FANTASTIC FOUR # 420

by Mark Bousquet


"Home"




THE PLANET AK'YEN'JA

A young woman walks across the Green Desert, her bare feet finding joy in the plush grass. Her name is El'kana and there is nothing wrong in her life.

She is on her way to meet her lifemate-to-be, a man by the name of Tytan, Prince of a neighboring culture, separated from her own only by the Desert through which she now walks. She finds it hard to believe that only three generations ago, a marriage between her people and the Prince's wouldn't have been allowed. 'It was the damnable Shi'ar,' she tells herself, 'their bigotry and hatred for everyone different from their own kind showed the Elder Councils of the planet the error in their own ways. The way of intolerance only leads to war. Thank our gods that Ak'yen'ja realized it was better to accept differences rather than try to force change.'

She stretches as she walks, feeling the sun bake into her light blue skin. Life is good for her and the planet itself.

'What,' she wonders, 'could ruin this paradise? What could doom our peace where even the Shi'ar have failed?'

What, indeed, could bring an entire planet to it's knees?




NEW YORK

"This is Trish Tilby reporting for CBNC. I am standing in front of the legendary Avengers Mansion. Inside these historic gates, the Avengers are entertaining the visiting Fantastic Four. We can only wonder how this assemblage of heroes is spending the day, but perhaps their thoughts turn to New York's newest sensation, the Thunderbolts?"

INSIDE AVENGERS MANSION

"Whaddya mean he ain't here?" The Thing bellows. "How can we have a game of cards without that blasted bowman?

"An inquisitive inquiry my friend," the Beast responds, "but I must beg of you to silence your boisterous vocal emanations while my beautiful beloved speaks on the television. I promise that we can have a game of cards some time in the coming weeks!"

Ben Grimm looks at the television, "Your dating her?" Hank nods. "How's a walking carpet like you manage to hook up with someone like that? Aren't you mutants supposed to be hated?"

Outside the Mansion, but within the gates, Reed Richards and Captain America walk the grounds and discuss the Thunderbolts. Cap has a bad feeling about them, but he's willing to give them the benefit of the doubt until they give reason to be distrusted. Reed tells him that they'll have a better idea about them after today, "You see, Cap, we're going home today. To Four Freedoms. Where the Thunderbolts have taken up residence in our absence."

(For more of the FF-Avengers shenanigans, read AVENGERS # 404, on sale now! - Cross Promoting Mark)




Light perfume. Wine. Sweat. These are the first waking thoughts of Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch. He tries to fall back asleep, but his body isn't willing and slowly begins to pull him towards full consciousness.

Light perfume - something expensive and exotic. Wine - is that what I was drinking? Sweat - bacon, eggs-

"Your breakfast."

Johnny opens his eyes, remembering where he is and what he did, "That's awfully nice of you, Sab--"

"Fat chance, kid. Naw, don't get up."

"Sandman! What?!?"

"Hey, don't look at me like that. Sable sent me in to give you your breakfast. Don't worry, she's not gonna charge you. Says this one is on the house." Sandman smiles as he puts the tray on the bed and turns to leave. "Might want to hurry up, though. Sable's all business in the morning."

"Uh, yeah, sure. Um, well," Johnny tried to find something to say.

"Don't worry about it, kid. It's good to have you guys back."




Reed, Sue and Ben sit in the Fantasti-Car, winding their way through the city, slowly making their way to Four Freedoms. In the distance, between buildings, they can see their building, the large 4 logo replaced with what they have learned is the Thunderbolts logo - a flash of lightning.

"Looks ugly." Ben comments, not drawing a reaction from his traveling companions.

Sue is curious about Johnny's location, but not overly worried. She's glad they left Franklin with Alicia, despite the child's wishes. "Things seem to happen when heroes meet for the first time."

"Geez, think we can skip the misunderstanding this time?" Ben grumbles, "I don't feel like fighting this early in the day."

"That's too bad, Rockface! I was kinda hoping you wanted to be my sparring partner!" A ball of web hits Ben square in the face.

"Of all the--!" Ben tries to pry the sticky substance off his face, but it won't budge. "Your dead Spider-Man!" Reed and Sue can't help but laugh.

"Yeah, okay. Maybe when you get that web fluid off your face. That should be in an hour or so." Spidey sits on the front of the Fantasti-Car, his spider-like powers allowing him to stick to the surface of the Car.

"Actually, Spider-Man, it might be a little quicker than that," Sue adds, as she uses her power to slide a force field between Ben's hide and the web-fluid, slowly peeling the substance off.

"Hey, that's no fair! That's my favorite trick!"

"Don't worry, I don't think I could do it if Ben's hide was skin, but the hard rock makes it easier to--"

"Outta my way, Suzie-Q, that bug's gonna get it!" Ben stands up and appears ready to charge.

