Thunderbolts #51

Title: “New Beginnings”

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Penciller: Patrick Zircher

Inker: Al Vey

Colors: VLM

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Dallas Riordan lies asleep in a bed within the country of Latveria. As she sleeps she dreams of a red ionic Erik Josten kissing her. Suddenly she is awakened by a man who asks if she is all right. He says that she was moaning in her sleep, but that she must wake up and get dressed. The man informs her that “the Master” wants to see her. Riordan asks if he knows that she didn’t come there on purpose, and that she washed up on shore paralyzed. The man says that he has contacted Project: Earth, and that they have agreed to smuggle her back into Symkaria. Suddenly Rebel is there and says that isn’t going to happen, but at least he won’t tell the big man about his intentions because he respects his gumption.

In Los Angeles, Karla Sofen is leaving yet another job interview that she did not get. Karla thinks to herself that she hates being normal. She says that just last week she was so much more. She wonders if they made the right choice in accepting the CSA’s deal. She wonders if Hawkeye made the right choice surrendering himself. She realizes that she is referring to herself in the plural as if she were still part of a team. She thinks that Moonstone was feared and respected, but that nobody cares about Dr. Karla Sofen. As she walks away a red cloaked figure follows her.

In Burton Canyon, Abe tells Melissa that even the air is cleaner. Melissa says that the air is no different than it was before they were pardoned. Abe asks her what she said. Melissa repeats “pardoned” and Abe asks her to say it some more. Melissa says that what they are is unemployed. Abe says that the glass is half full, but Melissa says that just leaves them more to spill. Abe admits that he misses the action when they suddenly spot Beetle and Scream. Abe’s first instinct is to do something, but Melissa reminds him that they aren’t allowed to use powers that they no longer have. She also points out that they aren’t being trouble either they are simply helping to rebuild the city after Atlas’ explosion destroyed it. Melissa watches as Scream flies away with Beetle.

Beetle and Scream return to Mount Charteris and are told to head down for more training. Beetle starts complaining to Scream that they are doing a lot of cleaning just to clean up the Thunderbolts’ messes. Suddenly Captain America’s shield bounces off Beetle’s chest. Captain America is already training with Smuggler, Meteorite, Charcoal, and Jolt. Cap has been training them, but it’s pretty clear that he doesn’t want to be there. He only agreed because his country asked him too, and he wanted to help finish up what Hawkeye started. Cap deflects Jolt with his shield, but that leaves him open to Charcoal grabbing him from behind with his giant hand. Captain America tells Charcoal to put him down, but Charcoal doesn’t do it until Jolt tells him to. Suddenly an image of Fixer appears. He says that there is a call for “Mr. Perfect” from Director Carter. Cap says that he missed Fixer in the training session, but Fixer simply replies, “As if I need it.” Sharon Carter appears and says that a situation has arisen that SHIELD and the Avengers can’t get involved with, and since it is dangling Thunderbolts business she is giving it to them.

Roger Aubrey puts in a call to Bashur. Bashur says that this is an unexpected and unwelcome surprise. Roger says that they fronted a Project:Earth rescue mission into Latveria, but that the acquisition never arrived. Bashur finishes that he already knows who Roger is talking about, and that Roger wants him to find out where she is. Roger asks that Garabed forward what he finds to a SHIELD convoy that is headed towards Latveria. Roger says that he will owe him for that. Bashur replies that he will help just for that reason.

Captain America and the others get the information on Dallas’ location. She is in Doomstadt, the capital of Latveria. Fixer asks why they are going through all this trouble for Dallas Riordan. Cap says that she is an innocent, but Fixer asks what the definition of “innocent” is. Cap says that she is in a situation beyond her control, and is being threatened or used to threaten others. Smuggler says that it sounds good to most of them. Fixer reminds Smuggler that he signed up for this job, but that Fixer was drafted. Suddenly the ship is hit with an electromagnetic pulse that sends the ship hurtling towards the ground.

Back in Burton Canyon, Abe sees that the electronic store where he was first discriminated against in his new black skin is looking for help. He goes inside and says that he is looking for work. The owner asks if he knows him. Abe says that a few weeks ago he refused to sell him a TC2 chip, but that he is glad he did because it can now be reconfigured for more memory before being installed. The man apologizes for his rude and ignorant treatment. He says that he regretted it everyday since it happened. He introduces himself as Bill Kingman and says that with the entire town being rebuilt because of the Atlas thing that his men are very busy. He hires Abe. Abe says to Mel, “see, Mel…half-full!” Abe shakes Bill’s hand.

Karla is sitting having an espresso. She is wondering about whether or not Abe and Melissa stayed together. She wonders about Hawkeye and if she should contact him. She wonders if Hawkeye would even be allowed to have contact with him. Karla notices the red cloaked figure and spins around to knock him down. The red cloaked figure introduces herself as M’Reel. He says that he wants to offer her a job counseling a very important man. Karla says that she is listening.

Charcoal stops the ship with his body. Rebel spots Captain America getting out of the ship. Smuggler tries to ambush Rebel from behind, but Rebel turns and blasts Smuggler with his chest blaster. Charcoal blasts Rebel and Jolt yells at him that he doesn’t have to burn the whole forest down. Charcoal asks who the guy is, but Jolt doesn’t know. Rebel tries to fly away, but Scream disturbs his inner ear. Meteorite punches Rebel. Suddenly Rebel’s armor goes bananas. Fixer says that Rebel’s armor works on the same frequency that Iron Man’s does, but it doesn’t have the same shielding. Captain America demands to know where Rebel got Iron Man’s armor, but he is interrupted by Dr. Doom. Charcoal tries to blast Doom, but it passes right through him. Fixer says that it is a hologram that is originating off planet. Doom says that Rebel is on Latveria trying to find an ecological terrorist. The terrorist is demanding that Doom abdicate his rule over Planet Doom or she will release a deadly ecological weapon in Latveria. Doom says that Rebel wasn’t able to find her so he thought to involve planet Earth. Jolt says that Doom is using Dallas Riordan to blackmail them into helping him. Doom says that blackmail is beneath him, but that politics are not. Doom notes the irony of Captain America being there as the ecological terrorist is the leader of the Young Allies- Cap’s Heroes Reborn partner the female Bucky.

Karla gets out of the car and tells M’Reel that he can drive when he gets a license. M’Reel says that he is alien he can’t get one. Karla says that life is unfair. Karla compliments the house and M’Reel says that the “First One” deserves his comfort. Karla asks if the First One is also an extra-terrestrial. M’Reel says that he isn’t and corrects her that he is an extra-dimensional. Inside Graviton, the First One, greets Karla. He says that he sees that she is surprised, curious, and afraid. He says that all three are appropriate. He says that he know what she is thinking and answers that no Karla would not be able to escape before he killed her, but says that she should be wondering what is in it for her if she helps Graviton rule the world. Graviton says that the answer to that question is “what do you want?”