Okay. First, I am so sorry about the lack of updates. I've been really busy lately.

Thanks to all 6 reviewers...

By the way, if any of you are confused by the first scene below, all will be explained at the end of this chapter, where I shall be considerate of your confusion. (I don't want to give anything away before you read it)

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Chapter 2

Doom lifted the lever, and listened in satisfaction as a mighty hummmm welled from the enormous machine in front of him. The lever was connected to a large, technical box-shaped device, and on the flat surface stood two cylinder-shaped containers. In the first container, floating in a bluish gel, was a young girl. Her brown hair floated eerily around her head, and her eyes were shut, like the boy's eyes, the boy in the second cylinder. Although he did not have long hair, his short hair waved as best it could in the liquid. His green jacket billowed, however, and revealed a ripped t-shirt.

The humming noise started to increase, growing steadily louder and higher in pitch, and as it did, the bluish gel started to darken. Doom would had covered his ears, but he needed to pull the lever at the exact moment, the precise-. It was now. The gel was a pitch black, and the noise had reached the highest point able to be heard by humans. Doom slammed the lever down in excitement, and the room became deathly quiet. He stared at the children in intense concentration. Surely it couldn't have failed? Of course it couldn't. He was Doom, after all. Suddenly—what was that? Yes, yes-

Both pairs of eyes shot open in unison.

Both pairs of eyes were dark red.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Asher grinned as he swung both legs over the bed. He was finally fully healed. Since he had been the worst off, Dr. Richards, both Dr. Richards, had ordered him to take it easy, even though they had fixed him up pretty well. Still grinning, he headed toward the door of the guest room. Immediately, he tripped over a stack of comic books, and... "Robert?" Asher asked in confusion.

Asher's little brother looked up at him in delight. "Ash!" His little brother leaped up and hugged him. Asher gently disengaged him. "Easy there, Ro," The grin on Robert's face didn't fade. "I knew you'd get better! All the others are better, too! C'mon, come and meet Franklin and Valeria!" Robert clamped onto Asher's hand. Asher let himself be pulled along, still marveling at the fact that they were inside the Baxter Building. TheBaxter Building.

Franklin and Valeria were in the living room, along with most of the other orphanage children. Even though the two children of Reed and Sue were younger than Asher, he still felt slightly awed. He didn't have much time, though, for the younger orphanage children were hugging him happily, while the older children smiled and gave him high fives. The orphanage had not many children, so they all had become close friends.

Emily, a girl about Asher's age managed to wade her way through the mass of children, and smiled. "Isn't it awesome?" Her grin grew. "We know the Fantastic Four!" Mortimer, the oldest and most morose of the children, overheard their conversation. "We haven't technically met them yet," he frowned, "Although they saved us, and operated on us, we haven't actually formed an intelligent conversation with them yet." Emily sighed good-humorously. "Always the pessimist, aren't you, Mort?" He scowled. "My name is Mortimer." and walked off.

Asher and Emily snickered, when suddenly a hush fell over the room, except for Franklin and Valeria, who continued to laugh at a joke Chris had just made (Valeria most likely because her brother was laughing). Asher looked up. And stared. Standing at the door was all four of..the Fantastic Four. There was Reed, standing straight and tall, Sue, who looked matronly at them all, Ben, who shifted uncomfortably, and Johnny, Asher's favorite. All of the children had 'favorites'. The idea of real superheroes had been something unreal to them, and so they thought of them as comic book heroes, creating up stories about them on rainy days.

Reed spoke. "Welcome to the Baxter Building. I hope you enjoy your stay here. We will try to make your stay as comfortable as possible." Sue, beside Reed, slapped him gently on the arm, whispering something in disapproval. She turned to smile at the children. "I'm sorry about Reed, it seems like he can't grasp the concept of casual conversation. So, we've decided to let you stay here until we can find a suitable orphanage for you. In fact, we're thinking of building one. But back to the present. I know your stay will be comfortable, and if you have any questions, just ask one of us. By the way, you all have freedom to wander around the building, except the areas that have the number codes on them. But enough rules. Who's hungry?"

Asher liked Sue. She seemed friendly. Emily agreed too, because as the younger kids clamored in excited anticipation at the prospect of food, she whispered to him, "She's nice."

