Chapter Eight
"Well, I got a FULL HOUSE! I WIN!" Benjamin shouted out as he scooped up the nicely sized pile of poker chips before him.
Reed and Susan sighed as they gently put down their playing cards, and beheld their friend's joy over winning that one hand of Poker.
"Are you sure that entity does not mind us playing a gambling game Reed?" Susan asked.
"I'm quite positive that as long as we are not using real money, the entity will not mind. Just think of what we are doing as this, it will keep Benjamin from fighting with Johnny when he returns."
As Reed said those words, Johnny entered the room with a Spam can in his hand.
"Hey guys. Miss me?" He said sarcastically.
"Honestly Johnny, how disgusting! Why did you bring in that piece of garbage?!" Susan exclaimed.
"THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE Susan, was the cause of Marilyn almost being a late dinner for a demon. I swear Reed, if it were not for you and your darned lecture over me and Benjamin's argument, I could have gotten there quicker to save her from suffering like she did."
Benjamin paused in his rejoice over the winnings in front of him, and eyed the garbage Johnny held in his hand. Immediately, Benjamin got up, and bolted for Johnny.
"Wow! Kid, you can save your "I'm sorrys" for later, I'M STARVIN'!"
Suddenly, Benjamin grabbed the old can from Johnny.
"Benjamin, I think you should be aware, WELL AWARE of where that just came from." Johnny let out.
All Susan could do was look at Benjamin with shock and disgust as Reed spoke up.
"Benjamin, for once, listen to the lad."
"Oh c'mon guys, what is so harmful about this can? All of you know how much I love this stuff!"
After Ben said that, his eyes went wide.
"What the? LET GO OF ME! SOMEONE! GET THIS THING OFFA ME!"
The other three Fantastics were fearful for Benjamin, but were not sure what they were fearful of, for they could not see it. After a couple of minutes of struggling, Benjamin threw the can away from him.
"You mean you guys did not see that slime-ball that came out of the can? Almost ate me up!"
"Well, well, well, you just demonstrated why I brought that can here..." Johnny said in response to Ben's reaction.
"Obviously, you know one more thing than we do Johnny. Tell us about it." Reed sternly said.
"It just so happens that what Benjamin saw and experienced, Marilyn had to deal with on the Earth plane too. If any of you are daring, touch the can."
Reed calmly approached Johnny, grasped the can, and closed his eyes. He sat down in a meditative state, not showing one sign of fear. The other three Fantastics watched their leader in silence. After five minutes, Reed opened his eyes, and placed the can on a nearby pedestal. He beckoned the others to be near him, and spoke.
"I cannot quite put my finger on it yet, but there is one quality these demons that have attempted to nab Marilyn both share."
There was no response as Reed closed his eyes again, brooding over the visions he received from the container he had held a moment ago. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers.
"That's it! In their previous lives, those malicious spirits hailed from Latveria, and had some sort of connection with Victor when he was Dr. Doom!"
The three Fantastics were proud as always for their leader and his intelligence, but there was something about what he just said that did not click with the youngest one of the group.
"That's too weird though, if Victor is anything like he was when he lived on Earth, you would like to think he would go after Marilyn himself." Johnny countered.
"But alas Johnny, that was when he was his own boss. Now that he is a resident of the Underworld again, Mephisto has control over him. Unfortunately, there is always a chance that Mephisto will have his back turned, giving Victor a chance to escape. And trust me, Victor will always be searching high and low for that chance. But until he does find it, he will send what he feels are the most worthy servants to achieve what he cannot for now."
"So what you are saying Reed is that Victor could strike anytime, but as long as Mephisto somehow is aware of his presence, and is not distracted, he cannot leave the Underworld?" Susan questioned.
"Precisely." Reed answered back.
"So what are we to do? The girl's in danger either way you cut it." Benjamin said.
"I abhor saying this, but I have no idea. The training Marilyn receives through this is imperative. And besides, despite his banishment, Victor is always threatening to return to the Earthly plane." Reed sighed.
"Well, if you know what is good for your daughter, you can at least order us to keep an eye of some kind on her. And that gives me an idea!" Susan proclaimed as she zipped across to the center of the room where the television stood.
"There are much better uses for this than watching sports on the Earth plane!"
Susan turned the television on, and started playing with the buttons until a familiar image popped up on the screen.
"Alright, I believe this is the channel that our former home's security system worked on, correct?"
Reed paced over to the television, and looked at the monitor. He nodded and replied.
"Susan, this is perfect! Not just in being able to receive that very channel you mentioned, but also to be able to look in through the very camera that is focused on Marilyn right now!"
The image before the four Fantastics was of Marilyn doing her usual daytime slumbering on the couch in the Baxter Building's living room. Reed began to yawn.
"You know, that puts me in the mood to take a nap right now. Benjamin, and Johnny, all of you along with Susan do as she suggested and take your positions in front of the screen. Unless it is an emergency, do not get up until I return from the Dreamworld in a few Earth hours."
Reed exited the building, and went to rest on a cloudbank a few yards away outside.
"Reed never slept like that at all when we were on Earth." Johnny murmured.
"He and Marilyn are literally like two peas in a pod. There is just something about the daytime that makes them want to sleep now." Susan added.
As bored as they were with it at times, the three Fantastics kept at their post in front of the television as their leader requested.
