Part V: Artibeus
The first thing Sue became aware of as her mind drifted out of the fog of unconsciousness was the cool surface beneath her. Her hair blew away from her face she rolled onto her back and stared blankly up into the black sky. Sue's hand pressed against her warm forehead her nose was sore from bleeding, it stung to inhale or exhale. Climbing to her feet she examined her surroundings.
She wasn't surprised to say the least to find herself standing on a roof instead of the ground with the others. Every muscle in her body ached whenever she moved, Sue did her best to ignore it.
Limping over to the edge of the roof she peered down the world below, Sue's sight was blinded slightly by the illuminated funnel that seemed to be tunneling its way down into the ground. Sue's brow creased confusion running through her mind. "Reed!" Sue shouted. There was no answer, tucking her hair behind her ears Sue exhaled slowly. All the guys were missing the only thing left in their and Negative-Reed's wake was the serpent creature lying dead on the ground. It would be impossible to scale the face of the building with her strength yet to return to her, taking a look behind her she spotted the exit in the form of a skylight.
Sue grabbed the heaviest piece of dislodged brick she could hold and hurtled it toward the skylight, the glass shattered on impact. Sue grinned wearily and made her way over to the skylight brushing away any jagged pieces of glass away from the frame. Sue lowered herself into the building. Her feet landed on the soft cushions of a antique chair; The room itself smelled musty, ancient almost. Sue was careful not to touch anything that wasn't in her way, she stepped through the unlocked door and dashed down the darkened hallway.
Sue made her way down the stairway to the front door, her breaths came out in short gasps the quicker she went. Sue burst through the open door bounding down the front stairs like a bat out of hell. Raising an arm she tapped the four on her chest.
The holographic map of the city appeared on the ground she ran upon. To her delight there were no red signals that would indicate that the others were dead, but large blue question marks indicating it had no idea where they were. Besides out of range. Sue cursed. She continued onward heading to the Baxter Building. Reed's computer would have a much better time searching for the others than her compact G.P.S.
"Do you think he's alive?"
"I dunno, try to slap him,"
Silence. A stinging pain.
"Oho! You got a reaction," Came the exuberant response.
Reed's head rolled to the side his entire body felt as though stick pins had been stuck into the deepest regions of his skin. He flinched when a familiar rocky finger pressed against his sore throat.
"I gotta a pulse. Egghead's defiantly alive," Ben.
"Why do you call him that?" Johnny.
"What? Egghead? 'Cause its' his nickname," Ben answered rather quickly.
Above the fallen scientist Johnny nodded quickly to his friend, his eyes wandered their new environment with unease. Reed groaned pressing his hand against his pounding head. Slowly he opened his eyes to see if his ears were not deceiving him and the two were in fact who he thought they were. Johnny and Ben hovered over him concern written across their faces, he forced his eyes open a little more. "What happened?" Reed's bewildered voice barely came above a whisper. The duo glanced downward, in an instant relief spread across their faces.
Reed winced when Johnny's hand grasped his left shoulder, Johnny was quick to catch on to his friend's pain and released his shoulder immediately. "Er, sorry about that," Johnny mumbled. "Reed, what the hell happened to you?" Ben's voice was loud and clear in his ears. Reed pushed himself into a up right position. His hand that was pressed against his head suddenly made a move grab his left arm. "Reed?" Johnny said uncertainly.
Reed shook his head standing up, when he swayed Ben was there was to support him. "Easy there, egghead, don't want youse fallin' off the only ground we've got," Ben chuckled humorlessly.
"What?" Reed rasped.
Johnny pointed to the space beyond, Reed's brown eyes shifted to the world outside. His mouth immediately fell open in astonishment.
No longer was he staring into the debris riddled streets of New York, instead there was noting but jagged stones (remnants of planets he assumed), meteors and a black backdrop illuminated by over a billion stars twinkling in the distance. "Great Scott, where are we?" Reed heard himself mutter.
The Negative-Zone. "Huh?" Reed muttered at the sound of the voice.
Johnny and Ben gave each other weary looks. "I said, we though you would tell us? Please say you know where we are," Johnny pleaded.
