Fantastic Four

Prologue:

Manhattan; Today…

Richards went to the window at the sound of the explosions, wondering what might be happening. His gaunt, weary face was set in a frown of curiosity as well as slight annoyance that he should have to leave his work, if even for a moment. There was no help of it though. The building was just not ready yet, and if his estimations were correct it would still be at least three weeks until every system was up and running to at least a modest capacity. As such the outer monitors had been installed days before, but there was still some discrepancy within the wiring somewhere causing the video feed to be blurred and the audio to be filled with static. That left the residents of the upper floors of the new home and headquarters veritably blind and deaf for the most part. The perimeter sensors were still out of alignment as well, and the Omni-phased Array Antennae was still jammed at forty-seven degrees, the locking cycle having frozen there almost a week past and pointed at Newark. There was just so much to do to get the building up to some reasonable standard—something workable—but the priority had to be debugging the new computer system. Once he had that online and operational he was certain that the others problems would fall into place.

Reed Richards passed his thumb across a photosensitive cell set into the inner window frame and half-smiled as he heard the locking mechanism cycling open. The immediate security sensors were still working apparently, as well as the minor maintenance robotics fabricated within the doors and windows. He had programmed his own profile into the security software as soon as it had become operational, then added those of his teammates and a few non-member staff and friends that would require expedient movement throughout the complex. He had feared that the problems he was experiencing with the internal computers might corrupt the security program as well, but so far that had not happened. There had been some glitch within Ben’s identity profile of course—for obvious reasons—but the retinal scanners he had installed as a secondary back-up had overridden the primary programming and had thus far worked proficiently.

Thankfully! Ben certainly needed no further complications in his life at the moment.

“Open! Full!”

The triple-paned Plexi-steel window opened to his voiced command and Reed Richards immediately felt the warmth and humidity as it washed into the room. The waning days of summer had left the city sweltering in a heat wave that had been laid over Manhattan like a thick, damp blanket for over a week now. As he glanced out he could see no clouds in the hazy skies, just thick smoky gray smog settled over the far away horizon to the southwest. Condensation formed on the thick glass as the internal air-conditioning struggled to compensate against the sudden blast of heat that invaded the building and upset the thermostat sensors.

A pigeon flew by well within the perimeter sensors as Richards leaned out of the window. He furrowed his brow, sighing as a slight alarm pinged in the background, signaling the bird’s passing—when it should have remained silent. Another complication, which he ignored as he listened more closely to the sounds drifting up from the streets far below. There was the perpetual noise of traffic and car horns of course, but he could also barely hear the sound of sirens screaming towards the east.

Following the sound, Richards saw the plume of dark black smoke billowing up and into the already hazy sky. The source of the explosions apparently, somewhere uptown—-probably the old sewage treatment plant in Harlem along the Hudson River. To judge by the smoke, the fire appeared to be out of control—a total conflagration. And no wonder, he mused, considering the many and varied chemicals that washed through the plant on a regular basis. Still, it was not his problem. It was no concern of he or his companions as the city fire department was well trained—and paid—to handle emergencies of that ilk.

Richards turned; about to close the window and return to his work when he spied the sudden flare of blue erupt on his monitor’s screen across the wide laboratory. He saw the seal of S.H.I.E.L.D. waver into focus, heard the slight melodious chime of Sousa’s digitized Victory March along with the missive that was being routed through his T-One Line internet feed. Richards sighed again-

Fury was becoming a nuisance. Richards would have severed ties with the man and his security agency long ago if not for his association with Stark. And Tony Stark unfortunately was still crucial in getting the Fantastic Four back on its feet and running. Richard’s own finances had secured the reconstruction of the Baxter Building, and had gone a long way in setting up many of the much-needed resources, but it was Anthony Stark’s donations in both money and technological equipment that had put the endeavor into any form of plausibility. It was Stark’s generosity that had outfitted most of the building with hardware designed not only by Richards, but also by Stark himself as well as a few select acquaintances. It was Stark’s own crews that were working around the clock to get the Baxter Building’s many systems online and up to speed. And, unfortunately, Stark’s help left Richards unable to decline when Tony himself asked that the Fantastic Four work in consideration with the United States government as well as Nick Fury —Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. once again. Bad blood aside however, clearance with the government as well as the United Nations was a must if Fantastic Four Incorporated was to get off the ground again.

Reed Richards adjusted a set of dials on one of the many monitors on his main console, watching as a power feed redistributed throughout the topmost floors of the building even as he shifted the mouse pointer on the computer monitor to answer the message—if only to stop the tinny, repetitive musak. The screen flickered and changed, and Richards only half-acknowledged the smoke-enshrouded image of Colonel Nicholas Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. as it came into focus. There was a carbon dioxide leak in one of the exhaust ports that took precedence, and the priority of Richards’ attention-

“Fury! What is it now?” Richards asked, obviously perturbed with the intrusion. “I have a week’s worth of work to finish tonight and I don’t have the time for another-”

“Stow it Richards!” the harsh voice of the old war-horse snapped. He too apparently had little patience. “We got a problem situated in yer neck a’ the woods, an’ I want you an’ yer team a’ prima-donnas ta’ check it out. It’s time to start payin’ on the investment, pal.”

Reed Richards frowned, staring silently at the image on the screen. Fury seemed younger than he should have by all accounts. He was purported to have seen action as far back as World War II, and in fact his activities with the Howling Commandos were well documented. Looking at the man’s face however, Richards would not have believed that the man was any older than himself; forty years at most. His skin was dark and his features well-chiseled as though he was cut from granite. His dark brown hair barely had a tinge of gray at the temples, not unlike Richards’ own. Susan called it his own ‘mark of the beast’ —that beast being intelligence. What then did it say for Nick Fury? Still, Reed Richards could see the sparkle of intellect in the man’s one good eye. The steely blue seemed intense and overbearing as it bore into Richards’ own visage as Fury awaited a response.

“I don’t have the time for this, Fury. The building’s not even half finished yet, and I’ve had to put my own research on hold because of that.” Richards glanced to the side, logging the power levels of the various monitors and the time to memory. He quickly calculated the needed computations in his head as he shifted a number of dials easing the power flow back into a safe level. “Besides,” he continued, “my teammates aren’t even here except for Susan, and she’s as busy as I am with her own itinerary. I can’t-”

“My heart bleeds, Richards, but if yer high ‘n’ mighty brain’ll recall, you made an agreement with Stark. That means ya made an agreement with me ‘n’ my dear old Uncle Sam! I said jump, Richards, and if you don’t jump as high as I want, I got a hundred lawyers sittin’ on their thumbs itchin’ ta make sure that next time ya do. Ya got me?”

Reed Richards sighed and nodded. “Tell me what you need Fury. I’ll assemble my team.” Oddly, Nick Fury did not smile at his victory, but rather simply laid out the facts of the mission that he needed Richards and his friends to undertake. Richards listened silently throughout then signed off when the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. signaled that he was finished.

He felt tired as he slowly made his way back across the lab towards the still open window. He could smell the smoke of the fire now, the odors of the burning chemicals and he could hear even more sirens wailing. The thick billowing clouds of smoke and ash were rolling downtown towards the south and east caught on the wind and blowing towards Long Island and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. If the wind kept pace, the smoke would clear soon enough after the fire was extinguished, so that was one less problem to contend with. Haz-Mat teams would have to be called into the city of course for the clean up, and he would help if he could—if he was needed—but for now, that was not his problem.

Richards reached into a hidden compartment of the wide, stiff black belt of his blue containment suit. It was the collected opinion of those in charge that until the mysterious powers of the Fantastic Four stabilized that they should all wear special clothes to ward against any possible contamination or otherwise ill-effects. Richards had agreed to a point. The Chronal radiations that had inundated them all were highly unstable and for the most part unknown. There was little to be said for the strange properties of Cosmic Radiation, let alone the mixture of Gamma Rays, X-Rays, Infrared and Ultra Violet Light and whatever else they had been bombarded with during the solar flares of the Cosmic Storm they had recently passed through. Besides, who could say no to the likes of Anthony Stark, biologist Henry Pym and T’Challa of the Wakandas. It just was not done.

Richards was working on the solution of course. It was one of the many equations that were forever worked and evaluated in the back of his busy mind. He had already submitted the patents to his Molecular Manipulator, that device that would disrupt the very fabric of reality, altering the subatomic structure of molecules to be rebuilt in whatever manner he chose. It had been simple really, once he put his mind to it, thinking to not only create a new type of Radiation Containment and Protection suit, but a fabric that would also withstand the unique capabilities and after effects of he and his teammates unique gifts based on the older properties of his original Unstable Molecule patent. If all went well, and the patent was accepted his ties to both Stark and the government would quickly, finally be severed. ‘Stable’ Molecules seemed the next logical step.

Richards stared at the small, flat signal gun that he was gripping tightly in his fist. He had forgotten for just a moment why it was there, and what he had been about. It was difficult sometimes keeping everything straight in his head. Things like his encounter with Fury often disrupted his thinking process just enough to get his thoughts to stray and jumble.

It was just so annoying sometimes. They had all had such high hopes and lofty ideals. It had been over six months now, and they were still all dragging their feet in the quagmire created by Fury and his government. They were strangling in miles of red tape, and there seemed no end in sight. Richards smirked, the proper analogy popping into his head as he reached an arm out of the window and concentrated slightly-

He watched, his arm sheathed in the blue containment suit stretching forth from the fabric, the vast power of his mind keeping the arm sure and steady as it thinned and elongated like so-much rubber tubing.

He had yet to fully analyze the workings of his own abilities since the disaster—-he had spent so much time and energy on poor Ben’s condition—-but he was fairly certain that his powers were still based on a form of telekinesis. His body had been altered like the others, violently restructured during the storm and somehow merged into something akin to a fluid elemental stability. He still had total control over the molecular structure of his body on a semi-fluid level, but things had altered slightly. He found that he could manipulate the very atoms and molecules of his body—liquefying his atomic structure and direct the resulting mass through the power of his mind; through telekinesis. It was amazing, and Richards wished that he had the time to concentrate on just that—as well as the similar conditions of his fellows.

