[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZfvPPwT.png[/img][/center]
[b]Baxter Building, New York[/b]

[color=#ffffff]Guy could smell Hector Hammond’s putrid breath from across the room. A long bead of drool left the corner of his mouth and dribbled down his chin. It fell to the ground and landed beside Reed Richards and Harrison Wells. They were unconscious. Guy scanned the lab for the others. Johnny and Reed were knocked out by the chairs. Only Ben Grimm was still standing. Truth be told, Gardner wasn’t sure he’d want anyone else by his side in a close-quarters firefight. [/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Now there’s a face only a mother can love. This guy a relative of yours or something, Benji? That mug’s got Yancy Street written all over it.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]There was no response. Guy looked again to the Thing only to find that his famous blue eyes were the same sickly yellow as Hector Hammonds. From his seat, Hammond laughed, or as near to a laugh as he could muster – his fork-like tongue slithering between his rancid teeth as his cheeks expanded back and forth.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~I am afraid that your friend, poor ‘Benji’ as you called him, is no longer with us, Agent Gardner. You see, his simple brain belongs to me now – I see all his thoughts, his memories, his deepest, darkest desires. It's all mine for the taking.~[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Yeah, yeah,” [/color][color=#ffffff]Guy scoffed as his hand snaked towards the service weapon on his waist. [/color][color=#b6d7a8]“You keep talking, you steaming pile of crap.”[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~Are you going to shoot me, Agent? That would be very unwise. I have placed your colleagues in the deepest of sleeps. One that only I can wake them from. Were some terrible [i]accident[/i] to befall me, say, a bullet through the skull, they would never wake again.~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Guy sneered. Hammond’s breath was so bad that he was finding it difficult to breathe. He had nothing on him – if he was powerful enough to take down Reed, Johnny, and Sue in one swoop, there was no way Guy could take him down with a bullet. And there was [i]definitely [/i]no way he could take down Ben with just a gun. Whether he liked it or not, Guy was backed into a corner with only one way out.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]He swung his gun free and unfurled a bullet from it with a crack. It flew directly towards the space between Hammond’s eyes – stopping short only a milimetre from the villain’s bulbous head.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~You would risk your friend’s lives?~[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“What can I say?”[/color] Guy said with a defiant grin. [color=#b6d7a8]“I've always been a gambling man.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]With a squint, Hammond sent the bullet flying back towards Gardner and the SHIELD agent tried to leap out of its path. The bullet nicked Guy’s side and he cried out in pain. Hammond laughed again, as Gardner landed on the ground with a thud, and his sickly yellow eyes turned towards Johnny and Franklin Storm. He was about to lower his chair towards them when he heard the lab doors being flung open. Disappearing through them was Guy Gardner – leaving a trail of blood behind him.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~Intriguing.~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Hammond’s glance rested upon Ben Grimm. Without the usual warmth and colour to his eyes, Ben looked every bit a ‘Thing’ – his heavy, rock-like brow now twisted into something cold and uncaring. [/color]

