AN: Hey everyone, glad to hear this is being so well-received so far. But first, a few things I feel I should clear up. This is not Earth 616. Granted, much of these portrayals are inspired by Earth 616 (alongside some of the most iconic portrayals of characters, such as Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Insomniac Spider-Man, etc.). This is a different Earth, thus allowing a little bit more creative freedom. Besides, let's be honest, Earth 616 is iconic, but not completely infallible. After all, Spider-Man: One More Day, is a thing. Yeah, no. There's a reason why this isn't entirely Earth 616. And hey, if anyone wants to propose a good number for this "Earth" I'm all for it.
Which leads me to say, this version of Tony Stark has not dabbled in Nanotech yet. But, he is going to.
So, hope everyone enjoys this chapter.
Chapter 8 - Reed Richards, The Father
"We need a plan, and we need it now." Proclaimed Reed Richards. "Before they regroup and send another army after us."
Many present nodded in full agreement. Those robots were extremely dangerous, and they only numbered at 72. If the enemy could just send 72 robots after the Fantastic 4, that meant they had robots to spare. Nobody wanted to imagine what a full army of those things would actually be like. Captain America immediately stepped up, moving to the center of the room where everyone could see him.
"The situation stands as follows," Cap began, "the enemy has access to extremely rare metals and knows the weaknesses of several superheroes. Also, obviously, the identity of the enemy is unknown. This means we have two objectives in front of us: investigate, along with search and rescue."
"What do you mean?" Mike Haggar asked.
"We need to investigate the leads we currently have from these robots, and perhaps we can uncover the identity of our foe." Cap explained. "Furthermore, if they know our weaknesses, that means they likely know the weaknesses of every known metahuman."
"It's not just that they know our weaknesses." Spider-Man spoke up. "They know our secret identities as well. I know a lot of you don't really have that, but I do. I do, and they knew it. It's…concerning."
"All the more reason that our other objective is to locate and secure every single known metahuman, before the enemy finds them. If they're caught unaware by an enemy that knows their weaknesses and their secret identity, they're in trouble." Cap explained with a grim expression on his face. "We need to find them."
"To add a bit of an addendum on that, there's someone else we need to include in the search and rescue portion of our plan." Tony Stark spoke up. "Much as I hate to admit it, we need to help SHIELD regroup. We need to find Nick Fury."
"Crap," Wolverine's eyes widened, "Nick's missing?"
"Who?" Cammy White frowned.
"The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division," Cap explained, "more commonly known as SHIELD. They're an organization specializing in espionage, law enforcement and counter-terrorism. They specialize in paranormal activity and superhuman threats to national security. And their director is a man named Nick Fury."
"Fury, to put it simply, is the sketchiest, most manipulative, most paranoid son of a bitch this side of the universe." Iron Man explained. "And SHIELD is a reflection of all of that."
"But he's also a man who's firmly on the side of good and someone you want as an ally and a friend." Cap added.
"He's a manipulative ass…but he's our manipulative ass." Wolverine nodded.
"The point is, once SHIELD is in our corner, we won't be as short-handed as we are right now." Cap put it as simply as he could. "Tony's right. If we want to succeed, we'll need to find Fury and get SHIELD regrouped. Since we still haven't been able to contact the SHIELD Helicarrier, we can only assume that this likely means SHIELD has been scattered across the altered Earth like the rest of us were."
"I'll use Stark Industries' satellites." Tony offered. "They should help us find the Helicarrier. It could also give us some clues about possible locations for other metahumans."
"Once we get back to Xavier Mansion, we'll have the professor use Cerebro to try and locate our missing compatriots as well." Cyclops offered.
"I would also be more than happy to enlist the aid of my friend, Heimdall, as well." Thor added. "His all-seeing eyes will be a great boon to our search."
"That covers our search methods, but what about the investigation into finding out the identity of our mystery enemy?" Chun Li asked curiously.
"A good start would be to head to the African nation of Wakanda." Cap replied. Storm frowned slightly at Cap outright saying they needed to investigate her country.
