Part IV: Barbastella
Reed felt his stomach lurch at the jerky motion of the monster he had enveloped himself around. A strangled growl erupted from apprehended creature, its claws scratched at his elongated body, the sound of his clothes being torn from his body gnawed at his ears. "Ben, I could really use some help!" Reed shouted desperately. Ben, currently preoccupied with Negative-Reed, glanced upward at his friend with disdain.
"I'm a little busy, egghead!" Ben snapped irritably, punching N-Reed in the face. The N-Reed stumbled slightly but showed no signs of wearing down. N-Reed glanced upward at the other Reed remembering that he was fighting with this ogre just to get his other self. Ben came at Negative-Reed at full force. He stared down at the man in annoyance, newly restored vigor. Ben swung his mighty fist at the double, Negative-Reed ducked it with ease raising his hand he released burst of physic energy at the giant. Ben's body hit the ground hard enough to crack the concrete, Negative-Reed barely smiled down at his handy work before heading off in the direction of his double and the beast.
Reed fought to keep himself around the snout of the monster while he wracked his brain for a safe way of removing himself when the time came. One false move and he would be in the belly of the beast (no pun intended). The approach of Negative-Reed caused the beast to postpone his vicious attacks, it glowing green eyes peered downward at the figure. With one mighty push against the inside of its mouth, the monster's tongue lashed out at the man around his snout. Reed's body uncoiled from around the monster's snout and he was sent plummeting downward, his limbs flailed lifelessly around him. Reed landed on the ground like a pile of dirty clothes.
Reed groaned as his limbs automatically returned to their normal state. His arms being the quickest, his legs took their time. Sweat dripped down his face and nose, his chest heaved heavily. Negative-Reed focused his attention on the creature towering above them, his eyes bore into its malicious green ones. The beast's body swayed slightly until he was rendered still. Grinning, his arm shot out without warning, attempting to wrap itself around Reed's neck. The scientist dodged the attack, with a swift jerk of his head N-Reed watched was the Behemoth became reanimated.
Raising its arm over its head he brought it down on the scientist. Reed rolled out of the way, the beast's claws embedded themselves into ground right next to him.
Reed jumped onto his feet only to be grabbed by the neck by N-Reed. The beast heaved itself up off the ground holding its body weight up with his arms. The serpent like tail came rushing from underneath it and aimed direction of the two men. Reed felt his neck be released from N-Reed's grip, he turned in time to see N-Reed shoot up into air like a bat. Panic rising within him, Reed made a move to escape the path of the oncoming serpent tail when his joints locked in place. What the hell? Reed barely had time to look down at his paralyzed legs before the tail slammed into his body.
A strangled cry was torn from his throat as he went soaring through the air. When he came down he tumbled across the street like a doll. He came to a stop underneath a street light. His body screamed out with agony, his shoulder blade's felt as though they had been crushed.
A involuntary cry of pain emitted from Reed as he fought to keep his body was curling up into a ball. Where was everyone? Where had Sue and Johnny vanished, why hadn't Ben tried to help him? Reed's finger nails scratched at the asphalt beneath him, tears sprung from his eyes and ran down his face. The pain was unbearable.
The monster growled in satisfaction of his word before burrowing underneath the ground toward Ben. The Thing shook his head of the fogginess that was invading his blue eyes. His senses were on alert immediately when the earth beneath shuddered. He watched in alarm as the ground beneath him cracked, with a grunt the man jumped to his feet immediately. The creature sprung from the ground quicker than Ben could react to its presence, it scooped the thing up into his clawed hands. Ben let out a cry of astonishment. This thing meant to eat him! "Ah no, not today!" He growled balling his hand into a fist. The Thing punched the monster in the face as the creature opened his mouth and lunged forward. Ben caught its jaw's mere inches away from his face, his stomach lurched at the foul smell that irradiated from its mouth.
"Jeez, ever herd of breath mints?" His rock-ish muscles were beginning to feel the strain of holding its jaws open. Ben raised his arms upward just a little more. A growl emitted from the creature's mouth, using his other hand it smashed Ben between his hands. The Thing's hands struggled to keep themselves on the creature's mouth, he could feel it teeth brushing against each other. He swore he could feel blood running from the cracks of his fingers. The beast applied more pressure against the man, the skin around its mouth curled upward in a devious way.
As it began to press harder against the ogre a burning sensation in its mouth erupted. The beast let out a wail of pain when it was bombarded by the white hot pain once again, it released Ben from its grasp. The Thing grabbed a hold of its claw and hurtled himself forward. The creature opened its eyes just in time to see a pair of fists slam him in the head. Ben watched the creature swayed back and forth. Its eyes rolled into the back of its head and with a low moan the beast fell to the ground with a thunderous thump! Ben landed in a crouched position with a grunt, a grin plastered on his lips. Brushing his hands off, Ben stared into the distance as the smoke cleared around the fallen monster.
"I told ya I could ace that lizard Sue!" Johnny's voice roared triumphantly above him. Ben cast his gaze upward. Hovering above him was Johnny and Sue, both looking bewildered but relieved nonetheless. "Hey, where have you two been?" He shouted up to them. Sue looked down past her hovering shield with a weary smile on her lips. "We just got back from sight seeing on the ocean front, I guess," Sue replied dryly.
Sue lowered herself to the ground alongside her brother. Sweat covered her face. It was obvious that she had been straining her energies. "Ben, where'd our fearless leader go?" Johnny found himself asking. Ben blue eyes widened, Reed! He had totally forgotten about Reed! Sue saw the look on her friend's face, she began to fear the worse. "Last I saw 'em he was on that ugly thing," Ben uttered quietly. Johnny's gaze shifted to the fallen beast. "Has anybody tired those doohickey-hickey's Reed put in our uniforms?" He asked. Ben and Sue looked to each other in question, they were silent for a while longer before something in their minds snapped. Of course, what an elementary question!
