#438
Origin of a Species: Part Three
OCTOBER YEAR 2

By Tim Hartin

Chinatown. New York City.

If you walk just a few feet past Wu's Bakery, there stands a small plain two-story building.The only noticable colour is a red and black banner in the window proudly displays the building's name in both Chinese and English. This is the home of the Sons of the Tiger Martial Arts Dojo. The many sounds of intensive exercise ring out from the dojo. One voice rises above the martial cadence… the voice of one of the instructors and owners of the dojo… the voice of Bob Diamond.

"Friends. Students. If I could have your attention for a moment," asks Bob Diamond as he stands next to a young boy. The boy is wide-eyed and fascinated by the many coloured outfits that the Dojo's students wear. "We have a special guest with us today. I am happy to introduce Franklin Richards of Fantastic Four fame."

Franklin Richards watches with keen interest as all of the students bow in his honour. As much as he enjoys the attention (what little boy wouldn't), his mind drifts to his parents and his family… the Fantastic Four! He hasn't heard from the strange voice* in a while and he is beginning to get worried.

[* the strange voice belongs to Alicia's unborn baby. What!? You haven't read the previous issues! Shame on you! ;-p]

A'kimba Moyo, Johnny's latest flame, can easily see the uneasiness on Franklin's face. She whispers to a tall black man, who stands next to her, with his huge arms crossed over his equally powerful chest. "Poor kid. His parents are off to who knows where and there he is trying not to let it bother him."

"Frankie is made of stern stuff. The Papparazzi didn't even faze the kid on our way here." Luke smiles at the young attractive Wakandan woman. "I have an idea..." Luke Cage's voice trails off as he saunters over to Bob Diamond and Franklin. He pats Franklin on the head and nods to Bob. "How about a demonstration for Frankie, here?"

Bob Diamond smiles at the suggestion. His smile gets even bigger as he watches a fimiliar person in green and yellow walk into the dojo. "With the help of Iron Fist and my partner in crime, Lin Sun, maybe we can put on a small show of the martial arts for everyone. You guys game?"

After brief introductions and the usual fanfare, the room is reset for a martial arts display in Franklin's honour. The mats are positioned on the floor as the charismatic Bob Diamond readies himself at one corner, while the athletic Lin Sun does the same at the opposite corner. In the centre of the mat stands a immobile Iron Fist.

The stillness is broken as Bob Diamond lunges at Iron Fist with a crescent kick and a loud kiai. Iron Fist sidesteps the sweeping kick and dodges the striking punches of Lin Sun in one smooth motion. Franklin (and the rest of the crowd) are amazed by Iron Fist's outstanding speed and agility. Lin Sun strikes with powerful punch after punch which Iron Fist easily parries with his K'un-L'un martial arts training. With each strike and counterstrike the martial arts display fights on.

Franklin watches as the man with the blond hair and beard falls to the mat. He can hear the loud slap as Bob's hands hit hard against the mat. The demonstration quickly ends as it started with Lin Sun and Bob Diamond both being tossed to the mat in sequential order by Iron Fist. Iron Fist helps up both men and they all bow towards each other and then to the admiring audience. The crowd are all impressed by the demonstration and they clap with much enthusiasm. Bob Diamond begins to make comments (between grasps for breath) to his students. Iron Fist walks over to Luke Cage.

Luke Cage takes his eyes of the attractive A'kimba and checks on his little buddy, Franklin. "You okay, Frankie?" asks Luke Cage. "Thinking about your mom and dad?"

"Ya Uncle Luke. I hope they help Aunty 'Leesha and Marcia."

"Marcia? who is Marcia?" asks a perplexed Luke. "I don't remember a Marcia."

"You wouldn't, Uncle Luke. She is Aunty 'Leesha's baby," says Franklin as he watches the slim Lin Sun shift his weight and toss the cinematic Bob Diamond over his hip to the floor. Franklin does a poor but ernest imitation of Lin Sun's moves. He stops when he feels Luke place a hand on his shoulder.

