PREVIOUSLY: 1942, the heart of the Artic Circle. The Allies have received word that the Nazis have been at work with a secret project, one that would bring the Allied Forces to its knees. The United States have sent a company of men to investigate and ultimately destroy the Nazi installation where the project is housed. However, their attempt failed, and was the Allies were forced to use Operation: Betty Boop as Plan B. To bomb the installation to Kingdom Come. In 1957, an investigation team of S.H.I.E.L.D. led to that very place, where they uncovered corpses that were out of the ordinary. They also uncovered a journal belonging to one of the soldiers, and records of the project itself. Projekt Unmenschliches. S.H.I.E.L.D. knew that the project would not be successful, if they did not have the proper technology and the right man to utilize it. 2002; that man is Reed Richards. However, the proposal to send another team to the facility is denied. Reed, bent on uncovering the secrets of Projekt Unmenschliches, hired his own team and went straight to the Artic against S.H.I.E.L.D.'s behest. But what they find in the Artic is by far outweighed by their chances of survival…

The Baxter Building. 3:19 PM

S.H.I.E.L.D's Communications Department on the East Wing was classified by as "the most highly advanced operations in the world", said the New York Times, "If it weren't a rumor".

That was an article that mentioned Area 51, Nevada and Area 52 as well.

They too exist.

"What do you mean that you let him get away?!?!" Janet van Dyne's rolled fist banged on the steel console, and her fellow co-workers placed their hands over their ears. If there was only one golden rule in S.H.I.E.L.D, it was never to make a top S.H.I.E.L.D agent angry. Emphasize on never in Jan's case, because while other agents will screw you up, Janet van Dyne will screw you and spit on you.

And Janet is angry.

Over the speakers, her dispatched team to the Artic to intercept Reed Richard's was evidently scared, by the tone of their voices. On the broadcasted screens, their leader was clutching his headset with a heightening sense of dread.

"How. Could. You. Let him. Get away!?!" Janet said pummeling her fists on the console at each pause she made. Behind her, Dr. Hank Pym sighed, passing the paperwork on his hands to another employee. "Barton, you're the Hawkeye of the Eagle Squadron that was supposed to intercept Dr. Richard's stolen Mobile All-Terrain Carrier (MATC). Explain to me why you haven't recovered him and the vehicle?"

[Uh…Miss van Dyne…um, well,] the leader began, chattering either the cold brush of Artic winds or the blazing fury in Janet's eyes.

"You better not be scared to answer, Barton!"

"Calm down," Hank said, placing his hand on her shoulder. She gently shrugged it off, and turned to one of the workers. "Get me the General," she ordered, and the employee dropped his papers and ran off instantly through the door. Then, she turned back to face Barton, her face still unmoving.

"Now give me a wonderful explanation as to why, Agent Clint Barton, before I decide to rename you Mother Hen of the Chicken Squadron and ground you indefinitely."

[Now, that's not a problem, re-really, um…]

Within seconds, General Thunderbolt Ross burst through the room, adjusting his hat. "What, I repeat, what is going on?" He stood beside Jan and eyed the screen. "Agent Barton, sir," Janet answered, her stare fixated on Clint. "Has lost our Dr. Reed Richards."

"What?! Clint's one of our best agents! Under you, of course, Agent van Dyne, but still…!" General Ross turned to the screen, and Barton began shaking involuntarily.

"Sir," Jan said, as if adding more gasoline to the fire. "What should we do? I have a wonderful suggestion, and…"

[Wait…!] Clint yelled suddenly, waving his hands around for attention. [Give me some breathing space…wait…ah. I can give an explanation for all this.]

She paused. "So shoot." The leader of the Hawk Squadron gulped, and adjusted his headset. [He…he had c-company. Some former S.H.I.E.L.D agents. Vincent Lou, Percy Luccard, Nicholas Herring and Dugan were all with him.]

"That's not really plausible, considering your track record."

[Wait! Wait. We were also stopped halfway…]

"By what? The need for a john?"

[No…he was there, with his own personal army. You know, 'Mister Millions' himself.]

There was a sudden silence, as the name began to echo across the room. "Thank you, Agent Barton. That's enough. Return here as soon as possible." The screen went black, and Janet slowly wiped the perspiration off her forehead. "That's…that's not good," Hank uttered, stroking his chin. "He's heard about what Reed's done…good god, Jan, that's big trouble."

"I know."