Even if that thing swallowed Reed, the tracker would've let them know if their leader was dead. Four crests on their suits had wired within them a monitor that tracked their vital signs. Johnny gave the four on his chest a tap, the four illuminated instantly and displayed a map of New York on the ground below. Sue and Ben crowed around the youngest teammate, they focused their attention on the blue dot blipping erratically on the map several feet away from the three blue still dots in the middle of the downtown area. Sue's heart skipped two beats in relief, Reed was still alive.
"He's not far, thank goodness," Sue whispered. "I'll go ahead first, Ben you follow behind me. Johnny you go topside and let us know when your at least close enough to see him." Johnny nodded his head. With a wink his body was engulfed in fire. He soared above them keeping in sight, Sue and Ben bolted forward their feet carrying them as fast as they could.
Negative-Reed landed next to the fallen Mr. Fantastic, his pale brown eyes examining him like one would examine a organism under a microscope. "I was like you once upon a time," N-Reed sighed circling the man. "So full of life, eager on discovering other worlds, curing the world of illness and so forth. I lost everyone close to me because of my constant need to know everything. Sue, Johnny, Ben, Franklin, Valeria. My sisters, all them." Reed's ears perked slightly at the sound of two unfamiliar names, in the background he could faintly hear Ben fighting for his life against the serpent creature. Negative-Reed kneeled down to Reed's level, his face grim with ghostly grief and anger.
"I never did cure sicknesses of the world. I ended up with no one. I lived alone in the Baxter Building for years and when I heard that Victor Doom wanted my help in creating an dimensional travel machine he had been working on for years, I jumped at the chance at helping him. With both our genius minds combined it took only seven years to get it complete and running. Victor and I had volunteered to venture into through the machine without even once testing it. I had objected having second thoughts, but Victor being the man that he is told me not to worry so I didn't. It was a reckless move on both our parts. Something I would live to regret."
A pause. "Victor activated the machine and the next thing I know our bodies were bombarded high levels of radiation via cosmic energy. I awakened someplace different with severe burns to my body which I soon discovered was horribly deformed . . . I had to drag the my body across the park back to Doom Enterprises. I was told The machine malfunctioned and blew up two seconds later, Victor was dead. I read most of 20-30 years of my life gaining control of my altered body and rebuilding the dimensional machine. I made it work this time and I traveled to another earth. I saw myself and Sue with all our friends, perfectly normal, married." N-Reed's eyes locked themselves onto Reed's glazed brown eyes.
"Somehow, seeing that perfect picture of myself caused something in me to snap. I killed them, just like that. And I've spent most of my remaining life, killing my other selves. If I couldn't be happy, none of them were going to be either." Through his pain, Reed found himself pitying the man, though not because of his story. In this Negative-Reed he saw what would become of himself he allowed it happen.
This man had destroyed himself by severing ties with all he knew, and recklessly rushed into the unknown and killed himself more times than he cared to know. A spike of pain shivered up his legs and left arm, he bit down on his lip to keep another cry from escaping his body. His brown eyes focused entirely on the man above him. "And what happened to them? Reed and Victor?" He rasped, his voice shaky. Negative-Reed grinned, extending his arm he pulled the long glove off of it and revealed a metallic hand that slowly extended toward Reed. "We're still here, which is more than I can say for you," He chuckled dryly. The man swung his foot at Reed's fading legs, his foot phased through partly before hitting the wall.
Reed gritted his teeth in pain. Bastard. Reed swallowed back his disgust when the metallic hand crackled with electricity this was it. Reed gritted his teeth as the ache continued to assault his limbs and body rendering him immobile. The hairs on Reed's neck prickled as if his body could sense the energy around N-Reed's hand grew in strength or so he thought. Reed felt his body go rigid when a familiar touch brush past his intangible arm. In the corner of his eyes he saw the wavering outline of Sue sneaking past N-Reed, he felt the breath in his body leave him when Negative-Reed's boot kicked him in the stomach. "Quit smiling, your about to die," He snapped irritably. Reed gasped outright his chest heaved in and out hard as his lungs fought to regain oxygen.
Negative-Reed's head shift to the left he sniffed the air like a dog, he remained passive until the last moment. His right hand raised swiftly releasing physic energy upon the Invisible woman, Sue raised her shield to protect herself, N-Reed grinned at her. "There's one. Where are the other two?" He mused. A high-pitched whistle made N-Reed's sights shift upward, The Human Torch hovered above them.
"And Ben?" N-Reed asked. Sue did not answer him, glaring she vanished from sight. Negative-Reed watched the damp footprints of Sue walk away from him, no matter. She, unlike the others, could be easily dealt with. He turned his attention back to the man below him, Reed's head was lying against the cool sidewalk, the pain had numbed his arms and legs, his entire body felt overloaded, ready to explode. Running his tongue across his teeth, N-Reed opened his hand and released the electricity from his fingers. Reed flinched at the sound of the electricity surging above him. When he looked up his eyes widened in surprise, the electricity disappeared above him, he had been protected by Sue. Negative-Reed growled in frustration, these interruptions were becoming a great annoyance! The double clenched his fists angrily as he locked gazes with Reed Richards.
He was smiling at him! Negative-Reed raised his metallic fist with every intention of punching through the shield around his double. He was caught off guard when the familiar sting of a bullet hitting his face and shoulder. His looked toward the origin of the fired shots, Enid stood with a pistol in hand trembling with fear. Before her Reed II stood with the exact same expression that Negative-Reed wore.
Shock. Sue never bothered to look behind her, clamping her hands on Reed's shoulders she focused her power on his body and Reed vanished from his sight. She felt him jerk in her grasp. "Calm down, it's a new trick I learned," She whispered slinging his right arm over her shoulder. Reed gasped momentarily, he relaxed in Sue's embrace. She was getting stronger than any of them in such a short amount time. Reed felt envious and proud of her at the same time.
