FANTASTIC FOUR # 433

by Mark Bousquet

THE LATVERIAN CONNECTION, PART FOUR

THE BEGINNING OF THE END, THE END OF THE BEGINNING

double-sized spectacular

 PROLOGUE

There are days of destiny in the lives of all people. Moments in our lives that we are inexoribly drawn to - moments that we could not possibly hope to avoid, even if we knew they were coming.

This is such a day.

Two planets, separated by the countless light years of space, have become unkowingly linked. They have had their share of historical days in the past, but today will be different. For one planet, this will be the single most important day in it's history. For another, it will at first appear to be just another adventure on just another day, but it isn't.

On this day, two planets will die

CHAPTER ONE - ARMIES GATHERING IN THE DYING LIGHT

PIER 4

Franklin Richards knows he is a very powerful little boy.

Yes, he tries to do the right thing, he tries not to flaunt his power, but when you are powerful enough to steal people from Death's grasp and create an entire universe for them to live on, all without them being aware of what happened ... well, sometimes you can't help but feel just a little bit better than everyone else.

He has talked to his parents, his uncles, his friends about that other universe and he knows he did things that defy explanation.

Well, besides actually creating the unvierse, of course.

He knows he should do more for the world. But where should he start? End disease? Famine? Could he even if he wanted to? How would he know what to do? It's one thing to say you're going to end disease, but how does that thought become reality?

'Of course,' he thinks to himself, yawning as puts his pajamas on for bed, 'I don't know how to create a universe, either, but I did. Maybe I just hafta think it and the rest will take care of itself. Still, I should probably start with something small. Something that will help Unca Ben would be nice ...'

"Hello, Franklin." The voice startles Franklin. It always does.

"Hey gran'pa Nathan," he says.

"Hello, Franklin," Nathaniel Richards repeats. "I need you to come with me for a bit."

"But Alicia-"

"The blind sculptress will be fine, Franklin," Nathaniel says soothingly. "I need you for a matter of grave importance."

"I'm not gonna come back as a teen-ager again, am I?" Franklin sighs, moving over to stand with his grandfather.

"No promises," Nathaniel smiles, wrapping his arm around Franklin's smaller shoulder.

'Why can't I have a grandfather that showers me with cheap gifts like all my other friends?' And as Franklin and Nathaniel step into a blue doorway of light, Franklin's mind is still thinking of ways to help his Uncle Ben out.

THE PLANET AK'YEN'JA

Deep within the Shi'ar Empire rests a small, almost unknown planet called Ak'yen'ja. As planet's go, it is on the low end of the technological scale. The six races that make up the planet are a diverse cultural assembly, but none have advanced much beyond the ability to send and receive television signals.

It is into this world that a man from Earth fell from the sky and imbedded himself into the ground.*

* ( Fantastic Four # 421 )

When the man awoke, he did not know who he was. In the time since, he has wondered who he really is, but the only clue, the only key he has found has been his connection with the word 'doom'. He still does not know who he is, but it has taken him less than a month to realize who he is is not important. For whatever he is called, whatever name he knows himself by, he knows deep within his cold heart that he is a force of destiny. That it is his right to cut through life as he pleases.

He knows what he wants to do while on Ak'yen'ja. He wants to be it's King, it's Emperor, it's Czar. He wants to control it all. He wants to be it's God.

And he has no problem crushing anyone who stands in his way.

He has already slayed the leaders of two of the cultures, King Tykan of the Unthans* and Haak, leader of the Leghtians.** Victor has taken Tykan's son Tytan in as his ally/primary stooge. Of the four cultures remaining, he has already scared the Wenthorians into his corner and the Eckdrasi are of no concern, living beneath the ground and letting Fate dictate whatever it wants of them. If it is Fate's will that Victor leads them, so be it.

That leaves two cultures left, the Ba'na'ay and the Eaau.

They will soon fall.

* ( Fantastic Four # 430 )

** ( Fantastic Four # 432 )

THE PLANET EARTH

LATVERIA - CASTLE DOOM

"Nooooo!!!!!" Kristoff Vernard screams again as the man who has been pretending to be Victor Von Doom walks into the room.* "You cannot be doing this!!!"

* ( Since FF 417 )

"But, Kristoff, I am," the man answers.

"Why ..." the boy accuses, "why would you do these things to your own-?"

"They needed to be done, Kristoff," the man interrupts. "And I did them. And I will continue to do them."

"But ... I don't understand. Why?"

