FANTASTIC FOUR # 432

by Mark Bousquet

THE LATVERIAN CONNECTION, PART THREE

FOUR CORNERS

SPACE - THE PLANET AK'YEN'JA

Victor Von Doom, strides through the burning village of the Leghtians, a birdlike people that find humor in any situation. Victor - the only name Doom knows for himself - has hated them from the start, which is why he chose to conquer them first.

He is unmoved by the burning flesh and feathers, unmoved by the pleas for help, unmoved by anything. He was born to rule and one often rules as a result of conquest. This is the conquest.

Around him the warriors of the Unthan and Wenthorian peoples make up his army. After the "accident" the befell King Tykan of the Unthans*, Porunesclamano, Emperor of the Wenthorions quickly made his troops available to Victor's disposal.

* ( FF 430 - Palace Coup Mark )

Victor strides to stand before Haak, leader of the Leghtians. His feathers caked both in his own blood and the blood of his people, his bottom beak cracked, Haak has no humor in him this day. Around him are gathered hundreds of his people who have been brought to this camp for holding. "You have a choice," Victor says quietly, his voice cutting through all the noise around him. "You can join me or you can perish."

"My people?" Haak asks weekly, spilling more blood from his mouth.

"If you join me, they will become a valued part of my new world, and you will gain a seat at my round table. If you don't, you will die, but your people will still take up a valued position in the new world."

"If my people will be taken care of, you can kill me because I won't serve a psychotic king," Haak spits.

"Very well," Victor says quietly. "You have met your doom this day." He reaches down with his metal gauntlets and breaks Haak's neck. As he strides away, Leghtian prisoners begging for their lives standing all around him, Victor is lost in his own thoughts. Again he has spoken the word, doom.

And again, he feels the same connection to the word as when he killed Tykan.

EARTH - EUROPE - PRESENT

How do we get into these things?

One question, asked by four members of the Fantastic Four, spread throughout Europe. Though separated by countless miles from one another, the original four members of the Fantastic Four find themselves asking the same question.

'How do we get into these things?' Ben Grimm thinks to himself as his body is sent hurtling across the German countryside.

"How do we get into these things?" Reed Richards, asks as he flies the Fantasti-Jet back towards Pier 4.

"How do we get into these things?" Sue Richards, asks as she erects an invisible wall to keep a large section of falling rocks away from a Spanish market.

"How do-?"

"Hush, Human Torch."

"But ... where?"

"Olympia."

SPAIN - DIABLO'S CASTLE - FOUR HOURS AGO

The Fantastic Four, Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Sue Richards (the Invisible Woman), Benjamin Grimm (the Thing) and Jen Walters (the She-Hulk), along with their untrusted companion Sharon Ventura (the second Ms. Marvel) exit the bowels of Diablo's dungeon unscathed, no thanks to Arcade. *

* ( See last issue - Funhouse Mark )

They find themselves exiting through a wooden door into the main entrance hallway of the castle.

They search the castle quickly, but there is no sign of Diablo.

"What do we do?" the She-Hulk asks impatiently.

"Keep going to Latveria," Reed answers. "Doom's* got Kristoff captured. That was the second thing we came here for, so that' what we're going to do. Nothing's changed because we didn't capture Diablo. We don't have time to sit here and look for him."

* (Well, they think it's Doom, but we know better, don't we? - Jokes on them Mark )

"What about Johnny?" Sue asks cautiously. Though not one to shy away from confrontation, even with her husband, Sue is hesitant to ask because she does not know herself what the best course of action is. Should they go after Doom and save Kristoff or try to find her brother, the missing Human Torch.

"We have to assume Johnny can take care of himself," Reed reasons, "whereas we know Kristoff can not. Not trapped as he is, anyways."

"But Reed," Sue answers back, not so much arguing as playing Devil's advocate, "Doom has Kristoff trapped and is holding him as bait to get us to come to him. There is no reason to think-"

"That he'll harm him until we arrive," Reed finishes. "I know that, Sue, but can we take the chance?"

"Not to interrupt, guys," the Thing calls into the entrance hall, "but we've got something out here you might want to see."

"What is it, Ben?" Reed and Sue ask together.

"You didn't forget about It the Living Colossus, didja?"

NEW YORK - PIER 4 - FOUR HOURS AGO

Alarms sound throughout the Fantastic Four's new headquarters as a group of twenty Lava Men attack the building's outer perimeter.

