"Hey, guys!"
he said, his voice light and teasing despite the gravity of the moment.
"Looks like I missed the welcome party."
His relaxed demeanor offered a stark contrast to the chaos swirling around them. Reed, Johnny, Sue, and Ben exchanged glances, a combination of relief and bewilderment washing over them.
"You… you're Tony Stark! What's going on? Where are we? What happened?"
Sue Storm asked, her voice frantic, firing off questions as her body flickered in and out of visibility, reacting to her heightened emotions like a glitch in reality.
Tony, unphased, gave her a half-smirk and waved a hand dismissively.
"I know, I know. Big explosion, major freak-out. Relax."
He paused briefly, leaning casually against a nearby console.
"You're in a secure SHIELD facility. We've been monitoring you for about a week—"
"What is SHIELD?"
Reed interrupted, his scientific mind already focused on understanding their circumstances.
Tony shot him a mildly annoyed look but relented, sighing dramatically.
"That's something the guy coming in next will explain. Hey, pirate!"
Tony called, raising his voice.
"You can come in now. And you too, Bruce."
The doors slid open with a soft hiss, and the rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed through the room as two figures entered. One was a tall man with an eyepatch and a commanding presence—Nick Fury. The other, a more reserved but familiar figure—Dr. Bruce Banner.
Reed's eyes lit up instantly at the sight of Bruce, his inner nerd taking over.
"Dr. Banner! I'm a huge fan of your work. The way you've managed to harness—and, in some ways, coexist with such volatile energy—it's remarkable! Especially your advancements in cellular regeneration. I've been doing some work on energy flux myself, but nothing near your level."
Reed's excitement spilled out in rapid-fire sentences, momentarily forgetting the gravity of their situation. His words earned him a collective side-eye from his friends, who were clearly less than amused by his timing. Realizing the awkwardness, Reed quickly shut up, glancing sheepishly at Sue, Johnny, and Ben.
"Now that Reed here is done fangirling,"
Tony teased, before nodding toward Fury.
"This guy will fill in the blanks."
Fury stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the group before he spoke, his voice authoritative and calm.
"My name is Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD. A week ago, there was an explosion at the Baxter Building. That explosion triggered a blackout across New York City. When emergency responders arrived, they found you inside the wreckage. You're lucky to even be alive."
He let his words sink in for a moment before continuing,
"You were taken to a hospital initially, but after realizing the nature of your... condition, we moved you to a SHIELD facility for further observation."
Reed frowned, his mind spinning with a thousand questions.
"Condition?"
Fury didn't miss a beat.
"As for what SHIELD is—think of us as the people who handle the stuff you don't even know exists. We're the line between this world and the things that want to tear it apart. Aliens, weapons of mass destruction, superpowered threats—you name it. We're here to intervene when those things show up."
He glanced at each of them in turn, his gaze hard but not unkind.
"Right now, we're looking for people who can do what no one else can when the time comes. People like you."
That last sentence hit hard, and Johnny Storm, his temper flaring as quickly as his powers, narrowed his eyes. His body ignited, flames rippling up his arms and over his body.
"What do you mean people like us? Are you saying we're a threat?"
His voice carried a dangerous edge, his fiery form casting flickering shadows across the room.
Fury didn't flinch.
"As you are right now? Yes."
The tension in the room was palpable as Johnny's flames surged, but Fury remained calm, his one eye fixed on the Human Torch.
Sensing the need to defuse the situation, Tony quickly stepped in, holding up his hands.
"Whoa, whoa—what he's trying to say is that, without learning to control your powers, it could be dangerous. Not just for you, but for everyone around you. You don't want to hurt anyone, right?"
Tony's words seemed to reach Johnny, and slowly, the flames around his body died down, leaving him standing there, chest heaving, but calmer.
Ben Grimm, who had been quiet up until now, stepped forward, his gravelly voice betraying a hint of desperation.
"Have you figured out what happened to us? Can you fix us?"
His question was loaded with hope, a hope that maybe, just maybe, everything could go back to normal.
Fury exchanged a look with Tony and Banner, then spoke with measured honesty.
"We're working on figuring it out. But right now? There's no simple fix. What happened to you is beyond anything we've seen."
Tony nodded, stepping closer.
"We've been running every test we can think of. Your DNA—it's been fundamentally altered. Whatever that explosion was, it wasn't just an accident. It changed you on a molecular level."
Bruce chimed in, speaking softly but with scientific precision.
