“So, what’s the Savage Land like?” Franklin Richards said.
“About like this,” Shanna Plunder said, prodding Gorgilla with an elbow. “Sadly.”
“Giant monkeys?”
“Giant everything,” Shanna said.
“SUV!” Franklin yelped.
“I see it! I see it!” Shanna said, yanking on the immense ape’s shaggy mane. Gorgilla snarled and shoved the vehicle aside as the driver desperately spun the wheel. Four tires burst and then Gorgilla was past it, leaping up onto a delivery truck. Giant fists thudded against a hairy chest.
“Oh no you don’t! None of that now,” Shanna barked, digging her heels into Gorgilla’s neck. He yowled and jumped off the groaning truck, slapping an offending fire hydrant through a display window in a show of anger.
“I hope nobody was in there,” Franklin said, holding tight to Shanna’s midsection. She patted his arm.
“New Yorkers have a sixth sense about these things, Frank. Yeah pal? Screw you!” Shanna directed that last at an irate newsstand proprietor who howled imprecations as Gorgilla brushed aside his signage. “Don’t make me turn this thing around!”
“Please don’t turn it around!” Franklin said, closing his eyes.
“You know, you really should be used to this by now,” Shanna said. “I mean, isn’t this an average Wednesday for you?”
“Riding a giant monkey? That’s a Saturday,” Franklin said, eyes still closed. “I still don’t have to like it. Are we going to the UN Building?”
“Yep.”
“Good,” Franklin said, cracking an eye. The scenery was a blur and his stomach lurched. He was far too aware of the feel of the muscles of Shanna’s belly pressing against his arms, and wondered briefly whether what he was feeling was in any way related to the numerous lectures he’d heard his mother give to his Uncle Johnny over the years. And, if so, what, exactly, was so bad about it? Then, another part of his brain wondered whether it was possible to be even more annoyingly analytical about the situation.
“You okay, kid?” Shanna said. “Tightened your grip there.”
“Sorry,” Franklin said, flushing.
“No worries,” the woman said, grinning. “You blonde boys are all the same, ain’t ya?” Her grin faded as she thought of her own boy. And he was a boy, in a lot of ways, for all that he was also a man. Ka-Zar had sent her to New York to act as the Savage Land’s ambassador to the United Nations. Riding a giant monkey through the streets probably wasn’t what he’d had in mind, however.
Then, he wasn’t exactly one to talk, was he? He was probably getting into all sorts of trouble—
“Bus!” Franklin said.
“Damn it!”
|
#4
AUG 10 |
 |
The Mole Who Roared, Part Four:
“Here Be Monsters!”
The United Nations Building
“You’re too late, Richards! The Mole-Man stands TRIUMPHANT!” the Mole Man shrilled, shaking his staff over his head. The Fantastic Four-Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing-faced off against a baker’s dozen of stumpy yellow Moloids, all armed and armored, as well as Count Krang, Ambassador from Atlantis, and the Latverian representative, the Doombot designated AlphaOne.
“Technically, you don’t,” Crystal Amaquelin-Maximoff said, her voice sharp. “But if you’ll all settle down, we’ll get to that as soon as possible.”
“Crystal?” Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, said, swooping over the podium. “What’re you—”
“My duty. Hello, Johnny…please leave.” Crystal frowned. “The four of you.”
“Hell with that,” Ben Grimm, the Thing said, slamming rocky fists together. “Especially after Moley sent his goon after us.”
“Goon?” Crystal turned.
The Mole Man hesitated. “I-ah-may have inadvertently summoned my army, yes.” He shrugged. “How was I to know this would be settled amicably?”
“Listening to other people might be a start,” Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic, said. “An invasion? Really, Harvey.”
“Don’t you lecture me! I was doing it your way! The civilized way,” the Mole Man snarled. He gestured with his staff. “This isn’t my fault!”
“Right…and those monsters outside just followed you up here, hunh?” the Torch said. “Come off it, Moley. You do this every six months—”
“Don’t call me that!” the Mole Man yowled, firing his staff. The Torch easily avoided the blast and returned the favor, sending a strip of flame that forced the Mole Man to stumble back. The Doombot stepped between them, emerald cloak flaring.
"Please, Mister Storm, do try and curb your youthful exuberance. You are, after all, in the presence of the gathered might of the free nations of the world. Now, before that untoward interruption, Mrs. Amaquelin-Maximoff was just about to tally the results of the vote," AlphaOne said.
