Fantastic Four

Manhattan, New York
42nd Street and Fifth Avenue

It was a beautiful day in the city. Beautiful at least in the mind of Xi’an Coy Manh. It was a day like those that she remembered from her childhood, or at least the good parts. The sun was out, high and huge in the crystalline blue sky, hotly beaming down with the summer temperatures topping ninety. The humidity was not too bad for summer, just enough to stir a few fond memories of Viet Nam, where the mugginess could get so thick that one simply did not move, let alone go out, unless you had to of course. And in her youth as she recalled, everyone did, if one wished to eat and live to see another day. But this of course was New York.

The streets were packed despite the heat, or maybe because of it. Even now after so many years it still amused her to see so many people from so many cultures blending together, ignorant and ignoring their surroundings and passers by, charging headlong through the greatest city in all the world and never actually seeing it. There were men and women in business suits walking determinedly, carrying coffee in one hand with cell phones to ear marching alongside the raggedy messengers on foot or bike. There were women over-dressed in their uptown finery walking pampered dogs through the huddled masses of homeless with their shopping carts heaping high as they sat on the steps of the Public Library with the local workers out enjoying lunch. And there were the tourists with their backpacks and fanny bags clogging the corners, their maps unfolded or posing for pictures here with the two stone lions that flanked the Library’s steps.

Xi’an had been one of each in her day, ever since she had arrived in New York years ago seeking her brother and sister, and those that had taken them. She had been oblivious to her surroundings then, so focused on her goal. She had joined the New Mutants at the Xavier Institute not so long after that, and in those good times with friends like family she had had the opportunity to play the wide-eyed tourist. She had been homeless and desperate in her day, and now as she was a woman and a teacher at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, she fell into the business class. But she was determined NOT to become one of those like she passed on the crowded street every day. She would not be assimilated into one of the working class drones with a Blue Tooth plugged into her ear, a glazed, hopeless look in her eyes. After all these years since she first arrived in America, she was a New Yorker, truly, living in the Village with the woman that she loved and she planned to live life to its fullest.

Speaking of which,

Xi’an realized that she was suddenly walking by herself. She and her significant other, the love of her life Evangeline Whedon had been strolling back down towards the Village and their apartment after a fun, carefree day in Central Park. They had just been out enjoying the sun and window shopping along Fifth Avenue like so many others, pining over expensive jewelry in Tiffany’s windows, watching the crowds marveling over Rockefeller Center, finally reaching the NY Public Library at 42nd Street. It was only when Xi’an heard yet another wail of police sirens that she looked around, a sudden worry washing over her.

“Vange?”

Xi’an Coy Manh breathed a sigh of relief to see her friend and lover standing not too far away back at the corner. She was staring off down towards the East, watching as two police cruisers squealed around the corner, a helicopter shooting by low and overhead. As Xi’an ran up, she realized that there seemed to be a lot of sirens blaring, and a lot of activity just a couple avenues over.

“What’s going on?” she asked as she shouldered her way next to Evangeline, getting a few disgruntled looks from the crowd that was gathering. Evangeline shrugged, flashing Xi’an a quick smile as she tipped her sunglasses low to look over the rims.

“I don’t know,” Vange answered, looking back at the Police Action taking place on Madison Avenue by the looks of it. “Something at the Baxter Building I think. Lot’s of cops, and SHIELD too, by the look of it.”

“SHIELD?” Xi’an questioned, raising to her toes and wiping her long, black hair from her eyes to get a better look.

“Um-hmm.” Evangeline pushed her dark glasses back into place and slipped her hands into the pockets of her black khaki pants. She and Xi’an both favored black, a New York staple fashion-wise, but while both young women had chosen black tank tops for the days outing, Xi’an had dressed in her favorite ripped and raggedy denims, the pant legs tucked into her well-worn combat boots. “Some super-villain must be putting the FF through their paces to call out the whole police force, AND SHIELD. Maybe its Doctor Doom.”

“Maybe we should check it out?” Xi’an suggested, looking to her friend. “They might need help.”

“Please,” Evangeline smirked in disbelief. “We couldn’t put a dent in anything that would give the Fantastic Four a run for their money. Besides, the hero schtick’s your thing, not mine.”

“That’s hardly true,” Xi’an disagreed, putting her hands on her hips. “But think of all the times that the FF have saved the world. Now’s your chance for a little reciprocation.”

“Well…” Evangeline sighed, shaking her head. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to check.”

It took some time and effort moving closer as they fought against the tide of people trying to go the opposite direction, away, as quickly as they could. They could hear the sounds of gunfire over the sirens, and there were flashes of light other than the familiar red and blue of the bulbs on the numerous squad cars blocking the road. They were barely half way when they reached the barricades, and the police trying to get the spectators to back away.

“What is it?” Xi’an called out to the closest cop in earshot, but he simply yelled at everyone to clear the area. Xi’an was about to shout back when she felt Evangeline’s firm grip on her arm.

“Look out!”

Xi’an barely staggered back and out of the way as the crowd screamed and surged. She looked up to see a squad car hurtling through the air in their direction. “Oh, shi –”

Xi’an flew through the air only to land roughly on the blacktop of 42nd street. She felt Evangeline as her friend fell atop her protectively, her body suddenly hard and growing heavier. Xi’an felt the wind pushed from her lungs as the mass on her back increased, her lover’s body spreading out to cover her.

The ground shook with a crash and a sudden explosion. Xi’an choked on the thick smoke that wafted over them as she gasped to regain her breath. All around she could hear people shouting and crying, the sounds suddenly drowned out by a second explosion. She felt the heat wash over them.

“Vange!” she coughed, struggling to rise against the weight on her back.

“I’m fine, Xi’an. Changed,” Evangeline’s voice was deep and guttural, her breath fiery hot in Xi’an’s ear. “Stay down.”

“But,” Xi’an started, squirming under the weight of her friend, the black dragon sprawled over her, protecting her. “What’s going on? What’s happening?”

“I don’t know,” Evangeline hissed. “But I intend to find out.”

THING AMOK!

Part II: The More Things Change

By Curtis Fernlund

Madison Avenue at 42nd Street…

Benjamin J. Grimm laughed as the patrol car smashed into the street half a block away, scattering the yokels in every direction. He could hear their screams of panic all the way up the street, even over the sirens and the helicopters buzzing low over the scene. Then, ‘it blowed up real good’, with a huge explosion and a rain of blazing metal. All’s the better. That would give them something to think about. THAT would let them know that he meant business, and didn’t give a rat’s ass who got in the way. Granted, the rubes were just that, and it wasn’t really their fault. ‘Stupid is as stupid does’ somebody said once. Not his fault they were too dumb to run.

He felt a tingle on his shoulder, like sunburn almost and knew the reason why. He turned, glancing back and up at two of the Guardsman blasting at him with lasers of some sort. He figured that they would have gained a clue after what he did to the other two. Grimm glanced at the other mangled armored forms lying motionless and smoldering on the steps of the Baxter Building. There was a SHIELD Tech Crew and EMS trying to pry the poor bastard pilots out of the STARK armor, and he could see them looking his way with nothing short of fear. He gave them a grin, then looked back to the other two.

They had learned apparently, as the two Guardsmen were hovering and circling him about twenty feet overhead. They kept blasting away in standard formation, despite the fact that their best efforts were bouncing off his rocky hide. Oh, it hurt, just a bit of annoyance, but it was not taking him down, and certainly not out. Once upon a time it might have, or at least staggered him. But now it seemed he had strength to burn.

