The Mole Man was soon put in a small padded cell on board the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, with no trial given. He was simply wearing a straight jacket, and laid on the ground, gazing at the ceiling with what little vision the man had left. His creatures were all taken to The Triskelion for study, locked in cages created by the most powerful metals on Earth to prevent them from escaping and causing chaos. Empire State University however laid in ruins from the attack, with a few dozen people trapped in the rubble, and maybe even more were killed in the chaos. The Fantastic Four however aided in the cleanup of the university, and Union Allied Construction did their best to repair all the destroyed buildings as they could. Classes in the meantime would be postponed indefinitely until the campus was fully repaired.
People were celebrating Mole Man being finally stopped by the Fantastic Four. For the first time in what felt like forever for New York, it was peaceful again.
The FF however weren't done. The Mole Man gazed at his former student, Reed, his eyes narrowed in anger.
"I will be free one day," He muttered. "And that day, you and the surface world will tremble before me. Your surface prisons will never be enough to contain me, Richards."
"That's what they all say, and I don't think so. Try even to get out of that straight jacket, and your cell will instantly hit you with as much knockout gas as it takes to immobilize you."
"Which maybe will make you smell better in your case," Johnny laughed.
"You might as well get comfy, Elder. Until we find more of your monsters (If most even survived the cave in), and then figure out, us and S.H.I.E.L.D., how punish your for your crimes. Long term to be exact," Susan said.
"You believe my children could be easily killed by a mere cave in?"
"We know it," Reed grimaced. "No living thing could have survived a cave in of that magnitude. We don't even know how you survived, along with those four creatures you sent to destroy ESU."
"I was trying to improve the world, you fools."
"No. You were trying to kill the entire human race for petty reasons. You should be ashamed of yourself, Elder," Richards said, grim.
"Woah."
"Damn, stretch," Ben commented.
Richards soon stepped away from the cell, having no more words to say to his former teacher and mentor. To him, it was heartbreaking that a man he admired so much during his college years had turned to an eco terrorist and madman, with an army of monsters. But now, it was over, and he and the others didn't have to think about what happened to Elder, or what he had done to the world ever again. Now, all that Elder was, was just a man in a padded cell, rambling on like a madman every hour, every moment of his life.
Moments later, the four onto the bridge of the helicarrier, hovering above the skies of New York once again. Director Fury stood at the center, looking out the large windows of the airship to the clear blue skies. Fury for once had a grin on his face, and turned to face the Four with pride.
"I gotta say, Doctor. You and your team did one hell of a job taking Elder down once and for all," He remarked.
"Yeah. And I bet that guy is gonna be busy counting the days for the rest of his life," Johnny commented.
"Well, let's hope he learns counting stars is better than national terrorism," Fury continued, grinning at them. "The world owes you a debt a gratitude could never repay, but with the danger passed, I think you four as a task force for S.H.I.E.L.D. could help make sure someone like Mole Man never comes again."
Ben scoffed.
"Yeah, 'cuz us bein' spies is sure to help with that."
"Listen people. I don't give a crap if any of you like me or not, but if a threat like this ever comes again, can S.H.I.E.L.D. count on your help?" Fury asked, calmly.
Reed grinned.
"After what happened to us, the world can count on us, Colonel," He said.
Fury smiled at that.
"Damn, Reed. You sure about this?" Johnny asked.
"Well, we saved this city twice when it needed us. I think now it's time we help improve the world and try to make a difference."
"Yeah yeah, Stretch. We get it, We gotta use these powers fer mankind, am I right?" Ben asked.
Reed turned towards his friend, with a grin.
"That's right, Ben," He answered.
"I figured. Ya don't gotta make a big speech about it, y'know? We get it," Ben continued. "World needs us."
Johnny and Susan nodded in agreement with Ben and Richards.
Richards and Ben both met a few hours later in his lab back in the baxter building. Ben simply sat near Reed's desk, while Richards let out a small sigh of relief.
"Alyssa though is still distraught, but thankfully, she's not blaming herself anymore."
"The doc shouldn't. Like I said, this was all me, my choice. I wanted- Nah, I needed to do it," Ben said.
"Why?" Reed asked. "Believe us, we're all grateful that you helped, and saved Manhattan from destruction. It's just… You were cured, Ben. Why did you do it?"
"I toldja, stretcho. The world needs the ever lovin' blue eyed thing, more than ol' ben grimm," He explained simply. "'Sides, stringbean needs a wingman."
"Ben…" Richards sighed. "Please don't say you did this because of me."
Ben's eyes went wide, hearing that. He soon got up, and gazed towards his best friend, with his frown deepened.
"Since grade school, I've always watched out fer you, Reed, making sure yer egghead never got crack'd. Hard enough ta do when ya weren't building magic teleporters or fighting super creeps with monsters," Ben said, angrily at his friend. "That's what I know, that's what I do… Now, its the same thing, just bigger stakes. Plus, Suzie and Johnny are in the mix. Trust me man, there's a reason the four of us came to watch yer experiment together, and blew up. A reason we survived, I said. And it definitely wasn't so I could let my peeps risk their lives, while I kick back with a brewskie and the giants on a sunday afternoon."
"I appreciate what you're saying, Ben. I really do, but we could- we can try to make you human again," Reed said.
"Sure we c'n try, and prob'ly I'll want ya to, eventually. But for right now, Reed…" Ben said, calmly, pausing mid sentence to take a deep breath, his mind being made up. "This stuff is bigger than the both of us. This is how it's supposed to be. I'm one of four after all. And I say, it's better'n one and none."
"Reed?"
Both Richards and Ben turned, and grinned. Johnny and Susan both walked in Reed's lab at that moment.
"Is it alright if we-"
"Yo. What are you two doing down here? Crying over the fact that you're so much older and not as hot as me?" Johnny asked, cutting Susan off.
Reed merely grinned, and Ben chuckled at that. Both of them didn't say anything however, but nodded no.
"Perfect timing, matchstick. I was just asking stretch-o here what we should have fer dinner," Ben replied.
Johnny nodded, while Susan simply gazed at the lab in awe.
"Reed… What is all this?" She asked, curiously. On the wall, stood a logo that looked like a black and white honeycomb.
"I saw the future, darling. I saw what we could become… What we needed to become if we want the world to be safe," He explained. "Our destinies lie ahead, in the future- facing forward- facing, always. We as a species need to rise, and make the world a better place now. From now on, our journey won't just be as heroes, or scientists, but teachers. So, I have to ask, will all of you join me?"
Susan, Ben and Johnny all grinned.
"Yes," They all said in unison. The four all shared a high five together, with bright smiles on their faces.
And so they did. All four of them, and together, they vowed to make the world a better place. Mind, body, heart and soul. And so, was born not just The Fantastic Four, but now, The Future Foundation. And from that moment on, the world would never be the same again.
THE END.