"Well, I got a FULL HOUSE! I WIN!" Benjamin shouted out as he scooped up the nicely sized pile of poker chips before him.
Reed and Susan sighed as they gently put down their playing cards, and beheld their friend's joy over winning that one hand of Poker.
"Are you sure that entity does not mind us playing a gambling game Reed?" Susan asked.
"I'm quite positive that as long as we are not using real money, the entity will not mind. Just think of what we are doing as this, it will keep Benjamin from fighting with Johnny when he returns."
As Reed said those words, Johnny entered the room with a Spam can in his hand.
"Hey guys. Miss me?" He said sarcastically.
"Honestly Johnny, how disgusting! Why did you bring in that piece of garbage?!" Susan exclaimed.
"THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE Susan, was the cause of Marilyn almost being a late dinner for a demon. I swear Reed, if it were not for you and your darned lecture over me and Benjamin's argument, I could have gotten there quicker to save her from suffering like she did."
Benjamin paused in his rejoice over the winnings in front of him, and eyed the garbage Johnny held in his hand. Immediately, Benjamin got up, and bolted for Johnny.
"Wow! Kid, you can save your "I'm sorrys" for later, I'M STARVIN'!"
Suddenly, Benjamin grabbed the old can from Johnny.
"Benjamin, I think you should be aware, WELL AWARE of where that just came from." Johnny let out.
All Susan could do was look at Benjamin with shock and disgust as Reed spoke up.
"Benjamin, for once, listen to the lad."
"Oh c'mon guys, what is so harmful about this can? All of you know how much I love this stuff!"
After Ben said that, his eyes went wide.
"What the? LET GO OF ME! SOMEONE! GET THIS THING OFFA ME!"
The other three Fantastics were fearful for Benjamin, but were not sure what they were fearful of, for they could not see it. After a couple of minutes of struggling, Benjamin threw the can away from him.
"You mean you guys did not see that slime-ball that came out of the can? Almost ate me up!"
"Well, well, well, you just demonstrated why I brought that can here..." Johnny said in response to Ben's reaction.
"Obviously, you know one more thing than we do Johnny. Tell us about it." Reed sternly said.
"It just so happens that what Benjamin saw and experienced, Marilyn had to deal with on the Earth plane too. If any of you are daring, touch the can."
Reed calmly approached Johnny, grasped the can, and closed his eyes. He sat down in a meditative state, not showing one sign of fear. The other three Fantastics watched their leader in silence. After five minutes, Reed opened his eyes, and placed the can on a nearby pedestal. He beckoned the others to be near him, and spoke.
"I cannot quite put my finger on it yet, but there is one quality these demons that have attempted to nab Marilyn both share."
There was no response as Reed closed his eyes again, brooding over the visions he received from the container he had held a moment ago. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers.
"That's it! In their previous lives, those malicious spirits hailed from Latveria, and had some sort of connection with Victor when he was Dr. Doom!"
The three Fantastics were proud as always for their leader and his intelligence, but there was something about what he just said that did not click with the youngest one of the group.
"That's too weird though, if Victor is anything like he was when he lived on Earth, you would like to think he would go after Marilyn himself." Johnny countered.
"But alas Johnny, that was when he was his own boss. Now that he is a resident of the Underworld again, Mephisto has control over him. Unfortunately, there is always a chance that Mephisto will have his back turned, giving Victor a chance to escape. And trust me, Victor will always be searching high and low for that chance. But until he does find it, he will send what he feels are the most worthy servants to achieve what he cannot for now."
"So what you are saying Reed is that Victor could strike anytime, but as long as Mephisto somehow is aware of his presence, and is not distracted, he cannot leave the Underworld?" Susan questioned.
"Precisely." Reed answered back.
"So what are we to do? The girl's in danger either way you cut it." Benjamin said.
"I abhor saying this, but I have no idea. The training Marilyn receives through this is imperative. And besides, despite his banishment, Victor is always threatening to return to the Earthly plane." Reed sighed.
"Well, if you know what is good for your daughter, you can at least order us to keep an eye of some kind on her. And that gives me an idea!" Susan proclaimed as she zipped across to the center of the room where the television stood.
"There are much better uses for this than watching sports on the Earth plane!"
Susan turned the television on, and started playing with the buttons until a familiar image popped up on the screen.
"Alright, I believe this is the channel that our former home's security system worked on, correct?"
Reed paced over to the television, and looked at the monitor. He nodded and replied.
"Susan, this is perfect! Not just in being able to receive that very channel you mentioned, but also to be able to look in through the very camera that is focused on Marilyn right now!"
The image before the four Fantastics was of Marilyn doing her usual daytime slumbering on the couch in the Baxter Building's living room. Reed began to yawn.
"You know, that puts me in the mood to take a nap right now. Benjamin, and Johnny, all of you along with Susan do as she suggested and take your positions in front of the screen. Unless it is an emergency, do not get up until I return from the Dreamworld in a few Earth hours."
Reed exited the building, and went to rest on a cloudbank a few yards away outside.
"Reed never slept like that at all when we were on Earth." Johnny murmured.
"He and Marilyn are literally like two peas in a pod. There is just something about the daytime that makes them want to sleep now." Susan added.
As bored as they were with it at times, the three Fantastics kept at their post in front of the television as their leader requested.