"Who you callin' ‘untoward’, pot-face?" the Torch snapped as he swooped towards the Doombot, molten energies coiling around his hooked fingers. AlphaOne did not glance up as Krang intercepted the Torch, one flex of sea-born muscle sending the warrior-prime of Atlantis into a mid-air collision with Storm.
Both men twisted and rolled through the air, Storm cursing and Krang silent and stony-faced until a sudden spike of unseen pressure forced them apart. Sue leaned casually against the edge of the hole the Thing had created in the wall only moments ago and increased the size of the invisible wall, pushing the two even further away from one another.
"Little brother, am I going to have to go over the does and don'ts of super-heroics with you again? Can you dig down into that pea-brain of yours and recite rule six point two for me, hmmm?" she said, her voice mild, yet crackling with steel.
The Torch dropped from the air and landed lightly beside her. "'Never let Namor-slash-Attuma-slash-Krang get his hands on you, ‘cause he can crush your skull like a grape'?"
"Good man. Smart man. Be glad he isn’t as strong as Namor, otherwise we'd be mopping you up off the rug," Sue stated coolly, slapping her brother lightly on the back of the head. Then she looked up and inclined her head in Krang's direction.
Slightly smirking, Krang returned the nod. “Wise words, woman. This may be one of those rare occasions when I can understand Namor’s perverted fascination for you.”
“How sweet.” Sue smiled brightly and glanced at Johnny. "Pay attention. This is how you deal with Atlanteans." She twisted abruptly around, her eyes narrowing. The air around Krang's head suddenly coalesced and solidified into an airtight bubble. The Atlantean experienced a moment of shock and began to claw at the bubble, forgetting briefly that he could hold his breath far longer than any surface dweller. Four more bubbles popped into being, one around each fist and foot moments later. As his hands and feet were pulled apart and held apart, Krang grimaced in chagrin, struggling vainly.
"Susan, you're a treasure." Reed laughed and gave his wife a peck on the cheek as he and the Thing ambled towards the podium. The Moloids surrounded them and Reed sighed. "All right Harvey, call off your pets."
"Make me." The Mole Man hissed, leveling his staff.
Crystal put a hand out between them. “Do it.”
“But—”
“Do you want to be taken seriously, or not?” Crystal snapped. The Mole-Man flinched back. He rapped the podium with his staff and the Moloids scattered, retreating away from the Fantastic Four.
“Now. Maybe we can all be sensible about this,” Reed began, climbing the steps towards them. “We can talk this out—”
“We were talking,” AlphaOne said. “You’re the ones who interrupted.”
"Victor," Reed said quietly, his voice betraying no emotion.
"Reed." The Doombot clasped his hands behind his back. “And I am designated AlphaOne.”
Reed blinked. “Ah. Another android. Remote interface or—”
“Self-evolved concurrent brain patterns,” AlphaOne said.
Reed nodded. “Hmh. But you recognize your artificiality? Fascinating. Would it be rude of me to—”
“Yes, very likely,” AlphaOne said. “Besides, I have diplomatic immunity.”
“Preposterous.” Reed frowned. “Unless you’ve been officially recognized under the Galatea Act of 1984…hmmm. Are you sure I can’t—”
“Yes. And I have.”
"Hug him already," the Thing muttered as he stood behind Reed. Man and machine both gave Ben an odd look before continuing their sizing of one another up. "What? Can't take a joke? You really do have Doomsie’s brain whatchamacallits." Ben shook his head and stalked towards the Mole Man. "C'mon Moley, put down the stick an’ go home."
"Never! You heard her! I will be a member of this august forum! I have every right to be here!" the Mole Man shrieked, poking at the Thing with the tip of his staff.
Ben sighed and reached for the tiny king. "Moley, put down the staff before ya--YEOWCH!" Ben yelped as a spark flared and singed his rocky palm. Shaking the injured hand to cool it, the Thing snatched Mole Man's staff from his grip and tossed it to Reed. "Razzamafrassin...here, Stretch. Take this before I beat his pointy head in with it."
Reed caught the staff in mid-air and stretched his arm until he could hand it to his wife without taking his eyes off of the Doombot.
“Uncalled for,” Crystal said, stepping past the android to face down Reed.
"Is what he says true?" Reed asked.
"Of course. I called for a vote, as is my right, and…” She glanced at the Doombot. “If the gentleman from Latveria will do the honors?”