"Your bodies have adapted to handle extreme forces—energy, pressure, heat—things that would destroy most people. We're still trying to understand the full extent of it."
Ben's shoulders sagged, his rocky exterior seeming to weigh him down even more.
"So… we're stuck like this?"
Fury's face softened just slightly.
"For now, yes. But SHIELD will work with you. You'll learn how to control it. And maybe, one day, we'll find a way to reverse it. But until then, you're not alone in this."
Tony gave them a reassuring grin.
"Look, I've been through some pretty weird stuff myself. But I can promise you this—you'll get through it. We'll figure it out, together."
After giving the four of them a moment to absorb the weight of their situation, Tony cleared his throat, drawing their attention.
"Alright, now that we've got the introductions out of the way, let's break down exactly what's going on with each of you."
Bruce stepped forward, tablet in hand, his voice calm and professional.
"We've been running detailed diagnostics on your physiology. Each of you was affected differently by the cosmic radiation, resulting in... well, what we're calling 'unique mutations.'"
He paused, looking at Reed first.
"Mr. Richards, let's start with you. Based on our scans, your body has developed an unprecedented level of elasticity. Every cell in your body has essentially become malleable, allowing you to stretch, bend, and contort in ways that defy normal human anatomy."
Reed listened carefully, nodding along, but then his scientific mind kicked in.
"It's more than just elasticity, isn't it? The cellular structure is adapting to external stressors without showing any signs of fatigue or damage. My body's molecular bonds must have been fundamentally altered to maintain cohesion at such extreme ranges. Fascinating…"
Tony smirked at Reed's rapid deductions.
"And here I was thinking I'd have to dumb it down for you. Nice to see you're keeping up, Stretch."
Bruce continued,
"Exactly. Your cells seem to have an almost fluid-like property, but they're incredibly durable. We're still trying to understand the long-term effects, but for now, it seems your body can withstand almost any kind of physical manipulation without harm."
Reed's eyes lit up, his mind already spinning with the possibilities.
"If I can control the rate of expansion and contraction, I could potentially… Well, the applications could be limitless! I'll need to run my own tests to confirm, but this could—"
Tony cut him off with a grin.
"Yeah, yeah. Save the science talk for later, Richards. Let's move on."
Bruce shifted his gaze to Sue.
"Sue, your mutation is a bit more complex. You seem to have the ability to manipulate light around your body, rendering yourself invisible. But that's just the beginning. Our scans indicate that you're also capable of generating force fields. We haven't seen it manifest yet, but it's there, waiting to be tapped into."
Sue blinked, her emotions still raw.
"So I can turn invisible? And create… force fields?"
Tony chimed in,
"Yep. You're essentially a walking cloaking device and a shield generator all in one. Very cool, very tactical."
Sue looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers as she tried to process it all.
"How do I control it? Every time I get emotional, I just… disappear."
Bruce gave her a reassuring smile.
"Control will come with practice. The invisibility seems to be tied to your emotional state, but with the right training, you'll be able to activate it at will."
Next, Tony turned to Johnny, raising an eyebrow.
"And then there's you, Hothead."
Johnny's eyes narrowed slightly, the flames flickering briefly on his arm.
"What's happening to me? Why do I keep bursting into flames?"
Bruce glanced at the data on his tablet.
"Your body has essentially become a living conduit for thermal energy. You're able to generate, manipulate, and control fire. The problem is, right now, it's directly linked to your emotional state—especially anger. The hotter your temper, the hotter the flames."
Johnny flexed his fingers, staring at the flickering embers dancing across his skin.
"So what—you're saying I'm some kind of human torch?"
Tony couldn't resist.
"Bingo. You've got your own internal flame thrower. But you'll need to learn to control it, or you'll end up burning everything—and everyone—around you."
Johnny grinned, clearly enjoying the idea despite the danger.
"Alright, that sounds kinda badass. Just need to work on the whole 'not setting myself on fire' part."
Finally, Bruce turned to Ben, his expression sympathetic.
"Ben, your condition is… different."
Ben's rocky brow furrowed, his voice deep and gravelly.
"Yeah, no kidding."
Bruce hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Your body has undergone a massive transformation. Your skin, muscles, and bones have all been replaced by an incredibly dense, rock-like substance. It gives you immense strength and durability, but…"
Tony finished the thought, his tone softer than usual.
"It's irreversible. At least, from what we can tell right now."
Ben clenched his fists, looking down at his massive, stone-covered hands.
