Fantastic 4 by Joseph Daniel

Author:Joseph, Daniel [Joseph, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket
Published: 2007-04-23T18:30:00+00:00

11

THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS situated at the London Chancery Building in Grosvenor Square. The sprawling, rectangular building was nine stories high and dug three stories into the ground. A large gilded aluminum bald eagle with a wingspan of over thirty-five feet sat stoically on the roof of the chancery building, making it an instantly recognizable landmark in a city already crowded with stately architecture and breathtaking buildings. One of the largest United States diplomatic buildings in the world, its white facade and surrounding gardens gave the severe architecture an almost calm and peaceful aura.

Inside the building, it was an entirely different matter.

“What the hell was that?” General Hager’s booming voice was more brusque than usual, and Reed couldn’t blame him. The silver alien not only managed to escape their grasp but also dried up the Thames River, hurt numerous bystanders with its attack on the Millennium Wheel, and left a large crater in the middle of the now empty riverbed. According to Captain Raye, who’d spoken to them before Hager came into the room, the White House wasn’t pleased, Downing Street wasn’t pleased, and General Hager, the man responsible for the botched mission, was certainly not pleased.

Reed tried to console the irate general. “We’ll make adjustments,” he said. “Next time, we’ll be ready.” Despite his brave words, his confidence was shaken. Their second encounter with the Silver Surfer had been worse than the first. The strain of saving the wheel had pushed Sue to her limits and almost killed her. Johnny’s unpredictability was greatly compounded by his unstable molecular structure, which caused him to switch powers with any member of the group he came into physical contact with. And Ben? His strength was matched only by the intensity of the cold shoulder he was currently giving Reed. Reed hated to admit it, but he knew this wasn’t the Fantastic Four’s finest hour.

Hager’s gruff voice interrupted his thoughts. “Next time?! There is no next time. You can’t handle this alone. That’s why I brought in some help.” He motioned to a guard, who left the room.

Reed began to protest. “General, bringing in more soldiers and weaponry is only going to put innocent people in danger.”

A disembodied voice answered Reed’s statement. “More than you already have?”

The source of the voice was unmistakable. After all, each of the Four had heard it, at some point, in their nightmares. Since the cosmic storm. Since the attempts on their lives. Since the fight that left him dead, burned and frozen in his own metallic skin.

Reed and the others turned in the direction of the voice and were stunned into silence. Standing in front of them, alive and able, was Victor Von Doom, back from the dead. Only Reed, after a few moments, managed to find his voice: “Victor?”

“What’s the matter?” Victor asked, a smile twisting his mangled, damaged face. “Afraid of ghosts?”

The shocked inaction of the Fantastic Four lasted only a moment. They sprung into motion, once again ready to face their sworn enemy.

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