In an old building, indistinguishable from hundreds of other buildings across the post-Soviet landscape, a rather typical conversation was unfolding between two ordinary student friends.
"What do you think about the recent scandal involving the actor who played Kang the Conqueror?" asked a young man with chestnut hair.
Another young man, this one with black hair, responded without hesitation:
"Completely predictable outcome."
The chestnut-haired friend smirked, anticipating the joke his friend was about to make.
"No need to continue; I already know you're going to start ranting about how Disney ruined everything."
Such a reply acted like a red rag to a bull for the dark-haired youth.
"Isn't it true? They botched Civil War, ruined Doctor Strange, threw in Captain Marvel for no reason just to mess things up even more. And don't get me started on that Thor fiasco!"
The young man spoke so passionately that he didn't notice the spark escaping from the socket. The chestnut-haired friend tried to pull him back, but the spark was faster...
ZZZT
People often forget how quickly and simply one can die... It usually doesn't take much to kill a person. This time was no exception. The young dark-haired man, who had just started living, found himself at Hela's gates all too soon.
—= Earth ??? =—
Reed Richards, the smartest member of the Baxter Foundation, was in a highly stressful state. Today, he learned that his program was being shut down because the ship he built couldn't reach other star systems.
"Reed, what's wrong?" asked a familiar female voice.
The voice belonged to Susan Storm. Susan held a special place in Reed Richards' heart, and it was precisely for this reason that he snapped out of his thoughts.
"They want to shut down my project tomorrow," Reed said.
Susan Storm had suspected this might happen. After all, she was in love with Reed Richards and understood his character. She knew this project was one of the most important in his life.
Probably, it was her love for Reed combined with her own adventurous nature that made Susan say:
"That's tomorrow, but what about today?"
Reed looked at her, puzzled.
The beautiful blonde smiled and added:
"Let's test the ship today."
"But we don't have any pilots..."
The girl just smiled and took out her phone.
"Johnny, want to go to space?"
"Of course!" came the cheerful voice from the other end.
Reed was familiar with Susan's younger brother and wasn't surprised by his immediate agreement.
"We've got one pilot," Susan said with a wide smile. "I think you can find another."
Unknowingly, Reed caught Susan's enthusiasm. A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind before he settled on one.
"Yes," Reed nodded. "I think I can."
—= Some time later =—
"I knew you'd come," said Johnny Storm.
Susan's younger brother had the same golden hair and blue eyes as she did. His facial features were youthful with a hint of approaching maturity.
Reed didn't know much about him. Dr. Richards knew that Johnny was a cheerful young man with a passion for cars.
"How could I miss this event, called by my old friend?" asked Benjamin Grimm.
Benjamin Grimm, one of Reed Richards' closest friends, had chestnut hair, brown eyes, and a muscular build. In Reed's opinion, Ben was one of the best pilots in the USA.
"Besides, this flight will be longer," Ben Grimm said with a smile.
The smile carried an additional meaning that only Reed and Ben understood. Long ago, Richards had promised Grimm that they would go to space together one day.
"We're not flying in these clothes, are we?" asked Johnny.
All eyes focused on him. Then the blonde added:
"I mean, I'm not really against it, but..."
Susan Storm smiled and said:
"The uniforms have been designed and adjusted, don't worry about that."
She pressed a button on her tablet.
Four capsules with space-themed uniforms appeared before Ben and Johnny.
"I assume... You designed these suits too?" asked Benjamin, examining the one that fit his size.
"Yes," Reed replied with a broad smile. "These suits are designed to withstand a range of space conditions, from UV rays to cosmic radiation."
Richards spoke with pride about his creation. His gaze was fixed on the suits made with the latest technology.
"I'm confident they'll do their job."
Hearing these words, Benjamin's slight anxiety disappeared.
"So, what are we waiting for?" asked Benjamin, grabbing the suit. "We've only got 5 hours until tomorrow."
—= Aboard the Marvel - 1 =—
"Getting in was much easier than I expected," said Benjamin, settling into the pilot's seat. "I expected more security..."
Johnny, sitting behind his sister, added:
"Did you want this event to have more fireworks and parades?"
Reed Richards checked the final details on his suit and, satisfied that everything was in order, took his seat behind Benjamin.
"I'll check the code," Reed said.
After a few seconds, he confirmed that everything was working as intended.
"We can start."
Ben smiled.
"Time to fulfill a childhood dream."
Johnny, not hiding his smile, added:
"I almost fell asleep!"
"You better not miss the moment," Ben said, starting the ship's launch sequence.
The blonde just smiled and began his part of the work. Once the final preparations were complete, Johnny asked:
"Ready to conquer space?"
Reed, Susan, and Benjamin smiled but still said:
"YES!"
The engines roared to life. In a moment, the four of them were in the sky. The speed increased rapidly. After some time, they were far from Earth.
"Wow!"
"We did it!"
At that very moment, something that shouldn't have happened... did. A spark in Reed Richards' suit changed everything. Reed Richards became something else...
"W-What the?..." Reed Richards whispered, looking at Earth through the porthole.
—//—
Can you feel the difference between a supercomputer and an early 2000s computer? Most likely, yes. I felt the same clarity with the changes happening within me.
Thoughts flowed so quickly that I wondered how I ever lived without this level of cognitive activity.
"How is this possible?..." flashed through my mind.
With my current abilities, I quickly realized that I was now Reed Richards. The experience and memories of the smartest person in the Marvel universe were assimilated at an incredible speed...