But duty called. Richards followed the length of his arm some thirty yards as it stretched up and out of the window and over the streets of Manhattan. There was no strain at all, and Reed Richards felt that he could continue stretching towards infinity—if he had the time…

Richards fired the gun in his hand, watching as the glowing speck of fiery light arched up and over the buildings. It exploded finally after a predetermined time once built in sensors had scanned the area against any intrusions within its perimeter of a few dozen meters. Light flared, and small spiraling miniature rockets drifted and soared, falling into a predetermined sequence that created the final design of the flare.

Reed Richards watched as the giant, stylized ‘4’ drifted lazily in the smoky sky. He withdrew his arm, drawing its length back into the mass of his body, knowing that his teammates would see the flare from anywhere within the Five Boroughs and most of the Tri-State area. One of his simpler inventions that had worked exceedingly well over the years. If only all of his problems could be solved so easily.

They had piled up however, higher and higher—the problems. Insignificant individually, but almost insurmountable when put together. Figuratively speaking, they had made a mountain out of a molehill.

Richards watched a moment longer as the flare lingered, drifting on the summer breeze. He watched and waited, remembering…

THE COMING OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR!

By Curtis Fernlund

Part One:

Stark Industries Flight Testing Center; Great Abaco, Bahamas; Some Time Ago…

Reed Richards stared out of the protective screen of the base’s Ready Room, a smile stretching his face from ear to ear, his brown eyes huge with wonder. He felt like a child again—a little boy as he watched the final preparations under way. Far across the vast open space of the launch field the three gigantic rockets steamed and trembled as the final sequence of pre-flight tests were run. The field itself was alive with activity as men and vehicles scurried about their final tasks as the countdown diminished, drawing ever closer to launch. It was like an anthill, the drones and workers all focusing on their queen perched upon the gargantuan throne of the rocket apparatus. That queen being the shuttle Excelsior, about to embark on its maiden flight into history—-

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Richards turned, his smile stretching wider as he nodded in agreement. Anthony Stark had stepped up to the window beside him and Reed Richards had not even heard his approach. “It’s almost like some great idol. A monument to your genius, Reed!” Stark raised the glass he was holding in salute and Richards saw that same sense of wonder sparkling in the eyes of his old, dear friend.

They had attended college together. Only one semester actually, but in the long run it had been one of the most influential terms of their collegiate experiences. It had been one class at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology taught by the Father of Modern Robotics, Phineas Thomas Horton; the creator of the world’s first robotic android, the Human Torch! He had attended on a special grant from State University, along with his then friend Victor Von Doom and had met Stark as well as the African monarch, T’Challa and Henry Pym who had later majored in Biology. It had been a whirlwind semester of learning, but they had each come away all the better for the teachings of Horton. That had been the seed that had led to this…

Stark of course was a genius, not only in the field of Robotics, but in weaponry and finances and literally anything that he wished to conquer. He was a billionaire, perhaps the richest man in America if not the world, his money building on the financial empire that his father had created years before. The patents of Anthony Stark were legendary. He was the greatest supplier and manufacturer of weaponry and security devices to the United States military as well as most of the United Nations. His company—-Stark Industries—-was a worldwide conglomerate, having primary bases and subsidiaries at every point on the compass, every worthwhile position on the globe. He had been the first independent not backed by a major world power to successfully place an operating space station in orbit about the Earth. S.I. One sat perpetually in synchronous orbit between the Earth and the Moon—-the destination of the Excelsior, and the team that would be riding her soon…

And what a team that Stark had gathered! He had first contacted T’Challa, their old friend from Wakanda and had incorporated the Wakandan technological advances with his own to create the Excelsior. The shuttle itself had been designed initially by Richards, a rather simplistic reconfiguration of the government’s decades old original designs. Richards had eliminated several flaws in the original shuttle’s schematics and had incorporated one of his own early computer designs to coordinate the onboard functions. The shielding had been designed by the scientists at NASA—the controversial Teflon solar tiles that had been the downfall of two previous shuttles. T’Challa had called in the brilliant mind of Doctor Myron MacLain, the inventor of the super metal Adamantium to work in conjunction with Wakandan Technologies to create a better shielding using MacLain’s miracle metal and Wakanda’s own Vibranium. It was rumored that such a combination had been tried years before—the result being the shield carried by the World War Two hero, Captain America! They had apparently failed to recreate the unique composition that had formulated the structure of the shield, but they had created something similar enough that it was worth testing on the Excelsior.

Stark had hired Ben Grimm as the shuttle’s pilot for its maiden voyage. Grimm had been Richard’s roommate at State University, and they had been the best of friends for so long. It was Richards in fact that had suggested Grimm as the pilot, knowing well his friend’s military record from the US Air Force. Stark had agreed after investigating the man of course, and had chosen a suitable co-pilot from his own staff. Ann Darnell had been one of Tony Stark’s most trusted personal pilots and had logged almost as many hours in the air as had Grimm. Neither had actually been into space, but both had been into the Earth’s outer atmosphere; Grimm piloting the Delta Wing for the military and Darnell flying the Stark Industries equivalent. It was only a margin of a few hours flying time that had made Grimm the flight commander rather than the woman. She was also reputed to be a rather respected life support technologist, which was why Stark assigned her the second seat in the flight with the additional duties of her true calling.

Once the shuttle had broken free of the Earth’s orbit, it would then incorporate the engine specifications of another member of the flight crew. Josef Geiger was a genius in his own right and had tapped into the very forces of the Earth’s gravitational field for his discoveries. He had invented the anti-gravity discs that had made so many common jobs of menial labor all the easier. His inventions had made him a millionaire, and his studies had led him to create an actual anti-gravity engine that had been incorporated into the Excelsior’s design. Stark had hired him based on the initial designs of his engine and hoped to incorporate those designs into an actual working starship that was being constructed in ‘dry-dock’ at SI-One! A starship designed in full by Reed Richards and utilizing the new Negative Space Drive that he had developed for potential interstellar travel.

The final member of the mission team was Richard’s Executive Manager and right hand woman—-Susan Storm. Reed Richards had learned long ago that though he had a head for numbers, he had no time—-or desire—-to manage the money of his inheritance let alone the income brought forth by his many patents. Realizing that he was woefully inadequate in such matters, he immediately hired Storm whom he had met at her aunt’s boarding house in New York when he was an undergraduate student at Columbia University. True, she was young—-younger than him by almost eleven years—-but she was probably the most sensible, if not beautiful woman that he had ever met. And she seemed to like him. There were definite sparks…

Richards jumped, feeling the hand fall on his shoulder, breaking him from his reveries. He turned, smelling the smoke of the stale cigar and knowing who was there behind him instantly-

“Ben!”

Ben Grimm smiled around the bit of his cigar. He seemed casually at ease as always, despite the weight of responsibility that had to be hanging about his shoulders. Richards noted that his best friend was already fully suited in his flight suit—save the helmet that sat with the others in a rack by the security door. Grimm glanced a long look at the shuttle towering in the distance, then turned back to his friend-

“You okay, pal? You seemed a billion miles away there fer a minute. You’re usually just a million. Not havin’ second thoughts are ya?”

“I certainly hope not!”

The two men turned at the voice, an intruder on their conversation. Richards felt his friend tense. He had never liked Geiger, and though the man was rather abrasive, Richards was willing to overlook it. The man was a genius in his own field after all.

“It would certainly not do to have the famous Reed Richards suddenly worried over the launch of his most touted invention. It will fly, won’t it Richards?”

Josef Geiger stepped between the two men and smirked. There was a rivalry between he and Geiger, though Richards had never understood why. Their fields of research were related, but far too divided to be of any real consequence. Richards looked the shorter man up and down and saw that he was fully dressed for the flight as well, but wearing the modified helmet that he had created to better control his anti-gravitational devices that would be instrumental in the flight. Richards saw too that like Grimm, the man was smoking.

“It’ll fly Geiger,” Richards said smugly, glaring at the man’s cigarette, “so long as no extraneous smoke disrupts the computer systems. They are quite delicate and calibrated with the utmost sensitivity.” Geiger chuckled-

“Just a last smoke before we’re off, Richards. It’ll be some time before we get the chance again, eh Grimm?”

“Yeah, Geiger.” Ben Grimm agreed, giving the man a glare of annoyance. “Smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.”

Geiger took a final drag and tossed his butt to the floor, grinding it under his heel. “Yes, well…” he glanced out the security window and Richards saw his eyes light up. Reed Richards followed the man’s gaze and saw Ann Darnell riding in the back of a service cart along with Sue Storm and heading for the scaffolding. It was no secret that Geiger found Darnell attractive. For some reason she seemed to like him as well. Richards could not fathom it, and was glad that it was not his concern.

“Best get a move on gentlemen. Time is money as Mr. Stark might say,” Geiger smirked, glancing from Richards to Grimm and then to Anthony Stark himself.

“My father used to say that, Geiger,” Stark swallowed the last of whatever he was drinking and set the empty glass on a side table. “I don’t recall that I ever did. But you’re right. Time to get this show on the road.”

The three men watched as Geiger bowed ever so slightly, then made his way out of the Ready Room and onto the tarmac, waiting to catch the next service cart to the shuttle. Ben Grimm sighed-

“What an ass.”

“You got that right, Ben,” Stark agreed, signing a sheaf of papers that a technician had presented him for scrutiny. “Unfortunately, he’s a wizard at what he does. We wouldn’t be where we are today without him-”

“Without any of you I would think.”

Again the three men turned, but this time they were pleased to see that the other final main financier and technological backer of the Excelsior Mission had joined them. King T’Challa of the hidden and secluded African nation of Wakanda was the youngest among them, but he was by no means the least. He was a handsome man, and proud by the way that he carried himself even dressed in so mundane a suit as the Stark Industries coveralls. He was at least as intelligent as Stark and Richards, and as wealthy, having the world’s monopoly on that strange and rare metal found chiefly in the Wakandas—Vibranium. He had over a hundred minor patents to his name, and in the name of his country. He had studied at the finest universities around the world, and there were few that did not acknowledge his genius.

“This has truly been a joint effort my friends, and I would hate that any bad feelings between any of our group might distract from the sense of accomplishment we must share today.”