Grimm shrugged. He didn’t know why. Geiger or Richards probably could have explained it to him- and would have at length, like he cared. It was, and that was good enough for him. Whatever the Wizard and the Controller and Masters for that matter had done to him didn’t matter. It had happened and opened his eyes. Let it come.

“Stand down, Mister Grimm,” one of the Guardsmen said over his helmet’s loud speaker. They had both settled in, flanking him, and he could hear their gauntlets powering up for a combined blast between them. “We don’t want to hurt you, but we will.”

Ben Grimm feigned shock, rubbing at his shoulder where the last attack had hit. “Ya mean ya been holdin’ back? Golly! An’ here I figured all that time in the gym was payin’ off. Ya know what though?” Grimm said with a smirk, flexing his legs slightly, tensing. “I been holdin’ back too.”

He was no Hulk, mind. Even on his best day he could not leap miles at a shot. He could land with the best of them for sure, but then too, just because he did not jump around like a big, green frog did not mean that he couldn’t. Ben Grimm leaped.

Twenty feet was nothing. He had strength to burn, the proportionate strength of, well, a rock. True, he sank like a stone in the water- there were pluses and minuses, but he could jump when he had to. So he did.

Grimm propelled himself at the Guardsman that had spoken, arcing up and simply reaching out before the surprised SHIELD agent could react. His fingers closed on the man’s chestplate as he made a fist, his rocky fingers digging into the stabilized iron mesh like tin foil. He squeezed, grinning as the man’s chestplate crumpled in his grip. He smirked, staring into the agent’s wide, terrified eyes as his power quickly shut down, the suit freezing up.

“Shit…” the man gasped as they traveled with Grimm’s arc, starting to fall.

“You don’t know the half of it, sunshine.”

As they started to drop back to earth, Grimm whipped about and pitched the Guardsman straight down to the street, not quite using his best. The agent of SHIELD hit hard; smashing through the blacktop and digging a crater about the point of impact a good five yards wide. Grimm landed with a thoom not too far away and took a moment to look at the Guardsman. He was unmoving, sparks crackling over the two-tone green armor, smoldering. Grimm snorted and looked up at the last of the Quad.

“Next?”

“Jesus…” he heard the last say, a woman by the pitch of the amplified voice. Well, he was no chauvinist. Ya pays your money, ya take your chances.

Suddenly the street came ablaze with blaster fire. Ben staggered back as the force of the assault caught him unprepared. The sheer ferocity and volume actually did hurt, and he knew that he would be feeling it in the morning, but he did not fall. In fact he braced, getting a sure footing as he squinted into the barrage.

It was SHIELD of course, along with an occasional bullet from the NYPD. Bastards! After all the times he’s saved their hash. The whole fucking city for that matter- the world! Ben Grimm stared into the fire light, seeing the agents lined up in formation; some standing, some kneeling, some fully prone. He saw Fury too, right in the midst, firing and barking orders around the stub of his cigar.

“Found yer balls, hunh, Nicky?” he said, gritting his teeth as he crouched down to dig his fingers into the blacktop at his feet. He knew well enough the way that the city repaired streets; dig it up, level it off, lay down tarmac and throw hot tar down to bind the stone. It made for a nice smooth sheet. Grimm chuckled as he saw Fury scrambling, knowing what was on the way.

Grimm stood and flipped his arms, pulling the covering of blacktop up and rippling a wave that flowed down the street. Like snapping a towel, the road ripped away and buckled, the heap of tarmac and stone catching the agents flat-footed and sending them flying as his impromptu whip rolled past.

“Gotta do better than that, Fury,” he growled, swaggering forward. He ignored the screams of pain from the agents he passed; batting aside those that still tried to stop him. Stupid, hardheaded, they didn’t know when to quit.

He thought for a moment that Fury was actually going to run. That more than anything would have shocked him. He was looking about frantically, backed up to the side of one of his SHIELD transports, the Eagle at his back making him look like he had wings- like an angel.

“Hold that pose, Nicky,” Grimm chuckled as he stepped up to the Director of SHIELD and drew back a fist. Fury had his gun up of course, not that that would help. He wasn’t even firing. He was sweating, but not from fear. Grimm had to give him credit. Fury was a soldier, but he had no poker face. His eye flicked to one side –

Something huge and heavy slammed into Grimm’s back, shoving him forward into the side of the transport. The ship crumpled with the impact, but then whatever had hit him got a grip and hefted him off his feet. He felt as though he was flying for a moment as he quickly arched up, and then just as swiftly came crashing back down to the street. That hurt, and spots danced before his eyes as he tried to get his bearings, a gravelly voice even rougher than his own rolling over him with a heated breath:

“Mister Grimm, we need to talk.”

The Crash Pad…

Dwayne Taylor stared at the television monitor tuned into NBC Channel 4. He watched the events unfolding intently, wondering just what in the hell was going on.

Amy Nuzo was standing at the barricades; the police in riot gear trying to force the crowding rubber-neckers back beyond Fifth Avenue. She looked disheveled; her usually immaculately coifed hair whipped and plastered about her pretty face that was smudged with soot and streaked with sweat. The image was staticky at best, snowing in and out so Dwayne turned up the gain on the receivers, trying to get the word on just what was going on.

“Benjamin Grimm, the hero of the world’s greatest fighting team better known as the Thing has seemingly begun attacking the gathered forces of the police and SHIELD with little regard for bystanders. Dozens are injured just here on the fringe of the battle, beyond the police barricades, and reports within the battle zone tell us that both SHIELD and the NYPD have suffered casualties. These reports are not confirmed, but – ”

Dwayne winced as the screen went white for a few seconds, then finally faded back in. He could see something burning in the background now, behind the reporter, and too there was something huge and black slipping through the camera’s line of sight.

“Holeee…”

Dwayne Taylor jumped to hear the voice at his back. Time was that no one would have been able to get so close, but glancing back over his shoulder he saw Robbie Baldwin standing just behind his chair. Dwayne sighed. He must be getting old.

“That’s the Thing!” Robbie exclaimed, leaning in and over his shoulder. Dwayne noticed that Robbie’s kinetic force field had powered up, the fluctuating, glowing balls of kinetic energy that were his trademark sparkling brightly about his body. “Has SHIELD gone bad again? And why is he fighting a dragon?”

Leave it to Baldwin to cut to the heart of the matter. That was something that Dwayne had not considered, but then by the news feed it did not seem to be the case. It looked more as though the thing was berserk, plowing through SHIELD and the NYPD alike. Still, Dwayne knew that the FF were tied closely to SHIELD these days. There had been financial problems, patent troubles, and actually Dwayne had had his companies bid on some of Richard’s holdings. With the likes of Stark and the Black Panther bidding as well of course, he had not had a snowball’s chance in hell, but he had tried. Word was that the FF had gone totally fed, now working if not for SHIELD, then through them. So why then was the Thing kicking their ass all over 42nd Street?

“I don’t know, but I think it’s Grimm, Robbie – ”

“Looks that way to me,” Robbie said without batting an eye. “Think maybe we should rally the troops and lend a hand?”

“That might not be a bad idea, actually,” Taylor agreed. It would be damn good press if the New Warriors could take down a hero gone bad. Grimm was a friend of course, but obviously not in his right mind at the moment. Maybe that was it- Mind Control? It happened all too often.

“Get suited up, Speedball. I’ll see who’s free on the network.”