Reed, the dimensional tear is worsening. I can feel it. Reed's head shot up in alarm at the thought voice of the boy, Reed II. He turned his head in response as Negative-Reed charged forward. Reed II stepped in front of her, his eyes narrowed with determination. Negative-Reed's arms came at him, Reed II blocked the attacker's arms with little difficulty but caused several windows above him to shatter from the sheer energy release from his defensive counters. Enid let out a high-pitched scream, with her arms over her head she ran in the other direction away from N-Reed, leaving the boy that had followed her behind. She had no earthy idea how she had ended up in this area again.
She remembered herself clearly standing at the edge of the New York pier looking for a boat! You shall not harm the girl, Reed II though angrily at the man. N-Reed was oblivious to the message sent in his direction, he went after the girl recognizing her now as his sister. His fingers charged with electricity fired at Enid only to be blocked yet again by Reed II's telekinetic shield. N-Reed sent an attack in the teenager's direction, Reed II was hit square in the chest and thrown off his feet. He soared through the air until he hit far end of the side-walk.
Negative-Reed resumed his pursuit of Enid. Enid screamed even louder thinking the end had come for her when Johnny collided with Negative-Reed. The two tumbled to the ground in a mess of fire and burning clothes. Reed II jumped out of the way cursing. Johnny wrestled to stay atop of the Reed's double who's skin was steadily melting under the smoldering heat of his body, revealing a silvery tinge.
Sue walked over to the approaching Ben materializing into view. "What happened to you Reed?" Ben said, his voice tinged with concern. Reed groaned in pain as Sue handed him over to Ben's care. "Ben take care of him!" She ordered rushing into the fray. Reed rested himself Ben hesitantly, he nodded thanks to his childhood friend. He looked to his right, Enid resided on the sidewalk in a crouching position, arms covering the top of her head shuddering behind a car next to them. Beside her stood Reed II. "Ben . . .," He uttered to his friend.
Ben followed his friend's gaze, he spotted Enid immediately, she being the only person in the city that hadn't gone missing. Ben knew what Reed was thinking, he wanted to get to his sister. Ben shuffled over to the shuddering woman and rested Reed next to her. He hated waiting on the sidelines. Reed's double was going to get a trashing for what he did. Reed watched his friend move swiftly from his side into the battle. His brown eyes shifted towards his legs. Though barely visible to him anymore he still felt them as if were solid and it sight.
His left arm was fading in the same way too. Reed's stomach twisted in knots as his eyes met his sister's blue ones, she swallowed against her dry throat as she lowered one arm from off her head. Spasms of pain radiated through Reed's body and he fought his hardest to ignore them. Reed, we must do something about this soon. The boy's voice echoed in his head. Reed swallowed against the bile rising in this throat, he nodded his head towards the boy. "If I'm correct, then another funnel should form soon. Its been long enough," Reed whispered. Enid paled at the thought of another one of those horrible things coming down on them again, she gasped when she felt her brother's hand gasp her forearm.
"Enid, I need you get to the Baxter Building. Stay there until all this is over." The pressure on her forearm let her know that Reed was serious in what he was saying to her. Swallowing roughly the young woman nodded her head in response. Sticking her hand into her bag she pulled out a pair of thin oval shaped glasses. Reed stared up at her in question and was quiet taken aback when she slipped them onto his nose. "So I know your 'my brother', if you live through whatever all this is," Enid whispered shakily. Reed nodded his head, he was thankful that the lenses weren't magnifying. Reed, you stay here. If that funnel is coming down any time soon, it may be possible for you ride it back to your dimension. The boy gave the scientist a cynical stare but nodded his head nevertheless. "When I give you the signal . . ." Reed flashed his fingers at Enid. ". . . . I want you to run as fast you can. Don't stop for anything."
Sue grinned at the rush of excitement pulsing through her body as she charged one of her offensive shields. Johnny was sent tumbling across the road, N-Reed pushed himself on his feet with a aggravation, his gaze was fixed on Sue. Sue fired her attack at the man, Negative-Reed allowed himself to be overtaken by the oncoming force; The shimmering blue shield hit him dead on, he stumbled backwards with a breathless gasp. He hadn't expected such strength coming from her! "Hey, metal mouth!" Johnny's voice caused N-Reed to turn his attention towards the younger man. Johnny fired a barrage of fireballs in the double's direction, N-Reed dodged most of them, but took the brunt of the latter attacks in the face. If he could feel pain he would've cried out as he listened to his skin burning away. N-Reed felt flakes of his hair flutter down onto his hand.
That bastard! He thought stamping out the fire on his head. Johnny watched in satisfactory the enemy stamp out the remaining fires on his body, he ignored the warning glare Sue was giving him. N-Reed was still alive even after he burned him, he'd think Sue would be slightly thankful that he didn't kill him. "I did not appreciate that," Negative-Reed growled. Sue fell back into her defensive stance, Negative-Reed's arm extended quickly at Sue, the Invisible woman cried out in surprise, Reed grinned wickedly tightening his grasp over the woman. Without the use of her hands Sue was helpless, powerless against him. "Let Sue go, Reed!" Ben roared from behind. Negative-Reed jumped out of the way of The Thing's fist, while still in mid-air his leg shout of and kicked Johnny in the chest. The Human Torch soared away from them, hitting the ground seconds latter.
Negative-Reed landed on the ground with a grunt, Ben took another chance and launched himself at the man. Sue let out a yelp of surprise when Reed's arm brought her forward, The Thing's posture faltered completely. "BEN!" She screamed. Ben saw no way out of hitting Susan head on with his body, she would crushed from the sheer impact. Sue fought desperately to wriggle her way out of the man's grasp. None of them expected what happened next. Ben was shoved hard to the side, he crashed through a store window. Sue and Negative-Reed shifted their gazes to the right. Reed stood atop the car he had been hiding behind, his arms recoiling back to their normal state. "Put Sue down, Reed," Reed snarled. Sue's head jerked in surprise when she spotted Enid leaping from behind the car, the girl ran like the wind down the sidewalk.
