FANTASTIC FOUR
# 417
by Mark Bousquet
"Over the Hills and Far
Away"
Benjamin J. Grimm sits in the middle of an expanse of grass, enjoying the
red, brown and yellow leaves of a group of nearby maple trees. Neither overjoyed
or particularly sorrowed, the hero known as the Thing is awash with the
same sense of inner-peace he feels after most adventures - tired, thankful
and ready for whatever comes next.
Because after all the recent events, after sacrificing themselves to Onslaught
and then reliving their lives in an alternate universe, in the end, it was
just another adventure.
Bringing his thoughts back to the here and now, Ben sighs as a dark shadow
grows around him, blocking out the sun. "Great," he speaks to
the shadow, "we're back for one flippin' hour and we've already got
trouble. I wonder who's causing this shadow? Doom? Nah, too small."
Ben rises, cracking his knuckles, "Galactus? Nah, we just dealt with
him. All right, I give up, who the heck is it and how did ya find us in
the middle of Nowhere?"
Ben turns, but instead of a super-menace, he finds Reed Richards, his best
friend and leader of this assembled group, using his body's super elasticity
to make a trampoline out of himself. His son, Franklin, bounces around his
father's body, giggling and smiling. Ben looks around and sees Sue - Franklin's
mom, Reed's wife and Johnny's sister - cheering them on. Overhead and to
his left, Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, flies a loop around himself, leaving
a trail of flame in his wake. "That *grumble grumble* self-absorbed
*grumble grumble*," Ben begins, then stops. As Johnny manipulates the
flames around, Ben Grimm smiles.
"Well woulda look at that?" Ben shouts, his blue eyes twinkling,
"We're not home an hour yet and Mr. Look-At-Me has decided to announce
our presence to the world!"
The others turn and look, and smile.
Hanging in mid-air, for all the world to see, floats a giant, flaming 4.
And finally, it all sinks in ...
... THE FANTASTIC FOUR HAVE RETURNED!
The FF find themselves returned to Earth, but not to the familiar confines
of New York City. Instead, they find themselves set down in rural Vermont,
of all places. They are battered, but they are together. And after all they've
been through, it's good to know that it can still come back to that.
They're back, wise with the knowledge that this one was a bit different
from most. Ben shakes his head, to think that Franklin, a child of five
years who's already lived five lifetimes, could create an entire other universe
... it's too much to think about right now. Besides, he tells himself, let
Reed and Sue worry about the implications of what happened. All he knows,
all he _needs_ to know, is that Franklin's okay.
They spend the rest of the day recuperating and relaxing, taking in the
splendors of the Vermont fall. They have no immediate hurry to return to
Four Freedoms. (It's a good thing, too, since the THUNDERBOLTS
are living there! -- Shameless Plugging Mark!)
The duty of watching Franklin is passed around, each taking a turn trying
to match his boundless energy. Still, despite her unshakable faith and trust
in each member of the family, Sue doesn't let Franklin wander out of her
eye-sight. Before long, it's night and they need to find shelter.
The make camp out in the open, comfortable with the idea that Johnny's flame
will keep them warm through the cold, New England night. After Ben and Franklin
have collected enough dried branches, Johnny sets them aflame, *accidentally*
forgetting to wait until Ben has stepped out of the way. Sue smiles, they
must all be feeling more at ease if Ben and Johnny are already back to pulling
pranks on one another.
Franklin, Reed and Sue decide to take a walk and be husband, wife and son
for awhile. Clearly, there are issues Reed and Sue need to discuss about
the recent revelations in Franklin's powers, but this isn't the time. He
is, afterall, a little kid and shouldn't be burdened endlessly with "adult"
topics at every hour of the day.
A mile from camp, Sue remarks, "Well this is far enough, you two. It's
about time we head back. Who knows what Ben and Johnny have gotten into
in our absence." Her words fall on deaf ears, as Reed and Franklin
are working their way deeper into the woods. "Hello! Reed! Franklin!
Let's go! While the night is still-- why do I even bother?" Using her
powers to create an invisible wall in front of her husband and son, Sue
finally manages to get their attention as Reed and Franklin walk right into
it.