The Baxter Building…

Johnny Storm grasped the edge of the hole in the side of the Baxter Building and leaned out into open air some thirty odd stories over Midtown. Heights did not bother him at all- hell, he could fly after all, but he hated that he could not see what was happening down below. He saw the exploding patrol car of course, and he could see the firefight lit by the SHIELD agents, but Ben was just an orange blur, and just what was that big black thing that seemed to be attacking him. He hated this.

“Reed!” he shouted, looking back into the room. The living quarters were a buzz of activity. Fury had sent a Containment Unit up as soon as he could get into the building, and they were busy locking down the Frightful Force, such as they were. The real FF had made short work of Geiger’s new team, with one major exception, and so it was a simple matter of mopping up for the SHIELD crew. Geiger, the Wizard had been stripped of his armor by the Invisible Woman rather painfully, and humiliatingly, and was little more than an average Joe in his BVD’s and shackles. Basil Sandhurst, the Controller was likewise little trouble once out of his cybernetic armor, and unconscious. Hydro-man was easily contained in a pneumatic contraption that Reed had designed years ago. Oddly it was the Trapster that was the real problem. Peter Petruski was perhaps the greatest locksmith alive, if that was something to brag about. He was a whiz at traps, and on the flip side, he was probably THE premiere escapologist this side of David Blaine. It took a bit of thought to keep the old ‘Paste Pot Pete’ under wraps.

One good thing, the SHIELD crew reported that Philip Masters had survived his plunge out the hole. A Guardsman had saved him, thankfully, and that meant that Ben hadn’t killed anyone…

Yet!

“Reed,” Johnny said again, stepping more fully into the room. “C’mon!”

“Patience, Johnny.”

Johnny looked to Reed Richards, Mister Fantastic, his brother-in-law and leader of the world famous Fantastic Four and tried to suppress his anxieties. Reed was pouring over the neural what-cha-ma-call-it that Geiger had invented years ago and used on Ben to release his inhibitions and prey on his insecurities. Then as now, Ben’s savage side had come through and he had turned against the FF. Now it seemed there was more to it. The Wizard and his thugs had been beaten, but Ben seemed even worse than ever, savage and almost sociopathic in the way he was acting.

Reed had expanded his eyeballs, and Johnny knew that he was seeing things in a far different perspective that any of the rest of them might. He was intently scrutinizing the helmet, but Johnny knew that he was also watching the news feeds as well as everything that was happening in the room with his vision heightened, his peripheral sight magnified.

Johnny saw the SHIELD Medicos strapping Alicia Masters down to a scoop for transport. She had been enthralled by her uncle/step father, Sandhurst as well as submitted to the Wizard’s mind-altering helm for a longer time than poor Ben. She would get the care she needed. Johnny knew that sudden separation from one of the Controller’s disks could prove fatal, or at least psychically detrimental. SHIELD’s ESP-er Unit would check her out once back at their HQ.

Medusa too had been a victim, but she seemed a bit more stable than Alicia at the moment. Maybe it was the time frame- Johnny did not know. The Queen of the Inhumans however seemed shaken at worst, but she would survive. Johnny saw her there with Crystal, her sister, the Inhuman woman that Johnny had loved for so long- and still did it seemed.

He was feeling for her in ways that he had not in years. He had been crushed when she had chosen the Mutant Quicksilver over him years ago, and it had taken him forever to get over her, or so he thought. Apparently there was still something there. He wanted to go to her now, and hold her, as he knew that she was hurting. Pietro, her husband had run from the Great Refuge on the Moon, taking their daughter Luna with him. She had come back with the FF to find her daughter, but had gotten caught up in the attack by the Frightful Force, and now she would be caught up in whatever they would do about Ben. He knew that she wanted to go after Luna, and that ass of a husband of hers, but she was family.

Johnny saw his sister then, coming back into the room, cradling Valeria his niece in her arms. Right on Susan’s heels was Debra Bernard, ex-SHIELD agent and new nanny for Valeria and Franklin. Sue looked thankful that Valeria was safe, but too there was an air of worry about her. Debbie looked wide-eyed and close to panic.

In the midst of the evil FF’s attack, Lockjaw, the inhuman’s ‘dog’ had teleported away with Franklin, Reed and Sue’s first born, taking him somewhere safe. They had yet to return, and Sue was barely able to contain her worry.

“I’m sorry Mrs. Richards,” Debbie was saying as she trailed behind Sue. “I tried my best.”

“Not your fault, Debbie,” Sue replied as she cooed at Valeria, hugging the baby closer. “You weren’t hired to fight villains. You were hired to watch my children, and protect them, which you did. Not your fault that Lockjaw took matters into his own hands. We’ll find Franklin, right Reed?”

“Mmmmnnn…”

If Debbie was relieved, she did not show it. She looked tired, Johnny noted, and no wonder. She had held her own against some alpha and beta class villains and probably saved his life in the process. He would have to thank her later…

“Reed!” Susan Richards strode across the room, leaving Debbie behind and grabbed her husband on the arm, pulling him about. Johnny saw Reed blink, his eyes shifting and sinking back into his head. “Reed! Franklin…”

“I know, Susan,” Reed started, and Johnny saw him take a deep breath. “Sue, we’ll find our son, I promise. But I need to help Ben first, and I think I know what’s happened to him. Geiger’s neural machine, along with the manipulations of the Controller and the Puppet Master has somehow triggered Ben’s long-suppressed mental faculties somewhat similar to his mind set when we first became endowed with our powers and abilities. The process was actually a fluke, brought about by the psychic trauma I believe, however you’ll recall how Ben was back then after our flight; depressed, angry at everyone- most especially myself. For the most part, over the years Ben grew beyond that attitude, adjusting to his condition, but I believe now that it was more suppression than acceptance. The recent turmoil has brought those old thoughts to the surface, and more.

“Ben’s abilities and powers, like our own are loosely based and connected to the elements; Johnny’s fire obviously, my own liquid, you air Susan, and Ben the earth. Where he does not have the fine manipulation that we all possess over our powers, Ben did at first have the ability to revert from his normal form to his rocky armored hide, and before that the dinosaur-like skin that he first produced. His body was in flux, but that ability always remained, suppressed along with his rage as his attitude changed. Again, Geiger’s machine triggered that to resurface, along with the recent adaptions that were induced by the Grey Gargoyle. It’s my general hypothesis that all of these things combined are driving Ben into a relapse of sorts.”

Susan Richards stared at her husband quizzically, baby Valeria gurgling in her arms as she shifted the child to her hip and sighed. “Not to dismiss your theories, Reed, but so what?”

Reed Richards blinked, his face going slack as though he had been slapped. It seemed so obvious. “Susan, if you’ll recall just after our flight, Ben was far different than he now is. He was actually stronger and more resilient. I believe that the entirety of his recent changes is altering him on a physical as well as mental level. He’s getting stronger by the moment, and more savage. He’s already killed Maximus, despite the reasons, and I believe that it will not be long before he truly adopts a sociopathic attitude and simply will no longer be concerned about the welfare of those innocents about him. Too, in an odd resemblance of the Hulk, I believe that the more savage he becomes, the stronger he will get. Ben could potentially become as strong as the Hulk or Thor as his body adapts to its changes.”

“All the more reason we should be down there trying to stop him!” Johnny said, his voice rising with anxiety. Even so many floors above the street they could all hear the sounds of battle; the sirens and resultant explosions. A wispy column of smoke had reached their level, creating a haze in the otherwise clear sky.