“Easy fer you ta say, T’Challa,” Grimm chuckled, dousing his cigar in a nearby ashtray and retrieving his helmet and flight kit. “You don’t gotta be cooped up in that shuttle fer twelve hours with the world’s brainiest boors. If it wasn’t fer my dear old Aunt Petunia, I’d chuck the whole bunch’a ya fer a quick flight in Stark’s Stealth Viper.”
Reed Richards remembered the laughter they had shared that day. Perhaps the last laugh that he recalled.

It had all gone so wrong…

Part Two:

PS 21; Manhattan; Some Weeks After…

Johnny Storm leaned against the cool stone wall watching as his old classmates made their way outside after the final bell of another grueling day at school. He smirked, standing back in the shadows, watching as they flooded out the doors laughing and shouting, running for their cars and the buses. Bunch of dweebs!

If they only knew…

Still, he missed some of it. He missed hanging out with his friends. He missed the lunch hour drives and cutting class to go into the city. He missed the girls. The girls most of all.

The last six months had been something like hell was supposed to be, he imagined. Ever since the accident he had been watched and prodded like a lab rat, and he had hated every minute of it. There had been endless tests by Richards and the rest of the ‘Brain Drain’ at Stark’s. He had been sucked dry of his blood and zapped with every form of light that he could imagine, and a lot that he had never even heard of. He had been quarantined away from his friends at one of Stark’s complexes and had not seen a one of them in all that time. Worst of all was that his sister had been hovering over him like a fucking vulture just waiting for him to screw up. Her and that stiff-ass boyfriend of hers! Richards was alright he supposed, but he was like ancient, and way too old for Sue. She could definitely do better. About the only thing that had made the last six months bearable was Grimm. He was okay—good for a laugh! Poor Thing—

Heh!

Johnny Storm looked up, hearing a familiar voice, a soft tinkling of crystal laughter. He scanned the crowd still streaming form the school—-though it had thinned somewhat—-searching for that familiar fall of brown hair, that curvaceous ass pored into tight blue jeans-

“Sandy!”

Sandy Turner turned at the sound of his voice calling her name and Johnny Storm just had to sigh. Her big brown eyes were wide with shock to see him approaching, stepping suddenly from the shadows like he was. He could see that she was trying not to smile, trying to hide her true feelings. She looked great—-hot! She really filled out her jeans and sweater, and she looked tight in that letterman’s jacket, despite that it was not his. Yeah—-she wanted him…

Unfortunately she was still hanging off the arm of Brad Colier—-jock-head dick for brains, Captain of Varsity Hoops and all around ass! He was a senior, and Johnny could not even see what he would be doing with Dorie—-she was a sophomore like him—-even though she was the hottest girl in his class. He was too old for her! Why didn’t he find a girl his own age?

“Hey Sandy?” Johnny called, jogging up to the pair, trying to ignore Brad. “Got a minute?”

Sandy was about to say something when Brad stepped forward, that smarmy smirk curling his lips. Johnny remembered the last time he had seen that twisted smile—-six months ago…

Six Months Before…

Johnny storm felt his eye already starting to swell as he fell to the dirt. His lip was bleeding, and it felt as though he had broken a tooth when he had so foolishly thrust his face in front of Brad Colier’s fist. He wouldn’t cry though! No matter how hard they beat him down, he-would-not-cry!

“C’mon, pussy! Get up!”

Brad Colier stood over him looking like the ass that he was. He had his fists curled and raised like he was trying to be a boxer. He was a dick, and Johnny was sure that he could have taken the ass if he hadn’t had his ball buddies backing him up. Johnny tried to rise-

Colier’s foot slammed into Johnny’s ribs and he went tumbling across the parking lot amidst the mocking laughter of his peers. Johnny moaned, holding his chest.

“C’mon, Storm! You were talkin’ big a minute ago!” Colier chided and his crew laughed. “Get up so I can kick your ass again!”

Johnny Storm was no idiot. He knew that Colier had the upper hand and even if Johnny should get in a shot or two, the ass would have his friends pound the shit out of him. Johnny stayed down and spat the foul taste of blood from his mouth.

“Leave him alone, Brad.”

Divine intervention—Johnny looked up to see Sandy Turner grabbing at Colier’s arm and staring down at him in sympathy. Great!

Sandy had been the reason that they had been fighting. Johnny had been lusting after the beautiful Miss Turner for the last quarter, but as luck would have it, when he finally got her alone where they could talk in peace, Colier had come across them and gotten jealous. Consequently Johnny—-a skinny kid, but a scrapper at heart—-had gotten his ass whupped thoroughly in front of the girl of his dreams. All that was left was for his sister to show up and rescue him…

Colier draped an arm around Sandy’s shoulders and kissed her, marking his territory-

“All right, babe. I think the squirt’s learned his lesson!”

God, who talks like that?

“Stay outta my way, Storm. Stay away from my girl, or I’ll kick your ass again. Next time for keeps!”

Johnny tried to laugh, but it hurt-

“Fuck you asshole!”

Johnny watched as Sandy led her boyfriend away. She had to tug and pull for a bit, but Colier finally stalked off, Sandy Turner hanging on his arm. But she looked back…

She looked back with a smile…

“Oh my God! Johnny! What happened?”

Johnny Storm shrugged as he tossed his jacket across the banister, trying to ignore his sister’s rant at his appearance. He looked like shit he knew; black eye, fat lip, and swollen nose. He did not need Sue pointing it out to the whole boarding house.

“Have you been fighting again?”

“Duh!” Johnny snapped. For as smart as she was supposed to be, his sister could be pretty dense.

“Oh, Johnny…”

Johnny shrugged again, thumbing through the mail on the hall table. He never got mail, but it seemed something that he should do. With his father in jail, he was the man of the house—no matter what Sue thought!

“It’s nothin’, Sis. Don’t worry about it.”

“But why tonight, Johnny? Of all nights?” She was at his side then, and somehow had a cool wash cloth in her hand, wiping at the dried blood on his face. He pulled away-

“I said don’t worry about it! I’ll handle it! You just go off into space and have fun, all right!”

Johnny Storm was more than just a bit annoyed that his sister had been asked to take the ride to the Stark space station and he had not. Sure, she was humping Richards—-or ought’a be by now—-but she was just a number cruncher, no more qualified to go into space than he was. He knew that if he went on the shuttle, he’d have Sandy like that (he snapped his fingers)! It just was not fair…

He stormed off, slamming the door to his room and diving onto his bed, prepared to sulk. He wished that there was some way to show her—-to show them all that he was a man. That he was the man!

The carry bin had been labeled FLAMMABLE, but that had not stopped him. As Sue Storm’s brother he had received a Guest Pass onto the Stark Industries base at Great Abaco—-since she had insisted that he come along to watch the shuttle launch. She had figured that he would sit happily with the media and watch the launch from a safe distance no doubt-

Hello!

He had never been to the Bahamas, but he did not really give a shit for white beaches and rolling waves. He wanted to be on that shuttle. He had as much right to be there as his sister, and he would be if he had to sneak on inside of a rocket propellant canister…

And he did!

If not for the fuckin’ security guard…

Johnny had heard the dweeb-

“I know you’re in here! Come out! This is dangerous!”

What an idiot.

Johnny had looked up in shock as the lid to the canister that he had hidden in flew off, the curly headed security guard staring down at him, shining a flashlight in his face-

“Gotch’a!”

Johnny tried to squirm away as the guard reached into the canister and wrapped a meaty paw in Johnny’s collar. With barely a grunt the security guard heaved and hauled the struggling boy from his hiding place-

“C’mon, hotshot! Ain’t no room for stowaways on this flight.” The guard planted Johnny Storm on the ground, spying the guest pass dangling from the boy’s neck-

“What’s this?” the guard asked, grabbing the laminated pass and holding it close, reading it in the glow of his flashlight as he twisted his fingers in Johnny’s collar. “Storm…Yer that Sue Storm’s brother then, her son?”

“Eat me you-”

There was a flash of light that lit up the airfield. The guard gasped, turning as the first wave of hot wind washed over him. Johnny winced as the sound erupted about them, the very ground rumbling and cracking as a fireball erupted far and away into the night sky-

“What the fu-”

“Holee…”

Both Johnny and the guard stared dumbfounded as one of the three rockets erupted in an inferno of fire and light. The rumbling continued, and the ground still shook but they could both hear the sirens of emergency vehicles speeding to the scene. Johnny saw helicopters suddenly in the air, searchlights beaming, and hovercrafts skipping over the tarmac from the far side of the field. The guard heard his radio erupt in a cacophony of static and garbled, shouted exclamations.

“C’mon, kid. I dunno what’s happening, but I gotta get to the office!”

Johnny Storm started to protest but the guard ignored him, simply yanking on the boy’s collar and pulling him along as he charged across the field…

Later Again…

“Sandy!”

Johnny called out, running to catch up to the girl of his dreams. She was staring at him, confused and no doubt surprised to see him after more than six months. Did he have a surprise for her!

“Johnny? What are you doing here? I’d heard you transferred?”

“I did—” Johnny smiled, “sort of. I have a tutor now. I—”

“Special Ed Storm? I figured you were slow!”

Brad Colier stepped in front of the girl and puffed up before Johnny Storm. He was preening and strutting for his woman. Johnny smirked, shrugging his jacket on his shoulders. He was getting warm…

Hot!

“You still hanging with this ass, Sandy?”

“Johnny… I-”

“Get lost, Storm!” Colier reached out and shoved Johnny back, making him stumble. Johnny noticed that he looked oddly at his hand. “You want more a’ what you got the last time?”

“Oh please, Brad!” Johnny chuckled. “Please don’t beat me up again.”

Brad Colier smiled and looked about to see if anyone was watching. To his delight, a crowd was starting to gather.

“I’ll give you one chance—-pussy! Take off now an’ I won’t kick your ass again! We all make mistakes.”

Johnny smiled—-“Bite me, dickwad!”