"In good time, young Vernard," the man says, his steel boots clanging down the hallway as he walks away, "you will have the answer to your question. Just as soon as the Fantastic Four arrive and take their final test."

OLYMPIA

The Fantastic Four have come to Olympia, the Earthly home of the Eternals, to gather the Human Torch back into their ranks. As Reed Richards looks at his group of family and friends, he's sees a group that is tired, emotionally and physically.

His wife, Sue, the Invisible Woman, sits on a chair in the corner of the room and naps unrestfully by her brother's side. Her encounter with It the Living Colossus has left her drained. His best friend, Benjamin J. Grimm, the Thing, stands by a window, overlooking the city of Olympia, his eyes weary. His encounter with the Super Skrull has left him drained. His brother-in-law, Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, lies in a bed, his body trying to fight off the effects of a mind-altering potion. His encounter with Diablo has left him drained. Jen Walters, the She-Hulk, a longtime friend and ally sits quietly, her head in her hands, her hands on her knees. Her battle with the Super Skrull has left her drained. Sharon Ventura, the second Ms. Marvel, stands off to the side, her eyes darting from Ben to Johnny to Sue to Jen and back. She is not to be trusted at the moment. Her encounter with Diablo has left her drained, and afraid that she is nothing more than a programmed slave carrying out her master's foul orders.

'Finally', Reed thinks, taking a long look at himself in a mirror, 'there's me. Mr. Fantastic. Leader of the Fantastic Four. It was I who caused us to gain our powers, thus setting everything else in motion. Is is I who Dr. Doom blames and seeks revenge on. It is I that will lead my loved ones into Victor's newest trap.'

"You look troubled, Dr. Richards," a quiet voice nonetheless booms behind him and Reed turns to see Ikaris, one of the leaders of the Earthen Eternals.

"It has been a rough couple of days, Ikaris," Reed says, forcing a smile. "We appreciate your hospitality."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Ikaris asks politely, though Reed is certain the Eternal would do all he could if asked.

"No, Ikaris, but thank you. The Fantastic Four can take care of our own problems."

"Arrogance does not suit you in this manner, Reed Richards," Ikaris says politely, but pointedly. "If one has need of allies, it can not hurt to ask for help."

"Sorry, Ikaris," Reed replies, "I didn't mean it that way. It's just ..." he pauses, looking to Sue, "a lot of things have happened recently. Things that have affected us for the worse, I'm afraid."

"You will pull through this," Ikaris says honestly. "And not because you are stronger than your enemies, or have more wondrous powers, or are smarter. It is because you are a family. And families, more often than not, find a way."

THE PLANET AK'YEN'JA

"He must be stopped!" screams El'kana to a small audience of rebels.

"He can not be stopped," Ja'lana, leader of the Ba'na'ay replies.

The setting is a dusty hut in the Eaau village. The Eaau leader, Chief Ioeya has brought this small band of people together to plan the defense of their way of life against the man who fell from the sky, a man garbed in armor from head to foot that they know only as Victor.

"Then let me rephrase myself, Ja'lana," El'kana says, "he has to be stopped. He has to. We must find a way to defeat him or we shall all either become enslaved or die."

"Bah! The arrogance of youth!" snorts Porunesclamano, Emperor of the Wenthorions.

"Says the man who caved in the moment the stranger came to him," El'kana snaps back.

"Enough, everyone," says the quiet, but commanding voice of Chief Ioeya, "infighting will get us nowhere. We must come together. The fire in your belly is appreciated, El'kana, but whatever the Emperor's past, we need his assistance now."

"Thank you for your support, Ioeya," Porunesclamano thanks. "I have a group of soldiers loyal to me. They do not equal the number that went with Victor, but they are loyal and they believe their cause to be righteous. Together," he says looking to El'kana, "we may just find a way to overcome insurmountable odds. The righteous always prevail. We will find a way."

CHAPTER TWO - THE RIGHTEOUS CAUSE

OLYMPIA

"Everybody ready?" Reed asks as dawn breaks on Olympia.

"Sure thing, Stretch," the Thing answers. "Not like we've never fought Doc Doom before, ya know."

"No, Ben, it isn't like that at all," Sue states, but she doesn't believe it. There's something different about today, and she knows they can all feel it.

"Well, then, let's get going, shall we?" She-Hulk prompts, anxious to get today over with.

Reed nods and turns to look for the sixth member of their group. "Where's Sharon?"

"Dunno," Johnny shrugs. "But as far as I'm concerned, she can stay here and rot."