Reed cracked a weak grin at the youngest man, he nodded his head without hesitance. "We're in the Negative Zone," Reed grunted, pulling his glove off.
The skin of his hand was gone but the almost ghostly outline of his hand let him know it was still there: Barely. He swallowed back a groan as a spike of pain traveled up his arm. When the second wave of pain hit him Reed let out a cry of agony.
His knees buckled under him his mind reeling with anger at himself. Ben's large arm wrapped itself around Reed's waist hoisting the man back into a upright position, Reed's head bounced against The Thing's chest.
"Ouch, Ben!" The cry came out in a squeak.
"Sorry about that, egghead," Ben said. Reed nodded his head as dizziness swam in his eyes. He turned his gaze toward Johnny, who looked completely estranged by what he was seeing.
"Johnny, can you still 'flame on'?" Reed asked. "Yeah! And we're in space, or the N-Zone or whatever," Johnny stammered bursting into flames. Reed was glad at the time that he was behind Ben's arm. Though he could still feel the heat it wasn't as bad the last time he stood next to Johnny.
"I need you to -," Reed was caught in mid-sentence. He fell forward thinking his knees would stop his fall (no matter how painful stop it would be) only to find himself faze through the solid ground beneath him. The entire experience terrified the scientist, shook him to the very core of his soul.
"Ben grab his legs!" Johnny's voice was muffled above him, Reed stared into the blackness wide-eyed like a scared child. When he resurfaced he found himself hanging up side down by his ankle like a fish staring into the large blue eyes of both his companions. Reed felt the blood rushing to his head like a response to dreaded feeling that churned inside his stomach. Ben stared back at his childhood friend, flabbergasted by what he had just seen. His mind flashed back to memory of Reed's invisible arm. His eyes narrowed.
"Reed, does this have anything 'ta do with what's happening to your body? And tell me the truth, 'cause I swear if you lie egghead, your gonna wish you hadn't," Ben's voice was malicious.
Reed looked to Johnny who became interested in the ends of his finger tips. Reed was cornered by Ben's hard gaze again. "Put me down, I'll tell you everything I know," Reed struggled to get out. Ben was hesitant for a moment. For he knew that with Reed in this position his friend would either talk or remain resolute in his silence. Ben opted for neither and put the man on the ground, feet first. Reed nodded his thanks to his friend. He proceeded to tell the two of the discovery of his deteriorating body, the grim fate he would meet because his travel through the Negative Zone as explained to him by Reed II. Ben and
Johnny stood their mouths gape with, Reed tried to make himself seem as small as he could without actually shrinking.
Johnny was the first to speak up. "So, your molecules are frying, like a dying planet? You're going to explode?" Johnny said, his hands opening and closing. Reed took his time answering that question, the mental image of himself exploding was disturbing if not scarring.
"I dunno, Johnny," Reed answered, mildly annoyed. Ben's arm shot out like lightening, Reed grunted in alarm as he hoisted from off the ground into the air by the collar of his uniform. "Did you even think about what you were doing when you were messing with this machine! Did you think for one second what this could mean?" Ben shouted.
Reed pulled himself out of Ben's vice grip, tearing the collar of his uniform, he stumbled backward until he was literally standing on the edge of the large chunk of meteor they stood upon with one heel. "Ben, I didn't know any of this was going to happen! You can't blame me for this!" Reed grunted. Ben stepped forward with a less than amused look on his face.
"Sure I can," Ben snapped. The two were face to face, Reed glared back at his friend. Johnny realized that he would have to break up the two of them before it got ugly. What would Sue do? Johnny wracked his brain. Sue would stand between whomever was fighting and use her shields to keep them from each other, Johnny had nothing but fire. "Its better than nothing," Johnny muttered to himself.
He raised his hand in preparation. The Human Torch's eyes reflected in the fire that danced around his fingers. Talking would be more beneficial, his better judgement chided the young man. Johnny ignored it and fired upon Ben's head. Ben's head jerk in reaction from the impact of the blast. The Thing turned instantly, glowering. Ben's hand bumped Reed's side, his shoe slipped from the meteor. His arms flailed around him like man trying keep his head above water.
"Ben! Johnny!" He cried falling over.
