"L.Y., please begin the sequence. We're starting off with 20% of full power," instructed Leopard X. He was happy to stay home whilst everyone was out for dinner; besides, the air outside was fairly chilly though it was just past six.

"At once, Dr. Ozai," the computer's voice echoed throughout the large lab.

H.E.R.B.I.E. eagerly butted in, "Hooray! L.Y. & I have been waiting to see a show like this!"

The pericycle was next in line to become Leopard X's most used weapon. That is, if it worked. It was designed to take down multiple adversaries in one go, involving a piece of new knowledge in which Ozai wished to partake. He had lined the front, back, left & right sides of his armour longitudinally with a special material. Similar to the EMP function in Reed's main lab, the material would emit a "double ring" pulse of considerable magnitude to stun anything not immune to its effects.

Standing on an elevated platform for the weapon test, he passed his eye around to view the four targets placed above & below him, & on both sides too. Just as his armour was being charged up, L.Y. interjected, "Pardon me, Dr. Ozai, but you have a call from Mrs. Chen."

"What?" he gasped, looking down at his suit that was lighting up gradually.

"Hello, Ozai? Can you hear me?" came the voice of Ursa through the comms system.

Even at 20%, the pericycle had hazardous effects, for it destroyed all the intended targets the moment it was let off & disrupted the comms speakers too! The explosion was in fact injurious to the penthouse's tranquility. However, Reed's consoles & most imperative gizmos were fortunately unharmed.

"Aiya…," grumbled Ozai lowly. He took off his helmet to clear it of the excess smoke that accidentally got inside.

"Shall we try that again?" came H.E.R.B.I.E.'s curious question.

"Mrs. Chen just wanted to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day," L.Y. spoke calmly to her creator.

Ozai's voice shuddered, "That's today? Send her my greeting too, please." He remembered something extra, "Oh, tell her the comm. devices were busted, & that I'll call her later before the night is over."

He had not yet noticed that Reed's power gauntlet – the device that accessed the Negative Zone – had been upset from its position & fallen behind the counter.


On the oddly curved platform perched a paranoid Annihilus – spending the hours monitoring his intrinsically valued power source in form of a rod. Doom may have lived to escape from being killed by him, but knew better not to play games with the Negative Zone's true ruler. The cosmic control rod was pretty much secured in its place.

It hadn't occurred in quite a while, but as he turned to look outside his safe haven, what looked like a portal was open & gaping wide. Brilliant & flashing, it increased his anxiety all the more. In an irritably mad state he now flew to it to inspect right away lest it posed any kind of threat. He exited through a hole carved in the roof – cutting the air with both wings - & a silvery moving figure on the portal's other side caught his eye. He dived toward the void into the other existing world he despised.


The waiter was clad in a smart yet snazzy waistcoat; he offered two menus to Reed & Sue. He was definitely an Italian man for his words were flowery & eloquent, "It's a pleasure to serve the two of you this evening. My name is Angelo, & I must say that lovely reviews of our food were resounding perpetually through the restaurant today…"

"Reed?" asked Sue, gazing at Mister Fantastic's PDA in his palm.

"Oh, yes! We're ready to order our meal," he said quickly.

Sue went first, "I'm going for your signature pappardelle dish, with the truffle oil, please."

"A wise choice, Invisible Woman," muttered Angelo with his smooth smile, "& you, Mister Fantastic?" He came across as a speaker with good clarity, not just because of the profound silence of the private room they were in.

"I'm ordering the orzo topped with basil & tomato. Number 54 on the list," answered Reed, pointing to a spot on his menu.

"Ah, one of the dishes that sets this place abuzz..," Angelo commented. "Thank you very much," he wrapped it up before taking the menus with him. With an unusual celerity, he left the room, disappearing behind the doors in an instant.

"This place tops the list of the best Italian restaurants in the city," said Reed, sounding proud of himself to have chosen the venue for his date with Sue.

"Sounds like I'm gonna like it a lot," she mentioned.

"I'm sure you will," he sort of smirked, "So, is it time for a little…present-ation?" His tone was perfectly natural to extort a smile from her. He took out something from under the tablecloth, cherishing a tender, careful affection for it.

Without hesitation, she received the gift & unwrapped it.

"A necklace?" she queried with widened eyes.

"With your preferred type of gemstone: natural diamond," he spoke gently, "They always remind me of you. Strong, with beauteous uniformity."

"Thanks, Reed. It means so much," her voice seemed a bit broken in her nervousness, "Now comes your turn to be at the receiving end." A little chuckle sounded in her sentence as she reached below to pass him a lovely present wrapped in cream coloured paper.

"Is this a -"

"Yup. It is," she warmly responded. "For all those years before this."

"Fascinating. A compact yet elegant digital photo album…," he scrutinized it, & tapped the smooth buttons on its surface, "Slideshow modes with adjustable speed, hmmm." He browsed a number of photos they'd taken together in the past & grinned. "Thank you, Susan."

"Well, there'll be more memories to put in there for sure," she got up from her chair. "I'll be back in a bit."

He looked up to her, "That's fine by me."

"Happy Valentines," she gave him a sweet peck on the cheek before she was off. He was at leisure for a couple or so minutes to work on his PDA, with a constant smile now lining his countenance. Aside from the miracles of science & the world itself, the greatest of these miracles would be love. So he thought.