Conclusion: Trust No More
by Jason Bruss
Mr. Fantastic
Invisible Woman
The Thing
Human Torch
Franklin Richards
Victoria Richards
She-Hulk
Ant Man
Previously in Fantastic Four: Susan Storm, Benjamin Grimm, Jennifer Walters, and Scott Lang flew to Arabia in search of the missing Johnny Storm. After a crash-landing in the desert, they find themselves in a very 'fantastic' place. Upon exploring the majestically palace, they are confronted by a D'Spayre controlled Johnny Storm. In the ensuing battle, Sue Storm fears she has lost all of her family and friends to D'Spayre's dark shadows.FOUR FREEDOMS PLAZA; Reed Sue's Bedroom
Early Morning
It's like as if a dam had broken open, and the thousands and thousands of gallons of water were rushing down over me, as much as I couldn't believe it was happening- I found that things weren't as they seemed... again.
"No, No, NO!"
I begin to cry, as I find myself sitting up on my bed with a gentle arm wrapped around me. It's my husband, Reed Richards. But how? How did I go from Arabia to here? This isn't making any sense.
"Sue? Sue, what's wrong?" Reed asks.
I lower my head as my crying becomes a slow sob, my breathing slows also. I look up to his gorgeous brown eyes. I reach over and place my hand on his cheek, he's still hurting. Still recovering from his injuries inflicted by the dastardly Dr. Doom.
"Reed... they're gone, I can't believe their gone. Johnny, Ben, Jennifer, and Scott- they are all gone. D'Spayre took them all, he took them from me. I lost them, Reed- I failed them, I should have saved them."
"Sue, calm down... it's alright, it was just a nightmare. Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry- Johnny's disappearance is really taking its tool on you. I'm so sorry you had to experience that."
A nightmare? Possibly. Johnny's still gone, perhaps I'm suffering from some kind of post-traumatic stress. Everything isn't the way it should be. The apartment's trashed, it's going to take some time to get things back in order. Dr. Doom and his Doom-bots messed up the apartment pretty severely, mainly Reed's lab though.
"Reed, I dreamt that Ben, Scott, Jennifer and I went to Baghdad in search of Johnny, I tracked his heat signature- but then the plane crashed because my powers failed me. Jen, Ben, Scott, and I then found a palace, a magical palace in a red mist- but it turned out that D'Spayre had led us there. He was controlling Johnny, and he took them away- He took them all away, Reed. Every last one of them, I was alone- You weren't there, Johnny wasn't there, Ben wasn't there... no one was there. I was alone."
I feel Reed's arms tightly wrap around me, and I let my head fall into the palm of my hand. It was a nightmare, such a horrible nightmare. But it felt so real, so very real.
FOUR FREEDOMS PLAZA: Living Room
Early Morning
I like my little sister. She's great. Although, I wish she'd stop taking my legos and quit putting them in her mouth. Grr... Little sisters can be great sometimes, but a pain in the butt other times. Uncle Benjy is with green lady and the other guy. They went out for breakfast before anyone else got up- except me. I was up early- I heard Uncle Benjy saying something about knowing where Uncle Johnny is.
"Vicky... stop that! Quit takin' my blocks!"
She mumbles something, I could of sworn she said a bad word. I should tell, but she didn't actually say it. Although, it might get mommy and daddy to take her into another room and have a special talk. Sort of like the special talks I've had.
Who is he? A man. He just showed up out of no where, wearing a long black cape. He has a skeleton mask. Who is he? He's the Boogie Man! Oh no! I grab Vicky and run back into the hallway.
"Daddy! Mommy! Daddy! Mommy!"
Where are they? Where did mommy and daddy go? This is a trick. I know it. I turn around towards the guy, keeping Vicky behind me.
"Who are you, mister?"
"I'm your greatest fear, young Franklin Richards..."
"No your not. Your just- Let me think of the word- Oh yeah, your a Stupid Doo-Doo Head!"
"What are they teaching children in school now in days?"
I hold onto Vicky, where's mommy and daddy? Where are they? The man, his face- he's become- he's become- Onslaught. He's the guy that took my mommy and daddy away from me. He's back. Oh no. He's going to do it again. He's going to take my family.
"Get away from me! GET AWAY! GET AWAY!"
"Franklin...?" asks a firm voice.
