By Tobias Christopher
January 2018
January 2018
Near Year's Special
(This story takes place in the not too distant future, so look for hints of things to come!)
"New Year's Eve!" Johnny said with a smile as he came bursting into the room. "The biggest holiday of the year!"
"That's only because it involves making out with someone, match head," Ben told him. "And every year, you try to find the perfect date to kiss into the New Year."
"Yeah, last year it was one of the Kardashians," Sue said. "Which one was she again?"
"I don't know, they all look and act alike," Ben said. "And the year before that, it was that swimsuit model from Sweden. You really shoulda given that poor girl a coat to wear that night."
"And the year before that it was John Cena," Sue said. "How did you manage to get him?"
"Johnny Storm always gets his man or woman," Johnny said. "But this year is going to be really special. I have Lyja now, and I'm going to propose at 11:59. We'll kiss into the New Year as an engaged couple."
"If she says 'yes', kid," Ben reminded him. "What if she turns you down?"
"No one has ever turned Johnny Storm down."
"What about Carrie Fisher?"
"That was different, I was asking an actual Goddess out," Johnny said. "Anyway, this party needs to be absolutely perfect. No supervillains, no family drama, no weird interdimensional stuff, nothing."
*******
"You need to tell Mom and Dad that you're gay," Valeria said as she was sparring with Franklin in the New Warrior's training room.
"I am not gay, or bi-sexual or whatever!" Franklin shouted. "And I'm definitely not pansexual like older me said when I went into the future* ! I like girls, alright? Josh was just... I don't know what that was, but I don't like boys. I especially don't like guys like Josh. There was nothing there, there never was."
(*New Warriors #24)
"Sure," Valeria said as she used the staff she was holding to sweep him off of his feet, landing Franklin hard on his back. "I may not be much in the way of emotion, but I can tell when someone's hurting. You're lying to yourself, Franklin. And it's going to mess with your head, and your powers unless you do something."
"It is not going to mess with my powers," Franklin said as he stood up. "I'm going to get ready for Uncle Johnny's party."
********
"New Year's Eve," Dr. Doom said as he raised a wineglass. "Reed Richards and his family will not survive into the New Year. At the stroke of midnight, they all die."
*********
Franklin was showering, trying to keep his mind off of things. As he stood under the shower head, a crack in reality was starting to open just up the street....
********
"Just a few hours before party time," Johnny said. "Where's Lyja?"
"She went with the girls to get some last-minute things for your party," Ben told him. "You sure you wanna do this?"
"I love her, Ben," Johnny said. "I want to start the New Year on a positive note for once, with my friends and family, and the woman I would do anything for. I'd die for her."
"I never thought I'd say this, but it sounds like Johnny Storm's growing up," Ben said. "About damn time, too."
An alarm started sounding as Reed rushed into the room. "Something bad's happening across the city."
"What is it, Stretch?"
"Cracks in reality are opening all over," Reed said. "Something's emerged from them. We have to face it to find out if he's destructive or not."
"Do we know what's causing it?" Johnny asked as they headed for Reed's lab.
"Only one being has the power for this," Reed said sadly. "My son."
**********
Sue, Yoshi and Lyja were coming home from the store when they saw one of the reality cracks opening. "What is that?"
"Trouble, I'm sure," Sue said as she sat the grocery bag down. "Stand behind me. I don't know what's going to come out of that."
Four people, similar to this world's Fantastic 4, stepped out. They were dressed in purple as they looked around their new surroundings.
"Where are we, Professor?" Red Storm asked.
"It seems like an alternate version of our world," Professor Richards said as Ace Storm looked at Sue.
"My God," Sue said as she looked at the buzzcut version of her standing across the way. "What did I do to my hair?"
***********
"Johnny, you have to find Franklin," Reed said as the trio headed toward the closest tear. "Bring him here so we can fix this."
"On it!" Johnny shouted as he flew off. Reed and Ben arrived at the closest tear. Reed pulled out a scanner and held it close.
"Well, what is it, Reed?" Ben asked.