"If I didn't know the kind of man you are, Captain, I would almost think you're accusing my husband of being involved in this." She told him.
"It's not like that, Storm. T'Challa's my friend, you know that." Cap promised. "But the fact is, those robots were outfitted with Vibranium. The last time I checked in with T'Challa on the matter, we managed to secure all of the Vibranium stolen by Klaw. If there was any Vibranium that has been stolen since then, we need to know."
"As far as I know, there have been no such incidents." Storm replied. "But you're right, T'Challa needs to know that there is someone out there using Vibranium for evil."
"We'll need to get into the streets of New York ASAP as well." Spidey offered. "New York's a hotspot for all this craziness, so we'll likely find something if we look around. More importantly, we need to make sure no supervillains take advantage of the chaos."
"There's one other place that is worth investigating," Reed took a deep breath, "I'm heading to Latveria."
Everyone who knew what he meant by that looked at him like he had gone insane. Reed's next words confirmed exactly what they were fearing. It made them certain he had gone insane.
"I'm going to talk to Victor." Reed proclaimed.
"Seriously?" Tony was the first to object to this. "I thought you were supposed to be the smartest man in the universe. That is a terrible idea!"
"I'm with Stark on this Stretch." Thing admitted. "You've lost your marbles if you're thinking of talking to Doomsy."
"We need to look at the facts: we were attacked by robots; the Fantastic 4 were the primary targets; and the perpetrator is someone with great knowledge and resources." Reed reminded everyone. "Most importantly, Victor's the only one bold enough to launch such an attack on us."
"Yeah, but Doom, Reed? Stark's right, it's crazy." Johnny insisted.
"Umm…kinda in the dark here." Mike raised his hand. "Could maybe one of you explain who the hell this Doom guy is?"
"Victor von Doom," Susan began.
"Subtle name." Dante muttered under his breath.
"He's the dictator of the European country of Latveria, and probably our most persistent enemy." Susan explained. "And Reed's right, he is the only one bold enough to orchestrate an attack like this."
"Guy's gone out of his way to make our lives miserable for years." Johnny added.
"Victor was once a colleague of mine during my college days." Reed explained. "He was…something of an intellectual rival. We pushed each other to greater and greater heights. However an accident with a machine he had constructed severely damaged his face. The incident was something of a stain on the school's reputation, so Victor was kicked out. He's hated me ever since because I warned him of a flaw in the machine."
"Ol' Doom's never been what ya call the rational type. Or the type to take responsibility." Thing grunted. "But yeah, out of all of us, he wants Reed dead the most."
"And he's come close, more than any of us care to admit." Johnny added. "Sis is right about one thing, he certainly is persistent."
"Doom is a master of both science and magic." Tony explained. "And that's not an exaggeration. The man is brilliant enough to somehow expertly incorporate both in combat, making him probably one of the most dangerous human supervillains on the planet."
"And you're planning on going directly to this man, even though he hates you?" Chun Li was flabbergasted. "There must be a better way to investigate."
"Reed, I could always go to Latveria in your place." Susan offered. "You know it's very likely he'll attack you on sight. But he and I at least have something of an understanding."
"I know, but it has to be me." Reed insisted. "Victor may despise me, but even he recognizes that I'm the only person alive who can speak to him as an intellectual equal."
"Thanks." Tony said sarcastically.
"If I come to him in peace, with the desire to only talk to him as an equal about this matter, I might be able to get some answers. As the leader of Latveria, even Victor has no choice but to respect international diplomacy." Reed explained.
"Then we'll go together." Susan offered. "The four of us."
"Not this time, Darling." Reed said grimly. "If all four of us go, Victor will immediately assume this is a fight. Strange as it sounds, if it's just me, we have a better chance of resolving things peacefully."
"And what if Victor actually is the culprit?" Susan demanded. "What then?"
"What then?" Reed smiled. "I'll figure something out. According to Ben and Johnny, I always do."
"Reed, this is crazy!" Johnny exclaimed.
