Yesterday winner was A_zombie_jack
[Insert an Image of Jonathan Storm/Human Torch Here Today]
***
Smiling gleefully Gregory basked in the afterglow of successfully pulling off Phase One of his plan to exterminate Hydra.
Which was in part to let those, who were the organizations enemies, know it was still around.
While the other part was to begin sowing suspicion and mistrust within the ranks of Hydra itself. Making those bastards turn on each other.
Though honestly Gregory didn't even have to put that much work in on the second part of Phase One of his plan.
Since those in Hydra barely trusted each other in the first place.
'Well I guess that's what happens you evolve a cult into a group of paranoid killers.' Gregory thought.
Happily so at that.
Since that mindset within Hydra meant less work for him and his people in the long run.
So it was a win-win situation in his book.
Getting himself another drink Gregory then left his personal lab, where he had been monitoring the meeting of the current leaders of Hydra.
After he did he walked through the halls of Innovation Island until he reached a more secure area.
Entering it he then entered a room, where Bucky Barnes was currently being held inside one of the cryostasis pods Gregory had built a few years ago.
To house individuals like Barnes.
Who of course had been taken by his people.
For they were the ones who interfered with the assassination of his parents.
Just as Gregory had planned.
In fact he had planned everything about that night.
From allowing the car crash to happen, to even him and Tony arriving at the exact moment to see his people flee and move to assist their parents.
Gregory feeling a slight bit of guilt for letting his parents actually go through that entire ordeal.
Though he quickly crushed it.
Once he began thinking about the alternatives.
Like his parents ending up dead like in the original timeline.
"What you did was the best course of action. So stop doubting yourself." Gregory muttered to himself.
He then finished off the drink in his hand before focusing his gaze on Bucky.
"Don't worry sergeant Barnes. Soon enough you'll be back to your old self. And then I'll help you get your pound of flesh from those tentacle bastards." Gregory spoke to the man.
Trying to imagine just what sort of hell Bucky Barnes has been dealing with for the past few decades.
Being beaten and utterly broken until he was nothing more than Hydra's version of a Terminator. Going from a man who protected the innocent to a man who didn't hesitate to kill them.
As Gregory continued to imagine it he stopped.
Since he realized he would never truly understand the matter.
So with that he left Bucky room, and looked around until he found Jessica.
Who was in her personal office.
Doing paperwork.
Since she truly was Gregory right-hand woman.
Stopping her work the moment he entered she looked him in his eyes. "So, is Phase One complete?" She asked.
Gregory nodded. "It is. They believed the story we fed them about Karpov hook line and sinker." He spoke.
For his elimination was Gregory and his allies doing as well.
After all they needed a scapegoat and who better than that bastard?
"On to phase two then?" Jessica asked.
"Do you even have to asked?" Gregory said.
"No. I just wanted to mess with you." Jessica replied.
Gregory giving her a deadpan stare in response.
Only for Jessica to show no shame in her actions at all.
"Right." Gregory sighed. "So is everything good here? Any problems?" He asked.
Since he was returning to New York tomorrow to handle some business and wanted to make sure everything was good before he left.
"No on both accounts." Jessica replied.
Hearing that Gregory nodded.
He then chatted with Jessica for a bit more before returning to his lab to complete some work.
Until it was time for him to board the plane that would take him back to New York.
Where after arrival Gregory quickly made his way to his New York apartment.
Where she showered, ate a quick breakfast, and then got dressed before heading to the building he purchased to act as the Stark Global Solutions offices in New York.
A pristine 15-story tower.
Just the first of many corporate offices Gregory was establishing for his company.
Having already planned to have one in almost every major city across the globe before the true Age of Heroes began in the 2000's.
Which it would according to Gregory calculations.
Seeing as how numerous heroes had already been born and were growing up.
Gregory waiting until the day came they got their powers.
Then once all this happened the real fun could begin.
But until then Gregory was going to keep preparing.
Which was in fact what today was about in a sense.
Sitting in his office Gregory soon heard a knock on the door.
"Enter." He spoke.
When he did the secretary outside opened the door and peaked her head in slightly. "You're interviewees for today are here Mr. Stark." She spoke.
"Excellent. Send the first one in please."Gregory spoke.
"Of course Mr. Stark." The secretary replied.
She then closed the door.
A few minutes later it opened again.
This time admitting none other than one Dr. Otto Octavious.
Who was the spitting image of Alfred Molina from the Maguire Spider-films.
[Insert Image of Otto Octavious Here]
In fact Octavious just didn't look like Molina, since from the research Gregory had done the background of the Otto Octavious in this reality matched closely with that from the Macquire films. With several parts of his life fitting in from his counterparts in the Insomniac game and his Earth-1610 self.
