Disclaimer: Daria and associated characters are owned by MTV. Dr. Doom, the Fantastic Four, and associated characters are owned by Marvel Comics. This is fan fiction written for entertainment only. No money or other negotiable currency or goods have been exchanged.


Forcing herself not to look around the room for the nanobots, Daria changed back into her normal business suit for work. If that futuristic pervert's been…better not think about it.

Her computer sounded a soft ping to indicate a news update. She went over and checked the source: the online edition of World Weekly Tattler displaying a photo of her and Franklin's picnic taken with a telephoto lens. The headline read, "Romancing the Queen."

I have to admit, that does look romantic. And they could've said a lot worse.

A second ping prompted Daria to say, "I'll have to ask security how many camera crews are camped out around here."

The Daily Globe-Sun proclaimed, "Fun Outside the Royal Luv Shack!"

"My faith in the tastelessness of humanity is restored," Daria said with a shake of her head. As much as part of me wishes it was. But I absolutely can't risk any unintended side-effects now.


Seated on her throne to answer questions from reporters, Daria waited for her chance to go to lunch with Franklin.

One reporter asked, "Do you plan any special announcements for Thursday's Tenth Anniversary celebration?"

"None that I'm aware of."

The next reporter asked, "Even about Dr. Franklin Richards? He has been living here for most of the summer."

Daria faintly smiled. "Dr. Richards came here to assist with some data analysis in the wake of Zorba Fortunov's activities against me. During that time, we developed a relationship that I'm happy to say continues. But as for any announcements, no."

A third said, "Rumor has it he also stayed around for your recovery after the assassination attempt."

"Yes, he did."

"Any follow-up to the attempt on your life?" the first reporter asked.

"We've increased security and are investigating the situation."

"Any clues about who was behind it? Any possible connection to Zorba's conspiracy?"

"Since this is an active investigation, I'm not going to give out any details."

Behind the press corps, Daria saw Franklin point to his watch. She told the reporters, "Thank you for your time and questions."

A reporter at the back noticed Franklin and asked, "Lunch date with Dr. Richards?"

"Yes, and I don't like to be late."


The press left the room after squeezing a few noncommittal answers from Franklin. He quietly told Daria. "I tracked the signal to the year 2958, most likely part of Kang's future empire."

"Have you disabled the nanobots?"

"They went down a few moments before I signaled you."

"Then we better get ready to pay Kang a visit."


Looking at the burnished metal armor, Franklin said, "That is not going to fit me."

Daria said, "It's self-adjusting. I know you have a lot of bad memories about my father in that armor, but…"

"I know. Okay, here goes nothing," Franklin said while picking up a section of leg armor.

"I'll get into my armor and then we'll get the time machine out."

"We're going to make a fine looking pair."

"Better not let my sister see us."


Franklin replaced Dr. Doom's wide belt with a narrower one that had several devices attached to it. Otherwise looking very much like his parents' long-time nemesis, Franklin stepped back out into the lab.

Daria was already there and opening the adjacent store-room. "I see you figured things out."

"Not too hard. I'm surprised that it's so comfortable to wear."

"My father lived in those armors, so they're made to fit comfortably and adjust to any short or long-term changes in body form."

"I never pictured him as designing anything for comfort."

"In his eyes, I'm sure it was more practical. Being slowed down by armor chaffing or by a blister would be embarrassing."

"I can see that."

Daria poised a knife over a lead seal on the door. "Ready?"

"Waiting will only make it worse."

Daria cut the seal and opened the vault-like door. The bullet-shaped vehicle inside looked like it had just been put into storage. The surface was clean and the room was free of dust. She stepped to the door and inserted a key to open it.

"Mind you, I've never tried to drive this thing before. I hope you have the right destination data."

"I hope so, too."

Daria got into the pilot's seat and Franklin sat in the copilot seat. She closed the door and took a deep breath. "I better know what we're doing. Powering up."

Flipping several toggle switches brought the machine up to full power. When she was ready, Daria asked, "What's the target time?"

Franklin removed one of the belt devices and read, "Julian day 280…"

Punching in the numbers as she repeated them, Daria said, "…280."

"159…"

"…159."

"7 point 53…"

"…7 point 53."

"640…"

"…640."

"381."

"…381."

"That's it."

"Okay. The time machine will automatically compensate for all planetary motions. Do you have a target location on Earth?"

"42 degrees, 53 point 455 minutes North. 78 degrees, 51 point 692 minutes West."

"Got it. The vehicle will avoid stopping us in solid objects, so there may be some offset. Now, I have no idea of how long, our time, this trip is going to take."

"Maybe we should've packed a lunch."

"Too late now. Time motors engaging in three...two…one…zero."


"Tight fit, but we made it," Daria said while looking at monitors displaying the faintly lit room outside. Two long rows of tables faded into the darkness to one side. "I think we arrived in the cafeteria."

On his second try using the unfamiliar time machine controls, Franklin said, "We're about a hundred meters from the target."

