I DO NOT own Fantastic 4, only Marie, Jessica, and Teresa.

Chapter 1

Doctor Reed Richards and Ben Grimm stood outside of Von Doom Industries staring at the statue being built, "Typical of Victor Von Doom to build a 30 foot statue of himself." Ben said in disbelief.

"With all the money he has you'd think he'd put it to use but no, he has to waste it on a thousand dollar statue." A voice said behind them. When they turned around they saw three girls, sisters, all with varying ages.

"I knew I liked you for some reason Marie." Ben said to the girl who had spoken. Marie, age 22, grinned as her two younger sisters stood behind her. "Are you sure it's not because you're my god father?"

Ben chuckled and hugged her then looked to the two girls behind her, "Hello Jessica, Terri."

Jessica, the middle child at the age of 17, punched his arm playfully, "I told you its Jessie, Uncle."

Ben shook his head then hugged Teresa who stood by Marie with a shy smile.

"So, why the statue?" Marie asked while wrapping her arm across her youngest sister's, Teresa age 15, shoulders.

Reed replied after he got his hugs. "Well, it's obviously aimed at first-time visitors to create feelings of smallness, inadequacy."

"Smallness, huh?" Marie looked at the statue, "More like creating the feeling of wanting to poke my eye out with a spork." She muttered the last part quietly; her sisters were the ones to hear. Jessie laughed at that while Terri giggled quietly.

"Good thing it ain't workin'." Ben said as he looked to Reed. "Reed what are we doing here? This guy's fast-food, strip mall science."

"This isn't our first stop, in case you forgot." Reed said as they started walking to the doors. Marie pushed Terri in her mentor's direction. This science stuff was her area, not Marie and Jessica's. "Besides, Victor's not that bad. He's just a little… larger than life."

"Ugh, gag me." Marie said as they stepped through the doors, Jessica had to pull her.

Marie's POV

"My research suggests that exposure to a high-energy cosmic storm borne on solar winds might have triggered the evolution of early planetary life. In six weeks another cloud with the same elemental profile will pass Earth's orbit. A study, conducted in space, could fundamentally advance our knowledge about the structure of t he human genome-"

"What's he saying?" Jessica asked trying to understand what exactly Reed was saying.

"Basically, Reed wants to go into space to play cat and mouse with this cloud to see if there is anything that he can learn from it to help us little humans to get healthier, stronger, and basically understand our species more… I think." I tried to explain the best that I could.

"Ah, but why are we here?"

I looked to her, "Right now we're just showing our support for Reed. He needs it right-"

"Turn it off. Please."

"- now. Uh oh, this can't be good." I said, "Stay here." I stood up from my seat between my sisters off to the side of the room to go stand next to Ben.

"- I don't think that I've explained my proposal fully." Reed said trying to get Victor to let him continue.

"- No I think you have," Victor interrupted once again, "same old Reed- always stretching, reaching for the stars with the weight of the world on his back. But dreams don't pay the bills, do they?" He threw the latest issue of Wired Magazine onto the table; the cover read 'Reed Richards BANKRUPT'

Reed nodded but went back to stand at the end of the table. "You remember when we were in school we talked about working together. Well, that's what I was about to explain. The storm is deadly but he shields on your station's control room are designed to protect any occupants inside."

Victor turned on the lights. "So, it's not just my money you want. It's my toys." Reed shrugged. "Tell me, if NASA doesn't trust you, then why should I?" Reed couldn't think of and answer and turned to Ben who turned to me. Victor stood up from his seat. "It's my job- to stay a step ahead and to know what other men don't."

Ben groaned, "I can't take this."

"Ben, this is business. Just work." Reed tried to reassure him.

"He's right, Ben- It is just business." A voice came from behind us.

"I think you three know my director of genetic research Susan Storm."

"Sue?" I asked with a smile.

"One more thing he's got." I heard Ben mutter to Reed before he addressed Sue. "Hey, Susie."

"Hey." She smiled and hugged Ben, "Oh, it's so nice to see you. How's Debbie?"

"Great." Ben smiled as he released her.

"Great." She smiled then turned to me. "Hey, Marie! I missed you." She hugged me and kissed me on the check. Sue was like a sister to me while she and Reed dated. She was the one I turned to when I had gotten custody of my sisters three years ago when I was 19.

"I missed you to Susu." I replied

"How are the girls?"

I smiled and pointed to my left. She turned and greeted the girls, "My goodness, you girls have grown." She said as Jessica and Teresa ran into her arms. They spoke for a minute as I turned to Reed, who was squirming where he stood. I frowned at him but he just smiled at me. Sue finally turned to Reed at that moment.

"Uh… how have you been?" He asked

"Never better." She shook his hand.

"Awkward!" I whispered yelled to Ben but it was obvious to everyone. Ben nodded.

"This isn't going to be a problem is it?" Victor cut in.

"Oh not at all." Reed said turning back to Victor.

"Good." He said and walked to where we were, "Then you're just in time to hear the great Reed Richards ask me for help. You know you made a lot of folks at M.I.T. feel like a junior high science fair so you'll excuse me of I savor the moment."

Reed cleared his throat. "You back this mission and I'll sign over a fair percentage of any applications-"

"The number is 75, and its applications and patents."

"What about his firstborn?" Ben cut in.

"Ben." Reed said

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

Reed swallowed and looked to Sue then shook Victor's hand in agreement. "Well, then, to our future. Together. It's funny how things turn out isn't it?" Said Victor

"Hilarious." I said then turned to my sisters,"Come on, we still got to go get Jessica's homework." Jessica groaned but followed Teresa and I to the elevator.

When the door opened Sue, Reed, and Ben had joined us.

"Reed, you should know those solar winds have picked up speed." Sue said

"Oh, I factored them in to my coordinates." I shook my head. Such a know it all.

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

"I can assure you-"

"When are we leaving?" Ben cut in.

"And how long are we going to be?" I added. I needed to know how long to get Jessica out of school.

Sue turned to us, "For a few days. If you have problems with getting Jessie out just let me know." She looked between Reed and Ben, "I'll be scheduling the launch. You can call me in the morning for resources and crew." She handed Reed a business card.

"I think I remember the number." He said

"It's been changed."

"Burn." I whispered and Ben hit the back of my head.

Reed took the card with a frown. Ben cleared his throat and Reed remembered what we discussed yesterday, "As far as crew I was hoping Bed could pilot the mission and Marie be the mission-"

"- Marie is already lined up to be the mission photographer in the control room, and we already have a pilot on our payroll. Marie will work with him. You're welcome to ride shotgun. Remember my brother? Johnny?"

I choked on the piece of gum I just started chewing. "I will be working with who?"

AN: Hi! New story! Let me know what you think. The comments help think me think and get inspiration. Thanks R&R