Inside, there is only two people, Alicia Masters, the renowned blind sculptress and once-again girlfriend of the Thing, and young Franklin Richards, the son of Reed and Sue with the power of a young god.

"Franklin!" Alicia shouts, feeling her way along unfamiliar corridors.

"I'm here, 'licia," Franklin answers, abandoning his research* to come running to Alicia's side.

* ( See last issue for details on Franklin's research - Library Assistant Mark )

"We're being attacked, but I don't know by who," Alicia informs, grasping Franklin close.

"Lava Men. I saw them on the building's monitor system."

"What are-?"

"I dunno, but let's call for help," Franklin says assertively, and Alicia catches herself wondering just how much of the little boy leading her down the hall is pretending to be a cute, innocent child.

Franklin leads her into his room. "We can call for help from here. I'll call the Avengers first."

"And if there's no one there?" Alicia asks.

"Let's hope there is, okay?"

But there isn't. Nobody at Avengers Mansion but Jarvis. Nobody at Xavier's Institute. Franklin even calls Banshee at the Boston Academy, but he gets no answer there, either.

"What do we do, Franklin?" Alicia asks, beginning to panic.

"I don't know. Call Mommy and Daddy and hope they make it back in time."

"Wonderful," Alicia whispers under her breath. 'I really wish Ben was here,' she thinks. Or even ... Norrin ...'

And as Franklin Richards, the young boy with the power of a god, goes about calling the Fantasti-Jet, his mind still hasn't left the thoughts of his research alone. 'And,' he thinks, 'I'd even be helping Unca Ben out ...'

SPAIN - DIABLO'S CASTLE - FOUR HOURS AGO

The FF rush outside to see It the Living Colossus trying to walk. He is not having much success. Rocks begin to crumble from his form, falling to the ground. He screams in pain, but barely a whisper escapes his lips.

"It's in pain, Reed," Sue says, instinctively reaching for Reed's arm.

"And people say I tell bad jokes," She-Hulk pans under her breath.

"I - I know, Sue, but I'm at a loss-"

"Then wait until you see what it does next, Stretch," Ben says as It raises it's arms to the sky, screaming again in near silent agony as he crumples completely to dust and rock fragments.

"That's awful," Sue gasps.

"Watch, Suzie," Ben says grimly. The rock and dust bits that were just It the Living Colossus begin to shake on the ground, finding their way back to the center. Within moments, It begins to reanimate itself.

"What the-?" She-Hulk stares in astonishment. A minute passes and It once again stands before them, wholly formed.

"What could cause that?" Sue asks.

"Diablo's spell must be either more powerful - or much weaker - than he thought because he couldn't have meant for It to continually break apart and reform."

"H - Help mmmmmmmeee," It stammers. "My ... name ... is ... Robert ..."

"Interesting," Reed muses. "Their must be ambient psychic energy within these rocks for such cognitive and self aware thoughts to exist."

"Yeah, Stretch, that's great," Ben says flatly, "but what're you gonna do?"

"I don't know." Reed looks blankly from the form of It to Sharon and back. So much pain ...

OLYMPIA - FOUR HOURS AGO

"Olympia? Isn't ... that where the Eter ... nals live?" Johnny Storm struggles to get out the words.

"It is," comes an alluring voice, a hint of mischief beneath the surface.

"Who?" Johnny asks, struggling to open his eyes. "Sersi!"

"The one and only, handsome," Sersi grins.

"How did I get here?"

"You crashed into the side of our mountain," she answers. "Thena and Makkari went down to scoop you up and bring you to me to watch over you."

"Lucky you," Johnny says weakly, forcing a smile.

"Yes, lucky me," Sersi grins.

"I've ... gotta get in touch with Reed and sis ..." Johnny forces out, his fever overtaking him yet again.

GERMANY - FOUR HOURS AGO

A small bar in a quiet town. Nothing ever happens in Georg's life and he wouldn't have it any other way. He comes to work his own bar at ten every morning and closes at midnight every night. A month ago, a stranger had come into town and stopped in Georg's bar, looking for change. The regulars are still talking about the incident.

Which is why it was quite a surprise when a large rock fist on the end of a stretched rubber arm came crashing into Georg's bar, punching through the rock walls like they were paper.

"I will kill everything!" screams an inhuman voice in English as an invisible force knocks over tables.

"I will start with you!" screams the inhuman voice, as fire reigns in on Georg. The barkeep jumps out of the way, when two rubber-like arms gather him up and throw him against the far wall.

