The Baxter Building
Madison Avenue at 42nd Street
Manhattan, New York

Options were limited, but to an enlightened mind there was always a way. Reed Richards had known that early on in life, and the notion had been confirmed as fact innumerable times over the years:

From the time of his first encounter with those who thought that size and power, might meant right. His ability to think, to outthink his more intellectually stagnant classmates had always been his greatest option then. Brain over brawn had been his credo all through school and beyond.

Later as well, when he and three of his best friends had been near death he had known that options would become apparent. Their shuttle destroyed and each of them in turn physically or mentally altered, mutated for better or worse, it was once again his mind, which had presented alternatives.

When he had been faced with the possible death of his wife and unborn child- twice, he had found another way, a better way.

Even now his mind was calculating and collating, processing all that he knew of the current situation, and all that he could remember of the players involved. He was analyzing all that his senses were presenting to him, the grim façade of apparent reality spinning past in the blink of an eye as he recalled those that now held his family hostage: who they were, what they were capable of and why. And of course, more importantly, how to defeat them.

Josef Geiger had been there from the beginning of course. He and Ann Darnell had missed the fateful flight of the Excelsior that had ended in both triumph and tragedy for Reed Richards, Susan and Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm. The ship had been destroyed, the ideas surrounding Geiger’s anti-grav technology, which he had developed to power the shuttle scrubbed and shelved for years, his patents locked pending federal investigation after what had happened. What had happened of course had been the birth of the Fantastic Four, and Geiger had missed out on that particular glory and it had always rankled with him. He had since used his technology- illegally mind- to further his goals as a not so petty criminal, using his own admittedly brilliant mind to further his own goals and dreams and most often against Reed Richards as the Wingless Wizard.

Over the years to further his endeavors, Geiger had gathered like-minded individuals about him, though none were within range of his intellect. In some scheme years ago he had even created his own quartet of fellows to counter the Fantastic Four. They had fought many times, and Richards had to grudgingly admit that all too often Geiger’s group had come very close to killing them all. But, as always, Richards had seen the options in the end.

The Wizard had several of those past acquaintances at his side again, and together they had managed to secure the newly reconstructed Baxter Building. That in itself was an impressive enough feat given the security measures incorporated not only by Richards, but T’Challa the King of Wakanda and the Avenging Black Panther, Anthony Stark perhaps the greatest offensive technical mind on the planet, and SHIELD. But Geiger had taken his conquest a step further.

He had taken hostage Reed Richard’s children. AND through the use of the combined powers of two of his newer members had enthralled at least two of SHIELD’s Guardsmen along with Alicia Masters and Madame Medusa, the Queen of the Inhumans and wife of Black Bolt. Josef Geiger, the Wingless Wizard and his newly founded Frightful Force had endangered both his friends and more importantly, his family.

With the likes of the Trapster, Hydro Man, Phillip Masters the Puppet Master and Basil Sandhurst the Controller lounging arrogantly in their very Meeting Room, the Wingless Wizard had Alicia Masters holding Richards’ daughter Valeria, hoping perhaps that that would stay the hand of the Fantastic Four. Also there were two of SHIELD’s own Guardsmen in their verdant powered armor holding Franklin his older son, threatening his life with their enhanced strength and potential Repulsor Rays.

It seemed hopeless at a glance. Geiger seemed to have the upper hand, but Reed Richards knew that there were always options. More importantly he knew that knowledge was power, a fact that Geiger failed to realize time and again. And Reed Richards was all about knowledge. His already brilliant mind had been enhanced by the Cosmic Rays, which had initially given him his altered abilities, his memory, his ability to multi-task, his power to think and construct on the fly. Too, Reed Richards prepared for every contingency.

Where Reed Richards knew Geiger’s limits however, he was also certain that the Wizard did not have a rational clue as to his own. For instance, his code name was Mister Fantastic for a reason; that being that he had almost total control of the molecular structure of his body. For the most part Richards used that ability rather mundanely, simply stretching and seeming pliant, like some poor man’s Plastic Man, that hero he had read about in the four-color comics of his youth. His Cosmically endowed abilities were far more comprehensive however.

“You seem to have the upper hand, Josef,” he said, focusing his outward attention directly at the Wizard, trying to ignore the man’s ugly sneer and the foul, choking smoke of his cigar. His inner being however was sifting through the molecules of his body, redirecting mass where need to apply for a variant number of contingencies. He felt the weight increase in his hands and legs both to brace and potentially magnify for a possible assault. His field of vision widened as he adjusted his eyes ever so slightly, his peripheral vision expanding to take in all the occupants of the room as well as the various monitors and controls on the nearby consoles beyond the meeting table where the villains had gathered. With a thought he reconstructed the dimensions within his ear the better to focus his hearing, almost parabolically, to hear every voice and word with the ultimate accuracy. Then he started to shift the fibers of his hair. “What is it you want? Release my children and friends and we can discuss this as civilized equals.”