"That's a lot of space inside a building. We better get moving. Any signs of alarms going off?"

"Not yet, but this thing's a bit obvious."

"A chameleon circuit would've been nice. Oh well, we have to work fast."

"Speaking of which, your father didn't put a stealth mode in the armor either, did he?"

"Sorry, he wasn't one for sneaking around."

"Figures."

They left the vehicle and carefully moved toward their target through dark corridors and past dark rooms. Good thing Kang doesn't run a night shift, Daria thought as they neared their goal. The room was sealed by a metal door with no visible control or latch.

Franklin studied one of his devices for half a minute. He then pressed one of the device's buttons and the door opened.

Daria said, "I never saw lock-picking on your resume."

"The information Iron Man and the Avengers provided said Kang used an RFID key. I just had to find the right frequency pattern to duplicate."

"That's creepy, because I bet those RFID keys are implanted in the workers."

"That's one way to keep them from losing their keys."

"We better get to work before anything hits the fan," Daria said as she started examining the room."


"I'll be damned," Daria said after examining a small drone robot. "Kang's not one to let opportunities pass. Not only could the drone have killed me if it gotten through, but it's what delivered the nanobots."

"Another mystery solved."

"Have you had any luck?"

"Confirmation that he thinks I'm a direct ancestor," he replied. " Wonderful."

"We don't get to pick our relatives, one direction or the other."

"But the big news is that if you remain Queen of Latveria, I won't be."

Daria thought for a second and decided she didn't understand. "Repeat that?"

"If you remain Queen of Latveria, I won't be his direct ancestor in this timeline."

"That's what I thought you said." With sudden concern, Daria asked, "Do you die because of me?"

"No, but if you remain Queen, I apparently never have children that lead to him."

"So he's going back in time to kill me. Does he think that there's some time loop he has to fulfill or something? What gave him that idea?"

"Actually…" Franklin hesitated before adding, "…he believes that he's restoring somebody else's alteration of time."

"Who?"

"I'm still working on it."

Daria set her attention back to another computer, looking for weapon or defensive data.

A couple minutes later, the computers shut down.

"Dammit!" Franklin pounded the console. "I was getting close."

Daria grabbed his arm. "We need to go."

"Right. Sorry."

The door failed to open to the RFID signal. Franklin said, "No good."

Daria raised both fists and fired at the door. "No time for subtlety."

Franklin raised both gauntlets and joined Daria's fire. After several seconds, the door shattered away from them. Franklin looked out and ducked his head back as weapon fire splashed against the corridor wall."

Daria asked, "How many?"

"A dozen, easy."

"The only way out is through them."

Franklin said, "Keep behind me. Kang should still be worried about the paradox…"

"How the hell are they going to know? To all outward appearances, you look like my father."

"Oh, crap."

"Yeah, so keep your head down. We both shoot around the corner with both weapons and make a break when the guards go for cover."

"And hope we do better than Butch and Sundance."

"A lot better. One…two…three!"

Several guards fell and the rest disappeared inside a cloud of smoke and dust as they scrambled for cover. Daria tapped Franklin's shoulder and the two ran for the time machine.

They made steady progress toward their goal. Moving between alcoves and doors a long the corridors, they were able to fend off the guards' attempts to stop them. Their armor resisted even direct hits and the gauntlet weapons stopped any guard hit and dispersed others.


"Fools! Cut off their escape first!" Kang bellowed at his guards as he entered his command center. He charged across the room and entered a command into a console. Across the corridors in the alerted section of Kang's palace, heavy doors rolled across the corridors, turning them into a series of sealed rooms.

Kang stood before one of the guard commanders and barked, "Who are they?"

"Dr. Doom and his daughter, Daria Von Doom."

"I doubt if Queen Daria would travel in time to recruit her father to help. No, it must be one of the old Doombots that she's using as a bodyguard. I want it and her destroyed. I'll tend to this personally."


Daria lowered her hands. The door was blackened and an outer façade was splintered, but the armored inner core was only slightly damaged. "It's no use. These doors are too heavy to get through."

"Looks like it's time to come up with a Plan 'B' real fast."

"I'm open to suggestions."

"Maybe we can cut into the overhead."

"Come on, I don't think Kang will make B-movie mistakes."

Franklin shot at the ceiling and the result was the same as shooting at the doors. Decorative molding fell to the floor in pieces, but the armored structural forms were undamaged. "It was worth a try."

After several minutes, the door behind them rolled to the side.

Kang stood in front of a large group of guards and said, "You're very difficult to kill, Queen Daria. I must congratulate you on your ingenuity and determination. However, your time is now at an end."

Franklin stepped in front of Daria and reached for his faceplate.

"I'm disappointed, though," Kang said and fired at Franklin. "Having only one of those old robots as a guard."

The young man staggered back against Daria and fell to one knee.

Kang's guards opened fire on Franklin also. The shots bounced away, but each hit on his right side caused him to hiss in pain. He dropped the faceplate and said, "Damn. Too slow."