“Tallying,” the Doombot said. His eyes flashed for a moment, then, he blinked. “Surprisingly, the Mole Man has achieved membership," AlphaOne said, the barest trace of amusement apparent in his voice. "A delightful turn of events yes?"
"For some at least. You had your reasons, I assume?" Reed said, looking at Crystal.
"You may assume if you like. Who am I to stop you?" Crystal shrugged eloquently, her cape falling from one shoulder, its edge curling gracefully around her leg. She looked past Reed at Sue and Johnny. "If you would, Susan, be so kind as to release Krang. After all, he does have diplomatic immunity. I will vouchsafe for his good conduct."
Sue slapped her hand quickly over Johnny's mouth as he made to comment and gave a glance at Krang. The invisible bonds holding him aloft dissipated like a dream and he only fell a few feet before catching himself and swooping upwards again. Krang was about to speak, but AlphaOne cut him off.
"You will pay for the wall your ape demolished yes?"
Reed sighed and shot a glare at Ben. "Of course. Harvey will pay for his damages as well I trust?" Reed said with icy politeness.
Crystal inclined her head. "You have my word.”
They continued to face one another, eyes never wavering from the other’s face. Ben and the Mole Man looked back and forth between them. The Thing coughed discretely and raised his hand. He coughed again louder and managed to acquire the attention of everyone.
"Soooo, we gonna fight or what? Cause Moley's pets are still kinda roamin' around outside." The Thing hiked a thumb over his shoulder.
“No. No fighting.” Crystal turned. “We—”
The wall, already damaged by the Fantastic Four’s earlier entrance, completely crumbled as something far too large and far too hairy tumbled through, off balance and angry!
Five minutes earlier
“This is not going to end well!” Franklin said, tensing as Gorgilla thundered towards the police barricades. The creature had sped up as it caught sight of the other monsters gathered around the United Nations building.
Shanna leaned back, wrapping an arm around Franklin. “Ride’s over, kiddo. Time to get off and out of the way!” She stood and shoved them both off, twisting mid-air in order to cushion the boy as they hit the street. Code: BLUE officers were already moving to intercept them as Gorgilla continued on, not noticing that he was suddenly unburdened.
With a bellow, he crashed into the Tricephalous, even as the three-headed creature staggered upright. The two monsters went down in a tangle. Moloids scattered as the creatures began to tussle, with loud grunts and roars. Other monsters, scattered across the city, began to converge, responding to that oldest of instincts-the urge to watch two of their fellows beat each other into pulp.
“Jesus!” Lieutenant Stone barked as he helped Shanna and Franklin to their feet. “This we did not need!”
“You’re telling me? This was a new suit!” Shanna said, gesturing to her clothes.
“Look out!” one of the officers among the group gathered nearby shouted, pointing. Something that might have been Godzilla’s younger, skinnier cousin, launched itself at Gorgilla’s back and was shoved away for its trouble. It stumbled, tripping over its own talons, its long tail flashing out to overturn or crush cars and armored vehicles alike. Shanna threw herself at Stone, knocking him flat as the tail passed overhead. She rose, spinning around, her eyes searching desperately for Franklin.
Nearby, Hadal was on his feet. Power-suppressing restraints were being fitted onto him as he tried to clear his head. The big Deviant blinked orange lights out of his eyes as men in protective gear hooked his arms together.
“What—” he muttered. “No. No, I think not.” With a roll of his shoulders he tore the restraints asunder and shook the officers off. A monstrous foot slammed down, taking out the van he’d been about to be loaded into. Hadal fell backwards, eyes wide.
“Oh, not good. Not good at all.”
The monsters were all engaged in a rumpus. They shoved, pulled and thrashed against each other in an awkward ballet of violence. Car alarms blared and fire hydrants popped as the beasts slammed into buildings and fell over. Hadal bounded over the barricades, heading for the United Nations Building. When the creatures were in this state, only his father’s staff could calm them.
And if his father were currently engaged with the Fantastic Four…the Deviant shook his head as he ran, dodging tails, flying cars and debris. His father was a good man, a smart man but he was easily distracted.
Hadal, on the other hand, was not. Even so, he noticed the boy. Yellow-haired, caught between an overturned police car and the flailing tail of the creature called Dragoom. The boy wasn’t panicking, but neither was he moving, merely staring at the oncoming tail with horrified eyes.
Hadal lunged.
