Chapter 12

[Statue of Liberty]

Nocturne cloaked Liberty Island and its environs. Its most famous resident stood on her pedestal. Luna reflected off of her torch. Her eyes watched over the harbor. Solitude would be expected.

Just not on this particular evening….

The Human Torch streaked through the night sky. Arguments had split the Fantastic Four. Reed and Ben wanted Peter to turn himself in. Sue and he on the other hand wanted to hear Peter's side of the story. Discussion and Compromise offered an answer. He wrote the sky message and flew toward the statue. I still can't believe he's Parker! He shook his head.

Of course he remembered the whole Dorrie Evans incident from years earlier….

I thought I was fighting another high school kid. He was Spider-Man all along? Guess that explains how he always got the pictures. He saw Lady Liberty getting closer. He circled the statue and flew over her head. He spied not a sign of his quarry. He'll need time to get out here.

Johnny Storm…. Strange soared on his cloak's levitating ability toward him. He waved to get his attention.

"Dr. Strange?" The Torch hovered in mid air. His eyes watched Strange's approach.

"Yes. It is good to see you again, my Friend. I'm here in Spider-Man's place. He's safe for the moment although he mourns for his aunt." Strange watched the horizon for signs of activity.

"So he's not coming." The Torch shook his head. "Look. The FF's willing to stand with him. I was hoping to talk him into it. I'm sure Matt Murdock would take his case. We'll get him a fair hearing."

"Will you?" Strange quirked an eyebrow.

"Come on! You know us better than that!" The Torch threw his hands up in the air. "Reed's looking at everything. He doesn't want Parker to be a fugitive."

"Of course not. The evidence hangs on a set of pictures. Perhaps you might stop them from reaching the Daily Bugle?" Strange rubbed his chin. He knew the Tribunal would frown on his plan. Perhaps I am setting up another alternate reality. The world needs Spider-Man. Peter needs his aunt and wife.

"What? Go back in time? We would have to know where and when to go, Doc." The Torch rubbed his forehead. Whenever Reed talked of temporal mechanics, Headache pounded at his temples.

"I believe we can take care of that. Reed Richards' time machine or a spell can bring us back to that point. We simply have to stop the Green Goblin from mailing the evidence to J. Jonah Jameson." Strange looked right into the Torch's eyes. "Will you help?"

Incredulity raised the Torch's eyebrow. "Just stop him? Doc, have you ever tried to go back in time? Even I know there are a million things that can go wrong."

Strange nodded. "True. Perhaps with the right plan, we might succeed. And…." He turned toward the City. "Others approach."

The Fantasticar slowed its approach over Liberty Island. Reed Richards eased it toward his brother-in-law. "Dr. Strange? This is a surprise. Are you looking for Peter Parker as well?"

"He knows where Parker is, Reed." The Torch frowned at Strange.

"Great. Lemme guess…the Web Head's behind that magic force field of his." The Thing ground his teeth. "Look, Doc, we don't have all night."

"Especially since the police will follow you all out here?" Strange sighed. 'Dr. Richards, we have no reason to quarrel. I told Johnny that I have a plan to set everything right. We will need your time machine."

"Time travel?" Sue turned toward her husband.

"Doctor, as I'm sure you're aware, there are many things that can go wrong with time travel. If we're in the wrong place, the wrong time or interact with the wrong person, we can disrupt the entire timestream. A new reality could diverge at thousands of potential points." Reed rubbed his chin.

"Maybe we can talk to him? We'll figure something out safely," Sue pointed out.

"Naw. The Kid ain't comin' quietly, Susie. Can't say I blame 'im either! Stretch, maybe he's got somethin' there," the Thing argued.

"Ben, we're not above the law! He has to give himself up! This needs to be settled in a court of law." Reed set his jaw and shook his head. He glanced back toward the New York skyline. "The NYPD have seen your message, Johnny. They'll be looking for you as well."

"Time is of the essence, Dr. Richards. Please allow me a few moments." Strange waved his hands. He chanted a rarely used spell. Concentration narrowed his brow. An emerald flash transported him away from that place and into Time's passage. Myriad thoughts and events streamed past his eyes. He pushed himself though the virtual avalanche of events….

…and toward the event in question….

"Where did he go?" Sue stood up in one of the vehicle's sidecars.

"Where'd ja think?" The Thing shrugged. "He went back to fix this mess. Maybe we should get back home case the cops are lookin' for the Matchstick?"

"I think they can read. They know I'm looking for him too." Johnny rolled his eyes. "Well that was a waste of time."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Follow us back, Johnny. We aren't going to accomplish any more here." Reed turned the Fantasticar around. He sent it flying back toward Manhattan.

The Torch shook his head. Doc, I sure hope you know what you're doing. He followed his brother-in-law's lead at that point.

Meeting aborted…