"Johnny," Sue angrily snaps, "it wasn't her fault."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Johnny says defensively.

"Sharon will remain here, on Olympia, with us." The Fantastic Four turn to see Ikaris and Sharon striding towards them. "She needs help. We will provide it."

"You can make her better?" Ben asks, looking to Sharon.

"We can try."

"You sure about this, Sharon?" Ben asks. "Reed here is a real wiz at figuring things out."

"I'm sure, Ben," Sharon quietly speaks, moving forward to put a hand on Ben's arm. "I'll be fine for the first time in a very long time." She leans in and kisses his rocky cheek.

"Works for me," Ben smiles. "You need any help, though ..."

"I'll call."

"Right then," Ben grumbles, "let's get going, eh Stretch? Nothing left to do here."

The Fantastic Four move towards the Fantasti-Jet, tired, weary, but confident. Reed Richards, Sue Richards, Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm, the original members of the Fantastic Four are joined by long-time friend and companion Jen Walters.

They walk into destiny.

"Oh," Sue remembers, turning back to Ikaris, "what about It?"

"He will be watched, Susan. Do not worry."

"Good."

THE SPANISH COUNTRYSIDE

It the Living Colossus struggles to keep himself together, but he stops walking and stands still to concentrate. Rocks that had been crumbling to the ground reform on his hide, melding into a solid form.

'Mustn't let ... my thoughts ... wander ...' It thinks to himself. 'Not until ... I figure out what has ... happened and how ... to control ... this body ... again.'

The Living Colossus has regained control over the crumbling rocks that make up his body and sits on a small grassy knoll to think. He finds it hard ... so hard to concentrate on staying together and still find thoughts for other things.

He remembers little and he tries again to piece all the pieces together. 'I ... remember ... I am ... Robert O'Bryan ... but what am I doing back in this body? I saw the ... Hulk destory this form ... what has happened to me?'

A question It the Living Colossus will find an answer to some day, but not today.

He sits for a while and thinks, again silently thanking the Invisible Woman for her help. She used her invisible powers to make a cast around his body and hold him together long enough for his mind to recuperate. She stood there and held him together for two hours, never once complaining.

Finally, It the Living Colossus stands, sighs, and walks on. To where he doesn't know, but he walks with an odd sense of calm about the fact that he's walking forward into his true destiny.

LATVERIA - CASTLE DOOM

The man pretending to be Dr. Doom sits in front of a bank of monitors and sighs. Soon it will all be over. One way or another, it will be over.

Either he will die or the Fantastic Four will fail. 'It will be good to get this over with,' he tells himself. 'I don't do this out of hate, or with malicious intent, I do it for the future.'

He checks the monitors and sees that the Fantastic Four are on their way.

Time to get started.

For not the first time, the man pretending to be Doom wonders exactly where the real Victor Von Doom ended up.

THE PLANET AK'YEN'JA

Victor stands in the Unthan Royal Palace and looks out at death and destruction in the fading daylight of a dying planet. He thinks again and again about the word that has seemed to strike a primal chord within himself.

That word is ... doom.

In another part of the castle, the newly crowned King Tytan knows in his heart that he has made a terrible, terrible mistake in siding with the offworlder.

"Tytan," a soft voice cuts through the fog of his mind. "There is still time to help."

He turns to see El'kana, his one-time fiance. Theirs had been an arranged marriage between the prince of the richest of Ak'yen'jan cultures and the daughter of a farmer from the poorest culture. It was supposed to symbolize the unity all the cultures showed for one another.

"Help?" he asks. "What can I do? What can anyone do? This man, this ... monster is unstoppable." He begins to sob. "He killed my father ... and I watched him do it."

"Then Tytan," El'kana comforts and prods simultaneously, "it is time to make amends."

"How El'kana?" he asks, looking at the beautiful blue woman before him through tear stained eyes.

"Rebel forces are standing just outside the city, waiting for the moon to reach it's highest point and then they will strike against Victor's forces. Tht will be in less than twenty minutes. We will strike from the inside."

"Who?" Tytan asks.

"The four of us." Tytan wipes his eyes and stands to look at the three people in front of him, Chief Ioeya, El'kana and Emperor Porunesclamano. "That includes you, of course, young man," Ioeya says softly.

"Oh yeah," Tytan mumbles, "this will all work out in the end."

"Actually," El'kana smiles, "we have a secret weapon that will aid us."

"What is it?"

"Are you with us?"

Tytan pauses and takes a good look at the three people assembled before them. They haven't got a chance. "Yes, I'm in. I'm with you."

