The sky above the Baxter Building was clear, but the silence that hung over it felt unnatural.
Suddenly, a thunderous explosion shattered the stillness, followed by a brilliant orange fireball. The roof of the Fantastic Four's upper floor collapsed, shards flying in all directions, windows trembling from the blast.
Susan Storm stood frozen for a moment, unable to believe her eyes. She had been on her way to make lunch for Franklin and Valeria… and now, everything was falling apart. In a flash, she reached for them, conjuring a hidden portal behind a wall of force.
"Inside, now!" she shouted, pushing them in before sealing the secret chamber shut with the strength of her invisible field. She was shaking—but holding herself together.
Through the smoke and flames, two gliders swooped down among the rubble. Atop one stood a man laughing maniacally, dressed in a green suit accented with purple, wearing a demonic mask and a belt packed with pumpkin bombs.
Norman Osborn—disguised as the Green Goblin—locked eyes with Reed Richards. Their alliance was built on tension, distrust, and layers of deceit.
Norman's voice rang out with a sharp edge and a cold smile as he hovered above "Reed... you wouldn't believe it—I just thought I'd drop in on an old friend."
Reed stared back with a steely glare, voice low "What are you doing here?"
They exchanged a long look—Norman smirking beneath his mask, while Reed's expression was grim with betrayal.
Beside him, a female version of Mary Jane descended from the sky, landing atop a similar glider. She wore a lethal, skin-tight green battle suit, purple gloves with silver linings, a belt loaded with chemical weapons, and a half-revealing helmet with glowing, inhuman eyes.
"You're not welcome here, Goblin!" Johnny Storm shouted as he soared into the air, flames wrapping around him, his heart pounding with fear for his sister and his team.
"Oh, but I brought a special guest," Norman said, gesturing toward the clone. "You know her well, don't you?... Or maybe not. Ha ha ha ha. Eliminate them!"
The clone shot forward at astonishing speed—before Johnny could fully ignite, she was already on him. She struck his chest with a precise blow, followed by a green flash from her right hand.
Johnny screamed in pain and plummeted, his flames extinguished.
"What did you do to him?!" Susan cried, horrified.
The clone laughed maniacally.
"I'm not attacking… I'm absorbing. His power is mine now."
She smiled as she reached toward Susan—but Susan threw up a shimmering invisible wall, her breath shaky, her heart racing.
"You're not getting past me. I don't care what you are."
From the smoke, Ben Grimm charged forward, fists ready. He had seen Johnny fall, and Susan trembling with exhaustion.
"You're gonna learn what happens when you mess with the Baxter family!"
He lunged at her, eyes burning with fury—but before he could strike, Mary Jane's clone landed a devastating blow, charged with a fraction of Johnny's stolen power. At the same time, she began to drain Ben's as well.
Ben was sent flying across the room, smashing through a steel pillar. He collapsed, unmoving. His rocky skin slowly faded… until he was left bald, human, and powerless.
In the corner, Reed stretched his body to contain Norman—but the Goblin hurled a special bomb that exploded into a cloud of nanotech particles that clung to Reed's body.
Reed trembled, his body collapsing inward. His pulse slowed. His mind failed to respond.
"What...?" he muttered.
Norman approached, eyes gleaming with cruelty.
"Remember the cosmic energy that gave you and your team your powers? I developed a way to drain its frequency. And now... it's yours no longer."
"No..." Reed gasped, falling to his knees—trapped and full of regret.
"Yes!" the clone shouted, stepping forward and placing a hand on his chest. She began draining the C-Zero energy—the very force that granted them their abilities.
Norman grabbed Reed by the throat, lifting him. His eyes glittered with triumph.
"You know what's ironic? This clone who's draining your powers... you made her. Your DNA. Your tech. We used it all—against you."
Reed tried to speak, but breath failed him. His gaze was clouded—but filled with bitter regret.
Norman leaned in and whispered "We're partners in crime, remember? I'm only here because you allowed it. You set the rules—I just follow them. Now play your part well… or I'll be the first to tear you apart."
The clone looked down at Reed with a cold smirk.
"Still think you're the smartest man on Earth? You're just the dumbest one alive."
Reed had no reply.
The clone turned her gaze to Susan—still standing, the only one left holding up a shield. After witnessing her power, the clone scoffed and began advancing, ready to drain her next.
But the Goblin called out"Hey, Goblin girl! Let's go. There's a spider out there we need to squash."
She leapt onto her glider, under Norman's crazed gaze.
"Oh, I just love having a rookie sidekick! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" he cackled as they both soared away from the wreckage of the Baxter Building, leaving three of its members powerless.
Their laughter echoed in the distance as silence fell once more.
Susan collapsed, unconscious—blood trickling from her nose.
Regret.
Regret was all Reed Richards felt in that moment.
It was written all over his face as he whispered
"What have I done?"
.
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