Negative-Reed payed no heed to the girl as he was much too focused on the man across from him. He'd deal with her later. "Make us," N-Reed responded in a childish tone. Sue bit down on her lip when N-Reed's arm tightened around her, Reed glared angrily. He could attack his other self with nothing but brute strength, he knew that. But if this man was anything like himself he would be excepting that, perhaps more. Reed spotted Johnny in the corner of his eye rising from the ground, blinking he focused his attention on Ben who was silently making his way out of the store through the broken window. Focusing his eyes on N-Reed with a weary grin, Reed jumped from the top of the car onto the ground.
"This is your last warning Victor, put Sue down," Reed said. The part of N-Reed's face that had not been burned off by Johnny's fire twisted in obvious disgust. Sue's eyebrows raised at her ex-boyfriend in question, why had he called Reed Victor?
The Thing came barreling down the sidewalk at the other Reed. N-Reed glanced sideways at the ogre in annoyance. Stupid rock, He thought. Sue braced herself upon feeling herself being throttled toward Ben. The window of opportunity presented itself to Reed in that moment. Sue felt her acceleration come to a stop, she grunted when she felt Negative-Reed's arms being loosening around her body. Shaking her hair out of her eyes, she focused her attention on wriggling out of the other Reed's grasp. Ignoring the pain rising in his arm Reed pushed his double's arms toward his friend. "Ben, grab her!" He shouted. Ben grasped Sue's arms and hoisted the woman into his own. Negative Reed twisted his arms around his double's extended arms, Reed found himself being pulled towards his double. "Jo-Johnny!" The Human Torch looked up from regaining composure his eyebrows raised in question.
Negative-Reed tightened his grip around Reed's arms. "Flame on . . . already. Hit Reed," Reed tugged against the binding hold on his arms while trying to keep his feet from sliding any further. Johnny ignited one of his hands, his brow knitted together in question; He knew which Reed he was supposed to hit, but he wasn't so sure he wouldn't miss Reed himself with the two of them twisted up like they were. Bringing his arm back Johnny focused his energies into the palm of his hand, swinging, the young man fired.
The torrent of fire hit its target dead on, Reed balled his hands into fists to avoid being burned, he could feel the grip on his arms loosening greatly. Johnny continued to pummel Negative-Reed with his attack, N-Reed seemed to submit to the strength of the attack, he fell to his knees. Reed moved out of way the way once his arms were freed. "Johnny, let up, I said hit him, not kill him!" He shouted to his partner. Johnny burned the man for a second longer before finally letting up his hand went numb by the time he put the fire on his arm out.
Negative-Reed huffed as he peeled his warped hands off the concrete, his eyes widened in shock when he brought them up to his face. His fingers fell back like melting butter. His human skin was gone now, his metallic skin was dripping to the ground. His hair was completely gone, leaving nothing but the shining baldness of his skull. His suit had barely stood up to the beating he gotten from The Human Torch. Most of the uniform was missing on the right side. Reed could feel his entire body giving way from the heat he had been exposed to, he couldn't even push himself up to stand without slipping in a puddle of his own body. The man let out a feral howl of disgust. Sue looked on, a mixture of disgust and pity twisting inside her.
What had Johnny done? The same thing that man would've done given half the chance, Her mind retorted. Sue shook her head, her eyes wandered over to Johnny who was standing next to Reed now. Her brother appeared to regret his decision, if not the condition of their enemy. Her blue eyes wandered over Reed's body; his arms seemed to hang lower than should've, it was first time she noticed that his body was beginning to look ghost like. His legs were transparent, his middle section was fading in and out solidity, and his right arm was only visible because he was wearing the uniform and glove. "Oops," Johnny muttered finally. Reed shot the man a look.
Negative-Reed licked his lips to rid himself of the chapped feeling on them. He was met with a mouthful of melted skin, which he promptly spat out from his mouth, his pale brown eyes watched the silvery liquid seep into the cracks of the street, much like his hands were doing. The skin continued to drizzle down his face like sweat into his eyes, blinding him. Negative-Reed raised his drooping arm up as best he could, his fingers to drip away to nothing. "He- help me, please," N-Reed begged. Reed Richards looked down at the pitiful excuse for a human being in uncertainty. The outcome of Johnny's assault was expected to be something like this; If his double was anything like a mixture of himself and Victor, then the Victor part of him was sure enough of himself to believe his body could withstand the heat of Johnny's fire. Reed himself was banking on it, but now he found himself doubting his decision to tell Johnny to attack.
Negative-Reed's body shouldn't be deteriorating like it was, it wasn't supposed to! Reed forced himself not to look in the eyes of enemy as he watched the man on the ground behaving like a dying animal. Sue looked on in suspicion, she could see through Reed's steely gaze that he was considering to assist the man on his knees. She felt her eyebrows twitch when Reed's hand move forward. "I don't get it, Reed," Ben grumbled stepping off the curb."Why don't you let the kid finish him off?" Reed's narrowed eyes at his friend, Ben glared back as if he were challenging his friend's authority. Sue placed a hand on Ben's large fist, she sent the man cautious look.
Ben settled down slightly folding his arms across his chest, Sue sent Reed a pleading look. "Don't do it Reed," She mouthed to her ex-boyfriend. Reed felt swallowed against the tightness in his throat, his Adams apple hurt like hell. Negative-Reed also had the pleasure to see the small gesture of his double's hand, a ghost of a smile appeared on his melting lips. His head bowed down quickly causing Reed and Johnny to jump back, falling into defensive poses. N-Reed's head rose, his pale brown eyes were wide with trepidation. "Please, I don't know what came over me. It was Victor, all Victor.
