"I called you together because I have some pictures to show you!" Reed Richards held out a series of grainy, unsettling photos. His face, usually a mask of calm scientific detachment, was etched with a rare furrow of worry.
"Pictures?" Johnny drawled, leaning back with his arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.
Ben Grimm grunted. "Knock it off, Johnny. This feels serious. What's the deal, Reed?"
"Look closer, Ben," Reed said, his voice low. He gestured to the first photo. "This used to be the Volkov Atomic Plant, just behind the old Iron Curtain." The photo showed a gaping, impossibly large hole in the ground, with the plant itself seemingly...vanished.
Johnny's smirk faded. "Wow...what happened to it?"
"The same thing that happened to every other atomic plant in these photos," Reed replied, sliding through the images. Each one depicted a similar scene of utter devastation.
Sue gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "This one's in Australia!"
"And this one's in South America!" Johnny realized, his blue eyes widening with concern. The playful banter was gone, replaced by a shared sense of unease.
Reed nodded grimly. "That's just it. It's happening to atomic plants all over the world. And no one knows how, or why. But...I've been monitoring some very unusual seismic activity. Unnatural impulses. And according to my calculations..." He tapped a complex array of dials and readouts on a nearby device. "...another 'cave-in,' as the authorities are calling them, is about to take place!"
The device beeped insistently. Reed's fingers danced across the controls. "There! It happened again! This time...French Equatorial Africa!"
A heavy silence fell over the room, broken only by the hum of Reed's equipment. Sue finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "But...how? Why?"
Reed turned to face them, his expression grave. "That's what we have to find out. By cross-referencing the seismic data and the locations of these events, I've pinpointed the epicenter. An island...located almost exactly between them all. A place that defies all conventional geography. It's known, in some very old, very obscure texts, as...Monster Isle."
Ben scoffed, his rocky features hardening. "Monster Isle? Come on, Reed, you're not serious. That's just some old sailor's yarn. A fairy tale."
Sue placed a hand on Ben's arm, her gaze steady. "There's only one way to find out, Ben." She looked at Reed, her eyes filled with a mixture of apprehension and determination.
Hours later, aboard the Fantastic Four's private jet, they saw it. Rising from the churning, storm-tossed sea was a sight that defied description. A mountain, yes, but not like any they had ever seen. It resembled nothing so much as a grotesque, living face, its peaks like jagged teeth, its slopes like wrinkled skin. Monster Isle. After a somewhat bumpy landing on a relatively flat stretch of volcanic rock, they began to explore. The island was a labyrinth of twisted rock formations, steaming vents, and unsettling silence. They climbed single file, the only sound the crunch of their boots on the uneven terrain and the distant, mournful cry of some unseen creature.
Ben, bringing up the rear, grumbled, his voice echoing in the oppressive stillness. "If this is just a wild goose chase, Richards, I'm gonna make sure you regret it. Slowly."
Reed, leading the way, didn't turn. "Save your breath for the climb, Ben! We don't know what we're going to find." He stopped suddenly, holding up a hand. "Hold it! I hear something..."
Sue, her senses heightened, turned her head, scanning the rocky slopes. "It's...it's coming from below!" She pointed to a section of the mountain face. "Look! All those...eyes..."
Before anyone could react, the rock face exploded outward. A nightmare of teeth, claws, and writhing flesh hurled itself at them. It was a three-headed monstrosity, easily the size of a truck, its multiple eyes glowing with malevolent hunger.
"Quick, Sue, turn invisible!" Johnny yelled, his voice tight with adrenaline. As Sue shimmered out of sight, the monster paused, its three heads swiveling in confusion, its momentum carrying it forward.
That brief hesitation was all Reed needed. His body stretched, his arms extending like living ropes. He launched one arm out, forming a massive, elastic lasso, and expertly snared the central head of the beast. With a mighty heave, he redirected the monster's charge, sending it crashing into the turbulent sea below. A colossal splash erupted, sending a wave of brine and steam washing over the group.
They barely had time to catch their breath when the ground beneath Reed and Johnny gave way.
"It's a cave-in!" Johnny screamed, plummeting into the darkness.
"Hold on to me, Johnny!" Reed shouted, his body contorting, his arms and legs expanding into the shape of a makeshift parachute. The wind rushed past them, the roar of the collapsing earth fading as they descended.
Johnny, clinging to Reed's elongated form, glanced up at the rapidly receding hole. "Lucky Sue and Ben weren't right at the edge! I don't know if you could have carried us all!"
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the duo reached the bottom. It was pitch black, the air thick with the smell of damp earth and something ancient and foul. They stumbled around in the darkness, their hands outstretched, until...
"What the...?" Johnny muttered.
A section of the cave wall began to slide open, grinding against the rock with a sound like the groaning of a dying god. A blinding, otherworldly light flooded the chamber, searing their eyes.
"That light! Where did it come from?!" Johnny yelled, throwing up an arm to shield his face.
"It's...it's blinding! I can't see!" Reed cried, his voice strained. "I'm...I'm blacking out!"
Some time later, their senses returned. They found themselves standing in a vast, cavernous chamber, bathed in the eerie, pulsating glow of what appeared to be countless massive crystals. They were clad in strange, form-fitting suits, the material shimmering and adapting to their movements.
"So, you have recovered, have you?" A voice echoed through the chamber, ancient and grating. "It is about time!"
"Who are you? I...I still can't see clearly..." Reed said, his vision slowly returning, the suit's visor adjusting to the light.
"And where are we?" Johnny demanded, his voice rough. He flexed his hands, feeling the strange, adhesive texture of the suit.
"The reason you cannot see...fully," the voice corrected, "is that you are in the presence of the Valley of Diamonds! A sight that has blinded lesser beings. And as for me..." A figure emerged from the shadows, small and hunched, with pale, luminous skin and eyes that glowed with an unsettling intelligence. "...I am the Mole Man!"
The Mole Man gestured around the cavernous space, a manic gleam in his eye. "So, you have never before heard of the Mole Man, eh? Well, soon the surface world will hear of me! For soon, the Mole Man will have the entire world in his power!"
"How did you get here? What is this place?" Johnny asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
The Mole Man launched into a rambling, self-aggrandizing monologue. "It all started long ago...because the people of the surface world mocked me..." He began to pace, his voice rising in intensity. "They scorned my appearance, my intellect! They cast me out, treated me like a...a freak!"
Johnny shifted his weight, exchanging a wary glance with Reed. This guy was clearly not playing with a full deck.
"...That was to be the last of my misfortunes!" the Mole Man continued, his voice taking on a feverish pitch. "My luck began to turn! I discovered this subterranean realm, a world of wonders and terrors! I mastered the creatures down here, made them do my bidding! And with their help, I carved out an underground empire!" He spread his arms wide, his eyes gleaming. "I conquered everything about me! I even learned to sense things in the dark, like a mole! Here, I'll show you! Try to strike me with that pole! Try it, I say!" He tossed a crude, rock-hewn staff toward Johnny, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
Johnny, never one to back down from a challenge, especially when faced with such blatant arrogance, caught the staff. He hefted it, testing its weight. "Alright, Mole-y. You asked for it." He lunged, bringing the staff down in a swift, powerful arc. The Mole Man, with surprising agility, blocked the blow, his laughter echoing through the cavern.
