MARVEL 2000 PRESENTS... "The Promised Land"
by Jason C. Bruss

#51
Vol. 1

Fours Tower
New Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania U.S.

Susan Richards finds herself using her fantastic gifts to re-arrange the new furniture in the living quarters of Fours Tower. As if magic, she flings her hands about to move the heavy furniture.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Franklin said entering through double doors from the Kitchen area.

She lowered her arms to her side and turned her blue crystal eyes to her son Franklin. He was her oldest child, the child she's found herself protecting time after time because of her position on the Fantastic Four.

"I'm trying to re-arrange the new furniture. It just arrived today and I figured the faster I get it arranged, the sooner the new building will feel like home." Sue replied.

"Oh, sounds like fun." Franklin says plopping down onto the couch propping his feet up on the coffee table. Franklin was sporting Abercrombie navy jeans with an hole in the right knee and an red Hollister hooded-sweatshirt.

"Franklin," Sue said walking over and grabbing a hold of Franklin's feet and placing them on the floor. "You know better. Don't put your feet on the furniture, especially the glass coffee table."

"Sorry Mom." Franklin said. He had recently turned 13 and you could tell that the teen years were starting to settle in.

Susan brushed her medium length blonde hair behind her ears as she walked over to the big screen television in the corner of the room. She got on her knees and reached behind the television and plugged in the electrical cord. It wasn't long after that Franklin grabbed the remote off the coffee table and turned on the TV.

"It works." Franklin says with a smirk.

Susan rolls her eyes as she returns to her feet. She looks to Franklin and then extends an arm to invisibly force the remote to her hand from his.

"Thank you for helping me out. Don't you have homework?" she asked him, knowing he probably didn't complete it.

"Yeah, but Uncle Benji said I could do it later." Franklin gave his mother a serious look, really believing that she would buy his excuse.

"Okay, Not. Franklin, I know that your Uncle Ben didn't say that." Sue says standing in front of Franklin, blocking his view of the television.

"Since when did you become a telepath?" Franklin said with attitude as he got up from the couch and stormed out of the Living Quarters to the main corridor that would lead to his bedroom.

Sue just smiles and shakes her head. She lays the remote down on the coffee table and goes over to a cardboard box. She kneels to the box and opens it up. She pulls out a picture. She looks and sees herself at a much younger age and her husband Reed.

"We've been through a lot over the years, my darling." Sue tells herself looking at the picture.

Pittsburgh National Science Facility
New Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania U.S.

"Put the gun down and let's talk about this," the rock exterior Ben Grimm says as he calmly walked towards a man with a loaded machine gun.

"I... I... I don't want to hurt anyone." The man said almost unsure as Ben was about stopping him.

Ben lifted his hands to the man and spoke to him as quietly as he possibly could. He moved slowly close to the man. The gunman was sweating and shaking nervously, almost afraid of Ben, almost dropping the machine gun several times.

"No one will get hurt. Just put down the gun and we'll discuss this reasonably." Ben said calmly to the man.

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! It's not fair for the government to keep this new technology to itself when my daughter is dying!" the man blurted out firing a round from the machine gun into the ceiling above Ben.

Ben looked up to the ceiling and saw it slowly re-structure itself. New Pittsburgh was created via Vioxx technology, so it apparently operated like Vioxx technology.

"I understand, man. I really do. I might be able to help you. But first, you have to put down that gun, before someone gets seriously hurt."

The gunman backed up slowly, bumping into a counter full of chemicals. He never diverted his eyes from Ben, who was creeping up on him.

"My daughter means everything to me. She's…" He paused to wipe the sweat from his forehead before continuing. "She's all I have. I can't—I won't lose her."

Ben snatches the machine gun from the unstable gunman and snaps it in half, tossing it against the wall. He grabs the panicking gunman by the tail of his shirt and lifts him off his feet.

"Listen Terminator, this isn't the way to help your daughter. What good are you going to be to her if you're locked up? I understand you want to help her and I understand you feel that the new technology of New Pittsburgh will help her. But you've got to give the government time to figure out exactly how all this new technology works." Ben says gruffly to the now unarmed gunman.

"My daughter is sick… really sick, Mr. Thing. She won't make it much longer."

Ben lets go of the man, feeling he has calmed down.

"First, don't refer to me as Mr. Thing. Call me Ben. What's your name?"

"I'm Joe, Joe Phillips." The unarmed gunman informs the Fantastic Four's Thing.

"Well Joe, I'll tell you what. I should turn you in, because I feel like you might listen to reason now. I'll see about having your daughter checked out by my friend Reed. He's been pretty busy lately trying to uncover all this new mysterious technology that's incorporated into the entire blasted city."

Joe's face comes from a panic, emotionally distressed look to a slight smile. He had hope now. Thanks to Ben Grimm of the Fantastic Four, he had hope.

"Oh thank you, Ben. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."

"How about you stay away from the assault weapons?" Ben replies sarcastically.

New Pittsburgh City Hall
New Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania U.S.

"…and I feel that this will benefit New Pittsburgh and its daily operations best. What do you think, Mr. Richards?" President Robert Kelly asked Reed.

"I don't know, President Kelly. I'm flattered you want me for this position but I don't know with everything that's going on; the scientist in me wants to do as much research possible on the new technology."

President Kelly pauses as he steps out from behind the Mayor's desk. He walks around to the other side and places a hand on Reed's shoulder. He gives Reed a slight grin and then nods one of the presidential guards at the door.

The security guard opens one of the double wooden doors and a gentleman enters wearing a black suit with red and white stripped tie. The gentleman quickly puts out a hand to greet Reed as he enters the room.

