Hi… I have no excuse… sorry guys…

So, here is the new chapter 2…

The next week passed quickly and before I knew it I shuffled awkwardly beneath the imposing structure, glass and metal gleaming on every surface.

"Typical of Victor Von Doom to build a 30 foot statue of himself" Ben huffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm, I glanced up at the statue in question. From this angle it seemed at least half as tall as the skyscraper it guarded, angular dark silver steel held in place with rounded rivets in the shape of the famous millionaire, complete with business suit. Sparks flew off the side of the head as a construction team still worked on the mammoth project. The light from them seemed to reflect in the cold eyes as if they were in fact looking down at us ants. It certainly made me feel like an ant anyway. I involuntarily let out a nervous giggle.

"It's obviously aimed at first-time visitors to create feelings of smallness and inadequacy" Dr Richards decided aloud, his eyes tensely scanning the long distance above us. I agreed wholeheartedly and began wondering why I wanted to be here in the first place.

"Good thing it ain't workin'" Ben smirked at the both of us, I raised an eyebrow. Sure felt like it was.

"Y-you sure about that?" I stuttered. This whole thing was intimidating.

"What are we doing here, Reed, this guy's fast-food strip-mall science?" Ben exclaimed as we approached the sliding glass doors.

"This wasn't our first stop, in case you've forgotten" Dr Richards reminded him, NASA's rejection was still a sore point for all of us, but I still didn't understand why they were so against asking their supposed 'college friend'. He couldn't be that bad, could he?

"I thought he was your friend or something?" I asked, confused.

"Victor's not that bad, he's just a little… larger than life" Dr Richards explained, I glanced back at the statue and wondered if the pun was intentional.

Inside the office I helped to set up the holographic projector before taking my place behind Ben as the presentation started.

"My Research suggests…" Dr Richards started, I tuned out and glanced out the window at how small all the other buildings looked from up here. I guess judging from what I'd seen already, the office being on the top floor wasn't a massive surprise.

"Turn it off" a cold voice ordered from the shadows, interrupting mid-word. I stared in shock. What? Why? Please say we weren't being rejected again!

"I don't think I've explained my proposal fully" the Doc protested, his line of thought clearly similar to my own.

"I think you have" Von Doom laughed. "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?"

A magazine slid across the table, the stark headline proudly announcing our troubles. I bit my lip anxiously, this was not going well.

"You remember when we were at school, we talked about working together!" Dr Richards continued "Well that's what I was about to explain, the storm is deadly, but the shields on your station's control room are designed to protect any occupants inside."

"So, it's not just my money you want, it's my toys" the millionaire mocked icily, "Tell me, If NASA doesn't trust you then why should I?"

The three of us froze.

"How d'you know about THAT!" I blurted out, then slapped my hand over my mouth and edged further behind Ben. He was really useful for hiding behind.

"It's my job; to stay a step ahead to know what other men don't" came the smooth reply. Now that's just creepy. I was beginning to wonder if the 'Doom' in his name was actually a warning or something. He was definitely just plain scary! Why on earth had I wanted to meet him? Ben strode forwards, leaving me once again unhidden.

"Agh! I can't take this!" he groaned.

"Ben, this is just business, just work with it" Dr Richards assured us. Though I didn't think business was supposed to involve quite the amount of threats this did.

"He's right, Ben" A voice I didn't recognise piped up from right behind us, "It is just business"

I whirled round to see a smartly-dressed blonde woman smiling widely.

"I think most of you know my Director of Genetic Research, Susan Storm" Doom announced. I raised an eyebrow, the name sounded familiar but I couldn't quite place it. She and Ben had a quick exchange, she asked after his Fiance, then her eyes skated over me and settled on Dr Richards. Her smile vanished. The two regarded each other almost coldly.

"This isn't going to be a problem, is it?" Doom asked, as if he had read my mind, seeming almost amused by the tension.

"No, not at all" they both answered simultaneously, then shot each other odd looks.

"Good" the billionaire said smugly, "Then you were just in time to hear the great Reed Richards ask ME for help. You know, you make a lot of people down at MIT feel like a Junior High Science Fair, so you'll excuse me if I savour the moment"

"You back this mission and I'll sign over a fair percentage of any application…" Dr Richards began proposing.

