Date: 12/20/15 (back) What: News on Lex Luthor's kidnapping
"A conference was finally called in cooperation between Lexcorp and law enforcement concerning an incident at Lex Luthor's estate in New York on December 14th. Bill is on site. Bill, can you tell us what happened?"
A pause while the newsman blinks at the camera holding his ear piece. The Luthor estate is sprawled behind him. "Ah, yes, Meryl. Police forces responded swiftly when Lex Luthor's tracking bracelet moved off grounds, alerting them that Lex Luthor was seemingly breaking his parole. Lex Luthor was nowhere to be found. Once the security videos were released to the authorities, Lexcorp representative Mercy Graves and authorities cooperated to create a news conference. I think everyone was surprised at the contents."
Video switches over to a security film showing a date and time in the corner. Lex is walking across his lawn, meeting a tall, armored and cloaked figure by his fountain. An unmistakable Doctor Doom. There seems to be a short conversation exchanged, then Lex follows Doom for a short way before stopping. Doom steps back, the two exchanging words. Doom looks decidedly unhappy and impatient. Lex looks irritated, then says nothing, face serene and standing with arms folded. Doom tilts his masked face up to look at the sky, then without looking back at Lex violently backhands him. Doom is in no hurry and a shield protects him from the bullets of the two guards while he drags the dazed billionaire to a small waiting ship. The door closes and the ship flies off, cloaking as it goes despite the shots fired at it.
The video switches over to a news conference. "With this evidence we are going to state that Lex Luthor is not in violation of his parole, seeing as he was taken against his will off his property. We are doing everything possible to track down Lex Luthor's whereabouts. No questions at this time." The officer quickly retreats even as reporters and cameras flood and flash his direction.
Newsfeed switches to Bill. He points to the fountain distantly seen across the lawn. "So as you can see from the security feed it looks like Doctor Doom, known adversary of the Fantastic Four and a dictator accused of several human rights violations, seemingly trespassed onto Mr. Luthor's property there, and, uh, called him out. Lex met him, but seemed to refuse to leave with him. After a brief verbal exchange, Doctor Doom assaulted Mr. Luthor and dragged him unwillingly aboard his vessel. It is unclear where Lex Luthor is at currently, if he's even still ali-."
"Oh--thank you, Bill," Meryl quickly cut him off, the feed of the news office overtaking the scene at Lex Luthor's estate. "According to police, Lex Luthor's anklet was disabled shortly after the aircraft that aided in his kidnapping left. It does not seem that the craft was heading toward the Latverian Embassy in New York, however, and it is assumed that Doctor Doom's likely destination was toward Latveria. The Embassy has been contacted, but reporters have been (ahem) rather aggressively informed that there will be no comments or inquiries to Latveria concerning this matter at this time." She sets down her papers. "What everyone wants to know is what the link is between Lex Luthor and Victor von Doom. Why would the self-titled doctor kidnap a man who has been ill for months? So far Mercy Graves states that they suspect Doom is after company intel. Stay tuned after the break for more."