"The hothead's right, Stretch!" Thing added. "And if he's saying you're being reckless, you bet your ass you're being reckless! Susie, tell him he's being stupid and we're all going to Latveria! He's got to listen to you!"
Susan looked at Reed. Reed simply looked back with that resolved expression of his. Susan had seen that before. It was the same look of resolve Reed had when they first flew into that storm of cosmic radiation that gave them all their superpowers in the first place. It was the same look of resolve he had when he was working on something he was certain would be used for either the betterment of mankind, or the defeat of one of their many enemies.
"It's fine, boys, Reed knows what he's doing." She promised. Reed smiled gratefully at the sound of his wife's approval. "But you're not going alone. I expect you to at least have some people here to back you up."
"Of course," Reed nodded, "I figured that went without saying."
"Then we know what must be done." Cap spoke up. "Six missions, six teams; three of which will focus on search and rescue, the other three on discovering the identity of our enemy."
With that, the group set about forming teams of four based on each person's set of skills. Soon, all six teams were formed. First, the Wakanda Investigation Team: Captain America, Storm, Mega Man and Arthur. Second, Stark Satellite Search Team: Iron Man, Invisible Woman, Thing and Zangief. Third, Cerebro Search Team: Cyclops, Gambit, Wolverine and Ryu. Fourth, the New York Investigation Team: Spider-Man, Human Torch, Chun Li and Mike Haggar. Fifth, the Nine Realms Search Team: Thor, Hulk, Dante and Morrigan. Last but not least, the Latveria Investigation Team: Mister Fantastic, Cammy White, Strider Hiryu and War Machine.
With the teams all brought together, Mister Fantastic took the time to address them all one more time. He gave them all a completely serious look.
"Understand, these missions you've all been given are crucial. It is very likely that the knowledge we gain or don't gain will determine whether we are the aggressors or the defenders this time." He explained to them all. "Furthermore, make no mistake, the allies we gain or don't gain will determine our manpower in the upcoming battle. For this alliance of ours to succeed, we need to make it stronger."
"I will attempt to reach out to the man you all call Daredevil while you are all out on assignment, let him know of the current situation." Dr. Light promised. "Furthermore, I will use Dr. Richards' technology and data to continue to study the scraps of robots you've brought to me. Hopefully, I can fill in any gaps that are left over which might provide us answers."
Captain America then addressed everyone now. He smiled encouragingly at everyone. However, his voice carried just as much weight as Mister Fantastic's voice did.
"None of our missions will be easy, and they all are a matter of life and death." He told them all. "However, we've already proven that we can win as long as we fight together. I won't promise that victory is guaranteed. But what I can promise is that win or lose, whoever our enemy is going to have a hell of a fight either way."
That made everyone grin. None of them were able to argue with Cap's logic.
"From there, it's on us." Cap continued. "We may come from different universes, but right now, we share one. It's on us to protect it. The universe needs heroes, so let's go out and save it."
Everyone voiced their assent one by one. The teams began to break off. But not before they said their goodbyes. Tony walked up to James Rhodes and patted him on the shoulder.
"Keep a close eye on Reed and the other two, okay Rhodey?" He asked. "I'm counting on you to get them out of Latveria in the Quinjet if it becomes necessary."
"It's me," Rhodey grinned at his good friend, "you just focus on finding our friends, Tony."
Nearby, Cammy embraced Chun Li, making sure to squeeze her best friend as tightly as possible.
"Look after yourself, alright?" Cammy worriedly said to the woman.
"I should be saying that to you," Chun Li pointed out, "don't push yourself too hard. This whole situation is foreign to all of us."
Chun Li then turned her attention to Li Fen. The little girl was putting on a brave face, even though her guardian was leaving her. The two smiled at each other before embracing.
"You'll be good for Roll and Dr. Light, right?" Chun Li smiled knowingly. Li Fen nodded.
"And you'll be careful, right?" Asked Li Fen.
"As careful as I can be." Chun Li promised as they broke the hug. She then addressed Dr. Light and Roll. "Thank you both for looking after her."
