"CHANGES"
Part I: No Safe
Haven
by Jason
Bruss
Mr. Fantastic
Invisible Woman
The Thing
Human Torch
Franklin Richards
Victoria Richards
She-Hulk
Ant Man
It Begins...1131 52nd Street; New
York; New York
11:02pm
Alicia sits on the balcony of her studio apartment as the gentle wind flows between the buildings of the upper east side. The night sky is clear and the moon is full. Tonight, Alicia and the world are unaware of what is about to occur. As Alicia stands up and steps back into her apartment, her robe opens and flows gently behind her revealing her pinkish white nightgown. A knock on the door disrupts her peaceful moment.
Alicia inhales and smells the thick smell of cologne. Cologne worn by the Fantastic Four's one and only Benjamin Grimm.
"Ben," Alicia smiles as she gives him a hug. As her arms wrap around his firm shoulders, her fingers run through his thick brown hair.
"Alicia, I need to speak with you about something. Something very important." Ben states.
Alicia backs away from Ben, thinking she knows what he's going to say. Something she predicted for a long time would occur eventually because of who he is and what he does.
"Alright, Benjamin."
Ben closes the door and walks into the apartment following Alicia, whom leads him to the couch. She sits softly on the couch and Ben kneels before her. He takes her hand and kisses it lightly.
"Alicia, I love you. I have always loved you. But sometimes... sometimes things change. The way someone feels about someone is something that can change. I don't want to hurt you, Alicia. I love you. That's why I must do this."
Alicia pulls her hand away from Ben and quickly stands from the couch.
"You can't do this to me, Ben. I know your work with the Fantastic Four is important. I know what you do day in and day out is important to you. But Ben, I love you. I'm willing to take that risk. If you can't deal with that, then we don't belong together-"
"Whoa!" Ben quickly rushes to Alicia and wraps his arms around her.
"Alicia, You misunderstand. I'm not running this time. I love you. That's why I brought you this."
Ben pulls a ring box from his pocket and places it in Alicia's hand. She runs her fingers around the box and feels that its a velvet box.
"What is it, Benjamin? What does this mean?"
Ben opens the box and pulls out a shiny engagement ring and places it on Alicia's finger.
"It means I want you to be my wife."
Tears stream from Alicia's eyes as she forgets the fact of the ring on her finger and wraps her arms around Ben. She tightly squeezes him.
"Hey now, If I knew it would make you cry I would of reconsidered."
Alicia smiles as she continues to cry tears of happiness.
Four Freedoms Plaza; New
York; New York
11:34pm
In his quarters, Johnny Storm walks in front of his mirror wearing snuggling white boxer-briefs and a white tank top. As he runs his gel slicked fingers through his short spiky blonde hair, he smirks.
"Do I look good? Or do I look good?"
"Well, that's a very interesting question..." a female voice states.
Johnny, startled, turns around to the familiar female voice.
"Crystal..."
Her name is Crystal Maximoff. An Inhuman currently servicing on the Avengers, and also once upon a time a love interest of Johnny Storm. She may very well be one of the only people that know a small secret of the Fantastic Four's hot-headed hunk. Wearing black slacks, a golden sleeveless shirt, and black heels, Crystal walks further into the room. She gives Johnny a firm hug and then backs a few steps away as Johnny wipes his hands on a towel to get the gel off.
"Crys, what brings you here? Did the Avengers disband and my Heroes Newsletter was lost in the mail?"
Johnny smirks.
Crystal shakes her head and rolls her eyes as she sits down in the recliner. She picks up a magazine that's sitting on the stand next to the chair. Oddly enough, the magazine is titled: 'The Advocate'. A popular gay magazine.
"Actually, I just figured I'd come and visit you. I haven't heard from you in awhile and just thought I'd catch up with one of my good friends."
Walking over and taking the magazine from her, he lays it on the bed and picks up his jeans and puts them on in front of Crystal.
"Johnny, I wouldn't let things like that lay around. I thought you weren't going to tell anyone? That you were undecided on how to approach it or even if it's how you felt?"
Johnny zips up his fly and sits down in front of her on the floor. Crystal knows Johnny's secret. In fact, she's one of a few people that know. They were romantically involved- once. Johnny lowers his head and slips on his socks as he looks up to Crystal.
