DC Shakedown // Maria & Jim
“Even if you don’t share the feeling, it’s nice to see you.”
Jim considered that, then dropped his head and nodded. All things considered, he was glad she was okay. If Ross had had any idea that Maria was preparing to open the door on him, she probably would have disappeared already. He took a seat at her bidding and folded his hands on top of the table in full view – a gesture of trust in what Maria had to say.
“I’m not here to yell,” he said. “I just need to know what’s going on that’s got you recommending a siege on the Raft. I thought the Thunderbolts and the Interface were hypotheticals?”
I’m not here to yell. Maria knew she deserved the harshest words, but it was relieving to hear she still had time to prepare for the hurricane. She let out a deep sigh, letting some of her tenseness subside.
“The Interface has two functions. It was started back when Loki’s scepter was in Shield’s custody. The first function is what Ross has been working on for years - basically mind control. The second he referred to as ‘Pleasant Hill’. The Interface can store people’s minds when they’re not ‘in use’, as he calls it. They can be connected together, and the Raft workers built a simulated world for these minds to interact in. They’ve been using the prisoners lives as playgrounds to do whatever they want to these people. To the prisoners, their lives inside the Interface feel very real.”
Maria finally looked up at James. “This is why I’m calling for a siege on the Raft. If he can’t control these people, he’s going to let the Interface kill them. He’s tortured these prisoners - our friends - into complete submission. If we don’t act then he will have the Thunderbolts up and running within the month and he will be unstoppable.”
Maria placed the binder on the table. “Here’s Ross’ paper trail. Please keep it safe - most of what’s in here was in the files I sent. No one but you has responded, but I do know that Tony received the e-mail because he was taken prisoner.”