Back to GatefoldIssue #18 by Tobias Christopher
May 2017 |
"Complication"
Latveria
Castle Von Doom
"Franklin Richards," Vincent Von Doom sneered as he looked at his hated enemy. "You were supposed to be stranded on that wilderness planet."
"We were never stranded, we could come home whenever we wanted," Franklin told him. "And it looks like we picked the right time. We saw what you were doing to New York."
A hand tapped Vincent on the shoulder. As he turned his head, Juston punched him in the nose, sending him flying over a chair.
"Then they dropped by what used to be New Warriors Headquarters," Juston said as he cracked his knuckles. "They found me bound and gagged in a closet."
Across the room, Valeria, Alpha, Kittania, Cannonball and Machine Teen were all regaining consciousness.
"Franklin?" Valeria asked.
"You still can't stop me," Vincent said as he stood up with more Doombots charging into the room. "I still control everything, including your precious pet robot!"
Juston walked up to the control panel and pushed a few keys.
"Check and mate, bitch, your virus has been nullified," Juston smirked.
"Seriously? You only had to push one button to fix that?" Valeria asked.
"Duh, I'm a computer genius, remember?"
"Doombots, destroy them!" Vincent shouted as he started to run away.
"Can I say it?" Franklin asked as he looked at Valeria.
"Sure, why not?" Valeria said as everyone grouped together.
"New Warriors, unite!"
The team rushed forward at the Doombots, using their strengths and powers to take out the robotic henchmen. Kittania slashed through them with her broadsword; Alpha punched through a robot's chest, and Machine Teen slammed two of the Doombot's heads together.
"Sam?" Josh asked as he went to his big brother, who was still weakened. "What are you doing here?"
"Was gonna ask you the same thing, baby brother," Sam said. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Long story," Josh smiled as he hugged Sam. As the two embraced, he didn't notice Sophie sneaking behind him with an ax.
"Josh, watch out!" Sam shouted as he pushed Josh out of the way as the ax came down, barely missing Sam's groin.
"You ruined everything!" Sophie shouted as Josh tried to scoot backward as Sophie walked toward him. "Franklin is mine!"
"Franklin's a person, he doesn't belong to anyone!" Josh told her.
"Am-- am I missing something here?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, because this is the part where you cover your ears," Josh told him. As Sam covered his ears, Josh hit a sonic high note. Sophie dropped the ax as Josh rammed her into one of the Doombots, smiling at Franklin.
"Are you okay?" both asked in unison.
"Oh, I get it now," Sam said. "Wait, WHAT!?"
"Seriously?" Valeria and Vincent asked at the same time, just as Valeria punched him.
"It's not what you think," Franklin said nervously. "We're just--"
"Save it, we're not out of the woods yet!" Machine Teen told them as he looked at the doorway, where Dr. Doom was standing with his arms folded across his chest.
"What is going on!? Doom demands answers!"
"HE DID IT!" everyone on the team shouted as they pointed at Vincent. Even Alpha's puppy pointed a paw at him as Alpha held him in his arms, nuzzling him softly.
"Explain," Doom said angrily.
"You know, now might be a good time to go," Franklin whispered to Valeria as Doom walked toward Vincent. Valeria opened a portal as everyone quickly ran through.
"Father, I was doing it for your benefit," Vincent said as he saw the destruction all over the room. "I was going to--"
"SILENCE!" Doom shouted. "I shall deal with you after I deal with--," Doom looked around to see his children were the only ones there.
# # # # # # # # # # #
New York
"Okay, that should do it," Machine Teen said as Juston unhooked the wires from his chest. "I can remotely control the nanites to return everything back to normal. It'll be like they never deformed the city."
"Great, then send them to the bottom of the ocean where they can't cause any more damage," Franklin said as he saw Valeria sitting on a bench. He swallowed his pride and sat down next to her. "You know, you weren't... completely horrible as a leader."
"Why'd you come back?" Valeria asked.
"I guess I missed my family, even you,"
"I'm sorry I stole your team," Valeria said. "Being a leader isn't all it was cracked up to be. I nearly let the city get destroyed. I guess I'll just go back to being alone in my room."
"You don't have to, you can be a part of this team," Franklin said as he put an arm around her. "We could use your brains."
"Won't we... annoy each other?"
"Probably, but you know what? I'd rather be home than anywhere,"
"So, are you and Josh--?"
"It's complicated," Franklin said with a sigh. "I still like girls, I mean, I have that dream about She-Hulk a lot, but Josh? He makes me feel...I don't know, not like a freak of nature. I don't know if it's real or just me being a confused hormonal teenager. I just know he makes me feel good about myself, like I can do anything. Don't tell Mom and Dad, though. Not until I know what... this is. The last thing I need is Mom thinking I'm in love when it's just me being confused. And especially don't mention this to Josh, I don't want things to get weird between us. Well, weirder."
# # # # # # # # # # #
"So you left the X-Men?" Josh asked as he flew over Sam as they were in the park, bonding again after so long.