“Hah!” Geiger spat, almost choking on his cigar as he sat forward. “We were never equals, Richards. You were always the ‘golden boy’. Not because you were smarter, but because you were willing to kiss more ass! Don’t even try to soft talk me.”

Reed felt the soft touch of his wife’s hand brush the small of his back. It had been a long time since he had tried to mentally manipulate his hair follicles into words or symbols, but apparently he had been successful as she had given him the affirmative signal in response. Good. With proper skill and teamwork, the matter would be expedited post haste.

“As to what I want,” Geiger continued, and if possible his smile became even uglier and more vile, “I would have thought that that would be rote by now. I wish to see you humbled, Richards. I wish to see you humiliated for all the indignities that you and yours have heaped upon me over the years. I wish to hear the lamentations of your women and see you driven before me. I wish to crush you…”

Reed Richards ignored Geiger as he started his rant, as he knew the jealous madman would. And that was the root of his problems of course. Like Doom and Gideon and so many others, he was simply, basically envious of Reed Richards and his apparent success. Richards almost smirked. If he only knew.

Reed felt the light brush of his wife’s fingers, the second signal that Ben and Johnny and she were ready. There was the factor of Crystal Amaquelin Maximoff of course, but Richards had to hope that the Elemental Inhuman remembered the old codes. It had been some time since she had been a valued member of the Fantastic Four, but she was good and reliable. He had every bit of confidence in her abilities, especially in the current scenario. It hit far too close to home. Reed Richards focused on Geiger once again, noting that his ‘willing’ allies were laughing. He had missed the joke. Reed Richards smiled.

“I’m so glad you find the situation so amusing, Reed,” Geiger sneered. “One might think you would be a bit more worried over your imminent downfall.”

Richards smirked. “I seriously doubt that it will come to that, Josef. NOW…”

THE FRIGHTFUL FORCE!

Part II: Masters and Slaves

By Curtis Fernlund

The two Guardsmen had not stood a chance.

Susan Richards, the Invisible Woman knew of course that they were being duped, held in thrall by Phillip Masters, the Puppet Master and THAT was the only reason that she held back. They were not in control of their own bodies or thoughts so long as Masters held the two small dolls carved from the strange, radioactive clay that somehow enhanced his own mental abilities and as such were more than willing to do whatever he wished. And that of course was their downfall.

She had been on the receiving end of Masters’ powers often enough, whether controlled herself or the target of one of his puppets. She knew that his power, and any mind control that she had ever encountered for that matter slowed the victim just enough as to make them sluggish to respond. All the more if the victim did not wish to carry out the command. She knew also that Nick Fury had chosen his Guardsmen for the Baxter Building from the elite of those available. They would be of the highest caliber, with training by SHIELD’s ESPer Division along with the more standard training that the agents of SHIELD received. They would be fighting Masters’ dominance, especially with the threat to her son whom she knew they all knew and loved.

Still, it had taken all of her will, every fiber of self control that she could muster not to simply unleash the power of her Invisible Force on Geiger and his crew whether mind-controlled or not. Even Alicia as she had stood there cuddling Valeria with that casual smirk, her eyes knowing as she stared blankly into Susan’s soul. It had only been Reed’s intervention that had held her and the others back.

She had almost gasped to see her husband’s hair growing at the nape of his neck, swirling like Medusa’s own and swiftly morphing into a recognizable shape-

‘F’

And then she had found it hard to hide her smile, despite the circumstance.

A casual sideways glance to Ben and Johnny had confirmed that they had seen the signal as well as she brushed her hand across her husband’s back. Even Crystal, bless her, was touching Lockjaw with a seeming casual familiarity, almost as though she were holding him back though the Inhuman’s massive ‘dog’ simply lay there unconcerned, yawning and licking its huge muzzle. She could barely hear Crystal’s whispered words, short and compact in the language common to Attilan, her lips unmoving as she relayed orders to her pet. Susan had brushed her husband’s back again, signaling that they were ready, and waited for Reed to initiate. And when he had she had acted without hesitation.

She knew that no matter how tightly the two Guardsmen had their gauntleted fists pressed to her son’s head that she could slip a molecular thin force field in to protect him. But Reed had called for ‘phi’ and she knew that he was counting on sudden confusion. The Fantastic Four were not the Avengers. They did not have a playbook of dozens of coordinated attacks and defenses, however they did have a few based on their abilities. Usually the special assaults were not needed, but with the lives of their children in danger Reed had called the play.

Susan called upon her power, feeling the ‘Hyper Force’ swelling within her cosmically altered body like a song. She held the force in reserve however, instead reaching out with the far more subtle invisibility, encompassing the two Guardsmen. With a simple thought she forced her power upon them, refracting light so that their bodies and armor simply absorbed rather than reflected. In the blink of an eye their bodies had disappeared, only their head remaining and seemingly floating there in space. The result of course was confusion, hesitation, and even as the Human Torch burst into flame behind her, and the Thing swaggered forward she was reaching out with her force fields to separate her son from any potential harm.