"Then gaze upon this," El'kana says, holding up a shining ruby. "Behold, the Heart of Ak'yen'ja!"

Tytan looks at the small stone, no bigger than half of El'kana's palm, and frowns. "Er ... what is it?"

"It is an ancient magic," Ioeya whispers, barely audible. "It takes the battle to the astral plane-"

"The astral plane is a fool's fantasy," Tytan scoffs.

"It takes the battle to the astral plane," Ioeya repeats forcefully, "and makes the battle one of will instead of one of might. This is how we will beat Victor."

Tytan's response is cut off by the sudden, unmistakable sound of a battle being joined. The four people rush to the window, look out and see a sight that reminds them all too much of the stories the elders' elders wrote down about the dark days of civil war.

They see, lit by flickering, roaring firelight, Ak'yen'jans killing Ak'yen'jans.

CHAPTER THREE - CULMINATION

LATVERIA - CASTLE DOOM

"They have come!" shouts the man pretending to be Dr. Doom to his captive, Kristoff Vernard. "The Fantastic Four have come to Castle Doom!" Kristoff would answer if he could, but his mouth is clamped shut.

The man of shadows needs no monitor this time to watch the activities of the Fantastic Four. He needs only to look out the window of the throne room to see the Fantasti-Jet land in a clearing not a mile from the Castle.

"It is time," he states and walks over, dressed in full Doom armor to a control board. He pushes a simple, innocent looking button.

Outside, the Fantastic Four are deboarding the Fantasti-Jet. Their faces and thoughts are grim, well aware of what lies ahead. They say not a word as they begin to approach Castle Doom.

And then, without warning, they are under attack by a group of Doombots.

"Take cover!" Reed shouts as laser blasts reign in on them.

"They're everywhere!" Sue shouts back, putting up an invisible shield.

"How many?" She-Hulk asks as she imbeds her fist into the face of the nearest Doombot.

"I count twenty," Reed answers, stretching his body to both avoid blasts and wrap his arms around a distant Doombot.

"Four apiece then," Ben grumbles.

"Wow, you're great at math, Benji," Johnny teases, heating two Doombots to explosion.

"I need to be to add up all the times I saved your flaming butt!" Ben grouses back as he tosses one Doombot into an another. Sue looks to Ben and Johnny and smiles. They continue hurling their verbal jabs at one another, but both wear smiles upon their faces as large as she's ever seen.

Within ten mintues, all twenty Doombots lie on the ground, broken and battered beyond repair.

The Fantastic Four march on and the people of Latveria lock themselves into their houses, ready to live with the consequences yet again of a battle between their master and the Fantastic Four.

Of course, the people of Latveria think, it's not really the master. But they suppose it doesn't matter.

THE PLANET AK'YEN'JA - UNTHAN ROYAL HALL

Victor walks towards the grand hall and smiles. The rebels have attacked. He is glad. The sooner the battle is joined, the quicker victory will be his.

As he enters the hall, he is somewhat surprised to find that there is fighting inside the Castle. 'Palace,' he scolds himself. 'Why would I call this place a castle?' The thought is pushed aside as he willingly joins the fray, his gauntlets blasting away at anyone breathing.

The large, ornate doors burst in and Victor finds himself standing face to face with a hundred Ak'yen'jans. He smiles at the image, "My, my, farmers with pitchforks. How quaint."

"Death to the stranger!" a voice yells from the back and the mob shouts gleefully in response. Victor looks into their eyes and sees pure hatred. 'If only they could harness that,' he thinks, 'they might have a chance at not dying quickly this day.'

"We're ready for you, Victor!" a voice shouts from the side and Victor turns to see El'kana, Chieftan Ioeya, Emperor Porunesclamano and King Tytan striding into the room together. The sight hits something inside him. Not the betrayal of Tytan, that was expected. Something about ... something about four people standing against him ...

"You're finished!" Porunesclamano shouts.

"Isn't this something?" Victor scoffs. "A Ba'na'ayan, a Wenthorian, an Unthan and an Eaau, all standing together against me. Where are the other two races?" he asks, but the thought of four standing against him still gnaws at his thoughts.

"The Eckdrasi are slaves to fate," El'kana spits. "And the Leghtians ..."

"Oh yes," Victor smiles, "they're all locked away in the slave pits."

"We are your end." El'kana states flatly, sending the mob into hysterics. They shout and taunt and jeer at the man who fell from the sky, but Victor is unnerved. Angry, but unnerved.