"Hah! I sensed that blow coming! Nothing can take me by surprise! And I have developed other senses too, like those of a bat!" He leaped backward, avoiding Johnny's follow-up swing. "I possess a natural radar sense, a warning system which enables me to evade whatever danger strikes at me!" He leaned impossibly far to the left, his body contorting in a way that seemed to defy physics, and Johnny's staff whistled harmlessly past his head, slamming into the cavern floor with a resounding crack.
Critical Strike: x2! Johnny's attack speed doubled, but the Mole Man's reflexes were similarly enhanced.
The staff snapped in half, sending a shower of wood fragments flying. The Mole Man chuckled, a dry, rasping sound. "See how easily I defeat you, or any others who try to defy me!" He darted forward, his hand flashing out with surprising speed, clipping Johnny across the jaw.
Johnny stumbled, his head ringing. He tasted blood. "Ugh..." he groaned, shaking his head to clear the stars from his vision. He felt a surge of anger, but also a strange...exhilaration. He'd been hit, yeah, but he was still standing.
Critical Strike: x0! The punch landed with no extra force.
"Now, before I slay you all," the Mole Man declared, his voice dripping with theatrical menace, "behold my master plan! See this map of my underground empire?!" He gestured to a massive, glowing map carved into the cavern wall. "Each tunnel leads to a major city on the surface! As soon as I wrecked every atomic plant, every source of earthly power, my mighty mole creatures will attack and destroy everything that lives above the surface!" He explained his plan with a disturbing relish, his eyes gleaming with mad triumph. "And now, at my signal...those creatures of the darkness, my denizens of Earth's center, shall dispose of you witless intruders!"
"We'll see about that, Mole!" A familiar voice boomed through the chamber. Ben and Sue burst into the throne room, Ben's rocky form radiating barely contained fury.
"Ben! Sue!" Johnny grinned, relief flooding through him.
"Too late, fool!" the Mole Man shrieked, his face contorted with rage. "The die is cast! There is no turning back!" He scrambled to a nearby rope. He pulled one with a flourish.
A section of the cavern floor rumbled and split open. From the gaping chasm, a monstrous creature emerged. It was colossal. Easily dwarfing even Ben, it was a grotesque amalgamation of rock, flesh, and glowing crystals, its many eyes burning with a mindless, destructive rage. It was a being of pure, unbridled power.
"Thing! Look out behind you!" Reed warned, his voice tight with alarm. The creature's attention was fixed on the Fantastic Four, its massive form filling the chamber.
"Look out, Reed! I'm gonna burn my way out of this monkey suit!" Johnny roared, his body erupting in a torrent of flame. The strange suit peeled away from him like molten skin, revealing his blazing form. "Flame on!" He launched himself into the air, a fiery comet against the backdrop of the glowing crystals. "Stand aside, gang! It's gonna get mighty warm around here!" He warned, a manic grin spreading across his face.
Johnny couldn't help but smile, a wild, almost reckless joy surging through him. He was facing something truly gigantic. Something that made him feel, for the first time in a long time, like he was facing a real challenge. A true test of his growing power. Behind him, he could sense his team and the Mole Man scrambling to escape. Before the Mole Man vanished into the darkness, he pulled another lever, and the ground began to tremble again.
"Oh, is it my birthday?" Johnny muttered, glancing back. From the newly opened fissures in the floor, a horde of smaller, but still vicious, creatures began to swarm into the chamber. They were fast, agile, and hungry. Johnny laughed, a sound that was half-triumphant, half-insane. He briefly turned his attention away from the colossal monster looming before him and focused on the smaller threats.
"Alright, you little uglies," he snarled, his flames intensifying. "Looks like I'm gonna have to earn my main event. Just to be safe." He dove into the horde, a whirlwind of fire and fury.
Johnny roared, a sound that was less a word and more a primal declaration of intent, a defiant challenge hurled into the oppressive darkness of the cavern. The sound vibrated through the crystalline structures, causing them to hum with a strange, resonant energy. He wasn't just becoming the Human Torch; he was transforming into something more, something elemental. He became a whirling dervish of flame, a contained inferno unleashed upon the horde. These smaller creatures were fast, yes, and vicious, their claws and teeth glinting in the eerie light, but they were also...numerous. Perfect fodder for a power-hungry bonfire.
He started with a Heat Wave. It wasn't a mere blast of fire; it was a cataclysmic pulse of superheated air that radiated outward from his body in a destructive sphere. The air itself shimmered and distorted, becoming a visible wave of energy that slammed into the onrushing creatures. Those closest to him were thrown off their feet, sent skittering across the cavern floor like burning leaves caught in a hurricane. Their bodies, unable to withstand the sudden, extreme temperature change, began to melt and burn, staining the ground. Several crashed into the cavern walls with sickening thuds, their forms melting into the rocks.
Critical Strike: x743! The wave expanded and intensified with incredible force, the heat scouring the cavern and disintegrating a huge number of creatures.
"Yeah, that's the stuff!" Johnny thought, a manic grin spreading across his face, his eyes burning with an almost feral intensity. He felt the power surging through him, not as a subtle shift, but as a tidal wave. A tangible increase in his speed, his strength, and the raw heat he could generate. The very air around him shimmered and distorted, bending light and creating mirages in the already bizarre landscape.
A group of the creatures, seemingly undeterred by the initial blast, lunged at him, their claws snapping and gnashing, their multiple eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. Johnny, moving faster than he ever had before, a blur of motion and fire, Flame Dashed between them. It wasn't a simple burst of speed; it was a teleportation-like maneuver, leaving afterimages of flame in his wake. He left trails of searing heat that lingered in the air, the creatures howling in pain as their limbs were singed and blackened, some of them collapsing into smoldering heaps. He followed up with a series of rapid-fire Fireballs, each one incinerated his targets at the point of contact, leaving behind only glowing motes of dust and the lingering scent of ozone.
Critical Strike: x29! Johnny's speed and the force of his blows were amplified, allowing him to dispatch a large number of enemies with blinding speed.
"Okay, now we're talking!" He could feel his muscles burning, but it wasn't pain. It was the heat of creation, the raw energy of his power reaching new heights, pushing his body beyond its perceived limitations. His flames intensified. He was becoming a furnace, a walking star, a being of pure, unadulterated energy.
He saw a cluster of the creatures trying to flank him, their movements surprisingly coordinated. Johnny grinned, a predatory gleam in his eyes. Time to turn up the heat, literally. He unleashed a Focused Flame Beam, a concentrated lance of pure flames. It sliced through the creatures like a hot knife through butter, the beam carving a swathe through the horde with surgical precision, leaving behind a trail of smoking, melting remains and a lingering hum of raw power.
Critical Strike: x991! The Plasma Beam's energy output and accuracy were magnified to an incredible degree, disintegrating a huge swath of creatures and leaving a massive scar on the cavern wall.
He glanced back at the colossal monster. It was still there, a mountain of living rock and crystal, watching him with those cold, alien eyes. It hadn't moved, hadn't even seemed bothered by the carnage Johnny was unleashing, as if the smaller creatures were nothing more than insects to it.
"Alright, big guy," Johnny thought, his grin widening into a full-blown, almost maniacal smile. "You're next. Just gotta clear out these...pests first. Then we'll have some real fun."
The smaller creatures were starting to thin out, their numbers dwindling, but they kept coming, driven by a mindless, insatiable hunger, a desperate need to consume and destroy. Johnny wouldn't give them a chance to regroup, to overwhelm him with sheer numbers. He was on a roll, and he wasn't about to stop.