The chatter grew louder, as each child emphasized that their choice was the best. Finally, Reed's voice could be heard above the uproar. "Please, don't worry! We have a food replicator as well as a kitchen, so if you don't want to trust our cooking, go up to the replicator and state what type of food you want! This way, please!"

The small crowd of children was ushered through a door, and when Asher's turn came for the replicator, he paused undecided. They didn't get much variety in food at the school and the orphanage, so finally he opted for pizza. Taking his plate, he weaved his way through the horde of other children scrambling for seats, and plopped down next to Rowan. As the two boys started a conversation, Rowan grew quiet, and looked at something behind Asher. Asher turned. And stared again. Johnny Storm had sat down next to him. "W...w...wow..." Asher murmured. Johnny leaned toward him, eyes sparkling. "Ssh," Johnny put a finger to his lips. "I'm mingling."

A tinging of spoon upon glass was heard, and all eyes turned to Sue, at the head. "I'd like to toast," she smiled, "to the first night of all of us together." There were cheers, and as people were about to dig in, a small voice piped up, "Shouldn't we pray first?" Asher gazed at the speaker, a small girl named Wendy. They hadn't particularly prayed on a regular basis at the orphanage, only doing it when one was hurt or sad, or when they felt particularly blessed. But he knew that there was something to pray for. He stood up.

"I'd like to pray for Fern and Danny," he said quietly. There was silence, and murmurs of "Me too." The death of the siblings had taken their toll on all of the orphanage children. "And I'd like to pray for Miss Lilian," Penny said hesitantly. Miss Lilian had been the Matron, the one in charge at the orphanage. She had survived the wreckage too, but Dr. Imred had asked for at least the faculty to be cared for at the hospital.

Finally the children started to eat, reveling in the power of the food replicator. His pizza was good, Asher decided. On his right, Rowan had tried something called...what was it? Lunchables? The name had been heard throughout the school, and had become a reverent name among the orphans, regarded as something only for the well-off. And to his left, Johnny was eating something unfamiliar, but it looked like meat. "It's called filet mignon." Startled, Asher looked up. Johnny was smiling at him. "May sound strange, but it's really good. Unlike Pebble's cooking." "Hey!" Ben called from across the table. 'Hey', Asher realized, was the first word he'd heard Ben say all day. Asher was also confused at the casual, teasing manner in which Johnny spoke of Ben. Weren't superheroes supposed to be...like, perfect or something? It was true that they were always exaggerated, idolized, but still. Asher couldn't grasp the concept that they could be flawed.

Suddenly, Johnny stiffened beside him, staring vacantly into the distance, his face pale. "Mr. Storm," Asher said hesitantly, "Are you all right?" It took a few moments for the young man to respond. "Sure, kid." He winked. "Bathroom needed. Here's a tip: Do not eat several bowls of beans for lunch." He smiled, getting up from the table. "And it's Johnny. Call me Johnny." With that he walked out of the room.

"Okay, Mr. Storm," Asher said softly. "Johnny it is."

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Of course, we all know that it wasn't beans.

Any guesses for the two identities of the children at the start. It's fairly obvious.

Mortimer: 15 year old boy. Black hair, brown eyes. Quiet and mysterious.

Emily: 14 year old girl. Blond hair, blue eyes. Energetic and fun-loving.

Asher: 14 year old boy. African American. Black hair, brown eyes. Likes reading, and soccer.

Jenifer: 14 year old girl. Shoulder-length brown hair, green eyes. Loves the outdoors.

Tomas: 13 year old boy. Black hair, blue eyes. Likes to build.

Rowan: Tomas's Twin. Likes to build.

Penny: 11 year old girl. Brown hair, green eyes. Jenifer's younger sister.

Adam: 9 year old boy who loves history. Brown hair, brown eyes.

Wendy: 7 year old girl, black hair, blue eyes, Mortimer's younger sister.

Chris: 7 year old boy. Blond hair, brown eyes. Likes basketball.

Sean: 7 year old boy. Red hair, green eyes. Likes to sing. Nice Irish voice.

Chang: 7 year old boy. Asian. Black hair, brown eyes. Likes music.

Robert. 7. African American. Black hair, brown eyes. Asher's younger brother. Likes baseball.

Children deceased in the collapse of the orphanage.

Fern: Five year old girl, brown hair, hazel eyes.

Danny: 10 year old boy with blond hair, hazel eyes.