“No Johnny,” Reed countered, setting Geiger’s helmet onto a machine designed to analyze psychic radiations of various wavelengths. “All the more reason to plan an effective assault. Our entering the fray would only aggravate the situation, as we are the main focal point of Ben’s aggression, deep down. I need to develop a counter measure before we confront him. In the interim, we must hope that SHIELD will be able to contain the situation as best they can, without hurting him of course.”

“That’s bull, Reed!” Johnny snapped. “We can’t just sit here on our thumbs and let Fury fight our battles. Ben’s family, and our responsibility, and despite what you say, I don’t think Ben would really hurt us. Deep down, he loves us.” Johnny Storm’s body started to steam with his emotion, anger flushing his skin crimson and heating him up.

“No, Johnny,” he said, his attention divided between his brother-in-law and his machine. “Right now Ben hates us with a passion. We go down there and we’ll only exacerbate an already tense situation.”

Johnny fumed, looking first to his sister who seemed to be on the brink, but as always more leaning towards siding with her husband. He glanced towards Debbie Bernard then, and Crystal both standing off to the side. Despite their troubles over the years, Crystal was considered family just like Ben, but at the moment she had her own concerns, worry over locating her kidnapped daughter from her wayward husband, Quicksilver. The SHIELD Medics and Tech Teams simply kept working as quickly as they could, trying to ignore the internal dispute. Johnny knew that he was alone, and if anything were to be done…

“Flame on!”

… He would have to do it himself.

“Johnny!” Reed shouted, and the Human Torch saw his flame warp in the air as his sister put up a force field between him and the baby. Stupid of him, and careless, Johnny floated up and angled towards the hole.

“Somebody has to stop Ben, Reed! Somebody has to help him, and it looks like it’s gonna be me!”

Reed Richards sighed and shook his head as the Human Torch roared out the window, diving towards the street. He glanced at his wife as she lowered her force field with a frown.

“I should have anticipated that,” he said, and Susan nodded.

“We all should have,” she agreed, “and frankly Reed, if not for Franklin I would be right there with my brother.”

“I can go after Johnny, Professor,” Crystal said, stepping up. The beautiful Inhuman was perhaps more powerful than the rest of the Fantastic Four, at least individually, and definitely an influence over Johnny. “He might listen to me, or I can at least help to contain the Thing.”

“Perhaps,” Reed Richards said grimly, his eyes straying towards the far doorway and a strange flickering of light. “Susan!” he shouted, but the Invisible Woman had already erected her shields again, fading her and the baby from sight even as Mister Fantastic willed his form pliant, stretching towards the door. He saw lightning crackle from Crystal’s hands in passing as she stepped between Debra and the portal.

“Get back!” he shouted at the SHIELD agents, his eyes scanning the area. He did not see Medusa, and most of the Frightful Force had been removed save for Morris Bench whose containment vessel was still cycling. Alicia Masters had been taken out as well, thankfully, leaving less innocents in the line of fire of this new attack- if it actually was.

Reed reared back, his body coiling beneath him like a huge spring as his distracted mind collated the strange energies that he was witnessing and memory was sparked. He signaled for Susan and Crystal to stand off, though not down. There was still a possibility of attack, but…

“I believe, sister that you will not be able to become involved in this current situation,” Medusa said as she stepped into the doorway. Her living scarlet tresses were whipping about with some agitation, obviously a result of her own emotions, Reed noted as his eyes shifted to the verdant, scaly form behind her in the door.

“Triton,” Reed said, not so surprised that a member of the Royal Family of Attilan had arrived as he had seen the telltale energies of teleportation unique to Lockjaw. What was surprising however was that the expected beast was a rather diminutive substitute, bounding along at Triton’s side, now about the size of a Great Dane.

“Puppy!” Reed heard his daughter exclaim even as Susan dropped her shield and cloak of invisibility once again. Reed glanced at Valeria and had to smile at the sheer joy on his daughter’s face, reaching for the miniature version of Lockjaw even as the ‘dog’ bounded towards the girl.

“Professor Richards,” Triton said, his voice dark despite the façade of the slight, forced smile. “I am happy to see you again, even so soon and despite our recent encounter. I wish I was here under better circumstances, however.”

“God,” Susan Richards scowled, handing Valeria over to Debbie to take back a bit and allow her to play with Puppy. “What now, Triton?”

“I’m sorry, Susan Richards,” Triton said, his smile quickly fading. “I did not wish to give the impression that we needed the Fantastic Four so soon. I have come instead for my cousins.”

“Triton?” Crystal asked, stepping towards her aquatic cousin with concern. “Black Bolt knows why I left, and that I am not going back until I find Luna. I made that clear.”

“I’m sorry, Crystal, but Blackagar has called a Gathering. All family members are needed, yourself included. It is concerning things that have weighed on his conscience for some time, and the recent problems with Maximus have forced him to come to a decision. We are ALL needed though, as it is a matter that concerns not only the Royal Family, but the very future of the Great Refuge itself.”

“No!” Crystal snapped. “I left Attilan, and all of you behind. My daughter and her safety comes first!”

“I do not believe that Luna’s safety should be of concern,” Medusa added, her hair spiraling about. “Despite his concerns, Pietro Maximoff loves Luna as much as the rest of us. He would not harm her and his intentions, no matter how misguided, have her welfare at the forefront of his actions.”

“I know,” Crystal nodded in agreement after a moment. “Still, I’m going to find her.”

“Black Bolt has already assembled a Seeker Squadron, anticipating your response,” Triton said, stepping closer to the Elemental Inhuman, placing his cool, damp hands on her shoulders. “Please, do not balk at this. You are required, and needed.”

“No!” Crystal snapped, and Triton sighed as though defeated.

“Again, your response was anticipated.” Triton raised his hands and before anyone else could react two small disks strapped on his palms, amidst the web tubing that helped keep him hydrated emitted a low-pitched sonic pulse. Crystal gasped as her head lolled back, and as her body went limp Medusa’s hair was already wrapping about the unconscious young woman to support her and gather her in.

“Triton!” Reed said, his body shifting in pliancy again, prepared to attack. “This is beyond reason. I won’t stand here and let you kidnap Crystal, cousin or no!”

“I agree!” Susan said, and all at once the three Inhuman forms went rigid, easily held within a confining field of invisible force. “I suggest you release her, Medusa, and the both of you get out of our home before this gets uglier than you’ve already made it.”

“I’m sorry Susan,” Triton said, his voice full of regret. “I had hoped it would not come to this, but the situation in Attilan is dire. I must therefore invoke our Diplomatic Status as a sovereign nation and declare our immunity from your reprisal. Release us now or consider our states at war.”

“What?”

“Let him go, Susan.”

The Invisible Woman turned to stare at her husband in disbelief. He had already reverted to normal, his face dark as he stared at Triton. “Reed?”

“He’s right in his actions, Sue. At least his Immunity, though I question his motives. We cannot jeopardize our own recently reestablished status by creating a state of war between the United States and Attilan. Like it or not, for now at least, Triton has the upper hand, and he knows it.”

“But Reed – ”

“Release them Sue, and let them go,” Reed said, his voice cold and monotone, “as quickly as you came.” He glared at Triton as the Invisible Woman lowered her shield. Then at Medusa as she scooped her sister up and both stepped away.

