Remnant's Mightiest Heroes!
Chapter 16: Seeing the Light
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New York
Ruby groaned as she opened her eyes. Blinking, she sits upright as her vision became clear. She was sitting on a table in a white hospital gown with instruments hanging over her head. The room she is in was white with blue accents. On another table, there are beakers filled with liquids, scientific tools, and a pair of goggles. From the aesthetic of the equipment, she wasn't in the medical bay of the SHIELD Helicarrier or Avengers Mansion. She was somewhere else.
"Where am I?" Ruby asked herself.
"You're not in the afterlife, that's for sure."
Ruby turned her head to see Blade leaning his back against the wall. The vampire hunter didn't look worse for wear despite nearly being killed. It was then she noticed something around his shoulders. She realized it was the plant thing that the Colonel wore.
"Is that the Man-Thing?" Ruby asked. Now that she got a closer look, she could see the familiar facial markings of the Man-Thing. Red eyes looked at her with curiosity.
"Nope. The Colonel called him the Boy-Thing," Blade said. "Figured I could use him now that the Colonel isn't."
"The Colonel…" Ruby whispered. "What happened to him? And where are my friends?"
"You tell me," Blade said. "What is the last thing you remember?"
Ruby scrunched up her face in concentration. "I remember the prison. We encountered the Legion of the Unliving and split up to search for my friends. We found them held hostage by the Shadow Colonel. We fought, and he was going to kill you and then…nothing. I blacked out."
"Hmm," Blade muttered. "You still have your memory. But you don't remember what you did?"
"Huh?" Ruby was confused.
"Back at the prison. You did something with your eyes. Some kind of light was emitted from your eyes. Whatever it did, it turned most of the vampires into ash and the rest into stone. Including the Colonel."
"I did…what?" Ruby didn't understand. Beams of white from her eyes.
"I'm going to assume that you have no idea that you had that ability?" Blade asked. Ruby slowly shook her head. "Great. Just what we needed."
"What about my friends?" Ruby pressed, more concerned about her friends than some mysterious power she might have. "Are they alright?"
"They're alright. After the light show you pulled, the Legion went running. Without the big dogs, suppressing the vampires was easy. Then things got difficult when the Winter Guard showed up. Thanks to Reyes, we were able to escape. Once we got away, we did a medical check."
Blade traced a finger on his arm. "Red Widow was a nasty piece of work. You guys are lucky that you have that aura."
"It's been helpful to my people," Ruby said. She figured that's why she wasn't at a hospital. "It heals us as well as protects us. But why am I here instead of Avengers Mansion? How long was I out?"
"Two weeks tops."
"Two weeks?!" Ruby yelped. Blade stared at her blankly. Then, to his surprise, she started crying hysterically.
"Something wrong?" Blade asked concern edged in his voice. "Are you hurt somewhere?"
"Because that means I missed Halloween!" Ruby bawled. "We never had a holiday where we go out for candy back on Remnant! I was looking forward to my first Halloween!"
Blade stared at her. He groaned before pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of all the things I have to deal with…Halloween is tomorrow!"
"Huh?" Ruby stopped crying and looked at him.
"Halloween is tomorrow," Blade repeated soothingly. "You woke up the day before. Just in time to get a last-minute costume, maybe a pumpkin pail, and a large bag of candy."
"Really!" Ruby smiled brightly. "That's great!"
Blade sighed. It was tough dealing with a bunch of rowdy kids, which led to the hostages. At least he was able to get this kid bright again.
"You still haven't told me why I'm here," Ruby said, going back to her previous question. "Plus, why aren't you with the others?"
"You're here for the other's own safety," Blade said in a serious expression. "Plus, we need to figure out what happened with your eyes. I'm here for your own protection. Never leave your side during your coma."
"Why?"
"Because you're marked, kid."
"What do you mean?" Ruby checked herself as if to see anything her aura didn't heal. "I don't see any injuries on me."
"You don't understand. Permanently marked," Blade pointed in her face. "That hood is the last thing you'll ever wear marked. You're a dead girl marked."
Ruby paled at the last thing he said. "What?"
"The Legion of the Unliving saw what you did back in Russia and let it slip among the underworld that you possess a power that can kill a vampire with a single glance. That the light bender amulets they were promised will no longer protect them from the sun. A light they claimed to be the light of the lord almighty. Now, you have an entire planet of vampires dedicated to your demise."
If Ruby wasn't scared before, she was definitely now. "But I haven't done anything to them! I mean, I went after the Shadow Colonel and his Legion, but they kidnapped my friends!"
"They won't care," Blade rebuffed. "The Legion has already demonized you to the rest of their kind while you slept. I won't be surprised that Dracula has already come to get you."
Ruby looked as if the boogeyman was going to show up. She may have saved her friends, but she already made enemies of an undead race. All because of her eyes.
Ruby took deep breaths to calm herself. She berated herself for freaking out. She was a huntress. Someone who hunts the Grimm back on her home.
Blade seemed to have noticed her resolve.
"Good. You're going to need that." Then, he turned and began walking to a set of doors.
"Where are you going?"
"To go hunting. Last I checked, you didn't need me to wipe your bottom during the mission. I'm sure you're going to be fine."
"Are you going to kill all of them?" Ruby asked. Blade stopped walking, his back to her. "Is it really necessary? I mean, wouldn't it be better if we give them serums based on the ones you used to satisfy your hunger? What if there is a cure for vampirism?
"It's a good thing to have, won't it," Blade said. "I already know several people who are working on it. One of them is the King of Wakanda. But not everybody will deserve it, kid. Certainly not the Colonel. Hell, not me either. It's better if I am the only monster on this planet."
"That's not true!" Ruby stood upright. "You may not show it, but I know that you care about people! You went to such lengths to save my friends. I grew up on a planet of monsters, and last I check, that's not what a monster does."
Blade seemed to have registered her words but gave no reply. Then, he proceeds to the doors. They opened to let him out. It also lets in a very familiar armored Avenger.
"So, sleeping beauty is finally awake," Tony waves as the door closes. In his hand, he held a box. "I got some doughnuts. You hungry?"
"Tony?" Ruby said. "What are you doing here?"
"The same reason as Blade," Tony answered. "We were cracking down the Lethal Legion in San Francisco when we got word of your mission in Russia. Cap sent me to check on you guys. I stopped by the mansion and got the full story out of your friends. Boy… and we thought the Russians hated us before. Now they got a prison full of vampires which they blame us."
"I'm sorry," Ruby apologized. "That shouldn't have happened. I accept full responsibility for my teammate's actions."
"Don't be," Tony waved off her apology. "Teenage rebellion has to be expected from people your age. Though cap gave a stern talking to when he got back to the mansion. So, I hear you got some fancy eye beams. Are you sure that you're not Scott Summers? I miss that guy."
"Scott Summers?" Ruby was confused.
"One of the X-Men. Like the others, he disappeared," Tony explained with a frown. "Anyway, back to the subject. Are you sure you haven't manifested these abilities before?"
"N-no…" Ruby said. "Like I told Blade, I don't know how I did it. Heck, I didn't even know I could do that!"