"The number's Seventy Five. And It's Applications and Patents" Doom interrupted. I balked. SEVENTY FIVE? That was just MEAN!

"What about his first born?" Ben spat bitterly. The man high above us just gave a cold laugh.

"Twenty five percent of a Billion is enough to keep the lights on for a while, isn't it?" he mocked, "Maybe even pay of your fourth mortgage on the Baxter Building? Deal?"

He stepped down and offered his hand towards Dr Richards. There was a moment of awkward silence. I honestly had no idea what would happen next. Sure, the Project was important, but somehow I had a feeling we were selling our souls to the Devil. So to speak anyway, it wasn't as if Von Doom was actually evil, just kinda cruel. Dr Richards slowly reached out and grasped the outstretched hand. Doom gave a smirk.

"Well then, to our future!" he laughed, stepping casually towards the Susan lady, "Together! Funny how things turn out, isn't it?"

"Hilarious" Dr Richards replied stiffly. I silently began to pack away the projector, feeling more invisible than usual. Ben frowned.

"He knew about NASA, maybe he made the call to shut us down?" he whispered sceptically, I wasn't sure what to think, I didn't really trust Doom, but this was still an amazing opportunity, no matter who funded it.

"Ben, thing of all the people we could help if this works, huh?" the Doc reminded him, "Look, we got what we wanted, that's enough. A few days in space, it'll be great! What's the worst that could happen?"

We turned and walked towards the Lift. I could think of plenty of things which might go wrong, but chose not to voice them. Doom's dark-haired assistant who had welcomed us to start with passed us on the way out and the doors slid closed. The tension was scarily thick.

"Reed, you should know those solar winds have been picking up speed" Susan Storm broke the silence (Seriously, where did I remember the name from, was she another one of Doc and Ben's college 'friends'?). My fingers tightened around the hard plastic of the projector case and I wondered if any of them actually remembered I was here.

"I factored them into my coordinates" he snapped

"Right, of course you did" the woman rolled her eyes, "In theory: it's a little different once you're out there"

"I can assure you, I facto…" Dr Richards started

"When are we leaving?" Ben interrupted impatiently

"We'll be scheduling a launch soon" she replied, handing us a card, "You can call me in the morning for resources and crew"

"I think I remember the number" the Doc protested.

"It's been changed"

Another short silence was broken and Dr Richards cleared his throat.

"As far as crew, I was hoping Ben could pilot the mission" he suggested

"We already have a pilot on out payroll, but you're welcome to fly shotgun, you remember my brother Johnny?" Susan explained, both Doc and Ben gave shocked expressions, "And we could always use extra hands in the science department of the mission, I hear you're quite adept at that… Heather, isn't it?"

"W-where did you here that?" I spluttered, shocked both at the proposal and the fact she noticed I was there.

"Don't do yourself down, Kid" Ben smirked, I sent a glare his way, before the reality actually set in.

"Wait, you actually want ME to go with you to SPACE?" I shrieked.

"I don't see why not" Dr Richards shrugged, "As long as we have permission for your leave from college"

"YEEEEESSSSS!" I squealed again, then clamped my hand over my mouth, remembering the small enclosed space we were in. All three adults rolled their eyes. This whole thing was SURREAL! Excitement instantly swallowed up any doubts I may have had.

I buzzed the whole way out of the lift and through the foyer, where Susan Storm left us to make our own way. I turned to Ben.

"By the way, who was she?" I asked the question I'd been asking myself since we'd met the woman.

"You know I told you once that back in college Reed had a girl…"

"…and I didn't believe you, yeah what about it?" I shrugged, he jerked his head back towards the building, where Sue had left us. "…you don't mean… you're kidding, right?"

"Nope"

"Seriously?"

"Yep"

I buzzed the whole way home as well. It wasn't until I stood in the doorway that it stopped abruptly.

"GET OUT!" the words shot straight though my brain, out the open door and down the street.

"D-dad…?" I managed to stutter in shock.

"DO YOU THINK I'M JOKING?!" he roared, "IF YOU CARE MORE ABOUT YOU'RE DAMNED SCIENCE THAN YOUR OWN FAMILY, THEN GO AHEAD AND LEAVE, IT'S NOT LIKE I CARE!"

