Watching the two women disappear, Dr. Reed Richards intended to dive back into his research, but as he turned around, he noticed a small red external drive lying quietly on the console nearby.
The bright red casing stood out starkly, as though calling out to his curiosity.
As a typical, detail-oriented scientist with a touch of obsessive-compulsiveness, Reed wasn't the sort to leave his workspace cluttered. He and Susan had meticulously cleaned the control area, so any foreign object was bound to stand out immediately.
Stretching his arm across the room, Reed grabbed the red drive, while Johnny Storm, who had also noticed it, came over with a curious look.
Both of them stared at the drive for a moment, puzzled. It was clear it didn't belong here. What did it mean? Why had it been left on the console?
The red external drive had "Stark Industries" engraved on its surface. Given that Miss Stark had lingered in that spot for a while, she'd certainly had enough time to leave it there.
"What is this—was it left for you? Maybe it's filled with memories of all the times you two had together?" Johnny mused theatrically. "Oh my god, my dear brother-in-law is secretly involved with the girl I'm interested in! Imagine how disappointed my sister will be!"
Johnny wasn't one to contribute constructively in these situations, and not even messing things up was often a stretch. He took this as an opportunity to tease Reed, not caring what was inside the drive, only eager to poke fun.
Unlike Johnny's dramatic performance, Reed frowned intently at the drive in his hand, wondering what it could contain—and why on earth Miss Stark had left it on his console.
If it were a listening device, it wouldn't be placed in plain sight. Reed dismissed the idea of surveillance outright.
If it were a trap, meant to entice him into connecting it to the server to steal data, Stark wouldn't have any reason for that either. Besides, Reed wasn't naive enough to plug it into his systems without caution.
Rather than dwell on such suspicions, Reed guessed it was something Stark had specifically intended for him to see. He connected the drive to the console, setting it up in a virtual machine to isolate it from the main system just in case it contained malware.
Using the virtual machine as a basic security barrier, Reed found no virus in the drive. The control room's large circular monitor flickered on, displaying a new folder plainly labeled for him and Johnny to see.
The drive utilized advanced storage technology from Stark Industries, containing far more capacity than any commercial drive. But in reality, it only held a few photos and a small one-megabyte application file.
The photos were from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s satellite capturing an image of the swarm of planet-devouring drones, known as the Star Eaters, advancing toward the Solar System. Stark's AI, JARVIS, had processed and enhanced the images to make the blurred details clearer. Reed and Johnny could now see the swarm hurtling toward the Sun, an enormous crater on Earth, and a blurred figure in silver.
The application file contained a one-time access key to Stark Industries' satellite network, with coordinates to view real-time changes occurring on Earth—what one might call 'mutations.'
"What... what the hell is this? What's going on, and why haven't I heard anything?"
The images on the screen were a stark revelation, exposing an undeniable, chilling reality. Reed took a sharp breath. He realized that something significant, something world-altering, was happening right on Earth, and yet he had no clue about it. What did the Star Eaters mean, and who was that Silver Surfer figure? And what about the massive craters appearing all over the world?
Maybe the only person who could answer his questions was Miss Stark herself, once she and Susan returned from shopping.
With that thought, Reed glanced back at the helipad, where the aircraft Stark had arrived in remained parked. Hopefully, she'd come back soon... hopefully.
Susan and Stark had known each other since their days at MIT. Stark had enrolled because she was a prodigy, while Susan's father, Professor Storm, had used his influence to get her an acceptance letter. Stark happened to be his student, so she and Susan became close.
It was thanks to this close bond that Stark had just accepted Susan's invitation to be her maid of honor on the condition that she would take over the entire wedding planning—from the dress to the floral arrangements.
"Oh, no, Natasha—that's way too much! You know how extravagant that'll be. I just can't accept it," Susan had said, trying politely to decline Stark's generosity, though she didn't know that Stark's fortune was almost literally 'blown in by the wind.'
With minimal investment, Stark could amass astronomical returns, as the magic of capitalism worked to make the rich even richer. Since last year, her wealth had grown significantly, making her more than comfortable with covering the wedding costs without a second thought.