Johnny Storm saw Brad’s face flush with rage and knew that his rival was about to explode. Johnny eased back, letting Sandy step away and allowing Brad the first—and last swing of the fight. Brad lunged…

Johnny sidestepped the lumbering oaf easily. Grimm had taught him that. He heard Brad charging away, caught up in his own momentum. Johnny Storm raised his arms and called forth the flame…

Johnny Storm twirled his finger casually, watching as lassoes of flame encircled Brad Colier. His foe and rival sputtered to an abrupt halt, and Johnny could see his over-endowed body tensing with sudden fear. He was wrapped head to toe in bands of fire, and as Johnny clenched his fist, the bands tightened-

“Who’s the pussy now, Brad?” Johnny chuckled to hear the boy whimper as the loops of fire encircling him started to constrict and burn. There was a burst of smoke and Brad’s clothes evaporated away in a cloud. Brad whined as the flames singed his body hair and sizzled at his skin. He was writhing in pain and embarrassment-

Johnny motioned and the flame danced at his command. He was not hurting the other boy. Stark’s technicians had taught him to control the fire at least over the past six months. He could control the heat and flame to a few inches. He could burn away Brad’s clothes, strip his body of hair, make his skin blister and still not really hurt him… much!

The flash of light in the sky drew his attention away and Johnny Storm looked up. He was surprised and disappointed to see the stylized ‘4’ floating down through the sky. It was the call, finally. Finally something to do.

Johnny heard Brad crying. He saw the puddle forming at his feet, the yellow stream trickling down his leg. Johnny laughed-

“Flame on!”

Johnny Storm ignored the screams of the gathered crowd as they surged back and away as the flame erupted about him. Fuck them! Who were they? He reveled in the heat and light!

He lived for the fire!

Pier 4; Manhattan; Today…

Johnny Storm blinked, looking up out of the wreckage to see the Fantasti-Flare erupting overhead. It was arching high in the hazy sky, riding a breeze somewhere blowing from uptown where the Baxter Building was being rebuilt. Reed then, probably, or maybe Sue.

Johnny let his flame flare to white-hot intensity, briefly, his brow barely wrinkling with the slightest concentration needed to control the fire and heat. He directed the contained inferno on the large mass of debris held aloft out over the garbage scow, watching as the crane’s cable swayed under the massive weight, judging the slight winds blowing off of New York Harbor and colliding with those washing up and down the Hudson. He glanced at the heavy crane’s cab and got the thumbs up sign from the operator and smiled. He let loose his power with a sigh. Almost instantly the contained debris flared brightly, glowing with a white light that was blinding to all but one. There was the slightest sound, like crumpling plastic and the bulk of debris; damaged machinery, brick, steel girders, all seemed to simply vanish. Nothing remained save smaller bits of molten slag that dropped harmlessly into the service compartment of the chemically treated scow, and the metal-linked salvage net now hanging limply and empty at the end of the crane’s cable.

Johnny Storm’s smile never faltered as he changed his thought process, his concentration turning from producing heat rather to gathering it in. He strolled forward, his gaze drifting right and left as he watched the heat currents swell and swirl, drawing in those areas that seemed to linger intensely and finally absorbing the excess still bound within the cable and netting. After a moment he nodded at the crane’s operator and she smiled in return, climbing from her box and jogging forward, lowering her protective, shaded goggles-

“God, mister Storm,” she said almost gushing, “that was awesome!”

Johnny smiled his thanks for her praise, looking her up and down. She was sweating; her face lined with rivulets cutting through the grease and dirt. She was sort of cute, in a pudgy kind of way with her messy red hair pulled back in a tail to better show her deep dimples. Johnny had had more than enough redheads in his life however, smirking as he indicated the flare in the sky-

“Listen…” Johnny hesitated, trying to remember the woman’s name, “Annie! I gotta go-”

Annie looked up in wonder, nodding as she shielded her eyes from the glare of the hot, humid sky. “Duty calls, I saw. Go! It’ll be awhile before we’re ready for you again.”

Johnny Storm nodded; taking a lingering look about the demolished pier that used to be his home. The fight with Diablo * and his Elementals not so long ago have destroyed not only Pier 4, but also the headquarters and residence of the Fantastic Four all in one fell swoop. There was little left, and anything useful had been swept up by SHIELD and Stark who now held most of Reed’s more current patents—for Fantastic Four Incorporated they claimed. Johnny had his doubts, but still both SHIELD and Stark had been good and quick about the clean-up, sending in not only their own Haz-Mat teams but Damage Control as well. The FF however felt responsibility though, and Ben, Sue and Johnny all three had volunteered their time to help in removal of some of the more cumbersome debris that still littered what was left of the reinforced pier and the surrounding waters.

Of course, that left the Fantastic Four without a home at the moment. Reed and Sue had converted some of the office space in the Baxter Building to a temporary residence for each of them, but they were literally living out of boxes until SHIELD and Stark completed construction to Reed’s specifications. It seemed to be taking forever.

Johnny motioned Annie back, watching as the Fantasti-Flare spiraled, finally stabilizing to point the direction of the emergency. It was then that Johnny saw the black column of smoke billowing skyward from somewhere uptown.

“Flame on!”

He heard Annie gasp as flame erupted about his body. He contained the heat and fire, reeling in the energies of the flaming field surrounding him as he rose slowly into the air so as not to accidentally burn anyone or anything that might have strayed too close. He increased his speed, riding the thermals, the field making him lighter than air as he arched up and away from the devastation that was once his home. He took a final glance along the flaming trail that lingered in his wake, watching as Annie waved all clear, dwindling as he soared higher. Everything was fine, all safe. He had learned that hard lesson a long time ago…

Part Three:

The Baxter Building; Manhattan; Today…

Susan Richards leaned back in her chair and propped her aching feet up on the edge of the table, crossing them at the ankles. Her blue eyes sparkled in the dim fluorescent lighting, flickering as she focused her attention on the computer screen in front of her as she watched the scrolling numbers flow smoothly by. She was glad that Reed had hooked up her terminal to the network he was setting up in throughout the building. It was not connected to SHIELD yet, or the Avengers Database as it once had been, but it was linked to his research labs in Antarctica so that she could still call up all of their old files. And of course the T-One Line brought up anything on the Internet instantaneously.

Susan rubbed her feet together absent-mindedly as she watched the stock ticker scrolling by, making both mental notes as well as more lasting ones on her Tablet PDA. She had had to put on one of her older uniforms that had been in storage in Connecticut while her only other was being ‘destabilized’. The Unstable Molecules that comprised all of their uniforms and most of her clothes were easy enough to clean, however after an ungodly length of wear even they began to retain body odor and the worst dirt and the uniforms especially had to be periodically realigned and refreshed. With most of their belongings being destroyed with Pier 4 recently that left most of them literally with the clothes on their backs.

Reed and Sue of course still had property in Susan Storm’s name in Connecticut where they used to have a house. The house was long gone, sucked into the Netherworld during a battle with Mephisto, but they still had a storage space there and thankfully some of their more personal possessions. Unfortunately there had only been one uniform and it was woefully outdated, though oddly as fashion went, it was almost back in style.

Sue tugged at the hem of her mini skirt as she smiled, tapping her stylus at the PDA’s screen to make note of a positive turn of stock. Reed’s own funds, along with those of FF Inc., had been frozen by the government as soon as he had signed his deal with Stark and subsequently SHIELD, turning over his most recent patents to them along with any physical holdings and funds—-liquid or potential. Luckily however, Susan Richards was no idiot.

As Executive Manager of not only Fantastic Four Incorporated, but the ‘household’ funds of the Richards Family as well she felt more than a little responsible for their sudden turn of poverty. She had always had a head for business and figures despite earlier interpretations to the contrary. She had majored in business in college and had been more than prepared to become a Wall Street drone early on—-at least for awhile, at least until she could accumulate a small fortune that she and Johnny might have survived on.

Of course, then she had met Reed Richards…

For all of his brilliance, Reed had proved to be financially ignorant. It was not that he was not smart, he had after all known well enough to secure patents for his inventions, but he had no business savvy to speak of. Remarkably he had contracted the Law Firm of Nelson and Murdock early on. Granted, they specialized in criminal cases and were courtroom lawyers, but Nelson had an incredible mind for legalese and contractional jargon. Nelson’s work had netted FF Inc. millions from the start, which had allowed them initially to set up shop as the Fantastic Four. Unfortunately the Firm had had problems of their own at one point and though Franklin Nelson and Matt Murdock both remained on tab individually, the managing of the corporation’s money fell to Sue.

She had done a good job she had thought, at least at first, redistributing not only Reed’s fortunes, but also her own meager finances as well. Reed however, in his ignorance had made some bad decisions over the years and despite her best efforts his fortunes had dwindled. At one point he had actually purchased the Baxter Building’s lease and commitments, though the land had still belonged to Noah Baxter. Another time their more prominent stocks had plummeted, leaving them all penniless for a time and in debt to their creditors beyond imagining. Sue had found it hard to believe that Reed had run up the debts that he had, and as soon as they had lost their cushion of cash flow the creditors had swooped in like vultures. There had been far too many similar occurrences, and it seemed that any time the tide turned against the Fantastic Four, or even the Avengers they had suffered. It was like a line of dominoes that perpetually threatened to fall.

With the latest disaster, and the death of Noah Baxter, Sue finally decided that she had had enough. Like it or not, it was time to take Reed out of the financial picture. It would be to his benefit in the long run, but he of course would not understand that. He would rant and rave and feel that she had stabbed him in the back of course, but he had to realize that the decisions he made financially were killing them—figuratively at least. He wanted her to be his Exec, so that was what she was going to do…

She was in total control of the finances now—at least those beyond Reed’s direct influence—everything that he had not signed away to Stark and SHIELD. Granted, it wasn’t much, and she had to admit that it was better than Gideon Corp getting their hands on everything. She had wondered just what they had wanted with Reed’s patents and finances, but they had a team of lawyers that even Franklin Nelson could not seem to crack. It was only her own vested interest that kept Reed’s patents out of their hands, though she was starting to wonder if maybe they had traded one problem for another. Tony Stark was not a problem, and Stark Industries had always been a friend—except of course for that time with Stane—-but SHIELD was all about the government, and Fury it seemed was little more than their lapdog of late…

Sue smiled, leaning forward and putting both feet back on the floor as she dragged a quote from the ticker into its file. Nintendo was up ten whole points with the recent release of their newest version of the X-Box complete with Reed’s three-dimensional Holo-chip and computerized relay buffers. Susan Richards redirected those stocks and their gross profit into another dozen shares and a sizable addition to one of the many IRA’s that she had set up. Another ten thousand for the coffers…

“Mommy?”