"It has been too long since the Super Skrull has been active!" shouts the inhuman voice. The last site Georg sees is a rock fist hurtling across the room, in direct line with his own head.

SPAIN - THREE HOURS AGO

Things, they say, happen in threes. If a celebrity dies, two more are sure to follow. If a plane crashes, it will not be long before two more fall from the sky.

To the Fantastic Four, things have a way of happening in ... yes, fours.

The FF and Sharon Ventura stand around It the Living Colossus, watching the poor figure cry in agony as it falls apart and reanimates itself time and time again. It is Sharon who hears the alarm go off inside the Fantasti-Jet. Upon inspection by Reed, who stretches his neck across the field to get to the Jet first, things are not good.

"What is it?" Sue asks as the rest of the FF catch up to the Jet.

"Where to start?" Reed says grimly. "We've got major problems, everyone. Pier 4 is under attack by Lava Men. Alicia and Franklin are in the building and there's no Avengers, no X-Men, no anybody around to help. The Super Skrull is on a rampage in Germany. Johnny has reported in. He's on Olympia, with the Eternals and he doesn't feel well at all."

"Bad things happen in threes, eh Reed?" Jen asks.

"Apparently so," Reed says, his eyes locked on Sue's.

"Better make it fours," Ben grumbles. "Look." He points to the distance and they see It walking off, in apparent pain, headed straight for a small town in the near distance.

NEW YORK - TWO HOURS AGO

"-I repeat, Pier 4, the new headquarters of the Fantastic Four, are under attack by a group of Lava Men," Trish Tilby reports into the camera. "Oddly for Lava Men attacks, there is no sign of upturned Earth. In fact, there is an unconfirmed report from an eye witness to the attack, that the Lave Men were hiding in the back of a large truck. If this is the case, then it seems someone may be using the Lava Men against the Fantastic Four against their own will, or in conjunction with the Lava Men to do a sneak attack against the FF. Either way, the Fantastic Four are reportedly in Europe and as such the Pier 4 headquarters are unguarded at the moment. If you are a hero, or know a hero, your assistance is requested at Pier 4."

Across the city in Forest Hills, a beautiful young woman who has experienced more than her share of tragedies, watches the CBNC report cut to a live shot of Pier 4. She had planned to go to the store and pick up some laundry detergent this afternoon, but she now sits rooted to her seat, waiting for her husband, Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man, to make an appearance. He went into the city this morning and, knowing him like she does, Mary Jane Watson-Parker is certain Peter will turn up if at all possible.

As it turns out, it's not, but a Spider-Man/Shocker fight does not demand the attention of a live feed.

"Wow, Shocker, you've been released for all of three hours and already you're out committing more crimes," Spider-Man quips as he sends webs THWIPping towards the shocker. "Talk about your unreformed criminal."

"It's the only way I could get your attention, bug!" Shocker screams and they dance the dance they've danced a hundred times before.

In the bowels of Hell's Kitchen, Daredevil hears the CBNC report through an open window six blocks away. Had he been in his Matt Murdock guise, or out for a jaunt through the city, he would go help fight the Lava Men. As it is, he has something more important to do. He sits on a ledge and watches as the neighborhood school lets out, trying to determine which student or students at the school is selling drugs to his or her classmates. He scolds himself inwardly. This is the kind of thing he should be doing everyday, and not just because he uncovered this scheme during an investigation into Hammerhead's latest activities.

Matt Murdock's best friend and colleague sits in his office, brushing crumbs off his chest from his mid-afternoon meal. He, too, sees the report and quickly picks up the phone and dials a number. Well, being Foggy Nelson, it isn't quite that simple. He picks up the phone, dials the wrong number, moves to get the number from his rolodex, knocks the rolodex onto the floor, spilling the cards everywhere, searches through them for the right card, finds it and then dials the number. But the call eventually goes through, and that, he tells himself, is the important thing.

"Hello," a voice answers.

"Jackson?" Foggy asks.

"Yes."

"Jackson Arvad?" Foggy asks, just to be certain.

"For the love of god, yes, Foggy," Jackson Arvad responds. "What do you want?"

"Have you seen the news? About Pier 4 and the Lava Men?"

"No."

"Well-"

"No, Foggy," Jackson replies curtly. "I have seen the report, but I'm not going to go."

"But-"

"No buts, Foggy. I don't want to hear it."

"But-"

"No."