"Oh shit, Reed!" Johnny muttered rushing forward. Ben mimicked the younger man's motion. Ben's hand closed around Reed's only to have it phase right through.
Ben blinked bewildered and afraid. Johnny shot up into the air in all his fiery glory. He dove downward at top speed. When he reached Reed he grabbed his arm and with all the strength in him and threw the man ahead of him. Reed let out a cry of surprise, he barely came up to the top of the meteor when his body began to sink again. His right arm stretched outward his fingers gripped the highest part of the meteor. Reed made sure his grip was firm before attempting to reel himself up.
"Need a lift?" Johnny came up beside his comrade his amused smirk showing through the fire. Reed glanced at his singed sleeve in hesitance. The touch had been brief but hot enough for his skin to feel it through the uniform. "Be quick about it, huh?" Reed said. Johnny did not respond, instead he grabbed Reed by the untouched part of his collar and proceeded up the side of the meteor as fast he could. When he thought he had enough momentum he threw the man ahead of him once more. Reed retracted his arm as soon as the surface of the meteor became visible. As Reed began to fall again his eyes caught sight of something materializing across from the meteor. His mouth hung open in disbelief while his eyes squinted to get a better view. The stars began distorted melting under the heat of the forming portal. "Reed, throw me your arm!" Ben shouted to the plummeting scientist. Reed swallowed against his dry throat, the portal grew in size until it was large enough to fit an entire city block inside of it, the temperature of his body feel like it was rising by the minute.
Reed shaped his limbs so that a bat-like webbing formed underneath his arms and legs, he floated down awkwardly to the meteor. He stumbled toward Ben careful not to fall fearing he would faze through the meteor again. "Whoa there, buddy," Ben said, their previous confrontation was all but forgotten in mind. Reed looked past his large friend, his stomach felt as though it had dropped as his eyes transfixed themselves on the black apparition that oozed out of the portal that was now closing.
Reed's face drained of all its color his damaged glasses fell down his nose. The large mass of black smoke swirled in a chaotic motion, a pair of glowing eyes were the first to form, next were the legs and arms. The rest of the body molded itself into a hardened physique, muscles rippling across its abdomen, arms, and legs last. Its head was obscure mass of black flames that danced around the black eyes. Color appeared on its body, red and gold armor hardened itself around its chest and legs in the mold of its muscles.
A mask resembling that of the gas masks from world II formed around his face, leaving almond slits for its beaming red eyes. Black wings protruded from its shoulder blades spreading to reveal their width. Gloves, and boots appeared his body, following a staff that's length was past his leg. A black Garnet Orb placed at the top swirls of bent steel straddled its top and sides.
"Check out the obvious villain!" Johnny called from above. The Thing turned toward the direction The Human Torch was pointing to. His blue eyes widened at the towering figure standing mere feet away from them.
Reed glanced up at a glaring Johnny. "Johnny, get down here," He ordered.
Johnny looked down at Reed, grinning all the while. "No way, I'm just jonesing for a fight," He retorted.
The shadow glanced up at Johnny with its red eyes. All three men leaned back when it ascended upward. Johnny had provoked it! Johnny's were wide with excitement, his fists pumping.
"Ben, we need to move," Reed's voice was firm. Ben had no qualms with Reed's suggestion, the only problem was that neither of them could fly like the boy above them. "Just how do you plan on getting us off this rock?" Ben snapped irritably at the man. "I'm working on it," Reed's brow creased, his body extended upward for a better view of the world around them.
"No worries, fearless leader, I'll just go and have a chat with him," Johnny replied in mock excitement.
"What - Johnny, stop!" Reed yelled.
The Human Torch ignored his leader, his blood boiled with excitement as he approached the enemy. "Damn it, Johnny get back here!" Reed screamed at the top of his lungs. The echo of a laugh from the young man was his response. Reed lowered himself back down to his normal level, he looked to Ben who simply shrugged his large shoulders. "Nothin' you can do about it, Reed," Ben said lamely.
Reed shook his head as he watched Sue's brother rush head on into a danger that eagerly awaited him. You better not to get killed, Johnny, was the thought that sprang to mind.
