AN: Hello readers! First, I'd like to dedicate this story to my sister, without whose nagging this story probably never would have gotten finished. :)

Secondly, this is a Johnny/OC story. Sort of. It's basically the prelude to the real romance, which doesn't occur until the second movie (this story takes place during the first). But there is still lots of comedy and action, so give it a chance! On that note, no flames please. Only constructive criticism.

Enjoy and remember to Read and Review!

XXX

Everything Burns

Chapter One: Here We Go Again

I stepped up to the grand statue and looked at it unbelievingly. Of course, I knew the man well enough to expect this; Victor Von Doom was never one for simplicity.

Beside me, Ben Grimm grunted as he looked up at the statue. Ben was like another brother to me, I couldn't remember the exact time I had met him; it had been far too many years ago. He always looked out for me and protected me, something my actual brother, Reed Richards hadn't found time to do. Reed was always busy in his lab; working on some knew breakthrough or theory. I didn't dislike him for it, his work was what got him so far, but sometimes I felt like I barely knew him. At least he remembered to bring me along this time.

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised," I muttered as I looked up towards Victor's too perfect face.

Reed, who stood to my right, said, "High open space, exposed structural elements. Obviously aimed at first time-visitors to create feelings of… smallness, inadequacy."

Ben looked over at Reed. "Good thing it ain't workin'! Reed, what're we doing here? This guy's fast-food, strip-mall science…," he said.

"I agree with Ben, Reed," I said. "You know how Victor is… if it doesn't benefit him he won't agree to it."

"This wasn't our first stop, in case you forgot NASA," Reed told us. "And Victor's not that bad. He's just a little…"

"Conceited?"

Reed looked at me disapprovingly. "Larger than life," he said.

I sighed. It was so like my brother to judge someone based on their accomplishments. Victor was a billion dollar scientist. Apparently that was good enough for Reed. I wasn't about to accept Victor so easily.

I looped my arm through Ben's and said, "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

The three of us walked past the giant statues and through the front doors into the atrium of Von Doom Industries. It was bustling with people, but I knew exactly where I was going, having been in the building numerous times. I led Ben towards the front desk as Reed added, "He's financed some of the biggest breakthroughs of this century."

"Really?" I asked sarcastically.

"You'd never know it!" Ben added in the same tone.

Reed was quiet the rest of the way to the desk, but I gladly let him address the less-than-cheerful receptionist.

"Reed Richards, Kara Richards and Ben Grimm to see…"

The woman cut him off and handed each of us a pass card. "Executive elevator. Top floor," she told us dully, before turning back to her desk.

Reed looked at Ben and I questioningly and I just shrugged. I'd expected as much. Ben, however, asked, "What's the price for a smile around here?"

"I'm not sure," I muttered so only he could hear. "Got a couple billion dollars?"

Ben chuckled as we followed Reed to an elevator and stepped inside. I watched as Reed pressed the button for the top floor, his hand shaking slightly. I also noticed that his face held a nervous look.

"Nervous?" I asked him, already knowing the answer.

"A little," he admitted, clutching a small black box tighter to him.

I put a hand on his arm. "Relax, Reed. You've done this a million times before. If you can stand up in front of NASA and do this, I'm certain Victor will be no problem."

Reed smiled weakly and turned his attention back to the elevator doors.

I sighed. That's what I got for trying to help. A nod and then silence. I should be used to it; Reed was never very skilled when it came to human interaction. But sometimes I still wished it had been different for us. I wanted a brother, not a lab partner. But that's all Reed could be.

The conference room was dark; the shadow engulfed most of the spacious room except for the place Reed and I stood. I was not there for just moral support either; I was operating the hologram machine, which I had helped design with Reed. One of our science projects. Ben stood alone in a corner of the room, and even from my place I could hear him yawn.

I started up the hologram and within seconds, stars, planets and constellations filled the room.

"My research suggests," Reed began, "that exposure to a high-energy cosmic storm borne on solar winds might have triggered the evolution of early planetary life."

On cue, I changed the hologram so that a giant red cloud (the storm) enveloped the stars and planets. As the cloud washed over their hologram of Earth, I quickly glanced down the table at Von Doom, who was hidden silently in the shadows.

Reed continued. "In six weeks another cloud with the same elemental profile will pass Earth's orbit. A study in space could advance our knowledge about the structure of the human genome, and help cure countless diseases, extend human life…"

Victor cut him off, clearing his throat.

Reed, however, was not done his presentation and said, "Give kids the chance to be stronger, healthier, less prone to…"

"Turn it off. Please."

"But I haven't fully explained my…"

"Yes, you have," Victor interrupted again. "Imagination. Creativity. Passion. Those were always your trademarks."

Suddenly, lights flickered on in the room and I could finally see Victor Von Doom. Sure, I could see the likeness to the majestic statue outside, but his real face lacked the consideration and somewhat understanding that the statue portrayed. Instead, his face was darker, commanding.

Victor dropped a magazine onto the table. I could see the cover from where I stood and I glared. There was a picture of Reed on the front over the words: Richards Bankrupt, Grant Cutbacks.

"But dreams don't pay the bills do they?" Victor mocked as a condescending smile grew on his face. "Same old Reed; the hopeless optimist. Still reaching for the stars, with the world on your back."