"Hmm…" Tony rubbed his chin. "I believe you kid. But we can't have something like this occurring again. That's what we're here to find out. Luckily, I've assembled two of the finest minds here. Including myself. In fact, ever since he heard about your coma, he's been insistent on helping out."
"Really? Who?" Ruby wondered who would want to see her.
"He should be coming in right about…" Tony held his wrist up to point to an air watch. He kept dragging the sentence until the doors opened again. "Now."
At that moment, the doors opened, and another person had entered the room, fixing a white lab coat. This is a middle-aged man with brown hair with white at his temples and a beard. He wore a black-and-blue suit with the number four centered on his chest. Ruby recognized that symbol and felt her jaw fall to the ground as he walked up to them.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Rose," The man greeted. "My name is Dr. Reed Richards, Ph.D. I'm—"
"Mr. Fantastic!" Ruby shouted in awe. "Leader of the Fantastic Four and founder of the Future Foundation! Wait…does this mean I'm in your headquarters? The Baxter Building? That would explain the lab."
Reed just stared at her. Tony snickered at this reaction. He regained his composure and coughed into his hand.
"You've done your homework I see."
"Of course. The Fantastic Four are the world's greatest heroes!" Ruby cheered. When she noticed Tony's look of mock hurt, she amended, "But not that you're better than Earth's mightiest heroes. The Avengers are still cool."
"That's better…I think," Tony said, a little miffed. Ruby could tell that he was just being playful. "Nice to take your time Richards. What took you so long?"
"I was reviewing Ms. Rose's file that SHIELD lent me," Reed said. A holographic screen next to him displayed the file in question. "I'm intrigued to be given the chance to study her aura close hand. Especially her molecular dispersion ability."
"My…what?" Ruby was confused.
"Your semblance," Reed clarified. "Your semblance allows you to deconstruct yourself at a molecular level and reconstruct at a location of your choosing. By some extension, allows you to move at high-speed when you are in swarm mode. I'm surprised that it takes the form of rose petals."
"Oh…" Ruby muttered. "I didn't think of my semblance like that."
"Bruce and I might've mentioned it to you," Tony drawled. "Several times, if I may add."
"What? When?" Ruby clearly didn't remember them telling her that. Then again…back at Bootcamp, they did seem to have told her about her semblance. But she was too preoccupied with something to even notice.
"We'll discuss it later," Reed said, getting back to the matter at hand. "Now Ruby, I'm going to need you to lie down again. I couldn't do this without you conscious."
Ruby nodded and lied down. As Reed pulled up a scanner attached to the table. He pressed a button, and it slowly began to scan her from head to toe. The girl felt a tingling sensation from where the light touched her. Then it stopped.
"I've gotten your readings," Reed said, pointing to a big screen monitor. "We should be seeing them onscreen in about—"
"JOHNNY!"
A loud voice nearly made Reed stumble in his words. It sounded like it came from below. Ruby nearly jumped off the table she sat on from. At the sound, Reed pinched the bridge of his nose. Tony looked down at the floor and back at Reed.
"You can hear him all the way from up here?"
"Apparently. Just great…what did he do this time?"
They had been waiting to get the call.
Ever since they got back, the Avengers got back from San Francisco. They all got chewed out by Captain America for doing something so reckless and endangering the lives of their teammates. Yang was already depressed before stepping up to take the fall. She said she was the one who dragged everybody into the mission and got them kidnapped. Nobody involved would let her. They all volunteered, and they were responsible as well. They know why she is doing this.
She blamed herself for getting her sister into that coma. All because of some mysterious thing she did with her eyes. Now every vampire is out to get her sister.
Ever since then, she rarely spoke to anyone. While waiting for Ruby to wake up, the blonde had been going down to the HARM room taking out her frustration on holographic vampires. Not even Blake was able to get her out of there.
"I'm fine," Yang would simply reply and go back to punching vampires.
This kept going until Robbie got a call from Blade that Ruby woke up and Iron Man wanted them there. When she heard those words, Yang was eager to go. Jaune and his team couldn't go because they had to make preparations for that 'event'. Robbie offered them a ride in his car to the place where Ruby is. And so, they are cruising down the streets of New York. Weiss took the passenger seat up front while Yang and Blake took the back. The radio played Ghost Riders in the Sky.
"Can this thing go any faster?" Yang grumbled.
"This is fast as it goes, chica," Robbie replied. "You can blame traffic and I don't intend on blowing my cover unless necessary."
"I don't care. Can you just get us there?"
"Yang," Blake admonished. "Look, I get that you are upset but you need to—"
"Don't tell me to calm down!" Yang shouted, her eyes turning red. At this point, Robbie slammed on the brakes. Then, his head caught fire as he rammed it into the dashboard. Yang was now staring face to face with the upside-down skull of the Ghost Rider.
"Look, chica, I get it. You got your sister into a mess and you blame yourself for what happened. But if you keep stewing about it, you will just keep stewing until you lash out. Just like now. Trust me, I know that feeling well. That does NOT however give you the right to be a polla to everyone around you! So, you either calm down now, or I'm turning this car around and going straight to Antarctica just to dump you off there! How does, that sound?!"
Yang's red eyes glared into the fiery ones of the Ghost Rider. Slowly, her eyes turned to lilac and she backed down.
"I'm sorry," Yang apologized. Weiss and Blake seem to accept this apology. Robbie as well as he returned to normal. "That aside, how are you doing that?"
"One of the perks of being a Ghost Rider," Robbie explains as he resumes driving. They drove on in silence. They glanced at Robbie as if waiting for him to elaborate. It was Weiss who finally asked it.
"So, Mr. Reyes…"
"I told you, Weiss, call me Robbie. I've never been a mister."
"Okay. I'm curious about your…origin story," Weiss said. "Brooks said that you are the host of a Spirit of Vengeance?"
"Yeah! I love what you did to the HELLicarrier," Yang said. Blake and Weiss shot a look at Yang. They clearly didn't like that kind of joke. "I'd do anything for a superpower like that. So how did you get it?"
"I made a deal with the devil," Robbie said darkly. The Huntresses-in-training flinched at the look from the rear-view mirror. Briefly, Robbie's eyes glowed like hot embers. Eventually, the fire in his eyes died out and he focused on the road. They drove on in silence for a long time.
"You made a deal with the devil?" Blake asked softly. Robbie sighed.
"Might as well tell you since we're going to be driving for a while," Robbie took a deep breath. "I was raised in Los Angeles by my uncle Eli Morrow and my younger brother Gabe. The neighborhood was plagued with gangs and corruption, making life difficult for us. It got even more difficult when Uncle Eli died. I had to drop out of school in eleventh grade and took a job as a mechanic."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Yang said. "I and my sister had an uncle that we love as much as our father."
"I'm glad to hear that," Robbie said with a scowl. Briefly, his eyes flared up again. "Because mine was a Satanic serial killer who murdered and dismembered at least thirty-seven people in rituals before getting fatally shot by the police in 1999. What's more, he never gave a shit about us."
"What?!" Blake yelped. The others reacted in horror at what they had just learned. When they got back, everybody had hit the library or the internet and did some research. They knew that the devil Robbie was referring to is THE devil. It became clear that Robbie may have made an actual deal with the devil. "Why would anybody want to worship the devil?"