He was controlling my body, I had no control over myself. Honest!" Negative-Reed whimpered pathetically. What little of his face that could be seen showed genuine truth and terror. Reed lowered his arms slightly in surprise, Johnny grasped Reed's wrist wearily, Reed looked to his comrade in slightly question. His brown eyes screamed, 'He's telling the truth!' Johnny however, didn't believe him for a second. He himself was a excellent liar to everyone except those who knew him personally. He knew a lair when he heard one. "Don't believe this guy Reed. He's lying!" Johnny hissed.
Reed seemed to come to his senses, he looked down at his other self whose truthful gaze didn't seem so convincing now. A low rumble of thunder caused the foursome to cast their gazes upward. Negative-Reed felt his spirit rise at the team's distraction, raising his hand he focused his strength on solidifying it. He let out a soundless sigh when his hand returned to normal and mobile, his gaze locked on Johnny and Reed instantly. Fools, N-Reed thought in triumph.
As he rose from the ground, the melted parts of his body levitated into the air like rain drops in reverse, pulling together they reformatted themselves on his shoulder. His molted skin managed to regenerate most of its appeal again, in the reflection of his sliver hands, he could see most of his Reed-ish face had returned though there were still spots of metallic skin showing through. His fingers became molted into one like a spearhead, he aimed for Johnny's face unaware that his rise did not go unnoticed. Ben removed his attention from the disturbed sky in time to see N-Reed's arm throw back.
Lunging forward The Thing pulled the man into a choke hold, never once questioning the man's reconfiguration. Johnny, Reed, and Sue shifted their sights to their struggling friend, their eyes wide with shock. "What the - he's whole again!" Johnny blurted in disbelief. Negative-Reed grinned in response. Inhaling, he slipped out of Ben's grasp.
The tiro leaped back, N-Reed's hand lashed out at Sue who effectively blocked it with her shield, the man had wrapped himself around Ben's legs now. Ben let out a yelp when his feet were pulled from under him. Out of pure rage, Negative-Reed pounded his fists against Ben's rock hard body. Sue charged at him, her hand primed with enough energy to send him tumbling in Reed and Johnny's direction, Negative-Reed raised his head in acknowledgment and a ripple effect appeared around his body. Sue found herself being thrown back away from the man like she had been hit by Ben himself. Her back collided with the wall, her body hit the ground hard. Negative-Reed turned and glanced at the two remaining team members standing. Without warning, Reed and Johnny found themselves thrown back hard against the car behind them. Reed felt a harsh burning in his throat, the man promptly spat whatever had invaded his mouth, crimson liquid flew from his lips onto the ground below.
N-Reed continued to attack Ben, who found himself unable to move a muscle. Johnny and Reed crawled away from the doppelganger their backs aching with pain. Reed assisted the young man up to his feet as he stood upright. "I'm okay," Johnny groaned pushing the man away. Reed stumbled backward, his back threatened to bend forward, he managed to keep himself up right. "Uh, Reed, you might wanna step out of way," Johnny warned a few seconds later. Reed stepped back quickly just as Johnny's body burst into flames, he watched his friend shoot up into the air ready his arm to attack.
Negative-Reed glanced upward as well, the wheels turning in his head. He had a fairly simplistic way of ridding himself of the boy above, it would have to do since there wasn't a lot of time left before his body would deteriorate once again. His arm shot up into the air and snagged the Human Torch by the ankle, Johnny cried out in surprise firing a fire ball down in the villain's direction. Negative-Reed dodged the attack with a simple duck, yanking hard, Negative-Reed pulled Johnny from the sky. Reed unmentionable winced at the sound of Johnny's body hitting not the ground, but one of Sue's shields that she placed underneath her brother. Johnny's cry of almost exaggerated pain reached everyone's ears.
Reed glanced down at Ben who had not risen from the ground yet. Reed wouldn't say it was for his lack of trying; Ben looked as though he were pinned to the ground by an invisible force. Sue had vanished from sight, so he wasn't sure what she was doing, Johnny was on the ground moaning in pain, and he was the odd number left out. Reed thought frantically of what to do.
Brute strength was never his strong point, being shoved in lockers or dunked in toilets and withstanding it daily was strong as person like him got in his youth. Ben had taught him some defensive moves, but he had never used them since he was always much faster at running away from danger. Reed was snapped out of his thoughts by a choking sound, snapping his head in the direction of his the sound, Reed spotted Sue on the ground coughing and rasping. Faint traces of green mist evaporated into the air, not giving the scientist enough to time to assess what had occurred during his absence. And without thinking Reed found himself literally jumping into fray, thankfully Negative-Reed was distracted enough by Sue's ailing that he didn't see Reed come at him until he was atop of him. The two tumbled across the ground like dogs in a battle for superiority, Reed currently had the upper hand.
They came to an abrupt stop, Negative-Reed grunted in pain as his arms were bombarded by sparks of electricity coming from his other self, unlike Ben, he was unable to slide easily out Reed's grasp. "What do you plan on doing, eh? You won't kill me, you made that obvious when held Johnny back," He sneered. Thunder rumbled above them as if to empathize the tensity between the two men, Reed could feel the wind picking up around them. The funnel was about to come down again, probably with enough energy to destroy New York City itself. "Do you even know why this is happening?" Negative-Reed asked. Reed kept his steely gaze steady on the man below, he would not allow himself to falter, not with Reed in his grasp now.
Negative-Reed smiled, causing a slight twitch to occur his double's eyes. Reed felt like he was staring at his reflection unbound by the moment of his body. Negative-Reed was the spinning image of himself, hell, he was him! It was mind boggling how their personalities differed but their exterior was the exact same with the exception of age on N-Reed's side. "Of course I do. I caused this when I activated the I.D.M. machine. My machine caused this when I tried to turn it off, that's why this is happening," Mr. Fantastic snapped. Negative-Reed's eyes glinted with pure amusement.