Border's Café
Morning
I find myself with comfortable company, although I wish I were with them on much better terms. I find myself kicked back in a lounge chair at Border's, sipping on a cup of joe. I'm Scott Lang, better known as Ant Man, and this morning I'm with Benjamin Grimm and Jennifer Walters. Ben thinks he might have a lead on where our fellow friend Johnny Storm might be... or at least we hope so.
"So in other words, Ben... you don't know where Johnny is and you got us out of bed just so you'd have someone keep you company?"
"Why I outta'..."
"Chill Big Guy, Just Jokin'..."
Or at least, I am now. Thing's got a temper like you couldn't imagine, although he can seem like your long lost best friend as soon as you meet him. He has one of those personalities.
"I know, Johnny's out there... I know it for a fact."
"How Ben?"
"Easy Jennifer- check out that."
Ben pointed up the street, I look, as does Jennifer, and I don't see anything, just the skyscrapers of good ole New York. Then I see it, a high-flying, flame-tossing, twenty-something hot head. It was Johnny Storm- the missing member of the Fantastic Four. We didn't have to go in search of him, instead he came in search of us?
"Let's go!"
I watch as Ben and Jen get up from the table abruptly and start running down the street in the direction of Johnny, and I pull out my wallet. Damnit. I only have a fifty, I don't have time to wait around for a waitress to break it. Oh well, it comes part of being a super-hero- I guess. Damnit.
Four Freedoms Plaza: Living Room
Morning
I kneel down to Franklin's height, and place a firm hand on his shoulder. I look to Sue and watch her pick Victoria up. I turn my attention back to Franklin, whom seems unharmed.
"Franklin, you alright? Was Victoria bothering you?"
"No, Daddy... the man was."
I look to Sue, she gives me a look of questionable concern.
"What man, Franklin? There's no one here."
"Yeah, there is... He was just here... He wanted Vicky and I."
I stand up and look around the room, I don't see anyone. I look to Sue, whom is clutching Victoria tightly. She's still riled up from her dream, and I don't think this is making it any better.
"Franklin, What did we tell you about telling lies? There's no one here."
"Yes there is, Daddy... He's in the closet. I know it."
I walk over to the closet just as Sue gasps, suddenly- all I hear is glass shattering and feel heat on my skin. It's Johnny! He's alive, He's back. Johnny's body flames fade as he lays on the ground moaning. I turn my attention away from the closet and quickly run to Johnny's side as he lays on the floor curled up, as if he's in extreme pain.
"Johnny... It's Reed. Johnny, can you tell me what's wrong? What happened?"
I turn my attention to Sue, whom is clutching Victoria in one arm and holding Franklin's hand with the other. She's looking to me, she's desperate to help her brother, she knows I'll do my best. I quickly get up and run into the demolished area of the Apartment and grab a first aid kit, it's going to have to do for now. I quickly begin to look Johnny over.
"Reed... behind... you..."
Johnny's voice is so faint, I could barely catch what he said. I turn my head and look behind me, there's nothing there except for the closet door. The closet that Franklin said that there was someone in. I turn back to Johnny, and then I decide that I need to know what's behind that door. I stand up and walk over to the closet door, giving Sue a look of 'preparation'. As I open the door, I don't see anything. Just coats and shoes. Nothing. No man, No Nothing out of the ordinary.
I turn my attention back to Johnny and begin to walk over to him, when I feel a hand touch my shoulder. A firm hand. A cold hand. I turn my head to find; D'Spayre! Sue's nightmare was real! D'Spayre is involved. He's manipulated the Fantastic Four, he's responsible for all of his despair and fear, this horrible fear of resentment, of loneliness, of suffering. D'Spayre feeds off of our fear, it makes him stronger- it's what allows him to defeat us. He uses our own fears against us.
"D'Spayre, I should have known that you would be involved when Sue mentioned her nightmare. You harmed my family, you brought horrible fear and terrible despair among us. Why would you do such a despicable thing?"
He smirks, a chilling feeling goes down my spine as I slowly back away towards Sue and the kids. Johnny's on the floor, curling on the floor, clenching his stomach. D'Spayre is affected him.
"It's such a shame that the great Fantastic Four is so easily controlled by a superior being like myself, perhaps you should consider this as a sign of early retirement."
"What do you want, D'Spayre!"