"Don't ask me," Robbie said. "It's pretty much asking why they sell their souls just to make their lives feel better. The devil knows and says what they want to hear so they can get dragged to hell. Trust me, I know because I've been there."
"You have?" Yang asked.
"When I was under the Colonel's control, my spirit was hanging out in hell."
"I see…" Blake said. "If I may ask…what is hell like?"
"Like everybody's greatest fears come to life. Filled to the brim with the foulest creatures and swamps of rotting flesh. Every night, you get torn to shreds."
Blake paled even more as she heard this. She hugged her sides tightly and shivered with fear. Yang glanced at her partner in the concern.
"So, what did you do to get out of dodge?" Yang asked. "With a neighborhood like that, you must've been eager to get out of there."
"You're right," Robbie said, agreeing to the change of subject. "I wanted to enter a street race to earn fifty thousand dollars. That money would be enough to get me and Gabe out of there. I didn't have a car on me, so I stole Uncle Eli's car."
"This was his car?" Weiss asked. Normally, she would've condemned theft, but since this belonged to a Satanic criminal, she could bite her tongue. Besides, it couldn't have been in better hands.
"Yep. Right as I was pushing the car out of the drive, I was caught by Gabe. Knowing that I was caught, I invited him to join me for the race and we went cruising around the neighborhood. Gabe told me that I wasn't allowed to help him with his homework, and I told him I only help him fail if I tried."
Robbie chuckled at the thought. The girls smiled at the brotherly love Robbie showed. Weiss felt it was better than her relationship with her brother. It almost made her jealous.
"Of course," Robbie's voice became hollow. "That was the biggest mistake I would make in my life."
The girls sensed that they are reaching the darkest part of the story. Respectfully, they kept silent and let him continue. Yang suddenly felt that Robbie is going to tell a similar experience she is going through.
"We were driving around, joking and teasing each other, when a group of cars pulled up in front of our car. My first thought was that they're cops, but it turned out they were the Fith Street Locos. One of the criminal gangs of Los Angeles. When I honked my horn to get them to move out of the way, one of them threw a molotov cocktail at us. It hit the hood of the car and set it aflame. I put the car in reverse and used my driving skills to escape them. However, they caught up with us and fired at us, causing us to crash. The injuries that day caused Gabe to lose the ability to walk, and me to fly out covered in bullet wounds. As I was falling through the air, my last thoughts were pleading to God, to the universe, to anyone who would listen, that Gabe be spared. I swore that I would give anything to save him. It was my fault that he got caught up in that mess!"
As things were getting emotional, Robbie pulled up to a parking space and stopped. The girls couldn't help but feel sorry for the man. It was obvious that this incident haunts him to this very day. From the corner of his eye, they could see a tear beginning to form.
"What happened next?" Weiss asked softly as she could. Robbie sniffed and wiped his face with the arm sleeve of his leather jacket. He recomposed himself and resumed driving.
"I hit the street hard and died upon impact, there was nothing, there's just darkness. Then I heard a voice, asking me if I wanted a second chance, did I want to punish those who hurt my brother, did I want to avenge my own death. I answered yes, more than anything, yes. I was alive again, and there was someone there when I came to. But it wasn't a Good Samaritan…"
He stopped talking for a moment.
"It was the devil," Blake guessed.
"Yep. He possessed my body and granted me the power of a Ghost Rider. With this power, I hunted down and killed every last one of the Fifth Street Locos. The people who hurt me and my brother."
"You…killed them?" Blake asked. She was reminded about how Adam sought to kill humans he holds responsible for the treatment of the Faunus. But he didn't care about the innocence of humans. He killed out of spite.
"I only kill those who deserve it. It's vengeance, chica," Robbie said to their shock. "Anything else is mindless slaughter. I hated killing as much as the next guy, but the spirit inside me… craves vengeance. I only unleashed it upon those who had it coming. Corrupt cops, corrupt councilmen, pedophile teachers, terrorists, gangbangers, you name it. This activity made me a feared symbol in Los Angeles. My story was told, and my image is sprayed on walls."
"Okay, I get the whole 'they had it coming', but that still doesn't give you the right to kill them!" Yang argued.
"I agree, but there was nothing I can do at the time," Robbie said. "Eventually, I got out of the vigilante thing and decided to use my powers to win street races. This allowed me to work less and spend more time with Gabe. Of course, this also caught the attention of someone else. Another Ghost Rider."
"There's another Ghost Rider?" Weiss asked.
"Yep. A former motorcycle stuntman by the name of Johnny Blaze. He came into town to confront me and it was there that I learned that I wasn't possessed by a Spirit of Vengeance. I was possessed by the spirit of my uncle…Eli Morrow."
"Your uncle again?" Yang asked, not liking where this was going.
"Turned out his spirit was inside the hell charger which I took. He manipulated me into killing those responsible for his death by feeding my lust for vengeance. When I learned this, I fought to suppress him, and it was difficult. Fortunately, Blaze was able to pull him out of me and send him straight to hell where he belonged."
"If he's pulled to hell, then how are you still in possession of your powers?" Weiss asked.
"Turned out, he wasn't the source of my powers," Robbie said. "Don't ask, I only know that much. Even without him, I was still dangerous to everyone around me. Which reminds me…"
Robbie came to a traffic light that turned red. He turned his head to look at the girls in the eye. His face was regretful.
"I'm sorry…"
The girls didn't know what he was talking about. Then they realized he was referring to that night back in the warehouse. Back when the Colonel had put him under control and made him attack them.
"Robbie, it wasn't your fault," Yang assured. "The Colonel put you under some kind of spell."
"I was talking about Blake," Robbie corrected. Blake's ears perked up in surprise. "I almost put her under the penance stare."
"The Penance Stare?"
"It's a Spirit of Vengeance's most powerful weapon. It usually requires me to lock eyes with a victim at close range. The Stare causes anyone to feel all the pain they have caused others, emotionally and physically, leaving them in a catatonic state if they've caused enough pain. Sometimes, they can die."
The three Remnantians stared at him in shock. They looked at Blake. Back then, she worked for the terrorist organization, the White Fang. Ironically, it's also the name of a novel here on Earth. The cat Faunus reached up to where her eyes are with shaking fingers.
"In other words, you make them experience hell," Yang surmised.
"That's one way of putting it, chica" Robbie said. The light turned green and he resumed driving. Blake hugged herself, her eyes wide with fear. Her friends noticed this.
"Blake, are you okay?" Yang asked in concern.
"I am…" Blake said. When she saw their 'I don't believe you' look, she corrected herself. "It's just…is there any hope for me?"
"What are you saying?" Weiss asked.
"Think about it. The Devil is real and there is an afterlife. Heaven and Hell. One where the good go to while the other is where the bad. Does this mean that I'm going to hell?"
"Of course not," Weiss snapped. "I can already think of several people who deserve to go to hell! My father is one of them! In fact, that is exactly what he should do!"
Weiss spoke with enrage passion. Nobody could blame her for the abuse that she suffered from Jacques Schnee. Then it fell as she looked to Robbie who kept his eyes on the road.
"Wait…is that a sin?"
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For, in the same way, you judge others, you will be judged, and with measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7: 1-2."
