The Baxter Building towers beneath a storm-filled, black sky. Inside, Reed Richards’ lab is in disarray. Technology beeps, screens flash absurd data, and Reed stands over Susan Storm, his eyes wide with desperation and his hands quivering. Susan’s body wavers, her form appearing and disappearing, her molecules vibrating at a rate that defies his understanding. “What’s happening to me, Reed?” Susan’s voice falters, not much louder than a whisper. Her translucent hand extends towards him. Reed stutters, frantically typing on his computer as his thoughts race over every known scientific hypothesis. “I-I don’t know,” he stammers. However, nothing fits. No recognized sickness or mutation could account for her condition. Standing nearby, Ben Grimm clenches his large stone fists, despair in his eyes. “Stretch, this needs to be fixed. “But a voice cuts him off before he can answer. “Maybe I can assist. “Emerging from the shadows, Nova’s silver armour shimmers with cosmic energy that fills the room and pulses. The atmosphere instantly changes as he enters, lending an air of authority—and menace.

Under the disorganized glow of their multiversal gadgets, Reed Richards and his counterpart, the Alternate Reed Richards, toiled feverishly in the lab of the parallel universe. The two scientists worked together, their faces harshly lit by their monitors, and the aura bubbled with energy. Examining the multiversal scanner that Reed had constructed, Alternate Reed spoke in a hurry, “Outstanding effort. Though not exactly how I would have approached it, it’s still intriguing. There is more to molecular destabilization than just disease. I’m having the same symptoms as your Susan. There must be a connection between these”.

As he answered, Reed’s hands trembled, and his nervousness was evident. “He was indeed, connected. However, why? How could there be such a sudden instability between two different universes’ versions of the same person? No sense is made of it.” Johnny Storm interrupted, his fiery demeanor expressing his annoyance. Since Nova became involved, nothing about this has made sense. The lab lights flickered menacingly at that moment, and Nova entered the room, his silver armor gleaming with disconcerting cosmic energy. A shiver went through the room at his presence. “Subversion? What a harsh word. “Intervention” is what I like best. You two are so in sync with reality. It would be unfortunate to give up now”. Reed’s terrified and enraged gaze narrowed. “Have you not been manipulating us from the beginning?” 

A sarcastic smile curved Nova’s lip, “Come on, Reed, come on. You can’t be that taken aback. I mean, this is what I do, bend the very fabric of existence, change realities. Simply put, your darling Susan was in the wrong place at the wrong time”. Reed’s alternate expression twisted in alarm. “You believed in him?” Reed’s tone was a mixture of resignation and annoyance. “I was stuck with no option.” Ben Grimm stepped forward, his voice a low growl, his stony fists clenched. “So, what happens next? Do you think we’ll just watch as you destroy the multiverse?”. The lab reverberated with Nova’s laughter. “Not at all. I anticipate that you will be entrapped in this universe and unable to stop me”. Nova unleashed a ripple-like distortion that scoured the entire lab with a wave of his hand. Sparks flew as the portal device short-circuited and crackled. As he observed the connection between universes breaking, Reed’s face went white. “No… the connection has been broken!” With terror in his voice, Reed yelled. Nova grinned more broadly, “That’s accurate. There’s no more way home. This is where you’re stuck. I have other realities to shape in the interim”. Despite his weariness, Reed stepped forward with determination. “Nova, you might have played us off before. But this time, you will not prevail”. Sardonic in his smile, Nova was getting ready to unleash his cosmic power. And Reed, “just what precisely are you going to do? Surpass me in thought?”. Reed had a fierce determination in his eyes. “That is precisely what I intend to do.” 

With Reed and Alternate Reed working side by side and their respective consoles humming with power, the lab turned into a flurry of activity. In their quest to stop the multiversal drift and construct a new bridge to their home reality, the two scientists were united. As he looked over Reed’s device, Alternate Reed’s voice grew urgent. It won’t be more than a few minutes before Nova destroys this reality. “It will completely collapse if we do nothing right away”. Reed answered with a serious look on his face. “I am aware. To see if we can capture the energy from the multiversal drift that Nova created, I’m doing some calculations. We may be able to produce enough energy to breach the multiverse once more if we can direct it into the bridge”. 

Reed, the alternate, nodded in agreement. “It might work, but it’s risky. We must channel the energy through both Susans at the same time. Their molecular structures will serve as links between the various universes”. Ben sounded anxious in his voice, “What if something goes wrong?”. On the other side, Reed looked serious. “It might rip them apart in the literal sense”. Johnny continued, “Excellent,” igniting his flame. “Then, no pressure”. As all of this was going on, Nova was outside the lab gathering cosmic energy for his last blow. The Fantastic Four realized they needed to move quickly. Their surroundings shimmered with Nova’s evil influence as their towering form crackled with power and they faced him. 

The whisper of Nova’s voice was unsettling. “Fantastic Four, it’s too late. I will bend this reality to my will, and you will vanish into the never-ending void”. Reed took a stance, resolute. “Not if we can discuss it in any way.” Reed and Alternate Reed pressed their buttons simultaneously. Both Susans released a burst of energy that sent a powerful ripple across the multiverse. Nova’s power was unstable due to the cosmic energy, and he struggled to maintain control. His confident façade broke as he struggled to break free from the entangling feedback loop. “You think that’ll stop me?” Nova growled a hint of desperation in his voice. “I control the realities!” “Yeah, well, maybe it’s time you met the master of flaming you out of existence!” Johnny exclaimed, his flames growing darker. 

Finally, in a desperate attempt, Reed and Alternate Reed directed all the energy in Nova’s direction. As the feedback loop grew stronger, Nova’s power was consumed, and a tremendous light explosion resulted. As Nova was engulfed by his cosmic forces and disappeared from the multiverse, his venomous scream resounded. Reed went to his knees, exhausted but victorious. “We succeeded—we defeated him.” Reed, the alternate, nodded and checked his device. “The multiverse provides stability.” Nova’s intervention has stopped. With their bodies at last stable, the two Susans stood by their respective Reeds, completely healed and at peace. Susan turned to face Reed, her voice soft with thanks. “You kept me alive. We’re all saved by you”. 

Johnny’s voice broke the quiet in the lab as the dust settled. “So, when are we leaving for home?” Reed, with a dejected expression, stared at the now-broken dimensional bridge. “We… are unable to.” Nova broke off the contact. There’s no turning around. The team came to a heavy silence as the realization set in. Ben spoke in a low, nearly defeated tone. “We’re stranded here,” Despite the situation, Alternate Reed spoke in a firm tone. “For the time being. However, a way is always found. We’ll work it out eventually, but it will take time. With renewed determination, Reed turned to his team and nodded. “We’ll manage to get home. I swear”. 

The Fantastic Four were together but unsure of their future as they faced the great unknown of their new reality. With their bonds intact but their route home hidden, the scene ended with them gazing out into the boundless emptiness of this parallel universe. 

Penned By:

Team Fantastic Four – Rotaverse ’24