"So I'm stuck like this? A freakin' monster?"
Bruce shook his head.
"No. You're not a monster, Ben. Your strength and resilience are off the charts. You're stronger than anything we've seen—stronger than the Hulk, even, at least in terms of raw physical power."
"But it's not about what you look like,"
Tony added.
"It's about how you use that strength. And trust me, if anyone understands what it feels like to be trapped in a body they didn't ask for, it's Bruce."
Ben let out a low growl, the weight of the situation hitting him hard.
"Yeah, well, it doesn't make it any easier."
Sue reached out, placing a hand on Ben's rocky arm.
"We'll figure this out together, Ben. You're not alone."
Reed, who had been quietly absorbing everything, finally spoke up, his voice measured and thoughtful.
"It's clear that the cosmic radiation fundamentally altered our DNA, but the key is understanding how it happened. The energy fluctuations must have triggered some kind of mutagenic response, but why did it affect us differently?"
Bruce nodded.
"That's the million-dollar question. We're still running tests to figure out the exact mechanisms, but it's clear that each of you was affected in unique ways. It could be due to your individual genetics, or maybe the specific conditions you were exposed to during the blast."
Reed's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"I'd like to get my hands on the data you've collected. If we can analyze the energy signatures from the explosion, we might be able to reverse-engineer the process and find a way to control—or even reverse—these mutations."
Tony gave him a knowing grin.
"Already ahead of you, Stretch. We've got all the data you need, but it's gonna take some serious brainpower to crack this one. Luckily, I've got a lot of that. And so do you, apparently."
A few days had passed since their initial conversation with Tony, Bruce, and Fury. The Fantastic Four had begun settling into their new reality. Despite the strange circumstances, there was an underlying sense of purpose now that they had started to grasp the extent of their powers.
Tony strolled into the training area where the Fantastic Four were gathered. His gaze scanned the group, pausing on Bruce, who was typing away on a tablet, analyzing more data.
"Alright, team,"
Tony started, a sly grin spreading across his face.
"Big news. Stark Expo's in a week. I'll need to head back to make sure it doesn't turn into a disaster, but before I go, I want to make sure you're all ready to tackle this situation."
Reed adjusted his glasses, looking over at Tony with a mixture of curiosity and determination.
"So, what do you have in mind for us?"
Tony waved a hand in Bruce's direction.
"Well, Bruce here is going to stick around. You two—" Tony pointed between Bruce and Reed—"will work on suits for the team. It's going to take both your brains to get it right."
Bruce nodded in agreement. "We've been analyzing your unique energy signatures and how your powers interact with your environment. These suits will help you channel your abilities, providing stability and minimizing strain on your bodies."
Johnny, leaning back with his feet kicked up on a table, raised an eyebrow.
"So, we're getting super suits, huh? This sounds like fun."
Tony shot him a mock-serious look.
"Oh, it's going to be fun until you accidentally blow up half a city block, Hothead. The suits are there to stop that from happening."
Johnny smirked, a small flame flickering between his fingers.
"No promises."
Sue stepped in, her arms crossed.
"What about the training? You've talked a lot about control, but how are we going to achieve that?"
Tony turned toward the sleek training area where various holographic targets were popping up and moving around. "That's the other thing. While I'm off setting up the Expo, Bruce along with SHIELD will train you guys. You're going to have to master your powers if you want to avoid turning into the next world-ending catastrophe. We can't have another New York blackout on our hands."
Ben, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, let out a low grunt.
"I just want to know if this means I'll get any better at not wrecking everything I touch."
Bruce gave him a small, understanding smile.
"The goal is to control your strength, Ben. It won't happen overnight, but we'll work on making sure you're more comfortable in your own skin."
Tony clapped his hands together, clearly eager to shift gears.
"Alright, enough talking. I've got some last-minute work to do, but Bruce will lead the charge from here. Reed, you'll assist in designing the suits—no one knows your powers better than you."
Reed nodded.
"I've already got a few ideas. We can focus on enhancing our capabilities while reducing any risks associated with using our powers at full strength."
Tony patted him on the back.
"That's the spirit, Stretch. I'll leave the science to you two. I've got a tower to build and an Expo to host."
As Tony made his way toward the exit, Johnny called after him,
"You're really just going to leave us with Mr. Calm-and-Collected here? What if we accidentally blow something up?"
Tony paused, turning to give Johnny a wink.