Kang saw who the target was and yelled, "Cease fire!"

"Hey, I was right," Franklin coughed.

"Franklin Richards. Don't risk your family's future," Kang sternly warned. "The Von Dooms have been a plague on your family before and will be again."

"I think you're more concerned about yourself than me. I'll trust my own judgment."

In a low voice, Daria said, "Forgive me."

Crouching behind Franklin, Daria held one of her gauntlets to his head. "I'm not dead yet, Kang. Let us go and nothing happens to him."

Kang seethed in anger but didn't move. "Don't you see, Franklin? You're only a pawn to her. A tool for her to use as needed. Queen Daria's like her father and cares nothing for others."

She demanded, "Open all the doors between here and my time-machine. Close each as we go past."

"You can't leave, Queen Daria. You don't belong in this timeline. Zorba and Red Skull should've killed you after your failed election."

"Don't give me that. I know you were backing Zorba and Red Skull was imprisoned years ago." Daria pressed her fist against Franklin's head. "I'm losing patience."

"You're being used as a tool by a being called Immortus. You were never destined to capture Red Skull, but to die at his hands. And then, in response to Zorba's corruption, your sister is to seize the throne. That is the true path of time."

Daria rebutted, "Oh, so you think that claiming I'm supposed to already be dead will make me cooperate?"

Dimly, an odd memory surfaced in Franklin's mind.

He was old and tired. It took much of his little remaining energy to open his eyes and look at Valeria. Despite the deep lines in her face and white hair, the child-like twinkle in her eye was still there.

She noticed his wakening and said, "Hey, Brain."

"Hey, Brat," Franklin said, barely above a whisper.

"How are you today?"

"I'm almost done."

"Don't say that."

"It's true."

Valeria nodded and held his hand.

Franklin sadly whispered, "Kind of made a mess of things, didn't I?"

"What do you mean?" Valeria asked, though knowing why he thought that. " Look at all you've done."

"For everyone else. But I turned my life and everyone's around me into a disaster. Look at Wendy."

"Hey, she knew what she was getting into."

"No. I don't think anybody could really know. Marrying her was a huge mistake and she paid the price for it."

"You paid a big price, too. Has Kenneth been by to see you?"

"No. I didn't expect him to break forty-two years of silence. I was a father in name only. I was too tied up in saving the world to spend time with him."

"You gave up so much of yourself for others. I wish you could've been happier."

Franklin nodded off and re-awoke. "Tired." He seemed to look far away and said, "You know what I regret the most?"

"No."

"Do you remember Daria Von Doom?"

"You had the biggest crush on her as a teenager."

"I regret that I never asked her out. And then she died and it was too late. I wish…I wish things had happened differently."

Franklin felt his life start to end and his last breath began to leave his lungs. Almost like a trick of light, he saw a man in a green with a blue cloak standing behind his sister. The man said, "Things can be different, if you really want them to."

"Daria, we have to get out of here, now," Franklin warned.

"Can you walk?"

"The right side of the armor isn't working. I need help."

Kang said, "Daria, we both know you won't harm him. Stop the charade."

Franklin raised his left fist to his head. "But I can. Let us go."

Kang stepped back, incredulous. "You can't be serious."

"Either both of us leave, or neither of us will."

The door behind them opened. Using her suit's augmented strength, Daria pulled Franklin as he pushed with his functioning leg. Once through, the door closed again.

Franklin said out loud, "Don't try anything, I haven't let down my guard."

When they reached the time machine, Daria used her key to open the hatch, noticing the burn marks and scratches from attempts to open it. Pulling hard, she dragged Franklin inside as she saw the cafeteria door starting to open.

She didn't waste a moment before she laid Franklin on the floor and started powering the time drives. Working as fast as she could, she yelled back at him, "How bad are you hurt?"

He looked down at the distorted and singed armor. "I think my whole right side is going to be very colorful, but that's about it. The armor took a worse beating than I did."

Once Daria had the time machine underway back to her present day, she climbed back to where Franklin lay. She grabbed the edges of his breastplate and angrily said, "Don't do that again! You scared the hell out of me!"

Franklin's reply of "I only…" was cut short by her kissing him.

Franklin's eyes opened wide in surprise. Daria leaned back and said, "Promise me you'll keep your head down."

"Huh?"

"Promise me you'll be careful. You're not bulletproof, dammit."

Franklin regained his senses. "I promise."

"Good. Let's see if we can get your armor working. We didn't remember spare clothes."

Confused by Daria's change of subject, Franklin asked, "What about…?"

Daria gently said, "There's a reason I don't want you hurt."

"Oh."

Daria removed her gauntlets and began to examine the damaged armor. After a while, she said, "The left side nuclear power pack's leads are damaged."

She noticed Franklin's concern and added, "The core shielding is intact and there's no radiation leakage. Don't worry."