"It is no trouble at all, Chun Li." Dr. Light promised as Li Fen went to Roll's side. "In fact, I think this is a wonderful opportunity for Roll. The two already seem to be the best of friends. My robots may have free will, but the ability to emote? The ability to feel? They lack that at the moment. Perhaps this bond the two will build together will help move that theory forward?"
"I wish you nothing but the best in that regard." Chun Li said to them, bowing. Dr. Light turned to Mega Man, who was making his way to his team. Rush was at his side.
"You will be careful as well, my boy?" Dr. Light requested.
"I'll be fine, Doctor." Mega Man promised. "I've got Rush with me."
"Good luck, Mega." Roll said to her brother. Nearby, Storm took a moment to say goodbye to her teammates, the X-Men.
"Do all you can in finding our friends." Storm told them. "I promise I will keep an eye open as best I can as well."
"We're not going to leave anyone behind, Storm." Cyclops promised. "We're going to bring them all back to the mansion."
"Damn straight." Wolverine added. "But if anything does happen to them, there'll be hell to pay."
"We're not going to kill anyone, Wolverine." Cyclops immediately objected. "Our top priority is to find our missing friends. We find them and get them home."
"And if we're too late, Cyclops?" Gambit raised an eyebrow. Cyclops sighed, a grim expression on his face.
"Then we have no choice but to move on and save whoever else can be saved. But I believe everyone is alive and well, wherever they are. After all, we're X-Men; all of us." Cyclops reminded the other two men. Gambit grinned while Wolverine just scowled. At that moment, Ryu walked up to his other three teammates.
"So, then you're the leader of this team: the X-Men, was it?" He asked curiously.
"Only in the field. For all intents and purposes, Professor Xavier leads us." Cyclops replied. Ryu smiled and extended his hand.
"Regardless, I'm in your care, Cyclops. I consider myself more of a follower than a leader anyway." He said. Cyclops smiled back and took Ryu's hand, shaking it.
"And just when I was starting to like Karate-boy." Wolverine muttered under his breath, making Gambit snicker. Nearby, Human Torch and Spider-Man both high-fived.
"Been awhile since we went into the field together." Human Torch noted.
"Looking forward to it, bro." Spidey replied, keeping up a smile behind the mask, even though behind the smile, he was still very worried about those robots knowing that underneath the mask he was Peter Parker. Bad guys knowing that Peter Parker was Spider-Man tended to go very poorly for the wall-crawler.
I'll just have to make sure MJ knows to lay low for awhile. And I'll have to check in with Aunt May too. Spidey told himself. Nearby, Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic embraced tightly, kissing with all the passion of a married couple that was still very much in love. The two broke the kiss to speak.
"Are you sure there's no way I can talk you out of Latveria?" Invisible Woman whispered to her husband.
"It has to be me, Darling." Mister Fantastic insisted. "I'll be fine, I promise. I trust Colonel Rhodes, as well as our new allies. And you need to be careful as well, understand?"
"I'm not going to die, Honey." Invisible Woman promised. "If I left you three lugs behind, along with Franklin and Valeria, I'd never forgive myself."
"I'm going to check on them both before I leave." Mister Fantastic promised. "Thankfully, Agatha's magic managed to keep them from being displaced."
"Give them my love. I've gotta get going. You know how impatient Tony can get." Said Invisible Woman. The two kissed once more before breaking apart. With that, one by one, each team left in a different way. Several Quinjets quickly arrived to take the teams led by Captain America, Iron Man, and Mister Fantastic's teams, though the former two teams would leave immediately. Cyclops' team exited the Baxter Building via the Blackbird. Thor's team vanished in the rays of rainbow colored light. Finally, Spider-Man's team simply exited on foot to investigate the streets of New York up close and personal.
"Dr. Richards," Strider Hiryu addressed Mister Fantastic with only Mister Fantastic's team, along with Dr. Light, Roll and Li Fen left, "will we be leaving as well."
"In a moment, Strider." Mister Fantastic promised. "Please bear with me. I just need to take care of one last thing before we go."