"Surely, you don't think that ruddy machine caused all of this damage do you? Ha, I thought you were much smarter than that Reed," Reed's eyebrows raised in faint doubt, it was all the distraction Negative-Reed needed. Opening his mouth, his throat released the foul breath of his deteriorating insides. Reed let out a gasp of fright and found himself reeling back having got full force of whatever had just came out of his other self's mouth. Reed felt his head start to spin, he crumbled onto top of his double. Negative-Reed sighed casually pushing Reed off of him. He stood up slowly sensing young man was losing whatever solidity it had.
Johnny's fire had done more to him than he let on; His body, infused with the ever slow mutating body Victor Doom's was battling to keep the metallic organism that threatened give way alive within him. Groaning he whipped the sweat forming on his face away with the back of his hand, his pale brown eyes fell upon the slightly still Reed. Leaning over some he said, "Feeling any muscle cramps? Tightness around the lungs? That's natural, the toxin in my breath does that. It only takes a few moments for your lungs to become completely unresponsive. I relish at the thought of your slow death." Reed glared at his double who smiled down at him, trying his best to keep his legs from curling against his stomach.
Some sort of toxin that paralyzes the nervous system. He thought. I hope Sue didn't get the brunt of it like I did. Reed's eyes wandered the limited space he could see. If he remembered correctly, Reed II was probably still hiding behind the car. Reed, Reed can you hear me? He used what little energy he hadn't focused on moving into the message. There was a long lingering silence, Reed feared the boy had ran off with his sister during the confusion. I can hear you Richards - I mean Reed. The funnel won't be too long away now. I can feel a pull in the air. I am going home! The excitement in the boy voice non-voice caused guilt to run through the man. Reed can you still use telekinesis? He asked. Of course. I've been practicing behind this vehicle. I can lift two slabs of concrete from the ground. Quite easily really. Reed blinked rapidly as he felt Negative-Reed walk over his body and grab his wrist. Reed felt himself being pulled into an upright position, he forced himself not look into his double's eyes, breathing was quickly becoming difficult now.
Negative-Reed hoisted the younger man over his shoulder, unable to push aside the thought of Reed being something like a life-sized doll. That thought came up randomly whenever he met his countless other selves that were paralyzed by his gaseous breath. Shrugging he began to walk down the street. Reed let out a wheezing groan of panic as he watch the street moving beneath him.
Reed? Are you still there? The innocence and fear in the boy's non-voice was evident. Forcing another breath from his body, Reed worked desperately to clear his rapidly fogging mind. Reed, can you lift weight over 162 pounds? Reed felt a spike of surprise run through his mind, clearly indicating the boy was shocked at the request. What for? Are you in some sort of danger? Reed II asked, bewildered. Reed wished at that moment he could make of face, his lungs tried painfully to inhale. What kind of question is that? Of course we are! Haven't you been paying attention to anything going on outside your hiding place! Reed shouted angrily in his mind. I'm afraid not. I've been focusing my attentions on Enid and my powers. She is safely within the Baxter Building.
Reed groaned lowly as he felt Negative-Reed's body rise from the ground, Reed's heavy eye lids forced themselves open wider. They were flying! Reed II looked up from behind the car spotting the two ascending higher into the air. His place forgotten, Reed II rushed out into the open. Raising his arms upward, his t-shirt's sleeves became his original outfit made of nothing but lightweight fabric made to cover vital parts of his body. The fabric shot through the air like two living snakes that were quick to wrap themselves around Negative-Reed's ankles. Reed II yanked hard on the fabric. N-Reed grunted in surprise his eyes glancing downward. The boy, he had totally forgotten about the boy! Keeping one arm steady on Reed's body, he turned in the air with ease and grabbed one of the fabrics on the boy's under outfit. Reed II cried out when spikes of pain hit his arms and abdomen, he staggered backward his fingers moving to clutch his stomach when the tips of his fingers brushed against something sharp ended.
Reed II stared down, his eyes went wide with shock at the sight of small jagged pieces of metal sticking out of various regions of his stomach. Pain was something he was unaccustomed to, even during the training sessions with Johnny and Ben, he flawlessly guarded himself from pain by direction their punches and kicks toward either each other or empty space. He entire defense relied on his telekinesis to protect him. Small trickles of blood drizzled out of the holes in his stomach, black blotches invaded his sight as felt his legs to limp beneath him. I'm beginning to see why Ben wanted me to depend on other things besides my mental power. The boy fell onto his back, feeling numb all over with pain. Negative-Reed blinked indifferently at the bleeding boy. Turning around he continued into the sky. Reed could barely flex his fingers now, breath passed through his lips in tiny wisps now. Reed felt his eye lids sagging over his eyes the higher up they got, Negative-Reed could feel his counterpart's stomach barely moving against his shoulder now, a smile cross his lips. Pausing in mid-air he pulled the man from off his shoulder, holding him up by the neck of his uniform's collar.
There was no sign of breathing any longer in the scientist, Negative-Reed frowned in disappointment. Lowering himself to the ground, he glanced behind him, Ben laid on the ground still restrained by his physic binding and Johnny was too dazed from the crash to move. Sue, again, was no where to be found. No matter, she couldn't stop him anyway. N-Reed dropped the man's body, he rubbed his temples wearily as he gazed skyward. The black clouds were swirling downward toward them, far off in the distance Negative-Reed heard the lightening crash against a building. The air was growing colder by the minute, rubbing his hands together he advanced down the street with the wind nipping at his hair. He paid no attention to the awkward movements of Reed's seemingly lifeless body, he didn't have to. He had beaten them all now, it was time to move on to the next world. Negative-Reed's eyes darkened at the sight of strong beams of light came raining down from behind the black clouds.