"Dolts!" he shouts, letting his anger fuel his passion. "I ... am ... your ... DOOM!"

And then, the key that is the word doom finds it's lock and in a flash, Victor remembers everything. Memories flood over him, fragments of half-moments and tapestries of months come back to him in an instant of pure ecstasy. He knows.

He knows.

"I AM DOOM!" he shouts, but behind the mask Dr. Victor Von Doom is no longer angry. He is smiling from ear to ear.

LATVERIA - CASTLE DOOM

The FF round the last bend and finally come face to face with Castle Doom. A bright light cuts into their eyes and their hands go up reflexively to block the glare. It is only then that they see where the light is emanating from.

It is sunlight, reflected off the surface of one thousand Doombots.

THE PLANET AK'YEN'JA - UNTHAN ROYAL HALL

One hundred Ak'yen'jans rush forward to attack Dr. Doom. One hundred Ak'yen'jans, made up of four of the planet's races. The tide has turned against Doom and he can sense it, even though he doesn't care. He knows that fear can only crush hope for so long before hope tries to reassert itself.

The 100 Ak'yen'jans swarm over him, but they can not hurt him inside his armor. Because it is his desire to flaunt his power, he lets himself be knocked to his knees, only so that he may stand up and shrug off the rebels, sending bodies flying in every direction.

"You fail to comrehend what is happening here," he threatens in his low, powerful voice. "I am beyond the minds of everyone on my home planet and even the most ignorant peasant has a mind beyond the comprehension of yours. You have lost. Leave now and you may live."

"An empty threat from an empty heart!" El'kana shouts in challenge as Dr. Doom uses his gauntlet's laser blasts to slay twenty Ak'yen'jans in one swipe. "You will fail against the power of the Heart of Ak'yen'ja!"

El'kana, the daughter of a peasant, strides forward to challenge Dr. Doom. In her hand, she holds forward the Heart of Ak'yen'ja. It glows majestically in the air and it's rays wash over Dr. Doom, pulling him to the astral plane ... where he finds El'kana waiting for him.

"It has come to this," Dr. Doom states matter-of-factly. "One woman, the hope of an entire planet against Dr. Doom. You haven't got a chance."

"I will not lose to you, Doom," El'kana spits. "I am the one with the righteous cause worth fighting for. I am the one willing to die for my planet. I am the one with the heart and soul and mind to defeat you!"

Dr. Doom feels a power envelop him in it's foggy grasp. Had the psychic dampeners in his mask been operational, Doom wonders if El'kana's attack would even have made it past them. But it has, and as he tries to shrug the psychic attack off, he finds he can't.

And in her heart of hearts, El'kana knows she is about to win freedom for her planet by defeating the man called Doom.

LATVERIA - CASTLE DOOM

The Fantastic Four fight bravely, but there isn't one of them that doesn't have doubts about whether or not they can win the day. Reed wonders about the true identity of the enemy. This isn't like Doom. Raw, bute force. There's no cunning. Even in victory, this would not prove himself the smarter man, and that's what he's always out to prove, isn't it? He's fighting this battle as if he were fighting ... a war.

Reed lets his body go limp as a Mandroid slams into him. There were more than just Doombots protecting the Castle this day, though they stood in the front as Latveria's first line of defense. Behind them, lay a battallion of Mandroids, Anachronauts, Dreadknoughts, Guardsmen, Crimson Dynamos and Sentinels. Reed even thought he saw an Iron Man armor flying around, though it wasn't any he recognized.

Sue sends an array of invisible spears towards a Dreadknought that was bearing down on her. She fights twenty feet in the air, standing on an invisible platform. Once the battle had started, she quickly realized that she could use another way to escape enemy fire, so she raised herself up on a platform, giving her a "down" escape route.

'This isn't good,' she thinks to herself, trying to fight off a Crimson Dynamo droid, 'you'd think this many robots couldn't work together ... that they'd be constantly running into each other ... but they fight as a unit. Not good.'

"Aaaargh!" the scream cuts through the sounds of battle and each member of the FF turns to see Johnny Storm plunging towards the Earth. There is no way they should have been able to hear him, but they did. And so they can rescue him.

Reed moves first, extending two arms to make a cushion for him to fall into, but a Sentinel stomps on the hands ... almost as if he had been expecting Reed to do that at that exact moment.

Sue moves next, but two Guardsmen droids hit her at the same moment, making her lose her concentration ... were they expecting it or merely reacting?