Spidey jumps off the Fantasti-Car, already shooting his webs at a nearby building, "Not today, Bengy Boy! Welcome home!"

"Of all the *grumble grumble grumble* stupid *grumble*"




A room. A man sits in shadows, his face unseen. He watches the streets of New York City on a large bank of monitors. "It is time," he says to no one, "to put the Fantastic Four to another test. It is time to find out if they are worthy of the entity they protect."

A metal gauntlet reaches forward and pushes a button on his chair.

"Yes?" a gruff voice asks.

"Do your worst."




"This is it." Reed sets the Fantasti-Car down in front of Four Freedoms. Sue is nervous, though Reed doubts anyone but him could tell. Ben is already on the ground, scowling at the assorted camera crews who have been assembled here since it was first reported the Heroes had Returned.

Reed doesn't blame Sue for being a little on edge. 'This isn't like coming home from a vacation and thanking the neighbors for looking after the cat. They moved in, thinking we were gone. I wonder what's happened to all our equipment, all our personal belongings.'

Reed and Sue join Ben and they walk towards the door, only to see Citizen V and the rest of the Thunderbolts come out to great them.

"Welcome home!" Citizen V bellows, in a voice Sue finds to be just a bit too rehearsed. "Reed Richards, it is truly an honor!" Citizen V extends his hand and Reed shakes it. "Same here, Citizen V."

Introductions are made and Ben and Sue meet MACH-1, Atlas, Meteorite, Songbird, Techno* and Jolt for the first time. Good feeling abounds to all except Ben. He tells himself there's no reason to be upset, it's him who's pushing Alicia away, but still-

*(The Thunderbolts are really the Masters of Evil in disguise, but you knew that, didn't you? -- Evil Mark)

"... my favorite hero. Wow. I still can't believe I'm standing here." Ben looks down to see the youngest member of the team, Jolt, talking to him.

"Whuzzat, kid?"

"I said you're my favorite hero. Well, favorite non-Avenger, that is, but still, I'm so glad you guys are back! Atlas, come here and meet the Thing!" Jolt motions to Atlas, who begrudgingly walks over.

"Atlas, huh?" Atlas nods. "You play cards?"

"Yeah, I'm always up for a game, sure."

"Good, we can always use extra people."




At Alicia's apartment, Franklin is amazed by her sculptures. They talk for a bit, and the topic eventually turns to Ben. Alicia lets her guard down, telling Franklin how much Ben means to her, and that she's confused to his actions since he's returned.

"What happened in that other world to make him this distant?"

But Franklin, the child god who created that world, has no answers to give.




Inside Four Freedoms, Citizen V is giving the FF the grand tour. Reed notices that their equipment is not theirs and asks V about it. "We haven't a clue," V responds, "This was here when we got here and we were told the city spent millions replacing all of your equipment."

"Where is, or was, ours?"

Zemo sets his jaw underneath his mask, "I wish I knew."

They are interrupted by a priority message from Dallas Riordan, the city's liaison with the Thunderbolts, "Citizen V, the city needs the Fantastic Four!"

A group-cringe hits the T-bolts. Even Zemo is bothered by the city asking for the FF, but it is Atlas who voices their concern, "Geez, Dallas, are we already being replaced? I think--"

"Nothing personal, Atlas. We got a message stating the if the Fantastic Four aren't in Central Park in twenty minutes, the Statue of Liberty will be destroyed. We ne--" her face turns white, as her eyes pop wide, "Oh my god! Noooo!!!"

"Dallas!" Atlas screams at the image on the screen, but Dallas is frozen in place, staring at something they can't see.

"S-s-stay a-away, p-please! Oh god, No!" The Thunderbolts and the FF watch in horror as a black strand moves into view and wraps around Dallas.

"S-s-stay a-a-away?!?" comes a mocking voice. "Are you frightened of us?!? Are you frightened of ..." a large head with a gaping jaw full of sharp teeth and a large tongue fills the screen, "VENOM!!!"

"Venom? What are you doing there?" Reed asks, his mind already remembering where his equipment is to defeat the symbiote.

"We have been asked to help destroy you! And we have accepted! We need what our employer offers or we will die!" Venom wraps his tongue around Dallas' head, "Delicious!"

"Who's your employer?" Reed asks, cursing the fact that his equipment is gone. MACH-1 watches Citizen V stand and glare at Richards, clearly he does not appreciate his lead being taken away by anyone. In any situation.

"Who has hired us?" Venom grins, his large teeth bared for all to see. "Does this help you figure it out?" Venom takes a step back, as the white spider design on the symbiote morphs into a large, white 4. "Central Park. You have one half hout to defeat us or the Statue of Liberty goes Boom!! It is time for you to meet the new FRIGHTFUL FOUR!!!!"