“Professor… Reed – ”

“Go. But do not consider this at an end. Tell your king that the Fantastic Four takes care of its own, and that includes Crystal.”

“Pup!” Triton snapped, and the ‘dog’ trotted happily to his side, apparently oblivious as to what was happening. Valeria whined for the pup’s return, but the Inhuman animal was already starting to glow, ionic sparks flashing from the antennae protruding from its brow.

“I am sorry, Professor,” Triton said as the sparkling glow of transport grew brighter and began to surround the trio. The Inhuman raised his hand as though to wave, then hesitated…

And they were gone.

“Reed!” Susan Richards cried out as the final sparks vanished, the room returning to its normal lighting. Her husband was scowling.

“I’m sorry, Sue. I should have anticipated that as well. It was the logical step for Black Bolt to take with the recent turmoil within Attilan. I simply did not believe that he would, I suppose.” He looked to his wife then, his face shifting in emotion and she knew that his mind was racing already. “She will be fine, I’m certain. And we will investigate, after we help Ben and find Franklin. I promise you Sue. We will resolve all of this.”

Susan Richards stared at the man that she loved and saw the resolve seeping into him. He was focusing now, the speculation being displaced by calculation as his magnificent mind sorted the dozens of problems and contingencies that might crop up with their next step. She knew that he would have the answers, and soon. She recognized that look, and finally she managed a smile.

Madison Avenue at 42nd Street

Evangeline Whedon winced in pain as best as her draconian form would allow as the rock-like fist of the Thing smashed across her snout. The blow actually had more than enough force to stagger her back, moving her mass. She had known that the Thing was strong, though she had not imagined that he could have actually hurt her, but her elongated nose throbbed in sudden pain, and tears actually welled up in her eyes. Instinctively she backed away, the animal in her taking over, her survival mode making her wary as she watched her opponent. He was laughing.

“Not bad, whoever ya are,” he scoffed, rubbing his knuckles. “I ain’t duked it out with a dragon in awhile. This ought’a be fun. Hey! There’s a thought. After I beat the crap outta ya, I’ll introduce ya ta Dragon Man. You an him ought’a hit it off real good.”

Evangeline snarled, her long tail whipping about in frustration. The ugly brute was mocking her, and she hated that almost more than anything. She heaved up, the bulk of her long, thick body rising to loom over the rocky abomination of a man. She bared her teeth, letting her inner fires rage. Liquid flame spewed from her gaping maw as she vomited a wide conflagration to envelop the Thing. The heat was devastating and intense, and surely enough to overwhelm her prey, but after a moment as the firestorm dwindled she could hear his laughter again.

“Yer kiddin’, right?”

Evangeline blinked, her massive eyes glowing in confusion as she saw that the beast had ripped up the street again, this time to act as a shield for some meager protection. She saw that his stony hide smoldered, actually flickering with spats of plasma, which he simply flicked away with a wipe of his hand.

“Babe, I been partners with the Human Torch fer years. Yer little bonfire don’t hold a candle ta his Nova Blast.” The Thing chuckled and heaved the slag of concrete and molten metal at her then without warning. Evangeline reacted quickly though, raising her arms to bat the impromptu missile aside.

And the Thing slammed into her belly.

Heated air rushed from her lungs in a gush, rolling out across the street like a blast furnace. She saw cars waver and begin to melt in the onslaught, a light pole bending. She heard the screams of SHIELD agents and police as the suddenly super-heated air enveloped them and sizzled their skin and caught their clothing afire. Weapons exploded, overwhelmed and more screams. She heard Fury barking orders in the background, but lost the thought as Grimm’s fist came up to smash into the underside of her jaw.

Evangeline’s mind swirled as her body actually raised up off the street, only to fall back with a crash, the sticky blacktop sinking under her mass. She lay there for a moment, trying to gather wits and breath, stunned. Her eyes went wide then to see the blurry, orange lump arch up suddenly, only to slam down onto her stomach.

“Guh…” she gagged with the impact, her belly perhaps the most vulnerable point of her tough, scaled hide. Grimm was a veteran fighter, and apparently knew that. He stood, cocky as he stared down at her with a malicious grin.

“Yer tough, I’ll give ya that. Whoever ya are, whatever ya are, ya ought’a get some trainin’ for ya jump inta the deep end. Hell, my dear old Aunt Petunia got more battle savvy than – ”

Evangeline stared in momentary confusion as the Thing’s face went suddenly slack. His eyes seemed to glaze over, and her draconian sight caught the glimmer of a strange and spiked aura surrounding his head and seeping inside. Stunned as she was, it took a second to realize just what had happened.

“Shan…” she rumbled, her voice hoarse and rasping. Karma had come to her rescue.

Xi’an Coy Manh concentrated, sweat beading on her brow as she reached out with her mutant powers, probing at the mind of Benjamin J. Grimm. She had made contact, her ability to suppress the victim’s mind and take control of the other’s body swelling for a moment, staying the Thing from striking the killing blow that she knew must be coming. But then, suddenly, something had happened.

She had met resistance and confusion. The Thing’s mind should have been rather one-track in his current state, but instead she found it as a raging storm, one that she was suddenly tossed within. Her concentration wavered momentarily as she had expected an easy victory, and she staggered as she quickly tried to redouble her efforts.

It almost seemed as though there were several psyches within the mind of the Thing. She sensed the almost overwhelming rage and hatred that seemed to be the dominant factor at the moment. It was almost blinding in its intensity, and it sickened her as she tried to struggle with it, and get it under control. Too, she sensed a more reasonable and thinking entity at the fringes, though at the moment it was far too weak to deal with the rage. There was a third as well, calm and almost carefree, but that one seemed almost asleep, if not comatose.

“Ahh…” Karma moaned as the rage swelled up, the effort of mental combat driving her to her knees. She sensed the people about her backing away in fear and panic, no doubt wondering what next. She tried to ignore them as she focused on the Thing, trying to suppress the beast within, at least long enough for Vange to recover and gain the upper hand.

Karma screamed as the connection severed. It felt almost as though she had been slapped. She had encountered those that she could not possess before of course, but most of those were more psychically endowed than the Thing should be, or had had intense mental training like Wolverine. She doubted that Grimm fell into either of those categories. It was the rage then, protecting him even as it fueled him.

She staggered, wiping her brow in exhaustion. She felt weak and winded, her head throbbing as she stared to her lover and the Thing. Grimm was shaking his head, his face twisted in a snarl of anger as he scanned the crowd, his sparkling blue eyes finally settling on her. With a parting stomp of his foot that made Evangeline convulse he leaped to the barricades sending the on-lookers scrambling to get away as he landed with a crash.

“I know you,” he said, stepping forward as Xi’an backed up a step, licking her lips. She was too tired to run, her legs feeling rubbery, so she decided to stand her ground. “Yer that New Mutie kid, Karma.” Grimm looked her up and down almost lecherously, grinning as he met her eyes. “You’ve grown some kid. That with you?” he asked, jerking a thumb over his shoulder towards Evangeline who was struggling for composure.

“Y-yes…” she said, cursing to herself as her voice cracked. He was scaring her, simply looking at her. “But I’m with the X-Men now,” she said, trying to sound brave. Grimm smirked.

“Don’t put on airs, kid. Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl; them’s the X-Men. Yer third string at best. Now I’ll give ya one chance. Take yer pet an’ get back ta the ‘burbs. Big city ain’t no place fer the likes a you.”

“Ben!”