Sue jumped, turning to see the frowning, worried face of her son Franklin looking up at her with watery eyes. He was dressed in blue jeans and a dirty FF tee shirt, his blonde hair a tousled mess as he held up one of his action figures for her inspection-

“I killed Cap, Mommy…”

Sue smiled as she looked at the little Captain America doll that her son held in his hands. The figure was twisted about at odd angles that the real Cap could never achieve in one hand while he gingerly held the head out in the other for her to see. Franklin’s voice was choked and she could see that he was about to cry-

“Oh, Franklin,” she said leaning forward and taking the pieces of the doll in her own blue-gloved hands, “who did this to poor Cap? The Red Skull?”

Franklin shook his head, trying to hold back the tears, “It was Unca Ben. He was runnin’ amok…”

Sue smiled at her son’s problem, wishing that her own were so easily rectified. She examined the bits of the doll and concentrated, directing the slightest bit of her invisible force field to expand the rubbery stud that had once held Cap’s head to his body. She molded the plug back into shape, then slipped the hollow rubber head back into place before handing the little doll back to Franklin-

“There you are, Sweety. Good as new. Cap’s pretty tough, so I think he’ll be fine.”

“Thanks Mommy!”

Sue’s heart melted to see her son’s wide smile as he accepted the fixed action figure and ran from the room, off to some new imaginary battle. Franklin didn’t seem to have a clue as to the current dire straits of his family, and she would be damned if he would ever learn. He was her heart and soul, her everything, and she would die before he suffered in the slightest.

Susan Richards turned back to the computer monitor and sighed to see the Pop-up ad that had appeared. Not an ad really, but an emergency message from Reed in the form of a little Message Box with the world famous FF ‘4’ blinking in the frame. Some emergency had popped up somewhere, and the FF’s contractional obligations meant that they had to investigate whether for SHIELD, Stark or Uncle Sam. Sue leaned back crossing her legs as she directed the IR Mouse to activate the feed. There was a quick swirl of images as the internal videos focused on the direct cam centered on her husband’s face. His visage was determined, and she could tell that his attention was on something else—-

“Reed?” she said, trying to get his attention. Her husband blinked, his head turning slightly as he looked at his own monitor screen. “What’s the problem?” she asked.

“Sorry to bother you, Sue, but Fury wants us in Harlem ASAP. There’s some problem at the old Chemical Treatment Plant involving a Marvel.”

Sue found herself tapping her nails on the tabletop as she sighed again, nodding, “Okay, Reed. I’ll meet you on Level 57. We can take the ‘Tub’.” Reed nodded and severed the connection.

Sue recrossed her legs and scrolled down through her work, hi-lighting a few things that she copied into other files as she started to shut down her computer. It was annoying to say the least, being at the beck and call of the likes of SHIELD. She wondered briefly just how the Avengers had managed the arrangement for so many years. She would have to ask Jan next time they got together.

Susan Richards stood and stretched as her terminal went dark and she shut down the monitor. She had activated her priority programs to redirect any pertinent data while she was away, but she knew there would be a load to wade through if the current crisis took too long. She wondered briefly just which Marvel they were going to encounter; what they wanted, who they were, why they were doing whatever they were doing. The villains that they had encountered over the years often had queer ideas behind their actions, motives that made sense only to them. It was bizarre indeed—almost like an episode of Scooby Doo when the villains finally came clean and announced their motives-

“And they would have gotten away with it if not for Richards and his group…”

Sue laughed, shutting down the power and heading for the elevator. She stood before the doors and activated her IR beam sequestered in the emblem on her belt buckle that would activate the elevators. Sometimes the old ways were the best…

Years Ago…

“My god, Johnny!” Sue Storm looked up as her brother slammed through the door and shut it behind him. He looked frenzied, harried, his skin ashen and he was dripping in sweat. His eyes were crackling in panic-

“Sue!” he said, gasping for breath as he fell back against the closed door of the boarding house. His head darted about, looking right and left as he stared wide-eyed at his sister. “Sue! I burned a kid today! Just now! A little bit ago!”

Susan Storm stared at her brother in disbelief, shaking her head. She could see the panic in her brother’s eyes and knew that he was telling the truth, but she could not imagine how it could have happened. They had been so careful-

“Johnny!” she shouted, rushing forward. She could see the sweat forming on his brow, the wild look in his eyes. He was scared. “What happened?”

“I went back to school,” Johnny said looking about the main room of the boarding house. “I wanted to impress Sandy, show her what I could do-”

“Oh Johnny…” Sue said with some annoyance. They had told him over and over, “What happened?”

“I burned him, Sue!” Johnny snapped, his gaze flicking about the room as he licked his lips. “I burned Brad Colier! I didn’t mean to-”

“Jesus…”

Sue pinched the bridge of her nose as she shook her head. They had all warned Johnny and Ben against using their powers to get revenge and restitution. So far Ben had been cooperative, but Johnny-

“What did you do?”

“I—” he began, glancing out the window as though the police were hot on his trail. “I burned a kid—-Brad Colier. He deserved it—”

“No one deserves it Johnny,” Sue snapped, “No one! We’re special now. We have great power, and with that comes——”

“Great responsibility…” Johnny frowned, flopping down into one of the chairs in the parlor of the boarding house, “I know, but he deserved it. Sandy—”

Sue Storm swung, her open palm connecting on her brother’s cheek with a resounding ‘slap’. Johnny Storm blinked, staring up at the enraged face of his sister, heat rising from his body as his clothes started to smolder…

“Pull your head out of your ass, Johnny!” Sue said, shouting at her stunned brother. He started rubbing his cheek where she had hit him, his face a mask of shock—

“You think this is some game?” she shouted, hovering over him. “you think this is a joke? Jesus! We’re stronger than them now, Johnny! We can do things that they only dream of, but we have to hold it all together. We can’t use our powers to do whatever we feel like-”

“He called me a Mutie-”

“I don’t care what he called you!” she shouted, leaning in close so that her face was just inches from her brother’s. “You need to restrain yourself or all of this—all of what we’re trying to do goes right down the drain. You will fucking pull your head out of your ass and do the right thing or so help me I will kick you out and leave you penniless on the streets. Do not mess with me Jonathan…”

Johnny Storm stared up at his sister and saw the fire in her eyes, her blue, piercing gaze making him tremble. She was totally serious he knew, he could hear it in her voice…

“But…”

“But nothing,” she snapped, turning away as she lit a cigarette. She took a long hard drag and tried to calm herself-

“Tell me what happened and I’ll call Nelson so he can take care of it.” Blue smoke swirled about her as she folded her arms over her chest, trying to calm down. “So help me Johnny, if you’ve soured this deal for Reed I’ll rip off your balls and we’ll never have to worry about any ‘Sandy’ again…”

Johnny Storm’s eyes grew wide as his sister turned, her steely gaze drilling a hole into his soul. She was serious, and Johnny knew then and there that his childhood had ended. He hung his head-

“I’m sorry, Sue…”

“I know, Johnny,” he heard her say as she tossed her cigarette to the floor and crushed it under the toe of her pump. “You’ve been sorry now for years, and I’ve had enough. Change… Now… or so help me God I’ll do it myself.”

Johnny shivered, but nodded…

Things had changed…

Part Four:

The Yancy Street Bar; Manhattan; Today…

Ben Grimm stared at his beer, turning the thick, damp glass mug about in his hands. It was strange to see the soft pink flesh after so long, so many years. Oh he had seen the skin before—his real skin—time and again Reed had found some way to change him back from the rocky form of the Thing to the real flesh and blood of Benjamin J. Grimm, but those changes had been fleeting and few and far between. There had always been a catch it seemed, some snafu that made all of Reed’s hard work simply go away and brought back the ugly, misshapen monstrosity that he had seen in the mirror for so many years. He sighed, raising his mug and swallowing the last of his beer, then slamming the glass back to the bar-

“Set me up again, Joe…”

The bartender looked up while rubbing out a glass, toweling it dry-

“Think maybe you’ve had enough, Ben.” Joe Collins smirked, watching as his old friend swayed on the barstool, digging into his Fantastic Four jacket for a cigar and matches, lighting it. Ben Grimm’s hands shivered from the alcohol. He was getting drunk in his new—old human form, unlike his rocky body that seemed to be able to drink the night away.

“I’ll let’cha know when I’ve had enough, Colly,” Ben Grimm said as he puffed on his stogie, “you jus’ keep settin’ ‘em up, an’ I’ll keep knockin’ ‘em down…”

Joe Collins smiled, watching as Ben shoved his empty mug towards the back edge of the bar. He had known the Thing for years, ever since Primary School way back when, when they were both just kids running wild in the Yancy Street Gang back in Hell’s Kitchen. Those were the days, but now Joe Collins owned and ran the Yancy Street Bar that he and Ben had snuck into so many times in their youth, and Ben was a member of the world-renowned Fantastic Four. Things had certainly changed over the years…

Some Time Ago…

Joseph Collins looked up as the door swung open, slamming against the back wall behind it with enough force to knock it from its hinges. He heard the few people still in the bar gasp to see the huge, hulking form that stood in the doorway, soaking wet from the rain and backlit from lightning. Thunder rumbled as Joe Collins reached for his sawed-off under the bar-

“At ease, Joey,” the shadowy figure said. He was dressed in a long trenchcoat and a big floppy hat, both of which clung to his bulky body doing little to hide his massive shape. “It’s me…”

Joe Collins blinked, staring at the body framed in the doorway of the bar he had purchased not so long ago. The Yancy Street Bar was little more than a hole in the wall with a bar and a line of stools, a few booths, and a phone booth. Collins had dreams though, dreams and ideas, and he planned on turning the old bar that he had visited so often as a youth into something special. He had snuck into the bar so many times as a kid, Jimmy O’Connor sneaking him and Ben Grimm drinks when no one was looking. It seemed only natural that he should one day buy the place, and with the current run of real estate in Times Square and Hell’s Kitchen, well, the future looked bright. Not as bright as the future of Ben Grimm of course, despite what had happened to him…

“Ben?”

A few of the other regulars looked up as the door slammed shut again and the massive figure strode across the room. One or two got up and left, but Grimm didn’t seem to notice or care. He sauntered right up and took a seat—or two—at the bar, rapping his knuckles down as he threw a wad of money onto the old, dark countertop-

“Buy the bar, Colly,” he said, looking up and meeting Joseph Collins’ gaze. That first time, only once, Joe Collins gasped-

“Jesus…”

Ben Grimm had looked up, his tiny dark eyes almost lost in the shadows and the folds of his thick orange skin. “Not a pretty sight, eh Joe?”