"For now," Sam told him as he looked up. "I guess I just needed a break from the drama for a while. Was thinking about going back home for a while."
"You mean boredom central?" Josh asked. "There's nothing there. I mean, even our brothers and sisters are doing their things now. They didn't even need me around to watch over them."
"So, what, my family doesn't need me?" Sam asked as Josh landed in front of him.
"I need you," Josh whispered as he stared at the ground. "I need you to teach me to be a hero like you. To be someone people respect and admire."
"People or someone in particular?"
"I think I'm in love," Josh told him, half giggling and half crying. "I don't know how it happened, I've always liked girls, I dream about She-Hulk all the time, but then I met Franklin and... Maybe if I can, I don't know, prove myself to him, make him see that I'm a hero like he is, maybe he'll..."
"For God's sake, Josh, if he has feelings for you, you don't need to prove anything, it's going to happen on its own," Sam said as he put an arm around his baby brother. "In the meantime, just be yourself. You are a hero, I saw you back there. And I don't know if it counts, but... I do admire you, kid. You got a wicked singing voice that I'm admittedly jealous of. I don't care who you have feelings for, as long as they treat you right."
"It counts," Josh smiled. "It definitely counts."
# # # # # # # # # # #
"So, everything's back to normal?" Alpha asked as he flew around.
"Well, not everything," Juston said with a devious smirk. "Check out your room."
Alpha flew up to his room and smiled as he saw everything had been remodeled just for him. It was like his own little home, there was even an area for his puppy to play.
"How? Why?" Alpha asked.
"After your parents ditched you, I figured you needed a real home," Juston told him. "And a real family, if you want a dorky brother."
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" Alpha shouted as he hugged Juston, nearly crushing him. "Sorry."
# # # # # # # # # # #
Later, everyone had gathered in the food court for a celebratory dinner of pizza and soda.
"Congratulations," Franklin said. "We've beaten our biggest threat yet. It took all of us pulling together to do it, but we kicked Doom's ass!"
"Don't drink too much soda, kids, you'll be running to the bathroom all night," H.E.R.B.I.E. told them as he floated around.
"Yep, he's back to normal," Valeria laughed.
"And best of all, with Sam sticking around supervising us, that'll keep our parents from nosing in on us," Franklin told them.
"So, are we really a team now?" Juston asked.
"No," Franklin said as he looked around. "We're a family. And now we're going to show the grown-ups who the real heroes are."
"To family," Valeria said as she raised her cup.
"And to kicking the ass of evildoers everywhere," Josh added as everyone raised their cups to toast.
"Seriously, ease up on the soda."
THE BEGINNING....
Latveria
Castle Von Doom
"Franklin Richards," Vincent Von Doom sneered as he looked at his hated enemy. "You were supposed to be stranded on that wilderness planet."
"We were never stranded, we could come home whenever we wanted," Franklin told him. "And it looks like we picked the right time. We saw what you were doing to New York."
A hand tapped Vincent on the shoulder. As he turned his head, Juston punched him in the nose, sending him flying over a chair.
"Then they dropped by what used to be New Warriors Headquarters," Juston said as he cracked his knuckles. "They found me bound and gagged in a closet."
Across the room, Valeria, Alpha, Kittania, Cannonball and Machine Teen were all regaining consciousness.
"Franklin?" Valeria asked.
"You still can't stop me," Vincent said as he stood up with more Doombots charging into the room. "I still control everything, including your precious pet robot!"
Juston walked up to the control panel and pushed a few keys.
"Check and mate, bitch, your virus has been nullified," Juston smirked.
"Seriously? You only had to push one button to fix that?" Valeria asked.
"Duh, I'm a computer genius, remember?"
"Doombots, destroy them!" Vincent shouted as he started to run away.
"Can I say it?" Franklin asked as he looked at Valeria.
"Sure, why not?" Valeria said as everyone grouped together.
"New Warriors, unite!"
The team rushed forward at the Doombots, using their strengths and powers to take out the robotic henchmen. Kittania slashed through them with her broadsword; Alpha punched through a robot's chest, and Machine Teen slammed two of the Doombot's heads together.
"Sam?" Josh asked as he went to his big brother, who was still weakened. "What are you doing here?"
"Was gonna ask you the same thing, baby brother," Sam said. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Long story," Josh smiled as he hugged Sam. As the two embraced, he didn't notice Sophie sneaking behind him with an ax.
"Josh, watch out!" Sam shouted as he pushed Josh out of the way as the ax came down, barely missing Sam's groin.
"You ruined everything!" Sophie shouted as Josh tried to scoot backward as Sophie walked toward him. "Franklin is mine!"
"Franklin's a person, he doesn't belong to anyone!" Josh told her.
"Am-- am I missing something here?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, because this is the part where you cover your ears," Josh told him. As Sam covered his ears, Josh hit a sonic high note. Sophie dropped the ax as Josh rammed her into one of the Doombots, smiling at Franklin.
"Are you okay?" both asked in unison.
"Oh, I get it now," Sam said. "Wait, WHAT!?"