As Daria worked, Franklin said, "Thanks. Back there, I had a strange feeling…of a memory."

"Strange? How?"

"Like I sometimes had back when I could change reality. Memories of things before a change."

"I don't understand. You haven't had that power since rescuing your sister and making it possible for her to be born."

"I know. But…Kang was correct about you being killed by Red Skull. In the memory, I saw who I think was Immortus just before I died of old age. I'd just told Valeria that I regretted not asking you out and wished things had been different. He somehow enabled me to use my power so that you weren't killed."

Daria stopped and stared at the wires in her hand for a minute. "Uh…it, um…" Daria inhaled and said, "It's odd to think that somebody changed reality for you."

"I wanted a second chance. In that timeline, we never got together. I married someone else and had a child that must've led to Kang's lineage."

"If you regretted not asking me out, you must've had feelings for me before."

Franklin blushed.

Daria asked, "How long?"

"Four, five years."

"I thought I'd been bad about a crush. But, I'm glad you finally spoke up over dinner."

"We should thank my sister for setting that up."

Daria made a face and said, "So Valeria didn't leave to play computer games that night? I'm destined to be surrounded by yentas."

"She'd been nudging me for a long time."

Daria used a small solder pen to reconnect the damaged power pack contacts. "Try that."

Franklin moved his arm and leg. "It works."

Daria stood and looked at the time machine controls. "If we go back to our regular time, we'll lose the initiative. We have to stop Kang first."

"I copied a lot of data that I didn't have time to examine. Maybe we can find something in there to help us."


On a shaded rooftop in New York, the Spider-Man told the Human Torch, "Sorry Johnny, but that's all we know. MJ and her agent kept expecting somebody to hint at the gift tickets to get her to do a photo shoot. I've gotta admit, it was suspicious for me to be there."

"Yeah, Peter. Why bring you all the way across the country? Why not somebody local, or one of the other Avengers who've dealt with Kang before?"

"Not a clue. Maybe Susan will have better luck tracking down the tickets from the other end."

"Let's hope so. I'm worried about them running off in Dr. Doom's old time machine. Those things are bad news."

"But, Franklin has a good head on his shoulders. I'm sure he thought things through."

"Peter, how well did you think things through when you were first seeing MJ?"

"Oops."

"And he has it bad."

"Yeah. Come to think of it, he did act like he was still in the 'knight in shining armor' stage. What about her? She's held Latveria together for ten years; she can't be stupid."

"Queen Daria's no slacker in the brains department and she really doesn't take stuff from anybody. Trust me."

"So when they get their heads out of the clouds, they're gonna be a helluva team."

"If they make it."

The friends looked out over the city for long minutes. The quiet was broken by Johnny asking, "Tell me something. How do you brains keep getting the cute girls?"


Quinn looked up the ticket numbers in the accounting records of her computer. "Here they are. Hmm." Quinn smiled and waved her finger. "Now I remember. The lady said she was getting them as a surprise for a special couple."

Susan Richards asked, "Do you remember anything about what she looked like?"

"Let's see…mid-twenties or so, a little taller than you, blonde, had long bangs combed down over her eyes, that peek-a-boo seductress-type of look. Very business like dress suit. No jewelry, not even earrings. I know it's not much."

"Every bit helps, so don't apologize."

"I'm sorry I got Daria involved in that ball."

"How could you know anything would happen? You couldn't."

"I hope they're all right."

"We're all hoping that. But, we're also trying to do what we can for them."

"Good luck."

"Thanks. We'll let you know when we find out anything."

Susan left Quinn's office and entered the elevator. A blonde woman reading a magazine said, "Don't worry, there weren't any strings attached to those tickets."

Susan said, "What do you know about…?" She stopped when she saw the woman's face.

"They've been very happy together before and I didn't want Daria to die in that ballroom again. I could trust Spider-Man to do the right thing to help."

"Do you know how they are now?"

"I'm as in the dark as you are."

Susan looked worried.

The woman added, "But this time, they have the upper hand."


"At this rate, we may end up in the Pleistocene," Daria said as she continued guiding the vehicle back in time.

"Hey, I am making progress," Franklin said from the other seat.

"Like what?"

"I found some historical records of Kang's preferred timeline. It's not the true temporal baseline, because there's only one reality where Kang rose to power on his own. His manipulations resulted in an unknown number of different versions, each rising to power by various means in their realities."

"What do the records say? Briefly."

"Okay. Basically, what he told you. Early in your reign, you defeated Red Skull's attempt to seize Latveria. However, he was able to escape. Later, he plotted with Zorba Fortunov to overthrow you. In the process, Red Skull personally killed you."

"Lovely reading there. We'd speculated that I may have another sibling or half-sibling. Your memory and what he said seems to bear that out. Any clue of who that is?"

Franklin worked some more at decrypting the data. He closed his eyes and said, "Um…yeah."

"And?"

"You can be sure that Kang hadn't informed her yet."

"Who?"

"Quinn."