With that, Mister Fantastic retreated deeper into the Baxter Building. He soon returned to his and Sue's room. His eyes were drawn to what appeared to be a pager; and it was a pager. It was just a very special pager. A pager that would only contact one person: Agatha Harkness, the governess to Franklin Richards, son of Reed and Sue. Taking a deep breath, he stretched his hand, grabbed the special pager and pressed the button. Seconds later, a magic portal (though do not ever tell Mister Fantastic it is magic) appeared in his room. An old, wrinkly woman with a long purple dress shuffled past the portal and into his room. Agatha Harkness then directly addressed Reed Richards.
"You rang, Dr. Richards." The old woman said dryly.
"Agatha," Reed said curtly, "always nice to see how quick and responsive your inventions are."
Agatha had to resist rolling her eyes at this. Reed was always in denial that she was a genuine, bonafide witch. It was funny the first couple of times, but now it was just getting ridiculous. For crying out loud, his worst enemy was a sorcerer.
"I take it you wish to see Franklin and Valeria?" She inquired. Reed nodded.
"Sue regretfully can't join me for the visit," he explained, "but I've got some time before I go out on assignment."
Agatha gestured for Reed to follow her. She reentered the portal, with Reed soon following close behind. Reed soon found himself in a very Victorian-esque mansion. Agatha then walked past him, leading him towards where she left his and Sue's children.
"Agatha," he said to her, "I want you to know that I'm grateful to you. When Johnny and Ben were displaced, I feared the same might've happened to Franklin and Valeria. But it seems you managed to keep them here."
"Do not underestimate a witch of great skill and experience such as myself, Doctor." Agatha told him, placing a great emphasis on the word 'witch'.
"I also want you to know that I'm grateful you've been keeping watch of them longer than we expected this time." Reed continued. "I know we originally agreed you would look after them while monitoring Franklin's new…condition. However, you were very kind to look after them while I try to figure out what has happened to our universe."
"We all have our roles to play, Dr. Richards. I would think you, of all people, would know that by now." Agatha reminded him, coming to a set of doors.
The doors then swung open, revealing a large playroom on the other side. Reed breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Playing with his 2-year-old daughter was his 10-year-old son. Indeed, both Franklin and Valeria Richards were alive and well.
"Dad!" Franklin immediately got up and ran to his father. Valeria gurgled happily at the sight of her father as well. Reed breathed a sigh of relief as he embraced his son.
"Hello, Franklin." Reed said to him with a small smile. "Have you been good for Agatha?"
"Come on, Dad, of course I have." Franklin smiled brightly at him.
"And you've been taking good care of Valeria too?" Reed asked.
"She barely needs me to take care of her." Franklin replied. "I don't know why all those shows I used to watch say little sisters were a pain. So, have you come to take us back home?"
Reed's face fell. Franklin's face fell as well. Reed awkwardly rubbed his son's hair. He knew he was about to disappoint him greatly. He did not have to be the Smartest Man in the World to know that.
"I'm sorry, Son." Reed said to him. "Things are very dangerous out there, right now. And your mother and I have to go and make it right. It's our job, remember?"
Franklin lowered his head. Reed heard him make a small sound of disappointment. It actually gave him a pang in his heart.
"Franklin," Reed continued, "do you remember when I told you what your mom and dad do as jobs with Uncle Ben and Uncle Johnny?"
"You save the world. You're heroes." Franklin replied.
"That's why I need you to stay here, where it's safe, so that we can do our jobs." Reed replied.
"But we need you here." Franklin told him. "I mean, isn't being a dad a job too? Same with being a mom"
Reed had to admit: Franklin knew how to get to him. Even Agatha had an empathetic look on her face from that comment.
"It is," Reed told him, "and it's a job I'm proud to have. Your mother and I both are. She loves you both Franklin, as do I. And it's precisely because of that we have these moments. The universe needs us, because you live in the universe. In a way, we're doing both our jobs."
"I still don't get it." Franklin admitted.
"Franklin, when you were born it gave me yet another reason to protect the world." Reed explained. "But if I lost you, if I lost Valeria, I'd feel like I lost my whole world. So please, stay here and stay safe. And I promise you, I will come back alive. I won't leave either of you, and neither will your mother."
