Lex: "I say that the reactor is infallible. There is literally 0 risk of a meltdown as the reactor runs at 90 Fahrenheit. It also doesn't require coolant to keep running. It further doesn't produce harmful radiation. Myself and Rio have invented the most stable power source in the history of mankind. It is even more stable and powerful than the Arc Reactor of Stark Industries. With 2 reactors I can power the entire USA for a year. The second reactor is for safety rather than actual need. Which brings me to my next point. I will be starting a power supply service which will cost a fraction of what even the cheapest companies can offer and my power will never fail you. Only the powerlines themselves will."

Reporter 5: "Mr. Luthor, back to the cars we were talking about why have your cars not been legalized? Are they unsafe?"

Lex: "They have been tested extensively by both 3rd party and in-house safety reps. They passed with the highest safety rating of any car made. They are 73% more likely to save your life if you are in a car accident going 80 MPH or slower than all other cars on the market. The only safety concern is with the Fusion Powered Cars. They have to be refueled by LexCorp as they can harm someone trying to refuel them otherwise. That and when damaged severely by gunfire they explode into a small nuclear explosion. That being said they are highly bullet resistant and any explosion they cause would be very small. Not even strong enough to kill most people or cause structural damage. That being said I offer all customers who purchase the Fusion Powered Cars a lifetime warranty and 24/7 refueling services."

Reporter 5: "So the cars are dangerous and our government is trying to protect us."

Lex: "That would be true if they were banning only the Fusion Powered Cars but they are also banning the water and electric vehicles. As I have said already some companies do not want me to cause them to lose all their customers as my vehicles are incredibly reliable and easy to repair. Moreover, they can be powered by ANY kind of water. Including seawater. Do you know how cheap seawater is? No? Free if you get it from the ocean and a dollar a gallon if you go to one of my refueling stations."

That causes the reporter to back off. Lex chooses the next reporter.

Reporter 6: "Mr. Luthor, a scientist named Dr. Connors has recently come out with the regeneration serum. Many are wondering if this will be available soon."

Lex: "I am finishing the last of the legal qualifications to get it approved and sold on the market. It will be administered only in LexCorp-approved facilities as this device can be used improperly if not handled safely. As such I have managed to convince the government to allow our technicians to administer the serum should it be needed. That being said it will be sold as cheaply as possible to cover only the basic costs so as many can afford it as possible. If someone can not afford it we are willing to set up payment plans."

Several more questions were asked but most were uninteresting to me. I checked the time and saw it was almost time to meet General Ross to show off the prototype combat robots he wanted. I got up from my desk and went to the lab to wait for Ross.

Ross: "Mr. Magus. It is nice to see you again. I have brought some other observers to see the prototype reveal. I hope you don't mind."

Rio: "Not at all. The more the merrier. Now let's go. Beyond the glass is the combat robot you asked for. I call it the Assaultron."

I point to an Assaultron robot that I had modified to look more experimental rather than the sleek finished product.

Rio: "As you can see it is very different from the Sentinels. This robot can run up to 30 MPH and has the agility to maneuver around numerous obstacles. It has 4 weapons equipped."

As I am explaining all of this the Assualtron is going through an obstacle course with several targets.

Rio: "The first weapon is a medium-range 5.56 assault rifle built into the right arm. If that weapon is disabled then it will switch to its left-hand shock manipulators. They produce 10,000 Volts upon contact. This will disable almost all human combatants. If it needs some heavy firepower it will switch to its piece de la resistance. The head laser."

A massive bright red light emits from the Assualtrons head and vaporizes the targets.

Rio: "The last weapon it has is the same thing the Sentinels have. If they are disabled or captured they will detonate and vaporize everything in a 3-meter radius. And leave behind some radioactive fallout for 30 minutes. Any questions?"

Ross: "Yes, when will they be sent out?"

Rio: "Hmm, I think they will be ready in early February. You see I am still refining the combat algorithm. We need to make sure it can identify threats and hostiles and differentiate them from friendlies and non-combatants. No one wants these things going on a killing frenzy as soon as they are activated. Many factors have to be accounted for or else these things will be practically useless on the battlefield."

Ross: "February is acceptable. Now you mentioned that you had a project you wished to show me."

I smiled and walked to an office.

Rio: "Yes this robot will make America an uncontested superpower."

I push a folder to him.

Rio: "That is Project Prime. I have done some research and with new power generation, I am confident I can get that running. I call him Liberty Prime, the colossus of Democracy. Nothing short of a nuclear warhead can stop him. Tanks, bombs, missiles, mines, naval weapons, all of them would barely tickle him. Prime can throw bombs made for aircraft like they are footballs. His main weapon is the head laser that can turn an M1 Abrams Main Battle tank to slag in 2 hits. The effective range is calculated to go up to a mile."

Ross: "This is... incredible, but it would cost too much."

Rio: "I got the idea to look back into this project after recent sightings of a giant bipedal robot that has been spotted attacking Russian bases. The fact is that someone might already have one. If Russia or China gets ahold of it..."

I leave the rest unsaid as I see all their faces go pale and I can taste the fear radiating off of them.

Ross: "I will talk with my superiors. I will try to convince them. I know what you are referring to and I am surprised you learned about it."

Rio: "I actually learned of it from a rumor. Then I hired some people to look into it but most died and were only able to confirm that someone was hiding something and they were doing it well. Whatever it is the clear message is that it exists and someone wants it to stay hidden. Do with that what you will."

With that, the demonstration is over and we go our separate ways.

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Authors Note:

A bit of a public reveal chapter and Rio is planting some seeds of discontent. Rio revealed Liberty Prime because it will cost quite a bit to make and why would Rio pay for it when he can make the government pay for it? That and Rio has complete control of all robots he makes and can make them do as he commands. After all protocol 66 is in all of his robots. Also, there won't be a Thanksgiving or Halloween chapter for this story year. Until next time Ciao.