"It's a tear in reality," Reed said. "This is fascinating. Somehow Franklin's able to open doors to whole new worlds. Who knows what kind of fascinating life is on the other side of this?"
A snarling was heard on the other side as a zombified Thing started climbing through.
"Fascinating. Sure," Ben said as he punched the coming zombie as hard as he could, sending it flying back through the tear.
***********
Franklin had just pulled his shirt on as he spotted the picture on his nightstand. It was of him and Josh, taken together the day that they'd met when Andy had found a camera and started taking pictures of everything he could find.
Picking the picture up, Franklin sat back on his bed as he stared down at it, his lip trembling a little. Johnny suddenly burst in and grabbed Franklin's hand.
"What's going on?"
"You broke the city, dude, you gotta fix it!" Johnny said as he pulled Franklin out of the door.
**********
The Baxter Building
A portal opened, a combination of science and magic, right in the middle of the Richard's living room. Dr. Doom stepped out, right into the path of Valeria holding a shoulder-mounted bazooka.
"Yeah, I have early warning sensors for things like this," Valeria said.
"You would dare assault Doom with a mere toy?" Doom asked.
"Toy?" Valeria asked. "No, this doesn't fire ammunition, it scatters particles like they were Legos for me to rebuild later. I'm going to make you into a koala bear."
"Foolish child," Doom told her. "Nothing scares Doom especially not--"
A rumbling started as a tear opened inbetween Doom and Valeria.
"Interesting," Doom said as he held up a wrist mounted laser. "An interdimenstional tear. What wonders does this tear hold that Doom can take advantage of?"
A badly tossed football flew out of the tear as Tommy Wisseu stepped out of the portal, wearing Doom's armor.
"Oh, hai Doom," Doom Wisseu said as he let out a weird laugh.
"This can't be," Doom said. "Is this truly me from an alternate dimension?"
"That's the idea," Doom Wisseau said. "I try to conquer the world, but the son of a bitch betray me. I don't want to live in the world anymore. They just a bunch of little chickens. Cheapcheapcheapche-eap!"
"NO!" Doom shouted. "This will not stand! This is an insult to Doom! I will destroy you!"
"Let me handle this," Valeria said as he fired the bazooka, sending a boxing glove flying out, sending Wisseau Doom back through the portal.
"You are tearing me apart, Valeria!" Wisseau Doom shouted as he back through the tear.
"Okay, one down," Valeria said.
"You said that was able to break down molecules," Doom told her.
"It does," Valeria said. "The boxing glove was Franklin's Playstation 4."
"This isn't over, child," Doom told her as he disappeared in a lightning vortex.
***************
Sue, Reed and Ben had met up and were attempting to close the tears on their own, which were continuing to show up, just as Johnny arrived with Franklin. Ben was punching whatever came through, while Sue used her force fields to drive everything else back.
"Franklin, how are you doing this?" Reed asked as he saw his son.
"Dad, I swear, this isn't me," Franklin told him. "I wouldn't do something like this."
"Everything that's coming out of these tears are versions of our family," Sue said. "And you're the only one who has the power to do something this huge."
"Mom, I'm telling you--"
"No, you're not," Valeria told them as she arrived. "Franklin, TELL THEM. I warned you this was going to happen, and it's going to keep happening until you come clean. Your guilty conscience is coming out through your powers."
"What's she talking about?" Ben asked Franklin. "Kid, you know we love you. If something's on your mind, you gotta tell us."
"I can't," Franklin whispered.
Another tear opened, this time a version of Franklin stepped out, wearing Dr. Doom's armor.
"No, Franklin, don't tell them," the new version of Doom said. "This is how it starts. Keeping secrets, keeping your emotions buried deep inside of you. Soon you'll push friends and family away until all you have left is power. Power and bitterness which you will use to become the world's greatest savior. This world will bow to you, Franklin, you just need to stay on this path. And maybe kill a few million people."