Franklin looks up at the towering Luke Cage. "She told me her name is Marcia." He then shifts his feet and shrugs his shoulders as he answers Luke's question before Luke even asks it. Franklin's eyes begin to glow with a soft golden hue. "I can hear her again!" he shouts. "She is scared! They are doing something to her! Make them stop!" Franklin's eyes return to their normal appearance again as he stands a bit shaken by the whole ordeal.

The athletic Lin Sun quickly makes his way towards Franklin and company. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Nah. The kid is okay. Today has been too much for him I guess," explains Luke as he kneels next to Franklin. "Hold on kid. Everything will be find," whispers Luke.

"You okay, Franklin?" asks A'kimba. She isn't used to seeing such unusual display of power but she hasn't been hanging out with the Fantastic Four that long. If she only knew what is instored for her and the Fantastic Four… but that is a story for another time.

"It felt like…" Franklin pauses as he tries to understand what just happen to him. For a five year old, he does have an unusual grasp for these things. Franklin just shrugs the experience off and continues to think for a moment. "It felt like she was drowning! They were making her breathe some sort of water. I hope she is okay."

A'kimba holds herself and thinks of Johnny. She hopes that they all make it back unharmed but she especially hopes Johnny comes back soon. She misses him already. "I wonder what the Fantastic Four are up to?"

In a deep obsidian ocean on an alien world, the sleek Fantasticar drifts with the ocean's current. The angular form of the Fantasticar wanes under the onslaught of the giant alien eels. Flashes of energy spark and flare down the metallic-like spines of the voracious eels. Their albino eyes glow with a bright aura as they feed off the power supply of the Fantasticar. They writhe and twist as they consume their precious meal. * Never before have these giant eels tasted an energy like this. They gorge themselves on its succulant flavour.

[* see Fantastic Four #437]

Darkness. The Fantastic Four sit in darkness as the Fantasticar's power is slowly being drained away. The darkness is pierced with a voice… a rather loud and cross voice… "Come on, Stretcho. Get a move on!" exclaims the Thing. "We can't spend all lovin' day here. Dump these fishes and lets get goin' and find Alicia!"*

[* Alicia was abducted by mysterious aliens last issue.       see Fantastic Four #437]

The sounds of the creaking hull seem even louder in the darkness. Reed Richards flicks a minature light on from his wrist computer and studies his flight controls before him. He pops the control casing open and examines the many wires and electrical components inside. "Actually Ben, they appear to be an alien variant of the Cypriniformes Electrophorus order of eels." But while Reed talks, his mind works on formatting a plan to rid themselves of the energy vampirism of these eels.

Reed works frantically at the flight control's insides, as his fingers snake their way through the interior of the ship's controls in an attempt to regain control over the Fantasticar. He doesn't need to see what he is doing. He has every technical manual and specification of this shuttle at easy reference in his head. "I am reducing our power. If I can just maybe reverse the neutron flow of the positron drive*… then I can give these eels a stomach ache they won't forget."

[* Isn't comic book science grand. :-) ]

The Fantasticar's hull creaks and moans as the giant eels continue to constrict the ship during their feast. Johnny listens to the ominous sounds of the Fantasticar. He doesn't like it at all. They are surrounded by an alien ocean, protected by the battered Fantasticar and Johnny is beginning to wonder how long it will last. Johnny listens as the sounds suddenly stop. "You did it Reed! Those things have stopped. Or at least the hull has stopped sounding like Ben snoring." Johnny points at Ben who just sits in his seat.

"Very funny, junior. How about…" but Benjamin Grimm is timely interupted.

"Ah… lets give credit where it is due," interjects Susan Richards as she concentrates. She has encased the Fantasticar in a force bubble. The giant eels are still feeding off the power of the Fantasticar but now they are constricting against Sue's force field. "Hurry up, dear. These eels are getting stronger with each passing second."

