Chapter 6 – Torched
Susan stood stunned in front of the perfect stranger, and now a woman with the last name Sue hoped to never hear again.
"Sorry." She mumbled finally. "What was with the last name?"
"You need me to spill it for you? I thought you used to hear it a lot." Lydia said smugly and totally calm.
"Any relations to Victor Von Doom?" Sue asked straight.
"Yes. I'm his sister." She smiled, the smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Er…" Sue went silent again. It finally hit her. She's seen this woman's photo in Victor's wallet once or twice. "And what do you want?"
Lydia decided that the talk wasn't about to go on in the hall. She gracefully made her way into the apartment and saw all the science equipment.
"Working hard at home?" She asked, eyeing the big room.
"I don't think that's why you're here. Why don't you just explain everything to me?" Sue said, gesturing for the sofa for them to sit. Lydia followed her and took a seat on the other end of the sofa.
"Alright." The brunette said finally. "Recently I found out what happened to my beloved brother. I must say, I'm really upset about it. Looking through some papers, I understood that something about your space voyage…"
"So this is all about revenge?" Sue looked up.
"I would prefer to be listened and not interrupted." Lydia said, almost strictly. Seeing that Susan sat quiet, she went on. "As I was saying…in that papers I found that Reed Richards counted everything incorrectly, that's why the radiation hit…"
"It wasn't Reed's fault!" Susan started an outburst. "Reed and I both told Victor that we had to fly away, but he didn't listen to us!"
"Susan, you're interrupting again." Lydia said, not paying any attention to what was happening a minuet ago. "So, where was I? Oh, yes! The judge and jury will say differently when they see what I saw. And it won't matter that you're heroes, because I have too many connections in this country. And the government wouldn't want average people to think that they treat heroes better then them. I believe this is all."
Susan's mouth was hanging open, eyes wide. Lydia stood up to go, taking her purse in hand. She's already reached the door, but then turned around to face the blonde.
"And you may get a call from my lower tomorrow." She added and left.
"Ok, Johnny." Reed said, entering room 407. "This…Hello."
"Hi, you must be Reed?" Carmen extended her hand.
"Yes. And you're Carmen. Very nice to meet you." Mr. Fantastic said. "I've got two kind of news: good and bad."
"Bad?" Johnny suggested, Carmen nodded.
"Some of your cells react unacceptable on James' blood, so you can't donate." Reed said in his teacher-like voice.
"And good?" Carmen asked.
"There's someone who can."
"Who?" Parents asked in unison.
"Sue."
Flashback
James got flu. Johnny knew that. Carmen's told him when he called the last time. Why was he so worried? Of course, he was a biological father, but he didn't know this boy, hasn't talked to him ever. His rule was to call Carmen once in half a year. He promised not to interfere in James' life? And Carmen in return promised to tell him what was new in their son's life when he called. Johnny called two days before and Carmen said that she couldn't talk because James had a flu. For two days Johnny was restless.
"Yeah." He answered when his cell rang.
"Hi, Johnny, I just call to check on you." Sue said, probably drinking something in between words. "Sorry, my vitamins."
"Ok. And ok." Johnny said quickly.
"Are you sure? You sound strange." She stopped whatever she was doing to listen to her brother.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess." He assured her.
"Ok." He heard her give up. "But if you need my help I'm always here."
"Thanks, sis." He hung up.
End of Flashback
"Who's Sue?" Carmen looked at the two men in next to her.
"It's my sister." Johnny explained. After Reed coughed he added. "And Reed's-soon-to-be-wife…"
"Oh. Is it possible for her to come?" The girl asked, taking a hold of James' hand who was still on the bed, not even opening his eyes.
"I'll call her." Human Torch took the cell from the table and turned to the direction of the door but was stopped when someone grabbed his hand:
"I'll call her." Reed said. "I really need to talk to her."
Johnny thought for a second and tossed the phone.
Ben entered the top floor of the Baxter Building.
"Hey!" He greeted when he saw Sue sitting on the couch in the leaving room.
"Hi…" She answered quietly.
"What's wrong?" Ben asked right away.
"There are some problems." Susan visibly paled. "I've met a woman…"
"I hope you're not leaving my best friend for a woman!" The Thing joked, trying to make at least half of the stress in the air (that could be cut with a knife) go away.
"I'm serious." But she smiled a small smile. "She's Victor's sister."
"Vic had a sister?" Ben repeated, shocked.
"Yes. I saw her picture in his wallet but never asked who she was." Sue answered. "Anyway, she is about to file for Reed's mistake in counting."
"But that's illegal!" Ben exclaimed.
"The thing is…" She paused. "That is probably the most legal thing she could ever find."
"So, we're doomed?" 'What an irony!' Ben thought.
Sue didn't have time to answer that because her cell phone started ringing.
"Hello."
"Hi, honey! It's me." It was Reed.
"I've got bad news."
"Wow, the day seems to be full of it." He said after a while.
"Why? What's up?" Sue asked.
"We need you to come to London. We've got someone's life here depended on your blood." Reed said.
"WOW-wow. Hold it right there. What do you mean? Who's life?" Be looked away from the window and to Susan.
"James'."
"Who's James?"
"Your five-year-old nephew." Feed finally said after having a big mental discussion. He thought it was right for Johnny to tell Sue everything himself, but there was no choice now.
Sue's lips formed a perfect 'o'.
TBC