He unleashed a Nova Burst, a sphere of energy that expanded outward with explosive force, a miniature sun erupting in the heart of the cavern. The cavern was filled with a blinding light, brighter than anything they had ever seen, and a shockwave that sent tremors through the very rock, threatening to collapse the entire subterranean structure. The creatures caught in the blast were vaporized, their forms utterly annihilated, reduced to nothing more than shimmering motes of energy that dissipated into the air.
Critical Strike: x11! The Nova Burst's area of effect and destructive power were moderately amplified, clearing a large space and leaving behind a field of fused rock.
He felt...exhilarated, yes, but also something more. He felt...connected. Connected to the raw power of the universe, to the fundamental forces that shaped reality. The energy was coursing through him, not just in his veins, but in his very being, making him feel almost...limitless. He was faster, stronger, tougher than he had ever been, his body transformed into a conduit for unimaginable power.
The last of the smaller creatures fell. The cavern was a scene of devastation, a charnel house of crystal and ash, the air thick with the smell of ozone and the heat of a thousand suns. There was no containment. No incapacitation. Only annihilation, a testament to the sheer destructive potential of the Human Torch unleashed.
Johnny stood in the center of the carnage, his chest heaving not from exhaustion, but from the sheer energy coursing through him, his body radiating an almost unbearable heat that warped the very fabric of space around him. He was panting, but he was also...glowing. He was the sun in this subterranean world, a beacon of destruction and power, a harbinger of the inferno to come.
Critical Strike: x1000! Johnny's speed, strength, and the raw power of his flames reached their absolute zenith, making him a being of almost limitless power.
He turned to face the colossal monster. It still dwarfed him, a towering behemoth of rock and crystal that seemed to defy the laws of physics, but now...now it didn't seem quite so insurmountable. Johnny could feel the raw power thrumming within him, the stacked stats amplifying his every ability, pushing him beyond the boundaries of human potential. He was ready. He was more than ready.
He took a deep breath, the superheated air filling his lungs, fueling the inferno within. He could feel the heat signatures of the giant monster, the raw energy radiating from its massive form. It was like staring into the heart of a volcano, a furnace of primal power.
"Alright, you overgrown rock-for-brains," Johnny said, his voice a low, dangerous growl that echoed through the cavern, carrying the weight of his newfound power. "You wanted a show? Let's give 'em a show. Let's give 'em a fireworks display they'll never forget."
He launched himself at the giant, a human comet streaking across the cavern, leaving a trail of fire and destruction in his wake. The battle for Monster Isle, a battle that would shake the very foundations of the earth, was about to begin.
He turned to face the colossal monster. It still dwarfed him, but now...now it didn't seem quite so insurmountable. Johnny could feel the raw power thrumming within him. He was ready. He was more than ready. He took a deep breath, the superheated air filling his lungs, fueling the inferno within. He could feel the heat signatures of the giant monster.
"Alright, you overgrown lizard-mole thing," Johnny said, his voice a low, dangerous growl that echoed through the cavern, carrying the weight of his newfound power. "You wanted a show? I'll give you a show you'll never forget."
The colossal monster roared, a sound that wasn't a challenge, but a statement of raw, unthinking power. It lumbered forward, its massive feet shaking the cavern floor, each step a localized earthquake. Johnny met its advance head-on. He didn't charge in a straight line; he moved erratically, a swirling vortex of fire and plasma, utilizing his enhanced speed to its fullest.
Critical Strike: x562! Johnny's speed and maneuverability were incredibly enhanced, making him a blur of fire that the monster had difficulty tracking.
He began with a series of fireballs, each one aimed at a different part of the behemoth's body. He targeted everywhere, leaving behind scorched and blackened marks on the monster's hide. But the creature barely seemed to notice. The monster swatted at him with a massive arm, a swing that would have crushed a mountain. Johnny, his reflexes honed to superhuman levels, dashed away, leaving a trail of fire that briefly obscured the creature's vision. He reappeared on its other side, already launching another attack.
Critical Strike: x12! The fireballs exploded with slightly more force than usual, leaving minor craters on the monster's rocky hide.
He noticed that the ground around the monster's feet was beginning to glow red. The heat from his attacks was starting to affect the very rock it stood on. An idea sparked in his mind.
He flew high above the monster, drawing its attention upwards. Then, with a focused burst of energy, he unleashed a Focused Flame Beam, not at the monster itself, but at the ground beneath it.
Critical Strike: x897! The beam's intensity was amplified to an extreme degree, superheating the rock into a torrent of molten lava almost instantly.
The ground liquefied, turning into a pool of molten lava. The monster roared in pain and surprise as its feet began to sink into the molten rock. Johnny didn't let up. He continued to blast the ground, widening the pool of lava, creating a fiery pit that threatened to engulf the entire monster. The monster struggled, its massive limbs flailing, but the lava held it fast. It was trapped, its movements restricted.
Critical Strike: x33! The force of the continued blasts was moderately increased, making the lava more viscous and adhesive, further hindering the monster's escape.
Johnny knew this was his chance and continued heating the ground until the monster was entirely submerged in the lava. It was only when the Human Torch felt an incredible surge of power rapidly flowing throughout his body that he realized it was finally dead.
The cavern was silent, the only sound the crackling of the cooling lava and Johnny's heavy breathing. He had done it. He had defeated the gigantic monster. This was totally sweet! Johnny celebrated with a shout before making his way toward the surface.
"I hope I didn't scare you guys. Dealing with that guy was a bit more fun than I thought." Johnny flamed off and landed next to his team.
"I was worried about you, Johnny. You know how you get sometimes…" Sue hit his shoulder.
"It was a piece of cake." Johnny whistled.
"I'm glad you're okay, Johnny." Reed said. "Let's go back."
"Where's Moleman?" Johnny still had to give that midget payback for tripping him earlier.
"I left him behind. He'll never trouble anyone ever again?" Reed answered just as the island miraculously exploded behind them! "He's destroyed the entire isle! He's sealed himself below forever! It's best that way! There was no place for him in our world… Perhaps he'll find peace down there. I hope so…"
"I just hope we have seen the last of him." Sue added.
Miles away, in an isolated hunting lodge, the Fantastic Four were trying to figure things out, and they weren't happy. "The Fantastic Four have become the most dangerous menace we have ever faced! They must be found! They must be punished!" the radio blared.
"Turn that radio off! I have to think!" Reed snapped, his voice tight with frustration. He ran a hand through his temples, his brow furrowed in concentration. "It is obvious that some foursome is impersonating us! But how? Why?"
Sue, her face pale with worry, offered a practical observation. "But, Reed, how could any humans impersonate us? No one else has our powers!"
Johnny, trying for a bravado he didn't quite feel, held up a hunting rifle with a forced grin. "Aw, I'm not worried! Reed will figure out what to do, and then we'll take care of 'em, I'll bet."
Ben Grimm, his rocky features twisted in a grimace of self-loathing, exploded. "Bah! While the three of you beat your gums, the whole country is hunting us as though we're four monsters! Well, maybe they're right! Maybe I am a monster! I look like one, and sometimes...sometimes I feel like one!" He stared at his orange, craggy hands, clenching them into fists. "But nobody's catchin' me without a fight! If they say I'm a menace, I'll be a menace! I'll show 'em all!" With a roar, he ripped the bear's head trophy from the wall, the ancient nails groaning in protest, and hurled it through the window, the glass shattering in a shower of fragments. "That's what I'll do to anyone who gets in my way!"