"That should do it!" shouts Reed Richards. His hands snap back to their natural shape as he types his commands into the flight controls. The Fantasticar's engines hum back to life. "Let's give these giant eels a meal they won't forget."

Reed taps the final commands into his flight controls. The shuttle's engines roar as they begin to vibrate under their power reversal. The Fantastic Four clutch their ears as the vibration turns into the audible range, but they endure. They watch the giant eels quickly swim off looking for a better tasting and easier meal. They disappear in the dark obsidian ocean waters.

Reed powers the Fantasticar down. "I have to re-install a power coil. This requires precise attention. I'll be just a minute." Reed disappears into the Fantasticar's hold via the open flight control panel. Reed's voice seems to echo through the Fantasticar's frame. "Johnny. Check your flight compartment. I have something there for you."

Johnny opens his small compartment and pulls out a strange metallic collar and fabric. It appears to be a metallic mesh suit with an elaborate collar and belt. "Ahhh… thanks Reed." Johnny looks at the strange suit once more. He already knew the answer but he asked anyways, "And I do what with it?"

Reed's voice echoes throughout the flight compartment. Johnny turns his attention away from Reed's compartment and towards the engine section. "You wear it. The controls in the collar adjust the field levels that are generated by the belt. In short… it will allow you to flame on while surrounded by water. It is a prototype variant to my Atmo-web design. Unfortunately, I was unable to find an Atmo-web in time for our hasty departure."

Johnny starts to climb into the suit. For something awfully flexible and translucent, it is rather cumbersome. Johnny seals the latch on his elaborate collar. He sits in a strange metalic mesh with a Flash Gordan belt and collar. Johnny runs a finger along a strange grove at his neck line.

Reed's voice echoes from the forward section this time. "Don't forget the helmet, Johnny!"

"Helmet?" asks Johnny. He looks further into his compartment and pulls a slender conical transparent helmet. "You got to be kidding. I can't wear this." He sighs and puts on his helmet. Johnny wishes he had the previous Atmo-web suit instead.

Benjamin does something he hasn't done much in the last few days… He allows himself the luxury of laughter. "Geez, kid. When ya flame on you'll look like a flamin' Christmas light!"

Reed's voice echoes from his compartment as he re-amerges in his seat. "Check your compartment also Ben. You too, Sue." Reed does the same as he opens his. He pulls out a respirator, goggles and boots. "The respirator will allow us to breath under water with impunity and the boots have retractable fins for swimming."

"I hate to interrupt you boys with your toys, but…" Susan Richards points to the canopy above them. "We have company!"

The Fantastic Four stare out into the vast dark alien ocean. Flashes of light flicker throughout the ocean like distant stars. Then suddenly a shimmering streak of reds, purples, and oranges begin to flow towards the Fantasticar. As closer it gets it takes the shape of a gigantic manta ray-like creature swiming towards them. Its mouth opens as it prepares to swallow the Fantasticar whole!

"Great. Now were playing Jonah and the Whale," moans the Thing. "Get us out of here Stretcho. Shoot. I would be happy to see even the sub-mareener right about now!"

"Initiating thrusters now." Reed's fingers dance over the control panel as the Fantasticar's engines come back on line. The Fantasticar picks up speed and arcs away from the gargantuan midnight black manta ray.

Beep. Beep. Beep. The ever increasing warning of the Fantasticar's radar tells Reed of their upcoming fate before it happens. "Hold on!" he shouts.

The Fantasticar shakes violently as it is swallowed by the alien manta ray. "Sue, can you see if you can stablize our descent? I'll run a scan to get a better idea of our situation." With help from Sue's invisible force field, the Fantasticar stablizes its journey through the alien manta ray's interior digestive track. Then suddenly the Fantasticar stops.

"Hmmmm… very interesting," notes Reed as he studies his monitors and readouts. "I believe we have just docked." To back up his supposition, Reed converts the Fantasticar's overhead canopy from being translucent to transparent. Large beams of muscle and sinew have attached themselves to the Fantasticar. Strands of smaller fibers run along these beams to the dark walls of organic tissue.

