Back to GatefoldIssue #10 by Tobias Christopher
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"Let's Blow This Town"
"So, in the span of six hours, I lose the chance to see my brother, I joined a super-hero team, I get kidnapped by super villains, I walk away from a super-hero team, and now I'm back to square one. And oh yeah," Josh said as he looked down at his bare chest. "I lost one of my favorite shirts back at what is now the New Warriors HQ."
Josh's wings were folded over his shoulder as he walked down the street next to Franklin Richards. Both had just walked away from the New Warriors after Franklin's little sister had managed to usurp leadership from him.
"You have other shirts," Franklin said quietly, staring at the ground as they walked. "And you can stay with me as long as you need. Everyone else will be moving out soon to move into the new HQ. You know, you didn't have to leave the team, you could have stayed."
"It wasn't right," Josh said. "That was your team, you brought all of them together. Someone had to have your back."
"Thanks," Franklin told him. "Come on, let's go home and we'll figure out what to do next."
# # # # # # # # # #
"This place is great!" Alpha said as he flew a heavy piece of machinery in for Juston's workshop.
"I feel bad about Franklin, though," Juston said. "This team was his idea."
"He'll come back once he calms down," Adam told them. "I mean, it can't be easy giving up leadership to your little sister."
"Are we sure we did the right thing, though?" Juston asked. "Is Valeria even really qualified to lead a team?"
"We'll find out soon enough," Adam said. "Besides, what's the worst that can happen?"
# # # # # # # # # #
The Negative Zone
Annihilus sat on his throne, tapping his fingers against the armrest as he thought about the humiliating defeat he'd suffered at the hands of Johnny Storm and the Fantastic 4*.
*(F4 #67)
"Johnny Storm must be made to suffer for destroying my plans," Annihilus said angrily. "Him and the Fantastic Four. His whole family must suffer! But first I need my cosmic control rod returned to me. But Johnny Storm took it, and has hidden it from me, so it must be on Earth. I gave my word that I wouldn't go to Earth, but I never said I couldn't send someone for me. I'll send my best warriors to retrieve my cosmic control rod, and maybe just stir up some trouble for Johnny Storm along the way."
# # # # # # # # # #
"So, you're really a princess?" Valeria asked Kittania as they found an empty store to make into a training area. "And you're staying with a bunch of horny teenage boys?"
"I saw no horns on them," Kittania told her. "Well, I saw a small horn on Franklin in that picture you deleted. But yes, I am a princess. But my people were wiped out, and I am the only one left of my kind."
"Well, us girls do have to stick together, so I'll try to help you adapt," Valeria told her. "Do you think the boys are good enough to stay on the team? Maybe we should ditch them and call in Squirrel Girl, Ms. Marvel, and Negasonic Teenage Warhead."
"Adam and Juston are smart and strong, and Andy is... Andy is really sweet," Kittania said. "I enjoy having them around. I just wish your brother had decided to stay."
"He'll come crawling back," Valeria told her. "I know my brother, and he can't live five minutes with me or my family pulling him out of the fire."
# # # # # # # # # #
Josh pulled Franklin out of the burning building as he held several newborn kittens in his arms, just as the firetruck pulled up. Franklin was coughing heavily as the firefighters rushed to put out the flames.
"Is there anyone else in there?" the firefighter asked as a blanket was put around Franklin's shoulder.
"Just the kittens," Franklin said as the paramedic came to check him out as he lay on the sidewalk. "Save the kittens."
"You always throw yourself into danger like that?" Josh asked as he sat down next to Franklin.
"I'm a hero, it's what I do," Franklin said through the oxygen mask that was put on his face.
"I think I know what we need to do next," Josh told him as he patted Franklin's shoulder. "We forget the team and just be a crimefighting duo. Just you and me. Partners."
"I like that," Franklin smiled. "Okay, you and me, Josh. Oh, God, I think I'm going throw up a lung."
# # # # # # # # # #
"I think that's the last of our stuff," Adam said as he picked up his last box from the Baxter Building. "I'm going to miss this place."
"Yeah, we have an awesome new place to look forward to," Andy said as he grabbed a large box of Kittania's stuff. "She's been on Earth for two weeks. How does she have so much stuff?"
"Stuff we went back to her planet for, remember?" Adam asked. "At least I think it was her stuff. The place so demolished, she had trouble finding her home. Come on, let's get going, I need to plug in my equipment so I can upgrade my systems later tonight."