Now, Inside the United Nations
Gorgilla crashed down onto the podium with a roar. A hairy hand flashed out, scattering international representatives.
“Damn it! Sue, get them to safety!” Reed said, stretching his form to ensnare the gigantic ape as it rose to its feet. “Ben! Johnny! Handle his playmates!”
“On it!” the Torch said, hurtling into the air as the Tricephalous thrust its heads through the crumbling wall. Three gouts of flame enveloped Johnny and he spun through them, absorbing the crackling fire into his own. “Ha! Seriously though, I can’t take this. Have it back,” he said, a too-bright lance of flame streaming from his hands to catch the monster in its faces.
Something that looked like a living mudslide reached for the Torch, forcing him to zip backwards. The Thing ripped up a section of carpet and snapped it like a whip, knocking the creature over. It landed with a soggy thump and shrieked like an oversized child.
“My staff! I need my staff!” the Mole Man said, jumping up and down. “Don’t hurt them! Get me my staff!”
“Someone get the man his staff,” Crystal said, using a strong gust of wind to muzzle one of the Tricephalous’ darting heads. “Krang!”
“Krang does not take your orders, woman!” Krang roared, launching himself at Gorgilla, who was straining out from under Mr. Fantastic’s elastic form. The Atlantean was caught in mid-air, the ape’s fingers tightening around him like a vise. Krang struggled, forcing his legs up and stretching his form to spread the creature’s fingers apart. “I require aid!” he bellowed.
“And I require that you make up your mind!” Crystal snapped, gesturing. Tricephalous’ flame curled away from her and licked across Gorgilla’s arm. He squalled and dropped Krang.
AlphaOne stepped aside as a muddy fist crashed into the floor. The Doombot extended a hand and a burst of energy cut across the dripping thing’s skull. It reeled, clapping hands to its head. Behind him, Sue used her powers to gently but firmly herd the assembled dignitaries out of the auditorium. She glanced down and realized that she was still holding the Mole Man’s staff.
“Damn. Reed!” she said, turning and hurling the staff like a javelin. Reed’s head snapped around at Susan’s cry, and his arm shot forward like a snapped rubber-band.
“Got it! Harvey!” Reed said, his arm looping backwards, the staff spinning through the air. The Mole Man leaped ineffectually into the air as the staff curved over his head and smacked into the waiting palm of Hadal.
“Father. Time to end this,” the Deviant said, setting Franklin down and extending the staff to the Mole Man. “We’ve made our point, I believe.”
The Mole Man grabbed the staff and touched the thin control pad with his thumb, activating a signal that stretched invisibly towards the brain stem of each and every monster above ground. “Home,” the Mole Man whispered.
And the monsters went. Reed slithered back into human shape as Gorgilla stumbled away, followed by the other monsters. The Mole Man leaned heavily on his staff, head lowered. He looked up as Reed approached.
“I want to go home. I’m tired.”
“Harvey, we can’t look the other way this time,” Reed said. “We can’t—”
“If you try to hurt him,” Hadal snarled, taking a step forward, fists clenched.
The Thing’s outstretched arm caught him. “Ease up, Gigantor.” Ben looked at Crystal. “Reed’s right, Crys. Moley has to pay.”
“He will.” Crystal nodded. “Reparations for this…misunderstanding will be forthcoming.” She looked at Elder, smiling slightly, then back at Reed. “You’re not arguing with the results?”
“Why should I?” Reed shrugged. “If there was fraud, the security council will overturn the vote. If there wasn’t, well, perhaps it’s time. If nothing else, it’ll keep this from happening again.” Reed’s eyes narrowed. “Because I’m holding you responsible.”
Crystal’s smile faltered. Reed continued. “I don’t know whether you went about this as a representative of Genosha, or on behalf of Black Bolt, but regardless, you’re responsible for Harvey Elder’s good behavior, Crystal. Anything he does now, from this moment, is on you.”
“Hardly fair….but then, you’re not interested in fairness, are you, Richards? Only in shifting blame,” AlphaOne said.
Reed ignored the android. He pointed at Crystal. “You’re ushering in a new age of Superpolitics, Crystal…metahuman independent states with influence on world affairs. With the addition of Elder—providing it holds up—you’ve effectively created a voting bloc, depending on the influence you all can individually exert.” Reed glanced at Krang and at AlphaOne, then back at Crystal. “Are you sure you’re up to the responsibility?”
Crystal said nothing. Reed turned away.