Meaning Otto here had also helped found Oscorp until that wavy-haired bastard Norman Osborn screwed him over.
(A/N: I forgot to mention this before but the Norman Osborn in this fic has the iconic waves from the comics)
Forcing this brilliant man to scrape and scrounge to try and find a way forward.
Only to lead to a failed company, and making him even more desperate than before.
Well after today Gregory hoped that would no longer be the case.
Since there's no way in hell he's going to let this version of Octavious end up as Doctor Octopus.
"Dr. Octavious, good day." Gregory said to the man as he took a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
"Same to you Mr. Stark." Otto replied. Offering his hand, which Gregory shook.
"Please Dr. Octavious as I always tell people Mr. Stark is my father. That's why I ask if they refer to me as Gregory."
"Well alright then Gregory." Otto replied. Just the two broke their hand shake.
"Thank you." Gregory said. "So now with that out of the way let's get down to busienss. Which is really quite simple. I want to hire you to work at Stark Global Solutions as both a scientist and researcher. The deal of course coming with full benefits, including healthcare and a retirement package. Along with generous amounts of funding for research projects. Current or future. Once they are approved of course."
"Of course." Otto replied. "And I must say you are making quite the generous offer Gregory. But I have to ask,why? For I know a young man as smart as you are wouldn't call me in to offer me a job without doing your due diligence."
"You assume correctly." Gregory replied.
"Then you know by current work is detailed towards creating a clean, renewable, and unlimited source of energy. Yet as a Stark you already have access to such technology in the form of Arc Reactor developed by your father. So I'll ask again, why do you wish to hire me and fund my research?"
"Straight to the point. I like that." Gregory replied. "Now as for an answer to your question, yes I know what research you are conductimg at the moment Doctor Octavious, and yes, I have access to something similar through the use of my father Arc Reactor technology, but let me answer your question with a question. Why does their only need to be one source for clean, renewable, and unlimited energy?"
"There doesn't." Otto replied.
"Exactly." Gregory said. "For one problem can have multiple solutions. Which is in part why I named my company Solutions in the first place. Because I believe that can be the case. On one hand you can have the Arc Reactor technology, but on the other hand we can also have your minature sun. Neither of these is exactly right when it comes to solving the energy problems of the world. But at the same time neither of these is exactly wrong. It's all about whatever situation is present in front of us that requires the best solution. Do you where I'm going with this?"
"Yes, I do. I see your point." Otto spoke. Putting a thoughtful look on his face.
"Yes. And that's why I want to hire you and find your research. Not to mention being able to generate a minature son won't just help us in regards to energy problems but just think of all the other scientific breakthroughs that will occurr if your research pans out? I can see it now Dr. Octavious. The power of the sun itself in the palm of our hands." Gregory spoke.
His words sucking in Octavious even further.
"Yes. I see it." Otto replied.
"Excellent. So does that mean we have a deal?" Gregory asked.
"I need to discuss it with my wife first, but I think we do Gregory." Otto replied.
"Music to my ears." Gregory replied.
The two men and scientists then shook hands before Otto took leave of the office.
After which the secretary sent in Gregory next appointment for the day.
Dr. Sencer Smythe.
[Insert Image of Spencer Smythe Here]
Since once again Gregory would have to be an utter fool to let a genius like Smythe wind up on the path of villainy when he could offer him a better way.
Not to mention get his hands on the man's genius and technology before anyone else could.
So with that Gregory made a proposition to Smythe.
Though unlike Octavious he easily accepted it.
This giving Gregory the new head of Robotics Division for the Stark Global Solutions American branch.
After this was done, and everything with Synthe was handled Gregory leaned back in his chair.
Only to suddenly get an email on his computer, forwarded to him by Athena.
Curious he sat up and opened it.
Finding himself surprised by it contents.
Which was a request for a meeting from none other than the current CEO of Frost International, Emma Frost herself.
A person Gregory has hoped to meet one day and now here she was asking to meet him.
So naturally he did what any sane man would of put in his situation.
He typed a response agreeing to meet her and set up a meeting as fast as he could.
Finding himself giddy.
Since he was about to meet one of his top five comic book crushes in the Marvel Universe.
***
Just a bit of personal info from me.
Top Five Marvel Comic Book Crushes.
Emma Frost
Ororo Munroe/Storm
Felicia Hardy/Black Cat
Anna Marie/Rogue
Earth-616 Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel
Top Five DC Comics Book Crushes
Starfire
Poison Ivy
Catwoman
Black Canary
Zatanna Zatara