"Ah, Mrs. Richards... The ability to control others and shape my existence in the form that I want, I could use your fear and have you using your unique ability to steal information, rid myself of my enemies, all sorts of things. The Fantastic Four lacks the courage that's needed in order to-"
I watch as D'Spayre is struck square in the jaw by a large rocky figure's fist, my good pal Benjamin Grimm. D'Spayre lands on the floor next to Johnny and he reaches out to him. Johnny suddenly stands, looking and apparently feeling better.
"Flame On!"
Johnny's fiery state makes the room heat up rather quickly, the internal sub-temp. system must be offline, it usually prevents the room from heating up when Johnny turns on the heat.
"Johnny... please, Franklin and Victoria are present... please don't do this. D'Spayre is controlling you!"
"It's no use, Susan... D'Spayre has Johnny believing we are someone else, it's as if Johnny's existing in a different realm."
Scott Lang aka Ant Man, and he was right. Johnny could feel like he's living out his worst nightmare- while in the real realm, he's taking on his friends and family. I quickly look to She-Hulk and Thing, D'Spayre needs to be taken out of commission. I quickly stretch across the room, wrapping my body around D'Spayre quickly and tightly.
But then I turn to see Johnny has killed Sue and the children, I release D'Spayre... I return to regular form and fall to the ground. I weep over the death of my wife and children. No! This isn't real! It's a fear- D'Spayre is controlling me now. I must stop. I must focus.
Before I know it, Sue and the children are fine and standing far back from the scene in the Living Room, I had barely escaped D'Spayre's control. Suddenly, I'm struck in the back by several ants. Controlled by Ant Man, no doubt. D'Spayre must have control of Scott now too.
I turn and look towards D'Spayre, I grab a metal shard that is laying on the floor- a reminder of what Dr. Doom did to my home not too long ago. I stretch as quickly as possible across the room, pressing the metal shard into D'Spayre's chest. Suddenly, a blast of fire erupts from Johnny striking D'Spayre. He's back.
She-Hulk and The Thing strike D'Spayre from both sides, pinning him against the wall of the living room. Scott's ants are crawling all over- I quickly turn to him.
"Scott! Ant Man! You must focus! You must! Do not let your fears, whatever they may be, make you weak!"
It took awhile, but I think that sunk into Scott because the ants backed up and returned to the Ant Farm that was sitting on the counter. I quickly turn my attention to Johnny, Ben, and Jen whom are standing around D'Spayre, whom is pinned against the wall.
"Ok, D'Spayre... this ends now. No more."
D'Spayre smirks, his black eyes with no irises, no pupils stare straight at me. It's an eerie feeling, but I do not fear it. For if I did, he'd have control again. And I won't allow that. The shadows in the room seem to get larger, surrounding everything. I turn to Sue, and watch her grasp our children tighter. I turn and look to D'Spayre.
"What are you doing!"
D'Spayre disappears into the darkness of the shadows, and the room returns to normal light. A neon blue colored number '0.' appears on the wall, where D'Spayre was left. Was he responsible for it? Or someone else? A being we don't even know. I, for one, don't know. I don't know what to think about anything. How do I know that this isn't fake? That D'Spayre isn't still in the room, or the building, or posing as one of my friends and family. He's done something to the team that could be almost un-repairable.
He's taken the trust we have for each other... away.
NEXT ISSUE: Now that the Fantastic Four have lost their trust and faith in each other, what's next? Johnny's emotional upheaval is explored further when Ben Grimm finds him in a very unusual place. Reed gets a mysterious phone call, and you can bet it's not ATT Long Distance. And Sue does the unthinkable! Find out, Fantastic Four #38!
Fantastic
Forum:
I saw that M2K's Fantastic Four was open after the talented Moo had hung up his fanfic typing fingers for a chance of a lifetime, he hadn't finished his storyline so a good friend and talented fanfic writer by the name of Cory Wiegel coaxed me into writing the title. I've always been a reader, reviewer, etc... but never a writer. So I took the opportunity and wrote up this issue, ending Moo's storyline and sort of setting it up to go in whatever direction.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those who've supported me online and offline in whatever I do. I'd like to thank Cory, who introduced me to M2K a long long time ago. I'd like to thank my good friends Scott, Kelly, David, Claudia, and several others. I'd also like to thank my Grandmother, whom has stepped into the shoes of my mom and stood as my permanent moral support.
I hope that if anything comes out of this title it's the chance to explore and develop my writing skills and to get people interested in the Fantastic Four.
Jason Bruss