"Reed?" came the concerned voice of Sue.
In that instant, I understood that not only Reed Richards' experiences and memories had been transferred to me but also his feelings. I was in love with Susan Storm.
"Everything is fine," I said, trying to keep my thoughts in check.
Susan looked at me with her enchanting eyes but trusted me and turned her gaze to the boundless space around us.
"Don't worry, Reed, your ship brought us to space!" declared Reed's best friend... my best friend.
"Yeah, you're right..." I replied.
It was at that moment that I realized what would happen next. Being a Marvel fan, I knew how the Fantastic Four came to be.
"Damn..." the thought flickered as I noticed the flash.
Then everything went dark.
—= Some Time Later =—
"Oh God, what happened to them?!"
"Dr. Storm, you can't go in there!"
"These are my children! Let me through!"
These cries accompanied me as I regained consciousness. The darkness parted before my eyes like the sea before Moses.
The first thing I saw was a ceiling lamp. I quickly realized it was a fluorescent light. Information about its structure and possible improvements came naturally to mind.
The next thought that soon replaced the first was the realization that I had awakened right after the disaster caused by the burst of cosmic energy, which had breached all the defenses I had set up on the ship.
So, I had followed the fate of the original Reed Richards. My eyes fell on my limbs sprawled on the ground. Their unnatural length and position indicated that everything had gone as expected. I had become a rubber man.
Dealing with such a body would be challenging for anyone without Reed's abilities. Thankfully, I was Reed Richards.
WHOOSH
My hands returned to their usual position. Once I ensured everything was in place, I was able to take a more thorough look around.
I was under the guard of military personnel and doctors. The reinforced glass, which prevented seeing out of the room, indicated this.
"Damn," I muttered, realizing I had to deal with government issues now.
At that moment, I heard:
"Dr. Richards, can you hear me?"
The voice belonged to Franklin Storm, Susan and Johnny's father, my mentor.
"Yes," I replied.
In Franklin's voice, I could clearly hear the notes of concern. Understandable, as this incident had affected not only me but also his children.
"Do you understand what awaits you?"
"Perfectly," I said.
I would likely be questioned about the incident. Everyone knew I was one of the instigators of this venture. There would be an interrogation.
"Good..."
—= Some Time Later =—
"The only reason you're not in jail is that the operation you initiated was relatively successful," said Franklin Storm.
"What do you mean?"
I thought everything had gone terribly wrong. And here Franklin was telling me that... At that moment, I had a guess about what had happened.
"The security system worked as intended. The ship was damaged only in the defense area. And the most crucial thing that saved you was your innovative engine."
My suspicions were correct.
"Who exactly saved me?" I asked.
NASA was unlikely interested in these developments, as they preferred to fund their projects, which meant someone else had helped.
"I can't tell you," Franklin replied with a sad smile.
Susan and Johnny's father didn't realize that his answer already provided me with clues. Very few organizations would be interested in spaceship engines. Only one came to mind that would be genuinely interested in this development. The SHIELD analogue called SWORD, dealing with extraterrestrial threats, would be the only organization to benefit from my work.
"I see," I said. "How are the others?"
Franklin's expression changed after my question.
"Alive. But, as you probably guessed... They've changed too."
BAM
The loud bang and burst of bullets made Franklin fall silent.
"RICHARDS!!!" I heard a shout.
The voice was recognizable as Benjamin Grimm.
"WHERE IS RICHARDS?!" he shouted again.
I looked into Franklin's eyes and said:
"Let me talk to him."
BAM
Franklin looked at his tablet and said:
"Alright."
Then he spoke into the microphone:
"Open the door."
The door on the left opened, and I saw armed soldiers looking at me warily.
"Where's Ben?" I asked, taking control of the conversation.
BAM
"Understood."
I looked at Franklin with a raised eyebrow.
"Let him through."
The soldiers stepped aside, and I managed to take a few steps out of my cell. We were underground. I understood this from the specifically reinforced walls and the ventilation designed for underground facilities. Quite a standard solution, to be honest, as Ben could have compromised the airtightness and integrity of this place.
BAM
Another bang alerted me to finish my business.
Ben Grimm had become what he was destined to be. He had become The Thing. A man entirely made of rock or a rock-like substance. This transformation gave him not only incredible durability but also strength far surpassing human levels.
At that moment, he was demonstrating the accuracy of my conclusions on the reinforced glass, which was already cracking.
"RICHARDS!" he roared upon seeing me.
"Ben," I said, thousands of thoughts flashing through my mind. "This is my mistake."
My admission made Ben pause. This action indicated that he was open to further discussion.
"I will fix it, but right now, you need to calm down," I said.
"WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU?!"
"I built the ship that took us to places previously inaccessible to our civilization. I will make things right."
Ben paused for a few seconds, his eyes meeting mine. He studied me. I was genuinely confident that I could restore my friend's human form. After a minute, he sighed and said:
"Alright, I believe you, Reed."
A smile crept across my face.
"Release my friend," I said, looking at the soldier.
"What?"
"I said, release my friend," I repeated more sternly.
The soldier was surprised by my words and wanted to say something, but Franklin Storm intervened.
"Release him. He won't cause any trouble, right, Mr. Grimm?"
Ben smiled and nodded, confirming Franklin's words.
"I'm sick of this cell."
The soldier had no choice but to open Ben's cell. My now stone friend stood beside me and said:
"Is it just me, or have you gotten even smaller than usual?"