It is Ben that adds the final conclusion to their situation, "It seems like we've just met the welcoming committee. So what's next?"

Several miles west of the Fantastic Four's current position. A mountainous pyramid of living coral, located on the ocean bottom, pulsates with a soft glow. This is but one base among many others scattered throughout the known multiverse. It is a rallying point for a scattered race of interdimensional travellers turned refugees. This pyramid is humming with activity as the news that the MotherOcean has been found. The holy grail of this scattered race has finally come true for this faction of Veda Ree.

A Veda Ree floats in a long slender ebony-green cocoon. His head is covered in a long curved helmet that connects to the far wall. The helmet exaggerates the Veda Ree's natural black oval eyes even more so by the presence of oversized lenses. He is a Veda Ree Sensory Unit. A living body coupled with living technology. The whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts as the two beings merge into one. The helmet radiates in a multihued explosion of colours as the sensory unit speaks…

"Anomalous energy readings have been located. Non-Veda Ree life forms have been detected within the Bokshii Ray.* Readings indicate anomolous terrestrial ratings. Recommend further study."

[* Bokshii Ray is the Veda Ree name for the gargantuan manta ray that swallowed the Fantastic Four]

Within the giant coral pyramid, a triad of dark emerald-black Veda Ree float just above a much smaller three sided pyramid. Their long thin fingers lightly touch the pyramid's face. With each touch a flash of colour occurs.

One Veda Ree raises his head and speaks. His words seem to literally float in their watery surroundings. "The reclamation of the MotherOcean must begin soon. We have aquired the appropriate genetic stock from the terrestrial species that infest the surface of our MotherOcean. We shall reclaim our ancestral world from these terrestrials and then… the Veda Ree race shall begin anew with even greater glories ahead." Auras of dark purple and violet flash on the speaking Veda Ree's belly... Royal Purple… the colour of conquest.

The pyramid's flashing colours reflect off the dark oval eyes of a Veda Ree. His belly begins to flash in multicolour hues with his speech. "Sensory Unit, Initiate Component Absorption on the alien craft. Begin recording of test subjects." The Sensory Unit acknowledges its commands and a holographic image blinks to life just over the center pyramid.

They watch as a large orange hand reaches out from the alien craft and pulls its hideaous body out. It is followed by two smaller terrestrials. The Veda Ree do not understand the strange articles they wear. There is much they do not understand about this curious terrestrial species. They hope to change this soon.

Johnny inspects the bottom of his boot as he steadies himself against the Fantasticar's hull. He doesn't care much for his outfit but he hates the stuff on the bottom of his boot even more. "I bet Spider-Man never has to deal with stuff like this. What now?" asks Johnny as he quickly pulls his hand from the Fantasticar's hull. He watches as an green-grey ooze begins to grow over the Fantasticar.

The Fantasticar quickly becomes covered in the thick green-grey mucous coating exuded by the organic holding restraints. Sue Richards concentrates and keeps an area of the ship free from the advancing slime. The sludge quickly coats her force field also. She renders the sludge invisible and watches the Fantasticar. A hatch opens and Reed Richards steps out into Sue's force bubble and she brings her husband next to her.

"Did ya get your doohickey, then?" grumbles the Thing.

"We'll need the Fantasticar's computer memory, Ben. I had to finish the upload." Reed turns his attention to his wrist computer. He studies the scanner readouts of the gigantic manta ray. "There appears to be some sort of structure in the center of this creature." Reed looks up at a circular passage that quickly disappears down a long winding path. Tendrils and flesh coloured walls snake their way to and fro in the large chamber they are standing in.

The Thing marches to the front. A soft mushy poping sound escapes with each step the Thing makes. "Lets get movin'. Which way, Stretcho?"

"This way, Ben." Reed walks into the circular passage. The Thing lumbers up behind him. "Hmmm… the evidence seems to point to an aquatic species of somekind. So why isn't the chamber flooded?" Just as Reed asks his question, a thick organic membrane seals the entrance trapping him and Ben on one side and Sue and Johnny on the other.