Sue cradled Reed's limp body with one arm, the other was steadily rubbing his face, trying to get any kind of reaction out of the scientist. A momentary twitch of the hand caused her invisible body to reel back in surprise, her large blue eyes focused on Reed's arm. His fingers clawed at the ground beneath him as if trying to relieve a great pain within him, a mixture of surprise and weariness in form of a groan escaped the man's barely open lips. Sue squeezed Reed's hand gratefully smothering a laugh. "I thought you were dead!" She hissed at him, unable to hide her joy. Reed's eyes opened slowly the feeling returning to his body. Sue watched him flex his fingers and move his eyes about him. He locked gazes with the blonde and smiled bitterly. "So did I," Reed answered back, truthfully. "I stopped breathing, I swear I did."
Sue didn't even want to think about it, she felt his body go rigid beneath her knees. He was gaining control of his body. Suppressing a groan the man attempted to push himself up onto his feet, Sue helped in what way she could. Reed felt his arms pulling themselves back into correct length, his head spun for a brief second. "I think you body has a resistance to poisons," Sue's hand gripped Reed's right arm tightly in mild astonishment and concern. Reed flexed his arms and legs a few times to make sure everything was in working order. He stared at his left arm in particular, it was more see-through than before. Sue smiled faintly. "I think its your turn to go under your bio-scanner."
Reed shuddered in the exact same way Johnny had when he had ordered the young man to the bio-scanner. Johnny got back at him by burning holes into the machine's structure. Sue gave him a look. "What? Out of all us, you're the only one who hasn't gotten a scan." Reed nodded his head wearily, his eyes focused immediately on Negative-Reed's body. Something had to be done about him.
"Sue? Can you do me a favor?" Reed murmured. Sue felt her back stiffen slightly at the tone of his voice, her eyebrows raised in question while her eyes wandered his relatively blank face. Reed turned to face her, his brown eyes glistening with hardened determination through the lenses of his glasses, that had amazingly stayed on his face through his torment. "I know your not the type to take orders but, I need you to get Ben and Johnny to the Baxter Building," Reed said. Sue felt as though she had been slapped, was he was actually implying that she and the others run for their lives while he did something absolutely stupid in their absence.
"What? No, no! Reed, I am not leaving you!" Sue snapped irritably. Reed felt his brow crease with frustration, this was not going like he had it planned in his head. Most of the time nothing does, He thought. Reed's ears perked up at the mental response. Reed II! Where was Reed! His head darted around like a nervous rabbit, there was no sign of the boy anywhere! Turning to Sue, he grabbed the woman's shoulders.
"Sue, where's Reed?" Reed blurted nervously. Sue shook her head at first not understanding what he had meant, it only took a second later for it to sink in. "Oh, the kid!" Sue's face paled slightly. "Reed there's something you should know. . ." Her head turned to the severely dented car across from them. Reed wasted no time looking, he rushed forward. Sue's hand slid across his hand she tired desperately to hold onto, it slipped out of her grasp like it had been lathered in oil. Sue stared down at her hand in question, there was nothing out of the ordinary on it but the bruised skin of her palm. She watched Reed's retreating back for a moment before shifting her gaze toward Negative-Reed, who seemed oblivious to the world around him, his attention completely focused on the funnel that was charging itself up for the final blow to the city.
Reed jumped onto the sidewalk, expecting to see Reed II staring at him with his usual thoughtful expression. Instead he found a boy lying up against the dented car, several jagged pieces of metal sticking out of his stomach, unmoving. Reed's stomach lurched at the sight, kneeling down beside the boy Reed grasped his shoulders lightly. He did not move nor response to the man's touch, Reed bit down on his lip as he reached over to check his pulse, there wasn't one. Reed's lungs stung horribly, tears ran down his face as he shook his head in denial.
I am going home! The words repeated in Reed's head like it were sound bouncing off the walls of an empty room. Unbidden tears continued to roll down his face, Reed furiously whipped his face to keep it dry, the tears deterred his effort sadly. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Reed whispered furiously at himself. "I'm so sorry, Reed." But Reed II did not answer back, not a whisper of breath left his mouth. If only he hadn't asked Reed for help, he'd still be alive and eager to go home. It wasn't right that he was holding this dead body in his arms and there was no . . . . occupant. . . Reed's eyes widened.
. . . I have no actual body, I simply borrowed this form with the use of your DNA. . . . Reed's heart thumped wildly in his heart. He gazed down at the body that was now decaying in his arms, Reed closed his eyes at the prickle of skin that brushed against the corner of his eyes, he could feel the harsh wind blowing away the ashes of the body. When he opened his eyes there was nothing left of Reed II but the ashes left resting in his hands and the white light that hovered in front of him. Reed's wet eyes watched the light rise to the level of his face, it seem to regard him. "Reed . . .?" He murmured.
The light got brighter and hovered down into the palm of his hand. Reed felt his fingers closing into a fist, he grunted in resistance at the sensation of his fingers pressing on his palm. A shudder escaped his lips when a jolt of energy raced up his right arm, what had that boy just done? "Reed . . . I'm sorry," Sue's words seemed to push the knife deeper into his chest. Shaking his head he stood up to meet Sue's sorrowful blue eyes. "Don't be Sue," He said pushing past her. Sue followed closely after him, worry welling up inside of her. Reed walked against the wind that blew hard against him, Sue fought to keep her hair out of her face as she walked behind Reed.
"Reed, Victor!" Mr. Fantastic shouted over the howling wind. Negative-Reed turned in response, his eyes lazily looking over Reed to Sue. The woman glared back at him, her face becoming transparent. "Its Reed," Negative-Reed said turning around. Reed glared at the man across from him, his stomach twisted in knots at the sound of the man chuckling. "What do you want?" N-Reed muttered. In such a moment like this the words 'revenge' would've sounded appropriate, but Reed couldn't bring himself to say it. There was nothing to avenge except Reed II's death, and even if he did, it wouldn't be revenge per say. Negative-Reed glanced up at the sound of thunder rumbling through the air, before any of them blinked lightening came down swift and sure. Concentrating all her power, she raised shields over Johnny, Ben, Reed and herself. Reed winced when the lightening struck Sue's shield, he turned hearing her groan. "What is it?" He said hastily. Sue shook her head, sweat rolled quickly down her face.