[color=#ffff00]~After him, you oafish creature. I didn't spend fifteen years dreaming of getting my revenge on Franklin Storm to have it ruined by a glorified babysitter.~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The Thing’s limbs lugged forwards. There was no life to the movements, no sign of the personality that had made Yancy Street’s favourite son beloved by those that knew him, only a vacant, yellow glare filled with Hammond’s murderous intent. Upon reaching the lab doors, he didn't bother to push them open, but burst through them instead. Wordlessly he followed the trail of blood through the corridors of the Baxter Building.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]With each lumbering footstep it felt as if the building itself was moving. In the small room opposite Reed’s lab, Guy was taking shelter from the creature formerly known as Ben Grimm. He was coated in sweat. He figured several criss-crossing sprints through the Baxter Building’s many paths ought to keep Ben off his trail long enough for him to come up with something resembling a plan.[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Goddamnit.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The tablet in his pocket had been crushed and with it went any chance Guy had of communicating with the outside world. Who was he kidding? The breakout at The Raft meant SHIELD was likely stretched beyond breaking point out there. The cavalry wasn’t coming. If Guy was going to get them all out of there, he was going to have to do it on his own.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~Is that how you see yourself, Agent Gardner? The lone ranger? The maverick going against the tide at every turn? Yes, I see it now ... an abusive father, how novel. You buried your head in comic books to escape the trauma. Is that why you joined SHIELD? To prove to the world how big and strong you are? That daddy can’t hurt you anymore?~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Guy could feel Hammond skirting around the edges of his mind. [/color][color=#b6d7a8]“Shut your mouth, you floating piece of shit, I’m trying to concentrate here.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]As quietly as he could, he rooted around the drawers of the dorm room in search of something useful. There were a few moth-eaten socks, a can of deodorant, and an old magazine in one. He picked up the can of deodorant and stuffed it into one of his pockets. In the next drawer was a half-empty bottle of whiskey and some ancient-looking condoms. Guy pushed them aside, grabbed the bottle of whiskey, and took a quick swig. He stared down at his wounded side and considered rubbing some alcohol into it, before dismissively shaking his head and taking another swig instead.[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Come on,”[/color] Guy muttered as he continued his search.[color=#b6d7a8] “This could not have been the [i]only[/i] school in America where kids didn't get high.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]There behind the back of the chest of drawers Guy spotted what he had been looking for – a lighter – and seized upon it with a grateful smile. Satisfied, he poked his head around the entrance to the dorm room in search of the Thing. There, swaddling at the other end of the corridor, was Ben Grimm. Guy gritted his teeth, preparing himself for what he was about to do, and stepped out into the open.[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Hey ugly! You looking for me? Because I hate to break it to you, but this whole strong, silent routine you've got going on doesn’t quite do it for me. Call me old-fashioned but I’m the kind of gal that likes to be wined and dined.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The Thing came charging down the corridor towards him. Guy was thankful for having found the whiskey because he wasn't sure he would have held his nerve without it. Once Ben was within a few feet of him, he plucked the deodorant out of his pocket and used the lighter to send flames gushing towards his face. A rocky hand shot up to protect Grimm's eyes and Guy grinned, taken aback by how effective it was, until he noticed the other hand balling into a fist.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Had he not seen the punch coming at the last second, it might have caved in Guy’s chest. Instead he managed to roll with it – at least, as much as one can roll with a punch from strong enough to lift a fire truck. The force of the blow sent the SHIELD agent flying through a wall and into the Baxter Building's auditorium.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~Did you [i]truly [/i]think that pathetic little pyrotechnic display of yours[i] [/i]would work? You’re even dumber than you look, Gardner. No wonder your father didn’t love you. Who could love someone that stupid? That stubborn?~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]A groan left Guy’s near-crumpled lungs as he attempted to pull himself to his feet. The pain was almost unbearable – but the sound of Hammond’s laughter reverberating around his brain was enough to force him to his feet. He was going to see that smug bastard get his even if it was the last thing he ever did.[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“I’ll show you stubborn.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Ben’s fist tore through the Guy-shaped hole in the auditorium wall and stepped through the clearing it created. Gardner was limping now, the wound in his side bleeding more heavily than before, and the pain in his chest was so searing that he was struggling to draw breath.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~If you knew what Franklin Storm did to me, you would be [i]helping [/i]me, not trying to stop me. Everything Franklin has achieved is built on lies. All the fame, all the awards, all the admiration – it should [i]all [/i]be mine. Do you hear me? I’m going to take it all from him and then, and only then, will I kill him.~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Suddenly Guy stopped in his tracks. His shoulders began to shake and, despite the stabbing pain in his chest, laughter echoed around the auditorium from deep within his beaten lungs. A single tear crept forth the corner of Gardner’s eye and he reached a blood-covered hand up to push it away from his face.[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Oh, this is rich.”[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~What are you laughing at, you buffon?~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The Thing had frozen in its tracks. Guy was still laughing, now resting a hand against one of the auditorium’s many seats to support his weight. With each laugh, he could feel Hammond probing his mind in search of answers – and his frustration growing by the second.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]After the last laugh had left his lungs Gardner let out a satisfied sigh and looked towards Ben.[/color][color=#b6d7a8] “You really don’t know, do you?”[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~Know what? What are you talking about? There is [i]nothing [/i]an ingrate like you could understand that someone with my intellect could not deduce.~[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Franklin Richards is already dead,” [/color][color=#ffffff]Guy laughed.[/color][color=#b6d7a8] “The guy you’ve spent the best part of two decades fantasizing about killing? Deader than disco. He put a sawn-off in his mouth and blew his brains out a few years back. ”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Though he couldn’t see Hammond, Guy could feel his outrage. The tendrils scurrying through his mind felt as if they had tensed up in shock. He doubted anyone had ever [i]wanted [/i]to see Hammond’s face before, but in that moment he couldn’t help but picture what it might look like.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~You’re lying! You’re trying to distract me! Franklin put you up to this, didn’t he? He’s still out there somewhere, lying and cheating people, and all the while you spread misinformation to cover his tracks.~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Guy shrugged his shoulders and glibly tapped the side of his head. [/color][color=#b6d7a8]“Why not take a closer look if you don’t believe me?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The auditorium started to shake. The light fixtures above Guy’s head rattled and the chairs flapped. What felt like a gust of wind passed through the building, but on second thought – or perhaps, second smell – Guy realised it wasn't wind at all, but Hammond's wounded howl.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~No! No, this can't be true.~[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Believe it, buddy,” [/color][color=#ffffff]Guy said through a pained smirk.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~He stole [i]everything [/i]from me! Everything! Even my revenge.~[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Looks like old Frank was even better at killing himself than you were.”[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~You think it’s funny, do you? I’ll bring this whole building down, and then I’ll bring that philanderer’s legacy down with it – but first I’ll kill you.~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Suddenly Ben Grimm’s unmoving limbs came alive. He tore across the auditorium, swinging his forearm like a truncheon as he went, sending chairs flying across the room. This time Guy did not turn to run. He stood his ground. He did his best to mask the pain his broken body was in and stood tall as the Thing reached him.[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“No more running,” [/color][color=#ffffff]Guy said as he clenched his fists determinedly.[/color][color=#b6d7a8] “I’m done talking to that maniac. It’s just me and you now, Benji.”[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~What’s wrong, Agent? No more quips?~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Gardner blocked out Hammond’s voice and instead stared directly into the Thing’s eyes. There wasn’t the faintest hint of recognition in his gaze but Guy spoke to him as he would a longtime friend.[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Ben, I know you’re in there somewhere. You’re going to need to wake up for me. Johnny, Reed, and Sue need you. They’re going to die – we’re [i]all [/i]going to die – unless you fight the hold this scumbag has o-”[/color]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/IHjLUQb.png[/img][/center]
[color=#ffffff]A backhand sent Guy flying across the auditorium. The SHIELD agent coughed and sputtered on the floor as he heard the Thing’s heavy footsteps making their way towards him. There was no escaping for Guy now – he had committed to this course of action and he was going to see it through to its bloody end no matter what.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~You are so very brave, aren’t you? So heroic. But heroism alone is not enough, I'm afraid. My powers are now [i]limitless [/i]thanks to the power cosmic. You'll never break my hold on him.~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Ben’s craggy digits reached down and plucked Gardner from the ground. Though he wasn’t in any state to check, Guy was sure that last punch had broken his jaw in several places. From the blurriness that was setting in, his orbital bone might even have been fractured. It didn’t matter – all that mattered was making sure that Ben saw sense in time to save the others.[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“Son of a b-” [/color][color=#ffffff]Guy muttered. [/color][color=#b6d7a8]“This guy thinks he’s stronger than you, but I know better than that. There’s [i]no-one [/i]on Earth stronger than Ben Grimm. Not when the chips are down and his people need him – and they need you now, big g-”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]This time Ben threw Gardner at the far wall of the auditorium. He passed through it as easily as sodden tissue paper. The shock had set in, he figured, as he noticed blood seeping from a newly-opened cut on his head he couldn't feel. He was on the floor out in the corridor again. That much Guy [i]was[/i] sure of but there was very little else he could reliably claim to understand. He was barely breathing, let alone conscious.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]And yet he could still hear Hector Hammond’s voice in his head.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~I want you to die knowing that your death will be in vain, Agent Gardner. All your sacrifice will amount to nothing. Once you are dead, I will have this monster rend your friends limb from limb – and then I'll force him to walk into the sea where creatures like him belong.~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]It didn’t matter to Guy what Hammond thought. It didn’t matter to him what [i]anyone [/i]thought. If he knew one thing, it was that the Fantastic Four were the real deal – the kind of heroes you read about in comic books growing up – and that his world needed them. If he had to lay down his life for them, he would.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Sprawled out across the floor, struggling to keep his eyes open, Guy felt the rock monster's presence looming over him. His yellow eyes peered down at his downed foe. There was nothing in them to make Gardner believe he could reach the man inside. And yet he persevered.[/color]