"Huh? Darling, what was that -?" Reed doesn't finish his sentence
as he notices Sue isn't standing next to him. He turns to her and smiles.
She sees the smile and knows they're not going back to camp yet. It's the
smile he gets when he's first discovered some new puzzle to solve. "Reed
..."
"Sue, can't you see the lights up ahead? We've got to go take a look."
Sue looks through the trees and sees a ball of dancing blue light. No, she
thinks to herself, not tonight Reed Richards. Tonight, we're all going to
-
nd then she stops. She is looking into the face of her son and he wears
the same smile and his eyes dance the same dance as his father's. And her
heart simultaneously jumps and sinks.
"Please, mommy."
How can she say No to that? "Oh, okay, but you two be careful."
"You're not coming with us, Sue?" Reed asks as he stretches his
neck, bringing him face to face with his wife, though his body remains by
Franklin.
"No, you two have fun," she speaks to him softly, "but please
be careful. Don't stay away too long."
"We won't, darling." Reed kisses her lightly on the cheek.
"C'mon, Daddy, the lights getting fainter." Reed turns to see
Franklin already bounding towards the light.
"Not so fast there, Admiral Scott," Reed adds as his right hand
stretches out and circles around Franklin, "wait for me."
Reed and Sue kiss and Reed promises, "I'll have him back in an hour."
Sue disbelievingly looks at him. "Well, okay, two ... maybe three ..."
Back at camp, Johnny and Ben are engaging in some quiet, serious talk for
once. Both are guarded with their feelings, but it's clearly a moment between
them. Ben is pining for Alicia, though he won't come out and say it, and
Johnny is simply unsure of everything.
Sue comes back to camp, but watches from the distant bushes. Instinctually,
and a little ashamed at herself, she turns invisible. Johnny continues ...
truth be told, he wishes he were still in what he jokingly calls the Franklinverse.
He had no baggage of the past. He was younger, care-free. No failed marriages
to be burdened with. He almost wishes he was still there ...
Johnny's word hit Sue hard. She knows her younger brother better than anyone
and she knows how his failings pain him. Always the most care-free member
of the team, she sees a sadness within him. Outside of the group, he has
no real friends. Ben is always heading off to Xavier's or Avengers Mansion
for a night of poker, but Johnny has no friends to just be with and relax.
What, she wonders, fearing the answer, lies ahead for the Human Torch?
Back in the forest, Reed and Franklin are mirror images of each other -
they are totally engrossed by the ball of blue light that grows larger the
closer they get.
"What is it, dad?" Franklin asks, his eyes not leaving the dancing
lights.
"I don't know, son." Reed answers, his eyes not leaving the lights,
either.
As they approach, they notice the ball of light is actually light pouring
from the round mouth of a cave. The "dancing" effect is the light
reflecting off the cave walls. Franklin and Reed approach slowly, Reed keeping
his left hand in front of Franklin, both to keep him from getting ahead
and to protect him should anything unexpected happen.
At the entrance, they see the cave winds back into the small hill around
it. "Look, Franklin. See how the tunnel starts to slope downwards as
it rounds the corner? This must be the entrance to an underground cavern,
or maybe a lost civil- "
"Geez, dad, people say I have an overactive imagination? Let's just
go find out what it is."
"Of course, son, but we have to take as many precautions as we can.
We have to think of every possibility. We need to take into account, "
Reed's words are cut off as Franklin looks at him like he's gone insane.
Reed smiles. "You're right. Let's go." As the begin to walk down
the hall, Reed admonishes himself for not going back and getting Sue, Ben
and Johnny, but he realizes he needs to work on finding more time for his
son. He doesn't want to lose this chance for them to have some time alone
together.
The wind their way through the tunnels, as the light grows brighter. Reed
finds himself watching his son more than where they were going. It was so
nice to see the child's enthusiasm. Five minutes down, Franklin stops and
frowns. "What is it, son?"
"Do you hear it, daddy?" Franklin looked concerned.