Moreover, in the few minutes they'd discussed it, Stark had already devised a plan to market the event as "the first superhero wedding," which could easily generate massive profits, making Susan and Reed's wedding a convenient bonus in the larger scheme.
Of course, Stark didn't say any of this out loud, but chose a gentler approach to reassure Susan.
"Look, since you've already invited me to be your maid of honor, I want to make this wedding as grand as possible. Go and be a beautiful bride. After all...this is the most important day in a woman's life, right?"
Unable to argue with Stark's sentiment, Susan resigned herself to follow Stark's lead. She became Stark's personal mannequin for the day, trying on one dress after another. Yet, even after scouring every store from noon until evening, they couldn't find a gown that matched Stark's vision.
As a result of her unique Mexican, French, and Canadian heritage, Susan had a rare beauty. In the end, unable to find the perfect dress, Stark opted for a bolder approach.
"If you don't mind, I might know the best tailor in the world for this," Stark proposed.
Still slightly confused, Susan followed Stark back to Stark Tower and into Stark's famous New York penthouse.
"Come meet my personal AI butler, JARVIS," Stark introduced with a grin.
"Good evening, Miss Susan Storm. The lady has informed me of her requirements. Please proceed to the sewing room, following the lights on the floor. I'll conduct a full-body scan for your measurements," the AI voice replied.
Susan, distracted by the new surroundings, jumped slightly at JARVIS's sudden greeting. Though Reed was also working on artificial intelligence, his current prototypes weren't quite as advanced as Stark's JARVIS.
Stark's idea of "the world's best tailor" was JARVIS itself. With its extensive access to online sources, JARVIS could quickly locate and analyze thousands of wedding dress designs, and in seconds, create a custom dress that best suited Susan's figure and features. It was this fusion of AI and big data that Stark valued so highly.
The sewing room was a modified space in Stark's penthouse, specifically repurposed for personal projects. Due to the special fabrics Stark had developed, large-scale production wasn't feasible. Using her 3D printer, she could quickly manufacture one-off pieces with specialized materials, though quantity was still limited.
"JARVIS, what's the current situation?"
While Susan followed the illuminated path to the sewing room, Stark stayed behind, lounging on the sofa, visibly exhausted. Negotiating with Asgardian royalty had been draining, but she had finally returned with the ancient Casket of Ancient Winters.
"With the Star Eaters advancing, they will reach the solar system in about thirty hours and Earth within an estimated 168 hours. While you were on Asgard, the Silver Surfer created two more craters in Argentina and Morocco, causing mass panic. S.H.I.E.L.D. has called you multiple times," JARVIS reported.
Stark looked down at her right hand. Her fair skin glowed faintly, forming an intricate Asgardian sigil—a mark that granted her temporary control over the Casket's power. When the crisis was over, she would have to return it.
"Your measurements have been uploaded. I'll begin crafting the dress immediately," JARVIS's voice echoed through the room.
When Susan re-emerged, looking anxious, Stark stood up curiously.
"Tony, the military showed up at Baxter Tower. Reed asked us to head over there right away."
Stark smirked knowingly. So the Pentagon had finally taken notice. They'd likely received some report on the Star Eaters and, realizing they were out of their depth, turned to trusted experts like Reed Richards.
"Alright. Looks like they've seen the data I left behind. A good opportunity to broaden my network."
Susan, unaware of the drive Stark had left, only urged Stark to hurry.
"Relax, I'll get you there quickly—after all, I have more experience dealing with things like this than anyone."
Minutes later, a bright yellow Lamborghini Gallardo roared out of Stark Tower's parking lot, darting through traffic at breakneck speeds. New York PD quickly noticed and started pursuit. However, after a quick call from City Hall, the police backed off, allowing the flashy car to blaze its way to its destination.
Ah, the perks of privilege are sweet indeed.
In the week following the incursion of an unidentified flying object into Earth's atmosphere, a string of bizarre phenomena unfolded: the seas off the coast of Japan froze, the Giza Pyramids lay buried under snow, key cities in California experienced sudden blackouts, and enormous sinkholes appeared worldwide. Each event was proof that something extraordinary was occurring, though humanity's current technological understanding couldn't yet provide an explanation.