"Agent Barton had a good reason to back off, Janet," Ross said, after ordering for some mineral water. "He's a good kid. Confidence just down and all. He knew what he was doing when he backed off…"

"I know." Agent van Dyne stood from her chair, and sighed. "Damn, this is not a good thing. There must be some way we can assure that if ever Reed discovers something, if ever at all…it wouldn't fall into you-know-who's hands. He's good, I know that, really wily for a millionaire playboy, and his former relation with S.H.I.E.L.D. makes it worse. He could be making his own covert operations, for all we know."

"I have one," Ross said, his face in a grim frown. "We have no…any other choice. Dare I say, Operation Betty Boop Two?"

"That's insane, general. Reed's there and I won't let you do it. Betty Boop Two will completely devastate the whole area, killing anything in its wake."

"I know. We're just killing evidence. It's better if he doesn't get his hands on Reed and his plans. He may just be crazy enough to fund them. No, I can't see any other way."

"General! If you really intend do it, I swear, I will take you out myself!"

"Hmm…? What makes you think you can?" General Ross stepped into the doorway, and turned to Jan. "It's just a thought, Janet van Dyne. You may be S.H.I.E.L.D's best agent, but your priorities are slowly getting jumbled. If the media ever finds out about this incident...you do the math."

The door shut behind them, and Hank held onto Janet, whose eyes were wide in disbelief. "Do you think…do you think he'd do that, Hank? Just bomb the place and let Reed…"

"I don't know," Hank said, closing his eyes. "But we have to make sure to watch him. Like a hawk."

"I…uh…can't see…" The next thing Reed Richard's saw was the blackness that enveloped him like a veil. Nicholas and the creature that had transformed him were gone. He checked his neck slowly, brushing against two solid puncture marks. "This isn't a mosquito's work, for sure."

Suddenly, something scuttled from behind him. Reed turned around to meet whoever or whatever made the sound. "Hello?"

No answer.

Reed raised his left hand in the dark, and fumbled for his wrist watch. Tapping on it twice, he waited for a few minutes in the dark, hoping for something to happen. "No shi...?"

Suddenly, the watch began sounding some sort of alarm, startling Reed into falling onto the rocky ground. "Shoot. Wrong one." Tapping on the watch once more, the alarm instantaneously stopped, and the watch head gave a dim blue light, brightening up the dark place even for a bit. "Illuminants and sonic disruptors. Tsk, honestly! It's like James Bond works for S.H.I.E.L.D," he grumbled to himself. The scuttling sound was fading away, and he turned to the source. "Hello?"

No answer again.

Slowly making his way towards the sound, Reed Richards grabbed onto a handgun in his pant pocket. He lifted the watch to eye view, when he spotted a shadowy figure moving in and out of the view.

[--*clck*--!-*pzzt* Reed! *crckl*zszp*Los…conta..! *ctztct*]

His headset suddenly came to life, surprising Reed. It seemed to have been dead and broken a while back, unless…

[…*krshshshz*…whe *zak* re….*kzzt* you? *zszp*]

"Percy!" Reed yelled, his voice echoing throughout the darkness. "Percy, do you hear me? I repeat, do you…"

[*krckl* *pzzt*! Reed? *zrup*]

The scuttling began to grow stronger. "Percy! The sonar frequency's disrupted down here! I can't hear you!" Reed yelled again, as his voice continued to bounce back and forth across the blackness. He almost swore he heard tiny screeches. "I must be in some cavern! The frequency's probably jammed by…"

Reed dropped his hand, and his other pulling out his handgun. His pulse rate was rising; his heart began to throb fast. A pair of beady little red eyes was staring at him face to face. It narrowed, and then came out a shrill screech. Followed by much more, much more eyes staring down at their intruder.

"…bats."

He tumbled backwards, trying to shoo away the bats that were fluttering around. There seemed to be a million of them, trying to press a bite or two at his skin. "Yes." A voice in the darkness taunted. "Vampire bats. Who knew they existed in the Artic?" Reed tried to get a glimpse of the figure, but he was too busy trying to evade the barrage of the hungry creatures. But he recognized the voice anywhere. "Vincent, what on earth…!"

"It's feeding time in the zoo, Reed." Vincent Lou said, his eyes glowing bloodshot red. "Baron Blood used to feed them a long time ago…until he began feeding on them himself, to sustain his own vigor. Survival."

"Vincent! Listen to me, this is insanity! I can't…!"

