Chương 85: Book 3 - Chapter 13 C

"Hi Boss!" Thomas greeted me as I got into the limo at the airport with Matt.

"Good job on the negotiations," I told him.

"Thanks! It's great to finally do what I've trained all my life to do."

"Well, it's time to decide, stay as Matt's assistant, or get promoted?" I asked Thomas as the car smoothly moved into traffic, heading for our hotel.

"What's the promotion, Boss?" Thomas asked eagerly.

"You go back to work for Jennifer, but as head of acquisitions."

"You're going to be buying more than just Marvel Comics?"

"I need you to do two things. I need you to get a handle on the LTV bankruptcy. I need you working on getting me AM General."

"Sure boss, but there's not an easy way to rush a bankruptcy."

"Wave cash at them," I said again.

"You've got the skills, you bought Marvel Entertainment Group for me for just forty-six million."

"Okay boss. I'll take the promotion, but what was the second thing?"

"Told you," Matt grumbled.

"I need you to fly to England," I told him.

"Sure, but why?"

"I want to buy Aston Martin. Peter Livanos owns 75%, I want that piece."

"I can do that. How much do you expect to pay?" he asked.

"Try to get it for under twenty million. They are going to need some serious funding to upgrade their technology, so I'm expecting to put more into it."

"Got it boss. Anything else I should tell them?"

"I'm looking forward to driving a V12 Aston Martin when I turn 16." He laughed, and made a note.

"One car company coming up for the guy who can't drive."

"Thank you, so how do you like the hotel?" I asked Thomas.

"Hotel Edison is great, very posh and very comfortable," he said as his cell phone interrupted him. He pulled out a brick, hit a button and held it to his ear. Then he handed it to me.

"Hello, this is John."

"Hi John, I'm calling to pass on a message for you."

"Hi Jennifer, what's the message?"

"Georges Besse called to say thank you for saving his life and wants you to call him back."

"Sure, call back in a half hour when we are at the hotel and give Thomas the contact information. It's late in France, I'll call him tomorrow morning."

"Okay, have fun in New York." I hit the end button to end the call and handed the phone back to Thomas.

"Nice toy you've got," I told him.

"You don't get respect around here unless you are carrying it around. Plus it means I've got the same phone number no matter where I travel to."

"I'm teasing," I told him.

"I should get Matt one."

"Those things are heavy," he complained.

"That's why I'll have you carry it," I said with a smirk. The limo pulled up and dropped us off at a side entrance to the Edison. Security was in two vehicles, one in front, one behind. The hotel staff took our luggage and we went straight to the rooms that Thomas had already booked. I spent some time cleaning up, then answered the door when Thomas knocked to give me Georges Besse's contact information.

"Who is Georges Besse?" Matt asked, following in behind Thomas.

"The CEO of Renault."

"How did you save his life?" Thomas asked. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I sent samples of the new graphene felt body armor. It's thin enough for daily wear and is unnoticeable under your clothes. I sent samples to a variety of European figures who have publicity issues."

"You knew they were in danger?" Thomas asked.

"Everyone knew they were in danger, and now everyone will hear how great my new vest is," I explained.

"Ah, guerrilla marketing," Matt joked, and I chuckled.

"I'll call him when I get up in the morning. It is a six-hour time difference." After breakfast was brought up to the room I called the number provided.

"Régie Nationale des Usines Renault, bonjour." I replied in French.

"Hello, this is John Cook, I'm returning a phone call to Georges Besse."

"Yes, one moment please." The phone rang again, and a man answered, "Yes, Hello."

"Hello, this is John Cook, I was asked to call Mr Besse."

"Dr Cook! This is Georges Besse, thank you for calling. I am so grateful, your invention saved my life!"

"You're very welcome, sir. I hope you tell everyone about how good the graphene felt armor worked."

"Certainly, I have already told all my friends that they must buy one."

"Wonderful. I'm sorry you were shot at, but very happy to get the publicity."

"Oh, Dr Cook. I was not just shot at. I was the target of an assassination!"