When the American Astronomical Association presented a special report to the Department of Defense, it was immediately classified as top-secret and forwarded to both the Oval Office and the United Nations Security Council. The report contained startling findings: the Hubble Space Telescope had observed a previously unseen phenomenon, a pulsing black cloud in outer space.
This ominous black cloud moved across star systems, enveloping planets from various constellations and distant stars, draining them dry as though extracting their very core before each planet imploded.
The most alarming detail, however, was that this black cloud appeared to move with intent, heading towards other planets. Unfortunately, Earth's solar system was directly in its path. In other words, Earth lay in its feeding zone and was on course to become its next meal.
At first, the Department of Defense didn't give the report much weight. But as strange occurrences on Earth escalated beyond the realm of explanation, the report was presented again. By then, everyone who had previously reviewed it understood that the mysterious sinkholes around the world could only mean one thing.
Numerous scientific organizations had already begun studying the sinkholes, and preliminary data showed that these pits extended even deeper than the Kola Superdeep Borehole created during the Cold War, possibly reaching Earth's core.
Why did these pits reach so deep? The question puzzled many, and answers were slow to come. But the Pentagon was starting to grasp the full weight of the situation: these sinkholes were likely conduits, inserted by the black cloud to siphon off Earth's core energy. In other words, Earth was already in its sights, and these 'straw-like' channels were the alien entity's footholds. The discovery triggered alarm within the U.S. military, which began scrambling for a solution.
Yet the idea of a solution was daunting. The black cloud was larger than planets themselves, and Earth's own space technology was still in its infancy. If humanity couldn't even leave its own planet, how could it possibly fight such an unconventional adversary? Launch a nuclear attack? Would a nuclear bomb even rival the core's heat or energy?
This mist-like entity could consume a planet's core energy, making nuclear weapons appear futile, perhaps serving as no more than dessert for the cloud. Even the Pentagon's top scientists could only shake their heads, uncertain if Earth's fate could be averted.
With conventional options exhausted, the Department of Defense turned its gaze towards civilian scientists and potential unrecognized experts.
Of course, to ensure only qualified minds entered the fold, the DoD refrained from publicizing the issue. Any truly capable scientists would recognize the crisis and come forward themselves. But there were exceptions—such as the Fantastic Four's leader, Dr. Reed Richards, whom the Department actively sought out.
The Fantastic Four were a public team of superhumans who couldn't hide behind masks like Spider-Man. They'd previously foiled Doctor Doom's plans, making their identities widely known to the media. Reed, believing openness was better than concealment, made their identities public, establishing the Baxter Building as their official headquarters.
The top floor of the Baxter Building itself was remodeled to feature a glass structure shaped like the number "④," boldly signaling their presence. This public profile made the Fantastic Four the Pentagon's first choice for assistance.
The advisory team dispatched from the Pentagon was an entourage of high-ranking officials from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, led by Brigadier General Hager. Years prior to Reed's powers and public identity, Reed had served as a consultant on the Pentagon's missile defense system, with then-Lieutenant Colonel Hager acting as his liaison. Their longstanding professional relationship persisted to this day, with Hager even receiving a promotion to ensure the Fantastic Four's participation.
The Pentagon's convoy, under Hager's command, set out from Arlington County to New York, encircling the Baxter Building and establishing a perimeter. A uniformed delegation disregarded the front desk's attempts to stop them and proceeded directly inside. Upon receiving the news, Reed quickly dressed and went to greet them.
"Apologies for the intrusion, Dr. Richards, but we need your help," Hager began.
"I don't see much apology in that expression of yours, Hager... I mean, General. I see you've been promoted," Reed replied with a wry smile, noticing his friend's insignia now featured a newly-minted silver star rather than an eagle.
Under Reed's guidance, the Pentagon's delegation arrived at the top floor, the Fantastic Four's operations base. The room's massive circular screen immediately commanded their attention, displaying satellite images captured by Stark Industries' network, which closely monitored Earth's sinkholes. General Hager's expression softened approvingly. The Pentagon had been tracking these events as well, and seeing this level of vigilance in a civilian scientist's lab reinforced his confidence in Richards' expertise.
"I'm glad to see you're already aware of the changes on Earth's surface—this has been quite a problem for us."
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