Xi’an saw the Thing sag and sigh, his face softening as the voice cut in from overhead. She saw the radiance of the approaching fire, then felt the heat as she glanced up and saw the Human Torch hovering above them. He had a fireball raging in one hand even as he sent out a rope of flame to encircle the Thing with the other. Grimm seemed oblivious to the heat, which made Xi’an wince, as he turned and looked skyward.

“Give up, Ben. I don’t want to hurt you. Let us help.”

“Johnny!” Grimm shouted, his voice suddenly light. “Thank god. I’m okay,” he said and Xi’an’s eyes widened. He was lying. “Karma here helped me get my head straight. I’m fine now.”

“No…” Karma whispered realizing what was happening as the Torch drifted closer, trusting in his friend. It was a farce. “No!” she shouted, but too late.

Ben Grimm simply passed his hands through the encompassing flame and clapped his hands together. Karma screamed, staggering back as the sound exploded in her ears. Through teary eyes she saw the Torch flailing in the air as the rush of wind and sound enveloped him, stunning him and dousing his flame. Suddenly he was falling.

The Thing caught him, cradling him before shifting his grip and holding the Torch dangling by one leg. Grimm chuckled and shook his head as he glanced at Karma. She could barely hear him when he spoke.

“Ya see what I gotta put up with?”

She reached out as Grimm cocked into a pose that she recognized, rearing back to throw. “Don’t,” she gasped as she staggered forward, but too late as the Thing simply heaved and threw the unconscious form of Johnny Storm up and away. Xi’an watched in horror as the Torch tumbled through the air, dwindling with distance as he disappeared into the skyline.

“Whoops, the baby…”

“You’ve killed him,” Karma gasped, her voice choking off. Grimm simply shrugged.

“He’s the hero he thinks he is, he’ll save hisself. Maybe Spider-Man will swing by an’ grab ‘im. Don’t know, don’t care.”

“Bastard!” Karma screamed, her power shooting out like a thrown dagger. She felt Grimm’s mind bend for a split second as she took hold, but then, just as suddenly the moment passed. Grimm shook his head and reached out as she struggled to stay conscious from the psychic backlash. She saw his hand before her face.

“Gave ya yer chance, toots. Ya should’a took it.”

Karma tried to dodge as Grimm simply flicked his finger. She heard the crack of bone as her head snapped back and the world flipped round and round. Her sight swam as she slammed to the pavement, how far away she did not know. She blinked and tried to rise, but where the spirit was willing, the body was not. Karma settled back as the world went dim…

Union Square Café
16th Street at Union Square West

Was this a date? Greg Willis had his doubts.

He and Mattie Franklin had hung out a couple times recently, and certainly they were friends and partners in the New Warriors, he as Gravity and she as Spider-Woman, but when she had suggested getting together at one of the city’s hottest spots for a late lunch, was she considering that a date? He really didn’t know.

As a yokel fresh out of the Illinois cornfields he had to admit that he hadn’t had much interaction with the softer sex. Sure, he had dated, but Mattie was big city and one thing that he had learned was that Manhattan was a far cry from DeKalb, Illinois. Was this a date, or were they simply hanging out again as friends? How did she feel?

She certainly smiled in his direction a lot. She laughed at his lame jokes, and seemed to enjoy being around him. Was she interested? He just didn’t know. God he hated this.

“How’s the burger?” she asked, giving him a quizzical eye, noticing no doubt that he was lost in thought. He forced a contented smile as he wiped his lips.

“Good,” he lied. The burger was too rare in the middle, and the fries were greasier than he liked. He looked at the broccoli rabi that she had ordered and cocked his head.

“How’s yours?”

“Over-priced,” she said with a grin, “but okay.” She took a bite, making a dramatic effort to chew as she watched him follow suit. Was that real interest he saw, or just a friendly inquisitiveness?

“Mattie, I – ”

The cell phone beeped, a digital rendition of the 1812 Overture. Greg reached to his belt even as he heard her phone simply ringing as well. They both flipped their phones open and at the same time said: “Hello?”

“This is Taylor,” a voice said over the signal. “We have a situation.”

Both Greg and Mattie listened as Dwayne Taylor gave them the run down. The thing had gone mad apparently, and the Warriors were needed. Greg stood as the signal ended, clipping his phone back to his belt. Geez, they had to fight the Thing?

Mattie was digging in her purse as he started to move off. “Greg,” she called as he stepped over the rail surrounding the sidewalk tables. “We have to pay.”

Greg Willis flushed red as he dug into his pocket for his wallet. Definitely not a date.

It took some time to find a place to change into uniform. There were no phone booths anymore, but stalls rather and neither of them had super speed. The bathrooms were crowded, and the subways had a steady flow of people rolling in and out of the kiosks. It finally cost them each two dollars though to get down onto the 14th Street Platform, and then a bit of stealth to run down on the tracks.

Greg was a bit worried about the third rail, but Mattie simply rushed forward, a slight greenish glow emanating from her hand as she called up her bio-electric energy to light the way. They turned back to back in an alcove there in the dark, the smell overwhelming almost and Greg was certain that he heard the squeal of rats in the distance. He was happy as hell when they finally got out, flying up and out of the tunnels and giving the commuters waiting on the platform a thrill as they raced past.

Once out of the subways, Mattie in her Spider-Woman guise pushed off to travel by her psychic webbing. Greg as Gravity was more than happy to carry her, but he understood and was actually thankful as a few moments later and en route uptown she pointed skyward.

“Look!”

Gravity glanced up and saw a darkly clad and smoldering figure tumbling through the sky. It took him a moment to get a handle on the situation, that the body was unconscious and would probably splatter on impact. He shot higher.

Gravity called up his mutant powers, straining to make the spiraling, limp form lighter as he spread his arms, bracing. The impact was hard and drove him back, but he managed to catch the body, quickly righting himself to absorb the impact and start flying again. He looked at his catch then, and his eyes went wide.

“I think it’s the Human Torch!” he said with surprise, but Mattie was well on her way, still rushing uptown. Greg shifted the Torch in his arms and hurried to catch up.

Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street

Grimm had carried the fight to Fifth Avenue, and Evangeline had stupidly let him. The police had kept moving the crowd back, and SHIELD tried to help, but with every passing moment, the thing just seemed to get stronger and less caring.

He was hammering on her now, every blow driving her closer to oblivion. He was laughing too, which made her angry in her own right, but she was too battered and bruised to feed off of that anger. Xi’an was down and out, and she knew that in seconds she would be as well. She would revert to her human form with unconsciousness, and then Grimm would kill her, or, worse she would be at the mercy of SHIELD, or the humans.

Better to die, she thought as the world started to slip away.

There was a flash of golden light as something slammed into the thing’s back, knocking him off of her chest before he could deliver the final blow. Evangeline blinked, trying to focus and saw something bouncing about and looking vaguely familiar. It was just so hard to concentrate, she hurt so much.

“Aw, jeez…”

She heard Grimm’s rumble of disbelief as he stood near her head, watching the bouncing, sparkling man of gold and blue. He was thin and wiry, blonde hair trailing as he bounced between buildings and shot back at the thing with a blinding speed.

“I don’t remember sayin’ ‘send in the clowns,’ Speedball,” Grimm said as Evangeline saw him draw back a leg. The form- Speedball, if that’s who it truly was- started to flail but was unable to change the course of his flight, or bounce. He rocketed in, and Grimm simply kicked as though the boy were a soccer ball. Evangeline heard Speedball’s scream.