Reed did the opposite of what I would have. Instead of making a sarcastic comment or blowing up in Victor's face, he simply ignored the jabs and said, "You remember in school we talked about working together. That's what I was about to explain…"

He nodded in my direction and I changed the hologram again, this time a shuttle bearing the Von Doom insignia appeared.

Victor smiled. "So it's not my money you want. It's my toys… Tell me, if NASA doesn't trust you, why should I?"

I stared at him. They had visited NASA just the day before. How could Victor already know that they had been rejected?

Ben must have thought the same thing because he stood up more alertly too, and then Victor's eyes were on him.

"That's my job," Victor said, answering their unvoiced questions. "To stay a step ahead. To know what other men don't."

Ben walked over to Reed and turned his back to Victor. I heard him whisper, "I can't take this."

"Ben, this is business. Just work," Reed replied.

"He's right Ben."

I looked toward the door and smiled at the sight of Sue Storm. Sue was still as beautiful as she was the last time I saw her, at her own birthday party a few months before. Her blonde hair was tied back in a tight knot and her brown eyes were framed behind smart, black-rimmed glasses.

"It's just business," Sue finished.

"I think you all know my Director of Genetic Research, Susan Storm," Victor introduced, though no introduction was needed.

"Heya Susie," Ben greeted warmly, the same way he would to me.

I was too excited at seeing my close friend again to notice the short exchange between Ben and Reed. I watched as Sue walked towards us and gave Ben a warm hug. Only then did I look at Reed, who looked as though he had made the biggest discovery of mankind.

"Kara, it's so good to see you again!" Sue said as she stepped over to hug me.

I laughed. "I know! Nearly half a year is too long!"

Sue smiled as she pulled back from me and turned to Reed. I mentally groaned as they stiffly shook hands.

"You're… you've… I mean… how've you been…?" Reed stuttered.

"Never better," Sue replied coolly.

I watched as they stared at each other for a few moments, and then Victor put a hand on Sue's shoulder.

"This isn't going to be a problem, is it?" he asked, his tone betraying his fake concern.

"Not at all."

"Ancient history."

Victor smiled, and I frowned. "Good. Then you're just in time to hear the great Reed Richards ask me for help." He turned to Reed and said, "You know, you made a lot of folks at MIT feel like a junior high science fair. So you'll excuse me if I savour the moment."

Again, Reed ignored the insult. "You back this mission, and I'll sign over a fair percentage of any applications or…"

"The number's seventy-five," Victor demanded. "And it's applications and patents."

"What about his first born?" Ben muttered.

Reed looked at him and whispered, "Ben, the money's not important. We could save lives."

Victor continued. "Twenty-five percent of a billion is enough to keep the lights on, isn't it? Maybe even pay off your forth mortgage on the Baxter Building."

I looked at him incredulously, wondering how he knew so much about us.

"Deal?"

Reed looked at Ben, who shook his head no, and then to me. I was conflicted. I didn't want to work under Victor, that was the reason why I had turned down many job offers, but I also wanted Reed to get this. His reputation needed this.

When I didn't give any indication, Reed turned back to Victor and gave a short nod.

Victor grinned and held out his hand to Reed. "Well then, to our future. Together," he said.

When I left with Reed and Ben, Ben was still skeptical about Victor. I couldn't blame him; I was somewhat against the idea as well. I stepped into the elevator and listened as Ben and Reed continued to talk.

"He knew about NASA," Ben said. "What if he made the call to shut us down?"

"Ben, think about all the people we can help if this works…," Reed replied.

Ben sighed. "Maybe you should think about yourself for once. You always let this guy push you around…"

"We got what we wanted. That's enough," Reed said.

"I know, I know. I'm just worried about what he wants… speaking of which…"

I smiled as Sue joined us in the elevator, but fell back with Ben as Sue turned to Reed.

"Reed, you should know those solar winds have been picking up speed," she told him professionally.

Reed nodded and replied, "Oh, I factored them into my coordinates."

"Right…," Sue said. "Of course you did…in theory. It's a little different once you're out there."

Reed turned to her. "I can assure you that…"

"So when do we leave?" I asked Sue in an attempt to save the conversation.

"I'll be scheduling the launch," Sue told me. "So call me in the morning to talk about resources and crew."

Sue gave me a brief smile, which disappeared as she turned to Reed. Sue held out a business card, but Reed didn't take it.

"I think I remember the number," he said.

"It's been changed," Sue said simply.

I saw Ben grimace and Reed look downcast, so I took the card from Sue and tucked it away in my pocket. The elevator doors opened and Reed and Sue walked out, followed by Ben and myself.

"As far as crew, I was hoping Ben could pilot the mission," Reed said.

"Well," Sue began looking at Ben sympathetically, "We already have a pilot on our payroll, but he's welcome to ride shotgun. You remember my brother Johnny…"

I stopped dead in my tracks, causing Ben to bump into me. Johnny? Johnny Storm? Who in their right mind would let Johnny Storm pilot the mission? Obviously someone insane.

Sue looked at me understandingly. "I thought you might do that," she said, referring to my stone-like stance. Sue stepped back to talk to me more privately as Reed tried to help Ben control his rage.

"I've already talked to Johnny about it," Sue said. "He knows you're coming, but I'll keep him in line. I promise."

I just nodded. I was not going to enjoy this trip.