Daria quietly nodded. "In a way, that makes sense. My father maintained thorough surveillance of me growing up. Actually, a scary amount. It must've been a difficult challenge to keep that secret. It would be more efficient to use the same effort to keep an eye on two children."

"Wouldn't that be risky? You'd think he'd want his children separated in case one was discovered."

"He must've determined the lower risk of a smaller, single surveillance effort was greater than the risk of both of us in the same place."

"Okay, but Quinn? I can't see her as a successful Queen."

"I can. The modern business world is damn cutthroat and she's doing well. Quinn's a lot more charismatic than I am, and she can be very determined. Give her the incentive of my death…"

"Okay, but she really wouldn't have been ready when you came to Latveria."

"It's clear I was the main plan and she was the backup." Daria dropped her shoulders as an idea hit her. "But she could've been prepared given more time."

"You mean take her back in time for more training?"

"No. I mean take more time in the present. I wonder if there were more opportunities for my father to open that gate to Hell than he mentioned. If there are…"

Franklin was unsettled by the wry smile on her face. "Daria?"

"We may have a nice trap for Kang."

"Wait a minute," Franklin warned. "That's getting into some of that nasty stuff your father used."

"Yes, but I can't think of a better place for Kang than Hell."

"One slight problem: you destroyed the Anatolian Key."

"There are other ways and I'm not really worried about somebody down there noticing his arrival."

"You're serious."

"Look, the combined efforts of the Avengers haven't been able to kill him. I don't think we'll have better luck. We're never going to outdo him with technology. So, that leaves magic."

Daria operated the vehicle's controls. "It should take us a couple hundred years to turn around and head back."

"That was bad."

"Humor helps me deal. I don't like what I'm planning, but don't see a better alternative."

"Do you mind if I keep thinking about other options?"

"I'd love a better option."


In a sleek, white dress, Daria sat next to Franklin and put her arms around his neck before kissing him. Alone in the cabin of her private jet, they enjoyed the moment.

Wrapping his arms around her, Franklin said, "I can't believe we did it."

"You better, 'cause you're stuck. I can't believe that Johnny wanted to write 'Just Married' on the plane's rudder."

"You know how he gets."

"I suppose I'd really have been surprised if he didn't try something like that."

"I'm still happy you even agreed to go out with me the first time."

"After a year of strange and weird dating, your honest approach was so welcome." She kissed him and said, "And it worked. Of course, getting Ben to fly you over to ask made a big impression, too."

Franklin leaned back and raised his hand to his forehead. "Oh, boy."

"What?" Daria asked.

"I just remembered another reality."

"I'm sorry. From what you said, it sounded like you were unhappy then."

"No, Daria. I remembered another reality."

"Another? As in, not the one Kang described."

"Very different."

"How so?"

Franklin squirmed in his chair. "We, uh, were leaving for our honeymoon."

Daria stared at him. "Honeymoon?"

"I'm not making this up."

"I didn't think you were. But…but that means another timeline or reality that happened, but was changed. Why would you change that one?"

"I don't know. Maybe something bad happened later that I tried to fix." Franklin sighed and sunk down in his seat. "There's a reason I was glad not to have the power any more. You think this is confusing? Try to keeping things straight as a kid."

"Could Kang have done something to interfere with that? He was very intent to keep you away from me."

"Maybe." Franklin concentrated on the memory again. "I think that's the reality I caused by my deathbed wish. You captured Red Skull like we remember, and Zorba was never more than a minor nuisance."

"Sounds like you wouldn't have a reason to change things."

"With how I felt, no reason at all."


Brow furrowed behind his faceplate, Kang intently studied the tracking display. "Excellent. Their machine keeps moving through the timestream as they try to formulate a plan."

Kang leaned back from the console and smugly crossed his arms. "I only need to wait for you to re-enter into normal space."

"As you requested, Emperor," one of his technicians said, presenting a rifle-like device. "One electro-magnetic pulse rifle calibrated to disable the Doom armor both were wearing."

Kang hefted the weapon. "No more of their self-sacrificing games."


"I lost him," Daria said, looking up at the ballroom ceiling. She held her small pistol in one hand and the crystal from her necklace in the other.

"I can't track him either," Franklin said, checking the display hidden behind the cuff of his tuxedo.

"Maybe he's dropped to ground level," Daria suggested. "We better start scanning down here."

Franklin adjusted his wrist scanner while Daria continued to focus on her crystal. A bright yellow light glared and she tumbled backward. Franklin dropped to the ground next to Daria and he saw a deep wound in her chest. Frantic, he checked her pulse and found none.

After clearing the crowd, the Latverian guards and Secret Service agents found Franklin still leaning over Daria's body.

Franklin suddenly sat straight up and sucked in a lungful of air. Daria asked, "Another one?"

Dumfounded, Franklin nodded his head.

"That doesn't look like a good one."

"Daria…I have no objections to your plan to send Kang to Hell."