The winged assailant did nothing to defend himself when Johnny was close enough to attack save dodge the oncoming fireball aimed at him. Raising his staff the creature's Garnet Orb glowed a bright yellow, when the boy was close enough the staff unleashed a blast that hit him square in the chest. Johnny felt cold spreading into his veins, try as he might he could not keep his fire burning. His joints became numbed by whatever was in that light.
Johnny's eyes roll into the back of his head and his body plummeted. The winged creature caught the young man by the skin of his uniform. Unfurling his wings he soared toward the other two intruders standing deathly still on the meteor. Ben's large hands balled into fists, his teeth pressed together behind his lips. Reed placed his solid hand on his comrade's forearm. "Don't try anything yet, Ben," Reed said in a warning tone. Ben glanced toward his friend, his brow shifting in puzzlement, Reed kept his gaze straight. "Who dare trespass in my realm?" Annihilus bellowed in a lordly voice.
When Sue arrived at the Baxter Building she had expected to find an empty lobby devoid of life. Instead she found a lobby full of statue like people crowding her path to the stairs. Sue breathed the air cautiously making her way through the people. The hair on the back of her neck for some reason stuck straight up, the very atmosphere felt frozen. Sue's only conclusion was that time had somehow stopped for everyone. She pushed against the door and proceeded up the emergency stairs. Her mind raced wildy at the thought of time stopping like it did. The scientist in her fought to overcome her better judgement, Sue continued onward in spite of curiosity. When she finally reached the level where Reed's apartment resided, Sue rushed inside the apartment.
Out of habit she checked every bedroom in false hope that the trio of men would be there for whatever reason. There was no a soul in Johnny or Ben's bedrooms. Not even in the rooms packed with misc. items from Reed's collage years. Stepping into Reed's bedroom she was not in the least surprised to find the familiar head of thick blonde hair frozen in mid-air, her hands thrown above her head. The look of one of medusa's petrified victims etched in her face. Enid's hair was suspended in the air like it would be in a photo, gracing her plain features. Sue couldn't help the unflinching satisfaction she felt inside herself when looking at Enid. Enid got her just deserts.
Sue's feet were quick to take her into the laboratory. Nothing inside had been touched, there were the occasional paper frozen in mid-fall, Sue examined the closest one with a childlike feeling squirming in her stomach. This was truly an amazing thing to be witnessing, it was like she stood outside the existing time flow inside the building! Sue paused immediately; She was supposed to be locating Reed, Ben, and her brother, not enjoying what was happening around her like it was a science fair. Gathering herself Sue made her way to the computer, she sat down in the office chair. Tapping on the keyboard she watched the screen turn itself on.
Sue removed the four crest from her chest and plugged it into the cords that laid untouched on the counter, punching in the last coordinates she was in she waited for the computer to process the information. Her finger nail tapped unconsciously against her front teeth, she paid no attention to the rising anxiety inside her bosom. Her eyes focused on nothing but the three periods following the 'processing' notice. The silence was unbearable, Sue found herself making noise by shifting loudly in her chair just to block it out the silence.
Finally the unmistakable beep of the computer that indicated it had found its desired targets caused the Invisible Woman to sit straight in the chair. Clicking on the blinking four in the center of the screen Sue watched an incomprehensible map appear on the screen her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. The signals of Reed, Ben, and Johnny appeared on the screen finally. They were somehow or other in contact range, the computer gave no position.
It was better than nothing, she thought wearily tapping on her four crest she watched a dull light blinking behind the four. "Reed, can you hear me? Are you there?" The volume in her voice was loud and clear, the emotion masked by an impassive tone. There was nothing but static for the longest time, Sue had just given up all hope of even hearing her ex-boyfriend. "Uh, Sue?" The hesitance in the voice made Sue's heart skip two beats.
Annihilus hovered above their heads, Johnny hung motionlessly in his clawed grasp, there was no signs of the man regaining consciousness any time soon. "Trespassing!" Ben snapped angrily. Reed stepped forward, his features hardened at the sight of Johnny hanging by his costume, helpless. "My name is Reed Richards, this my friend Ben Grimm," Reed jabbed his thumb in the direction of his fuming friend. The creature was not impressed by this lowly man below him, his claw tore through the Human's Torch's uniform. He raised Johnny up higher.