"Adam, before you go, you might need this," H.E.R.B.I.E. said as he floated toward Adam, holding a small black box. "I modified your processors with some of Dr. Richard's equipment. I think you'll it most useful when you perform your next system check."
"Thanks, H.E.R.B.I.E.," Adam said as he put the box on top of the stuff he was already carrying. "I'm going to miss you, pal."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll be back to visit real soon," H.E.R.B.I.E. said as he floated away. As he turned, his eyes briefly flashed a dark green.
# # # # # # # # # #
A portal opened in an alley as three figures dropped through, before the portal closed again. The three blue-skinned aliens stood up, wearing armor and carrying many weapons.
"We need to blend in," the leader, Slash, said as he saw three teenagers walking past the alley. The Negative Zone aliens grabbed them, stealing their clothes before exiting the alley. The leader, Slash, was wearing a sleeveless jacket, blackshirt, blue jeans, and ballcap. His second in command, Mousy, was wearing a white t-shirt, blue shorts, and suspenders, and the final member of their team, Brick, was wearing a puffy sleeveless orange jacket, a green t-shirt, and blue jeans. They were all carrying what weapons they could inside of the backpacks they had stolen.
"What's our first move?" Mousy asked.
"Our master said that the cosmic control rod would be at the Baxter Building," Slash said. "So we find it, and lure everyone inside out so we can ransack the place until we find it."
"And if it's not there?" Brick asked.
"Then we tear the city apart until we find it," Slash smirked.
# # # # # # # # # #
"You sure you want to do this?" Josh asked as he looked at Franklin. Franklin was dressed in his new FF outfit, which was all white, with a white hexagon sitting on top of two black hexagons. Josh was shirtless, wearing the bottom half of the same costume Franklin had on. His large red wings were folded over his shoulders as they stood in Reed Richard's lab.
"Well, we need start this hero thing somewhere, right?" Franklin asked as he looked at the portal in front of them. "And with dozens of heroes, and Valeria leading our team without us, that's not going to leave us much to do. So I say we skip this dimension for a while and go looking for adventures off world, see who we can help in other places, really get our skills honed before we come back."
"Won't your parents miss you?" Josh asked.
"It's summer vacation and my parents barely notice me when I'm here," Franklin told him, not realizing there was a mini-camera on a small fly that was following them. "They won't even notice I'm gone for a few weeks. By that time, we should be home and better than ever. You said you trust me, right?"
"Yeah, I do," Josh said as he slung his backpack over his shoulder. "Okay, let's do this."
Two young men held hands as they took a deep breath, before jumping through the portal together. It closed, just as Reed came into the lab, whistling while doing a crossword puzzle. He looked up, seeing just a single red feather floating to the ground.
"I told those boys to not play in the lab," Reed sighed. "I'm going to have a long talk with that boy the next time that I see him."
# # # # # # # # # #
Slash, Mousy, and Brick arrived at the Baxter Building, looking up towards it, not seeing the Fantasticar and the Human Torch flying away to their next adventure just before they arrived.
"Remember the plan," Slash said as the others nodded. "Let's do this."
Slash looked out into the street, which was filled with cars. He pulled out a small device and started shooting electricity out into the street, causing cars to crash into each other. Mousy saw a fire hydrant and blasted it open, using a device of her own to manipulate the water into shattering windows and smashing mailboxes. Brick grabbed a device out of his backpack and started shooting a large stream of fire all around, just as Andy and Adam were exiting the building.
"Oh, shit," Adam said as he dialed Juston's phone. "We gotta call the guys! Andy, what are you doing?"
Andy was lifting his shirt over his head while talking in a muffled voice. "Getting into costume!"
# # # # # # # # # #
"Trouble at the Baxter Building, we can be there in five minutes!" Juston said as he looked into the room.
"No one messes with my home," Valeria said as she rushed to start getting into costume.
# # # # # # # # # #
Machine Teen and Alpha rushed out into the street in their costumes, and were quickly joined by Valeria, Kittania, and Sentinel.
"These aren't the Fantastic Four," Slash said. "Where are the Fantastic Four?"
"Probably on their to Switzerland so my dad can give a speech or something," Valeria said. "A speech I helped write, by the way."