The Thing and She-Hulk can do nothing but watch the flames extinguished Human Torch fall ... fall ... fall towards the ground.

Sue shakes off the cobwebs in time to look up and see her brother plunging to his death. A sharp pain jabs at her heart as she thinks back to Nightmare's prophecy, "One of the Fantastic Four will die and it will be your fault!"*

* ( Fantastic Four 429 )

She hasn't even the air in her lungs to scream, when suddenly, inexplicably, the Human Torch vanishes before their eyes.

Only to suddenly, inexplicably reappear directly in front of Reed, cradled in the arms of Makkari, the Eternal.

"You should asked for help, you know," Makkari smiles.

"No kidding," Reed says, relieved at the sight of Johnny safe. "It's not too late to grovel for help, is it?"

"No need to grovel, Reed Richards," a booming voice shouts. "We could use the workout!"

"Ikaris!" Reed shouts. "Good to see you!"

"Well, if you're glad to see him, you must be thrilled to gaze at the form of Sersi!"

"You said it, gorgeous!" Ben shouts.

"Wow," She-Hulk gasps as she looks up and sees a group of twenty-five Eternals joining the fight.

Reed's smile quickly fades as he gazes at the robots and droids around him. They are standing still, watching. He doesn't know if they are confused by the turn of events or if they're merely waiting for the pleasantries to end.

The thought is lost as the robots again begin to attack.

Inside Castle Doom, the man in the Doom armor stands in his throne room and smiles, "Marvelous! How ... fortunate for the Fantastic Four to have such allies as the Eternals. They may pass this final test yet."

And beside him, the captive and bound Kristoff Vernard can do nothing but watch and pray that the Fantastic Four are ready for who's under that mask.

THE PLANET AK'YEN'JA

El'kana pushes with all her might at the image of Doom. She thinks of the people that he has murdered and the evil that she senses within him. She focuses on the thought of her world torn apart and forced into slavery at the hands of this madman. She takes all the hate and rage and pain and suffering and uses every bit of it to push at Victor. She wants him dead.

And she's about to get her wish.

Dr. Doom feels the crushing vice of an astral plane death around his heart. El'kana can feel the life being forced out of them and she lets the power of the thought that she is winning to fuel her even more. She pushes hard one last time to finish him off. She pushes for three long minutes, not even noticing the blood that pours from her nose or her eyes or her ears. She pushes at him, taking the pain that she subconsciously feels and uses it in her assualt.

She can feel her concentration about to waver, so she pushes one last time with absolutely everything she has and collapses to her knees. She rests for a moment as her mind throbs. Slowly she opens her eyes ...

And looks directly into the cold eyes of Dr. Doom.

"Whu-?" she starts to ask. Doom reaches down with one of his gloves, squeezes it around her neck and lifts her into the air.

He smiles beneth his mask, and his eyes sparkle in victory. "A good battle, El'kana," he states flatly, more than a hint of superiority in his voice, "but you had no chance."

"W-Why is ... that?" she chokes.

"Because I am Doom."

El'kana's world fades to black.

LATVERIA - CASTLE DOOM

It is a grand battle.

The Eternals fight valiantly alongside the Fantastic Four and the collection of robots do not stand a chance against them. The sheer number of droids is the only delay in victory.

"My this is fun!" Sersi shouts.

She-Hulk takes a breather from the battle after grabbing a Mandroid and smashing him into a Sentinel's leg, causing the giant robot to come crashing down. She gazes up at Ikaris and Sersi fighting high in the sky, checks out the blur that is Makkari, marvels at the horde of Eternals she has no name for. Jen knows this is serious business and she knows that the greatest fight lies ahead against Dr. Doom, but she can't help but smile. How many people get to spend their day fighting alongside the Eternals?

After an hour of fighting, the final robot has been destroyed. The heroes gather around a disbelieving Reed Richards.

"What is it, Reed?" Sue asks, taking a moment to grab her husband's hand and squeeze it gently.

"This is wrong," he says, shaking his head. "This is all wrong."

"Why? 'Cause we won?" Johnny asks. "Like there was any doubt."

"For once in your life grow up, Johnny!" Reed snaps. "Look around you. Look at the destruction. Look at the piles of metal and wires that sit in the streets and on the houses of Latveria! Look at it, Johnny! Look at it!"

Johnny can't help but be shocked at the outburst. "Hey Reed, calm down, I was just-"

"You almost died!" Sue snaps, coming to Reed's immediate defense. "Can't you see this is wrong?"