"That's Johnny Storm, another friend. We didn't mean to trespass in your realm, we sort of ended up here by accident," Reed explained. The winged man came lower to the ground so that he was at level with Reed. "I am Annihilus, master of this realm," He snapped. Reed's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Master?" He blurted.
Annihilus' head tilted to the side he examined Reed carefully making the scientist uncomfortable. "Indeed. You are the energy I felt trespassing in my realm the first time," He drawled in a low hiss, his spit hitting the scientist in the face. Reed kept his temper in check calmly whipping the spit from his face. "Where is the other that came with you?" Annihilus hissed.
Reed shook his head, not understanding."There is no other, just myself, Ben, and Johnny," Reed stammered.
Annihilus scoffed in mockery at the man's words, he could smell uneasiness radiating from his body, a sure sign he was lying. He soared above them once more, Reed and Ben wore identical looks of concern. Annihilus raised Johnny by the neck, the claws sticking out of his gloves trailed across Johnny's skin leaving angry red lines in their wake.
As if acting like a catalyst, Johnny's brow creased, his blue eyes snapped open like had been pulled out of a nightmare. He felt incredibly numb all over but the feeling of someone's hand against his neck was obvious. "I know you lie, human, tell me where the other is or I will cut his throat," Annihilus roared. "There was no one else with us," Reed answered coolly "Let Johnny go."
Annihilus chortled at the scientist in mock-humor, the tips of his nails continued to make long scratches across Johnny's neck.
To Johnny's dismay he was beginning to feel it through the numbness feeling in his body. His eye lids responded to the faint command of his nervous system, closing half way. Ben walked up to Reed, his heart beating hard in his chest.
"Reed, if this is some part of an elaborate scheme, now's the time to let me in on it," Ben said barely above a whisper.
Reed shook his head. "Ben, this no part of any plan, there is no one else that followed me, unless he's referring to the other Reed, but he's dead." Ben's mouth fell open, the kid was dead?
"How?" He questioned. Reed shook his head.
"My double killed him," He paused to take a look around, his lens focused allowing him to see what normal sight would not. Nothing but meteor debris for miles and miles, no signs of other life - Reed's thoughts were stopped short in their process. He tried not to look surprised in front of Annihilus the moment he spotted the very thing he had been searching for.
"What is it, whadya see?" Ben asked, concerned.
"The I.D.M.," Reed whispered breathlessly.
A grin appeared on Ben's face, the faint glow in Reed's pasty complexion agreed whole heartedly. There was a muffled grunt from Johnny that cause both men to turn in response, their minds brought back to the present predicament. "I know what it is you seek, Reed Richards," Annihilus hissed.
"The machine which gives you - me - the means of bridging the gap to your world which was unattainable by simple portal travel until now." The so-called master of the Negative-Zone grinned behind his mask, his canine teeth brushing against each other. Reed glared in response, the heat of rage rose within his chest. "I had not expected that this place would take measures to destroy your realm. Nevertheless, it is but a small setback for me," The winged creature cackled loudly.
He aimed his staff. When Annihilus fired a beam from his Garnet Orb it was not aimed for the meteor as Reed had expected, but Mr. Fantastic himself. Reed frozen where he stood awaiting for the attack to knock him down. The blast fizzled out mere inches away from Reed's face. Annihilus' staff ceased firing on the scientist whom was standing still a stone equally left in a state of disbelief. But for some reason the winged master of the Negative Zone was smiling as he sheathed his staff behind him. Both hands now gripped Johnny's neck.
The boy was now able to move his body, however, the numbness remained in his limbs. His weak fingers fought to pry the vice grip off his neck. "A little help would be nice!" He choked out. Annihilus shook the boy angrily. "Be silent boy!" Another laugh spilled through the mask reaching Ben and Reed. "I knew you were lying, there is another with you. He is what protected you!" He snarled. Reed watched the shield vanished in a rippling effect, he glanced up at the villain with disdain.
"If he is, then I wasn't aware of it," Reed protested strongly. "You think you can continue to fool me with such lies! You are a greater fool than I thought," Annihilus bellowed. "Keep talkin' turkey, I'll pluck your feather's quicker than you can say -."