"So, the Baxter Building is empty," Mousy said as she looked at Slash. "Shall we continue, then?"
"Yes," Slash smiled as he looked at his companions. "Destroy them all."
TO BE CONTINUED...
Josh's wings were folded over his shoulder as he walked down the street next to Franklin Richards. Both had just walked away from the New Warriors after Franklin's little sister had managed to usurp leadership from him.
"You have other shirts," Franklin said quietly, staring at the ground as they walked. "And you can stay with me as long as you need. Everyone else will be moving out soon to move into the new HQ. You know, you didn't have to leave the team, you could have stayed."
"It wasn't right," Josh said. "That was your team, you brought all of them together. Someone had to have your back."
"Thanks," Franklin told him. "Come on, let's go home and we'll figure out what to do next."
# # # # # # # # # #
"This place is great!" Alpha said as he flew a heavy piece of machinery in for Juston's workshop.
"I feel bad about Franklin, though," Juston said. "This team was his idea."
"He'll come back once he calms down," Adam told them. "I mean, it can't be easy giving up leadership to your little sister."
"Are we sure we did the right thing, though?" Juston asked. "Is Valeria even really qualified to lead a team?"
"We'll find out soon enough," Adam said. "Besides, what's the worst that can happen?"
# # # # # # # # # #
The Negative Zone
Annihilus sat on his throne, tapping his fingers against the armrest as he thought about the humiliating defeat he'd suffered at the hands of Johnny Storm and the Fantastic 4*.
*(F4 #67)
"Johnny Storm must be made to suffer for destroying my plans," Annihilus said angrily. "Him and the Fantastic Four. His whole family must suffer! But first I need my cosmic control rod returned to me. But Johnny Storm took it, and has hidden it from me, so it must be on Earth. I gave my word that I wouldn't go to Earth, but I never said I couldn't send someone for me. I'll send my best warriors to retrieve my cosmic control rod, and maybe just stir up some trouble for Johnny Storm along the way."
# # # # # # # # # #
"So, you're really a princess?" Valeria asked Kittania as they found an empty store to make into a training area. "And you're staying with a bunch of horny teenage boys?"
"I saw no horns on them," Kittania told her. "Well, I saw a small horn on Franklin in that picture you deleted. But yes, I am a princess. But my people were wiped out, and I am the only one left of my kind."
"Well, us girls do have to stick together, so I'll try to help you adapt," Valeria told her. "Do you think the boys are good enough to stay on the team? Maybe we should ditch them and call in Squirrel Girl, Ms. Marvel, and Negasonic Teenage Warhead."
"Adam and Juston are smart and strong, and Andy is... Andy is really sweet," Kittania said. "I enjoy having them around. I just wish your brother had decided to stay."
"He'll come crawling back," Valeria told her. "I know my brother, and he can't live five minutes with me or my family pulling him out of the fire."
# # # # # # # # # #
Josh pulled Franklin out of the burning building as he held several newborn kittens in his arms, just as the firetruck pulled up. Franklin was coughing heavily as the firefighters rushed to put out the flames.
"Is there anyone else in there?" the firefighter asked as a blanket was put around Franklin's shoulder.
"Just the kittens," Franklin said as the paramedic came to check him out as he lay on the sidewalk. "Save the kittens."
"You always throw yourself into danger like that?" Josh asked as he sat down next to Franklin.
"I'm a hero, it's what I do," Franklin said through the oxygen mask that was put on his face.
"I think I know what we need to do next," Josh told him as he patted Franklin's shoulder. "We forget the team and just be a crimefighting duo. Just you and me. Partners."
"I like that," Franklin smiled. "Okay, you and me, Josh. Oh, God, I think I'm going throw up a lung."
# # # # # # # # # #
"I think that's the last of our stuff," Adam said as he picked up his last box from the Baxter Building. "I'm going to miss this place."
"Yeah, we have an awesome new place to look forward to," Andy said as he grabbed a large box of Kittania's stuff. "She's been on Earth for two weeks. How does she have so much stuff?"
"Stuff we went back to her planet for, remember?" Adam asked. "At least I think it was her stuff. The place so demolished, she had trouble finding her home. Come on, let's get going, I need to plug in my equipment so I can upgrade my systems later tonight."
