บท 93: Diana, Uniquely Different
After the three soldiers left, Russell opened the file labeled as "Top Secret" and began to read through it.
As he expected, it was just like he had thought.
Upon opening the file's cover, he immediately saw that familiar name.
The Thunderbolts!
However, he quickly noticed that the Thunderbolts the military wanted to assemble now were somewhat different from what he remembered.
If he wasn't mistaken, the original Thunderbolts were a team of antiheroes carefully selected from prison inmates by the government. By performing tasks for the government, members of the Thunderbolts could earn reduced sentences.
Although the Thunderbolts later branched into different teams led by Luke Cage, General Ross, and Norman Osborn, the initial members were primarily chosen from inmates.
Such practices of selecting talents from prisoners weren't uncommon in this world.
However, the Thunderbolts the military intended to assemble now were indeed different from what Russell remembered.
Firstly, there was the source of members.
According to the description in the file, this time the military was recruiting superpowered individuals who were already renowned superheroes in the outside world, not the incarcerated prisoners.
Luke Cage, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist...
On the drafted list of members, Russell saw the names of Luke Cage and the others, the four individuals he had already taken away.
Apart from them, there were also names like Blade and Ghost Rider.
Or, to be more precise, their codenames.
The military hadn't yet identified their true identities.
Furthermore, Spider-Woman and the Serum were also on the list.
In addition to these well-known superheroes, the latter part of the list included some lesser-known ones.
After reviewing the military's draft of the list, Russell closed the file.
Though the military's intentions were noble, the reality was cruel.
Even if the military managed to assemble the Thunderbolts according to the drafted list, they would indeed possess a powerful team of superpowered individuals.
But it was easy to predict that such a scenario was highly unlikely.
Considering the individuals like Luke Cage that he had already taken care of, let alone him and Gwen, they would never join.
As for Blade and Ghost Rider...
Blade was interested only in vampires, while Ghost Rider had an interest in all kinds of wrongdoing.
Blade wasn't a major concern.
If the military were to actually recruit Ghost Rider into the Thunderbolts, it was likely that half of the high-ranking military officials would be eliminated.
Or, perhaps, more than half—there was even the possibility of total annihilation.
When Ghost Rider cleansed the world of sin, he wouldn't differentiate based on status.
Not to mention high-ranking military officials; even the President would be subjected to judgment by the Spirit of Vengeance if deemed necessary.
Though Russell hadn't been subjected to Ghost Rider's judgment, he could easily imagine how unpleasant it must feel to have your soul burned by hellfire.
Closing the file, Russell stood up and walked to the shredder, disposing of the document.
At that moment, he suddenly realized something.
Perhaps the military had later turned to prison inmates for talent recruitment precisely because they couldn't enlist superheroes.
Though prisons weren't great places, it couldn't be denied that they were fertile ground for talent.
This was especially true in a wondrous country like the United States, where even prisons could be privately operated.
Before his time-travel, Russell had come across some interesting data.
While the United States accounted for only 5% of the global population, it represented a staggering 25% of the world's prison population.
It was said that for every 100 American adults, there was one who had been in prison.
If considering incarceration only, the ratio was 1 out of 38.
In the past 30 years, while the U.S. population had grown by less than 30%, the prison population had increased by 800%!
Indeed, a remarkable nation!
Thinking about this, Russell couldn't help but praise inwardly.
After disposing of the document, he continued his previous leisurely activity, playing Assassin's Creed in his office.
At noon, he left the laboratory alone and drove his Porsche 911, a witness to many fond memories with Diana, to the John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Diana's flight was due to arrive at 1 PM, and the timing was just right.
Thinking about soon seeing Diana again after over a month of her business trip, his excitement grew.
Although Diana had only been away on business for a little over a month, it was the longest time they had been apart since they had gotten together.
While Russell had occasionally traveled before, he had never been away for more than a week.
The flight was punctual.
Russell didn't have to wait long at the airport before he spotted Diana's figure.
Just like a month ago, Diana was stunningly beautiful.
Her flawless, delicate features; a figure that rivaled Victoria's Secret models; and a queen-like aura that commanded attention.
Diana now wore sunglasses, a well-tailored white women's suit, high heels, and carried a small suitcase as she emerged from the exit.
Seeing Russell, a bright smile as radiant as the sun lit up Diana's exquisite face.
Approaching Russell, Diana seized his collar and pulled him toward her with a domineering air.
Then, to the onlookers' astonishment, she kissed him passionately.
Well...
Russell hadn't expected that Diana would be even more excited than he was.
While they had engaged in some public displays of affection before, he had been the one initiating most of the time.
Now, it had taken a complete turn.
After what seemed like more than ten seconds, Diana finally released Russell.
Before Russell could say anything, she grabbed her suitcase, hooked her arm around Russell's right arm, and with a gentle expression, said, "Let's go home!"
Perhaps it was his imagination, but Russell couldn't shake the feeling that Diana was somehow different from before.
However, he couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly had changed.
Manhattan.
Sky Apartments.
After returning to the apartment, Diana casually pushed her suitcase aside.
Then, she pinned Russell against the wall.
Kabedon!
Under Russell's gaze, Diana initiated a wall-slam.
....
This script is reversed, isn't it!
Russell wanted to say something, but Diana didn't give him the chance. She immediately took off her suit jacket and his shirt.
Um...
Although he wasn't sure why Diana had become so excited, Russell had no intention of refusing Diana's advances.
There's a saying that goes, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder!"
The master bedroom of the apartment, with the new bed they had just replaced when Diana left on her business trip, finally welcomed its mistress after a month.
.....
After a few hours, Russell left the bedroom with his waist slightly sore. Just like before, Diana accurately gauged his physical limit and completely controlled the situation.
Leaving the bedroom, Russell headed to the dining room, opened the refrigerator, and took out a bottle of mineral water to rehydrate himself after the exertion.
Then, he picked up a bottle of milk and returned to the bedroom, handing the milk to Diana who was lying on the bed.
---
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