Franklin looked at his future self, and back at his family, taking a deep breath. Tears started falling as he looked at them. "I'm pansexual. I'm so sorry. I never wanted to be a disappointment."
"Oh, you're a disappointment, just in different ways," Valeria said.
Reed and Sue rushed over to Franklin, hugging him tightly.
"There is absolutely nothing to be sorry for," Reed told him. "We love you, no matter who or what you choose to love. You're our son, nothing will ever change that."
"Oh, baby," Sue said as she kissed the top of his head. "Has this been what's been bothering you?"
"I think I might be in love.. with a guy," Franklin whispered.
"You knew about this, didn't you?" Ben asked Johnny, who just stared around.
"Look, the tears are closing!" Johnny shouted.
"Ah, we'll talk about this later," Ben said as he punched the zombie Thing again as tear from the zombie world closed. "Keep pushing them back! The tears are closing!"
"So, do we get to meet this guy?" Sue asked.
"What? No!" Franklin said as he sniffled a bit. "There's zero chance of us getting together now. But it... feels good to get this off of my chest. I feel kind of better."
"Told you," Valeria said as she shot the boxing glove again to knock Doom Franklin back, who started fading away.
"AH! Why does it hurt!?" Doom Franklin shouted as he faded into nothingness.
"Was that my Playstation?" Franklin gasped.
"Well, that's over," Johnny said. "Let's party!"
**************
Later that night
Friends and family had gathered at the Baxter Building to celebrate the coming year, including some Avengers, a spider-theme hero, some X-Men, and other glorified cameos. Even most of the New Warriors were there, with one exception.
"Happy New Year, true believers!" retired postman Willie Lumpkin said as he raised a toast.
"Josh isn't coming?" Johnny asked as he found Franklin sitting alone in his bedroom.
"You know why," Franklin said as he stared out the window. "It's the same reason Sam wouldn't even look at me at the party."
"I'm sorry, kid," Johnny told him as he put a hand on his shoulder. "But I've got an alien woman to propose to."
**********
"Another year, and our family is whole again," Reed said as he stood by Sue with a wine glass in his hand. "I have my beautiful wife, my best friend Ben; my...unique brother-in-law Johnny; our highly intelligent daughter Valeria; and my courageous son Franklin, whom I've never been prouder of. And all of our friends and family, to whom we owe so very, very much.. May the New Year be kind and fortunate to all of you."
Everyone raised their glass in a toast as it got closer to midnight as Johnny searched for his ring. "The ring? Where's the ring? I can't propose without the ring!"
"Oh, I took the ring," Valeria said. "You can't give a woman a rock that tiny, Uncle Johnny. Give me two weeks and I'll grow it into something nice and huge that she can really parade around."
"What!?" Johnny asked. "No, I have to do this tonight! This is THE night to do it! Give me the ring!"
"If you want it, you have to get it... out of Franklin's pocket where I stashed it. Meanwhile you'll have to talk to him about relationships and love and all that nonsensical stuff."
Johnny looked at his watch. Two minutes to midnight. He sighed and went to Franklin's room, hearing the sounds of his nephew crying. He saw Franklin was in his pajamas, with his pants hanging off of a chair. Silently creeping in, Johnny reached into the pocket and grabbed the ring without Franklin noticing. He stood up to leave, still hearing Franklin crying, sounding like he was in real pain. Johnny stared down at his watch and looked back at Franklin.
"That better be one huge fucking ring," Johnny said as he went over and pulled Franklin into a tight hug. "Let it out, buddy. Let it all out, Uncle Johnny's here for you."
Lyja watched from the door, never loving Johnny Storm more.
"So, it looks like Johnny's going to be busy," Alpha said. "And it's almost midnight..."
"Okay," Lyja said as Alpha started stammering before passing out from nervousness and excitement. "You'd think he'd stop doing that after the first twelve times."
********
"10....9....8....7...6...5...4...3...2...1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!" everyone shouted as Reed pulled Sue close to kiss her; Ben and Alicia smiled and kissed; Lyja kneeled down and gently kissed Alpha's cheek.
