Chapter 6: Prelude To F4

[New York City]

[June, 2004]

My hands clasped behind my back, like Morpheus from the Matrix, I looked out ahead through the window right in front of me.

Watching as multiple fully automated assembly lines created numerous Doombot's for me, and then placed them in the rows of Doombots they had previously created.

The robots themselves exact replicas of the ones featured in the Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes television show I watched in my previous life during my childhood.

[Image Here]

Just looking at them makes me smile. It also stirs up a fire in my chest. For they are the first piece of the force that will allow me to liberate my homeland Latveria and help the country itself shine like never before since its inception.

But I am still not there yet.

Despite the number of robots that have been built and are currently under my command. As well as the now immeasurable finances I have at my disposal thanks to me dispatching the Kingpin and claiming his riches for myself.

The time is still not right for me to launch my campaign of liberation.

The first and foremost reason being I still have not built myself armor. For what is Doom without his armor?

Now I know I should be building it but I won't. Not until I hear back on a few things.

But in the meantime I have plenty of other activities to keep me busy.

Like making useful inventions and placing and selling them on the open market. To give myself legitimacy and clout in both the business and scientific communities.

Which is going well so far.

Since the inventions I have already created and are selling are doing well.

The inventions being the following.

The first is the Incapacitating Cartridge Emitting Railgun or I.C.E.R from Agents of Shield. Which I have re-created and am selling to law enforcement agencies, military, and private security companies all across the globe.

While the second is a portable medical scanner that can display a 3-D image of persons body and display any injuries they have. The device is being eaten up by first responders such as police, firefighters, and ambulance companies.

I also have many more inventions planned, which I wish to distribute to the world.

However the best of what I have will only be for my country, and most loyal compatriots.

For that is the will of Doom.

As the assembly lines finished producing their number of specified Doombot's for the day I shut them, and everything else in the factory/warehouse down.

I then made sure everything was locked up tight before creating a portal to my temporary home/base of operations.

A three bedroom apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

For a man of Doom's caliber needs living accommodations to match.

Closing the portal behind me I moved to my home office and dealt with any immediate business that couldn't wait.

Then once I did that I prepared to relax.

*Ring Ring Ring*

Only to receive a phone call from an unknown number before I could.

But since it was an unknown number I immediately canceled the call.

*Ring Ring Ring*

Only for the exact same number to call back seconds after I dismissed.

Seeing that was the case I decided to take it. If only to explain to whoever was calling me they had the wrong number.

"Yes, hello? This is Victor Von Doom speaking." I spoke.

"Victor. So, this is the right number for you." A female voice said.

One which my memories from the original Victor told me belong to none other than Susan Storm. The future Invisible Woman, and the woman who I always thought deserved better than Reed Richards in my previous life.

Which now, maybe I can make happen.

"Susan Storm. Is that you?" I asked. Despite already knowing for sure. "Man, I haven't heard from you since graduation." I spoke.

Since Susan attended MIT with both Reed and Victor, where she earned her own Ph.D in Biological Engineering.

Making her a woman with both looks and smarts.

"How have you been?" I asked.

"Well." Susan replied.

"That's good to hear." I said. "So, Susan how can I help you?"

"Well it's not me actually, it's Reed." Susan said.

Which instantly made a frown form on my face. Since even without the memories this universes original Victor had with Reed Richards even in my past life he was not my favorite person.

"I see. And what does Richards need from me?" I asked. "For that matter why doesn't he call me and speak to me himself?"

"To answer your second question first, Reed wasn't sure you would take any of his calls, and even if you did he wasn't sure you would truly listen to anything he had to say." Susan explained.

"Oh, so Reed does know how to use that organ we call a brain." I retorted.

"Victor." Susan said.

"Alright. Continue." I spoke.

"Good. Now then, to answer your first question Reed has a proposal he wants to run by you. One that he is hoping you might fund, given your recent success and cash flow." Susan explained.

"I see. So Reed wishes to use my as a piggy bank." I flatly replied.

"It's not like that Victor, truly. Please, if you just hear him out I'm sure you won't be disappointed." Sue said.

"You know for a guy you broke up with you're going awfully far for Richards Susan." I said.

Since the two of them have already dated and broken up. Their break-up having taken place during our final year at MIT.

"Yeah, I know Victor. I am. But this isn't about Reed and I, it's about his project which actually has several merits that could alter the scientific communities way of thinking for generations to come." Sue passionately spoke. "So, will you at least hear him out?"

"Normally I would say no, but since it's you asking I will." I replied.

"Thank you Victor." Sue said.

"No problem." I replied.

Susan and I then sorted out the details, like the time and place for the meeting, before ending our phone call.

Leaving me both happy and irritated at the same time.

Go ahead and take a guess why.

Now I really need to relax.

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[June 10th, 2004]

Stopping in my tracks I found myself outside the iconic Baxter Building.

Well, it's not iconic yet.

Right now it's just simply the Baxter Building.

It's also where I will have my scheduled meeting with Reed today to hear this proposal he wishes for me to fund.

Which normally I wouldn't have even considered doing.

But this time there are two reasons why I have.

The first is because Susan asked me, and the second is because I likely know what this proposal is about and if I'm right I wouldn't mind funding it.

Since the benefits will far outweigh the cost in my eyes.

If this meeting is about what I am thinking of.

Well, there is only one way to know for sure.

Heading through the buildings front door I quickly arrived at the elevator and took it to the top floor where Reed's lab/home was situated.

Stepping out of the elevator I was immediately greeted by the sight of two people.

The first was Reed Richards.

[Insert Image of Reed Richards Here]

While the second was Susan Storm.

[Insert Image of Susan Storm/Invisible Woman Here]

"Victor. Welcome." Reed said.

"Yes, welcome Victor." Susan spoke.

"Thank you both." I replied to them.

Once I did Reed didn't waste any time getting his presentation started.

It being exactly what I suspected it would be about.

Reed wanted my assistance and funding for a mission into space to study the effects of exposure of clouds of cosmic energy on biological samples.

This being the mission that would grant Reed, Susan, and the current non-present Jonathan Storm and Ben Grimm their fantastic powers.

So with that in mind I only had answer in mind for Reed.

"So Victor, what do you think?" Reed asked me. Once he finished speaking.

"Sounds exceptional. I'll help you out." I spoke.

Grinning internally.

Because this would lead to be gaining some super-powered allies.

As well as a possible super-powered future queen.

Since Doom will not allow just any women to stand by his side.

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