Quoted By:
<span class="mu-g">“Careful. Are you alright?”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“Y-yeah, I’m good.”</span>
She gave him a warm smile and patted him on the back. That was nearly enough to make Sam lose his balance. Gwen blushed a bit. She was about to apologize, when Van waved a hand to get everyone’s attention.
<span class="mu-b">“I am going after Alicia Masters next.”</span>
Same held out a hand to stop her.
<span class="mu-s">“Hold it. Ben won’t let you take her without taking him too. And if you take him, then the Doombots are gonna react.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“So we need to get them all out at the same time.”</span>
You concluded.
<span class="mu-b">“Then it would be better for me to remain in the building and assemble the team until Flint arrives.”</span>
Van said. You looked out into the distance and caught another glimpse of the roving dust cloud that was your best friend.
<span class="mu-r">“Should be any moment now.”</span>
Van nodded and disappeared once more. After that, it was only a matter of waiting.
—------
When Flint arrived, he descended on the Baxter Building like a biblical swarm of angry locusts. The sandstorm darkened the sky and swallowed up every Doombot that dared to get in its way. And by the time it had touched the ground, the entire 35-story tower was obscured by the abnormal weather phenomenon. It truly was a marvelous sight to see.
A few minutes later, Van returned with a few new friends. Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, Alicia Masters and four children had hitched a ride with her. Interestingly, two of the children seemed to be aliens. One was a Skrull, and the other had blue skin, so you thought it safe to assume that their heritage wasn't entirely human.
They looked around in confusion, but they shook off their disorientation in record time. Reed breathed out a sigh.
<span class="mu-b">“Thank you…Va Nee, was it?”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“That’s right. And when we have time, I would like to talk at length about what I briefly mentioned before.”</span>
Sue placed a reassuring hand on Van’s shoulder.
<span class="mu-s">“Of course. But for now, we’ve got a whole city to worry about.”</span>
Van gave the woman a rare smile, only for it to fade slightly when she heard The Thing grinding his teeth together and letting out a low growl.
<span class="mu-r">“I swear, when I get my hands on that big ugly refrigerator magnet…!”</span>
He slammed a craggy fist into an open palm. Johnny seemed to agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment.
<span class="mu-r">“I know! I had a date tonight. With a supermodel! And Doom picks now to invade? I swear he’s spying on me.”</span>
Johnny folded his arms in a huff. Sue just rolled her eyes.
<span class="mu-s">“Right. Because Doom wants nothing more than to ruin your dating life, Johnny.”</span>
You, Gwen and Sam just watched as they bantered with one another. Gwen looked absolutely starstruck, and she seemed to be trying to find a good time to introduce herself.
(Cont.)