"Breathe? Is the legions of the hungry too much for this scientist to bear?" Vincent gave a mocking laugh, and the walls began to quaver. "My master does not wish a real rain of darkness upon this world, Reed, so there is no need to worry. Join us, and be embraced, and witness in joy the rain of red blood he has planned for all! Oh..? I see you're too busy dying to listen!"

Reed crouched in the corner, as countless bats clawed at his face and skin. He closed his eyes, slowly lifting his watch. Tapping it twice, he covered his ears and waited. Suddenly, his watch let out a ringing alarm, as its sonic disruptor made hasty work of the bats. One by one, they began to flutter away, leaving Reed to get back on his feet. Vincent, while being an expert hand to hand fighter while he was alive, was not prepared for Reed's assault, and found himself slammed into the wall by the scientist.

"Enough games," Reed said, grabbing the vampire's jaw. But Lou's reflexes were in motion, and his fingers slashed at Reed's elbow, forcing the man to move back. Vincent took a moment to lick the blood off his fingers, then let out a roar and pummeled Reed's head. Suddenly, a shadow flew in the darkness, grabbing Lou's attention. Within a split second, the vampire found himself kicked across the room, his back smashed against the rocky walls of the cavern. The new figure growled at the menace, and turned to Reed, who was slowly slipping into unconsciousness. The figure slapped the man several times, trying to keep him conscious. "W-wha…?" Reed Richards was surprised at what he saw; a man draped in an authentic soldier garbs, tattered and torn, whose hair and beard was at lengths unconceivable. Seemingly young, the man stared back, his light blue eyes revealing someone who had lost his identity a long time ago. In instinct, Reed stuttered in surprise.

"S-Steve?"

At the mention of the name, the man's eyes grew wide. But then, Lou had taken to grab the man by the back, scratching deep into the figure's chest. The tattered soldier yelled, and flew both Vincent and him upwards to the highest point of the dark caverns, then took a dive, smashing Lou onto the ground before missing it himself, sticking to a wall, the figure grabbed a nearby stalagmite and, with seemingly surprising strength, tore it from its base. He leapt at Lou, who was getting to his feet, and slammed it straight into his stomach. The vampire let out a cry of pain, and the man pushed it deeper within, until he had pushed the stalagmite into the ground like a tent pole. The man turned to Reed, who was in shock.

"He will not be able to move," the man said. "Until he dies of blood loss. Baron Blood's minions are like that."

"Steve? Rogers?"

The man silently stared down at the scientist. "How…how did you know my name?" Reed Richards then fumbled as he checked his jacket pockets, finally unzipping the lower left one and took out a musty journal. "This…this is yours." Reed said, handing it to the man, eyeing him curiously. Despite his lengthy beard and hair, he still looked like a man out of his twenties, though somewhat muscular. "Tha…thank you. How'd you?"

"A government team found it, in the ruins of the facility. It's been sixty years since you last wrote in it. I'm sure you'd like to have it back."

"Yes…I missed so such, haven't I? I-I miss Gail. Do you know her? Gail Richards? How is she? Is she…?"

Reed sighed. This was a man out of his time, who seemed to have been living underground for sixty years. More so, Reed Richards remembered all the times that his Aunt Gail had told him about someone she loved so dearly, a soldier who died in the war, someone who could have been his uncle. That was a long time ago, and Gail Richards died twenty-seven years ago.

And now, he had found that someone. Only too late.

Twenty-seven years have passed. What was he going to say?

"I-I…I don't know, Steve," Reed said, gulping and hiding his empathy. "I just hope…someday, you'll be together again. Someday."

Steve backed away, and sat on a sturdy rock. "…so, sixty years have passed. That…I never noticed. Is the war over?"

"Yes."

"Oh…did…did we win?"

"…yes."

"So much has happened, hasn't it?"

"So much." Reed walked away, scouting the area. A few minutes later, he came back, adjusting his headset. "Percy…Percy? Are you there?"

"What is that…?"

"It's a headset. You communicate through this. Like a CB Radio."

[…I'm *pszzt* ere…you *kzak* kay?]

"I'm fine. We've got to find big troubles, so I need you to pinpoint my location."

[*pzha* what…*krsk* I'll *zak* try.]

"Fine. I'll go search for clues." Reed shut his headset, and turned to Steve. Steve was then hovering above the ground, curiously watching Reed stare in awe. "How…how'd you do that?" Reed asked, surprised. Steve sighed. "This…I don't know. It has something to do with the green mist and its source."

"What!" Reed exclaimed, and took Steve by the hand. "Terrigen Mist? You mean…I mean…the Unmenschliches? You…?"

"I don't know how to explain. But he can."