"Reed, can you hear me? Are you there?" Ben fell silent, Reed's heart pounded harder in his chest. Casting his glance downward he realized that the crest on his chest was blinking. His right hand pressed against the four shakily, his lips parted slowly afraid of the sound that would come out of his mouth. "Uh, Sue?" Reed answered back hesitantly. There was loud exhale on the other line, his mind wondered how Sue was even able to contact them, clear across another dimension.
"Oh, Reed, thank goodness your okay! What happened, where are you? Are Ben and Johnny with you?" Sue voice was laced with panic and relief. Reed made a move to answer the woman with an affirmative, however, a white hot pain distracted him. He felt his body jerk backward, he fell to the ground his head hit the ground. What hit him? Ben grabbed his friend by the arm where the blast from Annihilus' staff had hit his shoulder.
Reed's arm jerked out of Ben's grasp. The wing-creature let out another barrage of attacks from his staff, Ben fended them off easily with the fluid movements of his body that acted as a shield to the fallen Reed. "Reed, get up!" Ben shouted. Reed laid on the ground behind his friend barely flinching when one of the deflected blasts hit close to him.
Sue's panicked voice cried out to him, wanting to know what happened to him. His fingers twitched in rejection to his commands, they tried to curl into his palm in response to the pain in his shoulder. Allowing them his fingers to fall into a fist, he thrust his arm upward and hit his chest. "Uh, Sue!" He sputtered. A few tears even managed to leak out of his eyes, jeez did his shoulder hurt.
"Reed, are you all right!" Sue shouted in relief.
"No, I just got shot," Was his blunt reply.
"What! You're hurt!" Sue's volume got even louder. Reed groaned as he extended his fist over to the four crest again, he swallowed back a cry of pain as the damaged part of his body protested against his movement. Ben couldn't protect him for long, he would eventually -if not sooner- get worn out from blocking Annihilus' blasts with his body.
"Sue, I haven't got much time to talk, so just listen please." He stammered. "On the roof of the Baxter Building there's a vehicle that myself and Ben - well, you'll know it when you see it."
There was no response on the other line, Reed didn't wait for one, gingerly he placed his right hand on the ground ignoring the beams of heat flying past him. Slowly he stood up careful to stay behind Ben as the attacks continued.
Reed locked his gaze on a nicely sized chunk of meteor not to far from where they were, he glanced sideways at Annihilus. His fingers were fighting to stay together as Johnny's numb fingers continued to pry them apart, the villain's focus was completely on the other two and not him.
Swallowing back his panic, Reed watched as his arm wrapped itself around the small chunk of meteor. Pulling against the weight of the meteor, Reed swung his arm in the direction of his foe. The sheer speed of the his arm was enough, the meteor reached its trajectory point. Annihilus was caught completely off guard by the attack, his head was knocked to the side sending him into a tumble. Johnny felt himself falling, he let out a cry of surprise when Reed's arm wrapped around his ankle and pulled him onto the meteor. His bottom hit the rocky surface hard causing Johnny let out a cry pain, Reed retracted his arm. "We can't stay here, we've got to get to the I.D.M.," Reed said hastily.
"That's easier said than done, Reed," Ben gripped. Reed nodded his head, his gaze shifted to the recovering Annihilus. The winged creature placed his hand upon his cracked mask, his red eyes locked on Reed. The scientist tried to pay no mind this and shifted his attention to the grumbling Johnny Storm. "Johnny, I need you to distract Annihilus - don't argue with me - just be weary of his staff this time," Reed commanded.
The Human Torch clamped his mouth shut at the steely gaze his sister's ex-boyfriend's was giving him. Rolling his eyes his gave a half nod. "Flame on!" Johnny's body was enveloped in fire once more and he took off towards the enemy.
Ben didn't see the point of even warning hot-head to dodge, he was mostly likely going to be hit by that staff's blast anyhow. "Ben, I need you help Johnny, there's no need for both of us to try and reach the I.D.M.," Ben folded his arms across his chest in objection. "I see plenty point. Ever heard of 'process of elimination'?" The Thing retorted. Reed sighed in frustration as he walked toward the edge of the meteor. The I.D.M. was a pretty good ways off from where he was, there weren't enough meteors between here and now to try and jump across. Bending down Reed wrapped his arm around his legs, concentrating he compressed his body into the size of a basketball. Ben watched with an uneasy stomach as the ball rolled toward him.
