I own it not
Johnny could barely stand for ten minutes before falling flat on his face and Reed wanted him to supernova. He hadn't even tried to flame on since Doom. He did occasionally catch things on fire, but that wasn't intentional.
And Reed wanted him to supernova?
He tried. His entire body was on fire, and it actually felt good. Like greeting an old friend. Because the fire talked to Johnny. It whispered about its history, where it came from, how strong it was. The fire on his body was talking to him now, but the words weren't helpful.
Johnny could tell by Reed's pleased expression that things were under control. As soon as they weren't under control, Ben would pull the plug.
"One thousand degrees!" Susan called, watching the computer printout.
Johnny was still going, but it was becoming harder. A dull ache started in his chest, like he'd been sucker-punched by a teenager.
"One thousand five hundred!"
It was hard to breathe. Johnny's breaths were coming out as short, painful gasps. His lungs seemed to be engulfed in the same fire that surrounded the rest of his body.
Susan kept spitting out numbers. Johnny didn't really hear her, he wanted this to end. For the test to be over.
Only one thing kept him going, the thought that if the test worked, everything would be back to normal, and he'd kick Doom's ass from here to Iceland.
Ben watched Johnny from the other side of the glass. He could see the young man's face start to twist in pain. This test was hurting him badly. Ben wanted to call the whole thing off, wait another week.
But what if things got worse in a week?
So Ben said nothing. If the Kid thought he couldn't take it, he'd say so.
Right?
The temperature was high. Supernova wasn't far off, now.
The glass box was suddenly filled with a dazzling white light so bright that Ben closed his eyes tight. Even through the lids he could see the light intensify to a point where Ben thought it could go no brighter.
Then it cut out, and all the power in Manhattan went with it.
And lying on the floor in the container, face down was Johnny Storm, his clothes burned, his skin, pale, his body covered in sweat.
And Ben couldn't be sure, but he thought there was a smile on the young man's face.
Yeah, so...Review?