"Oh, okay," Weiss looked down. "But that's not the point. You can't just say that you'll go to hell."
"She's right Blake," Yang said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "
"But what if it doesn't matter?" Blake asked. "What if my past outweighs any good that I've done. For all I know, I'm already doomed to damnation. Where my soul will spend an eternity burning."
Then, the car stopped so suddenly that the girls nearly fell forward. Robbie turned in the driver's seat and looked at Blake dead in the eye.
"Don't sell yourself short, Blake," Robbie said. "Just like everyone on this planet, you have a chance to avoid damnation. So, don't talk as if you don't have a chance of a better life. I know it's ironic coming from me, who made a deal with the devil. Even if it was my estúpido of an uncle. But it's true."
"But what am I supposed to do?" Blake asked. Robbie didn't say anything for a moment. His fingers tapping the wheel of the hell charger.
"You know, everyone once kept telling me that I'm the worst Ghost Rider that's ever lived. Like that's supposed to be some kinda insult."
"What is that supposed to—" Blake began until Robbie held up a finger.
"I'm not done, chica. What the hell have the Ghost Riders ever done? Except bring misery to themselves and everyone they love. Except die alone or go batshit crazy. Well, that's not me. That's not how I'm going out. To hell with being a Spirit of Vengeance. I'm an Avenger. I'll be damned if I'm losing this race and I'll be damned twice if I let you lose yours."
They stared at each other for a long time. Robbie had a serious look on his face as he said those words. Somehow, Blake felt relieved at those words.
"Speaking from being a street racer?" Blake asked.
"Yep," Robbie said.
"It's a nice chat and all but shouldn't we be getting to our destination?" Weiss asked.
"We've actually arrived," Robbie said. "Take a step outside and look."
The three girls are surprised at this. Carefully, they stepped out of the Hell Charger. Yang had to climb over the seats to avoid becoming street pizza. Weiss had to be extra careful on her end. They stood on the sidewalk and looked up at the building. Above, they could see thirty-five more floors. Emblazoned on the side is a blue four.
"Well, what do you know, we've arrived," Yang said. She closed the door and turned back to Robbie, who had his window down. "The Baxter Building. Headquarters of the Fantastic Four. Thanks for the ride Robbie and…thanks for the lesson. I'm sorry about your brother."
"Your welcome Yang," Robbie replied. "Let me know if the kid is alright."
"I will."
Unbeknownst to them, they were being watched from a far-off place. Sitting on a black throne, a man with a flaming skull for a head watched them. On his head, is a flaming crown icon. It is a thirty-story building with glass windows.
"Heh. See you soon, Robbie," He spoke. "I'll see you when you come home."
The Remnantian girls stepped inside the Baxter Building and walked to the front desk. A man with greying hair was fast asleep at the reception desk. When Weiss rang the bell, he shot off awake.
"Hello," The receptionist greeted. "Welcome to the Baxter Building. How can I help you?"
"Yes. We're here to see Susan Richards, she's expecting us," Weiss said. The receptionist scowled at the mention of the name. Weiss noticed this. "Is there a problem?"
"No, it's no problem," The receptionist said, shaking his head. "I'll let her know you're here. Please wait here."
The Reception reached for a phone and dialed some numbers. The three Remnantians took a step back. As they waited, Weiss went over what she knew about the Fantastic Four. They were a team of scientific explorers led by aeronautical engineer Reed Richards. From what she read about him, he is a child prodigy with a special aptitude in mathematics, physics, and mechanics. This allowed him to take college-level courses, attend two institutes, two universities, and obtain four degrees all before he turned eighteen.
If Weiss didn't know any better, he had to be one of the most, if not the greatest, brilliant minds of Earth.
Then he created a hyperdrive that would give a ship the capability to travel to another star system. Unfortunately, his financiers were losing interest and planned to pull his funding. Desperate to avoid bankruptcy, he made an unauthorized test flight using an experimental rocket named Marvel-1 equipped with a prototype hyperdrive. His girlfriend-later-wife, Susan, and her younger brother Johnny Storm insisted on coming with him. Ben Grimm, an old friend of Reed's, was convinced to pilot into space.
Once in space, fate struck. Their rocket was bombarded by a wave of cosmic radiation that sent them crashing back to Earth. When they emerged, they discovered that the radiation mutated their bodies and had given them remarkable powers. From then on, all four of them decided to use their powers to better humanity. And so, the Fantastic Four was born. From what she read about their exploits, they're rather explorers than superheroes.
If they were born on Remnant, Weiss had no doubt be its greatest Huntsmen team.
The elevator dinged opened. Stepping out is a blonde woman wearing a black suit outlined with blue. On her chest is the same four on the Baxter Building.
"Susan Richards?" Weiss asked.
"You must be Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long," Susan greeted with a small smile. She shook their hands in turn. "Welcome to the Baxter Building."
"We've heard it from the guy over there," Yang said, jerking her thumb towards the receptionist who once again is sleeping. "Nice to hear it from the Invisible Woman."
"We were expecting you. This way please," Susan said. She led them into the elevator. When all of them are inside, the doors are closed. Susan pressed a button for the thirty-third floor. Apparently, there was something special about it because a female voice spoke.
"Voice recognition required."
"Susan Richards," Susan spoke. "and guests."
"Voice recognition confirmed. Commencing Bioscan," Immediately, light shot out from a scanner and scanned them each in turn. "Scan complete. Susan Storm and Guests. Access granted."
The elevator begins to ascend. While they waited for their floor, they engaged in a conversation.
"This might come off as an odd question, but do you guys own the place?" Yang asked. Susan nodded.
"We only owned the upper five floors at first," Susan explained. "It wasn't until supervillains began to frequently attack this place. The incidents got to the point where we were almost evicted, no insurance companies will sign any contracts and the fact that tenants nearly died. Eventually, we bought the building. Of course, that didn't stop the attacks from happening."
"Yeesh," Yang winced. "I take it the rest of the tenants aren't too happy about that."
"Yep," Susan said with a small pop. "They believed that we were a magnet for trouble, but there really is nothing we can do about it. Reed tries to make up for this by improving security, fortifying the building, everything. Anything that gets damage, we pay for it."
"How do you pay for it?" Weiss asked.
"Reed has some patents for his inventions that we use for funding. We even gave the tenants a discount on the lease. Of course, the cost of the damage is still ridiculously expensive. I'm glad that we haven't had a supervillain attack us after the Raft Breakout. This is why you guys are lucky."
"About what?"
"You have your identities kept secret," Susan explained. "That kind of anonymity is what protects you from something like this."
"Believe me, we plan to keep it that way," Blake said with a shudder. "There are a lot of people that I would prefer not knowing who I am."
"I know one in particular," Susan said darkly. Then, something at her side rang. She pulled out a phone and put it to her ear.
"Reed? Yes, I've just met with our guests…" Susan speaks to her phone. Then, she stopped talking. Her face scrunched into a frown. She sighed. "Again? Fine…I'll check it out."
"Something wrong?" Weiss asked.
"Yep," Susan said with a small pop at the end. "We're going to have to make a quick stop to the thirty-first floor."
"What happened?"