And Johnny held onto Franklin, letting the young man cry onto his shoulder until he finally fell asleep a half-hour later.
"That's only because it involves making out with someone, match head," Ben told him. "And every year, you try to find the perfect date to kiss into the New Year."
"Yeah, last year it was one of the Kardashians," Sue said. "Which one was she again?"
"I don't know, they all look and act alike," Ben said. "And the year before that, it was that swimsuit model from Sweden. You really shoulda given that poor girl a coat to wear that night."
"And the year before that it was John Cena," Sue said. "How did you manage to get him?"
"Johnny Storm always gets his man or woman," Johnny said. "But this year is going to be really special. I have Lyja now, and I'm going to propose at 11:59. We'll kiss into the New Year as an engaged couple."
"If she says 'yes', kid," Ben reminded him. "What if she turns you down?"
"No one has ever turned Johnny Storm down."
"What about Carrie Fisher?"
"That was different, I was asking an actual Goddess out," Johnny said. "Anyway, this party needs to be absolutely perfect. No supervillains, no family drama, no weird interdimensional stuff, nothing."
*******
"You need to tell Mom and Dad that you're gay," Valeria said as she was sparring with Franklin in the New Warrior's training room.
"I am not gay, or bi-sexual or whatever!" Franklin shouted. "And I'm definitely not pansexual like older me said when I went into the future* ! I like girls, alright? Josh was just... I don't know what that was, but I don't like boys. I especially don't like guys like Josh. There was nothing there, there never was."
(*New Warriors #24)
"Sure," Valeria said as she used the staff she was holding to sweep him off of his feet, landing Franklin hard on his back. "I may not be much in the way of emotion, but I can tell when someone's hurting. You're lying to yourself, Franklin. And it's going to mess with your head, and your powers unless you do something."
"It is not going to mess with my powers," Franklin said as he stood up. "I'm going to get ready for Uncle Johnny's party."
********
"New Year's Eve," Dr. Doom said as he raised a wineglass. "Reed Richards and his family will not survive into the New Year. At the stroke of midnight, they all die."
*********
Franklin was showering, trying to keep his mind off of things. As he stood under the shower head, a crack in reality was starting to open just up the street....
********
"Just a few hours before party time," Johnny said. "Where's Lyja?"
"She went with the girls to get some last-minute things for your party," Ben told him. "You sure you wanna do this?"
"I love her, Ben," Johnny said. "I want to start the New Year on a positive note for once, with my friends and family, and the woman I would do anything for. I'd die for her."
"I never thought I'd say this, but it sounds like Johnny Storm's growing up," Ben said. "About damn time, too."
An alarm started sounding as Reed rushed into the room. "Something bad's happening across the city."
"What is it, Stretch?"
"Cracks in reality are opening all over," Reed said. "Something's emerged from them. We have to face it to find out if he's destructive or not."
"Do we know what's causing it?" Johnny asked as they headed for Reed's lab.
"Only one being has the power for this," Reed said sadly. "My son."
**********
Sue, Yoshi and Lyja were coming home from the store when they saw one of the reality cracks opening. "What is that?"
"Trouble, I'm sure," Sue said as she sat the grocery bag down. "Stand behind me. I don't know what's going to come out of that."
Four people, similar to this world's Fantastic 4, stepped out. They were dressed in purple as they looked around their new surroundings.
"Where are we, Professor?" Red Storm asked.
"It seems like an alternate version of our world," Professor Richards said as Ace Storm looked at Sue.
"My God," Sue said as she looked at the buzzcut version of her standing across the way. "What did I do to my hair?"
***********
"Johnny, you have to find Franklin," Reed said as the trio headed toward the closest tear. "Bring him here so we can fix this."
"On it!" Johnny shouted as he flew off. Reed and Ben arrived at the closest tear. Reed pulled out a scanner and held it close.
"Well, what is it, Reed?" Ben asked.
"It's a tear in reality," Reed said. "This is fascinating. Somehow Franklin's able to open doors to whole new worlds. Who knows what kind of fascinating life is on the other side of this?"