"They're right, kid," Ben grumbles. "Something ain't kosher here. Doom wouldn't try to take us out like this. Look at all the destruction this caused Latveria. No way Doom is behind this."

In unison, they turn and look up at the large Castle. It is the She-Hulk who voices their inner thoughts. "Then who's waiting for us inside?"

THE PLANET AK'YEN'JA

El'kana's body falls limply to the floor as her and Doom snap back from the astral plane.

"No!" Porunesclamano shouts as he rushes forward to attack Doom. The reply comes not ina word, but in a blast from a gauntlet that slays the Emperor before his feet have stopped moving forward.

Doom looks at Tytan, Ioeya and the remaining rebel forces. There is defeat in their eyes and, he knows, in their heart.

"I have won," he states plainly, reaching down and grabbing the body of the Wenthorian Emperor. He flies out of the palace and comes to a hovering rest above the battle.

Inside the palace, Ioeya shakes his head as Tytan moves to El'kana's unmoving body.

"An entire planet," the elder chieftan disbelieves. "He fought a war against an entire planet. And won."

Dr. Doom waits and slowly but surely, the participants in the battle look up at their new God. He says nothing as he hurls the body toward the ground. By the time Porunesclamano's dead body thuds into the earth, everybody knows Ak'yen'ja belongs to Doom.

LATVERIA - CASTLE DOOM

The Fantastic Four walk through the empty halls of Castle Doom, heading towards the throne room. They half expected a trap to be sprung or more Doombots, but in their hearts they knew they would be met by silence. They would have to walk through the castle until they came to the throne room and met their tormentor.

They walk in silence, no one daring to even volunteer a whisper.

And then they arrive in the throne room, to find Dr. Doom sitting on his throne, waiting for them. By his side, sits the panicked eyes of his captive, Kristoff Vernard.

"Welcome, Fantastic Four," "Dr. Doom" greets.

"Hello, Victor," Reed says slowly, trying to make this moment last as long as it can, the better for him to gain any and all knowledge for their benefit.

"Cut the crap, Reed," Sue scoffs impatiently. "Let's do this, Doom. Right now. I see no reason to wait."

"Ah, Sue," Doom says, rising to his feet. "Always the impatient one these days. We should enjoy this moment for I have long planned for it."

"Yes, this is the culmination of your crazy revenge laden dreams, isn't it, Victor?" Reed asks.

"Ah, Reed, you know it is not the real Dr. Doom that stands before you so why pretend? The truth is I have only plagued you since your return to this universe."

"Fine," Reed snaps, "then tell us who you are."

"Very well," the man of mystery and shadows says. He slowly removes the armor, saving the mask for last. With a final pause, the man's hands rise up and remove the mask.

"No ..." Reed chokes out the words as the rest of the FF stand in stunned silence.

"Yes, my son," Nathaniel Richards replies, his voice somber. "It has been I who has plagued you since you returned from the universe my grandson created. It was I who pulled you from time and space and set you down in Vermont. It was I who allowed for Mole Man and the Moloids to be there, so far from their normal home. It was I who put together the Fearsome Four you battled alongside the Thunderbolts. It was I who set free the Super Skrull. I have watched you constantly since you returned, my son. I need to know if you were worthy guardians of Franklin."

* ( See FF 417, 420 - 422, 429 - 432 for a sampling of Nathaniel's moves. )

"Bastard!" Sue shouts as she sends an invisble blast hurtling at Nathaniel, knocking him backwards.

"Be calm, woman," Nathaniel scolds from the floor.

"But you were with us when Doom called!*" Johnny shouts.

* ( Fantastic Four # 429 - Phone Companies are Evil Mark)

"You've never heard of videotape, young Storm?"

"Father, why?" Reed asks, stunned.

"Because I have seen the future and I know that it is a dark, cold place. And the only hope that the future has is Franklin, but he must be taught certain lessons."

"And you're the one to teach him?" Ben grumbles, stepping forward. "If you hurt that kid, I'm gonna-"

"Do not threaten me, Thing. Only I know what it best."

"What is best is for me to shove my fist-"

"Try it if you dare."

"Benjamin J. Grimm doesn't back down from a challenge, old man. You'd better be ready for what's coming."

"Are you going to use one of your beloved catch phrases when you charge me, monster?"

"He doesn't have to," Johnny steps in, igniting his flames. "He won't have the time to say anything because we're going to take you out first."

"Really?" Nathaniel smiles.

"Really, Nathan," Sue adds, stepping forward.

"Count me in, too, gramps," She-Hulk grins. "I've got no problem kicking in the teeth of an old man."