“I’m sorry, Ben,” Collins said as he slid a mug of beer before the thing seated at his bar. He had heard of that Hulk creature out west, and that Spider-Man right here in Manhattan, but he had never thought in a million years to actually see one of the Marvels—let alone one of them be a friend…

“No harm, Colly,” Ben Grimm said raising the mug to his lips and downing the brew. He slammed the mug down on the bar, watching as old man Polanski slinked out without a word. “No foul… Hit me again…”

it took almost twenty minutes for the bar to empty and even the most dedicated drinkers to move on. It was another ten before Collins found the courage to ask his friend what had happened…

Six Months Before…

Ben Grimm remembered staring out of the triple-paned security windows, watching as two of the three test rockets burned like Roman Candles. Oddly the Excelsior sat undisturbed, but at the time it didn’t matter. Everyone was running about in a panic, shouting sabotage and Commie propaganda. The consecutive launches had been cancelled, the flight to Stark’s Space Station scrubbed. Geiger and his squeeze, Darnell had vanished in a swarm of security and the rest of the Flight Team, Richards, Storm an’ hisself had been transferred to a different secured room for the duration. Stark and T’Challa had been ushered away in the hubbub, and only Henshaw was on hand for the government, but he seemed just a bit preoccupied-

“I’m sorry, Ben,” Reed Richards said stepping up to the windows and watching as the emergency teams tried to quell the fires raging on the launch platform. No one wanted the main rocket to go, or the shuttle hanging from its back. Ben nodded, lighting his cigar again as he glanced at his old friend. He had known Richards since State U, the two of them actually sharing a room for a few terms. After college Grimm had joined the military, becoming a fighter pilot while Richards had joined the government in other endeavors. Their paths hadn’t crossed again for a few years—not until recently, when Stark had contacted him about flying the Excelsior. Ben had jumped at the chance, he had always wanted to go into space. With Richards involved, Ben knew there would be no problems. Reed Richards was the smartest man he knew.

“S’okay, Reed, no problem. I been a pilot long enough t’ know shit happens…”

“I know that old friend,” Reed said, putting his hand on Ben’s shoulder, “still I know how much you wanted this. If there was some way-”

Everyone jumped and turned as the door was flung open and slammed against the wall behind. Grimm and Richards stepped forward as two security guards stepped forward holding a blonde-haired boy between them-

“Johnny!” Susan Storm shouted as she jumped from her chair and ran forward. The lead guard motioned her to stay back-

“This belong t’ you, lady?” he asked, fumbling his keys out of his pocket and unlocking the handcuffs about the boy’s wrists-

“It’s my brother,” Sue said breathlessly, biting her lower lip as the guard freed him,

“Yeah, well, yer brother’s a prick lady,” the guard said shoving the boy forward. “Best you learn him some manners ‘fore you let ‘im out alone again.” The guard smirked, elbowing his fellow as he shoved Johnny again, sending him sprawling into the room at his sister’s feet. Sue Storm looked up, glaring at the two retreating guards who simply left, locking the door behind them. Sue Storm crouched down at her brother’s side-

“Johnny!” she shouted, her hands probing her brother’s body and looking for injuries-

“I’m okay!” Johnny shouted, pushing his sister back as he stood up and looked around. “What’s happening?” he asked, staring at each glum face in the room, “What’s going on?”

“We’re grounded, son,” Richards said as he returned his attention back to the airfield and the two burning rockets. The emergency crews were still battling the twin blazing skeletons but they seemed to have the fires more or less under control. They were all very lucky that more people were not injured or killed in the initial explosions when the rocket propellant ignited. There had been no official count as yet, but rumors were in the dozens about injured, and so far only two deaths; the pilots of the secondary and tertiary craft who were making their final preflight checks. The Excelsior was still untouched, but as the main financial backer it was Stark’s call to hold the launch.

“Grounded?!” Johnny Storm shouted as he charged forward, pressing against the security glass of the ready room. He watched in awe as the two rockets burned, the fire crews struggling to keep the inferno under control. He could see another wave of vehicles heading out to the blast zone-

“Jesus…”

“You sound more broke up about this than the rest of us, kid,” Ben Grimm said as he stepped behind the boy, lighting a fresh cigar as he too watched the activity outside on the launchpad. “You’d think you was goin’ or somethin’. Or maybe ya got a party planned while yer Sis is in space, hunh?” Grimm chuckled, elbowing the boy in the ribs, but Johnny’s face darkened as he pushed the bigger man back-

“Back off, Grimm!” Johnny shouted shoving past, away from the window and towards the coffee cart. “Why’re you always in my face?”

“Johnny,” Sue shouted rushing towards the boy as he stuffed a bagel into his mouth. He seemed to be starving-

“What’s happened Johnny?” she asked, watching as he devoured the bagel, poured himself a cup of coffee. “Why did security have you?”

“I-” Johnny started, his eyes darting around the small room. They were all watching him; Grimm smirking around his cigar, Richards gnawing on his pipe stem analyzing the situation, Sue with wide blue eyes, concern in her face. “I was trying to come here, make sure you were all okay. After the explosions, well, the guards grabbed me. I guess I was pretty hyped, y’know, hysterical maybe…”

Johnny licked his lips, watching them to see if they bought the lie. Sue seemed convinced, but Reed seemed the same, looking him up and down oddly. Grimm just chuckled and looked away.

“Security called when they caught you, Johnny,” Richards said tapping ash from the bowl of his pipe as he looked at a pile of papers and charts on a nearby long table. “They said they pulled you from an empty propellant canister that was enroute to the Excelsior. They said you were trying to stow onboard.”

“Oh Johnny,” Sue’s face fell in disappointment as she frowned and shook her head sadly. “Is that true?”

“I-” Johnny thought about compounding the lie for a moment, but Richards had the truth already and he knew that Sue would side with her boy friend over him like she had every other time over the last few months. Better to confess, to a point-

“Yeah, I was tryin’ to stow away,” he said as he stepped up to Sue, grabbing his sister’s arms to get her attention, “but I was just worried, Sis. I was worried about all of you. You’re family-”

“You could’a killed us all, hot shot,” Grimm said, strolling forward to join the other three at the table. “That ship’s calibrated to the nth decimal point. Throw yer hundred-plus pound butt into the mix an’ we would’ve blowed up maybe, or shot off into space like that TV show.” Johnny’s eyes grew wide at that. He had never considered that his added weight might have caused any real problem, but now as he thought there was also the air supply, refuse, even space suits. He could have killed all of them-

“I never thought-”

“And that’s half the problem right there, Johnny!” Sue Storm snapped, glaring at her brother. “You never think! Ever since Dad… was… ”

Rightly, Johnny stepped forward and wrapped his arms about his sister as she started to cry. She was right he knew, though he would never admit it. He had been an ass ever since their father had been arrested, and that had not been fair to Sue. She didn’t deserve it, as she had been trying so hard just to keep a roof over both of their heads. He had to fix this some how, make things right but there was little he could think of that would help at the moment, nothing except-

“I’m sorry…”

“All that aside, son,” Richards said after a moment, stepping to the window, “you’ve actually arrived a fortuitous time.”

“What do you mean?” Johnny asked, moving away from his sister as she wiped her eyes and blew her nose. He saw Grimm eyeing Richards suspiciously as well-

“Yeah, Reed,” Grimm said, “What are you getting’ at now? I don’t like that look in yer eyes—never did. Means trouble’s comin’ my way, usually.”

Reed Richards chuckled. “You know me too well, old friend. And yes, this could be trouble for all of us, what I’m considering. Stark’s pushed the launch back indefinitely at the moment, and we’re going to lose our window of opportunity. Oh, not to the station of course, but I’m speaking of the Negative Space Drive being constructed on SI-One for the starship. The longer we wait, the more unstable the core becomes. Some of the components we were to deliver are crucial in stabilizing the drive as well as conforming the ship to Geiger’s specifications. If we delay too long, the interstellar space program could be set back years, if not decades. Tony knows all of that of course, he’s no fool, but his hands are tied and he has the safety of his crews to consider. We on the other hand don’t have any such restrictions-”

“You ain’t talkin’ about high-jacking the Excelsior are ya?” Grimm asked, his eyes growing wide. “Yer nuts, pal!” he said, seeing his old friend’s cool smile. “Besides, Geiger an’ Darnell are in lockdown for the duration, just like us—but they ain’t here. Without them we’re short-handed-”

“You can fly the ship, Ben. Darnell was never anything more than a safety measure, a buffer for you anyway. And as for Geiger, Sue is well-trained to handle his part of the flight, on the technical end at any rate. Geiger’s main purpose for going on this launch was to be on the station for the refitting. He was simply excess baggage as far as I’m concerned, and as for his mechanical expertise, well…”

Richards turned away from the window and stared at his friend until he saw Grimm’s mouth go slack. Both men then turned to look at Johnny Storm-

“Yer kiddin’…”

“Not at all,” Richards continued, “Though I would never otherwise consider putting the boy at risk, we both know that he’s a mechanical wizard, at least when it comes to automobiles and the like-”

“The Excelsior ain’t no car, Reed.”

“Agreed, but it’s close enough for what Geiger was needed for. The principals are essentially the same, just a bit higher end. Johnny could handle it-”

“Handle what?” the boy asked, his pulse starting to race as he caught up with what the two men were saying-

“What about the weight?” Grimm asked, looking the boy up and down again. “Sure, he could fit Geiger’s suit an’ all, but we’re still short Darnell. That’s about one twenty pounds short, pal, an’ the same result as if the kid had stowed onboard. An’ just in case you forgot, we still don’t know why the drones blew up. Could be sabotage fer all we know, an’ maybe the Excelsior’s next on the hit parade-”

“Handle what?”

“I’ve considered that Ben, and I’m willing to take that risk. My life is tied up in the drive right now, and if this does not work-”

“Handle what!”