"Reed! Stop him! He's going mad!" Sue cried, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and desperation. She reached out, her hand hovering uncertainly near Ben's arm.
Reed, ever the scientist, stretched his arms, encasing Ben in a flexible, restraining embrace. "Easy, Thing, easy! We can't fight the whole human race!" His voice was firm, but laced with a weariness that belied his words. "First, we've got to find out what's behind this plan to discredit us."
Ben struggled against Reed's elastic grasp, his voice a low, rumbling growl. "Talk! Talk! All you ever do is talk! But I'm not built that way! I want action!"
"I know you do, Thing! But we can't fly off the handle! We've got to wait 'til we know who's behind all this!" Reed replied, his body still taut with the effort of containing Ben's raw power.
Ben finally subsided, his shoulders slumping, but the anger still simmered beneath the surface. "Wait?! That's all right for you, Reed! At least you're human! But how would you like to be me? I won't wait any longer! I'm going out to fight! To smash!" He turned and stormed toward the door, his heavy footsteps shaking the cabin floor.
Sue watched him go, her expression a mixture of pity and a growing sense of unease. "Reed, how much more of this can we take? Sooner or later, the Thing will run amok, and none of us will be able to stop him."
Johnny, leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed, added his concerns. "She's right, Reed! We've got to do something about him."
Reed sighed, a long, drawn-out sound that spoke volumes about the burden he felt. "No! We must be patient! After all, he's not really to blame. It's actually my fault that he is the way he is." A shadow of guilt passed over his face. "I can't punish the Thing when the fault is mine."
Johnny, ever pragmatic, broke the somber mood. "Okay, forget him then. What do we do now?"
"The first thing we must do," Reed said, his voice regaining its focused intensity, "is learn who is impersonating us!"
"And why!" Sue added, her voice firming with resolve.
Johnny, always eager for a fight, cracked his knuckles. "And then we'll pulverize 'em!"
Suddenly, a voice boomed from outside, amplified by a megaphone. "ATTENTION! FANTASTIC FOUR! WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED! COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP OR WE'LL FIRE!"
The Fantastic Four exchanged glances. There was no panic, only a weary resignation. They had been expecting this. Slowly and deliberately, they walked out of the cabin, their hands raised in surrender. There was no resistance.
"Hah! They're not as tough as everyone says!" a soldier exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of triumph and disbelief.
"One false move and we'll shoot!" another warned, his grip tightening on his rifle.
Reed, his face calm and composed, addressed the soldiers. "Relax, soldier. We don't plan to fight the whole U.S. Army."
Within the hour, the Fantastic Four found themselves prisoners. They were escorted to a federal prison and led to specially constructed private cells. A grim-faced soldier assured them that even with their abilities, they wouldn't be able to break free. Johnny was taken to a room lined with asbestos, designed to contain his flames. The authorities were thorough, or so they thought.
However, their meticulous planning overlooked one crucial detail: Johnny Storm's resourcefulness. He knew that any room, no matter how tightly sealed, had to have at least one air vent. Spending several minutes crawling and feeling along the walls, his fingers brushing against the cold, unyielding surfaces, he finally located it, hidden beneath a section of loose material.
That small air vent was all he needed. A grin spread across his face, a spark of defiance in his blue eyes. He took a deep breath, the air filling his lungs, and then...
"Flame on!"
Critical Strike: Plasma Ability x187!
Johnny erupted into flames. But this wasn't just a simple burst of fire; it was a surge of plasma, intensified by a critical surge of energy. The asbestos lining of the room glowed white-hot, then began to melt and slag. He became a fiery projectile, a miniature rocket, blasting his way through the vent system. The metal groaned and twisted around him, offering no resistance.
He navigated the labyrinthine network of ducts, the heat of his passage leaving a trail of molten metal in his wake. He emerged outside the cell block, dropping to the floor in a crouch.
Soldiers shouted in alarm, their voices echoing through the prison corridors. They opened fire, their bullets streaking towards him.
But the bullets never reached him. They met his fiery aura and melted into harmless droplets of liquid metal, splashing harmlessly to the floor. Ignoring the futile barrage, Johnny moved through the prison, a blazing inferno contained within a human form.
He soon found his teammates. Reed, having stretched his way out of his cell, was directing Sue, who was partially invisible, in disabling the security systems. Ben had simply smashed his way through the reinforced walls, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
"Johnny!" Reed exclaimed, relief evident in his voice.
"Took you guys long enough," Johnny quipped, though he was genuinely glad to see them.
"We had it under control," Sue said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips, though her eyes reflected the gravity of their situation.
"Bah! I'd rather stay and fight!" Thing grumbled, flexing his rocky fists, eager for a confrontation.
"We don't have time for that, Ben," Reed said firmly. "We need to get out of here and figure out who's behind this."
They quickly made their way to an unmanned helicopter on the prison grounds. Johnny, acting as their rear guard, held off the pursuing soldiers with a wall of intense flames.
As Reed, Sue, and Ben boarded the helicopter, the soldiers on the ground unleashed a hail of gunfire. Johnny, with a display of control that bordered on the miraculous, grew to an enormous size, becoming a giant flaming man, completely engulfing the helicopter. The bullets, striking his fiery form, melted instantly, unable to penetrate his incandescent barrier. Yet, the helicopter remained untouched, the paint unmarred by the intense heat.
It was a masterful display of flame control, a testament to Johnny's evolving abilities. He wondered, not for the first time, if he was the only one experiencing these surges of power, this "cosmic system," as he privately thought of it. The others never spoke of it, never mentioned the feeling of raw energy coursing through them. He considered himself both lucky and slightly isolated by this unique gift.
Once they were a safe distance from the prison, Johnny returned to his normal size, the flames receding as quickly as they had expanded. The Fantastic Four, battered but unbroken, headed to one of their many secret apartment hideouts.
Inside the hideout, Reed spread out a series of maps and photographs, his mind already racing, piecing together the fragments of their predicament. "It's obvious that our first step is to set a trap to catch the four mysterious characters who are impersonating us," he declared, his voice firm with purpose.
Johnny, ever impulsive, immediately volunteered. "I guess I'm the best one to do that, Reed!"
Thing, his rocky brow furrowed in disapproval, scoffed. "You?! I don't believe in sending a kid to do a man's job! If anyone sets traps, it'll be me!"
"Aw, shut up and let us think, will ya?" Johnny snapped, turning to Thing, his eyes flashing with irritation.
"Knock it off, you two!" Reed admonished, his voice sharp. "This is no time for fighting among ourselves!" He held up a copy of the day's newspaper, pointing to a small article. "I've got an idea! Take a look at today's newspaper."
Johnny's eyes scanned the article, and a slow grin spread across his face. "Hey! I got it! Our four imitators may get confused if one of us tries to sabotage that rocket site! They may think it's one of them, and reveal themselves! I'll leave right away!" He turned to leave, already half-expecting an argument.
"Who said you were gonna tackle that job?" Thing challenged, his orange fists clenched at his sides.
Johnny rounded on him, his eyes blazing, and flamed on.
Critical Strike: Plasma Ability x942!
The room filled with an almost unbearable heat, the air shimmering and distorting around Johnny. The sudden surge of power made the very molecules in the air vibrate. Thing recoiled, instinctively raising his rocky arms to shield his eyes, even through his dark glasses.
"Flame off, Torch! And back away, Thing! This is no time to be fighting among ourselves!" Reed interjected, his voice firm, his body moving between the two hotheads. Johnny, satisfied, though still simmering with irritation, reluctantly flamed off.