"Who?"

"Black Bolt."

"Funny," Percy Luccard muttered, banging the screen of the tracking device console. "First, I can't locate Reed with our console's current technology. Now this thing's malfunctioning again. It's picking up Terrigen Mist…everywhere."

On the other side of the MATC, Dum Dum Dugan sharpened his pocket knife. "Nope, there shouldn't be anything out of ordinary."

"But it is. Look." Percy pushed his chair back so Dugan can see the screen from his bunker. "The green traces are slowly rising. It's as if it's alive."

"Shyeah right. Like Frankenstein?"

"Just like it. In fact," Luccard mumbled, with the feeling that someone was watching them. "I'd be darned to say if this place wasn't his. Chills running up my spine…"

Suddenly, the door of the MATC swung open, and snow and ice flew right at Dugan. "Hey! What the Sam Hill's going on?!?!" Rushing up, he grabbed the figure slumped against the side of the MATC. Nicholas Herring, their lost team mate, smiled.

"Hi."

"Right. Here you are," Dugan muttered, pulling the pale Herring into the vehicle. "So, where'd you go then?"

"Oh, nowhere too far," Nicholas said, sitting calmly on the bunker. Luccard felt a dark chill crawling up his spine, and turned to the console to keep Nicholas' eyes from catching his. Then, he heard a smack. "Dum Dum…?" He turned back to find Nicholas' fangs glimmering. Dum Dum lay unconscious on the floor, bleeding slowly. The vampire wiped his fangs dry, his eyes dilating. "I'm hungry."

"That's not my problem," Luccard grumbled, suddenly reaching for a flare gun. Nicholas leapt at the engineer, pulling him away. "Heh. No, you're not getting anywhere."

Luccard kicked him back, and run towards the door. Stumbling out, he managed to drop onto the snow, only to find him being pulled back into the MATC. Suddenly, he heard a loud voice, and spotlights were aimed at his face. A whole army had then on their crosshairs, as Nicholas lifted Percy from the ground, baring his fangs on his neck.

"Don't you @& (!*^&* move! Don't you &*$%!" one of them said, his rifle aimed at the vampire. "I don't know who you are or what you are! So give it up, bud!" Nicholas snarled and sneered, his fingers stroking Luccard's neck. His eyes narrowed, as the spotlights aimed at him. "What on earth is…?"

{Gentlemen,} another voice uttered, this time coming from what seemed to be a megaphone. {Gentlemen, gentlemen. Let's skip the foul talk, shall we? We need to find Reed Richards. Whatever's in our way kill it.}

"He…it's got a hostage. A man, sir."

{Kill it. But leave the hostage intact. He may know just where Reed Richards is.}

Luccard shut his eyes, as gunshots broke through the moaning of the artic winds. Moments later, he found himself dragged across the snow, only to be dropped onto it a miles away from where he was. Luccard opened his eyes, to find himself before an enormous tank. From the top, shimmering in the brilliance of the spotlight, stood one man taking a bit of cigar before tossing it onto the ground in front of Percy.

"Greetings. I can see that with your skills, you're a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, or a former one to say that the agency was tailing you awhile back."

"So what?"

"So what? You're a member of Dr. Reed Richard's expedition, is that correct?"

Percy nodded. The man then laughed, and snapped his fingers. His men lifted him up and brushed the snow off, giving him a warm blanket and a thermos full of coffee. "What's this? Bribery?" Percy asked mockingly. "I'm not going to betray Reed's work. What do you want from us?"

The man laughed again, obviously amused. "For a handpicked assistant to Reed, you seem to be quite dense. I'm not here to have you 'betray' Reed. I am…interested with his work here. Projekt Unmenschliches?"

"How…?"

"Doesn't matter. I'm here to give him an offer that he, I'm sure, won't refuse."

"And who might you be?"

The man smiled, and jumped down from the tank to meet with Percy. To the engineer's eyes, the man seemed vaguely familiar, as if coming out from a magazine. "Just call me Mister Millions," he said, shaking Luccard's hand. "I'm here to help."

NEXT ISSUE: (Longer than usual) Unmenschliches comes to its ultimatum, as Reed Richards unravels the mystery surrounding Steve Rogers, the Terrigen Mist, and the project that was aborted sixty years ago! And when you thought Baron Blood was out of the picture…! We smell showdown! Plus, S.H.I.E.L.D., Operation Betty Boop 2, and the enigmatic Mister Millions (who will be revealed at the end of the tale)! Don't miss it!