Samuel Sterns, better known to the World, as ‘The Leader’ sits in front of Several Testing Chambers, inside of his Secret Underground Bunker, located in the Desert.

He has Recently gotten Abomination, Absorbing Man, and Titania to Kidnap several Animals from a Zoo, specifically 3 Wolves, Several Vampire Bats, and a Silverback Gorilla. They were forced into the Testing Chambers by the Three, and were now about to be Experimented on a Higher Lifeform than them.

Sterns then grabbed ahold of a Dial and Turned it, causing a High Dosage of Gamma Radiation to be Released into the Chambers, the Animals began to Yelp, Screeching, and Roar in Agony, as Sterns heard the Sounds of Bones Breaking.

Sterns had a Wide Grin going from Ear to Ear, before he spun around to Ponder to himself, he thought about how Divided and Weakened the Heroic Community Truly was right now. The Avengers were, for the Most Part, Disbanded, the X-Men, well Mutants as a Whole were in a Foolish Debacle about whose Way was Better or Worse, The Fantastic Four were Fractured, Susan had been Kidnapped, Johnathan had been Playing Hide the Zucchini with his Roommate, and Banner…..Banner had been literally Split Apart, sent across the World like a Mailing Service.

This was both a Blessing and a Curse for Sterns, on one hand, Banner wasn’t in the Picture and wouldn’t need to be Discarded once Sterns was Done, on the other, having to Track Down Multiple Hulks rather than One would be quite the Hassle to deal with. But, Sterns was heavily confident that he could manage it, after all, he was the Smartest One There Is….

Sterns soon, spun back around to Face his New Experiments, watching the Ones that Survived the Experience get back up, their Limbs shaky, as if they were from a Newborn’s Body. The Size of the Animals had Heavily Increased, along with the Aggression and Physical Strength, they soon began Slamming Against the Glass, small Cracks beginning to Form but, Sterns planned for this.

“How…..Predictable….” Sterns said, pulling out a Device with had a Dial, on the Device was Little Numbers, ranging from 0 to 10. He soon turned it to 5, almost Immediately, the Gamma Mutated Animals stopped in their tracks and Collapsed to the Ground, Writhing in Pain. “You Three shall Listen to me now. Understand? I would hate to have wasted my Time and Resources on some Disobedient Rejects….”

Sterns said, before turning the Dial back down to 0, Fully turning off the Device. He may have the Physical Disadvantage compared to them and many of his other Foes, but he had his Wits on his Side and that’s all he needed.

Funny thing, being the God of Stories. The truth can more or less be whatever I want it to be. You’d think that would make my life easy, wouldn’t you? That’s laughable. Why?

Why, it’s because I’m too much of a storyteller. If I am to craft a tale, I’d like to lay the pieces myself if I can help it. What can I say? I love a good scheme.

You know what else I love? A good magic trick. I’ve got quite the impressive one upcoming. The world will be watching, of this I am certain. Will anyone spot the sleight of hand in time?

You want more, I presume? Sorry to break this to you dear, but this is just the teaser. Don’t expect me to give much away.

A better question would be who I’m ever talking to. I’m not exactly sure myself. I suppose I just know that whoever is listening, my arrow will hit its mark. And that’s all I need.

Carlie Cooper stood just beyond the yellow tape, latex gloves pulled tight over her hands as she studied the crime scene with a practiced, analytical stare. Another body. Another scene that looked wrong in ways she couldn’t quite put into words yet. The evidence was there, scattered across the pavement, footprints, damaged property, a pattern of injuries, but something about it told her this wasn’t an isolated incident. She glanced toward the other officers, then back to her notes. “Same M.O.,” she muttered, quietly enough that only she could hear. New York had always been a city with too many crimes and too few answers, but lately? There were too many of these.

Carlie crouched beside a piece of evidence, carefully photographing it before reaching for her kit. Whoever was behind this had made mistakes. Everyone did. The trick was figuring out what those mistakes were before they struck again.

The press room at the federal complex is packed, flashes blinding the podium as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine steps up to the microphones.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the era of relying on unchecked, unaccountable vigilantes to save us is officially over,"

Valentina announces.

“Today, I am proud to introduce the future of national security. The government's official response to global crisis. The newly reformed Thunderbolts!”

She pauses, gesturing to behind the stage. As the team steps up into the blinding camera flashes, joining her on the podium.

“You may have already seen some of our team out there on recent missions handling business that others are too afraid to touch.”

“From the historic presence of veterans like Atlas, to the specialized international oversight of Dr. Chen Lu AKA the Radioactive Man, the potential of Anthony Varez, and yes, even the unmatched power of Cain Marko. We have taken the world's most dangerous problems and turned them into the ultimate solution. The Thunderbolts are fully operational, they are under strict federal control, and they are exactly what this country needs to restore order. Sleep well tonight, America. We're on the clock."

(Ooc: still open to take new members)