Fantastic Four: The Engineer of Eternity

Chapter I: Displacement

        It's almost dinner time for those in New York City, but not for Reed Richards and his team. On the top floor of The Baxter Building, they're hard at work, ready to finally test their theory. Reed is perfecting his machine as his best friend, Ben Grimm, stands by for moral support and listens to the radio.

"You know... you could be giving me a hand by holding this up for me, Ben." Reed says in a slightly frustrated manor.

"Yeah, you got it, Reed. Are you at least listening to this story?" Ben asks as he lends a hand holding up part of the machine.

"No, I'm not. My sole focus is making sure this machine is up to code so we actually make it back alive."

"I trust you, Reed. I'm not worried. What has my concern is this... Super Man. How helpful do you think a man in blue tights is gonna be in a war, y'know?"

"Super SOLDIER." Reed responds.

"Huh?"

"They call him The Super SOLDIER, Ben. Not Super Man. It's like you said, we're at war. Nazis, blood, smoke, families being ripped apart. I think the blue tights is a good start when it comes to showing people there may be more to this war than dread. You of all people should know that, Ben."

Ben drops the machine suddenly, "What's that supposed to mean, Reed?" Ben quickly approaches Reed, who's bent down, inspecting the machine.

Reed calmly explains, "You volunteered to be a part of this. Wanted to help because you believed in my idea to change the world. I don't believe in weapons that destroy. I want to prevent destruction. Why send a man through a dangerous battlefield, when he can be transported there within a fragment of a second, unharmed. If this foundation is to participate in war, I refuse to use science for harm. You helped me shut down plans for the gas. Instead, we're gonna contribute to the spread of information between two parties. This would impact even more than just the war! We wouldn't need vehicles anymore, in theory. Some day, who knows how easy it'll be to travel. The sky is the limit. I don't understand how you aren't happier about what we have here today, Ben. The opportunity."

"I could be at home with my family. My mother is terrified because of what all this means for our family. Instead, I'm here with you because you convinced me you knew how to help. Of course I don't want to hurt anybody either... but your talk of changing the future and now this Captain America leading us into a battle of chaos and torture. It has me wondering if anybody takes this as seriously as I do. Or are me and my people just grains of sand beneath your feet?"

"Ben... you're like family to me. What's happening in the world is awful. The will of one man, can't exceed the might of many. Together, we will make a difference. Maybe not right away, but I promise you this is a start. My priorities are with the protection of mankind. Your contributions have helped us get this far."

"Then make this worth it, Reed." Ben walks away to suit up.

Reed's partner and girlfriend, Susan Storm, walks into the lab along with her brother, Johnny. Reed finishes up on his machine and prepares to suit up as well.

"Are we ready, boys?" Sue asks as she finishes zipping up her flight suit.

"We are, honey." Reed gives a few final words as he suits up and prepares to travel. "Thank you all for helping me with this machine. Together, we will change the world. Immediate results are never to be expected. Today, the plan is to arrive right outside this building at the front door. The machine will scan your brain, so focus everything in your mind on where you want to go. In your helmets, are the frequencies that will scanning your head. It's gonna be loud, so it's very important not to panic."

"Don't panic?" Johnny says mockingly. "What if we just spontaneously combust? That's a possibility and you say don't panic?"

"You have to have positive thoughts, Johnny. Focus on the front door, the building, and the sidewalk. That's where you want to go."

"Right. I'll think about falling and going splat on the pavement outside."

"The trip is never going to work if you do that. You have to be with me on this guys. I'm gonna light up the machine and we'll have ten seconds before we get teleported. If everything goes according to plan, we'll arrive outside within the second. Hop in."

Sue, Johnny, and Ben walk inside the teleporter. They're all zipped up with helmets on. Reed throws the switch on the panel and runs to the machine. They all hold hands and teleport.

Approximately one second later, they arrive in an out of order elevator unconscious. Sue, Johnny, and Ben are still together, but Reed is gone. They all regain consciousness around the same time. Johnny is hyperventilating as he tries to take his suit off in order to cool down. Sue grabs her little brother and attempts to calm him down.

"Johnny. Johnny! Stop, leave your suit on. Your body is in the death zone right now. We don't know where we are. Keep everything on." Sue tries to explain.

"I'm burning up, Sue!" Johnny screams.

Sue grabs his arm and looks at his vitals on the sleeve, "It says you're fine, Johnny. It's all in your head. The trip affected your mind, you have to stay calm. Focus on your breathing."

"Suuueeee." Ben calls out with a weak tone of voice. "Where are you?"

"What do you mean? I'm right here."

Ben's skin begins to expand and rip, "I don't see youuuuuu."

Sue takes a look outside the elevator and sees nothing but sand. It's as if they're in the middle of a desert. She takes a step outside the elevator and finds an "X" painted in the sand. She looks around and sees nothing attached to the elevator. It's just a shallow bunker. Nothing seems to make sense. As Sue takes a step back inside, a shadowy figure in the distance approaches.

"Stay back!" Sue exclaims. "Identify yourself or don't come any closer!"

The figure comes into sight and appears to be Reed. As he gets closer, details become more defined. He has grey hair on the sides of his temples now. As well as cuts, a bit of blood, and some bruises on his face.

"Reed? What happened to you?" Sue asks.

Reed runs up to Sue and embraces her. Hugging the life out of her as if it was the first time he'd ever seen her. Or the last.

"I'm so sorry, my love. You're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. I promise I'll never lose you."

"What are you talking about, Reed? Something's happening to Ben and Johnny says he's burning up. We need to find a way back home!"

"I have that." Reed pulls out a small remote and gets in the elevator with Sue. "Also you're-" Reed looks towards Sue, "You're invisible."

"I'm what?!?"

Reed uses the remote and instantly teleports the team back to The Baxter Building.

The four all arrive back in front of their building where they attempted to end up in the first place. Reed looks around at his team. Sue is completely invisible inside her suit, Ben is still slowly ripping out of his, and now Johnny is the one who's gone. Reed sees different cars on the street. Everything seems brighter and louder. On a giant screen in the middle of Times Square, the signs dissolve away as it cuts to a breaking news announcement:

CAPTAIN AMERICA LIVES! FOUND IN A BLOCK OF ICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARCTIC!

Reed starts to breathe rapidly. He looks all around him, unable to recognize the state of the world. He feels as if the planet is spiraling around him. He suddenly collapses to the ground. As people run over to help, they notice something falling from the sky. It's Johnny! Just as he's about to hit the pavement, his body becomes engulfed in flames! Everyone stops dead in their tracks admiring the strange group of four arriving out of nowhere with a man on fire flying before their very eyes.