"No, Franklin, I don't hear any ... wait, yes, I do. A scraping, shuffling
sound ..."
"What do you think it is?"
"I don't know. It almost sounds like ..." Reed stretches his head
around the corner, " ... my god! How can he be here!"
"Surprised to see my, Richards? I can assure you that your surprise
is surpassed by my own at the sight of you in my tunnels! Fortune has indeed
smiled upon me this day. It seems you've been resurrected just so that you
may die again!"
Sue still stands on the outskirt of the clearing. Ben and Johnny have run
out of things to avoid discussing with one another, and she is about to
phase back into view when she notices movement to her right and left. She
turns and gasps. Slowly, without losing her invisibility, she turns around
and finds herself in the middle of a swarm of ...
"I don't believe it ... Moloids!" she screams to herself. "But
what are they doing here? In Vermont?"
She is jolted out of her thoughts by a shout from Ben, "Kid, look out!"
and before she even thinks it, she's running to her brother's aide.
Sue sees Johnny struggling to use his powers as a three grotesquely large
snakes coil around him. "I can't ... ignite, Ben! These things are
sticking to me! They're secreting some substance and I -" His words
are cut-off as one of the snakes surrounds his head and squeezes.
Ben is on his feet as a group of fifty Moloids surround him. "Well,
well, well. Turns out there is going to be some head busting today, afterall.
Can ya guess what time it is?"
The Moloids say nothing, just steadily approach..
"Johnny!" Sue screams, her voice betraying her presence.
The Moloids surrounding Ben rush at him, swarming over him! The Thing is
covered for a few seconds, when ...
WHAM! Moloids go flying everywhere! "You didn't let me finish my line!
But as your unconscious friends just found out, IT'S C-"
"It's time to surrender, Ben."
"What was that Suzie?" Ben looks to see a fully visible Sue standing
with her arms raised. "Why?"
"Because Ben, when you stop fighting, they do this." She points
at Johnny's body, completely covered by the three snakes. At her words,
the snakes part, letting Johnny's mouth free.
"Ah!" Johnny sucks in air, "I *gasp* couldn't breathe."
"Besides, I'm sure they're going to take us to wherever Reed and Franklin
are."
Ben looks at the Moloids standing around him. "Yeah, fine, take us
to your four foot high leader. I'd rather kick him around then you unthinking
Moloids anyways."
The Moloids march them into the woods, towards the entrance of the cave.
Reed and Franklin stand before the Mole Man, content to let the situation
play itself out for the time being. Behind the Mole Man, Reed notices the
source of the blue light. It looks to him like a dimensional portal.
"Imagine my surprise, Richards, when I hear someone walking into my
tunnels. Imagine how shocked I am when I find it is you and your son! The
world has thought you dead!"
"You didn't really think we were dead, did you, Mole Man?"
"Of course not! Well, maybe." The Mole Man looks unsure, Reed
notices, fidgety, nervous. He must know the rest of the team is on the way.
"What are you doing in Vermont, Mole Man? This is a little far away
from home for you, isn't it?"
"Silence!" The Mole Man shrieks. "My business here is none
of yours! It goes without saying, however, that my goals here have been
severly jeopardized by your presence." The Mole Man smiles. "Ah,
I can sense our other guests are about to arrive!"
Reed and Franklin turn to see Sue and Ben walking in on the other side of
the cavern, surrounded by Moloids. A group of them carries an unmoving Johnny
Storm. Sue and Reed make eye contact and Reed nods to her unasked question,
putting his arm around Franklin.
"What have you done with Uncle Johnny?" Franklin exclaims.
"The Human Torch is unharmed. He has been coated with the secretions
of my snakes, making him unable to 'Flame On', as it were. He will be taken
back to Subterrania and dealt with by my ..." Mole Man grins wide,
exposing his encrusted teeth, "... my brand new ally."
"It's tough to rule the world with an ally, ain't it?" Ben asks.
Mole Man grimaces for a second, "My ally has no want to rule the world,
Thing!"
"Oh yeah, I bet what this secret ally really wants is to live in a
world where you're the guy in charge."