The Thing begins to pound onto the membrane with no such luck. The membrane bends and wanes under each of Ben's powerful punches… but it does not break. "Save your strength, old friend." Reed Richards looks down the dark moist tunnel. "It appears that we were meant to go this way. We can trust Sue and Johnny to look after themselves. We might as well begin our voyage."

"Oh ya… some fantastic voyage." grumbles the gravel-like voice of Benjamin J. Grimm. He lumbers up behind Reed as they proceed further down their route.

The flooded interior of the Coral Pyramid of the Veda Ree.

The Veda Ree Triad float ever vigilant just over their three sided replica pyramid. Their large black oval eyes reflect the flickering images of the holographic projection of Reed Richards and Benjamin Grimm traveling down their long organic tunnel.

A Veda Ree raises his thin sharp finger and points at the rocky orange hide of Ben Grimm. "That terrestrial is especially brutish. Prepare a proper countermove on that creature."

Another Veda Ree points at Reed Richards. "What of this terrestrial? He is highly intelligent and inquisitive for his species…"

The commanding Veda Ree raises his hand and stops the speaking Veda Ree. "All countermoves have been being intitiated. They shall soon experience their first test. We will see if they survive it."

"The two smaller terrestrials have been rerouted to a sublevel below. They proceed with caution. Countermoves are being intitiated…"

Johnny fumbles with the switch on his control collar of his suit. First he saw the strange door block the chamber, the floor then disappears and then he saw the incoming water from overhead. As they were falling into the whole mess of it, Johnny fumbles with his collar's controls. He feels the suit hum to life. The metal mesh flashes for a brief second and then it feels like he is standing in a nice summer breeze… the perfect breeze for a… "flame on!" shouts Johnny as he falls with the crashing water column into the open pit. He has to find out if Sue is okay.

The glow of his burning body lights the very chamber. The water pressure has subsided now, but Johnny can still feel the strong current pushing him down the tunnel. He looks for any sign of his sister. He continues his downward approach until he sees Sue sitting in a force bubble waiting for her brother. "About time you caught up," says Sue as she sets comfortably in her force bubble. Johnny can't believe his eyes. Her force bubble is holding some sort of valve open. She waves to her brother to follow her. "How about we take a short cut?"

The Human Torch flies into his sister's force wedge and they enter a strange long oval chamber. Many rows of dark fleshy bulbs line all four walls. This whole place is starting to give Johnny an uncomfortable feeling. He doesn't like the fact that it looks like he is flying through someone's insides or on the set of Alien. He bends in mid path and flies down to his sister. "What is it?"

Sue watches Johnny land and fumble with his collar controls. His flame lowers in intensity but doesn't completely shut off. The curious effect of Johnny lowering his flame is that whole chamber suddenly seems bigger as darkness engulfs tthe outer regions. Soon Sue and Johnny are illuminated by his soft glow. Sue uses this light to investigated one of these dark sinister pods. They stand just over ten feet tall and the pod is about five feet wide. Sue touches one. She snaps her hand back as she realizes that the pods are warm to the touch... as if it is alive.

Sue uses a force screen to raise herself over the many rows of pod after pod. "I don't like the looks of this. This gives me a real bad feeling." She waves her hand at one of the pods and peers inside via her invisiblity. Sue lets out a cry of shock and she looses her concentration and drifts in the water. She is visibly shaken by what she saw.

Johnny rushes to his sister's aid. "What was it, sis? You okay?"

Sue regains her composure. "It's horrible, Johnny. Completely horrible. That pod has a human child in it! He's Franklin's age for God sakes. We have to search these pods for Alicia."

"I'll fly. We'll both look for Alicia." Johnny manually adjusts his flame and flies behind Sue and he picks her up and they are on their way.

Sue and Johnny scan pod after pod. Row after row of young adults, children, and babies. They both were beginning to wonder what these aliens wanted with all these humans? She didn't want to think of it. "We have to help all these children, Johnny. Reed has to find a way somehow."