"That's what I want to know," Susan replied as she pressed the button for the designated floor. The elevator stopped the doors open. From here they heard the sounds of raised voices. Shaking her head, Susan walked out towards the hallway. The girls looked at each other. She didn't tell them whether or not to stay in the elevator. They felt like this would be a private matter.
"We might as well go see," Yang declared, stepping off the elevator.
"Besides, the elevator won't work unless she uses it. Plus, some people need to use it."
"Fair point," Weiss said. They stepped off the elevator and followed after the Invisible Woman. The sound of the voices grew louder as they drew near the source. They found themselves at what can be described as the living quarters. Susan stood between a man whose features resembled hers and a giant orange…thing. Both of them wore the same uniform as Susan, though the rocky guy wore shorts.
"I'm going to show you a real rockslide this time, matchstick!" The rock giant shouted in a gravelly voice at the man.
"Come on! How can I resist?" The man defended with an unrepentant grin. "Besides, the
"Why you—" The rock giant moved forward before slamming into an invisible wall. The men looked at Susan, who held out a hand. She had a look of disappointment on her face.
"Suzy!"
"Hey, sis," the man greeted. He flinched at the glower she gave him.
"What did you do this time Johnny?" Susan demanded. Johnny held up his hands in mock astonishment.
"What, is it the theme of this team? When in doubt blame Johnny!"
"Don't act so innocent! Take a look at what he did, Suzy!" The rock giant shouted. He bared his orange chest for Susan to see. A blue '4' had been spray painted. Susan traced the paint with a finger. She turned to Johnny.
"Is this permanent?"
"Nope. It should wash off in an hour…probably…"
"Johnny, Ben isn't a wall for you to spray paint on," Susan scolded. "If you want to do some street art, there is plenty of walls to go around in New York."
"Got it," Johnny ruffled the back of his head. The girls weren't convinced that he actually meant it.
"Ben," Susan turned to the rock giant. "I get it. I'm fed up with Johnny's antics like you are. But Reed and I can't leave you two alone for more than four minutes before you start acting like children. So please act your age!"
"He started it," Ben protested.
"Did not!"
They were about to go at each other until they are encased into bubble force-fields. Everyone turned to see Susan holding both her hands out.
"When I lower the force-fields, you two are going to shake hands and makeup," Susan said, calmly as she could. "Nobody is getting beaten up. Got it?"
"That's great. Now we have to find nobody," Johnny quipped.
"For once, that was a good one, flamebrain," Ben agreed. The force-fields tighten around them.
"Got it?" Susan repeated, with an edge in her voice. When both of them meekly nodded, she finally released them. They stepped forward and reached out a hand. There was a slight bit of hesitation on their part.
"NOW."
They gripped each other's hands, Ben's rocky three-fingered hand overlapping his. Johnny gritted his teeth from the pressure of his grip. They shook them and let go of each other rather quickly. Susan became satisfied with this. It was then that they finally noticed the three girls watching them.
"Oh, hey there girls!" Johnny waved. He turned to Susan. "Sue, who are they?"
"They are friends of Ruby," Susan said. "The ones I told you who was coming to visit their friend. Who came out of a coma if I may add?"
"Ahh…"
"Boys, meet Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long. Girls, meet my brother Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm."
"So, they're friends of little red?" Ben asked, his blue eyes scanning them.
"That's right," Yang nodded. "And you guys must be the Thing and the Human Torch of the Fantastic Four. Where's Mr. Fantastic?"
"Stretch is in the lab on the Thirty-Third level," Ben said, pointing upwards with his thumb. "He and Stark are busy trying to figure out what is up with your friends' eyes. Weren't you supposed to be heading up there?"
"We were until Reed called me to settle your argument," Susan said. "Yes, they heard you all the way up there. Now Ben, could you go with the girls? The elevator won't be able to sustain additional weight."
"You don't have to tell me," Ben groaned. He walked past the girls and they followed him. Johnny called to his back.
"Hey, be sure to ask about those creatures back on their planet. I heard they named it after you!"
"Johnny!"
"What?"
"Is he always like this?" Blake asked. She suspected that Susan sent Ben with them on purpose.
"Being a flamebrain? Yeah," Ben said. Yang chuckled at the word doubling as a pun and insult. "So those creatures back on your planet. The ones where they destroy anything that moves or breathes…you call them Grimm?"
"Yeah," Weiss said with a frown. "I'm sorry if they made you the object of ridicule Mr. Grimm. You have to understand that it was a coincidence."
"It's alright, Ice Cream," Ben said. Weiss sputtered as Yang burst out laughing. She hugged her sides as she continued.
"Ice Cream? Oh, I'm going to hold onto that one."
"I take back my apology," Weiss muttered.
"For those Grimm, you can already say that they have my name on them. When I get to your planet…" Ben said as he smashed a three-fingered fist into an open palm. "It's clobberin' time!"
They arrived at the elevator again. The girls went in first, and they had to press themselves against the wall as Ben's bulk took up space. He pressed a rocky finger on the dashboard and the elevator ascended.
"Sorry about this," Ben apologized.
"It's no trouble Mr. Grimm," Blake said, her cheek nearly pressed against his back. She meant it. It wasn't his fault that he was like this.
"Hey," Ben said. "I just want to let you know…we know about your situation. With Kang and all. We're sorry for the hell he put you through."
"It's not your fault," Blake said. "Kang is going to be held accountable for attacking our home."
"Believe it or not, Stretch is taking it harder than you think," Ben said cryptically. The girls wondered what that meant. The question never got the chance to be asked as the elevator opened, and the Thing walked out. The Remnantian girls looked at each other for a moment before following him to the lab. The doors have just opened to show Tony talking to Ruby with another man in a lab coat who looked in their direction upon entry.
"Hello. Thank you for bringing them here Ben. As you might know, I am Doctor Reed—"
"RUBY!" Yang ran past him and towards her sister and enveloped her in the biggest hug she could give. Ruby returned the hug, but her eyes were turning white.
"She was really worried about Ruby," Blake said to the man in the lab coat. "You must be Mr. Fantastic."
"Indeed. Dr. Reed Richards, Ph.D." Reed extended his arm, which stretched all the way to where the black and white duo stood. Blake and Weiss looked at it and back at Reed. Slowly, the cat faunus reached out and shook it.
"Blake Belladonna," Blake said. It was odd to gripping a hand that felt like rubber. "It's nice to meet you, Dr. Richards."
"Indeed, it is. Weiss Schnee," Weiss introduced as she shook his hand before it retracted back. "Do you greet all your guests like this?"
"My powers make it convenient if I'm working on something," Reed admitted.
"Hey. At least you can shake hands without crushing them," Ben said. "So, what did you get on little red?"
"Yeah, we were just getting to that," Reed turned back to where Yang was still hugging her sister.
"Yang…I can't…breathe…"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"Talk about sisterly love," Tony said. He tapped Yang's shoulder. "Yang? You realized that you just missed a chance to make stretch puns, right?"
"What?" Yang let's go of Ruby and spins around. "Aw, man! I had made a list for this! Let's see…what did I have…oh! Well, this certainly has been twisted for us!"
"Yang," Blake groaned, slapping her forehead.