She encompassed the two Guardsmen with ease, forcing them back with a mental shove as Masters ordered them to fire. Their Repulsor Rays of course flashed and burst uselessly within the confines of the fields that she had erected, coming seemingly from nowhere. Without hesitation she slammed the armored agents of SHIELD back against the wall, and just as swiftly contracted her fields, the strength of her will proving far stronger than the metals tempered by Stark Industries. She heard the two men scream, but stopped only when they had stopped writhing in her grasp. She let the crumpled shells that remained fall to the floor and set her sights on Alicia Masters, hoping that she might save her children.

Crystal Amaquelin Maximoff hunkered down, her arm wrapped about the neck of the creature that was probably her best friend in all the world.

Lockjaw had been the boon friend and companion of Blackagar when he had been a youth, and she had been overwhelmed when he had gifted her with the great, big puppy’s companionship on her twelfth Naming Day. Lockjaw was old, ancient even by Inhuman standards, but she had not cared. He had been there for her so often in times of sorrow and joy, so many times that she and he had become almost inseparable. The things that they had seen together, the things that they had done.

“Save the children, Lockjaw,” she whispered into her friend’s ear. He yawned, seemingly bored but she knew that he understood. “Save Franklin and Valeria. Take them somewhere safe.”

She saw the spark and crackle of the antennae on his brow that signaled that he was building power to transport. Lockjaw had the ability to teleport simply anywhere, no matter the distance or time, even through dimensions. There were places that he knew, safe places that he had taken her in her youth where he could better protect the children and return at her call. He always seemed to know when she wanted him, needed him. He would return when the battle was done.

Crystal stepped back and away as Lockjaw vanished, only to reappear a heartbeat later beside young Franklin Richards. She had to smile at Franklin’s yelp of surprise, her smile growing wider as the boy grabbed hold of the folds of Lockjaw’s skin, waiting for transport. Franklin was a smart kid.

Crystal yelped herself as she felt her legs bunch together, throwing her off balance. She looked down and saw the all too familiar scarlet tresses of her sister and queen, Medusa, the wife of Black Bolt. Medusa’s ‘Hidden Power’ was not so hidden as she had total control of her ‘living’ hair, the massive mane that continually swirled about her head. It was a situation that she was all too familiar with, one that she had encountered too many times growing up in the palaces of the Great Refuge.

“Medusa!” she called as the strands of hair snaked up her legs, trying to encompass her fully. “Fight this, sister! You’re better than this!’

“Save your whining, little sister,” Medusa said as she strode forward about the wide table. “Your fate is sealed. Surrender now, and maybe I’ll show you mercy.”

Crystal stared at her sister and frowned. She had been entrapped by her elder sister’s living hair before, but it had never been a problem. In her youth, Medusa had held the upper hand, and her elder’s authority and power had cowed Crystal. It was in her fifteenth year when she had realized that she could fight back and Medusa had learned that her little sister was growing swiftly.

“You’re not in your right mind, Medusa,” Crystal said, not even trying to fight as the red tresses swept up her body, forcing her legs together, her arms to her sides. “If you were you would realize that this is pointless. You’re the wiser. You always have been. But I’m the stronger.”

Crystal simply relaxed and the room seemed to grow more humid. She felt the shift in energy, the static filling the air at her whim. Outside there would be clouds roiling, dark and majestic. Here, within the confined space of the Baxter Building she could feel the winds blowing through the halls, the dull edge of pressure washing over all.

With a shrug she called the lightning and heard her sister scream. Light flared as electricity charred the scarlet tresses, her sister dancing uncontrollably, caught in the grip of her Elemental power. She felt pity of course, and she held back, but still she let Medusa writhe and squirm until her eyes rolled white and her tongue swelled and flapped. Until her hair started to recede and she finally collapsed in a smoldering heap.

“Flame on!”

Johnny Storm ignited as soon as he saw the Guardsmen bodies vanish. He knew as well as Ben and Sue what ‘Phi’ meant. Hit hard and fast. Show no mercy. Well, since Geiger and his goon squad had decided to take Johnny’s niece and nephew hostage, he definitely had no problem with that.

He erupted into a raging flame and immediately took to the air. There was not much room to maneuver, but he had been doing this most of his adult life and there were few in the World of the Marvels that were better fliers than he was. The Angel probably, hell that’s all that he did, and maybe the Wasp, but she was on a whole different level. Johnny Storm, the Human Torch could manage in the tight space of the Meeting Room, do his damage and still have room to spare.

