#78 by Jason Bruss & Tobias Christopher
July 2018 Mr. Fantastic
Invisible Woman
Human Torch
The Thing
Dr. Doom
Malice
Vincent Von Doom
Cannoball
Icarus
Ms. Marvel
Franklin Richards
|
"The Quest for Franklin Richards: Fantastic Force"Latveria
"Hurry, my Doombots!" Doom shouted from his control room while the Doombots constructed a wall around the castle. "Make sure none of the townspeople can enter!" "You do realize that a mere wall won't keep the rioters out," Malice said as she stood at the doorway. "They'll find a way in, no matter what." "The people can kill themselves trying to overthrow my rule, but nothing will thwart the hand of Doom," Doom told her. "People like them can be replaced, but Doom is forever." As Doom oversaw further construction of the wall, Malice snuck down to Vincent's private chamber where he working out while shirtless. Having been humiliated by the New Warriors time and again, he was getting desperate and was building his body in a futile bid to overpower them in their next encounter. "Vincent, you have been a naughty, naughty boy." Malice smirked as Vincent lowered himself down from the bar he was using to do pull-ups. "I don't know what you speak of." Vincent said as he grabbed a towel to dry off. "I know all," Malice reminded him. "Especially the deeds of an amateur magician like you. You caused the townspeople to revolt against Doom's rule." "The people will still serve Doom," Vincent said as he gave her a vicious smirk. "But which Doom remains to be seen." The Baxter Building The argument had been going on all morning, with Reed getting a word in edgewise while Sue continued to scold him over his recent decisions that didn't seem to include the family. "We were just getting past your inexplicably stupid decision to mess with the time stream, and then you pull this stunt and invite someone to move into our missing son's bedroom!" Sue shouted. "Alex needed help, you didn't see the poor boy, he was going to pass out from exhaustion if I hadn't helped him," Reed told her as he saw Ben walking in. "I only said he stay in Franklin's room until we could get another room prepared on such short notice. Ben, tell Sue that letting Alex stay here is--" "Sorry, Stretch, I ain't got time to worry about your goin' against Suzie again," Ben said. "I can't change back to human anymore. I was just getting used to bein' able to be the real me again. If I can't be human, how am I supposed ta' be hands on in helpin' Alicia with the baby when it gets here? Babies are delicate creatures, Reed. You seen me trying to handle eggs with these hands. How am I supposed to hold a baby?" "Ben, you know that you have the family behind you," Sue told him. "We'll all step up to help with the baby when it arrives, even Johnny." "Speaking of which, I need to do more research on his recent power upgrade courtesy of Malice." Reed told them. "He's burning through his clothes faster than I can work on a new version of the unstable molecules." "Dr. Richards, the New Warriors are here," H.E.R.B.I.E. told him as he floated into the room. "Including Alpha. I'll hide the breakables." "They're here to help find Franklin," Sue said. "Maybe with their help we can bring him home." "I need to talk to them, first." Reed said as he left the room. Sue just looked at Ben. "You gonna be okay, Suzie?" "Today's his 17th birthday," Sue said as a tear fell down her face. "My baby is out there in the universe all alone and probably scared that he'll never see his family again." "What do you mean we can't search for Franklin?" Cannonball asked. "I recently made upgrades to the dimensional gate that would make it strong enough to expand our search," Reed told the group. "But we need a very special vibranium part." As the group looked over the schematics, Sue watched Icarus sneak out of the lab to get some air. "Is he going to be alright?" Sue asked as she looked at Ms. Marvel. "He just needs some air," Ms. Marvel said. "It's really weird being here in the lab of the famous Fantastic 4. When I joined the New Warriors, I thought we were just going to stop some crimes and maybe fight the occasional supervillain. Now I'm about to start hopping dimensions to bring back a kid that I've never met." "You'll get used to it," Sue smiled. "I have a feeling you're going to see a lot of adventures with this group." Icarus made his way down the hallway toward Franklin's bedroom when Yoshi grabbed him and slammed him against the wall. "Chill, Yoshi," Icarus told her. "I used to live here, remember?" "'Used to' being the operative words," Yoshi said. "Why do you think you get to roam freely through these halls now?" "You wouldn't understand." "Try me." Icarus stared at her with a sad expression on his face. "I love him." "Alright, if we get this piece, we can go," Cannonball said. "But some of us are going to have to stay behind to watch things on this end. With Juston still in the hospital, I think Rawhide Kid, Spider-Girl and Johnny need to stay behind, along with-- where's Josh?" "He snuck out a few minutes ago," Ms. Marvel told them. "I think he needed a minute when he heard the search for Franklin was being delayed." "He's in Franklin's room." H.E.R.B.I.E. told them. "I'll be back," Cannonball said. "The sooner we get that piece, the sooner we can go." "Why do I have to stay behind?" Johnny asked. "Because we need someone to watch the Baxter Building," Reed told him. "Besides, if you burn through that costume, you won't have a spare to change into. Your power surges are getting stronger, Johnny. I'm not even sure I can make an unstable molecule strong enough that can withstand your powers." While Yoshi was making some tea, Cannonball found his brother sitting on the bed, staring at a roll of photos Josh and Franklin had taken together at a carnival. "We're leaving soon, as soon as we get a vibranium part," Cannonball said as he sat on the bed. "I'm leaving Rawhide Kid, Spider-Girl and Johnny behind... along with you." "What?" Icarus asked as he stared up from the photos. "You can't! I need to go with you!" "You're too emotional for this mission," Cannonball said. "I know you love Franklin, kid. And that's why you have to stay. You'd be better off watching the city." "It's not fair!" "You're right, you deserve to be there more than anyone when we find Franklin," Cannonball said as he hugged Icarus. "But you're also the one I trust the most to stay behind if things go south on this trip. If anything happens to me, then you're the one who's going to go back home and keep Mama and our siblings together and get them through this, okay? You're my second-in-command for this family. Not Paige, not Liz, not Jeb or Lewis. You. You've always been my... pardon the expression... wing-man." Icarus wiped a tear away as he looked at Cannonball. "Okay. Bring him home, Sam." "I promise." "I can get the portal to work, but we need to get that vibranium part," Reed told them. "And there's only one person in this world who can get it for us." "T'Challa," Sue realized. "But would he--?" "He's a good friend to this family," Reed told her. "I'm sure he'll understand our plight. According to my sources, he's currently in New York. I'll find out his location and go to him to ask him in person." "Sam's dying," Icarus said as Yoshi brought him some tea. "The only person that can save him is his son, but he's lost in another dimension. I have to find that kid and bring him here. I'm not losing anyone else I love." "Your thoughts are pure," Yoshi told him. "I'll help you find this boy. And perhaps you can help me find a solution to a problem that's recently come to my attention." On an alternate Earth, several dimensions away "I remember it all," Franklin said as he felt weak, falling to his knees. "What's wrong?" Captain America asked as he rushed to Franklin's side. "I'm dying," Franklin said as he looked at the hands of his aura, which were starting to fade. "I've been away from my body for way too long. If I don't go home soon... I'll die." TO BE CONTINUED IN THE PAGES OF BLACK PANTHER! |