[center][img]https://i2.wp.com/thefwoosh.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/fantasticfour_570_newlogo.jpg?w=1280[/img][/center]

The front door swung open to the government building that was the temporary home of the returned exploratory first family of science.  In the doorway stood the craggly visage of one Ben Grimm, coming face to face with the small flying device that had called him to the door.  He hollered back into the house.
[color=orange][h3]“[b]REED!  JOHNNY!  SUZE![/b]  Which one-a yers ordered somethin’ from the South American rainforest?!”[/h3][/color]
The drone remained hovering in the doorway with its yellow and black Amazon livery.

Willie Lumpkin, the young government worker who had been designated as their handler poked his head through the doorway.

“Rainforest?  Geez.  You really have been gone some time.  They’re just an e-commerce company…”  Willie said as he signed off on receiving the package and removed it from the drone.

Ben looked on slack-jawed.

“They’re a store.  Where you can buy things.  On your computer.  Then they deliver it to you.”

[color=orange]“Huh…  Go figger…”[/color]  Ben said, taking the package from Lumpkin as gently as he could and tilting it slightly, testing its weight in his massive hands.  [color=orange]“Whatta world…”[/color]

Just then, Johnny Storm came charging down the stairs like his hair was on fire.  On this occasion it was not.

[color=orangered][b]“Oh sweet!  My Amazons are here!”[/b][/color]  He said, snatching up the package.

[color=orange]“Heh…  Dumb kid.  They’re just an e-commerce company…”[/color]

Johnny tore the box apart and ran back upstairs carrying the contents; a stack of girlie mags with [i]‘Amazons’[/i] printed prominently on the cover.

[color=orange]“Huh…”[/color]  He said, watching him run back upstairs.

“Oh, I signed for it in your name since I didn’t know they were Johnny’s and you were the one at the door.”  Willie Lumpkin said over his shoulder as he walked away.  “So expect some funny looks when they look to settle your bills later.”

[center][img]https://i.imgflip.com/35hy3j.jpg[/img][/center]
[center][color=lightblue][h3]* * * * *[/h3][/color][/center]
Meanwhile, upstairs, a far less benign conversation was taking place.

[color=lightblue]“Why, Reed?!  Why on Earth would you go and say that?!?”[/color]  Sue asked in an exasperated tone, now well away from the rigmarole of camera crews and Government workers.

[color=blue][b]“Whilst you’ve been busy dealing with so many of our speaking commitments, I took it upon myself to do a little bit of research into some of what we’ve missed whilst we were away.  Since our absence it has become very much in vogue for powered individuals and groups to name and brand themselves outside of their regular name.  Whether that has been for marketing purposes, or for public familiarity to create more of a positive public image in order to operate more easily, I’m not yet entirely sure.  But since so many have been doing it, I can only presume it has for good reason until I can learn more.  The alliterative nature of ‘Fantastic Four’ only seemed even more of a boon in the process.”[/b][/color]

[color=lightblue]“Yes.  But Reed, to these people we’ve ALL been dead since that date in the mission.”[/color]

[color=blue][b]“Yes.  And now they’re all relieved to see that we’ve returned.  I’m not as emotionally out of touch as you like to suggest, Sue.”[/b][/color]

[color=lightblue]“Except we didn’t all return.  [b]FOUR[/b] out of five of us returned.  From the dead!  With our two new kids.  And you’re announcing to the world that we’re now this… this… [i]‘Fantastic Four’[/i] when we haven’t even been able to speak to Victor yet!”[/color]

[color=blue][b]“Oh…”[/b][/color]

[color=lightblue]“Yes!  [b]‘Oh!’[/b]  I’m still waiting on the paperwork I’ve filled out to have our property returned to us, which is why for the time being we’re having to stay here.  People are coming to terms with the fact that we’re still alive, Reed.  And as such, the one who didn’t, well that probably re-opens the grief.”[/color]

[color=blue][b]“I suppose I can see how that could be received as somewhat insensitive of me.”[/b][/color]

[color=lightblue]“Yes, and Victor had an… interesting enough temperament before any of this happens.  Now he’s off waging war back in his homeland and becoming who knows what, back in Latveria.  I just think we should handle this with a little less…”[/color]

[color=blue][b]“Bombastic pomp..?”[/b][/color]

[color=lightblue]“Sure.  As good a way of phrasing it as any…”[/color]

Reed’s long arm stretched and extended around his wife, the pair now united on one page.  [color=blue][b]“So… how do you think he’s going to take it?”[/b][/color]

[color=lightblue]“I don’t know, Reed.  Time will tell.  On one hand at least he’s already had years to grieve, on the other… well, Victor…”[/color]

Sue bowed her head in contemplation, before straightening and sweeping her hair out of her face.

[color=lightblue]“...I think if nothing else he’s going to have questions.”[/color]
[center][color=darkgreen][h3][b]* * * * *[/b][/h3][/color][/center]
[sub][h3][color=darkgreen]C A S T L E   D O O M[/color][/h3][/sub][hr][sup][color=darkgray]Present Day   |   Doomstadt, The Kingdom of Latveria[/color][/sup]

[center][img] https://i.pinimg.com/736x/63/c6/6c/63c66cb4a30362ec31051c1c908848db--marvel-villains-marvel-dc.jpg[/img][/center]

An armoured fist clenched tight with the news.  The cold, calculating visage of [b]DOOM[/b] sits astride the throne.

America.  New York City.  A place he hasn’t been to in some years.  Not since…

Doom rises from his throne.  He paces.  His gaze falls to those far below from his tower; their toil in the fields.  Soon a great cheer goes up from below, as they have caught sight of their glorious leader looking on from above.  Doom neither revels nor basks.  Such is the natural order of things.  [b]DOOM[/b] expects.

The Kingdom’s new defenses are now well in place.  Doom saw to their development and deployment himself.  How could [b]DOOM[/b] do any less?

Doom walked back towards his thrown, he turned to a figure that stood alone in his throneroom.  A robot of uncanny likeness for himself.

[color=darkgreen]“[b]DOOM[/b] bestows his burden of leadership upon you!”[/color]  He commanded the machine.

[color=darkgreen]“So it shall be, as is the will of [b]DOOM![/b]”[/color]  It returned, before taking its place on the throne.  A familiar pose of commanding contemplation.

Doom whisked his green cloak around himself and took his leave.  [b]DOOM[/b] would have his answers…