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[center][h2]🔬[color=0080ff]Niah Bautista[/color]🔬
[color=57A2EC]Susan Storm[/color]
Thaddeus Ross[/h2]
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	Niah had promises to keep. One of them was particularly unsavory. She had pulled Dr. Doom's file and spent some time with it. That hadn't made her want to keep her promise any more than before. He wouldn't remember, but he was smart. Very smart. With a sigh, she called Susan Storm. She would need her help. [color=0080ff]"Susan, it is Niah. I need your help keeping that promise.[/color]

	[color=57A2EC]"I know Niah, I honestly would rather not have to, but I gave him my word, and I plan to see it through, I'm not too sure how we'll be able to get him to be released, but at the very least we have to try. Though if I remember correctly that was the only thing that we promised really, that we would try to get him released."[/color]

	[color=0080ff]"Yeah I was careful about that and only promised to try. I could not guarantee I'd succeed. I have a meeting with Thaddeus Ross set up on the Raft. Meet me there?"[/color] Niah asked and gave the time and date she and Ross had agreed upon. 

	[color=57A2EC]"Alright Niah, but I should warn you, Ross isn't exactly one you want to mess with, he never has been, so we'll have to proceed carefully when it comes to trying to get Doom out of that prison."[/color]

	[color=0080ff]"Good to know. I've never met him before. Is there something specific I should be warned about?"[/color]

	[color=57A2EC]"Thaddeus Ross is if I remember hearing correctly was one of those who were constantly hunting down Bruce Banner in order to bring him in. He was there at the base when Banner's Gamma Bomb went off that resulted in the creation of the Hulk. Still don't think he's too thrilled Banner is considered a hero now honestly..."[/color]

	[color=0080ff]"Good to know. Okay. I might have a plan. I told Doom that if he broke any rules I'd hunt him down and bring him back myself. I doubt Ross will trust me with that though."[/color] Niah sighed. She had no idea if this would work. [color=0080ff]"But I think if I suggest a reform program like a halfway house type situation for Doom, maybe Ross will accept."[/color]

	[color=57A2EC]"Alright Niah, if you are sure about this, I'll meet you at the Raft then."[/color]

	[color=0080ff]"Oh I'm not sure, but I'll follow through on my promise. See you."[/color] Niah hung up and took a deep breath. Things were so weird but she had to keep going. She gathered her things and made preparations. And then made her way to the Raft.

	At the Raft, Thunderbolt Ross was expecting them. He seemed to have a permanent frown on his face as he took in the visitors from the Fantastic Four and S.H.I.E.L.D., his arms crossed in front of him despite the military regalia that he wore. "Dr. Bautista... Dr. Storm... Whatever it is you're asking for, the answer is going to be [i]no.[/i]"

	[color=57A2EC]"Pleasant as always Ross,"[/color] Sue said to him, shaking her head. [color=57A2EC]"You don't even give us a chance to speak before you give out an answer."[/color]

	Niah frowned as Ross flat out told them no before even letting them speak. As tempted as she was to just let it stay at that. But she hadn't tried yet. Not really. [color=0080ff]"Pleasure to meet you too. I would appreciate at least a few minutes of your time still. I have an idea I want to run by you."[/color]

	Ross looked at his watch for a moment. "You have exactly sixty seconds. Go."

	Sue glanced over at Niah, this was her idea, and she wasn't too sure how Niah expected to try and convince Ross of all people to let Doom free. Most people would laugh at the idea, and even just thinking about it, her mind was telling her how ridiculous it was.

	Niah nodded, [color=0080ff]"I made a promise to try. And my idea is offering a rehabilitation program in something akin to a halfway house for Doom. I would bring him in if he steps out of line. And he would be required to check in like probation and promise to not do anything illegal or power grabbing. If he breaks any of those then he would be brought back here immediately."[/color] Of course there were some major flaws in the plan, like if Doom decided to just leave. He would not be easy to bring back in. This was much as Niah would push the issue though. This was her trying.

	Ross couldn't help but laugh. "....You're actually serious? Listen, doctor, the Raft is a cage for monsters - and I'm not about to let a monster like Doom loose on the world. My answer is no and that's that. Do you [i]really[/i] think we can just let him out because our [i]feelings[/i] say that we have to believe in hope?"

	[color=57A2EC]"As the person in the room who really knows Doom unlike either one of you, I can say it is possible, whether you believe it or not Ross. He's not stupid, he knows that the best thing for him would to not try anything like you are suggesting,"[/color] Sue said, keeping out the slight part about how at first he'd behave, then he'd try something.

	[color=0080ff]"I'm not here cause of hope or a hunch. I'm here to give him a chance to prove he can be better. That's all anyone can do. Be a little better each day. I agree he has done monstrous things, but what if he turns that intelligence of his to a good cause instead? That could be part of the program. Give him something to occupy his mind and hands and he can do good. Currently he can't even orfer that."[/color]

	Ross shook his head again. "I don't care what Doom has to offer to the fucking world - how many of you heroes boast super intelligence anyways? Why do we need Doom when we have freaking Mr. Fantastic and Tony Stark around?"
	
	Sue fell silent at that, not really too sure what else to say to Ross about anything. She looked over at Niah, wondering if she might have some other card up her sleeve that could be useful in convincing Ross to release Doom.

	[color=0080ff]"Because they think like heros. Doom knows how a villain thinks. If you can get him working for us he can do more to stop a villain before they take over the world and kill millions then someone who only reacts."[/color] That was her last point that she had had planned. Anything more and she would have to hope she could come up with a good response. 

	"...Isn't that the premise of some dumb movie... Suicide Group or something?" Ross mused, stroking his mustache slightly as he considered what Niah had to say, before he shook his head. "No, I don't know what he promised you but Doom can do no good. The minute you loosen your grip on him, he slips through your fingers like water."

	[color=57A2EC]"He has done [i]some[/i] good in the past, but then again, you've always been like that right? Once a villain always a villain, doesn't matter who they were before, or what they've done before, all that matters is the mistakes that they've made."[/color]

	Niah wanted to snap at Ross as she deflated. Thankfully Sue dug in for her. She took a short breath. [color=0080ff]"Thank you for your time. I hope we don't someday learn Doom could have saved us from something but you prevented that. Of course we will ignore the fact that we are only having this conversation because of his help with time travel."[/color] She had done as she had promised and had tried but Ross was unyielding. 

	"I hope you two have enjoyed your visit to the Raft - don't make this a repeat thing," Ross requested.