The Human Torch flies himself and Sue towards a pod with a female adult form. "Is it Alicia?!" asks a hopeful Johnny. They fly to the side of the pod to see a muscular green amazon female drifting in some sort of liquid. Her dark emerald hair cascades down her shoulders. Her features are striking and noble. Johnny can't help but admire her shapely naked form. "Sue. Look!"

Susan Richards looks at the regal face of the green amazon woman. She suddenly opens her eyes and stares back at Sue. Sue gazes into the woman's eyes and hears a distant voice calling for help. A voice just at the back of Sue's head. It begins as a soft whisper that slowly gets louder and louder. Suddenly Susan Richards understands the woman's voice. "We have to get her out of there, Johnny!" yells Sue as she strategically positions herself with a force field. "We can't leave her trapped in there… she needs our help. You help weaken the pod and I'll do the rest." Sue concentrates…

"If you say so, sis." Johnny flies to the top of the pod and tries out the capabilities of Reed's suit. He watches as his gloves heat with a bright orange intensity. The water around the pod begins to steam and boil. The fleshy pod begins to crinkle and wither. It suddenly cracks some more as the side begins to bulge. 'Reed sure knows his gadgets,' thinks Johnny as he admires his brother-in-law's handiwork. 'Now I just have to talk to him about his fashion design,' as Johnny thinks of his suit's conical helmet.

Suddenly a force bubble shoots out of the ruptured pod. It flies across the chamber and comes to a full stop in front of Johnny and Sue. The tall naked emerald woman steadies herself within Sue's protective force bubble. The woman speaks in a language that Johnny vaguely recognizes as being Skrull. "Pohv havk ka Saranja. Halvik ka?" What Johnny finds even more amazing is that Sue answers the woman's question.

"Hello, Saranja. I am Susan Richards and this is my brother, Johnny Storm. We are the Fantastic Four. Or half anyways..." But before Sue can continue with the introductions, a shrill shriek echoes through the watery chamber.

The Veda Ree Triad float just over their three sided pyramid. Their large black oval eyes now reflect the flickering images of the holographic projection of Sue and Johnny as they free the tall Skrull woman. The pyramid flashes red as the siren echoes through the chamber.

"They have violated a stasis pod. A navigational component of the Avatamsaka Drive... sub-clasification Skrull Eternal, Saranja... has been released from her artificialy induced coma. This will not do. Release Level One Antibodies, and bring these terrestrials to the command chamber within the Bokshii Ray. These creatures dare to meddle with our components."

Another Veda Ree speaks, "The Bokshii Ray prepares to dock. Soon we shall take a closer look at these meddlesome terrestrials. The Proto-saurids have been instructed to capture the females of the two species. The terrestrial male is expendable."

The large scaly green bodies of amphibious Proto-saurids swim from an opened valve from the ceiling. They roar as they charge with incredible ferocity. Sharp spears and tridents dart from the mass of green scales and yellow fins. Their fins are pierced with many multi-coloured rings. They certainly look the part of barbaric warriors.

"It looks like we have company!" shouts Johnny as he points to the fish-like creatures as they swim towards their direction. "I think the welcoming committee aren't too happy about us bursting one of their pods."

Saranja turns to Sue and speaks in her native Skrull dialect, "[Release me, Susan. I too shall fight against the foul enemies. They have taken my little Marja and they shall pay for such a crime. So speaks, Saranja, daughter of Molorkus the Maker. I shall not rest until I find my missing daughter and free her from these creatures!]"

Sue releases her force screen and watches as Saranja floats in the slight current. Sue is amazed as Saranja swims, more like flies, through the current towards the onrushing mass of green scaled bodies of muscle. Sue concentrates and forms a invisible wedge to break the scaly onslaught of the scaly hordes.