Nearby, Sue wrapped Franklin in a hug. “I’m not even going to ask,” she whispered. “Are you—”
“Fine. Thanks to Shanna and the big guy. Who is he?” Franklin mumbled, returning his mother’s hug.
Sue kissed the top of his head. “I’m not entirely sure.” She looked at Hadal, who met her gaze. Sue mouthed the words ‘thank you’ and Hadal nodded. Then, Sue looked down. “Shanna?”
“Somebody calling me?” Shanna said, stepping gingerly through the crumbled wall. “Holy crap, what happened in here?” She looked at Crystal. “Hey, did I miss the meeting?”
“Is that Ka-Zar’s wife?” Johnny said, standing with the Thing a few feet away.
The Thing shrugged. “Might as well be, everyone else is here,” Ben said, running his hands over his rocky skull. “Geez. Moley really knows how to throw a party, hunh?”
“What I want to know is why the Avengers don’t handle this kind of thing. Why are we stuck with it?” the Torch asked, gesturing.
“What else we gonna do on a Wednesday, Matchstick?” Ben rumbled. He looked at the Mole Man, standing between Crystal and Krang. Then he looked at Hadal. “Besides, I got a feeling things are gonna be changing here real soon…”
To Be Continued...
Next Issue: In Fantastic Four #5: Things change.
Previous Issue | Next Issue
“You’re too late, Richards! The Mole-Man stands TRIUMPHANT!” the Mole Man shrilled, shaking his staff over his head. The Fantastic Four-Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing-faced off against a baker’s dozen of stumpy yellow Moloids, all armed and armored, as well as Count Krang, Ambassador from Atlantis, and the Latverian representative, the Doombot designated AlphaOne.
“Technically, you don’t,” Crystal Amaquelin-Maximoff said, her voice sharp. “But if you’ll all settle down, we’ll get to that as soon as possible.”
“Crystal?” Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, said, swooping over the podium. “What’re you—”
“My duty. Hello, Johnny…please leave.” Crystal frowned. “The four of you.”
“Hell with that,” Ben Grimm, the Thing said, slamming rocky fists together. “Especially after Moley sent his goon after us.”
“Goon?” Crystal turned.
The Mole Man hesitated. “I-ah-may have inadvertently summoned my army, yes.” He shrugged. “How was I to know this would be settled amicably?”
“Listening to other people might be a start,” Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic, said. “An invasion? Really, Harvey.”
“Don’t you lecture me! I was doing it your way! The civilized way,” the Mole Man snarled. He gestured with his staff. “This isn’t my fault!”
“Right…and those monsters outside just followed you up here, hunh?” the Torch said. “Come off it, Moley. You do this every six months—”
“Don’t call me that!” the Mole Man yowled, firing his staff. The Torch easily avoided the blast and returned the favor, sending a strip of flame that forced the Mole Man to stumble back. The Doombot stepped between them, emerald cloak flaring.
"Please, Mister Storm, do try and curb your youthful exuberance. You are, after all, in the presence of the gathered might of the free nations of the world. Now, before that untoward interruption, Mrs. Amaquelin-Maximoff was just about to tally the results of the vote," AlphaOne said.
"Who you callin' ‘untoward’, pot-face?" the Torch snapped as he swooped towards the Doombot, molten energies coiling around his hooked fingers. AlphaOne did not glance up as Krang intercepted the Torch, one flex of sea-born muscle sending the warrior-prime of Atlantis into a mid-air collision with Storm.
Both men twisted and rolled through the air, Storm cursing and Krang silent and stony-faced until a sudden spike of unseen pressure forced them apart. Sue leaned casually against the edge of the hole the Thing had created in the wall only moments ago and increased the size of the invisible wall, pushing the two even further away from one another.
"Little brother, am I going to have to go over the does and don'ts of super-heroics with you again? Can you dig down into that pea-brain of yours and recite rule six point two for me, hmmm?" she said, her voice mild, yet crackling with steel.
The Torch dropped from the air and landed lightly beside her. "'Never let Namor-slash-Attuma-slash-Krang get his hands on you, ‘cause he can crush your skull like a grape'?"
"Good man. Smart man. Be glad he isn’t as strong as Namor, otherwise we'd be mopping you up off the rug," Sue stated coolly, slapping her brother lightly on the back of the head. Then she looked up and inclined her head in Krang's direction.
Slightly smirking, Krang returned the nod. “Wise words, woman. This may be one of those rare occasions when I can understand Namor’s perverted fascination for you.”