"That's why you'll have Bruce here to keep you from setting the world on fire. And hey, maybe one day you'll get an invite to Stark Expo—if you don't burn the place down first."
With that, Tony turned and left, his footsteps echoing as he walked out of the facility.
Tony's private jet, powered by an advanced arc reactor, cut through the clear skies as it approached the Malibu coastline. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the waves crashing against the cliffs. From his seat, Tony could already see the outline of his iconic cliffside mansion, a beacon of technology nestled against nature's raw beauty.
He leaned back, his mind buzzing with thoughts about the Four scientists and their training. Bruce was more than capable of handling the science and the training, but Tony couldn't shake the feeling that something about this situation was... different. Everything felt slightly off. Almost like a ripple in time, faint but present.
"JARVIS," Tony called, breaking the silence.
"Yes, sir?"
JARVIS's calm, measured voice responded through the speakers.
Tony paused for a second, gathering his thoughts.
"I've been thinking about something, and I need your take on it. The timeline—there's been changes."
"Are you referring to the anomalies caused by the events in New York or the larger shifts since your return?"
Tony smirked. Leave it to JARVIS to cut to the heart of the matter.
"Exactly. That trip a year ago. It's like I've been walking through a different path ever since. Butterfly effect, right?"
JARVIS processed for a moment before replying,
"Indeed. Your actions since your return have caused numerous divergences from what could be considered the 'previous' timeline. For instance, the explosion at the Baxter Building—a significant event—did not occur in the prior version of events. The discovery of the four scientists powers, their involvement with SHIELD, and the current situation with Bruce Banner and Reed Richards are also new variables. Additionally, there have been subtle differences in global geopolitical shifts and the technological advancements made under your guidance."
Tony frowned slightly. He'd always been a firm believer in progress, but these shifts were a bit more... personal.
"But we're not talking about some minor differences, are we? These are big moves. If the Baxter Building explosion never happened before, what other changes have we triggered?"
JARVIS responded smoothly,
"In the previous timeline, your focus was much more singular—primarily dealing with the ramifications of the Iron Man identity reveal, your efforts to stabilize Stark Industries, and, eventually, the escalating situation with the Mandarin. The Stark Expo did take place, but on a much smaller scale and with fewer technological advancements than are currently planned."
Tony stood up, pacing a bit in the luxurious cabin of his jet.
"Right, because I wasn't juggling a trillion-dollar company, revolutionizing the energy market, and keeping tabs on a group of superheroes-in-training back then."
"There are, of course, other differences as well. Your relationship with Ms. Potts has progressed at a faster rate in this timeline, and your dealings with certain key figures—such as Thaddeus Ross—have been altered significantly,"
JARVIS added, referencing Ross's imprisonment and Tony's careful orchestration of Bruce's pardon.
Tony's lips curled into a faint smile at that.
"Well, that was intentional. I'm not exactly itching to see Ross meddling with Banner again."
He looked out the window as the mansion loomed closer.
"But there's still a lot of unknowns. The scientists, for instance. They weren't even on my radar before. And the Baxter Building explosion… there's no record of that happening. Feels like the universe is adjusting."
JARVIS's tone was neutral but thoughtful.
"Your actions may indeed be influencing the direction of time in ways that cannot be fully anticipated. There is a theory known as quantum determinism—the idea that even small decisions can lead to cascading effects on a much larger scale. The introduction of the these four into the timeline could be the result of your influence, or it could be an event that was always destined to occur, merely triggered earlier by your actions."
Tony rubbed his temples.
"So, I either caused it, or it was bound to happen anyway. That's comforting."
His tone was sarcastic, but there was a hint of genuine concern beneath it.
As the jet touched down and he prepared to head into the mansion, Tony had one last question.
"JARVIS, give me an rundown of the important stuff"
JARVIS hesitated briefly, then answered.
"Aside from the Stark Expo, sir, there are a number of potential threats. While some are immediate, like the ongoing situation with the explosion, others are more... distant, but no less pressing. The Winter Soldier's movements remain unpredictable, and there are increasing anomalies in the data surrounding an individual known as Stephen Strange. Additionally, the Asgardian Thor may return to Earth soon."
Tony sighed, loosening his tie and pouring himself a drink as he sank into the couch.
As he took a sip, his thoughts drifted back to the Expo, the Explosion, Bruce, and the countless unknowns on the horizon. One thing was certain: this was a new timeline, with new challenges—and Tony Stark was never one to back down from a challenge.