The villains were slow on the uptake and that was good. He saw the Wizard toss his cigar and jump to his feet, his hand slipping to his chestplate, probably to grab some anti-grav disks. The Trapster was a bit slower to rise but Johnny saw that the old Paste Pot Pete had his adhesive gun out even as he found his legs. Hydro-Man was just on the rise, his body starting to ‘sweat’. Oddly, it was Medusa first on her feet and moving forward, despite the fact that either Masters or the Controller was probably controlling her. Her hair was snaking out, but not at him. She knew better, and was rushing about the table’s outer edge and going towards Crystal.

Johnny let her go. He knew that Crystal could handle her sister as he laid a swath of fire across the room in Medusa’s wake. His wall of fire would not last long if he did not concentrate on it, but at the moment he was after effect more than long term results. The wall separated Medusa and Geiger from the rest, all fiery show. He knew too that Ben would be able to wade through the flaming partition with no problem. The same however could not be said for the likes of Trapster and Hydro-Man. Johnny smiled, arching up to face the two men, backed against the far wall from the fires.

“You both know how this is gonna end up, fellas. Why not just surrender for once, hunh? I’ve got a date later, y’know?”

Maybe if he had not goaded them they might have. You never know. As it was, Hydro-Man simply dissolved into a wash and flowed swiftly across the floor and away from the flame while Pete raised his gun, aiming.

“Eat me, Torch,” he said as he fired, “and this!”

A thick mass of adhesive flowed from the wide muzzle of his gun, spewing out across the room as he swept his arm to target the Torch. Johnny laughed as he zipped and zagged, spiraling casually as he avoided the Trapster’s aim and attacks. It was an old game, and he had beaten Pete far too many times, both by himself and with the Four to be worried by the man’s best efforts.

“Hold still, dammit!” the Trapster shouted in frustration.

Johnny could hear the desperation in the villain’s voice as he swept back out of sight behind his diminishing wall of fire. He willed the flame ablaze in his hands, wishing that he could simply torch the loser, but heroes did not play that way, ‘no mercy’ or not. He would blast off Pete’s adhesive tank, melt his gun, and as an added irony, sink his legs into the molten floor. Pete would be pissed, and trapped.

“Wha?”

Johnny Storm’s forward momentum jerked to an abrupt halt as he felt something wrap about his ankle. His winced in pain, hissing through clenched teeth even as the iron-like grip squeezed like a vise. He started to glance back, to see who or what had snagged him when he suddenly slammed down into the floor.

Johnny saw stars as his vision swirled and swam. Remarkably he managed to hold onto consciousness, shaking his head as he willed his flame hotter. His burning field flared, and he could feel the reinforced floor tiles melting instantly at his almost white hot touch as he pushed off, kicking as he tried to fly-

And swiftly swung skyward.

Johnny Storm smashed through the tiled ceiling above leaving a blazing hole in his wake as his sudden momentum carried him through not only the maintenance crawlway between floors, but the reinforced foundation of the floor above as well.

And the ceiling above that.

And again.

Johnny Storm, the Human Torch was however, blissfully unaware when his impromptu journey finally came to a halt two stories above the Meeting Room. His flame had died with his momentum. His consciousness just before that.

Debra Bernard screamed as the fiery flaming form of the Human Torch came smashing up through the floor just a few feet in front of her. She shrank back at the sudden flare of light and heat, spots dancing through her vision as she quickly scrabbled back. She could feel the burn in her palms and the soles of her bare feet as she crab-walked away, fearing what might come next.

Sure enough she saw the sudden geyser of water gush through the opening that the Torch’s passing had created. There was a hiss as billowing clouds of hot steam came wafting down the crawlspace, enveloping her.

“Ahhh…”

She bit her lip, trying her best to stifle her screams as the steamy vapor washed over her, singing her bare skin. It felt like a sunburn, but the sensation was so sudden that her body screamed with the flood of pain and all she could do was endure until it passed.

Finally, she let out her breath in a long sigh. She had not even realized that she had been holding it, and her muscles had been held just as tightly, her whole body clenched. She relaxed and almost collapsed on the spot, breathing hard and watching the hole as she flattened in the crawlway to catch her breath and screw her courage back into place.

She hoped that the Torch was not injured from his trip through the ceilings and floors. She knew that the building’s construction had been reinforced both against the massive weight of Richards’ various machines as well as the Thing’s, but also the fiery escapades of the Human Torch. She had felt the intense heat of his passing and knew that he had to be close to white hot in order to melt his way through the barriers, not to mention his momentum. It had almost looked like he had been thrown by the after image burned into her inner eye.

And of course the following gush of water just had to be Hydro-Man. She hoped that the villain had not seen her, though how he actually ‘saw’ when he was all wet was a mystery to her. Still, there was a bit of luck involved, and she had to hope that it was on her side.