"I told Ben. When we were in Pittsburgh and went into a gay club that I use to sneak into every once in awhile. I felt he was my best friend and that he'd accept me for who I am. Whether I'm straight, gay, or bisexual. He handled it incredibly. It was remarkable. Especially after the events of the last couple of months."
"I told you, Johnny. They love you. They'll accept you regardless. Have you decided that your gay?"
Johnny sighs.
"I don't know. I mean, I'm attracted to women. I'm able to be romantically involved with them. But yet, I feel attracted to men also. I can be romantically involved with them too. I just don't know."
Crystal smiles and gets up from the chair and sits on the floor next to him.
"Johnny, I love you. I will always love you. You are a good friend of mine. You ever need anything, you know how to get a hold of me." Crystal kisses him lightly on the cheek and then leaves the room.
Johnny lays back onto the floor and just stares at the ceiling.
Titan Tower; New York;
New York
12:04am
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fantastic Four's Reed and Susan Richards."
The highly fashionable audience claps as Sue and Reed walk out onto the stage in front of the others. Reed's arm is stretched around Sue's body. Sue's black silk dress is remarkable and goes well with Reed's tuxedo. Reed steps up to the microphone.
"Thank you, Thank you. Sue and I are honored to deliver this award tonight."
"Yes, this award goes to the most scientific mind of the universities student body. The student body and the faculty have unanimously chosen this individual for the award. Every year this award ceremony is held here on the 34th floor of the infamous Titan Tower. This year is unlike no other."
Reed reaches the entire way across the stage and grabs the envelope from the stand that Sue and him had walked pass without picking up the envelope. As his arm retracts to its 'normal' form, he hands the envelope to Sue.
"And the award goes to..."
The room begins to shake. Tables are over-turned. The audience's screams make even Sue's voice over the loud speakers a muffled sound. The windows shatter exposing them to the winds of the higher altitude.
"Sue, we've got to do something."
Sue nods her head and generates a invisible shield where the windows once stood. Reed looks around the room checking the condition of everyone. Seeing that everyone is fine and the shaking has finished, he looks to his wife.
"It looks like everyone's alright."
"Reed, it's New York. We don't have earthquakes of this magnitude here."
Reed's eyes let Sue knows that he agrees as he ponders. Susan's invisible shield around the building prevents the high altitude winds from entering the building and sweeping people out.
"Everyone, please be calm and exit the building in an orderly fashion."
Reed's directive seemed to do nothing. The panic stricken audience rushes from the building causing complete chaos.
The building once again begins to shake violently. Susan's invisible shield fades as she's struck by a ceiling support beam.
"SUE!"
Reed stretches to Sue's side and removes the beam. Sue shakes her head slowly and holds her forehead as she sits up in Reed's arms.
"Well, Well, Well... if it isn't Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman." a familiar voice rings out.
"Puppet Master." Reed states as he sees the Puppet Master step into the empty room of turned over tables and chairs.
The Puppet Master steps towards a table, picking up a glass of champagne and drinking it.
"What do you want?" Sue asks as she returns to her feet.
"Oh, It's just not me this time." Puppet Master states as he looks to the other side of the room.
The center of the stage crumbles as a man on what appears to be a large reptilian slug erupts from beneath.
"Mole Man..." Sue gasps, now understanding the shaking of the building.
"Yes, Susan Richards... It's I, the Mole Man."
Puppet Master chuckles loudly and as soon as he notices that he has Sue and Reed's attention, he points across the room to the other side. Sue and Reed gasp at the sight
"This is impossible..." Sue states as she firmly holds herself against Reed and looks around the room.
As Reed and Sue look around the room, they find themselves surrounded by the Puppet Master, Mole Man, Psycho Man, Klaw, Annihlus, and Blaastar.
"How is this possible? What are you all doing here?" Reed questions.
As the villains circle around Reed and Sue at a distance, a laughter is heard loudly echoing throughout the room.
"Because I brought them here, Richards."
"No..."
"Yes. I... Doom."
Doom's laughter continues to echo throughout the room.
NEXT ISSUE: You never would of thought it was possible. Stay Tuned for Pt. II of "Changes".
Fantastic Forum:
It's the beginning of the end of an era for our favorite family. It's no dream, it's the real thing. Stay Tuned for the Biggest Event Ever! Coming Soon!
Jason Bruss