"Pollard Wheatley, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Richards."

Reed shook the man's hand and then turned to President Kelly, whom was leaning back against the mayor's desk.

"New Pittsburgh needs a Mayor, Richards. Pollard Wheatley is the most qualified for the position, but he and the city need you as their viceroy. Think of this as the opportunity of a lifetime, Richards. You'll still get plenty of time to be the scientist you want to be," states President Kelly.

Reed rubbed his chin, contemplating taking on this new opportunity. He'd be the Viceroy to New Pittsburgh and it's Mayor. It was a big decision, yet all Reed could really concentrate on was the his opportunity to study all of the unknown new technology that the city had acquired. He didn't think of the position of power, the consequences, or the pressure it'd put on his family. It was something that happened often throughout the years, Reed's scientific mind took over and took charge.

"I'll do it." Reed replied to the President.

"Excellent, Mr. Richards. You will make an excellent Viceroy. I'll leave you and Mayor Wheatley to make the necessary arrangements. I have to get back to Washington. I do have an nation to run."

President Kelly shook Reed's hand, then Mayor Wheatley's before exiting the mayor's office. His security guards surrounded him as he left, closing the doors behind him.

"It will be a pleasure working with you, Mr. Richards." Mayor Wheatley states.

"How old are you, Mayor Wheatley?"

Mr. Wheatley retreated behind the mayor's desk to seat, then looked up to Reed.

"I'll be 31 this year, sir."

"I see. Have you ever had a position in politics?"

Mr. Wheatley looked down at the desk and then sat back, adjusting his tie which felt like a noose under Reed's inquisition.

"No, sir. My father is a strong financial supporter of President Kelly. No one wanted to be in charge of a city that could very well meet its demise before it could be harvested by us Americans. I have studied very hard and graduated at the top of my class at Harvard though. I want to show my father that I'm more than he thinks of me. This is my chance. I can take a stand here and show him that I'm an adult."

Reed shook his head slightly, understanding Pollard Wheatley's motives. He also understood why no one would want to take on the position of Mayor of New Pittsburgh. The city has, had, and will come under attack by those that would wish to profit from the technology the city possesses.

"I understand. Well, I have a family to get home too. So let's go over some of these things and plan out how we'll address the city." Reed says sitting down in front of the mayor's desk.

Later…
Club4
New Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.

As Cascade's 'Every time We Touch' plays in the background, Alison Cory sits on Johnny Storm's lap at a table. Alicia sits across from them, next to husband Ben. Sue walks in and takes a seat next to Ben and Johnny.

"Where's Reed?" Johnny asks.

Sue pulls in her chair and pushes back her hair, then looks to Johnny. She gives him a slight smile and sighs.

"Reed's been appointed the Viceroy of New Pittsburgh. He called me from the Mayor's Office. He won't be joining us tonight." Sue informs them, almost upset.

"Viceroy? Of New Pittsburgh? How'd stretch get roped into that?" Ben questions Sue.

"I don't know. Something about President Kelly's visit. I didn't really get a chance to talk to him. He was meeting with his staff or something."

Sue sighs and Ben places a hand on her shoulder.

"It'll be okay, Suzy. Reed's probably doing what he feels is best for you and the kids." Ben comforts Sue.

Alison gets up from Johnny's lap and grabs the attention of one of the shooter girls. She orders five shooters. She holds one and hands out the other four to Johnny, Ben, Alicia, and Sue.

"A toast to Reed's promotion… for it'll be one of the greatest stories of the year." Alison says.

They raise their glasses and toast. Sue doesn't chug hers as the others down them. She instead just swirls it around in her hand.

"Cheer up sis, things will get better. Honestly, how hard can a Viceroy work?" Johnny comforts.

"If you'll excuse me guys, I need to use the restroom." Alison says getting up and walking towards the restroom.

"I'm just afraid that this job will pull him away from me and the kids. Our work as the Fantastic Four already puts enough strain on us. All this new technology and the new government influence on the city has added to that. Now this. I don't know how much more I can take." Sue says.

"I'll tell you what, Susan. I'll go freshen up in the bathroom and then you and I will go for a walk through town. It'll help you get some fresh hair and just relax." Alicia says smiling to Sue before getting up to go to the Ladies room.

"Thanks Alicia."

Ben and Johnny both scoot their chairs over next to Sue and give her a warm embrace. She laughs as they mock her sulky mood.

"You guys are jerks, you know that?"

"We try." Johnny replies.

"We love you, Suzy. Well, matchstick might pretend, but he does too." Ben says.

"Hey, shut up chubby." Johnny remarks.

"Are you calling me fat?"

"That's right."

Sue just laughs. The more things change, the more they stay the same. So they say. She loved her family… all of them. They have been together through thick and thin. Besides, things were only going to get better for them. It was a new era for the Fantastic Four, things were only bound to get better.

Meanwhile…
Ladies Restroom; Club4

"What is wrong with me?" Alison asks herself quietly looking into the mirror. She turns her head to see the side of her face, which has turned partial green. She closes her eyes to concentrate and her regular tanned cheek reappears.

"I can't let that happen again." Alison says drying off her hands. She walks towards the door to exit and tosses the paper towel.

Alicia looks slowly out from a stall to see her leave, she steps out and walks to the mirror. She looks into the mirror.

"Oh no, Alison is Lyja." Alicia says to herself in the mirror with a very dramatic tone.

Reed Richards

Susan

Richards

Johnny Storm

Benjamin

Grimm

Franklin Richards

Victoria Richards

Alicia Masters Grimm

Alison Cory