"That's just weird, Reed," He finished lamely. "I'm not used to it myself," Reed commented sheepishly. "I need you to kick me as hard as you can Ben. You remember how?" There was a tinge fear in the man's voice, Ben couldn't help but grin at the ball below his feet. "Sure, but how is this gonna get you to the machine?" Ben questioned.
"I'll worry about that, just kick me," Reed answered, irritated. Ben sighed and stepped back.
The next thing Reed knew he was soaring through space at top speed. Ben watched his round friend for a minute before turning his attention to Annihilus and Johnny. The young man skillfully dodged every blast from the staff that came at him, everything in his wake was destroyed instead. Annihilus came after Johnny now abandoning his staff. "Yikes," Johnny squeaked out as he dodged the madman.
Sue ran out of the laboratory as fast as she could her hair throwing itself into her face with every footfall. The welfare of her brother and friends had her mind racing through a panicked blur, Reed was injured and who knows what happened to the others. Sue slid across the smooth floor of the hall, she grabbed the emergency door's handle and flew through the doorway. She hurtled herself up the stairs with the use of the rail. She found herself constantly dodging the bodies of people frozen in time.
It wasn't long before she reached the very top of the stairs, the roof-top entrance was right in front of her. Sue felt a hitch in her breath when she discovered that the lock on the door was broken off. Her eyebrows furrowed, she turned to look behind her. A number of people that were on the stairs probably broke the lock, something inside her said otherwise though. Pressing her hand against the surface of the door she pushed it open, she stared out into the large space of the roof top cautiously.
Stepping out of the building she continued to glance around her environment, she noted that her heart rate was picking up considerably fast. Where was this vehicle Reed spoke of? Sue turned her head to the right, on the far end of the roof there was large object covered in a large canvas tarp. Curious she jogged across the roof until she reached it. The wind could be felt best at the end, she noted. Her hand grasped the end of the canvas gingerly and lifted it off the object, Sue looked away for a moment to the sky, her blue eyes widened in surprise.
Across the city she saw the funnel, twirling furiously in a crooked motion. The canvas slid from off of the large object revealing the frame of a car. Sue jump backed in surprise at the sight of it. It looked just like a standard Ford Van with the exception of it being a slightly smaller size. The front was naturally situated with two passenger seats - one for the driver on the left, the other on the right for the passenger, a long chair in the back for passengers riding in the back.
There was plenty space inside separating the three chairs from each other, enough head space to at least stand straight than you would in a car. The windows were made of a strange absorbent glass reminiscent of bulletproof glass but much stronger. The frame of the car itself was white, silver bolts lined across it, in the front were large headlights framed by steel you'd find on the front of a jeep, that hugged the sides and traced the rooftop back down to the window.
Out of reluctance Sue touched the driver's door, with a hiss it swung open nearly hitting the Invisible Woman in the chin. Stepping forward she peeked inside. Immediately wheelless car and the four crest on her chest responded to her entrance. Sue was tempted to go further into the car A cough was brought to her attention. Sue ducked past the door and readied herself for attack.
Standing across from her, atop the doorway's frame was Negative-Reed, grinning madly. He didn't look as horrible as he did the last time she saw him. Sue remained on the defensive as he climbed down from his perch onto the ground. "I was afraid I was going to be alone on the trip back," He sighed stretching his arms. Sue glared at N-Reed, her face hot with anger at the very sight of him. "What did you do with Reed, and the others?" She demanded. Negative-Reed bit down on his lip, mocking the face Reed had made when Ben had set the two up for dinner.
"I haven't the slightest clue what you mean. I haven't done anything with my counterpart or his friends," Negative-Reed answered directly. He moved a little closer toward her. Sue created a box that expanded across the entire roof, separating her side from his. As if to tease her. Negative-Reed walked over to the shield and plucked at it. Sue lowered her hands using only her mind to keep the shield up. "You can't keep that up forever, Sue," N-Reed said darkly. Sue raised her middle finger to the man behind the wall which only further amused him.