Rattled by the tone in Franklin's voice, Daria said, "Okay."


"I'm ratting myself out. Mom, you have about three years before I start to time dance," the adult Valeria told Susan as they reached Susan's car.

"Thanks for the warning," Susan replied.

"I'll wonder for years how you figured out so fast."

"Playing tricks on yourself. Cute." Susan's face changed. "But I'm worried. Reed and I were beginning to hope that you two could lead something closer to normal lives, that you wouldn't have such powerful abilities."

"Mom, from what I saw, if Franklin is happy, his power won't develop."

"What about you?"

Valeria stiffened. "They're back."

"Franklin and Daria?"

"Yes. And…Mom, I have to go. I'll say hi to your future self and tell her what happens. You'll know pretty soon yourself. Bye."

She performed a fast pirouette and vanished.


"Dammit! You don't love her. What the hell are you thinking?" Valeria screamed at Franklin.

"I do care about Wendy. She accepts me for what I am."

"That's bull and you know it. You're still thinking about Daria."

"Valeria, she's dead. I have to go on with my life. You have to admit that."

"Go on, yes. Not throw away!"

"I'm not throwing my life away."

"Don't try to fool me. I remember…"

"So do I! But this time, things can be different."

Valeria controlled her rage and gently grabbed her brother's shoulders. "Yes, they can be worse. Before, you thought about somebody you didn't get to know. Now, you miss somebody that you know you would've been happy with. That'll make things even worse."

Franklin looked down. "But I still can't change things. She's dead and there's nothing I can do about it. I know Wendy cares for me now. If I work at it, I might be able to keep things together."

"Franklin, I can do something about it."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry I kept it from you, but I promised Mom and Dad to use it as little as possible."

"You mean…?"

"Yes. Franklin, I'm going back to get you some help at the charity ball. You're never going to be happy without her. I'm going to fix that."

"Valeria? Don't do that just for me."

"I'm not. I liked her, too."

"Again? At least you're smiling," Daria observed.

"That actually was part of the last one. We've had a little extra help."

"Oh?"

"Valeria does eventually develop the power to time dance. She must've gotten the tickets to Spider-Man."

Daria sat still before saying, "Then I really owe her. But we have to get through this first."

"Any more ideas for your plan?"

"Everything we need is in the lab. After we park the time-machine, we just have to go to the inner lab and pick up supplies and get ready."

A faint blip on one of the scanners caught Franklin's eye. "Again?" He entered commands on the simple keyboard and started to analyze the sensor signal.

Franklin pounded on the console and flinched in pain. "We're being tracked. Kang must've put something on the outside of the vehicle."

"Damn," Daria said in frustration. "We're a couple of amateurs compared to him."

"How long will it take you to get things ready when we get back?"

"At least an hour or two."

"I thought you said everything was there."

"It is. But things have to be set up and prepared just right."

"I have a bad feeling we won't have that long. We're in a time machine, but don't have time for what you need to do."

Daria said, "We don't, but somebody else does." She manipulated the vehicle controls. "Can you tell if that tracking device can pick up our communications?"

"No way to know until we try."

"Do you know where it's at?"

"Back right side, opposite the hatch and the hardest to get to."

Daria next typed two messages on the communication console. "First, we need to find out if the communication's being monitored. Do you feel up to running around some?"

"As long as I don't have to bend over. My side's really starting to hurt."

"When we stop, jump out and take a quick shot at the tracker. If you hit it, great. Otherwise, just get back inside."

"Then what?"

"I've programmed a series of random stops around our home time, give or take a few weeks. You'll take one shot at the tracker each time and get inside."

"That'll tip Kang off we know about it."

"Exactly, and we'll look like we're trying to lose him. At the first stop, I'll send a fake message to see if it gets intercepted. If not, at one of the later, random stops, I'll send a message to Janos to have everything ready."

Franklin nodded. "And drop in after he has things ready."


Franklin's fast shot missed the tiny tracking device and ricocheted off the time-machine's hull. Even as he reached the hatch and started to close it, he saw another time machine appearing nearby. Franklin yelled as the door sealed, "Kang's already here!"

"Message sent."

Kang calmly said as the other machine vanished, "You can't get away."

Inside, Franklin went through the sensor readings of the tracker. "I don't think it picked up your message."

Daria glanced to the side at him. "Now for the goose chase."


Janos quickly responded to the low tone sounding in his earphone by going to his quarters. Inside, he checked the recorded message from his direct communication link to the Queen. "Oh dear."

Concerned, the middle-aged gentleman went straight to the well-secured inner laboratory of Castle Doom. Originally built by Victor Von Doom, Janos had never set foot inside during his many years of service. Setting aside his trepidation, the butler unlocked the door and entered through a heavy door that momentarily stuck before opening completely. Carrying the printed instructions, Janos faithfully gathered the arcane objects and supplies. Methodically, he placed them inside the inner lab exactly as instructed.