A snarling was heard on the other side as a zombified Thing started climbing through.
"Fascinating. Sure," Ben said as he punched the coming zombie as hard as he could, sending it flying back through the tear.
***********
Franklin had just pulled his shirt on as he spotted the picture on his nightstand. It was of him and Josh, taken together the day that they'd met when Andy had found a camera and started taking pictures of everything he could find.
Picking the picture up, Franklin sat back on his bed as he stared down at it, his lip trembling a little. Johnny suddenly burst in and grabbed Franklin's hand.
"What's going on?"
"You broke the city, dude, you gotta fix it!" Johnny said as he pulled Franklin out of the door.
**********
The Baxter Building
A portal opened, a combination of science and magic, right in the middle of the Richard's living room. Dr. Doom stepped out, right into the path of Valeria holding a shoulder-mounted bazooka.
"Yeah, I have early warning sensors for things like this," Valeria said.
"You would dare assault Doom with a mere toy?" Doom asked.
"Toy?" Valeria asked. "No, this doesn't fire ammunition, it scatters particles like they were Legos for me to rebuild later. I'm going to make you into a koala bear."
"Foolish child," Doom told her. "Nothing scares Doom especially not--"
A rumbling started as a tear opened inbetween Doom and Valeria.
"Interesting," Doom said as he held up a wrist mounted laser. "An interdimenstional tear. What wonders does this tear hold that Doom can take advantage of?"
A badly tossed football flew out of the tear as Tommy Wisseu stepped out of the portal, wearing Doom's armor.
"Oh, hai Doom," Doom Wisseu said as he let out a weird laugh.
"This can't be," Doom said. "Is this truly me from an alternate dimension?"
"That's the idea," Doom Wisseau said. "I try to conquer the world, but the son of a bitch betray me. I don't want to live in the world anymore. They just a bunch of little chickens. Cheapcheapcheapche-eap!"
"NO!" Doom shouted. "This will not stand! This is an insult to Doom! I will destroy you!"
"Let me handle this," Valeria said as he fired the bazooka, sending a boxing glove flying out, sending Wisseau Doom back through the portal.
"You are tearing me apart, Valeria!" Wisseau Doom shouted as he back through the tear.
"Okay, one down," Valeria said.
"You said that was able to break down molecules," Doom told her.
"It does," Valeria said. "The boxing glove was Franklin's Playstation 4."
"This isn't over, child," Doom told her as he disappeared in a lightning vortex.
***************
Sue, Reed and Ben had met up and were attempting to close the tears on their own, which were continuing to show up, just as Johnny arrived with Franklin. Ben was punching whatever came through, while Sue used her force fields to drive everything else back.
"Franklin, how are you doing this?" Reed asked as he saw his son.
"Dad, I swear, this isn't me," Franklin told him. "I wouldn't do something like this."
"Everything that's coming out of these tears are versions of our family," Sue said. "And you're the only one who has the power to do something this huge."
"Mom, I'm telling you--"
"No, you're not," Valeria told them as she arrived. "Franklin, TELL THEM. I warned you this was going to happen, and it's going to keep happening until you come clean. Your guilty conscience is coming out through your powers."
"What's she talking about?" Ben asked Franklin. "Kid, you know we love you. If something's on your mind, you gotta tell us."
"I can't," Franklin whispered.
Another tear opened, this time a version of Franklin stepped out, wearing Dr. Doom's armor.
"No, Franklin, don't tell them," the new version of Doom said. "This is how it starts. Keeping secrets, keeping your emotions buried deep inside of you. Soon you'll push friends and family away until all you have left is power. Power and bitterness which you will use to become the world's greatest savior. This world will bow to you, Franklin, you just need to stay on this path. And maybe kill a few million people."
Franklin looked at his future self, and back at his family, taking a deep breath. Tears started falling as he looked at them. "I'm pansexual. I'm so sorry. I never wanted to be a disappointment."