"Silence! Silence! Silence! I've had about enough of this! You are
my prisoners and you shall be dealt with once and for all!"
Sue gets Reed's attention by using her powers to tap him on the shoulder.
He looks up to see her slowly peeling the sticky substance off Johnny's
body with her powers, by slipping an invisible field between his skin and
the substance.
"Yeah, right, Mole Man. We're gonna stop you!" Franklin yells.
"Ahh, the powerful young Richards. Tell me, Franklin, do your parents
know who kept watch over you while they were pretending to be dead?"
The words draw the attention of Sue, "What do you mean?"
Mole Man grins, "You don't know, do you, Mrs. Richards? Assuming it
was Reed's father, Nathaniel? You weren't gone a week and Nathaniel had
shunted the boy off into the protective care of the Massachusetts Academy."
"And how do you know this, Mole Man?" Reed asks, unconsciously
wrapping an arm around Franklin.
"Maybe when you get the chance, you should ask Franklin about his time
with Black Tom Cassidy." (What, you missed Gen
X 25 and the Daydreamers limited series? --> admnoishing Mark)
"Tom had many nice things to say about Franklin ..."
Sue has had enough. She projects an invisilbe blast at Mole Man and knocks
him back against the wall. "Protect me!!!" he screams and his
unthinking Moloids do his bidding. The cavern erupts in chaos.
"It's Clobberin' Time!!!" Ben yells, rushing headlong into a wall
of Moloids.
The Moloids as individuals don't pose a problem, but as a mass of bodies,
they can overwhelm even the Fantastic Four, especially with Reed hindered
by protecting Franklin and Sue spending most of her energy freeing Johnny.
Sue and Thing spend their time fighting through the bodies, Sue desperate
to get to Franklin and Ben heading towards the Mole Man. For every Moloid
they knock aside, three more take it's place.
And then, in a flash of fire, the tide turns. Sue has finally managed to
free her brother and he ignites, setting the cavern ablaze with a blinding
light. As the Moloids cringe to avert the glare from their eyes, Ben finally
manages to close in on the Mole Man, who stands between Ben and the Blue
Doorway.
"You and me, Shorty. You know how this ends, don'tcha?" Ben smiles,
taking a step forward, his large hands reaching forward.
"I do, fiend! I do!" Mole Man laughs. "The question isn't
how this is going to end, my most hatred enemies! The question is whether
or not you can handle what's to come." And with that, the Mole Man
jumps into the Doorway and vanishes!
Thing is about to jump in, when the light from the doorway starts to shimmer.
"No you don't!" Ben yells and jumps anyway, but is stopped in
mid-air by Sue's invisible barrier. A second later, the barrier vanishes.
"Aw, nuts!"
Morning breaks as the Fantastic Four bask in the rising sun. Their problem
of how exactly they are going to get home solves itself, as descending from
the sky is the glistening form of the Silver Surfer, a Fantasti-Car in tow.
And, to the joy of Ben, standing on the board, in the Surfer's arms, glowing
more brightly than Norrin himself, is Alicia Masters.
Ben tells himself that this time will be different. This time he and Alicia
will -
And then he sees the way Alicia and the Surfer are holding on to one another
and his heart sinks. As the Surfer lands and Alicia steps away, Ben wonders
if he's reading too much into the way they just seemed to fit together.
And if there is nothing between them, why do their hands linger together
for just a second too long?
A man sits in the darkness, watching telecasts from around the world pour
in. The heroes have come back, but that is no surprise to him. He watches
the reports and he ponders much.
"Did you know they would be there?" The Mole Man storms in and
demands to his ally.
"Of course I did," he smiles. "I'm the one who put them there."
END FF 417
NEXT ISSUE:
FANTASTIC FOUR # 418 - It's THING
vs. HULK!!! What, you need more? Okay, the FF, Surfer and Alicia
head to Costa Rica, where a disoriented Hulk is terrorizing the country-side!
But who are the Windrunners, and why are they holding Crystal hostage? And
where did the Surfer take off to in such a hurry?