Chapter 10
A few hours later, Hunter and Sue walked into the Baxter Lab giggling and smiling over a piece of paper that the former held.
“Hey,” Ben called out when he noticed them.
Quickly, Hunter whipped the paper down and hid it behind her back. Ben cocked a non-existent eyebrow at her.
“What was that?” Ben asked.
“Nothing,” Hunter smiled innocently.
Ben narrowed his eyes at her.
“Really, it’s nothing,” Hunter said again.
“Okay…” Ben said, not really believing his younger sister. “Reed wanted me to let you guys know to suit up. We’re heading out to intercept the Surfer.”
“Okay,” Hunter said. “We’ll be ready.”
Ben nodded and turned away. Once Ben was out of sight, Sue stood in front of Hunter.
“How much longer do you think you can keep this secret?” She asked.
“As long as I can,” Hunter replied.
“It’s not gonna be as long as you think, because pretty soon you will be showing, and it’s gonna be that much harder to keep the secret,” Sue explained.
Hunter sighed, “Oh I know.”
Sue smiled and patted her shoulder, “C’mon, let’s go save the world.”
Both women went off to suit up and soon they were in the air. Many hours and several air bags filled with nasty upchucked food for Hunter later did they land in Germany. Finally they reached their destination in Black Forest. The team got off the caravan and headed for a tent filled with computers.
“Sir, he’s holding his position north of here,” a soldier said to General Hager.
“Good,” Hager replied.
“General, give us a one-mile perimeter,” Reed said.
“Forget it Richards,” Hager said. “You had your shot, and you blew it. This is a military operation now, so jam the signal, get out of the way, let us do our job.”
Hager brushed passed Sue and Reed.
“You don’t understand,” Reed started.
“No, you don’t understand,” Hager said. “So let me make it clear or you and your pack of freaks here.”
Hunter gasped, “He did not just say that!”
Hager ignored her and continued, “I’m the quarterback. You’re on my team.”
“Football references? Seriously?” Hunter quipped and Ben smiled at that.
Once again, Hager ignored her.
“Got it?” Hager said.
Reed cocked his head at him, not pleased.
“But I guess you never played football in high school. Did you, Richards?”
“No, you’re right. I didn’t,” Reed said. “I stayed in and studied like a good little nerd. And 15 years later, I’m one of the greatest minds of the 21st century, I’m engaged to the hottest girl on the planet and the big jock who played quarterback in high school, well, he’s standing right in front of me, asking me for my help. And I say he’s not gonna get a damn thing unless he does exactly what I tell him and starts treating my friends and me with some respect.”
Hager looked at him and gave him a smile. Then he walked away. He looked to one of his soldiers, “Give him what he wants.”
As Reed watched Hager walk away, Sue stood next to her fiancé.
“I’m so hot for you right now,” she said to him.
“Me too!” Johnny said as he clapped his hands on Reed.
Reed smiled, “Careful, Johnny.”
Hunter whooped and kissed Reed on the cheek from behind, “That’s one of the best things I’ve ever heard from you in my life! You’re my favorite man now, sorry Johnny.”
Johnny gave her a mock hurt look, but then smiled since he agreed with her.
“All right. Let’s get to work,” Reed said.
Each grabbed the machines designed to trap the Surfer and headed off into the woods. The men had their own while Sue and Hunter had one they shared. They walked for a few miles before Reed stopped.
“This is it,” Reed said. “You have your coordinates. Set up your posts and rendezvous back here.”
All split into four groups and headed to their destination. Reed found his and set up his machine quickly. Sue and Hunter found theirs. Sue set it down as Hunter looked around. Johnny found his as well and set it up. By the time Johnny set his up, Ben had already opened it to start it up. Before he could finish it, there was a roar behind him. He froze and turned to see a brown bear roaring at him. Ben stood up with a smile.
“Hey. You scared me there, Smokey,” Ben said to the not-gentle giant. “Look at you. You’re cute.”
