Fantastic Four: The Engineer of Eternity

Chapter II: The New World Around Us

        A few days have passed since the four arrived back home. They've become a sensation overnight. Gone for a matter of several minutes, they returned decades later in a world of super heroes. All they know is science. Their desire is exploration and understanding of the universe. Always wanting to better the world using technology as opposed to violence. The world has changed significantly and their new challenge is how to fit in when everything they knew is ancient history.

Johnny is flying around the lab with his newfound abilities. Laughing as he leaves streaks of fire in the scaffolding. He might just be the only one currently enjoying his new life.

"Johnny, that suit is a prototype! Take it easy. I don't want it to fail on you while you're in the air. I made these in a day, they aren't perfect." Reed says with caution.

Reed and Sue sit below at a table looking over the blueprints for the machine and what exactly went wrong. Reed's rummaging through the papers quickly and almost frantically.

Sue brings attention to it, "Reed... it's like you're looking for something. Specific."

Reed stops flipping papers and looks at Sue as if he's scared of something.

Sue takes his hand, "Talk to me. What did you see over there?"

Before Reed opens his mouth, he gets a quick flashback to what he encountered in that desert. He almost forgets to speak, but manages one word, "Myself."

Sue looks confused, "What do you mean?"

Reed takes a deep breath and begins, "I didn't arrive in that elevator with the rest of you. I was in this open lab. The structure was there, but the walls were blown out and the windows were broken. It was the skeleton of what was once a laboratory... and in that laboratory... was myself. He was waiting for me. I was afraid of what all that meant. Then... he just attacked me. We fought and that's when I discovered I had abilities. I was able to fight him off using those abilities and that's when I found you guys."

"This is beyond us. What does this mean?"

"I'm still trying to piece it all together." Reed says quietly.

Sue looks confused, "Reed? Is there more aren't you telling me?"

"It's just a lot to process right now. The entire universe has just opened up around us, Sue. The new world around us... it's more fascinating than I could have ever imagined."

Across town, Ben Grimm stands in the middle of The Museum of Jewish Heritage. Due to the time displacement from their machine, Ben was forced to miss years of the battle he was fighting for with his family. He stands there learning, while covered in a trench coat and fedora to hide his new appearance. The history is harmful. The terror he missed and the horror his family had to endure without him. His family is gone and his new curse sets him apart from Reed, Sue, and Johnny. A tear streams down his face as he feels truly alone.

Ben is not a monster. He walks through the streets with his head down as he sees himself as such. Unfortunately, the rest of the world sees him the same. Seeing and knowing are mutually exclusive. Ben is a good man with a big heart. He's tired. Sick of what the world has become. He saw the monster of this world and attempted to slay it. The reward was his life being flipped around, forced to fight for himself. Hoping to find a spot within his new family.

Just then, a portal opens right in front of Ben as he's walking down the sidewalk. The portal has a blue glow to it, with flickers of purple. Out steps an android. An orange face and limbs with a purple helmet and armor. He's slightly taller than the already massive Ben Grimm. The opening of the portal blew so much air in front of Ben that it knocked his hat off, revealing the man made of rock.

Ben tilts his head up at the android, "Hey, buddy... you wanna get out of my way?"

The android slowly begins to turn away from Ben and then suddenly back hands him, sending him flying across the street and smashing into a parked car! The android sprints at Ben and leaps into the air with its fists raised. Ben manages to dive out of harm's way as the android completely smashes the car.

"Okay, pal, you want some of this?" Ben rips his trench coat off and winds up, "Today is NOT the day!" He plants one foot forward as the android looks angry. It begins to charge once again towards Ben. Ben smashes the android in the face and sends it flying down the road, being dragged through the street until it finally comes to a complete stop.

Ben looks at his surroundings as people gather around the excitement. They look shocked as if they don't know whether to be afraid of Ben or cheer for him. Then, their faces turn to horror as they begin to run away.

"Figures." Ben says as he fails to see the commotion behind him. Ben turns around to see the android glowing purple, while still on the ground.

The android gets to its feet and begins to grow even larger in size as well as strength. Its about the size of a small building now. The android takes five steps and makes its way over to Ben.

"Don't you-" Ben is cut off as the android picks up Ben. The android looks around the city, scanning until it locates The Baxter Building. It winds up and hurls Ben across town, smashing straight through the top floor of the lab.

Reed and Sue rush to his aid, "Ben?!" Reed helps Ben sit up. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Ben opens his eyes, "No, Reed. I'm pretty damn far from okay." He says while looking past them.

Reed and Sue turn around to find the, now giant, android staring at them from outside the wreckage of their building.