"Oh, come on! I was trying to be flexible here!" Yang said, still grinning. This earned more groans from the room. Before she could say another word, Reed's head stretched until it was in front of hers. It had a frown.
"I can think of fourteen ways to silence you forever, Miss Xiao Long," Reed warned in a deathly calm voice. The whole room was silent as Reed and Yang stared off. Then, to RWB's surprise, they burst out laughing.
"You got me good!" Yang said as she recomposed herself. "So, you're Mr. Fantastic? Yang Xiao Long. Thanks for taking care of my sister."
"It was my pleasure Ms. Xiao Long," Reed said as he retracted his head and shook her hand. "The Baxter Building has recently upgraded its security to prevent a vampire infestation."
"I don't understand why we couldn't just do this back at Avengers Mansion," Yang said.
"Because that's the first place they would look," Weiss said. "Blade told us that that Colonel vampire took a peek at your brains. Not only do they know who we are, but they also know where we live. Considering this place survived multiple attacks, it's the most likely place for Ruby's safety while Stark updates the security."
"Just pray that we don't get sent to space again," Everyone turned to see Susan and Johnny with them. Johnny was rubbing his forehead. "Trust me…it was a nightmare getting back to Earth."
"Anyway, did you find anything on her?" Susan asked her husband as they joined them.
"I have," Reed said. He stretched a hand and pressed a command key. Onscreen appeared two separate windows. "The energy-field around her is her Aura. Everything else is as you can see of a regular skeletal, muscular, or nervous structure. But if you take a look at her eyes…"
"What is that?" Ruby asked. One window showed the female anatomy of an earth human, which is still similar to a Remnant human aside from aura. The window showing Ruby's statistics, where her eyes are, showed a faint energy signature.
"It looks like your eyes generate some kind of energy that lies ambient," Reed said. "It stays in that state until something makes it active. When it does, it uses your eyes as a conduit for release."
"Her eyes have been doing that?" Weiss asked. "For how long?"
"Likely ever since she was born," Reed said. "I don't know how, but I believe the key lies in the vampires that night. Something about them must have primed them."
"Maybe the fact that they are undead bastards?" Yang asked with a growl. "If they lay one hand on my hand on my sister, they're going to get a fist."
"I hear you sister," Johnny said. "Maybe her powers are activated on reflex. Like mine. Flame on!"
At this, Johnny was engulfed in flames. His body became fiery red as he levitated off the ground and struck a pose. Susan gave off a disapproving look. The Remnantian girls kept their distance, feeling the heat, but can't help but snicker at his antics. Reed, however, was deep in thought.
"Hmmm…" Reed rubbed a finger on his chin.
"Something on your mind, Richards?" Tony asked.
"Just a theory…" Reed said. He addressed the girls. "Is there anything on Remnant about the phenomenon that Ruby displayed? Like myths, fairytales, or previous records?"
"Why would you look into those?" Weiss asked.
"Ruby may not have been the only one with Silver Eyes," Reed answered. "She told me that she inherited it from her mother. Which would mean there should be other people with Silver Eyes. Do you know anyone besides her mother?"
"I don't think Summer had any relatives," Yang said with a frown. "Uncle Qrow is our uncle on MY mother's side."
"I don't know anyone with Silver Eyes," Weiss said. "Most of our history has been lost to us ever since the kingdoms and the great war. Of course, we won't get to know more than that with Kang occupying that."
They all felt the roadblock in their investigation. Then, Blake perked up as if she remembered something.
"Actually, there is something," Blake said as she took out her scroll. "There's one fairy tale that might've mentioned that. It's called The Warrior in the Woods. It's considered a cautionary tale discouraging children to stray far alone or relying too much on others to save them. Though it can be an inspiring tale in some ways. Maybe that can help."
"Another Fairy Tale?" Yang asked. "Is it just me, or is everything we've been told the source for a children's book?"
"Mythology is when we use half-truths to try to explain the natural world as best, we can," Reed said. "That also applies to fairy tales. Go on Ms. Belladonna"
Blake nodded before opening up her ebook app and selecting the Fairy Tale book. She flipped through it until she came to the section she was looking for. Clearing her throat, she began to read while everyone listened.
"There once was a village on the edge of a lush jungle in the woods, which was said to be protected from the creatures of Grimm so long as nobody entered the forest. And so, people lived there happily, growing care-free and reckless as people went closer and closer to the jungle since they'd never seen the Grimm."
"One day, a boy decided to venture deep into the woods during a game of hide-and-seek, deeper than anyone had ever gone. He had never been afraid of the dark before, but he felt terror inside the forest., having run into a creature of Grimm, only to be saved by a woman with a billhook. The girl told the boy to go home and not mention her appearance and disappeared into the trees."
"One year later, the boy was once again attacked by a Grimm, only to be once again saved by the Warrior Woman. This time, however, he was prepared with a dagger to defend himself and a gift for the warrior: new clothes. The woman accepted the gift and left with a warning that the next time he was on his own."
"Another year later, the boy was now a young man who had grown slightly accustomed to combat. He is attacked by three Owl Grimm. He is saved once again by the woman after she blasts the Owls away with a shining white light. The boy brought food and a spare weapon with him, hoping to have seen her again. They ate together, and the girl explained she had lost her family to other humans in her time."
"By the next year, the village had expanded, and the forest shrunk as a result, as such the Grimm grew closer. The boy found the girl's hut, only to find that it was empty, and the warrior woman was gone. She died alone. The boy regretted not being there with her, having fallen in love with her Silver Eyes the first time he saw them."
Blake finished the story with her eyes wide at the end of the story. Meanwhile, Ben was wiping tears with his rocky arm. Johnny patted his back.
"There, there, big guy," Johnny said soothingly. "Let it all out…"
"I'm not crying," Ben rebuffed weakly. "I just have something in my eyes…"
"Me too," Tony said in agreement. He turned to Reed, who had grasped his chin. "What do you think?"
"I think that tale more or less sheds some light," Reed said. "If my theory is correct, those silver eyes have some kind of power that can only be activated in the presence of the Grimm."
"Like the Ghost Riders penance stare?" Yang asked. "Robbie told us it could only be used on anybody who has done something evil they're going to get punished."
"Something like that. Think of your planet as a human body. Like us, there are viruses and antibodies. The Grimm act as the virus that needs to be taken care of daily while the Huntsmen and Huntresses act as antibodies. At some point, some of your people have evolved to the point where they have the ability to eradicate a Grimm with a look of their eye."
"But how could her eyes affect Vampires? They're not Grimm."
"No, but they are relatively similar," Reed said. "According to you, the Grimm possess no soul and aren't considered living. When turning into vampires, humans die first before succumbing to the curse. As such, they are no longer living."
"And Ruby happened to be in a prison full of vampires," Tony said. "Thus, her eyes were primed until something activated them, turning them into ash or the next museum exhibits. Ruby, do you know?"
"Like I told Blade," Ruby said. "I saw that everyone was going to die or become vampires. I couldn't accept that. Then something inside me snapped. Then…I blacked out. You know the rest."
"An emotional outburst," Reed surmised. "Something related to her emotions must have triggered her eyes powers."