The bear roared in response as if he didn’t like the ‘cute’ remark. Ben roared back even louder and the bear scampered away with a whimper.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Ben said. “Keep running, Boo-Boo! Overgrown furball.”
Ben leaned back down to finish setting up. In the other part of the forest, Reed finished his machine by sequencing it into his palm-pilot.
“What’s your status?” Reed said into the air.
“Yeah, I’m good to go,” Ben replied through the ear communicator.
“Same here,” Johnny said.
“Almost there,” Sue replied for her and Hunter.
“Let’s hurry up, it’s getting creepy in here,” Hunter said to Sue.
Sue nodded in agreement and looked down. Hunter turned as she heard the trees creaking.
“Did you hear that?” Hunter whispered.
Sue slowly looked up at Hunter, and nodded. She stood up and she looked over Hunter’s shoulders to where the noise came from. The Silver Surfer came out from between the trees and quickly she grabbed Hunter and pulled her besides her.
“What?” Hunter said. She looked to where Sue was looking at, and mouthed ‘oh’.
Sue pressed her ear piece, “Guys, we have a problem.”
“What’s wrong?” Reed asked.
“He’s here,” Sue responded as Hunter stood behind her.
“Oh my,” Hunter whispered as she took in the sight of him.
“Get out here. Right now!” Reed commanded the others through both girls’ earpieces.
Sue leaned down to press a button but the Surfer moved and she hesitated. The Surfer floated towards them. A field appeared in front of them and the Surfer simply leaned forward and went through it as if it wasn’t there.
“Oh, no way!” Hunter said with her eyes widened. “How’d you do that?”
The Surfer gave no response as he looked at Sue. Sue let down the field.
“Why are you destroying our planet?” She asked the silver creature.
“I have no choice,” the Surfer responded.
“Sue!” Reed cried out as he ran into the clearing.
“Wait!” Sue stopped him.
Hunter turned at the voice and she walked away from Sue to Reed. She took his hand, which he gripped.
“It’s okay, I think,” Hunter said.
Reed slowly stepped towards Sue and the creature, Hunter following.
“What do you mean you don’t have a choice?” Sue asked. “There’s always a choice.”
The Surfer shook his head, “Not always.”
Sue asked again, “Why are you trying to destroy us?”
“I am not the destroyer,” He replied.
Then suddenly there was a shot and Hunter and Reed looked over to see a missile heading towards them. Hunter realized it was heading towards Sue more specifically.
“No!” Hunter cried. “Wait!”
Sue and the Surfer looked to see the missile. The man floated in front of her and as they watched, he flew off and let the board he stood on absorb the missile. Reed and Hunter stood by Sue as they watched.
As Sue stooped down to finish the machine, Hunter touched Sue’s arm.
“Did you see that?” Sue whispered.
“I did, he protected you,” Hunter replied. “I don’t get it. If he’s destroying the planet, then why is he protecting you?”
Sue shrugged; she had no answer for her as missile after missile went after the Silver Surfer. Reed, Johnny, and Ben grouped together.
“Let me after him,” Johnny said as his chest burst into flames.
“No wait,” Reed stopped him.
“Reed,” Ben said.
“Come on Sue,” Reed said as he looked on his palm-pilot, waiting for Sue to turn the machine online. As soon as she clicked it online, Reed pushed the button on his pilot and the machines activated and connected.
An invisible pulse hit the Surfer and he groaned. He floated through the board and despite his desperations to stay on his board; he landed on the ground. He became dull as his silver hue faded and tried to summon the board. But he failed as Doom came up to him and electrocuted him into unconsciousness.
“Not so tough are you now?” Doom said.
He looked up at the floating board and turned away just as the Fantastic Five entered the clearing.
“Victor, stay away!” Reed said.
“You’re the quarterback,” Doom said as he backed away.
Sue looked down at the fallen man and kneeled. Hunter stood between her and Reed.
“I have a feeling this was a mistake,” Hunter said.