Venom's head comes forward as he opens his jaw wide. He bites down and the screen goes blank.

"Citizen V, we need a sonic disruptor, Venom is susceptible to loud noise!" Reed orders.

The Thunderbolts turn to V, anxious to see how Baron Zemo plays this. He plays it cool and calm, "We do not have one, Richards, but between Songbird and Techno we can make one at the scene."

"Right, let's go then." Without turning to see if they're being followed, Reed, Sue and Ben are already running down the hall, Jolt in tow. Atlas is half walking, anxious to get there to protect Dallas, but unwilling to go before Zemo orders it.

The remaining T-Bolts wait for their order. "Well, Citizen V," Meteorite begins, "what kind of heroes would we be if we stayed here?"

"Don't you mean, my dear Dr. Sofen, what kind of actors would we be, if we did not play our roles to the fullest?" Zemo counters.

"Sure, boss, whatever you say."

"To the V-Wing, then. Let's make this quick," Citizen V storms off, leaving a grinning Meteorite in his wake.




The Mole Man enters the room of shadows, "You wanted to see me?" he asks his ally, taking note of the monitor, showing Venom webbing across the city with Dallas still wrapped in his arm. "Huh, Venom? Who'd he replace?"

"Not that it's any concern of yours, Mole Man, but I had wanted the Beetle to be part of this new Frightful Four. I had a few spare moments last week, so I redesigned and built a new Beetle suit." The mystery villain points to the corner, where a revamped Beetle armor sits. "It is far more powerful than the one he wears and I yearned to put my design to the test against the Fantastic Four. Besting this Richards with my own scientific genius would have been ... enjoyable to watch."

"So why didn't you get the Beetle? Did he turn you down?" The Mole Man snickers.

"It seems that the Beetle is missing from the scene. No one has seen him in months."

Mole Man glances to the screen, "That's not a very intelligent group you've put together."

"I grow tired of your questioning of my methods. The four were picked for a reason, and that reason is mine to understand. You are dismissed, Mole Man. You are no longer key to my plans."

"What? You think you can dismiss the Mole Man! We are allies! Maybe I will dismiss you!"

The mysterious figure pushes a button and we see the screen for the first time. Upon it is the Mole Man's cavern deep in Subterranea. What the Mole Man sees causes his to scream, "Lava Men!!!! In Subterranea?!? How did they-? You didn't!"

"Good-bye, tool." Another button is pushed and the blue doorway previously seen in the Vermont cavern lights up. "Through there is your home. Now get out."

Mole Man reluctantly steps through the doorway and the mystery man watches him re-appear on the screen in front of him.




The Fantastic Four (with Jolt along for the ride) and the Thunderbolts arrive at Central Park, but see nothing. All is calm. "It's a big place," Ben offers, "should we split up?"

He gets no answer as large claws rip into the Fantasti-Car from behind. "ROOOAARR!!!" Ben turns to see who it is that has done this, but he's already falling towards the ground. Reed makes himself a parachute and floats himself, Sue and Jolt down to the ground.

"Songbird! Contain the Griffin!" Mimi gives V a look like he's crazy, but she follows his order and uses her enhanced vocal cords to put a cage around the Griffin, trapping the raging beast.

The Thing hits the ground with a thud, but it does him no real damage. He stand and shakes out the cobwebs. WHAM!! He gets knocked from behind and goes flying, landing at the feet of Orka, who SLAM!s him deeper into the ground.

Citizen V, Atlas and Techno stand on the V-Wing. V orders Meteorite and MACH-1 to go help the Thing. "MISS US?!?" The three turn to see Venom, still holding Dallas land on the wing of the plane next to Techno.

"Let her go, Venom!" Atlas screams.

"Okay." Venom grins, his huge teeth reflecting in the sun. He drops Dallas over the edge. Atlas screams and jumps down after her, growing in size as he does so. Venom slashes at Techno, who tries to make a sonic disruptor out of his tech-pac. "We do not think so!" Venom starts biting and tearing at Techno, destroying the tech-pac in the process. Citizen V stands and glares, showing no sign of fear because he is not afraid.

MACH-1 swoops in low and fast, hitting the creature who first attacked the Thing, the Abomination!
Atlas has caught Dallas and places her on the ground. He turns to see where he can help. All Dallas sees is absolute chaos: Meteorite and The Thing are knocking Orka between them. Reed, Sue and Jolt have landed on the ground. MACH-1 and the Abomination are knocking each other around. Songbird has the Griffin trapped in a cage, but Dallas wonders how long she can hold it. Citizen V is bringing the V-Wing in for a landing as Venom is practically killing Techno. `Why,' she wonders, `would these four be working together? And, more importantly, who could get them to work together?'