"I-I d-don't understand…" I managed to squeak

"YES YOU DO" he bit straight back, "YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO LOOK AFTER YOURSELF! WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING? I'M CUTTING YOU OFF! NOW GO, FREAK, LEAVE!"

I was too shocked to respond, too shocked to do anything but turn and flee down the street in floods of tears. I stopped abruptly at the tall metal pole round the corner, where Jay always waited for me to catch up on the way to school. The cold metal dug into my back as I collapsed against it. There had used to be a sign there, I remembered, something like 'No Trespassing' or 'Thieves will be shot on sight'. The old Vehicle Impound was now abandoned and eerily quiet. Now my own home was just as unwelcoming. How much things had changed since we came here for the first time. The promise of new medical procedures sparked a light of hope in our barely functioning family. It seems a little silly now, traveling the Atlantic Ocean just for a hospital. But I guess we were just that desperate. After James we just couldn't bear to loose anyone else.

For a while, at first, things were fine: the treatment seemed to be going well, High School was more like a Film than anything else, stereotypical bullies and all, even Jay, who was just three, seemed to be doing fine. But then IT happened. IT being the 'accident'. No-one really seemed to know what happened, even the surgeons themselves, but the result was undisputable. Jay and I were 50% closer to becoming orphans. Loosing Mum was the worst thing that ever happened, we all new nothing would be the same. We just didn't know how much. I think maybe Dad blamed science. And somehow, maybe by extension, me.

"H-Heather…?" a small whisper, followed by a shadow blocking the light. I looked up and there stood Jay, fluffy hair dishevelled and eyes as red-raw as my own. In both hands he tightly clutched my spare college rucksack; my usual one having been ripped and then thrown against the wall behind me as I left. The bag was only half-zipped and hastily stuffed with random things; a sleeve of my favourite purple hoodie fell forlornly towards the ground.

"T-thank you, Jay" I said weakly, taking the bag and clutching it to my chest as if it were the only thing solid in all the world. "Thank… you…."

Fresh tears brimbed in both our eyes.

"I'll miss you, Heav…" he whispered

"I promise I'll come back for you…" I swore, trying to sound reassuring, though my voice wobbled like an old woman's, "… I promise"

"Pinky swear?"

I curled my own round the smaller finger.

"Pinky swear"

We stood in silence, tears drying from the wind only to be instantly replaced, until Jay nervously bit his lip.

"I have to go now" he announced, trying to sound strong, "Dad thinks I'm still in my room. If he finds out…"

I gave him a silent nod.

"Don't worry."

'He won't hurt you; you remind him too much of James' I added in my head. Jay never knew James. He was only just born at the time. I watched the tear-blurred figure retreat round the corner. The same could not be said of me. Fresh tears burst their way forth, the warm trails down my face were becoming stiff with salt. I bit my lip hard, as the lump in my throat felt like it was going to explode.

No. I was just being jealous now. I slowly stuffed the leaking hoodie sleeve into the bag, it had already gained a white stain of toothpaste and a brownish-grey one from trailing the ground. I couldn't just lean here for ever. For a start the pole was really hurting my back. I stood up, fighting a wave of dizziness, and slung the sack on my back. The movement was met with a sharp plastic click.

I let the weight slide down my shoulder and thrust my hand inside until I came across the smooth plastic I was searching for. Drawing them out, I rubbed off a toothpaste smear and switched my normal glasses with the dark glasses. Walking the streets of New York in such a state was just about asking for trouble. Now the only question was where to go.

That ended up longer than before, I think that's good…

A small explanation about Heather's family: When she was ten her Mother and two Brothers were involved in a car accident, Jay survived, being in the back seat, her mother's lung and heart were punctured and she barely survived, James (Age 8) was killed on impact. Just ever three years later they travelled from England to New York for experimental treatment to fix the damage done to her Mother's heart, however the operation failed due to unknown causes and Heather's Mum died on the table. Since then her Father has descended into depression and alcoholism, blaming the science behind the procedure for everything that happened.

This ended up a lot darker than the original background I had planned…

Bye for now…

SuperminionXD