"But you are doing a wonderful job turning Renault around! Why would anyone try to assassinate you?" I asked him.

"There was much anger over worker layoffs."

"How terrible. Have they been caught?"

"No. The criminals have taken credit but the police are unable to find them."

"Well you must keep wearing your bulletproof vest until they are caught."

"Is it still effective? It stopped several bullets."

"Yes, very effective, but I'll send you a new one regardless."

"No, you must bring it. Please, come to France. I will show you the country myself. You can stay with me."

"I don't have time right now. My parents are expecting me back home for Thanksgiving."

"What about Christmas? Can you come for Christmas?"

"I'll ask my Mom," I told him. He laughed loudly.

"Yes, ask your Mom. I forget, Dr Cook, how young you are."

"Should I call this number again to let you know?"

"No, let me give you the number of my home. You can leave a message there." I took the number and said goodbye then turned to Matt.

"I forget sometimes that you speak French, what did he say?" Matt asked.

"He invited me to France for Christmas."

"Better ask your Mom first." I laughed.

"That's what I told him!" I sat down at the Marvel Headquarters, on Park Avenue in New York. The new Marvel Entertainment Group was run by Margaret Loesch, Jim Shooter and Stan Lee. They all had different jobs and looks on their faces as I joined them at the table.

"You're like a young Tony Stark," Stan Lee said.

"Do you have any super powers other than that big brain of yours?" he asked.

"My big brain is enough," I told him with a smile.

"Dr Cook, we are all eager to know what you have planned for Marvel," Jim Shooter said. He was the most nervous of the trio.

"Jim," I told him.

"I'm sorry but New Universe is awful. It won't last."

"Am I fired?" he asked.

"No. It's an interesting idea, but the approach is flawed. I've got something special I want you working on instead. You'll have the budget you need, but most of all you'll need to have complete and total consistency."

"What's the project?" he asked.

"Star Wars," I said. That got everyones attention.

"I'm the sole owner of everything Star Wars. I've put together a Story Group that will be the supreme arbiters of continuity for the entire franchise. Books, comics, movies, TV shows, cartoons, all of it. They will give you the outline, and only if they approve can you then publish."

"Comics or TV?" Margaret Loesch asked.

"For now, just comics. I want to start with Tales of the Republic. We'll be showing the Star Wars universe long before the Empire, back when the Jedi were at the height of their power. Other series will follow, also all set before the events of Episode 4."

"That's fantastic," Jim expressed. I nodded in agreement.

"I agree. That brings me to something else. We will not be selling anymore rights to our characters for movies. Where possible we will be bringing that back.

"Ms Loesch, I want you to start working on ideas for new cartoon versions of the comics. I'll be starting a cable channel soon, and I want to not only have exclusive Marvel cartoons I want to have all the old cartoons as well. I'm also interested in ideas for new cartoons. While you've been doing a great job, I'd like us to get back to doing more of our own stuff, not just long format toy commercials." Stan Lee snorted in amusement at my characterization of GI Joe, Transformers and My Little Pony.

"What about me?" he asked.

"Stan, you are a treasure," I told him.

"I'd like you to start thinking about the Marvel Universe, something more than just Earth-616. Watch what we do with Star Wars, plotting out all the different characters, planets, species and events. Then let's do the same thing with all your creations. We will weave a grand story that involves everybody we have the rights to. I'd like to get to the point where we can do a series of movies based on the Avengers."

"Really?" he asked.

"Yes. We'll take it slow. Individual movies for each of the primary characters, then start bringing them together for an ensemble film. Shared story, shared universe, multiple phases. Each phase will be capped with an ensemble movie of all the individual heroes joining. It's a ten year, maybe longer project once we start filming. But it's going to take time to get there."

"That's an incredible idea. What do I get out of it? I created all these characters."

"That's simple. I want you in every movie as a cameo. I'll pay you a million dollars a movie. Fans will love it and you'll get your paycheck."

"Now that does sound like fun," the sixty-three year old agreed.