Johnny doesn't know what Saranja the Skrull has just said but he knows the call to action when he sees it. He adjusts his dial up a stage and increases the heat of his flame. He flies into the melee as he strikes with bursts of scalding steam. The scaly warriors scream in pain as the boiling steam sear their scaly hides. And yet they continue to fight. "These things are as stubborn as Ben!" shouts Johnny.

Using her mental control over her body, Saranja ignores the water environment and literally stops breathing. She swims into the mass of the Proto-saurids and battles her way through them. Saranja dodges spear and trident as she grabs her opponent and uses him as a club against his fellow warriors. All the time she is shouting her challenge to her lamellar opponents, "I stood my ground at the seige of the Eternal City of Telemachus. I stood next to my husband, Agenor when he was slained in battle! I shall stand my ground here. Heed my words foul creatures!"

Johnny melts his way through the primitive weaponry. Even though he can't throw his flames, Johnny is far from being helpless. He uses his heat as a weapon. The water around him begins to boil as Johnny broadcasts an ever increasing heat. The thick scaly hide of the Proto-saurid evolved from the deep pressures of their ocean world of Timor, but even their thick hides are no match to being boiled alive. "Ha! They are like a bunch of lobsters when you get down to it," jokes Johnny as he fights his way through the primitive Proto-Saurids.

Sue doesn't like this. She casts her force field around her. Proto-saurid after Proto-saurid rush her shield as they try to break through it. Sue reacts by making her shield a spiked one. 'That should deter them from getting to close,' she thinks. 'This is no good. We are no closer to finding Alicia. This is just a distraction. We have to find Reed and Ben… and Alicia.' "Johnny! Saranja! This way. Quickly!" With a wave of her hand, Sue opens a force field funnel at a valve in the organic wall. "We have to take the offensive if we want to get anywhere. Back to the Fantasticar, Johnny. We can use its scanners to track Reed and Ben."

Saranja flies through the water of the chamber towards Sue's force field. "Susan. Can you help me find my little Marja?"

"We can certainly try," answers Sue as she uses her force field to allow them to escape from the barbaric hordes of the Proto-saurids. But we have to find Reed, thinks Susan.

An Inhuman Interlude...

A hidden castle fortress in the southern jungles of Wakanda.

The room is busy with activity as many androgynous humanoids move about collecting various native Wakandan relics. They would look identical in their blue and black trousers, bare chests, and identical features... but each expresses their individuality with strange elaborate tattoos that cover their bald heads and shoulders. This is true especially for one tall humanoid that stands in the midst of the hurried commotion. He stands proud and defiant. His blue and white robes cover his large muscular frame. His arms and head are bare from clothing but not tattoos. His arms are covered in green and black intertwinning strips with seemily arcane runes. They continue to run up his arms and past his neck to his forehead. The green and black lines end in a star pattern with a winged angel, carrying a sword in one hand and a staff in the other, in the centre of the star. He is LOGOS. He is proud of his brothers. They no longer cowl under the tyranny of the Inhumans. They are finally free... with him leading them to their glorious destiny. "Hurry my children! We must return to Attilan. Our time here is at a close."

A humanoid with scarlet hieroglyphic and flame tattoos approaches Logos. He is hesitant to disturb him. His voice quivers at first as he asks his question, "What about those* that have escaped?"

[* Those being Maximus, Medusa, & Karnak of course. See Fantastic Four #437]

Logos looks down at his brother Alpha Omegan. Logos blinks his eyes as they flare with the energy of twin suns for a brief nanosecond. He smiles and pats Verbius on the shoulder. "Don't worry old friend. They haven't escaped my attention. In fact they are doing what I wanted them to do. You will just have to trust me. Trust the First Born of the Spirit of Omega. Trust me..."

Verbius nods his tattooed chin. "I'll trust your wisdom. Did I not do so with this Wakandan adventure?"

Logos takes his comrade by the shoulder and walks with him to the Inhuman shuttles that await him and the rest of his followers. "From the deepest jungles to the highest peak of Mount Wakanda... we have located and acquire artefacts of ancient antiquity... artefacts of power that shall finally free us of from Inhuman slavery!. Logos raises his arms in defiance and speaks. All Alpha Omegan stop whatever task they were performing and listen. "Brothers! Our salvation is at hand! Will you take my hand and follow me?"

