"What the hell was that?!"
Elise knew the General was containing his repertoire of diatribes just waiting to unleash it on to them the moment they had returned.
They all sat in a control room within the American senate. Elise found a vertical surface she could lean into, as far away from the General as possible. Johnny seemed to have the same thoughts when he joined her. Elise saw the way he kept a cautious distance between them; Reed's words had impacted him greatly.
It was a little shocking for her. She didn't think Johnny was the sensitive type, but she understood the feeling of being a complete disappointment. She had avoided Ben for several reasons on those accounts.
She felt the worst of her sympathy for Reed, having to be the one to gain the heat off the events from the General.
"We'll make adjustments, next time we will be ready." Elise didn't know how the man did it, after everything he still took the blame and turned the events around positively.
Elise had to force herself not to give a condemning glance in Johnny's direction.
"Next time?" Hager scoffed "There is no next time, you can't handle this alone. This is why I am bringing in some help."
"General, if you bring in more soldiers and weaponry you will put innocent lives in danger." Reed warned, his dark winged brows furrowed to express his seriousness.
"No more than you already have."
That silky sinister voice, Elise recognized it in some blurred recess in her mind. Johnny's reaction from beside her was instant. He sat up in alert; all eyes fell to the figure dressed in black at the entrance.
"Victor?"Reed echoed in disbelief, the ex-billionaire smiled maliciously.
"What's the matter?"He questioned smugly "Afraid of ghosts."
Ben's reaction was explosive. Soldiers had to jump out of their way to avoid full on collision with The Thing as he ran as Victor Von doom.
He grabbed the man by the neck before shoving him hard against the wall behind him. A crater formed from the impact, cement dust flew up onto the air around them. None of the Fantastic team made a move to stop Ben Grimm. The General however did not take it so lightly.
"Since you are a ghost you won't mind if I break your little neck." Ben hissed as Victor choked for a breath.
"Let him go."The General commanded.
"Don't you know who that is?" Johnny exclaimed from beside Elise, gesturing an open hand at Victor. Hager shot him a look of reproach.
"It's Victor Von Doom; he is here under my orders."
Richards stared in disbelief. Elise, Susan and Johnny exchanged startled glances. From the lack of movement from Ben, the general glared back at Reed in warning.
"Ben let him go."
The Thing reluctantly released Victor. Their nemesis fell to his knees, coughing and spurting from the damage to his throat.
"How is this possible, how are you still alive?" Mr. Fantastic asked, still in shock from the former metal man's appearance.
Victor got to his feet with the little dignity he had and began to roughly pat away the dust on his leather coat.
"No thanks to you four, that's for certain." He hissed directing glares at them.
"Five." Elise spoke up, grabbing their attention, especially the vicious doctor's. He sneered and she smirked defiantly "I can count for you."
"Can you?" He bit back contemptibly.
Elise's smile fell instantly and she took a step forward with the intention of bruising his smug face. Johnny quickly wrapped a hand around her wrist and held her to his side.
His touch was electric. Elise felt an unexpected surge within her body. Like her power was sucked out of her and returned in tenfold.
"Oh shit." Johnny whispered frantically before quickly touching her again. The rush returned, with the same roller coaster of sensations. Johnny sparked a flame in his hands and sighed in relief, they were back to normal.
"Sorry about that, Smiles." He mumbled directing an apologetic smile down at her.
"It's fine." She insisted her glare was still directed at Victor.
Johnny's face felt hot, he didn't know if it was from the touch or the embarrassment. Why was he embarrassed? It was an honest mistake, right?
Not trusting himself, he crossed his strapping arms over his chest, determined to not let it happen again. Even though he secretly loved the feeling, it was different with Elise. The touch was more thrilling, heady. He wanted to do it again.
"Von Doom's made contact with the alien, he's got valuable information." General Hager stated in a passive tone. Elise hated that Victor seemed so damn proud of himself.
"Contact with an alien?" She echoed insolently "A little desperate don't you think?"
Ben sent her a proud little smile along with Reed, at her jab at Victor's straying pride. Victor understood the crass meaning behind her joke and gave her a look that seemed to threaten her existence. Elise glared back calm and fearlessly at Von Doom.
Maybe fire should be her element. Johnny couldn't help but think, directing a fond look down at her.
"Information that might just help save the planet." Victor announced with a unruly lift of his strong chin. He came striding down the long red carpeted steps towards Reed. He stopped inches away from him and braced his hands on the wooden counters on either side.
"Now let's be clear about this, shall we? I hate you." He stated indubitably, then he raised his gaze to the rest of the team, linger more on Susan than anyone else "All of you."
Someone hasn't gotten over the Manhattan incident, how petty. Elise mused to herself.
"But, the world's at stake and we need to work together to survive." Victor added, triggering an eye roll from her.
Reed ignored Victor and looked to the commanding officer "General, we know firsthand, you trust Victor and you are going to regret it."
"So far, the only one I regretted trusting. Is you, Richards."
"Reed, don't agree to this." Ben advised forebodingly. Richards mulled on Ben's words for a moment but Victor's challenging looks ignited a rage within him.
"Let's see what he's got."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
"Great, another slide show." Elise couldn't help but comment from her seat at the theatre room, behind Johnny.
"I know, the least they could do is give us some popcorn." He replied with a bored sigh. She nodded in agreement.
A soft light emitted from behind them, the dark room and lit up the white screen. It was of the Silver Surfer poised over his board, hovering in the air. Elise stared in amazement. Johnny wasn't kidding about the guy's looks and his lack of...vital parts.
Victor, dressed in a drably black robe was standing with his back to the camera, speaking to the Surfer.
"All that you know is at an end." The surfer said, before a blast of energy shot out from his hand and hit Victor directly in the chest. The impact sent him flying back and Elise was anticipating the result but Von Doom had frozen the screen.
"Well?" He asked, looking to Reed for a reaction.
"I like the part where he knocks you on your ass." Ben grunted.
Elise and Johnny simultaneously stifled their humor. Even Reed and Susan had trouble hiding their mocking smile.
"Look at where the energy levels surge when he attacks." Victor announced through gritted teeth as he walked around the chairs and to the row in front of him.
He replayed the scene before pausing again.
"There" He pointed out, slowing down the image with the remote control "See what happened?"
"The energy was channeled through him but it originated from the board." Elise understood Reed's words. It was kind of like her ability except she didn't rely on a board.
That would be cool though.
"If we can separate him from the board, we can cut off his power completely." Victor added all knowingly.
"That's what we have to do."
"How?" Johnny spoke up, Victor rolled his eyes.
"If I knew that I wouldn't need you people, now would I?" Elise didn't appreciate the sardonic look he gave the Human Torch.
"You two should get started right away." The general ordered, getting to his feet with his right hand woman.
"I'm glad we have the opportunity to collaborate again." Victor mused while walking to Reed "I'll try to talk slowly so you can keep up."
Elise groaned at his weak attempt at an insult and Johnny shot a look at his sister that seemed to say what-were-you-thinking-when-you-dated-him?
All you know, is at an end?
She felt a chill run down her spine. The words the Silver Surfer had uttered were apocalyptical. She was overwhelmed by an irrational fear, she need to get some fresh air, away from the militia.