Thing, still feeling the residual heat on his face, shook his head, muttering darkly. "If he ever loses that flame of his, I'll—" He made a threatening gesture with his massive fist.
Sue, her voice gentle but firm, stepped forward. "Thing, I understand how bitter you are, and I know you have every right to be bitter! But we'll just destroy ourselves if we keep at each other's throats this way! Don't you see?"
Ben looked at her, his expression softening slightly, the anger draining from his face, replaced by a deep, weary sadness. "I see... And sometimes I think I'd be better off, the world would be better off, if I were destroyed!"
Johnny, despite his earlier outburst, was surprisingly quick to offer a comforting, if somewhat clumsy, reassurance. "Aw, forget it, Thing! I'm not holdin' any grudges! Listen gang, I'll attack that rocket and hope that our imitators will attack me! Then watch for my signal!" He clapped Ben on the shoulder, the gesture awkward but sincere. He didn't take Ben's self-deprecating comment to heart, perhaps not fully understanding the depth of Ben's despair.
The plan was set. Johnny would act as bait, drawing out their imposters, while the others remained on standby, ready to move in. It was a dangerous plan, but it was the only lead they had.
The scene shifted to the rocket launching site. The air crackled with tension, the countdown to launch echoing across the field.
"Clear the field!" a soldier shouted, his voice amplified by a loudspeaker, the order barely audible over the roar of the engines.
"Everything is ready!" a scientist confirmed, his face illuminated by the blinking lights of the control panel.
Suddenly, a soldier pointed skyward, his voice filled with alarm. "Wha? What's that flash in the sky?"
"Where?" a businessman in a suit turned to look, shielding his eyes with his hand.
"Over there!" a high-ranking military officer pointed, his eyes narrowed, trying to make sense of the rapidly approaching light.
Everyone watched, a mixture of confusion and apprehension on their faces, as the Human Torch streaked across the sky, a blazing comet descending upon the launch site. He began melting through the unfinished launching platform for their missiles, flying low and fast across the structure.
"It's the Human Torch! He's attacking our launching site!" Multiple soldiers reacted instantly, their training kicking in. They scrambled for their weapons, firing missiles, bullets, and all sorts of projectiles toward the flying figure.
But Johnny was too fast, too agile. He weaved through the barrage, his movements erratic and unpredictable, making him a nearly impossible target for the ground-based artillery. The projectiles either missed him entirely or exploded harmlessly in his wake.
The scene shifted again, back to Johnny.
"Torch! Quick! Into the car!" Reed's voice crackled through Johnny's comm, urgent and commanding.
Johnny, having landed nearby, sprinted towards the waiting vehicle. A wave of conflicting emotions washed over him: excitement at the thrill of the chase, and a knot of nervousness in his stomach as he realized the danger he was in.
He slid into the back of the car, his eyes scanning the two figures in the front seats. They looked...familiar. Too familiar.
"If I didn't know better," Johnny said, his voice laced with suspicion, "I'd swear you were Susan Storm and Reed Richards, two of the Fantastic Four!" He leaned forward, studying their faces, searching for any telltale sign of deception.
The woman in the passenger seat, "Sue Storm," responded with a cool, collected smile. "Well, that's who we're supposed to be, isn't it?" Her voice was a perfect imitation of Sue's, smooth and confident.
Johnny's suspicions deepened. These weren't just imposters; they were good ones. Too good.
Minutes later, Johnny found himself in a strange, otherworldly location. He was brought to the aliens' headquarters. The place was all sharp angles, pulsating lights, and a disconcerting lack of familiar architecture.
"You fools! Why did you bring him? He is the real Human Torch!" an alien exclaimed, its voice a guttural hiss, its multi-faceted eyes glowing with anger.
One of the aliens who had driven him there stammered, confusion evident in its voice. "But we thought...we thought..."
"You thought what I wanted you to think!" Johnny grinned, a surge of adrenaline coursing through him. His heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of fear and exhilaration. This was it. This was the moment of truth.
The lead alien turned its attention to Johnny, its expression hardening. "Now that you see we are not of your planet Earth, you cannot leave here alive!"
Johnny's grin widened, becoming a confident smirk. "Mister, no matter what planet you're from, I'm still gonna be too hot for you to handle!" He reached into his pocket, his fingers closing around the cold metal of his flare gun.
"Stop him! He has a flare gun!" the alien leader shrieked, its voice rising in alarm.
"Too late!" Johnny retorted, pulling out the flare gun and firing it out of the window. The flare soared into the alien sky, exploding in a burst of light and color, forming a giant, flaming number 4. His signal to the rest of the team. "While we're waiting for the others, I'll make sure that you three stay put!" Johnny declared, his body erupting into flames.
Critical Strike: Plasma Ability x387!
Johnny unleashed a ring of fire, a swirling vortex of plasma that trapped the three aliens in a fiery cage. The heat was intense, the air shimmering and distorting around them. The aliens recoiled, their faces contorted in a mixture of fear and frustration.
But Johnny knew there was still one alien unaccounted for. He scanned the room, his fiery eyes searching for any sign of movement.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind him. "With the aid of the chemical cylinder which I have strapped under my shirt, I too, can burst into flame!"
Johnny whirled around. The fourth alien had indeed ignited, its body engulfed in an unnatural, chemical-fueled fire. It launched itself at Johnny, a flaming projectile of alien fury.
Johnny laughed, a sound that was both confident and slightly manic. He slicked his hair back with a flaming hand, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He raised his finger, and a small ball of fire began to form, crackling with energy.
Just as the flaming alien was about to collide with him, Johnny unleashed the tiny fireball.
Critical Strike: Strength x742!
The fireball, seemingly insignificant, exploded with a force that defied its size. The critical strike amplified its power beyond comprehension, turning it into a miniature supernova.
Johnny's eyes widened in shock and awe. The fireball struck the alien with the force of a battering ram, sending it flying across the room and through the wall with incredible speed. The alien soared through the air, a flaming streak that vanished into the distance. The force of the impact created a shockwave that rattled the entire building.
"He's probably dead, isn't he?" Johnny said, his voice a mixture of surprise and sheepishness. "I really didn't mean to do that, but hey, you guys did threaten me first!" He shrugged, his flames subsiding.
At that moment, the rest of the Fantastic Four arrived, bursting into the room, ready for a fight. They took in the scene: the three captured aliens, Johnny standing amidst the smoldering remains of the room, and the gaping hole in the wall.
Reed, ever the pragmatist, surveyed the situation with a mixture of relief and concern. "Good job, Johnny!" he complimented, though his brow was slightly furrowed.
"No problamo," Johnny replied, throwing a casual thumbs up, his earlier bravado returning.
One of the captured aliens, its voice filled with a grudging respect, muttered, "No wonder our leaders dare not invade Earth until the Fantastic Four are stopped..."
The captured aliens, bound and subdued in the makeshift interrogation room, were proving less than cooperative. Reed, his usual patience wearing thin, leaned forward, his voice firm. "Now give us the whole story, fast! Where are you from? What is your mission? Talk!"
The aliens, their faces contorted in defiance, remained stubbornly silent. One, with a sneer, hissed, "No! We will never tell you anything!"
Ben Grimm, his rocky fists clenched, his orange hide gleaming under the harsh light, took a step forward. The floor trembled slightly with his movement. "Let me at 'em! I'll make 'em talk! Just watch me!" He hefted a sturdy wooden desk, the cheap laminate groaning under his immense strength, ready to smash it down upon the aliens.