“How sweet.” Sue smiled brightly and glanced at Johnny. "Pay attention. This is how you deal with Atlanteans." She twisted abruptly around, her eyes narrowing. The air around Krang's head suddenly coalesced and solidified into an airtight bubble. The Atlantean experienced a moment of shock and began to claw at the bubble, forgetting briefly that he could hold his breath far longer than any surface dweller. Four more bubbles popped into being, one around each fist and foot moments later. As his hands and feet were pulled apart and held apart, Krang grimaced in chagrin, struggling vainly.
"Susan, you're a treasure." Reed laughed and gave his wife a peck on the cheek as he and the Thing ambled towards the podium. The Moloids surrounded them and Reed sighed. "All right Harvey, call off your pets."
"Make me." The Mole Man hissed, leveling his staff.
Crystal put a hand out between them. “Do it.”
“But—”
“Do you want to be taken seriously, or not?” Crystal snapped. The Mole-Man flinched back. He rapped the podium with his staff and the Moloids scattered, retreating away from the Fantastic Four.
“Now. Maybe we can all be sensible about this,” Reed began, climbing the steps towards them. “We can talk this out—”
“We were talking,” AlphaOne said. “You’re the ones who interrupted.”
"Victor," Reed said quietly, his voice betraying no emotion.
"Reed." The Doombot clasped his hands behind his back. “And I am designated AlphaOne.”
Reed blinked. “Ah. Another android. Remote interface or—”
“Self-evolved concurrent brain patterns,” AlphaOne said.
Reed nodded. “Hmh. But you recognize your artificiality? Fascinating. Would it be rude of me to—”
“Yes, very likely,” AlphaOne said. “Besides, I have diplomatic immunity.”
“Preposterous.” Reed frowned. “Unless you’ve been officially recognized under the Galatea Act of 1984…hmmm. Are you sure I can’t—”
“Yes. And I have.”
"Hug him already," the Thing muttered as he stood behind Reed. Man and machine both gave Ben an odd look before continuing their sizing of one another up. "What? Can't take a joke? You really do have Doomsie’s brain whatchamacallits." Ben shook his head and stalked towards the Mole Man. "C'mon Moley, put down the stick an’ go home."
"Never! You heard her! I will be a member of this august forum! I have every right to be here!" the Mole Man shrieked, poking at the Thing with the tip of his staff.
Ben sighed and reached for the tiny king. "Moley, put down the staff before ya--YEOWCH!" Ben yelped as a spark flared and singed his rocky palm. Shaking the injured hand to cool it, the Thing snatched Mole Man's staff from his grip and tossed it to Reed. "Razzamafrassin...here, Stretch. Take this before I beat his pointy head in with it."
Reed caught the staff in mid-air and stretched his arm until he could hand it to his wife without taking his eyes off of the Doombot.
“Uncalled for,” Crystal said, stepping past the android to face down Reed.
"Is what he says true?" Reed asked.
"Of course. I called for a vote, as is my right, and…” She glanced at the Doombot. “If the gentleman from Latveria will do the honors?”
“Tallying,” the Doombot said. His eyes flashed for a moment, then, he blinked. “Surprisingly, the Mole Man has achieved membership," AlphaOne said, the barest trace of amusement apparent in his voice. "A delightful turn of events yes?"
"For some at least. You had your reasons, I assume?" Reed said, looking at Crystal.
"You may assume if you like. Who am I to stop you?" Crystal shrugged eloquently, her cape falling from one shoulder, its edge curling gracefully around her leg. She looked past Reed at Sue and Johnny. "If you would, Susan, be so kind as to release Krang. After all, he does have diplomatic immunity. I will vouchsafe for his good conduct."
Sue slapped her hand quickly over Johnny's mouth as he made to comment and gave a glance at Krang. The invisible bonds holding him aloft dissipated like a dream and he only fell a few feet before catching himself and swooping upwards again. Krang was about to speak, but AlphaOne cut him off.
"You will pay for the wall your ape demolished yes?"
Reed sighed and shot a glare at Ben. "Of course. Harvey will pay for his damages as well I trust?" Reed said with icy politeness.
Crystal inclined her head. "You have my word.”
They continued to face one another, eyes never wavering from the other’s face. Ben and the Mole Man looked back and forth between them. The Thing coughed discretely and raised his hand. He coughed again louder and managed to acquire the attention of everyone.