The many tattooed Alpha Omegans all cheer a loud and boisterus, "YES!"

Logos smiles. "By the word of Omega! Follow me and I shall lead you to freedom!"

The Inhuman shuttles flare to life and silently exit the hidden castle's hangar. The shuutles streak silently through the Wakandan night sky towards their origin... to ATTILAN!

Reed swims through the water to the top of the tunnel. He watchs Ben walk along the bottom of the tunnel. Reed listens to his own distorted speech from his respirator. "Why don't you swim, Ben? It would be faster."

The Thing continues his walk anyways. "I want my footsies under me when there's trouble. There's always trouble eventually." The Thing can hear something moving down the tunnel towards them. He then sees many large green barbaric fishmen. "What are they, Reed?"

"Some sort of primitive Saurid species… possibly Proto-saurid. These would be the ancestors of Ch'od of the Starjammers…"

"Shut up, Stretcho, and take cover!" shouts the Thing as the onslaught of Proto-saurid barbarians engulf them. Reed just narrowly swims out of the main onslaught. They grunt and call out various warcries as they pile their attack on the Thing. Reed snakes his way through a few stragglers and hangs back and activates his wrist computer's scanner. He tests a quick suspicion.

Reed watches as the Proto-saurids hit Ben with blow after blow. He is always impressed by how Ben can hold his own against such odds and brutality. Reed knows he can trust his old friend to keep the Proto-saurids busy while he concentrates on his scanners. His wrist computer begins to beep as it scans an anomolous Proto-Saurid at the back of the attacking warriors. "I found you. Lets see just who you are." Reed swims over to that particular Proto-Saurid to confront the real enemy.

The Proto-saurid rasies its head and stares at the approaching Reed Richards. "No! Contact is forbidden." Reed ignores the alien's commands as he sets up a disrupting pulse on his wrist computer. After a quick click… the Proto-Saurid's form begins to ripple revealing a slender emerald-black Veda Ree. His large black oval eyes show no emotion. He raises his hand at Reed Richards. "Impressive but futile. Contact must be neutralized." A pulse of golden energy rings blast from his palm and engulfs Reed Richards. He tries to escape but the intense pain soon causes him to fall unconscious.

"Reed!" yells the Thing. "Now ya did it. Ya went and got me mad. If you hurt Reed! So help me…" The Thing continues his vows as he tears his way through the Proto-saurids. "If ya hurt one grey hair on Reed's head. I'll…"

The floating Veda Ree quivers in revulsion at the approaching Thing. How such a race of terrestrials could have ever evolved baffles the inquisitive Veda Ree. He forces himself to stare at the onrushing Thing. "Contact has been neutralized." He raises his hand and fires another pulse bolt that blasts the Thing back in his steps.

The Thing floats backwards from the pressure of the blast. He shakes his head as he recovers his senses. He doesn't know what he got hit with but it felt like he just went a few rounds with the Hulk. But the Thing nevers gives up. He wobbles and plants his feet on the bottom of the tunnel. "That's it! My turn…" The Thing swings at the Veda Ree.

"No!" screams the Veda Ree as it raises both hands and engulfs the Thing is a cage of emerald energy bolts. The Thing writhes in pain and eventually his struggling ceases as he also falls unconscious. The Veda Ree lets the Thing's motionless body drift in the Bokshii internal current. He watches as the Proto-Saurids transport the motionless bodies of Reed Richards and the Thing. "Prepare them for vivisection! Their genetic secrets shall soon belong to the Veda Ree!"

NEXT ISSUE:
                Be here for the conclusion to The Origin of a Species! Do the Fantastic Four find Alicia and her baby? Can they prevent the Veda Ree from returning to Earth and invading? This and lots more in FANTASTIC FOUR #439!