“Nnnnoooooo!”

He arched up and over the buildings of Midtown, quickly vanishing from sight as the thing shook his head in bemusement. He turned to Evangeline again.

“Okay, kid. Comedy relief’s over.” Grimm drew back, winding up at last –

And suddenly flew overhead to crash on her far side.

Evangeline groaned a throaty rumble as she saw a huge black man in tattered leathers and a mask looking on her. He smiled, stepping forward.

“Rest easy. The cavalry’s here.”

With that he stepped up and vaulted over her just as Evangeline finally drifted away…

Rage slammed down onto the Thing’s back with all the force that he could muster. He hated the whole idea of a sneak attack, but he knew too that he was nowhere near the Thing’s class in power. He had to take advantage of every thing that he could to get the upper hand, and then force the issue, pounding relentlessly. If he gave Ben Grimm the chance to breathe and think, he knew that he would be done. Already though, the Thing was shaking off the initial attack and struggling to rise.

Rage smashed down onto the Thing’s shoulders, driving him down with both fists, fingers interlocked like a piledriver. Not letting up, he slammed his fists again, then pummeled down like a hammer, left and right until the Thing was on a knee. His fists hurt from the force and fury of his blows, but for all he could see he had not made a dent in Grimm’s rocky hide. He could see the Thing breathing hard, and worse, he could hear the grumble and snarl as he started to growl with anger.

“Just stay down, Mister Grimm,” Elvin Haliday said, licking his lips, ready to strike again if necessary. He had met a lot of heroes in his day, running with both the Avengers until he was dismissed when they found out his real age, and then with the New Warriors. He was finding it hard though to realize that he was going toe-to-toe with the Thing, one of the First Family of Herodom and simply one of the greatest heroes this side of Captain America. He felt like shit for attacking, but it had to be. Dwayne had said that the strongest member of the Fantastic Four was running rampant, Elvin was there. Rage was there. “I don’t want to hurt you, sir.”

The Thing turned and glared at Elvin, and the boy in the brute’s body felt a shiver run down his spine at the dark look of sheer anger. Rage swallowed hard, drawing back his fist when the Thing started to chuckle.

“Yer gonna hurt me, kid?” Grimm said with a cold laugh. “That’ll be the day.”

Rage saw Grimm shift as though about to attack and he did not hesitate. He swung, a mighty overhand blow that would have knocked a normal man’s head off. Rage grunted as the force of his momentum fell abruptly short, as though his fist had suddenly rammed into a brick wall, which in a way it had.

Elvin stared in awe, watching dumbstruck as the Thing held his fist within his own. He felt the pressure of the other man’s grip, and it did not even look like Grimm was trying yet. He was grinning though as he slowly stood, and finally the trance was broken and Elvin tried to pull away. Grimm simply increased the pressure.

“Ahhh…”

“Yer strong, kid, I’ll give ya that,” Grimm said as he squeezed a bit harder, watching mercilessly as Elvin tried to pull away. The pain was intense, and making it hard to think. Rage shifted his weight and brought a leg up to a sidekick, hoping to catch the thing off guard, but Grimm was a savvy fighter, and a wrestler, Elvin remembered. Grimm shifted his stance and easily blocked Elvin’s kick, actually catching his leg in the process with his free hand. “Tough too, Cap says. But strong an’ tough just don’t cut it in this game.” Grimm released Rage’s hand and quickly took hold of his leg with both hands. He twisted and heaved Elvin off of his feet, spinning him and slamming him to the concrete in one swift move.

Not finished, Grimm twisted on the Warrior’s foot, then started to apply leverage as he began doubling the leg over at an odd angle. Elvin cried out as a sudden pain shot through his leg and into his spine.

“I got no beef with you kid, so I’ll give ya the same chance ya gave me, an’ some free advice. Stay down an’ leave this to the adults. Go back ta school boy, an’ get a real job.”

“I’m in school!”

Ben Grimm glanced up as the blue and white streak shot past at blinding speed. He felt the move-by punch, strong enough to snap his head about and actually leave him blinking, dazed for a moment. Just long enough for Rage to twist away as his grip weakened. Grimm watched Rage as he scrambled to his feet, then limped off out of easy reach, favoring his right leg. The kid was playing it safe for the moment, so the Thing turned his attention to the newest attacker.

Ben Grimm had few dreams and wishes anymore, and despite his situation they were not so different from any normal man. He wanted security and love, and in that he had found it in Alicia Masters. He had thrown that away too many times in the past, but recent events had opened his eyes and he knew that she was the only thing in his life that made him truly happy. And of course, he did not want to be a monster. Again, Alicia had helped with that, but it was his recent bout with the Grey Gargoyle that had given him a true chance at a normal life. But for Richards and his years of failure and false promises of a cure that never came he could be living normally now. And there was flying.

Benjamin J. Grimm had always loved to fly. Back in the beginning, before the Marvels there was no chance of that dream happening without help, so Ben had become a pilot. He had become a damn good one back in the war, and after, and before he had gotten sucked into Richard’s delusions, before he had met Alicia, there was nothing that made him happier. He had always been jealous of the Torch, and his ability to fly, and his sorry attitude, his taking his special gift for granted. One more reason to hate Johnny Storm, petty as it was.

The Thing looked up, watching as the boy in the blue and white costume arched up and around, circling swiftly through the buildings to come in for another pass. He reminded Grimm of the Angel a bit, or at least one of his past costumes, sans wings. He watched, wondering what it must feel like to be so free, so carefree…

“Gahhh!”

Grimm staggered, his concentration broken as a greenish electricity danced over his stony skin. His body tingled head to toe, feeling almost numb. A spot on his back felt on fire; a familiar feeling actually. Ben Grimm snarled, turning…

“Spider-Wommmph!”

Something sticky, though oddly insubstantial enveloped his mouth and swiftly swept over his head. It seemed like webbing- he had been there before too many times on Spider-Man’s receiving end. This was not real though, not quite the same but something that was almost psychic goo produced by his latest attacker. Spider-Woman!

He had gotten a quick glimpse of the woman, but though the costume was similar to the one that Jessica Drew used to wear, it was a bit different as well. And the woman in the costume was not Drew, but another kid by the looks of her. Another New Warrior then, probably, like Rage and Speedball and that new kid Gravity, Ben recalled his name. Fine.

Bring it!

Karma stared through bleary eyes as she shook her head and tried to get her bearings. She was still on the battlefield by the looks of things. There was devastation about her as far as she could see. Cars were wrecked and burning, the streets were ripped up, light poles had fallen and there were injured people everywhere. Luckily SHIELD and EMS seemed to be on the job and doing what they could to help the injured while the police and fire department continually tried to clear the area. That was good.

She moved slowly forward, holding her head with one hand as she braced against an overturned car. She bit her lip as she scanned the field of battle, trying to ignore the pain as she searched with worry for-

“Evangeline!”

She saw her lover lying near the midst of the fight, not so far from where the Thing staggered blindly, his head wrapped in an odd, green gauze of some sort. She had no idea what was happening, nor at that point did she care. Evangeline was unconscious, still in her draconian form luckily but far too close to the danger zone. Xi’an Coy Manh started forward.

“Karma,” a gruff voice said as a steely grip wrapped about her arm. She turned, fear and anger swelling within as she called upon her power, almost swooning as the pain swelled as well. The grip on her arm kept her from falling as she gasped for breath, trying to focus. She saw Nick Fury staring down at her.