Franklin fell, motionless, with his legs still outside of the time machine. Daria climbed over her chair back and stood near the door. Dropping and spinning, she pointed both fists outside and fired. She saw one blast glance Kang and send him staggering back with a rifle still in his hands. She yanked hard on Franklin's shoulders and got his legs clear of the door. After slapping the closure switch, Daria reached over the pilots chair and started the pre-programmed travel.

"Franklin?" she asked while pulling his faceplate away.

Trying to joke, he said, "I don't think this suit likes me."

"What happened?"

"Kang shot me with something that completely shut down the suit. I mean everything is off."

"We need to get you out of it then."

"What about not having any extra clothes?"

"We'll throw a lab coat on you when we arrive. Until then, there's the cloak."

Familiar with the suit design, Daria hit the quick release controls and was able to quickly remove the armor.

After getting Franklin's arms free, Daria went back to the pilot's chair and tried to keep her attention on the controls while Franklin got out of the rest of the armor, though she couldn't resist a quick look.

Franklin wrapped the cloak around his waist. "Bet I look heroic now," he said as he sat down.

Daria saw the deep blue and purple bruising on Franklin's rib cage. "Oh, crap. Are you sure you're all right?"

"I said I was going to be colorful."

She pushed carefully on his ribs, causing Franklin to hiss in pain.

"I'd say more than colorful. You might have a cracked rib."

"Does it really matter right now?"

"No, not really. But you will get that looked at when we're done."

Daria stood up and moved back inside the machine. "I should get rid of my armor, too."

"What?"

Daria started to remove hers. "I can't afford to have it shut down during the incantation."


Janos completed the preparations and went to a communication console. He pressed one button and a red light began flashing in the room. He pressed a second and then said, "Evacuate the castle."

He stopped at the lab door and looked down the corridor before shaking his head. Janos let the door slide shut and sat down on a stool set against one wall of the room. He checked his watch and said, "Not too long. I should stay close in case Her Majesty needs something else."

Less than half an hour later, the time machine appeared in its storage area. Janos was startled to see his Queen wearing only a cloak pulled around her body, tied over one shoulder and held at the waist by her belt.

Running from the time machine to the prepared lab bench, Daria yelled to Franklin, "They're in that cabinet," and pointed to a storage unit.

The young man opened the cabinet and pulled a lab coat from a hanger, throwing it on as the cloak fell down. Stepping free of the loose cloth, he finished buttoning the coat.

Daria took her position by the bench and saw Janos. "I told you to evacuate."

"You did, Majesty. However, it felt like the wrong thing to do."

The sound of three distant explosions caused Daria to look up. "Those servo-guards aren't going to last long. Janos, use your better judgment and remember that I'll need your many skills after this. Get behind me."

"Yes, Majesty."

Franklin stepped beside Daria. "What do I need to do?"

She gave him a gold hoop about six inches across. "Hold this up and concentrate on protecting us."

"That's it?"

"That's a lot. You need to concentrate. Distraction will cause the protection to weaken or fail."

"Oh."

Talking softly in a tongue Franklin didn't recognize, Daria began the incantation. Her eyes closed and she continued without pause. Without error and without hesitation, she reached for each item on the table in turn. Her voice deepened and slowly built in volume as the spell grew.

The lab door opened and Franklin raised the golden ring, concentrating on keeping all harm away.

Kang's laughter filled the room. "Too late." He set the heavy rifle down. "And you've conveniently removed your armor to make killing you easier."

Daria's voice gained a darker, sinister sub-tone.

Kang raised his fist and a blast of energy came from it, only to splash against an invisible barrier inches from the lab bench Daria and Franklin were behind. Kang raised his other fist and fired again with the same result.

"Very well," Kang said. "I'll go around." He fired at the ceiling over Daria and his attack was again deflected.

Daria's eyes opened, revealing pupils reduced to pinpoints, as if staring at a bright light.

Kang shouted, "Is that who you want, Franklin? Is that what you want? Look at her! Look at her!"

Daria lifted a knife and placed the tip against her palm.

"Yes. Franklin, I'm going back to get you some help at the charity ball. You're never going to be happy without her. I'm going to fix that."

"Valeria? Don't do that just for me."

"I'm not. I liked her, too."

Franklin watched his sister step back and smile at him. Inside, he knew she was right. Wendy wasn't the one. He wouldn't be happy and neither would she. He wasn't trying to make things right this time; he was punishing himself for losing Daria.

He said, "I would've taken the hit for you if I'd had the chance. You are the only one for me. The only one."

Franklin brought his attention back almost in time for another blast from Kang. A sliver of energy cut through to lash across the back of Franklin's hand holding the hoop and Daria's arm.

Without breaking her trance, Daria smiled and glanced toward her wound. She lowered her free hand and touched the blade to the seeping blood and brought it back

Carefully keeping attention on Kang and Daria, Franklin reached over and grasped the blade. "You don't need to go on . Kang's lost."

The touch started Daria out of her casting trance. "What!" She oriented herself and said, "Franklin?"