"No, Thing, no!" Sue pleaded, her voice a mixture of alarm and compassion. She reached out a hand, her brow furrowed with concern.
Reed, ever the voice of reason (and restraint), stretched his arms, forming a barrier between Ben and the aliens. His elastic flesh rippled with contained power. "Easy, Thing, easy! You don't know your own strength! You'll kill them! Let us handle it."
Ben grumbled, his voice a low rumble that vibrated in the confined space. "They made us outcasts! Turned all Earth against us! They've got to pay for that!"
Reed's gaze hardened, his expression a mask of stern resolve. He turned back to the aliens, his voice dangerously low. "Hear that? This is your last chance. Talk, or I'll turn the Thing loose on you." He gestured towards Ben, the threat implicit in the movement.
The aliens, their bravado crumbling in the face of Ben's raw power, finally cracked. Their eyes widened with genuine fear. "No! No! Keep that monster from us! We'll tell you what you want to know!"
Their story, halting and fearful, spilled out. 'They were Skrulls, from a distant galaxy, with an invasion fleet poised to strike Earth. But before they committed their forces, their leaders had wanted to neutralize the Fantastic Four, whom they knew of and dreaded because of their "dreadful powers."'
Reed rubbed his chin, a thoughtful frown creasing his face. "Hmm, looks like a stalemate. We've got the four of them, but there is still a mighty invasion fleet menacing Earth."
Sue, her face pale but determined, stated the obvious. "We must destroy that fleet somehow, or Earth will never be safe."
Johnny, ever the showman, leaned back, a cocky grin on his face. "I could probably destroy a whole alien invasion, but honestly, it'd be up to luck whether or not I accomplish it."
Reed, focused on the strategic implications, barely acknowledged Johnny's bravado. He made a decision. "There is only one thing to do. They masqueraded as us; now we must pose as them."
The three captured Skrulls, desperate to avoid Ben's wrath, revealed the existence of their hidden spaceship, a sleek, silver vessel concealed in a nearby canyon. This allowed the Fantastic Four to travel into space and confront the gigantic mothership, a vessel roughly the size of a sprawling Earth city!
The sheer scale of the ship was breathtaking, a testament to the Skrulls' advanced technology. As the Fantastic Four's smaller craft approached, they were hailed by the aliens.
"So! You have returned! Is your mission accomplished?" an alien officer demanded, his voice sharp and suspicious, his hand resting on the energy weapon at his side.
"Are the Fantastic Four dead or imprisoned? Shall I signal the invasion?" the Skrull leader asked, his many eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Reed, adopting a tone of defeat and resignation, shook his head. "No! There can be no invasion! The Fantastic Four cannot be beaten! Earth's defenses can defeat us!"
The Skrull leader recoiled, his face contorted in disbelief. "No! It can't be! It can't be!" He slammed a fist on the control panel, the console sparking. "I must have proof! Do you hear me? Give me proof!" he demanded.
Reed, with a flourish, presented a series of fabricated images, grotesque and terrifying. "Here are actual photos of what we would face if we invade Earth!" He showed them images of hideously giant, pink, tentacled abominations. "Those are some of Earth's most powerful warriors!" he lied, his voice filled with feigned dread. "And Earth has thousands of those hidden space mines which would destroy any invading army! Not to mention an army of giant monstrous insects ready to crush any alien invasion!"
The Skrull leader stared at the images, his many eyes widening in horror. Sweat, or some Skrull equivalent, beaded on his brow. "Incredible! Unbelievable! We've got to leave this galaxy at once, before those terrifying creatures discover us! If you hadn't warned me in time, we would surely have all been slain! Quickly! Unmask and join us as we leave this accursed planet forever!" He gestured frantically, urging them to abandon their deception.
Reed, his voice filled with false nobility, shook his head. "No! We must stay behind and remove all evidence of our presence on Earth! We shall sacrifice ourselves so that you will be safe!"
The Skrull leader was deeply moved. "Never in our history has there been so noble a deed! Take this highest award of your bravery!" He clumsily placed a medal of honor, a crude, metallic disk, on Reed's chest.
Moments later, the mighty Skrull starship, its engines glowing with otherworldly energy, departed Earth's atmosphere, leaving the Fantastic Four to drift back towards the planet.
As they approached Earth, Ben tensed, his rocky hide tightening. "Look! We're heading back into the radiation belt again! It made a monster of me once; what further harm will it do to me this time?"
"Easy, fella! We've got to pass through it! There's no other way!" Reed reassured him, his voice calm but firm.
"No! I won't! No! ARGHHH!!! Not again! Oh, we're in it! We're in the radiation belt!" Ben started banging on the walls of their small ship, his voice rising in panic, like a terrified child. "I'm changing again! I know it! I can feel it!!!"
"Hang on! We've landed!" Reed announced, his voice strained with the effort of piloting the craft through the turbulent radiation.
The ship touched down with a jarring thud. Stepping out, the Fantastic Four were immediately blinded by the glare of giant floodlights. Figures emerged from the darkness, their silhouettes menacing against the harsh illumination.
"Keep those lights on 'em, men. We've been waiting for the four of you," a gruff voice ordered. A police chief, his face grim, stepped forward, pointing a gun at them.
"Chief, before you try to arrest us, let me tell you the true story of—" Reed began, his voice pleading.
The police chief waved him off, his expression impatient. "Save it, Reed! I've got a job to do, and I'm doing it!"
Ben, his frustration boiling over, stepped forward, his massive form casting a long shadow. "Don't kid yourself! You can't hold us! I can smash all of you single-handed! You know who I am, don't you?" He pointed a rocky finger at the chief.
The chief squinted, studying Ben's orange, craggy features. "Never saw you before, mister, but I'm locking you up with the others!"
"Never saw me before? Who you kiddin', mister? There ain't anybody on Earth doesn't know the Thing when they see 'im!" Ben argued, his voice incredulous.
"Ben! Look at yourself!" Sue shouted, her voice filled with a mixture of shock and joy.
Ben stared at her, confused. "What?!" He turned to Reed. "Let's have your mirror! I'll—" He broke off, his voice catching in his throat. He stared at his reflection, his rocky features smoothing out, his orange hide turning...pink. "HEY!!! I'm not a monster anymore! I'm a man again!!!" he exclaimed, jumping for joy, his arms raised in triumph.
"Oh, Ben, I'm so happy for you!" Sue cried, rushing forward to embrace him, tears of relief streaming down her face.
"My face! My hands! They're human! Human!!!" Ben shouted to the heavens, his voice filled with pure, unadulterated joy. Then, his expression shifted. His face fell, his newfound human skin began to ripple, turning orange once more, the familiar rocky texture returning. "Wait! What's happening!?" His body began to grow, the transformation agonizingly familiar. "Oh, no! Not again!" His face contorted in a frown, his voice filled with despair. "Don't let it happen again, don't… don't…" he sounded distraught, on the verge of tears. "I should have known! It couldn't be, it was just a joke! Yeah, a real funny joke!"
Sue, her heart breaking at the sight of Ben's suffering, tried to offer a glimmer of hope. "Ben, don't lose hope! You became normal for those few seconds! That might mean the power of the cosmic rays is growing weaker! Someday you may turn normal again for good!"
Johnny, ever the optimist, tried to inject some levity into the situation, though his usual bravado was tempered with a genuine attempt to cheer his friend up. "She's right, pal! That was just a start!"