She had after all beaten the obviously mind-controlled Medusa. The Inhuman had been moving slower than normally, off by a fraction in skill and thinking alike. Just enough, luckily for Debbie, that she was able to get the upper hand just long enough to escape. Where to go however had become the immediate concern, and of course she had to rescue the children.

And of course the Wizard had locked down the Baxter Building. She had remembered from the SHIELD files that Josef Geiger was almost in a league with the likes of Reed Richards and Stark when it came to mechanics, electronics and the like. Too, it probably helped that he had the Trapster on his team. Whatever Geiger could not figure out by way of security systems, Peter Petruski probably could. Long story short, she could not escape.

So, with visions of John McClane dancing through her head Debra Bernard, agent of SHIELD and the Fantastic Four’s Nanny had taken to the maintenance crawlways that ran between the upper floors of the Baxter Building. It had been a long shot. Geiger was intelligent, but it was the best idea that she could come up with on the run as she found the elevators locked out and inner doors connecting the various wings and stairwells sealed. She had known that once Medusa had recovered, and the equally enthralled Alicia Masters spilled her guts that the Frightful Four would be on her heels like purple-clad bloodhounds.

She had to find the kids, and she had to find a weapon of some sort, hopefully something with a bit more bite than her SHIELD issue Needler. She had to find the Weapons Room, or Richards Lab, not that she had a prayer of getting in either unless Geiger had unsealed them for his own purposes. Maybe the main Communications Room then.

That had been when she had heard the sounds of battle.

She had been crawling through the maintenance tunnel towards the noise, almost there even when the Torch had coming smashing through the shaft like a fiery comet in reverse, followed by Hydro-Man hot on his heels, literally. And it sounded as though the battle had not even broken stride. With a final sigh, Debbie Bernard eased forward and peered through the hole at the scene below.

Without poking her head through the opening she could just see Reed Richards squaring off against someone, probably the Wizard or the Trapster as she could not see either of them from her line of sight. Directly below however she could easily see Ben Grimm, the Thing lumbering forward towards his partner the Invisible Woman. She was standing her ground against not only the Controller, but also the Puppet Master and his niece Alicia, the latter who was holding Susan’s baby daughter, Valeria. She did not see Franklin, but she did see Medusa unconscious on the floor off to the far side of the meeting table. Standing over her was a young, orange-haired woman dressed in yellow and black that just had to be the elder Inhuman’s sister, Crystal. Finally she noted the two equally unconscious Guardsmen and their crumpled armor, wondering whether Grimm or Sue had gotten them first.

Debbie eased back again, and again she sighed. “Join SHIELD. See the world,” she whispered, almost laughing. “Right.”

She had a few options: Drop in on the fight to help, i.e. become a hostage herself more likely, go on to find Franklin, or a big gun. Really, on second thought, there was actually only one option.

Debra scurried forward, easing over the gaping hole as quietly as she could, moving on. The FF would simply have to win this one without her.

Ben Grimm glanced up and peered into the darkness above. He had heard something, a scrabbling sound and expected an attack but nothing came. Definitely not the Torch, as Johnny Storm would have come blazing full tilt and cocked diesel without a thought. Grimm stared, following the carnage and looking through to the floors above. Nothing.

With a shrug he returned his attention to the scene before him. The Invisible Woman stood before him, content in the assurance that he had her back as she concentrated her powers on the hulking, bulked up form of Basil Sandhurst, the Controller. Susie had the man pinned against the wall with one of her force fields, and Grimm could see the huge man straining and trying to move. Oddly though his scarred face was sneering, twisted into an evil grin.

Susan Richards seemed to be ignoring Sandhurst for the most part, confident that she could hold him secure and she was probably right. The Controller gained a portion of strength from every individual that he ‘controlled’ with his slave disks through the same bond that let him communicate with them. He could potentially become as powerful as the Thing, or even the Hulk, but there was no way of knowing just how strong he really was until he took a more hands on approach. The Invisible Woman was probably taking that into account though. She was not stupid, and that made her the strongest member of the Fantastic Four more often than not.

She had her attention on Phillip Masters rather, and his niece Alicia. Ben frowned to see the woman he loved staring blankly- well, more so than usual. She was cradling his God Child, Susie’s daughter Valeria, and though there was probably no reason to fear that Alicia would hurt the baby, Susan was still almost frantic with worry for the safety of her child. Both Alicia and the Puppet Master were backed up against the far wall and the door that led into the hallway running through the less secure areas of the floor beyond; the prep rooms and storage lockers, the sick bay and the like. The elder Masters looked as though he was about to throw a fit he wanted out so bad. Alicia simply smiled.

“Alicia,” Sue said, and Grimm could hear the fear for her baby in her voice. “Please. Give me Valeria. I don’t want to hurt you. And the Controller can’t. You’re safe.” Alicia’s smile simply grew, wider and cold.

“Oh, I know that I’m safe,” she said with a chuckle, bouncing the baby in her arms. Valeria giggled. “We all are, aren’t we Ben?”