"Seriously?" Valeria and Vincent asked at the same time, just as Valeria punched him.
"It's not what you think," Franklin said nervously. "We're just--"
"Save it, we're not out of the woods yet!" Machine Teen told them as he looked at the doorway, where Dr. Doom was standing with his arms folded across his chest.
"What is going on!? Doom demands answers!"
"HE DID IT!" everyone on the team shouted as they pointed at Vincent. Even Alpha's puppy pointed a paw at him as Alpha held him in his arms, nuzzling him softly.
"Explain," Doom said angrily.
"You know, now might be a good time to go," Franklin whispered to Valeria as Doom walked toward Vincent. Valeria opened a portal as everyone quickly ran through.
"Father, I was doing it for your benefit," Vincent said as he saw the destruction all over the room. "I was going to--"
"SILENCE!" Doom shouted. "I shall deal with you after I deal with--," Doom looked around to see his children were the only ones there.
# # # # # # # # # # #
New York
"Okay, that should do it," Machine Teen said as Juston unhooked the wires from his chest. "I can remotely control the nanites to return everything back to normal. It'll be like they never deformed the city."
"Great, then send them to the bottom of the ocean where they can't cause any more damage," Franklin said as he saw Valeria sitting on a bench. He swallowed his pride and sat down next to her. "You know, you weren't... completely horrible as a leader."
"Why'd you come back?" Valeria asked.
"I guess I missed my family, even you,"
"I'm sorry I stole your team," Valeria said. "Being a leader isn't all it was cracked up to be. I nearly let the city get destroyed. I guess I'll just go back to being alone in my room."
"You don't have to, you can be a part of this team," Franklin said as he put an arm around her. "We could use your brains."
"Won't we... annoy each other?"
"Probably, but you know what? I'd rather be home than anywhere,"
"So, are you and Josh--?"
"It's complicated," Franklin said with a sigh. "I still like girls, I mean, I have that dream about She-Hulk a lot, but Josh? He makes me feel...I don't know, not like a freak of nature. I don't know if it's real or just me being a confused hormonal teenager. I just know he makes me feel good about myself, like I can do anything. Don't tell Mom and Dad, though. Not until I know what... this is. The last thing I need is Mom thinking I'm in love when it's just me being confused. And especially don't mention this to Josh, I don't want things to get weird between us. Well, weirder."
# # # # # # # # # # #
"So you left the X-Men?" Josh asked as he flew over Sam as they were in the park, bonding again after so long.
"For now," Sam told him as he looked up. "I guess I just needed a break from the drama for a while. Was thinking about going back home for a while."
"You mean boredom central?" Josh asked. "There's nothing there. I mean, even our brothers and sisters are doing their things now. They didn't even need me around to watch over them."
"So, what, my family doesn't need me?" Sam asked as Josh landed in front of him.
"I need you," Josh whispered as he stared at the ground. "I need you to teach me to be a hero like you. To be someone people respect and admire."
"People or someone in particular?"
"I think I'm in love," Josh told him, half giggling and half crying. "I don't know how it happened, I've always liked girls, I dream about She-Hulk all the time, but then I met Franklin and... Maybe if I can, I don't know, prove myself to him, make him see that I'm a hero like he is, maybe he'll..."
"For God's sake, Josh, if he has feelings for you, you don't need to prove anything, it's going to happen on its own," Sam said as he put an arm around his baby brother. "In the meantime, just be yourself. You are a hero, I saw you back there. And I don't know if it counts, but... I do admire you, kid. You got a wicked singing voice that I'm admittedly jealous of. I don't care who you have feelings for, as long as they treat you right."
"It counts," Josh smiled. "It definitely counts."
# # # # # # # # # # #
"So, everything's back to normal?" Alpha asked as he flew around.
"Well, not everything," Juston said with a devious smirk. "Check out your room."
Alpha flew up to his room and smiled as he saw everything had been remodeled just for him. It was like his own little home, there was even an area for his puppy to play.
"How? Why?" Alpha asked.
"After your parents ditched you, I figured you needed a real home," Juston told him. "And a real family, if you want a dorky brother."
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" Alpha shouted as he hugged Juston, nearly crushing him. "Sorry."
# # # # # # # # # # #
Later, everyone had gathered in the food court for a celebratory dinner of pizza and soda.
"Congratulations," Franklin said. "We've beaten our biggest threat yet. It took all of us pulling together to do it, but we kicked Doom's ass!"
"Don't drink too much soda, kids, you'll be running to the bathroom all night," H.E.R.B.I.E. told them as he floated around.
"Yep, he's back to normal," Valeria laughed.
"And best of all, with Sam sticking around supervising us, that'll keep our parents from nosing in on us," Franklin told them.
"So, are we really a team now?" Juston asked.
"No," Franklin said as he looked around. "We're a family. And now we're going to show the grown-ups who the real heroes are."
"To family," Valeria said as she raised her cup.
"And to kicking the ass of evildoers everywhere," Josh added as everyone raised their cups to toast.
"Seriously, ease up on the soda."
THE BEGINNING....