The police chief, however, had reached the end of his patience. He'd had enough of the spectacle. "Look! I don't know what you're trying to pull, but it won't work! You're all under arrest!"
Reed, sensing the chief's growing hostility, stepped forward, his voice calm but urgent. "Chief, before you do anything else, take us to my apartment! I promise it will explain everything that's happened."
And so, with sirens blaring and a heavily armed motorcade escorting them, they sped towards the Fantastic Four's secret apartment.
Inside the apartment, Reed laid out his case, explaining the bizarre events of the past few days. "Those crimes were not committed by the Fantastic Four, Chief. It was a quartet of aliens impersonating us," Reed explained, his voice filled with weary exasperation.
The police chief, a skeptical look on his face, chuckled dryly. "Sure, Reed, sure. And I still believe in Santa Claus too."
As the police officers confidently opened the door, expecting to find evidence of the Fantastic Four's supposed crimes, they were met with a scene of chaos. A giant snake, its scales shimmering, lunged at them from the shadows!
"Outa the way, weaklings! Let me handle this!" Thing roared, his anger momentarily forgotten in the face of a tangible threat. He rushed forward, grappling with the snake, his rocky fists pounding against its thick hide. He wrestled the creature to the ground, his strength proving more than a match for its serpentine power.
Even as Ben subdued the snake, another threat crashed through the wall in a shower of debris. A monstrous figure, encased in a giant suit of spiky metal armor, stood amidst the wreckage. Bullets bounced harmlessly off its impervious armor, ricocheting around the room.
Johnny, with a cry of "Flame on!", rushed forward, his body erupting in a torrent of fire.
Critical Strike: Plasma Ability x289!
Johnny didn't even need to launch an attack. The sheer intensity of his flames, amplified by the critical strike, was enough. The armored figure cowered, its metal shell glowing red-hot, its occupant screaming in pain from the unbearable heat. The creature thrashed for a moment, then collapsed, its armor buckling and melting.
As Reed rushed into the apartment, his body stretching to incredible lengths, he quickly extended his arm to catch a large, winged creature attempting to escape through the window. He ensnared it with his elastic limb, pulling it back into the room.
With all three monsters subdued, they reverted to their original forms: the Skrulls.
Reed turned to the police chief, his expression a mixture of triumph and weariness. "Well, Chief, what have you to say for yourself now?"
The chief stared at the defeated aliens, his face a mask of astonishment. "Looks like I may start believing in Santa Claus too!" He shook his head in disbelief.
"So they're the characters who impersonated you four and committed those crimes, eh?" the chief asked, finally grasping the bizarre reality of the situation.
"That's right!" Reed nodded, his voice firm. "The fourth one is dead, while the rest of their fleet is on its way to another galaxy."
"Imagine! You four foiled an interplanetary invasion, and we've been hunting you like criminals!" The police chief was still clearly in disbelief.
Reed's expression turned serious, the weariness returning to his eyes. "But we still have one big problem left."
"And how?!" the police chief exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
Johnny, thinking the day's excitement was over, frowned. "What's that?"
Reed gestured towards the three captured Skrulls, who were huddled together, their faces pale with fear. "That, my young fiery friend, is… What do we do with these three Skrulls?"
The police chief considered the problem, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "If we put them in prison, they'll probably turn themselves into caterpillars and slip through the bars!"
Reed stepped forward, his expression determined. "Chief, will you trust us to solve the problem for you?"
The police chief looked at the Fantastic Four, his gaze lingering on each of their faces. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded, a grudging respect in his voice. "My boy, after what I've seen today, I'd trust you four with anything! Good luck to you, lad!" He shook Reed's hand, a gesture of newfound faith.
"Thank you, Chief! You won't regret your decision!" Reed smiled, a genuine smile of gratitude. As the police officers departed, leaving the Fantastic Four alone with their alien prisoners, the mood shifted.
Sue, her expression thoughtful, turned to Reed. "What will we do with them, Reed?"
Reed crossed his arms, his face unreadable. "There's only one way we can be certain they won't escape."
The Skrulls, sensing the shift in the conversation, the finality in Reed's tone, began to plead. "No! No! Don't kill us! Don't!"
"We promise to cause no more harm! We'll live among you in peace! We swear it!" another cried, their voices filled with desperate sincerity.
"We hate being Skrulls! We'd rather be anything else!" the third one added.
Johnny, his earlier bravado returning, stepped forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I can handle these guys, Reed, if you can't. I mean, I already smoked one before, by accident. Plus, I don't really think these guys mean what they're saying. I think they're just scared of facing the consequences for their failed invasion. They were going to kill me earlier if I wasn't the amazingly hot and fantastic Human Torch." He raised his finger, and a small ball of fire began to form above it, crackling with restrained energy.
Critical Strike: Strength x734!
The tiny ball of fire pulsed with incredible power, the air around it shimmering with heat. It was clear that Johnny could unleash a devastating amount of force with a mere flick of his wrist. The Skrulls shrank back, their pleading turning into whimpers.
Sue, however, stepped forward, her expression firm with disapproval. "There's no need for that, Johnny."
Reed, his face still unreadable, nodded in agreement. "She's right. I'll handle it." He stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the Skrulls.
"Thank you, Reed Richards!" the aliens said, their voices filled with a mixture of relief and trepidation.
Sometime later, the Fantastic Four's plan was revealed. The three captive Skrulls became the most contented (and arguably, the most confused) creatures on Earth. They grazed peacefully in a lush pasture, their minds altered, their forms...modified. They were hypnotized cows, blissfully unaware of their former identities or their failed invasion.
Reed, watching them graze, clapped his hands together, a sense of finality in the gesture. "So ends the menace of the Skrulls."
Ben, his rocky features still tinged with a lingering sadness, grumbled, "Yeah, but I've got a feeling there's even worse trouble ahead."
Johnny, unable to resist a bit of mockery, grinned at his teammate. "Hey, Thing, how come I haven't noticed you're such an optimist before?"
Ben rounded on him, his orange fists clenched, a familiar threat in his voice. "Shut it, before I clobber ya, Matchstick." But even his voice lacked its usual vehemence. The events of the day, the brief taste of humanity, had left him...changed.
"The Fantastic Four! Hah! Little do they dream they are naught but pawns in the hands of Doctor Doom! But now it is time to let the Fantastic Four feel my might! For of all the humans on Earth, only I have the power to defeat them!" Doctor Doom declared, his voice a low, metallic growl, laced with arrogance and a hint of something...else. A twisted satisfaction? A burning need to prove himself?
Miles away, in the heart of New York City, a towering skyscraper began to empty as its occupants left for home at the end of a typical workday. One by one, the building's lights flickered out, plunging floor after floor into darkness. All except those at the very top: the gleaming, brightly lit tower that served as the headquarters of the Fantastic Four! And within that tower, we find our heroes… The atmosphere is casual, domestic, a stark contrast to the looming threat.
"What are you reading, Johnny?" Reed inquired, his voice mild, tinged with his usual intellectual curiosity, but also a hint of fond exasperation. He knew the young man rarely picked up anything more taxing than a racing magazine.
Johnny, sprawled on a futuristic, ergonomically designed couch, held up a brightly colored comic book. "A great new comic mag, Reed! It's got this monster in it... Say! You know something?! I'll be doggoned if this monster doesn't remind me of the Thing!" He grinned, turning the comic towards Ben and waggling it suggestively.