"Oh, you're a disappointment, just in different ways," Valeria said.
Reed and Sue rushed over to Franklin, hugging him tightly.
"There is absolutely nothing to be sorry for," Reed told him. "We love you, no matter who or what you choose to love. You're our son, nothing will ever change that."
"Oh, baby," Sue said as she kissed the top of his head. "Has this been what's been bothering you?"
"I think I might be in love.. with a guy," Franklin whispered.
"You knew about this, didn't you?" Ben asked Johnny, who just stared around.
"Look, the tears are closing!" Johnny shouted.
"Ah, we'll talk about this later," Ben said as he punched the zombie Thing again as tear from the zombie world closed. "Keep pushing them back! The tears are closing!"
"So, do we get to meet this guy?" Sue asked.
"What? No!" Franklin said as he sniffled a bit. "There's zero chance of us getting together now. But it... feels good to get this off of my chest. I feel kind of better."
"Told you," Valeria said as she shot the boxing glove again to knock Doom Franklin back, who started fading away.
"AH! Why does it hurt!?" Doom Franklin shouted as he faded into nothingness.
"Was that my Playstation?" Franklin gasped.
"Well, that's over," Johnny said. "Let's party!"
**************
Later that night
Friends and family had gathered at the Baxter Building to celebrate the coming year, including some Avengers, a spider-theme hero, some X-Men, and other glorified cameos. Even most of the New Warriors were there, with one exception.
"Happy New Year, true believers!" retired postman Willie Lumpkin said as he raised a toast.
"Josh isn't coming?" Johnny asked as he found Franklin sitting alone in his bedroom.
"You know why," Franklin said as he stared out the window. "It's the same reason Sam wouldn't even look at me at the party."
"I'm sorry, kid," Johnny told him as he put a hand on his shoulder. "But I've got an alien woman to propose to."
**********
"Another year, and our family is whole again," Reed said as he stood by Sue with a wine glass in his hand. "I have my beautiful wife, my best friend Ben; my...unique brother-in-law Johnny; our highly intelligent daughter Valeria; and my courageous son Franklin, whom I've never been prouder of. And all of our friends and family, to whom we owe so very, very much.. May the New Year be kind and fortunate to all of you."
Everyone raised their glass in a toast as it got closer to midnight as Johnny searched for his ring. "The ring? Where's the ring? I can't propose without the ring!"
"Oh, I took the ring," Valeria said. "You can't give a woman a rock that tiny, Uncle Johnny. Give me two weeks and I'll grow it into something nice and huge that she can really parade around."
"What!?" Johnny asked. "No, I have to do this tonight! This is THE night to do it! Give me the ring!"
"If you want it, you have to get it... out of Franklin's pocket where I stashed it. Meanwhile you'll have to talk to him about relationships and love and all that nonsensical stuff."
Johnny looked at his watch. Two minutes to midnight. He sighed and went to Franklin's room, hearing the sounds of his nephew crying. He saw Franklin was in his pajamas, with his pants hanging off of a chair. Silently creeping in, Johnny reached into the pocket and grabbed the ring without Franklin noticing. He stood up to leave, still hearing Franklin crying, sounding like he was in real pain. Johnny stared down at his watch and looked back at Franklin.
"That better be one huge fucking ring," Johnny said as he went over and pulled Franklin into a tight hug. "Let it out, buddy. Let it all out, Uncle Johnny's here for you."
Lyja watched from the door, never loving Johnny Storm more.
"So, it looks like Johnny's going to be busy," Alpha said. "And it's almost midnight..."
"Okay," Lyja said as Alpha started stammering before passing out from nervousness and excitement. "You'd think he'd stop doing that after the first twelve times."
********
"10....9....8....7...6...5...4...3...2...1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!" everyone shouted as Reed pulled Sue close to kiss her; Ben and Alicia smiled and kissed; Lyja kneeled down and gently kissed Alpha's cheek.
And Johnny held onto Franklin, letting the young man cry onto his shoulder until he finally fell asleep a half-hour later.