"Well isn't this positively heartwarming," Nathaniel grins. "The Fantastic Four united against me. That is, everyone but my son."

Everyone in the room turns to look at Reed, who says nothing. For a long minute, he stares at the floor, then slowly his eyes move across the room to look at the captive Kristoff Vernard.

"Everybody get out of the room."

"What?" the FF shout in unison.

"I said everybody out!" Reed snaps. "Everyone. Get out." He pauses, staring at his father as Sue, Ben, Johnny and Jen stare at each other. "Everyone but Sue, that is." He turns to look at his wife, and their eyes connect. Sue sees the pain in his eyes and wants nothing more than to walk over to him, hold him and tell him everything's going to be alright. But she can't, so she simply walks over to her husband and holds him.

"Let them stay, Reed," she says.

Reed nods and swallows hard. "Where's Franklin, father?"

Nathaniel pushes a button on the control board and a door slides open. Franklin walks in, "Hi everyone. Why's mommy crying, daddy."

"Come here, son," Reed says and Franklin does what he's told, though the look on his face shows his confusion. "You mean to tell me, father, that this whole everything was because you were testing us to see if we're good parents?"

"No, Reed," Nathaniel shakes his head. "I know you and Sue are good parents. I needed to see if you were worthy of protecting the future's best hope."

"So you sent Thanos after us?" Sue snaps.

"Sue, be sensible. If I had the likes of Thanos at my disposal, I would simply take Franklin from you and guard him myself."

A silence falls and Ben, Johnny and Jen almost wish they had left the room.

Reed breaks the silence. "Father, if you ever come near us again, if you ever put us in harm's way, if you ever do anything that could hurt Franklin or Sue or anyone in this family again, I will hunt you down and take care of you myself."

"Don't threaten me, boy," Nathaniel snaps angrily.

"I don't need to." Reed says, his voice icily calm. "I always thought - though I never really wanted to admit it to myself - that you could one day become a problem. So I've devised a device that will keep you away from us."

"And what device is this?" Nathaniel asks.

"Try teleporting into Pier 4. Try coming within a mile of anyone of us."

"I'm within ten feet of you," Nathaniel scoffs. "Your precious device doesn't seem to be working.

"May I?" Reed asks, motioning to the control board. Nathaniel nods and Reed leaves the warmth of Sue's arms to go to the control board. He creates a contact with the computer system at Pier 4. "Activate Program Time." The computer beeps in response and then suddenly Nathaniel is enveloped in a blue ball of light. He says not a word, but looks at his son with the one thing Reed wishes he hadn't.

Respect.

In a moment, he vanishes, leaving the Fantastic Four in his wake.

"Where did he go?" Johnny asks as Ben moves to free Kristoff.

"Somewhere in time. I don't really care where," Reed says disgustedly. "Let's go home."

"Reed ... wait," Sue says quietly, grabbing Reed's arms gently. "I can't live like this. Always looking over my shoulder. Always waiting for your crazy father to bother us again. We can't be safe, Reed. We can't be safe ... here."

Reed pulls his wife close. "I know, darling," he says quietly. "You were right. We should ..." he chokes on the words.

"Should what, sis?" Johnny asks.

Reed and Sue pull back from their embrace, but still hold each other close.

"Reed, Franklin and I ... are moving to Titan."

END FF 433

FANTASTIC FORUM

Whew.

I'm exhausted. This long winding road from FF 417 to now has been a wild time. As this is the end of the first part of my FF saga, I'd like to take a minute to thank all of you for reading and writing in. Your support has been appreciated over these 17 issues and if none of you were reading, there'd be little point in me writing these stories.

So thanks.

This double-sized issue is exactly what the title clims it to be: the beginning of the end and the end of the beginning. This issue marks the end of the first chapter of the MV1 FF saga, and the start of the second. It has taken awhile to get to this point, but everything is now set up to roll. Doom has conquered an entire planet, and Reed and Sue have annouced they will be leaving both the Fantastic Four and Earth behind. We won't see much of Doom for a while, but he'll be a busy guy, don't worry. Reed, Sue and Franklin will still be around for a bit, though. You don't just pick up and move, especially when it's to another planet.

It's a cliché statement, I know, but I'm just getting started here.

Again, to everyone reading, thanks.

I hope to see you ...

NEXT ISSUE - FANTASTIC FOUR 434 - A turning point in the life of Alicia Masters and Benjamin Grimm.

MBQ ... 4.23.98