Abomination is trying to hit MACH-1, but he can't get close enough until MACH-1 gets cocky and comes in too low. Abomination grabs one of his wings, tearing it off. MACH-1 goes flying out of control, heading towards a crowd of people. Sue grabs him in a force-field to slow him down, but the sight of MACH-1 flying out of control is enough for Songbird to lose concentration on her already weakening cage of sound around the Griffin. The Griffin, enraged, charges at Songbird, who's concentration is elsewhere.

Atlas steps in to take the brunt of the Griffin's attack and he tries to grab the beast, as the Griffin tries to claw his face off.

Songbird and Reed reach MACH-1 at the same time, and Reed tells her to go after Venom, "Hit him with all the sound you can manage!"

Citizen V has landed the V-Wing, but instead of helping Techno he sneaks into the woods, looking for the remains of the downed Fantasti-Car.

Venom has destroyed all of Techno's equipment and has knocked him unconscious. He turns to see where else he can cause damage and gets hit by a force blast from Sue.

Thing and Meteorite are knocking Orka around, trying to find out who hired them and for what purpose. "The purpose is mayhem!" Abomination howls as he slams Ben in the back for the second time today. Jolt jumps in to fire sparks of electricity at Abomination, who just shrugs it off. Slowly, he walks closer to her. He raises his hand to strike her, but the Human Torch has arrived and swoops down to pick Jolt up out of harm's way. Abomination turns to watch them go and gets slammed in the face by Meteorite.

Venom is pinned to the ground by Sue, who has no luck getting information from him. "What we need you cannot give!" Finally realizing she'll get nothing from him, she creates a bubble around him so that the symbiote can't escape.

Ben has finally had enough with Orka and knocks him out. In the background, Citizen V returns and starts tending to Techno.

Human Torch drops Jolt on the ground out of harm's way and goes to help Atlas, who is still struggling with Griffin. He tells Atlas to knock the Griffin out of the way, but Atlas just shrinks instead. Johnny surrounds the Griffin with a cage of fire that the Griffin can't escape from.

Finally, everyone surrounds the Abomination. Knowing he's outnumbered, the Abomination gives up, "We've done what we were hired to do." When Reed presses him to say what that was, Abomination replies, "We were testing you. There's no bomb at the Statue of Liberty."

"Who hired you?"

"Well, now, that's the big mystery for you to figure out, ain't it?"

While they wait for the Guardsmen to come take the four away, Jolt is hanging out with Atlas, Johnny and Ben. Johnny is a bit put off by the fact that Jolt is showering all her attention on Ben and not him. Not that he's jealous or anything. She's just a kid, afterall. But still

"Ya know, Jolt, I wuz an Avenger once, for a little while, real little while, actually." Ben tells her. "Out with the West Coast Avengers." Atlas cringes at the mention, his mind dredging up some of his darker days as Goliath.

Reed and Citizen V decide the fate of Four Freedoms, "As far as I'm concerned, Citizen V, the place is yours. None of this is our equipment, anyways. We can rebuild in a more secluded environment and let you keep the place that has been yours."

Once the Guardsmen arrive, good-byes are said and the Fantastic Four leave. Meteorite approaches Citizen V, "I saw you attending to Techno, Baron. Maybe you've taken a liking to the role of hero, too?"

"Nonsense. I was merely making sure Techno hid this in his techno-pac." He shows Sofen a small box. "It's a little something I managed to find in the wreckage of the downed Fantasti-Car. I wonder what secrets it holds?"

NOTE: To see what happens when the Thunderbolts go home, check out Avengers # 405 & # 406, written by Van Plexico & Mike McClelland - ON SALE NOW!!!





THE NEGATIVE ZONE

The unconscious body of Annihilus floats through open space, when it suddenly vanishes. It reappears on the floor of a large throne room, lying before a pair of orange boots.

"Pitiful, but your hatred of the Fantastic Four is something that I can use to destroy the one known as Franklin. The cosmic rumbles with the knowledge that a new god has been born, one who draws the attention of the Celestials themselves. One who can create life from a thought. Such a god must die! SO SWEARS THANOS!!!"


END FF # 420


NEXT ISSUE:

FANTASTIC FOUR # 421 - With construction starting on their new headquarters, Reed, Sue and Franklin pay a visit to the Massachusetts Academy to thank GenX for watching Franklin. Juggernaut shows up, too, to make the GenX kids pay for the way they treated Black Tom in GenX # 25!!! But that's just a bonus. The main feature? Spidey & the Torch, together again! 'NUFF SAID!!!