“Ya got that right, babe.”

Grimm saw his teammate turn then, confusion in her wide blue eyes as she heard the gravelly sound of Ben Grimm’s voice. She had known that he was there of course, guarding her back like a good little soldier. She had been confident, so arrogant that she had concentrated all her power on Sandhurst, knowing that her friend Ben would step blindly in harm’s way should anyone attack from the rear. He almost chuckled as realization finally dawned in her big blue eyes, too late.

“Nightie-night, Susie-Q,” Grimm said already reaching out as she was turning, his finger flicking out. He caught her under the chin, using just a tiny portion of his great strength as he did not want to kill her- yet. He knew that despite all her power, without her force field she was still basically normal physically. Too, of the three she had always been the least condescending and insulting. She had been the nicest towards him, if you could think of it that way and he hated her the least for it. For that, and the fact that she was the mother of his Godchildren he showed her the tiniest bit of mercy and did not take her head off.

Still he heard her neck pop as her head snapped back and she collapsed to the floor in a heap. He stared down at her for a moment, making certain that she was still breathing and finally satisfied looked up again. Masters was almost dancing with glee, his wide smile all teeth and stretching across his misshapen head from ear to ear as he clutched the puppets of the Guardsmen in his bony fists. To his left, Sandhurst was stepping from the wall and rubbing his arm as he looked down on Susan Richards. Grimm saw him snarl as he drew back his leg to kick the unconscious woman.

The Thing stepped over his fallen teammate and shoved Sandhurst back, slamming him into the wall again, his rocky hand planted in the taller man’s chest. He shook his head as the Controller stared daggers at him, his scarred face twisted in rage.

“Unhand me, brute!” he shouted, but Grimm simply smiled coolly. “Beast! I’m your master! I’ll…”

“Shaddup!” Grimm snarled, then turned to the Puppet Master. “You too. Can the noise. An’ the both a ya get outta my head. Ain’t no man’s Ben Grimm’s master.”

Ben Grimm smiled as he stared longingly at the woman he loved and found her smiling back in return. The voices were gone, both Masters’ whining and the Controller’s demanding suggestions that had been driving him and confusing him ever since he had returned from Florida. He knew now that it had been the two of them all along, making suggestions at first, pointing him in a direction that they wanted him to go, playing with his desires and emotions. Granted, there had been times that he had listened, when what the two had to say had made sense in a twisted sort of way. They had helped him on the Moon when he had finally confronted Maximus, urging him on to save little Luna. Maximus had deserved what he got, and for that matter so did Masters and Sandhurst as they had been doing the same and hiding behind children. With their voices suddenly gone and his mind suddenly clear, the only thing saving the two men was Alicia. He knew that she would never let them harm the kids, and for that reason alone he let the two men live, at least a little longer.

“You okay, ‘Licia?” he asked, his voice strangely soft and warm.

“Always Ben, with you.” She smiled at him and he could feel his heart melt. She was the only thing that he truly, truly cared about besides the kids, an’ they were marginal because of their relatives. Of course, once Richards was down and the three thorns in his side were pulled for good maybe him and Alicia could adopt the brats. Maybe even settle down somewhere. Sunshine City had been nice, an’ they both deserved some happiness after all the shit they’d been through on account a’ Reed Richards.

“Ya better get outta here, babe,” he said with concern, removing his hand from Sandhurst’s chest and easily shoving the door behind the three open and out of the wall. “It’s about ta get ugly in here. No reason you need ta be a part of it.”

Alicia Masters nodded and unerringly stepped through the opening that he had created. She hurried down the outer hall and out of sight even as Phillip Masters turned to follow. “Where you goin’, Phil?” he snarled, grabbing the Puppet Master by the back of the collar and yanking him off of his feet. He stared at the Controller as Masters dangled and squealed for mercy, kicking his legs.

“Yer part a’ this team. The both a’ ya, an’ we got one more little bit a’ unfinished business ta take care of.”

And almost as one the three men turned their attention on Reed Richards, Mister Fantastic and the Wingless Wizard.

Josef Geiger just had to smile to see the sudden grimace flash over Reed Richard’s face. Geiger knew what Richards was doing of course. He could see the slight bulge in his brown eyes when his head turned just so, as well as the queer shape that his ears had developed. The man was good, the Wizard had to admit, thinking of unique ways to utilize a relatively stupid power like enhancing his senses by rearranging his molecules. Fortunately, Josef Geiger was smarter, through trial and error granted, but the end did justify the means.