Rushing over to the car Sue jumped inside. Automatically the seat belt locked itself around her waist, Sue let out a gasp but recovered quickly and grabbed the steering wheel. A flashing light beside the wheel appeared. Sue looked down distractedly at the light, 'auto pilot' was what appeared in bold black letters every time the light flashed.
"Great," She mused, looking in the direction of Negative-Reed. He still stood behind the shield she created. The strain on her head was now becoming eminent she pressed the flashing button. 'Auto pilot off - manual' Sue felt no more comforted than she did before. "Reed, how am I supposed to work this thing!" She shouted into the communicator on her chest. She pressed her hand against her nose when she felt something warm running down her lip onto her stomach. Blood stained her glove proceeding to drizzle down her fingers.
"Sue, there's a ignition port behind the steering wheel, same as a standard vehicle," Reed said. Sue glared at her chest in sheer annoyance. "It took you long enough to respond. Where are you!" She shouted leaning over. Sue spotted the ignition port right where Reed said it would be, inside of it resided a key-card that hadn't been pushed all the way inside.
"I found it," She said breathlessly. "Good, now push the key card into the port and turn it. Your all set from there," Reed said. Sue ignored the temptation to ask if he was alright and did as he directed, the machine came to life with a loud roar. Gripping the steering wheel she pulled back, Sue felt her heart skip a beat when the machine lurched forward at top speed breaking through the concrete siding of the roof. She let out a blood curdling scream as the car plummeted down the front of the building. Negative-Reed rushed forward the moment the shield came down. He leapt over the edge of the building after Sue.
"Sue calm down and control the Fantasticar!" Reed shouted.
"The what?" She screamed.
"Never mind! Pull the machine up and head for the funnel. If I'm right, we're in the Negative Zone," Reed answered. Sue fought to gather her senses as her hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, when she began to pull up a loud thud above caught her by surprise.
Sue found herself ducking to the right when a thick blade cut through the rooftop, the steering wheel turned with her, the Fantasticar was thrown into spin, jerking the safely secured Sue about her chair. Negative-Reed swallowed against the air-sickness churning in the pit of his stomach, swinging himself over to the drivers side he peered into the window; Sue glared right back at him with such fiery hatred it made him grin.
She was feistier than all the other Sue's he had come across. A lot more sterner than his Sue. Sue jerked the Fantasticar out of its spin and throttled forward, Negative-Reed kept his grip on the roof of the car firm as the machine picked up speed. Sue swallowed against the panic beating in her chest, she made a jerky turn and almost crashed into a building. Rounding the corner she spotted the funnel.
It wasn't too far too now! Sue went as fast as she could in the Fantasticar. "Sue, let me in!" Negative-Reed's blade came deeper into car, catching the woman off guard. The blade sunk deep into her shoulder, Sue let out a howl. Negative-Reed knew he hit pay dirt at the sound of her cry he pushed his blade deeper into her skin and got yet another reaction out of her, but not the one he wanted.
Before he knew it he was being thrown off the top off the Fantasticar, he could feel himself plummeting fast to the ground. Acting quickly he extended his arm and grabbed the nearest thing on the vehicle his hand could latch onto. He felt himself being jerked away from the ground and pulled along toward the funnel. Sue continued driving the Fantasticar until she felt the vehicle being pulled into the funnel.
She felt numb relief wash over her as she felt the car being pulled upward. She looked down at her shoulder, blood gushed from the horrible wound, Sue wanted to vomit at the smell of her own blood as it filled the cabin.
Raising her hand up to her mouth she pulled the glove from off her hand. It took several tries to get wrap the stretchable glove around her wound as a make-shift tourniquet and tie it up, which only added more trouble and agony. When the Fantasticar entered the funnel another sudden jerk threw her against the chair. Her head hit the head rest hard, through the haze of pain she saw nothing but darkness that was illuminated by a million stars sprayed out around her like white paint on a canvas.
Her chin laid against her chest as she maneuvered the Fantasticar through obstacles she barely saw coming at her. Her breathing was becoming labored with every drop of blood that managed to escape her tourniquet. Her eyes-lid fell half-mass, she wasn't even aware of a wingless creature coming at her.
(TBC)