"Just listen!" Foggy yells, exasperated. "You want to stay out of trouble with the law, right? To make up for your criminal record, right? Well, this would be good for you. Think about it, if you help save Pier 4, you'll not only get a fresh start, but the public will love you!"

Jackson Arvad is silent for a good two minutes before Foggy realizes he's already on his way to Pier 4.

In another part of town, Eugene Paul Patilio was sitting in his NYU dorm, staring at the ceiling, ignoring his roommate, when Trish Tilby's report came on. He now sits on the edge of his bed, staring at his closet, ignoring his roommate, wishing he'd go away so he could walk into his closet and get what he needs to help save the Fantastic Four's headquarters.

Coming to NYC for the first time can be intimidating for an outsider. For Gerald Krent, it is very intimidating, but this is where the action is. This is where he needs to come to be the hero he wants to be.

He hopes his costume doesn't fall apart.

LATVERIA - CASTLE DOOM - THE PRESENT

A man of mystery that has taken up residence in Castle Doom, that has taken Kristoff Vernard prisoner and used him as bait to lure the Fantastic Four into his trap, that has plagued the Fantastic Four since their return to this universe*, sits in his familiar chair, watching familiar screens.

The time is almost at hand.

* ( For those not paying attention or just joining us, this means since FF 417, the first MV1 issue of the Fantastic Four - Wrote Every Damn Word of It Mark )

His screens this day are busy, but he minds not. After all, everything he watches is something he has either allowed to occur or has put in motion himself.

On one screen, the Thing and She-Hulk battle the Super Skrull in Germany.

On another, Reed Richards sits inside his Fantasti-Jet, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, screaming towards Franklin, Alicia and Pier 4.

From a camera he placed outside Diablo's castle, the man pretending to be Dr. Doom watches the Invisible Woman battle It the Living Colossus. He scoffs at the picture, Sue isn't really battling It, she's only stopping it from hurting any innocent bystanders, while trying not to hurt the agonized man of rock.

On a separate bank of monitors to his right, the mysterious man watches several images from Pier 4. He can not help but smile as he watches a rag tag group of heroes battling the Lava Men. The Black Cat is there, though she doesn't look like she wants anything to do with the Will o' the Wisp, Blue Streak (apparently a new one, his computer says the original was killed by Scourge), Dragon Man or Frog Man. Of course, he smiles, it doesn't look like Will o' the Wisp wants anything to do with any of them, either. He almost actually laughed out loud when he overheard Frog Man christen the motley crew the "Legion of Substitute 4" and then complain endlessly when Dragon Man showed up, spoiling the 4 aspect of the name. He knows he shouldn't watch this fight, but it is a tremendous amount of fun.

And he's not a person that has much fun or will have much in the coming days.

Of course, he's the one who commanded Dragon Man to be there in the first place, so there is an inherent interest.

He pulls his eyes away, all pleasant thoughts removed from his mind. Pier 4 isn't in any real danger. After all, he's the one who put the Lava Men there and is the one who commands their actions even now. He doesn't want Franklin being accidentally hurt.

There is a beeping sound and a door slides open. He doesn't turn. He doesn't need to. It's a Doombot, bringing Kristoff Vernard into this room, so that the boy may watch everything that he himself watches.

"The FF will stop you, Doom!" Kristoff screams, as he tries to kick and squirm his way out of the Doombots grip.

"I really wish you'd stop referring to me as Dr. Doom, Kristoff," the man in the Doom armor says, standing up to walk towards the captive boy. "For you see, I am not Doom at all."

"Then who are you?" Kristoff asks disbelievingly.

The mysterious man stands before Kristoff, and without a word, reaches up and takes off his mask.

Kristoff's eyes pop wide open in surprise.  "No! It can't be! I don't believe it!" Kristoff screams in absolute surprise. "Why would you, of all people, want to attack the Fantastic Four?!?"

END FF 432

NEXT ISSUE - FANTASTIC FOUR # 433 - THE LATVERIAN CONNECTION, PART FOUR - No overblown hype. No catchy sentences. FF 433 is the most cataclysmic issue of the Fantastic Four in the MV1 era. The mystery villain revealed. Dr. Doom vs. an entire planet. The FF vs. one of their own. One life begins as another ends. The real Dr. Doom. Stories being built up to from FF 417 will come to conclusion. FF 433 - the beginning of the end of the Fantastic Four.

MBQ ... 4.20.98