Richards knew that his beauteous wife and her arrogant brother had been defeated. Geiger hoped in truth that Storm was still alive after the Thing had thrown him through the ceiling. Alive but crippled, hopefully for the rest of his admittedly shortened life. Susan Richards would make a fine addition to the new team, after he had modified her thinking of course as he had Grimm’s. Johnny Storm however deserved to die alongside his brother-in-law for the entirety of the indignities, which they had heaped upon the Wizard over the years. Aside from Richards and his quartet, the braggart Torch had been the one to defeat him singularly most often, and to be beaten time and again by the boy was simply too much for his ego to bear. Soon though, Geiger would have his revenge.

Too, there was the Inhuman girl to consider into the equation. He was surprised at the ease with which she had beaten her sister. Had Madame Medusa been holding back? Perhaps she needed another session with the improved ‘Attitude Adjuster’. There was also the possibility that the family ties ran deeper in the Inhuman brood than it did in the case of Grimm and his adopted family. Whatever, he would sort out Medusa later, and her sister as well, adding her and Susan Richards to his stable.

It was an old ploy, which had almost worked once when he had altered the very being of Ben Grimm’s way of thinking and made him even more bestial and actually evil for a time. Richards of course had managed to turn the tables in the end, eventually saving his friend, but it had been so close. The Attitude Adjuster had been a success however, and over the years Geiger had finally come upon a plan that would allow for ultimate success based on its initial trial. He would include the powers of the likes of the Puppet Master and the Controller- actually he had considered others but they were the two most easily incorporated. Combining their powers with the Adjuster’s it was a simple enough matter to totally control even the strongest mind.

Grimm of course had fallen into their laps, visiting his dear, sweet love Alicia. Little did he realize that she was already enthralled and a victim of the triple threat. In fact, the entire town of Sunshine City had been corrupted by either Masters or Sandhurst. It had been fortunate indeed that they had stumbled upon the government relocation project for the allegedly ‘Criminally Insane’. With a makeshift army of criminals in thrall, Grimm had not stood a chance.

Now, with Grimm influenced and modified, with the love of his life as the only thing he might care about, his strength adding to the Controller’s power it was Richards that did not stand a chance. And this time Geiger would not take the time to gloat in the traditional ‘villain’ fashion. Richards was dead, though as yet he did not realize that fact.

Case in point as Geiger stepped aside, Mister Fantastic’s massive fist slamming into the wall behind him. His armor was working perfectly: his helmet modifying his own great intellect and senses even as Richards had morphed his. His Wonder Gloves were operating at maximum efficiency, increasing his strength and reflexes to their optimum potential. Geiger smiled at the knowledge that he could not be touched unless he so chose and reached out to grab the receding arm of Reed Richards.

With just a thought, his cybernetic helmet sparked initiative in his powered gauntlets creating a ‘null’ field about his fist. Geiger had conquered gravity long ago, and though SHIELD and Stark and the Black Panther had stolen his patents the knowledge remained his. Advancement in the technology came naturally and easily, and it was simplicity itself to create a field of gravity not unlike the Invisible Woman’s force field, which would stagnate the almost liquefied molecules that composed the essence of Mister Fantastic. Geiger in a sense had simply separated just a bit of Richards’ body from the whole, trapping him. Geiger laughed to see the sudden look of surprise on his old foe’s face.

“Do you realize yet just how outmatched you are, Reed? Surrender now. I’ll end this quickly.”

“You’ve always been overconfident to the point of arrogance, Josef,” Richards said with a conceited smile, and Geiger could feel the man shifting his form trying to escape. His helmet however had been modified as well and it randomly altered the null field to compensate whatever Richards did.

“Suit yourself,” the Wizard said as he produced an anti-grav disk and tossed it, watching as it slapped to Richards’ chest. Mister Fantastic’s body morphed immediately as gravity ceased about him, trying desperately to remain grounded. He motioned for Grimm and the others to wait as a flash of light caught his eye.

Peter Petruski flinched as lightning crashed down about him. If not for his insulated costume he would have been fried to a crisp, but after several humiliating defeats at the hands of the Human Torch he had gotten wise and reinforced his meager defenses as best he could. He was proof against fire, to a point, and electricity as well after a short bout when Electro had been a member of the Frightful Four. Still, he knew when he was outmatched.

The girl was incredible, simply waving her hand and changing the weather within the room. A thunderstorm boomed now where a second ago he was shivering from sub-zero temperatures. And all that he had was a stupid gun that shot paste.

Well, that was not totally true.

The girl had turned her attention in his direction after she had taken down Medusa with ease. Her big dog had vanished with the Richards brat, and she had been happy about that, as it left her free to concentrate on the opposition, namely him. He had fired his paste gun over and over but she had simply wiggled her fingers and a wind came whipping to blow his paste away. It was like fighting Jeanie or Samantha for god’s sake. If not for Geiger he would have simply run.

But the Wizard had changed. He had become almost obsessed with defeating Richards, to the point of fanatic, and unfortunately he had the power to make Petruski’s life hell if he fucked up. He had to beat the Inhuman now, or Geiger might just turn his mind-fuck machine on him. Or worse, he might give him over to Grimm, and after the mind fuck that they had given the Thing poor Peter knew that he would not stand a chance.