"Soooo, we gonna fight or what? Cause Moley's pets are still kinda roamin' around outside." The Thing hiked a thumb over his shoulder.
“No. No fighting.” Crystal turned. “We—”
The wall, already damaged by the Fantastic Four’s earlier entrance, completely crumbled as something far too large and far too hairy tumbled through, off balance and angry!
Five minutes earlier
“This is not going to end well!” Franklin said, tensing as Gorgilla thundered towards the police barricades. The creature had sped up as it caught sight of the other monsters gathered around the United Nations building.
Shanna leaned back, wrapping an arm around Franklin. “Ride’s over, kiddo. Time to get off and out of the way!” She stood and shoved them both off, twisting mid-air in order to cushion the boy as they hit the street. Code: BLUE officers were already moving to intercept them as Gorgilla continued on, not noticing that he was suddenly unburdened.
With a bellow, he crashed into the Tricephalous, even as the three-headed creature staggered upright. The two monsters went down in a tangle. Moloids scattered as the creatures began to tussle, with loud grunts and roars. Other monsters, scattered across the city, began to converge, responding to that oldest of instincts-the urge to watch two of their fellows beat each other into pulp.
“Jesus!” Lieutenant Stone barked as he helped Shanna and Franklin to their feet. “This we did not need!”
“You’re telling me? This was a new suit!” Shanna said, gesturing to her clothes.
“Look out!” one of the officers among the group gathered nearby shouted, pointing. Something that might have been Godzilla’s younger, skinnier cousin, launched itself at Gorgilla’s back and was shoved away for its trouble. It stumbled, tripping over its own talons, its long tail flashing out to overturn or crush cars and armored vehicles alike. Shanna threw herself at Stone, knocking him flat as the tail passed overhead. She rose, spinning around, her eyes searching desperately for Franklin.
Nearby, Hadal was on his feet. Power-suppressing restraints were being fitted onto him as he tried to clear his head. The big Deviant blinked orange lights out of his eyes as men in protective gear hooked his arms together.
“What—” he muttered. “No. No, I think not.” With a roll of his shoulders he tore the restraints asunder and shook the officers off. A monstrous foot slammed down, taking out the van he’d been about to be loaded into. Hadal fell backwards, eyes wide.
“Oh, not good. Not good at all.”
The monsters were all engaged in a rumpus. They shoved, pulled and thrashed against each other in an awkward ballet of violence. Car alarms blared and fire hydrants popped as the beasts slammed into buildings and fell over. Hadal bounded over the barricades, heading for the United Nations Building. When the creatures were in this state, only his father’s staff could calm them.
And if his father were currently engaged with the Fantastic Four…the Deviant shook his head as he ran, dodging tails, flying cars and debris. His father was a good man, a smart man but he was easily distracted.
Hadal, on the other hand, was not. Even so, he noticed the boy. Yellow-haired, caught between an overturned police car and the flailing tail of the creature called Dragoom. The boy wasn’t panicking, but neither was he moving, merely staring at the oncoming tail with horrified eyes.
Hadal lunged.
Now, Inside the United Nations
Gorgilla crashed down onto the podium with a roar. A hairy hand flashed out, scattering international representatives.
“Damn it! Sue, get them to safety!” Reed said, stretching his form to ensnare the gigantic ape as it rose to its feet. “Ben! Johnny! Handle his playmates!”
“On it!” the Torch said, hurtling into the air as the Tricephalous thrust its heads through the crumbling wall. Three gouts of flame enveloped Johnny and he spun through them, absorbing the crackling fire into his own. “Ha! Seriously though, I can’t take this. Have it back,” he said, a too-bright lance of flame streaming from his hands to catch the monster in its faces.
Something that looked like a living mudslide reached for the Torch, forcing him to zip backwards. The Thing ripped up a section of carpet and snapped it like a whip, knocking the creature over. It landed with a soggy thump and shrieked like an oversized child.
“My staff! I need my staff!” the Mole Man said, jumping up and down. “Don’t hurt them! Get me my staff!”
“Someone get the man his staff,” Crystal said, using a strong gust of wind to muzzle one of the Tricephalous’ darting heads. “Krang!”
“Krang does not take your orders, woman!” Krang roared, launching himself at Gorgilla, who was straining out from under Mr. Fantastic’s elastic form. The Atlantean was caught in mid-air, the ape’s fingers tightening around him like a vise. Krang struggled, forcing his legs up and stretching his form to spread the creature’s fingers apart. “I require aid!” he bellowed.