"Adam, before you go, you might need this," H.E.R.B.I.E. said as he floated toward Adam, holding a small black box. "I modified your processors with some of Dr. Richard's equipment. I think you'll it most useful when you perform your next system check."
"Thanks, H.E.R.B.I.E.," Adam said as he put the box on top of the stuff he was already carrying. "I'm going to miss you, pal."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll be back to visit real soon," H.E.R.B.I.E. said as he floated away. As he turned, his eyes briefly flashed a dark green.
# # # # # # # # # #
A portal opened in an alley as three figures dropped through, before the portal closed again. The three blue-skinned aliens stood up, wearing armor and carrying many weapons.
"We need to blend in," the leader, Slash, said as he saw three teenagers walking past the alley. The Negative Zone aliens grabbed them, stealing their clothes before exiting the alley. The leader, Slash, was wearing a sleeveless jacket, blackshirt, blue jeans, and ballcap. His second in command, Mousy, was wearing a white t-shirt, blue shorts, and suspenders, and the final member of their team, Brick, was wearing a puffy sleeveless orange jacket, a green t-shirt, and blue jeans. They were all carrying what weapons they could inside of the backpacks they had stolen.
"What's our first move?" Mousy asked.
"Our master said that the cosmic control rod would be at the Baxter Building," Slash said. "So we find it, and lure everyone inside out so we can ransack the place until we find it."
"And if it's not there?" Brick asked.
"Then we tear the city apart until we find it," Slash smirked.
# # # # # # # # # #
"You sure you want to do this?" Josh asked as he looked at Franklin. Franklin was dressed in his new FF outfit, which was all white, with a white hexagon sitting on top of two black hexagons. Josh was shirtless, wearing the bottom half of the same costume Franklin had on. His large red wings were folded over his shoulders as they stood in Reed Richard's lab.
"Well, we need start this hero thing somewhere, right?" Franklin asked as he looked at the portal in front of them. "And with dozens of heroes, and Valeria leading our team without us, that's not going to leave us much to do. So I say we skip this dimension for a while and go looking for adventures off world, see who we can help in other places, really get our skills honed before we come back."
"Won't your parents miss you?" Josh asked.
"It's summer vacation and my parents barely notice me when I'm here," Franklin told him, not realizing there was a mini-camera on a small fly that was following them. "They won't even notice I'm gone for a few weeks. By that time, we should be home and better than ever. You said you trust me, right?"
"Yeah, I do," Josh said as he slung his backpack over his shoulder. "Okay, let's do this."
Two young men held hands as they took a deep breath, before jumping through the portal together. It closed, just as Reed came into the lab, whistling while doing a crossword puzzle. He looked up, seeing just a single red feather floating to the ground.
"I told those boys to not play in the lab," Reed sighed. "I'm going to have a long talk with that boy the next time that I see him."
# # # # # # # # # #
Slash, Mousy, and Brick arrived at the Baxter Building, looking up towards it, not seeing the Fantasticar and the Human Torch flying away to their next adventure just before they arrived.
"Remember the plan," Slash said as the others nodded. "Let's do this."
Slash looked out into the street, which was filled with cars. He pulled out a small device and started shooting electricity out into the street, causing cars to crash into each other. Mousy saw a fire hydrant and blasted it open, using a device of her own to manipulate the water into shattering windows and smashing mailboxes. Brick grabbed a device out of his backpack and started shooting a large stream of fire all around, just as Andy and Adam were exiting the building.
"Oh, shit," Adam said as he dialed Juston's phone. "We gotta call the guys! Andy, what are you doing?"
Andy was lifting his shirt over his head while talking in a muffled voice. "Getting into costume!"
# # # # # # # # # #
"Trouble at the Baxter Building, we can be there in five minutes!" Juston said as he looked into the room.
"No one messes with my home," Valeria said as she rushed to start getting into costume.
# # # # # # # # # #
Machine Teen and Alpha rushed out into the street in their costumes, and were quickly joined by Valeria, Kittania, and Sentinel.
"These aren't the Fantastic Four," Slash said. "Where are the Fantastic Four?"
"Probably on their to Switzerland so my dad can give a speech or something," Valeria said. "A speech I helped write, by the way."
"So, the Baxter Building is empty," Mousy said as she looked at Slash. "Shall we continue, then?"
"Yes," Slash smiled as he looked at his companions. "Destroy them all."
TO BE CONTINUED...