[color=#b6d7a8]“You’re going to have to kill me, you hear me, Benji? I’m not going to give up on you. You know why? Because if the shoe was on the other foot, even though you barely know me, you wouldn’t give up on me. You’d sooner die. And guess what? So wou-”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]A vicious kick knocked Guy unconscious – and sent him across the coridoor onto the staircase in the lobby. His broken nose was almost indistinguishable among the bloody mess Ben had made of his face and his orange hair had become matted brown with dried blood.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The Thing climbed the staircase and found himself stood over Guy ready to deliver the coup-de-grace. He lifted his foot once more, this time preparing to lower it on Gardner’s mangled head.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~Kill him.~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]For the slighetst of moments a flicker of indecision crossed Ben’s face. Though every mental impulse was telling him to lower his boot on Gardner’s head, something else was compelling him not to – something deep within him. He silently strained against Hammond’s control. His leg shaking with the effort it took to resist the villain’s command.[/color]

[color=#ffff00]~What are you doing? I told you to kill him!~[/color]

[color=#ffffff]The boot came down with a crunch. It landed not on Guy’s head, but beside it. Suddenly Ben’s yellow eyes regained their sparkling blueness and the Thing recoiled in horror at the damage he had done to his friend.[/color]

[color=#f6b26b]‘Jesus, Guy, I’m so sorry, I couldn’t stop it. I swear to God I couldn’t stop it. Please be breathing, please be breathing, you stubborn son of a bitch. I’ve got enough on my conscious without you dying on me, Carrot Top.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]As if hearing Ben’s voice had dragged him from unconsciousness, Guy’s swollen eyes slid open. He looked up at Ben and shot him a feeble smile full of smashed and missing teeth.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]His voice was so weak Ben had to bend down to hear him.[/color][color=#b6d7a8] “I knew you were still in there, Benji. Give him hell, you hear me? Save the others.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Ben nodded, gently scooping Guy from the staircase and carrying him across the lobby with great care, before setting him down delicately on a couch. He muttered a quiet promise that he would come back for him and then set off towards the lab with a determined look on his face. Ben was going to drag Hector Hammond kicking and screaming into a world of pain that the super-villain would never, ever come back from.[/color]