"Promise?" Franklin looked up at his father
"Cross my heart." Reed smiled reassuringly. Franklin then threw his arms around his father again.
"I love you, Dad." Franklin told him.
"I love you too, as does your mother." Reed promised. "She's sorry she couldn't be here. She had to get to work immediately. But I promise you, when we fix this, and we will, you both will come home. Until then, be good for Agatha."
Franklin nodded. Agatha then cleared her throat. The two Richards boys turned to her.
"Franklin, could you make an old woman some tea, just like I showed you?" Agatha requested. "My throat is parched."
Franklin smiled brightly. He immediately forgot his emotionally charged conversation with his father. Promising he would, Franklin ran out of the playroom. Reed then walked over to his daughter and stretched his finger out to her. Valeria gurgled and cooed as she played with the outstretched finger. Reed then addressed Agatha.
"Now that we're alone, could you tell me if my suspicions were correct?" He asked. Agatha nodded.
"Your boy has powers, they are starting to manifest." Agatha told him. Reed winced. That was something he had long feared, ever since Franklin was born. Agatha raised an eyebrow at Reed's reaction. "With how many people in your 'family' who already have powers, I would think you'd be happier."
"My boy has no choice but to enter a life of danger and sacrifice, how could I be happy about such a thing?" Reed countered. He looked at the happy Valeria and almost wanted to cry. "Valeria will likely manifest powers too."
"Quite likely." Agatha nodded. "Perhaps you can tell me why this is not a happy occasion?"
"I ruined the lives of three of the most important people in my life when I led them into that cosmic storm that gave us our powers in the first place." Reed reminded Agatha with a visibly guilty expression on his face. "And deep down I knew, as soon as Sue and I first learned we were expecting, our child would end up the same way. I condemned all of our future children to be like us."
"I still fail to see why that's a bad thing," Agatha admitted, "you are beloved heroes, celebrities."
"Because I made sure of that." Reed countered. "But maybe leave the mansion on occasion and learn that's not the case for everyone like us. Mutants are still facing discrimination; Robert Kelly is still constantly proposing Anti-Mutant legislation. Bruce Banner spent years on the run and it has taken protection from the Avengers to prevent that from continuing. Spider-Man is constantly slandered by the press. And my children will likely have to face such things. All of this will happen to them because of my own hubris over a decade ago."
"The curse of being so intelligent," Agatha snorted, "everything is your fault, for better or worse."
Reed had no response to that. Agatha then took a deep breath before continuing in a gentle tone of voice.
"Respectfully, Dr. Richards, perhaps your focus should be on all the good you and your family have done with your powers. And make no mistake, you have all done incredible things." Agatha reminded him. "Bad things happen in life. I survived the Salem Witch Trials. I know that better than anyone. However, it's what you do with those events that determines your character. Franklin has a chance to do wonderful things with his powers as well. But to have any chance at that happening, he needs the guidance of his parents on how to use his powers."
"Is that really all there is to it?" Reed asked.
"Of course not, life is stupidly complex." Agatha replied. "But we make it more complex than it needs to be when we play the blame game for everything that has ever gone wrong, and not focus on making it better the next day, and the day after."
"Sue believes Franklin needs to train his powers as well." Reed admitted. "She believes the same for Valeria…she believes it's inevitable she will develop powers too."
"And she is right." Agatha insisted. "They need to learn how to use the power they have because that is the only way they can use their power for good like you do. More importantly, they need their mother and father to guide them because their mother and father have lived what they will live. That is what it means to be parents, Dr. Richards."
Reed Richards, the smartest man in the world, had no rebuttal for that. Agatha took a deep breath and addressed him one last time in a much gentler tone of voice.
"If nothing else, at least consider it family bonding." She told him. That actually got a good chuckle out of Reed. Then, Franklin returned, holding a cup of tea.
"I'm back!" He exclaimed. "Though on the way back I realized I should've offered you tea as well, right Dad?"