"That could be it," Ruby said. There were still a lot of things she wanted to ask. But now may probably not be the best time. "What do we do now?"
"Now, we figure out how to activate them," Reed said. "If Rogers were here, he would agree with me. Your body may not have been used to your powers, so it would explain your coma. If it happens again, you could very well die on a field mission."
"Not to remind you that there are thousands of vampires gunning for your head," Tony said. "The sooner we could figure it out, the fast we can give it to them."
"But how?" Ruby asked.
"Maybe we could talk to Doctor Strange?" Weiss said. "Is it possible that Ruby's eyes are somewhat…linked to an entity or dimension? Like magic?"
"That is a possibility," Reed agreed. "But I would need a better look at the energy of that light."
"No need," Tony said. "Ever since I got back, I've been peeking around at your suit's cameras."
"You…there are camera's in our suits?" Weiss asked sharply.
"Through your lenses," Tony said. "And no, they are not used to record you when you are changing. They're to record your missions. Let me show you. Reed, may I?"
Reed gestured to the monitor and Tony uploaded the footage from his armor. They watched through Ruby's costume cameras as they fought against the vampires. Several times Johnny made some vampire puns that are even worse than Yangs. Ben grunted but continued to watch with interest. Susan and Reed got worried when the Colonel held Ruby down. Then, it got to the part where a bright light took up the footage, causing it to become static.
"JARVIS pause and scan the readings," Tony said. When JARVIS finished, he squinted his eyes at the readings. "This signature…I feel like I've seen it before…"
"You have?" Reed asked. Everybody looked at him expectantly. "Where?"
"Let me think…" Tony said. In his helmet, JARVIS spoke.
"Perhaps from the files you kept on the other heroes. Ms. Tandy Bowen, sir?"
"Now I remember!" Tony snapped his metal fingers. His helmet encased his head as he walked towards the elevator. "Be right back. I got to go get someone."
Ruby stood next to a blonde girl her age with a crescent shape on her right eye and wearing a white skin-tight costume. Reed stood before them holding a scanner. Standing with the rest of her team is a teenage boy with most of his features obscured by a black striped cloak. Earlier the cloaked guy teleported himself, Tony, and the girl into the Baxter Building. Thus, it triggered the security that Reed set up. If it weren't for the override, the tenants would've been complaining about the Thing falling through the floors again. Tony introduced them as Cloak and Dagger. After explaining the situation and team RWBY's origins, they agreed to help.
"I got to say, the name fits you guys," Yang comments, looking at their costumes.
"It was the best name we could think of that describes us," Cloak said. "What would you have come up with?"
"Checkmate," Yang said without hesitation. Cloak raised an eyebrow at her.
"Okay, that's a good one, "He admitted. "How'd you come up with that one?"
"We have a team combo move with the name," Yang said, jerking her thumb at Weiss and Blake. "Plus, we have our own black and white duo."
"Cool. But if it's all the same, I prefer to keep it Cloak and Dagger."
"I agree. It's a better name," Weiss said. Blake and Yang looked at her. "What? I can't admire a superhero name? In fact, maybe we should make a combo out of it."
"Your energy signatures are matched," Reed spoke. "After you two arrived, the energy became active. Ruby's eyes contain traces of Lightforce energy."
"Lightforce?" Ruby asked.
"The source of my powers," Dagger explains. "Lightforce is a force of energy that is similar to light. It is cleansing, being derived from life force. If used correctly, it is capable of purging toxins, drugs, and other malignant substances. It also has the capability to cure diseases, mental instability, and criminal inhibitions."
"Okay," Ruby said. "That doesn't sound too bad."
"Something up?" Dagger asked.
"It's just. With a power like that, it must not be very useful for combat."
Dagger held out a hand. Light gathered in it and formed a six-inch shining white dagger.
"I can also make knives of light," Dagger said to an awestruck Ruby. "If I want, I can also lengthen them to swords. While they can cut through steel easily, they have a different effect on humans. Those hit by my knives has their lifeforce disrupted. Enough to kill if I wish. Anyone hit will experience a state of shock where they will experience how their life might be different."
"That is so cool!" Ruby zoomed towards the dagger with stars in her eyes. Her team knew she was talking about the weapons and not the applications of Dagger's powers. She looked up at her expectantly and asked, "Does this mean I can make weapons out of light?"
"I don't know if you can," Dagger said. "Because from what I can tell, your Lightforce is concentrated through your eyes. Sorry."
"Aww man," Ruby groaned. She mumbled, "It would've been cool if I can make a scythe out of light."
"But wait, you said they are active now?" Weiss said. "A moment ago, they were inactive. Is something causing them to react?"
"I think the answer lies with Cloak," Reed answered. All eyes turned to the cloaked hero.
"Cloak? Why?" Dagger asked.
"We believe that Ruby's eyes react to outside stimuli similar to Grimm," Reed answered. "Creatures from their home planet. Right now, I believe we found a connection thanks to Cloak."
"What are your powers, Cloak?" Weiss asked. "Do you have some sort of shadow powers?"
She was making her guess based on Dagger's light abilities. From what she had seen, darkness tends to follow the light. If his powers are similar to the Grimm, then it must be the case. To her pleasure, Cloak proved her answer right.
"Yes. I'm a conduit for the darkness or the Darkforce," Cloak said. "As its name implies, it is negative energy to the Lightforce. With it, I can teleport myself and others by moving through this dimension and appear in a separate location. I can even banish people to the dark dimension."
"Another dimension?" Weiss asked, recalling Doctor Strange told her about magic being created through the energy of the multiverse. Cloak nods his head. His eyes narrowed in warning.
"The Dark Dimension is the last place for any of you want to go," Cloak said. "It is a place that constantly hungers for and devours light. That also applies to me as I'm compelled to devour life force. People exposed to my darkness not only feel their heat, but they experience their greatest fears and nightmares. Overexposure can lead to insanity. Anyone exposed to it will lose their life force and will die."
The Remnantian girls shuddered at the thought. Dagger noticed their reactions.
"Don't worry. My light can protect myself and anyone from his darkness," Dagger reassured. "My daggers can also satiate his hunger if only temporarily. Our powers have a sort of symbiotic relationship."
"Symbiotic?"
"I help him, and he helps me," Dagger said. "It'll be fatal if I overused my powers. If I go for more than a week without using them, I will become fevered and delirious, and eventually discharge my energy involuntarily."
"Wait…" Ruby spoke slowly as she puts a hand to her right eye. "Does this mean…I will experience it too if I don't use my eyes regularly?"
"I doubt it," Reed said. "Like Dagger, your eyes have been generating this energy, but you haven't shown any similar signs from unused aside from going into a coma. This could mean that they are meant to be used when killing the Grimm, thus lying dormant. It should go inactive the moment you are out of Cloak's vicinity."
"If that happens, I can help feed upon it just like I did with Daggers," Cloak offered much to his partner's surprise.
"Cloak?"
"This girl is like us Dagger," Cloak said. "She holds a light without a purpose. If my being around her can help harness it, then I'm alright with it."
"But her powers are way different than mine," Dagger argued.
"She's right, Cloak," Ruby said. "My eyes function differently from Daggers powers. What if I accidentally kill you?"