Franklin stared at Kang. "I remember too much now. I know where my heart lay." Holding the golden ring high, Franklin stepped around the bench. "I won't father his lineage."

Kang stepped away. "You can't join your family with the Von Dooms!"

"That's interesting." Daria stepped around the other side of the lab bench. "You're not just worried about Franklin being your ancestor. You're worried about the two of us being together."

Daria stepped up beside Franklin and both advanced together, forcing Kang back.

Kang fired energy bolts at them to no effect. If anything, the protective shield over seemed to grow stronger.

Daria continued. "That's why you so desperately want me gone. It's not just that I'd prevent Franklin from fathering your line."

Kang was stopped by the lab wall. For the first time, Franklin and Daria saw fear on his face. Daria moved closer. "Something must happen in our future together that you don't want. That's why you're trying to prevent us from being together."

Daria wrapped her hand around Franklin's to hold the ring.

Kang's hands were pushed back so that he was unable to direct his weapons at them. Desperate, he said, 'Franklin, she's right. You must break away from her. The future of your entire family depends on it. Your grandfather made sure her grandmother was unable to properly gain control of Mephisto's power. Your father kept hers in check for years. The Von Dooms can't be trusted. They'll use anyone for power. Victor sold his true love's soul for power. Daria sent him to hell for power." Kang yelled, "Don't trust her!"

Franklin said, "I trust my heart, so I'll trust her."

The ring touched Kang's chest and the protective field closed around him like a shell. Immobile, his eyes darted from one to the other.

Daria and Franklin let go of the ring, leaving Kang like a statue. Franklin asked, "What now?"

"He has many crimes to account for," a voice said behind them. Franklin recognized it from his memory, turned and said, "Immortus."

A dark-haired man in green and blue with a gold starburst emblem was behind them. "This Kang will bother you no more. There is a prison in Limbo awaiting him."

Daria asked, "How can we be sure? It's taken all our effort, and more than our share of luck, to capture him."

Immortus said, "Look at him. Is that the face of a wretch I'd release?"

Daria looked and saw unabashed rage and hate on Kang's face.

Immortus said, "I'm his greatest enemy and he mine. There will be no peace until all the splintered versions of Kang are dealt with."

The tall being bowed his head and vanished, along with Kang.

Franklin looked in greater surprise at the woman standing behind where Immortus had been. "Valeria?"

His now older sister said, "You made sure I had life, now I've made sure you have happiness."

"So, you know more of our future?"

"I've peeked. And no, I won't tell you, except that you'll have fun."

Daria simply said, "Thank you."

Valeria winked. "Anytime, Triple-D." She spun, leapt into the air like a ballerina and vanished.

Janos stepped out from behind the lab bench. "You two should have those cuts tended to. It's a good thing I stayed around."

"What would I do without you, Janos?" Daria asked warmly.

"Probably be very messy, Your Majesty. Speaking of which, I'd suggest changing into more appropriate attire before calling the castle staff back. They still have a lot of work to do before tomorrow's anniversary celebration."

Daria looked at Franklin's cut right hand and the similar scars on her own. "Can you believe it slipped my mind?"

Janos smiled. "You have had a few things to distract your attention as of late, Your Majesty."


During the anniversary reception, Daria watched the gathered crowd. Her dad was in an animated conversation with Ben. Ben's upward glare indicated it was probably about Jake's father, Mad Dog. Nearby, Dr. Strange, watched with amusement. Susan and Helen stood together, talking over glasses of wine. Johnny chatted with his good friend, Peter, and Peter's wife, Mary Jane. Daria remembered them from several visits to the Richards and didn't mind extending the invitation at Johnny's request.

Across the room, Daria spotted Quinn dancing with a handsome young man. Daria smiled and thought, as much as I know you'd love to be known as Princess Quinn, I hope you never have to learn that you are. Father knew what he was doing by keeping our existence secret. Please keep some innocence for both of us.

"So, where's Mr. Wonderful?" Jane asked, coming up from the side.

"He's rounding up his sister."

"Found out about the betting pool she's trying to start?"

"Valeria's worse than you ever were."

"I knew better than to bet real money on you getting together with Trent."

Franklin arrived with Valeria with him. He said, "Found her."

Daria quietly said, "Can you promise to keep completely quiet about something? Absolutely quiet."

Sensing Daria's mood, Valeria nodded. "Yes. I promise."

"Good." Daria pressed a ribboned medal into Valeria's hand. "Sometimes, the gratitude for another's courage and generosity cannot be openly acknowledged. But that doesn't mean it's not honestly felt." Daria hugged Valeria close and whispered, "Thank you, for everything."

Cheeks flushed pink, Valeria said, "Thank you, Daria." The twinkle returned to her eye and she looked at Franklin and then Daria, "So, when are you two getting hitched?


Thanks to Kristen Bealer, Brother Grimace and Ipswichfan for beta reading.

January-February 2006