"It's fine, Franklin." Reed promised. "I'm heading out anyway. I just wanted to check on you and your sister before I left."
Franklin looked a bit disappointed when he heard this, but nodded. Reed managed to smile reassuringly at him. He knelt down to Franklin's level.
"I'll tell your mother you love her. You do love your mother, right Franklin?"
"You know I do." Franklin replied. Reed nodded.
"And you know we love you as well, right?" Franklin nodded. Reed nodded again and continued to speak. "So believe that we're going to come back alive. Not just your mother and me, but Uncle Ben and Uncle Johnny too. You're the son of superheroes, Franklin, so that means you have to be brave like we have to be. You have to be brave like I know you are, okay?"
"I will," Franklin promised, now smiling, "and I'll protect Valeria too, Dad. Go out there and beat the bad guys."
"That's my boy." Reed ruffled Franklin's hair. "Don't you worry, we've got this."
Reed rose back up. He turned back to Agatha. Agatha gave him a scoff.
"You don't have to say anything, of course I'll look after them, for God's sake." She rolled her eyes. Reed chuckled.
"Thank you, Agatha." Reed turned back to Valeria and said his goodbyes to the gurgling toddler. He took both of his children into his outstretched arms and embraced them one last time before Agatha created a portal to take him back to the Baxter Building. Reed quickly made his way back to his team and was greeted by a very irritated Hiryu and Cammy, while War Machine had an empathetic look on his face, as though he had figured out what he was doing. Mister Fantastic was back on the job.
"I apologize for taking too long." Mister Fantastic said to him. Before Hiryu and Cammy could say anything, War Machine spoke up.
"It's fine, Doctor." He promised. "I had to get the second Quinjet prepped after it arrived here. We're ready to go. Though, as your pilot to Latveria, I feel like I should tell you that this is a terrible idea."
"I understand," Mister Fantastic promised, "but everything points to investigating Latveria and addressing Victor directly. Especially with how all roads seem to point to him. That said, if he isn't responsible, he may at least be willing to provide us some insight that could point us in the right direction."
"And if he is responsible?" Hiryu asked.
"Then Victor will have to answer for his actions and fix them, and I intend to make sure he does so as a fellow scientist." Mister Fantastic replied without hesitation. "Though I despise politics, if word gets out that the leader of Latveria is responsible for the crisis the entire planet is facing, Victor will have no choice but to answer to the UN. I'll be reaching out to President Martin on the way to Latveria to update him on the situation and to ask him to inform the UN about what we're doing. I'm sure Tony will also be speaking with him about what our group is doing as a whole as the president's liaison into the superhero community."
With that, the group boarded the Quinjet. War Machine sat in the pilot's seat and addressed his three teammates.
"Okay, folks, keep your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the Quinjet at all times. If we get shot at once we get into Latverian airspace, don't panic. I've been flying in the Air Force ever since I could enlist, so I won't let anything happen to us in the sky." He promised.
Cammy and Hiryu both nodded. Mister Fantastic took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he knew was going to be a very difficult ordeal.
"Take us to Latveria, Colonel Rhodes." He told him.
With that, the Quinjet took off. On this day, the ultimate alliance of heroes from two universes was formed. The journey to fix their homes had begun.
AN: Do I agree that Reed Richards is socially stunted and awkward because of his high intellect? Yes. Do I think this means he should be portrayed as a bad father and a husband? No. Not seriously anyway. I like portraying Reed as socially awkward and stunted, but I'm not interested in going out of my way to torpedo his relationship with his family (especially his wife and children) for the sake of drama. One of my biggest complaints with comic writers in general is their slavish devotion to status quo. Peter Parker can never be happy, especially as far as MJ is concerned (looking at you, Paul). Batman and Catwoman can never marry. Reed and Susan's marriage needs to be strained constantly.
This is why I USUALLY prefer manga and anime. Usually. I wouldn't be doing this project if I disliked Marvel. I love Marvel. I love DC too. I just sometimes worry about the direction they are taken in, like a lot of beloved franchises.
Anyway, TED talk over. Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I'll see you all next time.