"Then I can redirect it to the Dark Dimension," Cloak answered. "I want to be of help to you as much as possible. I don't want you to be lost to the darkness without your light. I and Dagger know what it's like and we don't want the same to happen to you."
Dagger looked at her partner and sighed. She said to Ruby, "If you want, maybe I can help you figure out how to activate them while Cloak is around. Our powers may not be similar, but maybe I can help figure out how to activate them."
"Are you sure?" Ruby asked. "What if I…you know…"
"We've handled worse," Dagger answered. "If Cloak can't handle a little light, then no one can."
"Quite gutsy of you," Tony said. "I would probably exchange contact information so you two can keep in touch."
"There's just one problem," Dagger said. She looked embarrassed to say, "I and Cloak don't have phones."
"What?" Weiss asked in disbelief. "Why don't you have any?"
"We've had it rough, okay," Cloak defended. "There wasn't time to think about getting any."
"It's alright. Maybe we can get you two some back at our place," Ruby said gently. Cloak and Dagger nodded their heads in agreement.
"Mr. Richards…or Mr. Fantastic," Ruby said. "If we're done, can I go?"
"Of course," Reed nodded. "You've been in here long enough. I'll let you know if I found something else."
"It's not healthy to stay indoors after all," Susan adds.
"Thank you," Ruby hopped to her friends. She looked to Cloak and Dagger. "Want to come back with us? You can be our guests while we get you your new phones."
"Sure. How about I transport us there?" Cloak offered. "It's much quicker."
"Really?" Blake asked. She felt nervous after Cloak explained the nature of his powers. "What about the Dark Dimension?"
"Just take my hands," Dagger said, offering her hand. When Ruby touched hers, Daggers hand glowed and her eyes widened. "Hey…"
"Something wrong?" Ruby asked. Dagger shook her head and smiled at Ruby.
"It's nothing. Let's just say that for a young girl, you have a lot of hope," Dagger said. That was all she said. Team RWBY linked their hands together and felt something warm wash over them. Dagger turned to her partner.
"Alright, Cloak. Let's do it."
Cloak nodded. His cloak began to billow as darkness seeped out from within. Tendrils of darkness encircled them before becoming a dome. For a moment, they felt the cold that Cloak mentioned about his powers. It was thanks to Daggers light that they remain warm, which is a pleasant feeling. When the darkness faded, they were gone.
"Fun to see the dark matter in action," Tony commented to Reed. "So, what did you think of them?"
"I've only just met them, but I hope for a bright future for them," Reed said to him. "You said that she attends Horizon?"
"Yep. And she's slowly becoming a science geek like the two of us. You should've seen some of the gizmo's she came up with."
"Hah," Reed laughed. "If she weren't already enrolled, I would've offered her a spot in the Future Foundation. I'm sure she'll get along with the younger members."
"I think she may be more interested in slaying monsters than being part of a think tank," Tony said. He began walking away. "Well, I'm off. Keep me posted."
"Just make sure you use the elevator this time, Stark," Susan warned. "Use the roof this time. We're still repairing the twenty-seventh floor and I don't want to add to the cost."
"No worries, Sue," Tony waved.
"And Tony," Reed calls. His tone made the billionaire turn back to him. He looked serious. "Take care of them, okay."
"I will," Tony said. "We all will."
With that, Tony walked into the elevator and exited. The Fantastic Four is alone in the laboratory.
"So, what do you think?" Susan said.
"I think they're alright," Ben said. "Little Red, Ice Cream, Kitkat, and Goldie. They're good kids. I don't understand why Kang would want to kill them for crimes they didn't do."
"Because he's a megalomaniac, Ben. He cares about nothing except himself," Reed said darkly. His teammates looked at him in concern, especially his wife. Susan rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Reed? Are you alright?" Susan asked.
"I'm fine, Sue," Reed removes her hand. "I just…have a lot on my mind…"
"Dude, you had nothing to do with it," Johnny said. "It's not your fault that Kang went cuckoo and decided to conquer a planet and ruin a couple of kids' lives."
"I'm going to check on H.E.R.B.I. E's status," Reed said, walking to the elevator. His teammates looked on after him as the doors closed and the elevator descended.
"Sue, are you sure he's alright?" Johnny asked.
"I'm not sure, Johnny," Susan said. "But I think he needs as much help as those children. If left alone, he might do something reckless."
"He wouldn't do that," Ben said. "Reed is too smart to do anything dumb. He's always been that way."
"What if he's not in his right mind?" Susan asked. Ben didn't have an answer to that. Then, she began walking to the elevator as well. She told them, "I'm going to check on Valerie and Franklin. Let's give Reed some space for a while. He might need it."
As the elevator descended, leaving Johnny and Ben alone, the Human Torch asked a question.
"So…what do you want to do for the next four minutes?"
Latveria
Victor Von Doom stood before his computer screens, listening to every word that was said. What his nemeses didn't know was that in his previous attack on the Baxter Building, he left a virus within their computer system. This didn't come to use until now and the virus certainly won't be there when he was finished. Doom felt triumphant that he got one over his rival, Reed Richards.
"Fascinating," Doom said as he looked over the information. "It would appear that Ruby Rose had much more power than I thought."
He had been monitoring the children ever since they moved to Avengers Mansion. Stark thought it would be clever to use their old base of operations to house the alien children. He had been monitoring with the use of his spy drones. There he learned of their identities both hidden and public. Including the power of her silver eyes. He scrolled through the files he borrowed from Reed about them and found something that caught his interest.
"Hmm…what's this?" Doom found a file labeled 'Remnantian Genetics'. He opened it and found the individual DNA strands of the Remnatian children. "He's certainly has been busy. Wait…those strands…."
He highlighted a single strand of the DNA and opened a file. This file was about a team he developed to fight the Fantastic Four. Doom focused on one of the old members in particular and compared it with the genetics of the children. After cross-referencing the separate strands, he began to chuckle.
"It would appear that Reed has come to the same conclusion as I have," Doom said. "It is old, but the signs are all there. Yet he is still hesitant to tell them what the truth is. Too hesitant to see what would occur when their full potential has been…unlocked. Why don't we find out?"
Doom walked out of his lab and back to his throne room. He sat upon his throne as he pressed a button on it. A holographic screen appeared in front of him. It was a secure line that no one could reach but him. He had already cracked their encryption in case he wanted something from them. The woman on the screen looked surprised as Doom studied her.
"Hello, Doctor Rappaccini," Doom greeted. "Doom has a proposition for us. Something mutual to our benefit."
[~][~]
With that, another chapter is done.
Ruby has learned that there is more to her eyes than meets the eye and we have the Fantastic Four enter the universe. Before you start, I just want to point out that as much as the movies had been a major disappointment, they are still part of the marvel universe. Hopefully, the MCU will remedy that with their film. So please, keep your reviews off the negativity about the four.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it as well as the most wonderful time of the year. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, we still find happiness when loved ones are nearby.
Now on to Q&A:
Edinosaur25: As you can see, I intend for the Avengers to appear in future chapters. Just not all at once. I'm sorry that I made you feel that way.
Guest (1): You'll have to wait and see what I do with him.
Guest (2): I'm not sure about that.
Thank you for reading and have a Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!