"Nothing - its, I'm beginning to feel the lightening. At first I couldn't," Sue explained. Reed's arm raised automatically when another bolt of lightening came down harder than the last one, Sue wasn't going to stand much more if this kept up like it was. "I hate to complain, but I'm not gonna be able to keep this up for long." Reed automatically grinned at her words. Negative-Reed remained where he stood, the lightening seemed to be dodging him on purpose, either that or he was using whatever physic ability he had been using against them.
There wasn't much he could do to help Susan, unless being hit by lightening counted for something in the help department. Negative-Reed jumped into the air as the funnel came rushing downward, he was careful to keep his distance. "Oh shit," Sue heard Reed mutter. Sue looked past Reed's shoulders, the Negative-Zone's funnel hit the ground with enough force that it shattered everything made of glass, Reed's head darted from left to right watching the pieces of glass rained onto the ground. He looked toward Johnny and Ben, their shields were still up. The ripple effect Reed spoke of, emitted from the funnel, came at their shield with relentless force in the form of a shock wave. The scientist looked to his ex-girlfriend.
Sue's arms were slowly falling from their place in the air, a steady dip of blood ran out of Sue's nose onto her lips and uniform. Reed grunted when an invisible force hit him dead on in the shoulder, he fell to his knees in pain, his hand gripped his throbbing left arm. Sue's arms fell to her sides, her shield had finally given out. She fell to the ground zapped of her strength. Another shock wave erupted from the illuminated funnel, Reed knew if they were hit by that thing they would end up like everyone else in the city that was around when the lightening storm and funnel appeared.
Moving quickly, he wrapped his right arm around the barely conscious Sue, his left arm shot up and grabbed the edge of the closest building he could find. Reed hoisted them up with a mighty push off the ground. Reed briefly relished in the air above rushing against his hot and sweaty face. Mr. Fantastic soared over the edge of the building and landed in a crouched position on the roof top, his legs felt worse than worn out rubber bands when he released the breath he had been holding in his chest.
Slowly he retracted his left arm biting down on his lip, it felt like it was resisting his command. Carefully he lowered his arm that held Sue in its possession, the woman's limbs hung lifelessly in the air indicating that she was still unconscious. Reed rested on the surface of the roof with a sigh. The nose-bleed had stopped, her was still contorted with stress. Reed's chest heaved in relief, she was all okay. Reed stood up rushing over to the edge of the building. His eyes scanned the streets below but there was no signs of Johnny or Ben. Damn.
Reed's lips pursed together in frustration, they must've gotten caught in the shock wave, either that or they were dead. "Not something I really want to believe," He muttered to himself. Swinging one leg over the edge of the building, Reed look one look around him. There was no sign of - the air in Reed's lungs was knocked from his body, leaving his thought lingering in the air, knowing who his assailants was, Reed's arms shot out and grabbed a street light. Negative-Reed grinned wickedly at the man's futile effort to slow their fall, he managed to smash his double's body into the ground regardless.
Reed's arms went limp dropping to the floor like dead fish. Negative-Reed grabbed Mr. Fantastic by the neck, lifting him from the ground. "I've seemed to have failed to calculate your body's defenses," He said disdainfully. Reed in spite of his pain grinned at the other Reed, his eyes wandered toward the illuminated funnel across from them. "That makes two of us - ugh!" Reed felt Negative-Reed's fingers sinking into his transparent arm, his teeth grinned together as he retracted his right arm.
Negative-Reed slammed his body into the ground in mid-retraction, Reed cursed through his gritted teeth. Feeling desperation rising up in his clenched neck, Reed aimed his foot right for the low region of his doppelganger, it got a reaction out of him but not the one he wanted.
Negative-Reed glowered at Reed in annoyance and without warning tossed him across the street, Reed tumbled clumsily across the asphalt as he tried to stop himself. Reed cried out when he finally came to a stop. He let out a groan his left arm trembled from the relentless shock that assaulted it, his stomach lurched countless times as he tried to stand himself up. His right hand pressed hard against the hot surface of the street, his body fought hard against his only responsive arm supporting him.
"You disappoint me, Richards," N-Reed sighed, his arm swinging in a circular motion. "I expected you to be more of a challenge. That or something else." Negative-Reed stopped two feet away from the man before him, Reed glanced up at him with regarding eyes. Both of them were torn from their opposition at the sound of steel being crushed under pressure, Reed felt his breath stop short in his sore throat. The shockwave came at them at dizzying speed crushing everything in its path, Negative-Reed shot off into the air to avoid the blast. Reed knew he would be unable to move fast enough to evade it.
Raising his arm he prepared for the worst. The air picked up around him in the most familiar way, Reed's brown eyes widened in shock. The world in front of him rippled like disturbed water. The shockwave hit the invisible shield with enough force to bring a man to his knees. Reed kept his arm steady nevertheless, he vaguely remembered any kind of force hitting him when they were caught in the cosmic storm. Momentary pain, then darkness. Reed could feel a splitting headache coming over him, another dizzy spell hit him temporarily weakening his arm.
And in that second, the ripple effect pierced through the invisible shield like stick pen to paper and attacked its desired target. Reed's body felt like he was being rippled apart on the inside, the pain in his arm expanded through his entire body rendering the scientist unconscious. The last thing Reed felt was the all to familiar sensation of cold spreading through him, then nothing.
(TBC)
Author's note: From here on out its basically nothing but an action romp around the Negative Zone.