Johnny Storm shouted, stepping between the two older men. He looked up from one to the other; Richard’s steely gaze and Grimm’s smoldering, neither man breaking until Ben Grimm finally sighed and nodded-

“All right, Richards. Somebody’s gotta hold yer hand an’ keep ya outta trouble, and as usual it looks like it’s gonna have ta be me.” Richards smiled, turning his gaze on the boy then-

“Looks like you get to take your ride into space after all, Johnny. If you’re still game that is?”

“Am I?” Johnny Storm’s eyes lit up with excitement. He could hear his heart hammering in his ears, his blood rushing. “You know it, Reed!”

“No!”

The three men turned to face Susan Storm as she got up from the table and moved towards the group. She had remained more or less silent throughout their lop-sided debate, never doubting the final outcome for a moment. She knew immediately, instinctively what Reed was considering and she never thought for a moment that she would not be at his side. But not her brother… Not Johnny…

“I can’t allow Johnny to go, Reed. He’s just a child, not even out of high school. I’m responsible for him, his well-being. I can’t-”

“I’m responsible for all of our well being now Sue,” Reed answered before she could finish. “I have been ever since you signed on. You trust me to look out for you, don’t you?”

“Of course Reed, but”

“Then trust me to do the same for Johnny. He’s like a brother to me Sue, just like Ben. I will never willingly let anything happen to any of you so long as I can help it. Never!”

Sue stared up into the eyes of the man she loved, looking for the lie, some shred of doubt. She saw nothing however but the truth and determination that she had always seen there. She saw only her own love being truly reflected back. She glanced at her brother, biting her lip as she tried to decide. His fate was in her hands, finally, they all knew it-

“C’mon, Sis…”

She sagged slightly, closed her eyes and nodded with a sigh. Johnny yelled out, actually jumping with joy and when she opened her eyes again she saw Reed staring at her with a smile-

“I love you,” he mouthed, and she fell into his arms, hugging him with all her might. In the background she could hear Ben Grimm grumbling and grousing-

“Jeez, this is gonna be a joyride from hell. I can just feel it…”

Today…

“Reed says it was some combination of Diablo’s alchemy an’ the Grey Gargoyle turnin’ me ta stone what triggered the change.”

Joe Collins nodded understandingly, even though he really did not understand. His old friend lived in a world he could never fully comprehend standing on the sidelines with most of the rest of the world. “And it’s permanent?”

Grimm shrugged. “Reed seems ta think so. It’s happened before, but it never took hold. I’m not really worried about it though. I made my peace with what I become a long time ago.”

“What does Alicia think?” Joe Collins saw the look of pain in Ben Grimm’s eyes when he looked up from his empty mug and wished he had not asked.

“I ain’t really talked ta ‘Licia in awhile, Joe. She don’t know, I suppose. Not yet, it ain’t common knowledge. Fact is,” Grimm said as he reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope, “I just got a letter from her a couple days ago.”

“It’s not open Ben.”

Grimm smiled glumly, shoving his glass towards the bartender. “That’s part a why I’m here, Colly, tryin’ ta get drunk. Tryin’ ta find the balls ta open her letter. We split on good terms more or less. God knows what she wants Colly, I sure don’t.”

Collins nodded as he held Grimm’s mug under the tap again. “She’s still your friend right? After all you two have been through over the years, you’ve still got that. She probably heard about what happened with that Alexandria thing. She’s probably just concerned, couldn’t reach you by phone. You should let her know that you’re all okay Ben.”

Ben Grimm sighed as Collins slid his mug forward again. He started to raise it to his lips, then hesitated-

“Yer right Joe. Yer always right. Seems I’m pretty lucky I got guys like you an’ Reed around ta do my thinkin’ for me.” Ben Grimm smiled as he turned the letter over and over in his hands-

“You think all right ya big lug,” Collins laughed, “ya just worry too much. Now do the lady right and open that letter.”

Grimm nodded and slid the nail of his thumb under the seal when a slight buzz and vibration from his belt made him pause. He glanced down to see the circular buckle of white and blue glowing, the emblazoned ‘4’ pulsing with light-

“Nut,” he said, reaching down to open the radio signal, answering the call, “Yeah?”

“Ben, it’s Sue,” the feminine voice crackled over the small transmitter hidden within his belt buckle—as if he did not recognize her voice by now. “We’re needed uptown. Reed and I are enroute to your location-”

“Yeah, yeah,” Grimm responded, grumbling, “I’ll be ready, on the roof.” He glanced up and looked hopefully at his friend and Collins nodded. They had done this before. “Out!”

Ben Grimm stood and stuffed the letter back into his jacket pocket still unopened. As an after thought he started to slip out of the coat, “Mind if I leave this here, Colly? I’d hate ta get it dirty.”

Collins smiled, knowing of course that it was the letter his friend was worried about, not the jacket. “Of course, long as you don’t forget it. This ain’t no hotel, pal, an’ I got no lockers.” Grimm chuckled, stepping away from the bar and towards the back stairs that would lead him eventually to the roof-

“That’s why I love ya, Colly,” Grimm said, his voice already crackling and deepening, his skin darkening and growing chiseled. “Yer all heart…”

Joseph Collins winced as he heard the stairs creak and moan under the Thing’s increasing mass. He could hear his friend moving cautiously up the steps and shook his head, taking Grimm’s last beer and pouring it down the drain before rinsing and toweling the empty mug-

“I love you too, pal,” he whispered, checking the locks on the door and turning out the last of the lights. Sunlight streamed in through the dirty, darkened windows. They had been at it all night. Collins shook his head as he started up the stairs himself, first to lock the roof hatch and then to get to bed. He needed his sleep. He looked up as he heard the slight muffled roar of the Fantastic Four’s Flying Bathtub as it lifted off the rooftop, his friend hopefully sober and on his way…

“Be safe…”

Part Five:

Heading Uptown; Manhattan; Today…

It was annoying to say the least. Reed Richards hated these breaks in his schedule, these things that abruptly threw his time table out the figurative window. Still, there was little to be done about it, at least for the time being. He and the others had signed the papers that left the Fantastic Four at SHIELD’s beck and call for the nonce. The best that he could hope for was that whatever they were heading into would be something simple, a quick and easy solution that would not take up too much time and allow them all to get back to the real work.

Richards frowned, remembering that helping others and dealing with catastrophes, incidents, that used to be the real work. When did all that change?

“So wotta we got?”

Richards heard Ben Grimm’s gruff voice over the internal radio link. There were times when the link was not needed, but with the Flying Bathtub hobbled together with spit and baling wire after the damage it took at Pier 4 it was making far too much extraneous noise to hear all but shouting as it roared along at top speed.

“Fury wasn’t too specific, Ben,” Reed answered, adjusting his course just a bit to compensate the Thing’s added weight. The gyro stabilizers were grinding just a bit, causing a slight drag to the port. “Explosions at the Sewage Treatment Plant at 145th Street and the Hudson. He suspected a Marvel was involved, and apparently the Avengers are busy.”

“Swell,” Grimm chuckled. “Sewage plant, hunh. Hell, I was gonna shower tonight anyway.” Reed laughed and he saw Sue smile as well. Leave it to Ben to break up the tension.

Reed Richard’s eyes lingered on his wife for a moment, looking her up and down. She was wearing an old uniform that she had not worn in years and he had to admit that he liked what he saw. The mini skirt ensemble showed off her legs well, and he had always liked the black go-go boots. She still looked fantastic even after all these years; after the marriage, the battles, the separation and childbirth, and…

He glanced up and blushed to see Susan staring at him, a knowing smile curling her lips. She always seemed to know what he was thinking-

“Keep your eyes on the road,” she said sweetly, laughingly, giving him a wink. God he loved her. He always had…

Some Time Before…

They had waited for the sun to set before they had made their move. The emergency crews had put out the fires and now were securing the area around the secondary and tertiary launchpads, the government agencies like NASA as well as Stark Industries and even Henshaw’s secret organization crawling over the scene of the disaster, trying to figure out just what had happened. It would take months, Richards knew. They had been all but forgotten in the Ready Room, but that was fine.

They made their way across the field, sticking to whatever shadows were available, sneaking past the few guards that remained between the Ready Room and the Excelsior. Most of security had been moved to the area around the explosions, others sent to the media’s holding area to keep them at bay. No one expected a problem from Richards and his flight crew. They were being ignored.

They made their way to the rocket without incident, and only then was Ben forced to ‘eliminate’ a guard. There were still technicians scrambling about the skeletal framework surrounding the rockets and shuttle, but they stayed out of the way, actually running when they realized what was happening. They found the shuttle primed and still ready to go, almost waiting…

“Last chance boys and girl,” Ben Grimm said as he settled into the pilot’s chair and began the final preflight check. “Ya want’a back out, now’s yer last chance.”

“No way, big man!” Johnny storm said as he strapped himself in. “I’ve been waiting for this all my life.”

“We all have Ben,” Susan added, bringing up her computer screen and scrolling through her own checklist. Richard’s onboard computer system seemed to be running fine. “Let’s do it!”

Reed Richards simply nodded from the co-pilot’s chair as his best friend looked over for final reassurance. Grimm smiled slightly, shaking his head-

“Yah, we’re all nuts. Hold onto yer lunch, kiddies, cuz here we go!”

The roar of the engines grew, but that sound quickly became lost in the greater cacophony of the rockets as they ignited, the solid and liquid propellants burning with a blazing intensity to spark enough power to raise the shuttle into a speed that would break orbit. Everything started to shake and vibrate as Grimm started flicking switches and pulling levers. Susan started in as well, redistributing the power flow where needed and adjusting the levels of force as they see-sawed into the red and back just as suddenly to green. There was little for Johnny to do but sit back and enjoy the ride, but Reed was busy watching the myriad of gauges, double-checking every move that Ben Grimm made looking for random error.

“Richards!”

They all heard Geiger’s voice as it crackled over the radio. He sounded desperate.

“Richards! I know it’s you! Stand down you fool! It’s too dangerous! Wait!”

Richards ignored the radio, indicating that Grimm should do the same. He knew that there was a live video feed into the cockpit of the Excelsior, but there was no generic audio device as the roar of the engines would white out the sound. He felt the first initial burst of gravity’s pressure as the craft shuddered and started to rise-

“It’s sabotage, you fool! The Russians!” Geiger sounded almost frantic, shouting to be heard. “And Star Core’s reporting a solar flare! You’ll hit it straight on Richards! Abort!” Reed Richards flicked off the distraction-

“There’s still time, Ben,” he said, glancing at his friend. “You can put us down in the ocean. We can scrub the flight.”

