Chapter 5: A new Fantastic Four?

Johnny paced back and forth. Ben Grimm stood behind the man once known as Ant-man, Henry Pym. The former Avenger had been called in immediately. Hank helped Reed build many of these devices.

"Any luck?" Ben asked.

Hank shook his head, "Reed has modified many of these controls. It will take time."

Johnny slammed his hands onto the table, "We don't have time!" Ben told his friend to go calm down. Johnny needed to act, not think. He wanted to save his sister and his brother-in-law. The Human Torch wasn't known for bright ideas, but a light went off in his head. He raced to Reed's main lab.

Ben wanted to follow, but he remained with Pym. An hour past. Ben was the only one with ample experience in the Negative Zone, and he knew that meant that two weeks had past inside the zone. He dared not think about his teammate's fates. As if on cue, the beacon on Sue's tracer blipped onto the screen. "FOUND HER!" Pym shouted. "Or should I say she found us! She turned on her beacon!"

Ben was confused. Reed had told him their beacons were useless in the Negative Zone. 'Better not look a gift horse in the mouth'.

Ben Grimm suited up to enter the distortion area. He was shocked when Hank Pym joined him. "Where are you going?"

"These are my friends too Ben, I'm coming". Hank stripped off his suit to reveal his old red Avengers outfit. "For now, you can call me Goliath again!"

Ben Grimm smiled. He looked back towards the lab, "Hey where's matchstick?"

The fiery form of the Human Torch swirled into the lab."Right here," Johnny dropped down next to Ben", and I brought more reinforcements!"

Hank and Ben watched as the fresh-faced young Crystal entered behind Johnny. Another former Avenger, she wore her yellow Inhumans outfit. "Hey boys!" Crystal was happy to see her friends, "I here there is a rescue mission going on!"

"You shouldn't be here", Ben was refereeing to the Inhumans recent fall out with Earth.

Crystal gave Ben a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "I snuck out. But if Sue and Reed are in danger, it's worth the risk." They all knew Blackbolt would not be pleased should he find out, but they needed her.

Johnny helped Crystal into her gear; he then turned to Hank, "Ready Doc?"

The controls were different now, but Hank was sure he had them down. "Ready as we will be!"

Ben looked over the group and laughed, "Looks like there is a new Fantastic Four...for now!" With that, Hank Pym opened the distortion area, and the four heroes entered the Negative Zone.

Next Issue: Will the New Fantastic Four save Reed and Sue in time. Or is it already to late for one of them?