Ben, who was delicately sipping coffee from a surprisingly fragile-looking cup, lowered it with a carefully controlled clink. His rocky orange face hardened, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Ver-ry funny, kid. Gimme that mag, squirt! I'll teach ya to compare me to a comic book monster!" He reached out with a surprisingly swift hand and snatched the comic from Johnny.
"Hey!" Johnny shouted, leaping to his feet. "If you want it so bad, I'll warm it up for you, big man!" His hands ignited, flames dancing across his skin, and the comic book in Ben's hand flared.
Critical Strike: Plasma Ability x449
"OWW!" Ben roared, a sound like rocks grinding together. The heat from Johnny's flames, amplified by the critical strike, was far beyond anything he'd encountered before. He instinctively smashed the nearest object, a sleek, glass-topped table, into fragments as he lunged for Johnny. "Come back here, you little firebug!"
Johnny, laughing, took off, soaring through the air, leaving a trail of harmless sparks. "Come 'n get me, Rocky!"
"You're durned right I'll get you, Torch! And when I do—" Ben bellowed, his voice echoing through the vast living space.
Sue, who had been working on some holographic projections, sighed, a long-suffering sound. "Stop him, Reed!" she yelled, without turning from her work.
Reed, with a weary but practiced sigh, stretched his arms, his body elongating like living rubber. He wrapped his extended limbs around Ben, effectively restraining him in a web of flexible flesh. "Thing! Knock it off!"
Sue, with a flick of her wrist, produced a sleek, high-tech fire extinguisher and sprayed Johnny, enveloping him in a cloud of white foam. "This will cool you off, kid brother!"
The extinguisher, of course, had little effect against Johnny's flames, which were burning with the power of a small sun thanks to the critical strike. The foam evaporated instantly, leaving a faint, hissing steam. But, for Sue's sake, and to de-escalate the situation, he reluctantly flamed off. "Aw, Sue! I was just having a little fun!"
Sue finally turned, her expression a mixture of exasperation and concern. "Fun? You two won't be satisfied till you've pulverized each other!"
Reed released Ben, his body retracting to its normal form. He shook his head, a deep frown creasing his face. "What's the matter with the four of us? Whenever we're not fighting some menace to mankind, we end up fighting amongst ourselves!" He spread his hands in a gesture of bewildered frustration.
Ben grumbled, rubbing his still-smoldering hands. The scent of burnt paper and singed rock filled the air. "Skip the lecture, Stretch. I'm grown." He waved Reed off, dismissing his concerns.
Suddenly, the lights in the entire tower flickered and died, plunging them into near darkness. The only illumination came from the faint glow of Johnny's fading embers and the city lights outside.
"Reed! What happened?! The lights all went out!" Sue exclaimed, her voice sharp with alarm.
Johnny, his earlier bravado replaced with genuine concern, frowned. "Impossible! We have our own generator here! A dozen backups, in fact!"
Reed, his mind already racing, analyzing the situation, spoke with a growing sense of unease. "It must have been affected by a more powerful force! But, what?!"
As they peered out the panoramic windows of the tower, they saw something that made their blood run cold. Some kind of energy net has been dropped all over the entire tower, encasing it in a shimmering, translucent cage. It pulsed with an ominous, otherworldly energy.
Johnny, ever impulsive, reacted first. He flamed on, his body erupting in a controlled burst of fire.
Critical Strike: Plasma Ability x19
He launched a concentrated flame bullet at the net, expecting it to melt instantly. He wasn't surprised when the net vaporized from the casual flame bullet.. His secondary crit power was hella strong..
Before he could unleash a barrage of flame bullets to free them, a booming, amplified voice echoed across the city, resonating with an almost supernatural power.
"Fantastic Four! Heed my words! This is Doctor Doom!" The voice was metallic, distorted, and utterly devoid of warmth. It carried a weight of menace that sent a shiver down their spines.
Sue, her face pale, turned to Reed, her voice a hushed whisper. "Doctor Doom?! Who? What is he?"
Reed's face, usually calm and composed, paled. A look of grim recognition, mixed with a hint of dread, crossed his features. "That voice! I recognize that voice! But, I thought he was dead!" He turned to his teammates, his voice grave as he explained. "Years ago, in my college days, there was a student named Victor Von Doom. He was...brilliant. A true genius, but he was also fascinated by sorcery and black magic. He was a science student, but he was only interested in forbidden experiments!"
He paused, a flicker of old pain in his eyes. "One night, the evil genius went too far, as he brought forth powers which even he could not control! There was an...accident. A catastrophic surge of energy. He managed to escape with his life, although his face was...badly disfigured!" Reed's voice dropped, becoming almost a whisper. "And then...he left! Vanished. When last heard of, he was prowling the wastelands of Tibet, still seeking forbidden secrets of black magic and sorcery! And now, the sinister genius is hovering over us! This well could be the prelude to the most dangerous adventure of our career!"
The voice of Doctor Doom boomed again, amplified, even louder. "You are my prisoners, all of you! If you wish me to spare your lives, do exactly as I command! First, send Susan Storm out to me! I shall hold her as a hostage to ensure that you do what I demand of you! Now, what is your answer?"
The demand hung in the air, thick with menace and arrogance. Before anyone could react, Johnny was already in motion.
As an answer to his ridiculous demands, Johnny was charging up an extra spicy flame, a swirling vortex of fire crackling with barely contained energy. He used the utmost control to ensure he didn't vaporize anyone around him or the building itself. With a critical strike hit of 56, Johnny unleashed a spiraling wave of flames.
The flames, burning hotter than anything they had ever seen, melted a path through the reinforced glass of the building, carving a spiraling tunnel through the asbestos net as if it were tissue paper. The beam of fire reached Doom's helicopter, engulfing the vehicle in a blinding inferno. The helicopter, and apparently the robot in the shape of a man inside, were completely vaporized, reduced to nothing more than glowing motes of ash.
From the wreckage, or rather, the absence of wreckage, Doctor Doom's voice crackled through the comm system, distorted but still chillingly clear. "My conquest of Earth shall not be stopped here! I may have miscalculated the power of your flames, Torch, but be assured, that it won't happen again! I will defeat you, Fantastic Four!" The Doom bot promised, its voice filled with unwavering resolve, even as it was being destroyed.
Johnny, his flames subsiding, leaving behind a trail of smoke and the lingering scent of ozone, turned to his teammates, a grim satisfaction on his face. The adrenaline of the fight still coursed through him, but the threat of Doom was a sobering reminder of the danger they faced.
Ben surveyed the damage, the melted glass, the scorched metal. "This is gonna be expensive to rebuild, Stretch."
Reed, his face thoughtful, nodded. "Better than us falling into whatever evil scheme Doom had for us."
Sue, her brow furrowed with a mixture of awe and concern, looked at Johnny. "And I thought Johnny's powers couldn't affect asbestos. Is his flame really that strong?"
Reed, ever the scientist, began to theorize. "Well, asbestos doesn't melt even when dunked into something like lava. Johnny's flames had to have been far higher than the temperature we measured when we came back to Earth and tested our powers."
Ben, his rocky face creasing in a frown, turned to Reed. "Wait, if the kid's power got stronger, does that mean all of our powers can get stronger?"
Reed considered this, his expression thoughtful. "It's certainly a possibility… But I'm not sure how much stronger stretching can really go in comparison to something like Johnny's flames." He pondered the implications, the potential for their powers to evolve, to grow beyond their current understanding. The thought was both exciting and unsettling.