“Rest easy, girl. Yer friend’s fine.” She saw Fury glance towards the fight, his one good eye shifting swiftly over the scene. He had that same look about him that Cyclops got when he was surveying a battle, making plans in his head and plotting potential victory. She tried to shrug off his grip, but she was too weak. He did ease the grasp however as he returned his steely gaze on her.

“You need ta get these kids ta work together, Karma,” he said, his teeth grinding on the bit of his smoldering cigar. The smoke made her eyes water and sting, but oddly the aroma seemed to help her focus.

“No,” she said, jumping a bit as something crackled in the background. The young woman dressed as Spider-Woman was blasting at the Thing with what had to be a bioelectric bite. The Thing seemed more annoyed than hurt however as he continued to claw at the webbing about his face. “I need to help… my friend.”

“Save it,” Fury snapped. “Ain’t no time fer niceties. Whedon’s fine, but soon as Grimm gets his sight back that could change. You and the Warriors need ta hit him hard an’ fast while he can’t see. And all together. It ain’t kosher, but it’s the only way.”

Karma stared at Fury, watching as he raised his arm in a chopping motion. The SHIELD agents moved in as a flying boy shot by with a shattering punch. As soon as he was out of the way, the task force opened fire again, the barrage of their energy weapons staggering the Thing, but again doing little damage. She saw too one of the Guardsmen blasting away from overhead. His armor was dented and his flight was shaky, but he was trying. Could she do any less?

“Fine.” She glanced at Evangeline, so still, then turned her attention fully on the Guardsman.

“How is he still standing?”

Mattie Franklin blasted her bio-electric blast at the Thing again, and again the best result was that he staggered a bit. He would not fall down.

“I dunno,” Gravity said, rubbing the knuckles of his hand and looking at the torn and bloodied glove. He had hit the Thing with all his effort several times and all that he got for his troubles was a bruise. “Maybe he’s just running on adrenaline or something. Maybe he’s being mind-controlled.”

They both watched, hovering over the field of battle as Rage waded into the fray again, hammering with all of his might. At least he seemed to be making a dent when he connected, but the Thing was good, one of the best and he seemed to anticipate Rage’s blows, blocking most even though blind. He was incredible.

“Now’s not the time for watching!”

Both Gravity and Spider-Woman looked up to see the battered form of one of the Guardsmen hovering above them. He looked shaky in his flight, and he was moving slowly, his voice booming over his PA system.

“This is Karma of the X-Men! We need to coordinate our attacks with SHIELD and put an end to this while we can! Before anyone gets seriously injured!”

“Karma?” Gravity asked, trying to think of who that might be. The name sounded familiar, but –

“What do we have to do?” Mattie asked, gliding higher on silken wings over the heat of a nearby burning car.

“Just what you’ve been doing! Your venom blast, along with his fly-by punches! Unless you have something better, Gravity right?”

“Yessir.”

“Ma’am,” the Guardsman corrected, but before Gravity could figure that one out, the armored form flew towards Grimm and Rage and started in with his own energy blasts. “Go!”

Greg Willis gave Mattie Franklin a weak smile and as he soared higher, he watched as she settled to the ground. He saw the power well in her fists as she unleashed her full fury at the Thing, causing a muffled scream of pain and anger to escape his gag. Gravity hoped that she- that they all would be fine as he climbed higher in his flight, calling the elements to his will and whim, gearing up for the biggest smashing punch that he could muster.

This was shit.

Ben Grimm winced as he felt one of Rage’s blows slip past his defense. The kid was strong, but he was heaving like a smoker running the NY Marathon, and he had no finesse at all. Even blind and one-armed- as Grimm continued to claw at the webbing on his face with the other hand- Grimm had no problem blocking ninety percent of the kid’s blows, they were so announced and obvious. The Spider-Bitch was a different story though. Her little ‘bites’ actually stung a bit, and made him a bit dopey. And the flying kid was just too fast to anticipate. Add that to SHIELD’s tickle guns and that last Guardsman that got back into the act –

“Arrrgggh!”

Grimm dropped to one knee and almost toppled over completely as they ganged up on him. Rage had given a hell of a rabbit punch while the flying kid delivered a wicked right cross. The Guardsman blasted from above while the Spider-Girl bathed him in another venom blast as soon as her friends had hit. He shook his head, having to grin in that they had actually hurt him, working together. His head was actually spinning a bit. Another couple of combined attacks and they might actually drop him.

As if…

Grimm dug his fingers into the blacktop, mashing a fistful of the soft tarmac in his grip. He could hear Rage breathing not too far away, winded and gasping for breath almost. The Guardsman was buzzing almost directly overhead, he could feel the brush of the presser beams that powered the armor’s boot jets. The kid, Gravity was probably arcing for another pass, and the rest were waiting for him. Somebody had waved off SHIELD. Fury no doubt, now that he had the kids to do his dirty work. It was the girl that he was after though. She was the problem. He waited, listening…

Rage started forward, no finesse or stealth, stomping like a bull.

He heard the whine of the Guardsman’s blasters powering higher…

Grimm spun on his knees and lobbed the clot of blacktop as the first tingling of bioelectricity lapped at his back. It was not a blast of force per se, but something odd and almost mental. There was no kinetic force involved, so even as the venom blast washed over him again the small rock shot forward. He did not hear the contact as the Guardsman blasted down on him and Rage’s fist plowed into the back of his head, but he did hear the girl cry out, and Gravity’s attack never came. Grimm chuckled.

As the ‘webbing’ on his head faded away he saw the flying kid holding the girl, a nasty gash on her forehead. She was dazed at least but breathing, for now. Ben Grimm blinked as Rage drove a fist into his back once again, wincing with the pain. It WAS starting to hurt. The Thing eased forward and shot his legs up, out and back as he braced in a mule kick. He felt impact, a second later gratified by the satisfying thud of Rage landing on his ass. He eyed Gravity and the girl before he slowly got to his feet and turned to find Rage flat on his back, shaking his head and blood oozing from his split lip. Grimm smiled viciously as he moved closer…

“I’ve had enough a you an’ yer playmates, kid,” he said coldly, cracking his knuckles then reaching down and hoisting Rage up by his leather vest. He saw the boy’s eyes grow wide with the sudden fright of impending doom as Grimm craned his fist back for his best Sunday punch.

“Don’t worry punk. I’ll make it quick,” he chuckled, then cried out as something clamped about his wrist like a vice, squeezing. He could not throw the punch, his arm locked in place. He had not felt such pain in years it seemed. Not since…

“You done baby-sitting, Grimm?” a rough voice growled with just a touch of amusement. Grimm knew that voice, and as he turned he just had to grin. He stared up at the equally grinning face of the jade giant towering over him. The huge brute released his grip on the Thing’s wrist, actually folding his arms and stepping back to wait patiently as Grimm massaged his hand. Ben Grimm laughed, shaking his head.

“Bout fuckin’ time I get somethin’ worth hittin’.”

“Fuckin’ time, Grimm?” the Hulk asked, obviously amused.

“Heh… Yer right, Doc…

“It’s Clobberin’ Time!”

NEXT: It’s the Battle of the Century with Guest Stars galore as the fight you’ve all been waiting for finally happens. It’s the Ever-Lovin’, Blue-eyed Thing VS. the Incredible Hulk in a knock down drag out to end all as co-written by Curt Fernlund and Derrick Ferguson! You DO NOT want to miss this one!

 

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