Thunderbolts #6
Thunderbolts #6
Title: “Unstable Elements”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Vince Russell
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
At Avengers mansion, now occupied by SHIELD, G.W. Bridge questions the man responsible for finding Baron Zemo for any current information. The man says that Zemo broke out of prison months ago, killing three guards in the process. He says that they know he was at his castle for a time in a sub-basement that they were previously unaware of. He says that since that time he has been staying out of sight. Bridge asks if Zemo might be putting together a new Masters of Evil. The agent says that it is possible since there have been two break outs from the Vault, but that they just don’t know. He says that they do know that there is a new group of Masters of Evil that were connected to Hydra. He says that they know Zemo was making inquiries about Strucker and Hydra, but that they can’t pin anything down. Bridge tells him to get something to pin down then.
At Four Freedoms Plaza Techno is trying to figure out what is going on with Atlas’ powers. Techno discovers that the Pym Particles are no longer in Erik’s system. He says that they must have been purged out when they rescued him from Kosmos. Techno says that his growing powers are now simply ionic in nature. Erik says that must be why he isn’t superstrong at regular height anymore. Techno also tells him that his cells are becoming human again. Techno says that the cells are no longer the ionic dynamos that they used to be. Erik asks if he might be able to have kids one day. Techno asks if things are going that well with Dallas. Erik says that he is just asking.
Zemo, in his Citizen V guise, sits watching Techno and Atlas talking. Zemo is ticked that it seems Meteorite was right in that the Thunderbolts are enjoying their newfound respect and popularity intoxicating. Zemo thinks how this is making them soft and human. Zemo doesn’t need humans he needs soldiers and weapons. Zemo fiddles with the keyboard and checks in on MACH-1 and Songbird. They are sitting in a pile of fan mail reading it to each other. Zemo thinks to himself that it is disgusting. He thinks that only months ago they were brutal, callous career criminals. He decides to check in on Meteorite secure that she hasn’t changed at all.
Meteorite is helping Jolt hang posters in her room. Karla sees the Phantom of the Opera poster and says that she always preferred Sondheim. Jolt says that she always thought Sondheim was sneering at people showing them that he was smarter than they were. Jolt says that hanging posters just makes the place seem more “homey”. Jolt says that the way the Thunderbolts have taken her in they almost feel like family. Karla says that if she ever has a daughter that she hopes she turns out like Jolt.
Citizen V scowls under his mask as he watches. Citizen V summons Meteorite to come to see him. He asks Meteorite is plotting against him. He says that she is the one who encouraged Abe and Melissa to get together and that she also encouraged Atlas concerning Dallas. Karla says that she is only doing what he asked of her making them feel convincing in their roles. He also brings up that she was the one that convinced him to let Jolt join so that they would have to stay in their roles all the time. Karla says that Citizen V is the one that made her so popular by filming the fight at Doom’s castle. Zemo admits that he might be wrong to accuse her, and offers a suggestion that she “accidentally” kill Jolt to prove her loyalty. Karla suggests that it might make them seem incompetent to get their youngest member killed, but Zemo says that he has faith in her abilities. Zemo says that he also thinks that he might accelerate the training program and have the others venture out in their true identities to remind them of who they are. Suddenly Dallas Riordan is on the priority line.
Dallas tells the team that today, near the entrance to the Verrazano Narrows that the Dutch freighter Zandvoort sank. She says that the ship didn’t simply sink, but that it was torn open from below. She says that some of the rescued crewman reported seeing monsters underwater. Finally Dallas says that the city just got a threat that whoever sunk the freighter also plans to strike at Madison Square Garden and at La Guardia Airport. Citizen V says that they will protect the city. Citizen V tells MACH-1, Techno, and Meteorite to get to the airport while Jolt, Songbird, and Atlas will accompany him. MACH-1 starts to protest, but Songbird says that she is ready to go without him. Citizen V says that if his orders are done being questioned that they should go.
Citizen V, Songbird, Atlas, and Jolt arrive at Madison Square Garden. People start to scream and Elements of Doom appear. Citizen V says that the screaming came from inside and that they have to get past the Elements of Doom quickly.
At Laguardia the Elements of Doom are destroying a plane as it tries to make an emergency landing. One of the Elements smash through the windshield of the cockpit. Meteorite smashes the Element off and tells all of them that the plane and its occupants are under the Thunderbolts’ protection. They knock the other Elements off the plane, but the Elements grow wings. Techno is about to go after them, but MACH-1 says that their priority is saving the plane. He says that they are going to crash right into the city.
Citizen V, Jolt, Songbird, and Atlas are driving the Elements back into Madison Square Garden. Jolt recalls the Elements of Doom’s origin from a Falcon interview talking about his time as an Avenger. Citizen V says, “Avengers’ foes?” Two of the Elements block their way. They say that the hostages are inside and that Iron is blocking the way. They say that they are going to kill the humans inside, and then they will kill more unless the United Nations meets their demands. Jolt freaks and attacks one Element. She then takes a hose and sprays Sodium. The sodium gas explodes and blows a hole through Iron. The people inside are nearly dead from being forced to breathe the poisonous Elements there. Songbird wonders how they are going to save everyone and wishes MACH-1 was there.
MACH-1 asks Meteorite why she doesn’t pick up the falling plane. Meteorite says that the plane would rip itself to shreds if she tried to take it in a new direction. She keeps trying to move the course slightly with thrust and lifting. MACH-1 has Techno wire his armor to the plane’s computers through his tech pac so he can land the plane himself. Techno asks if he is sure he can do that. MACH-1 says that he isn’t sure, but that they have no other options.
Atlas smashes huge holes in the roof to ventilate the Garden. Jolt keeps trying to get people to safety. Citizen V gets smacked by an Element and tells Atlas that they need him back in the fight. Songbird’s sonic fans don’t get clear the air because no matter how much she blows out the Elements are right there producing more. Songbird is starting to panic when Techno arrives with an the blueprints for an industrial fan. Songbird is thrilled because if Techno is back then so is MACH-1. The Bolts start fighting and Songbird’s new fan works much better. Citizen V says that they should consider changing their name to the Elements of Failure. The Elements retreat. Atlas wants to chase them, but Citizen V says that Jolt is right and that they have to attend the injured.
Later back at Four Freedoms Plaza, Dallas appears on the screen and compliments the Thunderbolts on their good work. She says that they expect more trouble from the Elements. Jolt says that Techno could easily find them with all the radioactive Elements, but suddenly Citizen V interrupts. He says that before he sends his team into harm’s way again that he wants the Avengers’ files so they know how to deal with the Elements. Dallas says that there has been discussion of releasing them, but that there are legal and content problems still. Citizen V says that he will not put his team in jeopardy to be rewarded with suspicion. He adds that he wants the files and security clearance before he helps them any further. Citizen V turns off the screen with Dallas on it. Jolt says that Citizen V can’t mean not to help, but Citizen V says that none of them are to go and that is an order.