“And I require that you make up your mind!” Crystal snapped, gesturing. Tricephalous’ flame curled away from her and licked across Gorgilla’s arm. He squalled and dropped Krang.
AlphaOne stepped aside as a muddy fist crashed into the floor. The Doombot extended a hand and a burst of energy cut across the dripping thing’s skull. It reeled, clapping hands to its head. Behind him, Sue used her powers to gently but firmly herd the assembled dignitaries out of the auditorium. She glanced down and realized that she was still holding the Mole Man’s staff.
“Damn. Reed!” she said, turning and hurling the staff like a javelin. Reed’s head snapped around at Susan’s cry, and his arm shot forward like a snapped rubber-band.
“Got it! Harvey!” Reed said, his arm looping backwards, the staff spinning through the air. The Mole Man leaped ineffectually into the air as the staff curved over his head and smacked into the waiting palm of Hadal.
“Father. Time to end this,” the Deviant said, setting Franklin down and extending the staff to the Mole Man. “We’ve made our point, I believe.”
The Mole Man grabbed the staff and touched the thin control pad with his thumb, activating a signal that stretched invisibly towards the brain stem of each and every monster above ground. “Home,” the Mole Man whispered.
And the monsters went. Reed slithered back into human shape as Gorgilla stumbled away, followed by the other monsters. The Mole Man leaned heavily on his staff, head lowered. He looked up as Reed approached.
“I want to go home. I’m tired.”
“Harvey, we can’t look the other way this time,” Reed said. “We can’t—”
“If you try to hurt him,” Hadal snarled, taking a step forward, fists clenched.
The Thing’s outstretched arm caught him. “Ease up, Gigantor.” Ben looked at Crystal. “Reed’s right, Crys. Moley has to pay.”
“He will.” Crystal nodded. “Reparations for this…misunderstanding will be forthcoming.” She looked at Elder, smiling slightly, then back at Reed. “You’re not arguing with the results?”
“Why should I?” Reed shrugged. “If there was fraud, the security council will overturn the vote. If there wasn’t, well, perhaps it’s time. If nothing else, it’ll keep this from happening again.” Reed’s eyes narrowed. “Because I’m holding you responsible.”
Crystal’s smile faltered. Reed continued. “I don’t know whether you went about this as a representative of Genosha, or on behalf of Black Bolt, but regardless, you’re responsible for Harvey Elder’s good behavior, Crystal. Anything he does now, from this moment, is on you.”
“Hardly fair….but then, you’re not interested in fairness, are you, Richards? Only in shifting blame,” AlphaOne said.
Reed ignored the android. He pointed at Crystal. “You’re ushering in a new age of Superpolitics, Crystal…metahuman independent states with influence on world affairs. With the addition of Elder—providing it holds up—you’ve effectively created a voting bloc, depending on the influence you all can individually exert.” Reed glanced at Krang and at AlphaOne, then back at Crystal. “Are you sure you’re up to the responsibility?”
Crystal said nothing. Reed turned away.
Nearby, Sue wrapped Franklin in a hug. “I’m not even going to ask,” she whispered. “Are you—”
“Fine. Thanks to Shanna and the big guy. Who is he?” Franklin mumbled, returning his mother’s hug.
Sue kissed the top of his head. “I’m not entirely sure.” She looked at Hadal, who met her gaze. Sue mouthed the words ‘thank you’ and Hadal nodded. Then, Sue looked down. “Shanna?”
“Somebody calling me?” Shanna said, stepping gingerly through the crumbled wall. “Holy crap, what happened in here?” She looked at Crystal. “Hey, did I miss the meeting?”
“Is that Ka-Zar’s wife?” Johnny said, standing with the Thing a few feet away.
The Thing shrugged. “Might as well be, everyone else is here,” Ben said, running his hands over his rocky skull. “Geez. Moley really knows how to throw a party, hunh?”
“What I want to know is why the Avengers don’t handle this kind of thing. Why are we stuck with it?” the Torch asked, gesturing.
“What else we gonna do on a Wednesday, Matchstick?” Ben rumbled. He looked at the Mole Man, standing between Crystal and Krang. Then he looked at Hadal. “Besides, I got a feeling things are gonna be changing here real soon…”
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To Be Continued...
Next Issue: In Fantastic Four #5: Things change.
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