“Give up, Trapster,” the red-haired girl said as she called down lightning. Petruski could feel his short hairs standing on end in the static even as his free hand drifted to his belt. He kept firing, but his paste simply spewed and swirled about the room, redirected by the young woman’s winds and whims. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will. I live by a different set of rules, y’know?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he replied as he fingered several small marble-like balls from a compartment on his belt. He palmed them, firing his paste gun again as distraction. He had been called Paste Pot Pete back in the day, years ago when life was simpler. He was a master chemist, which everyone seemed to forget, and he had developed all of his own pastes and solvents, but since he was a criminal the government had seized all of his patents leaving him Pauper Pete, or Penniless Pete, the running joke at Ryker’s. Hell, he had found a solvent to dissolve Adhesive X, the original Zemo’s greatest invention and had incorporated that into many of his own inventions. He was not all about paste however.

He called himself the Trapster for a reason, that being that he had spent a lot of his off time (most of which had been spent in prison) developing new ways and forms of imprisonment. He had learned the inner workings of security: locks and systems and whatever. He had practiced the art of escape until he was satisfied that no bonds would hold him, and then he used that knowledge to expand his own repertoire to create the perfect shackles for any contingency. He had just the thing to deal with an elemental, that eventual confrontation with Thor, or Storm of the X-Men. Petruski smirked as he tossed his ‘marbles’ into the storm.

Silver Iodide. They used it to seed clouds to create rain or disperse moisture. In his hands however, and modified it made a good deterrent against sudden shifts in contained weather. He saw the look of shock and confusion on the Inhuman’s face as the marbles exploded, quelling the storm that she had been creating. There was a swell of air pressure as she tried to compensate, as her focus shifted and that little bit of hesitation was all that he needed.

The Trapster pulled a thin gun from one of the bulky compartments on his uniform and fired. Three small disks shot forward, expanding as they traveled, morphing into an almost liquid state. The first hit the girl full in the face, a sheath of fluid metal flowing over her head to blind her. The second hit her square in the chest, the metallic substance swiftly hardening and pinning her upper arms while the third did likewise to her thighs. She staggered, grunting into the metal hood that covered her face as her impromptu storm quickly fizzled. Pete charged forward, raising his paste gun again.

It was over in seconds as the girl’s air swiftly diminished. He encompassed her legs and hands in paste, and only then did he use a small pin laser to allow her to get air through the metallic mask, pin pricks at her nose. She was done as he covered her with an extra coating of paste, pinning her to the floor for the duration.

Peter Petruski, Paste Pot Pete, the Trapster looked up then and saw Reed Richards, the last man standing. It was almost over.

Richards winced as he tried to withdraw his arm from the gravity well that Geiger had placed it in to no avail. He was trapped, and the anti-grav disk on his chest kept him occupied just enough that he had to distribute his abilities to compensate and simply anchor his mass. He stretched and pulled, altering his molecules to their limit but he could not get free. Not yet, but given the opportunity to think out the situation he had no doubt that he could counter whatever the Wizard could conceive. However, Geiger and his comrades would not give him the chance. They were closing in.

Crystal had fallen. Johnny and Sue as well. He should have seen it coming. There was a pattern developing, as all their old foes were playing off past experience and he should have known that Geiger would be no different. The man had peaked with his developments in anti-gravitational technology, and quickly stagnating after words. Apparently he had advanced his initial concept over the years, but there was nothing new really. The null field was interesting, but it was easily circumvented with time…

“Hey, Richards!”

Mister Fantastic turned at the sound of the familiar voice of his old friend, shivering just a bit at the malice that laced it. He saw Ben Grimm holding his wife Susan, his massive fist encompassing her head, her body dangling limply.

“Now would be a good time ta give up.”

Reed Richards was no fool. He knew that Geiger’s Attitude Adjuster had turned the Thing and brought his dark side to the fore. At one time that alone would not have been enough to allow consideration that Ben might kill Susan, but Richards also knew now that his friend’s mind had been corrupted by both the Controller and the Puppet Master. That additional edge was enough, and he let his body shift back to a semblance of normalcy, suddenly floating in the power of the anti-grav disk and his arm still stretched and trapped within the Wizard’s fist.

“Please…” he said, his eyes wide and imploring as his best friend grinned. Geiger’s machine had corrupted him to the core, and Reed Richards knew that his friend would kill, as had been proven in Attilan. Reed Richards surrendered.

But there were always options…

NEXT: The Frightful Force triumphant as the Wizard and his allies seek revenge against their greatest foes. With the Thing and Madame Medusa on their side, who can stand against Josef Geiger and his anti FF?

Meet Debra Bernard, Agent of SHIELD!

Yeah, okay. I don’t believe it either, but it might make a good read. Be here…