“Yer kiddin’, right?” Grimm grimaced feeling the increasing pressure of momentum taking hold. “I ain’t never quit nothin’ I started, pal. I ain’t about ta start now. I will say I told ya so, though.”

Richards smiled, settling back into his chair and letting gravity take hold.

They would be fine…

He felt strange…

His body felt almost liquid, fluid as he tried to struggle from the wreckage. It was hard to move, hard to get his arms and legs to do as he wanted. He stumbled, staggered, fell again and again as he tried to get away from the burning remains, the twisted carnage that was the shuttle Excelsior.

The woods were on fire he saw, little sparks of flame here and there. They had to put them out, lest the forest catch. It was dry, a tinderbox. He staggered, collapsing to the ground. It was hard to breathe-

“Sue…”

“God, I’m burning up!”

He saw Johnny running frantically, ripping at his flight suit as he charged from the wreckage. He was sweating bullets, actually seemed to be steaming, smoldering. He did not see Sue, or Ben…

It had been the solar flare of course. Reed had prepared for every contingency, including a solar flare he had thought, but apparently his calculations had come up short. The radiations of the flare had hit them hard even before they had cleared the atmosphere. The magnetics had shut down their systems like a pulse, and their shielding had been inadequate, not nearly enough to stave off the effects of the solar radiations; Gamma rays, X-Rays, IR and UV, even the mysterious Cosmic Rays that T’Challa had been so concerned about. The Excelsior had failed in the cosmic storm, and it had only been due to the piloting skills of Ben Grimm that they had been able to put back down relatively unhurt back on the continent of North America. They could have ended up in the Atlantic, drowned in the ocean or even blasted to bits on the side of some mountain. Ben had saved them all-

“Awww!”

Reed stared in astonishment as Johnny Storm burst into flame! Spontaneous Human Combustion! He had heard of it of course, but there was no scientific fact to back up the fables, the stories he had heard. To actually see it was incredible. He watched, awestruck as Johnny’s body erupted with a sheen of fire, actually lifted in the air. Johnny flailed about for a bit, then started to move about as though he were swimming, flying! He arched up, suddenly in control, his shouts of terror turning into cries of jubilation. He was flying…

“Told’ja…”

Reed Richards turned to the gruff, broken sound of Ben Grimm’s voice. He saw his friend staggering from the shuttle’s twisted wreckage, barely moving, his hands groping for support on the debris, the rocks and trees that littered the crash sight. He seemed in agony, struggling with every step. He looked… big… massive and growing.

“Told ya we should have waited. Bastard!” Grimm stumbled forward, his hand ripping a limb from the tree he was gripping for support. His hair was receding almost visibly, his skin tone darkening and getting lumpy, orange in hue-

“Ya killed us! The radiation…”

Richards stared as his best friend seemed to grow, his body piling on mass with every shambling step. He was getting thicker, his skin changing to something akin to a hide that was almost like stone. Grimm reared back, the tree limb gripped in his massive fist—of four digits, Richards noted-

“Ben!” he shouted, dodging back as his best friend swung the hefty tree limb at him. Reed Richard’s analytical mind boggled as his own body seemed to stretch and arch back out of the way. Grimm’s eyes were almost lost in the rocky brow that made up his face, but Richards could see the stunned confusion there, no less than his own. He reached out in the momentary confusion, simply trying to halt his friend’s attack, but he gasped as his arms and legs seemed to stretch and spew forth to encompass his old friend. His arms wrapped about Ben Grimm almost involuntarily, tying him and forcing him to drop the branch-

“Ben…”

“Sue!”

Both Ben and Reed looked to the smoldering boy as he stumbled about the crash sight. His containment suit was burned and charred, covered in soot despite that it was flame retardant. Johnny Storm seemed fine however, wild eyes and panicked look aside.

“Sue!”

“I’m here Johnny…”

They all heard her voice and looked about. Johnny’s panic subsided as he spun in a tight circle, and even Ben’s rage seemed to wane as they looked for Sue Storm-

“There!” Reed said, pointing to a flimsy shadow that seemed to be taking form in the dim glow of the firelight. They all watched as Sue Storm started to take form and substance, appearing as though from somewhere else. Her face was twisted in shock, and she seemed struggling hard not to faint as she watched her body take form once again. She had been invisible…

“Reed,” she said when her body had returned fully, staggering forward as though every step was agony. They were all hurt and depleted, and obviously changed. The solar flare had altered them all, mutating them into something more. It remained to be seen just what however.

Reed Richards concentrated, drawing in his limbs again as he released his friend. It took only a moment, but he was soon back in his normal shape. He could see Johnny still flaming off and on, his brow knitted in concentration as he tried to control the spontaneous bursts of flame. Sue too continued to dim, her body starting to fade out until she concentrated and held her ground. Only Ben seemed stuck as he was…

“What’s happened to us?” Sue asked, dashing forward and wrapping her arms around her love. “I’m turning invisible and Johnny’s lighting afire. And Ben… He’s become a… a Thing… ” Reed shrugged-

“The solar flares, the cosmic storm… The shielding wasn’t sufficient…”

“So what happens now, Richards?” Grimm said, his body seeming to sag as he realized what had happened to him. The others were changing back and forth, able to control their queer powers but he seemed stuck, twisted and deformed, forever changed. “What do we do now?”

Reed Richards stared at the other three; his best friend now a walking monster of rock, his girl friend fading in and out of sight, her brother bursting spontaneously into flame. They had all changed, for the better some might argue. Reed of course saw the potential, the great power that they all now wielded. But of course, with great power…

“I don’t know…” he said, his gaze meeting the other three. “But I know that we need to use these changes, not only for ourselves, but for everyone-”

“So what are we now, the Liberty Legion?”

“No Ben, we’re just four people trying to make our way, just like always. I imagine Stark will be pissed with what we’ve done, but when the smoke clears…”

“I’m in…” Susan Storm reached out and grabbed Reed’s and, placing her own on top of his in a sign of unity. Johnny Storm followed suit, adding his hand to theirs-

“Me too. This is way too cool to pass up! You remember that Invader; the Human Torch? That’s me now!” Reed smiled, thinking how nice it must be to be young. He glanced at his best friend-

“Ben?”

Ben Grimm looked up, his face twisted and sad. He realized that of the four he had changed for the worst, and he might never be normal again. He was a monster now, a freak, trapped in a fragile world that he had never made-

“What else I got t’do,” he said, extending his hand to cover the others. “But I ain’t Ben Grimm no more. I’m what Suzie called me… A Thing…”

They stood there for a moment, each silent, each lost in their own thoughts. They all knew that their lives would never be the same again. They had changed, better or worst, into something fantastic…

The Fantastic Four!

Part Six:

NYC Department of Sanitation Sewage Treatment Plant; 145th Street at the Hudson River, Harlem; Manhattan; Today…

Johnny Storm, the Human Torch arched up then dove, swooping down to soar over the devastation of the Sewage Treatment Plant in Harlem. He was apparently the first to arrive—of his team at least. He saw the SHIELD agents holding the perimeter, keeping the rubber-neckers back. Too, the NYPD and FD were doing their best to contain the situation; crowd control and trying to put out the raging fires. Dark black smoke still spiraled up into the thick sky awash with humidity. Gouts of flame burst from the plant as the flames raged, spreading after the explosions that had ripped the building to shreds. The Harbor Patrol was on scene, spewing water onto the inferno, but Johnny could tell that all that effort was really doing nothing. The fire was in its glory, and it would take his power to get it back under control. Soon enough, after he did a fly by…

He pulled up on his second pass as he saw the shadowy figure standing in the midst of carnage. He recognized the form immediately, he had fought him before, and he sagged wishing that it had been almost anyone but him. He was standing amidst the flame, his wavering body spewing water as he raged. He was barely solid, just enough to hold form, but straight off Johnny could tell that he was overwhelmed by whatever was happening. Johnny had no idea, nor did he care. The man had to be taken down, taken out. He flew closer…

“Bench!” he shouted, hovering at what he hoped was a safe distance. There was really only one or two other villains that actually made him hesitate; the Sandman, though he wasn’t a villain anymore, the Trapster of course, and Morris Bench…

The Hydro-Man!

Bench looked up, his body little more than rushing water barely held together in the form of a man. Something had happened to him, and Johnny could tell that he was not in his right mind, even more than usual. Water on the brain…

“Give it up, Bench! My team’s on the way! You haven’t got a chance…”

Hydro-Man screamed, raising his arms and shooting out streams of water. The Torch dodged of course, not being stupid. He had been ready for it. Bench didn’t let up however, even after Johnny flew well out of his range. Thank god it was only water…

“Need a hand, kid?”

Johnny Storm spun about in mid flight at the sound of the familiar gruff voice, smiling to see that the cavalry had arrived. They were not as impressive in the old Flying Bathtub as they might have been in the Fantasti-Car, but at that point Johnny did not care. They were there, all together again. Hydro-Man didn’t have a chance…

The Fantastic Four had arrived…

NEXT ISSUE: The FF unleashed as they band together to defeat the menace of Hydro-Man! Yeah, I know, but there’s more here than meets the eye. You should know that by now! Be here next time for… “Water, Water Everywhere!”

Author’s Notes

And now a word from your author…

Do you know me?

I should hope so by now. I’ve popped up in unlikely places all about the Fanfic part of the internet over the last couple years, and this is the latest, right here at Marvel Omega! I was looking for something a little different as some of my other titles were ending or stagnant, and I saw that Omega was looking for an FF writer…

Why not I said…

Now I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t followed what’s been going on in Marvel’s FF of late, and I damned sure had no idea as to the state of our favorite Mutants. I buy a few issues, but really I don’t read all that many—some Avengers and JLA of course, JSA, Titans, Thunderbolts…

So how can I have the audacity to take on Marvel’s First Family, you ask? I dunno… But I’m gonna try. Hopefully you’ll give it a read and let me know when I go wrong—or right for that matter. Hopefully you’ll enjoy some of what I have planned.

I promise to do my best, and give me a chance, it’ll be a wild ride…

Thanks…

Curt F

 

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