A day had passed since the Fantastic Four returned from their life altering battle with the maniacal Dr. Doom.* It was 8:00 a.m. in the morning and Ben walked through the hallway when a thought entered into his head.

(* See last issue for details--Jess)

I’m going to fix me one of my famous submarine sandwiches.

Ben walked in the kitchen and slowly opened the refrigerator. As Ben looked at the variety of breakfast possibilities his mouth began to water. Ben’s hands grabbed the ham and cheese with a burning passion and constructed a gigantic submarine sandwich. After taking a few bites, Ben discovered something horrifying.

“No!!" he shouted. "What happened to my appetite?"

Franklin crawled in on all fours into the kitchen and saw Ben staring at his gigantic sandwich.

“Unca Ben, don’t go wasting food,” said Franklin.

Ben turned in shock to discover that he had created a loud commotion enough to have the others know.

“I know kid," Ben replied. "Children are starving in Africa. I know. I’m just going to have to stick in the fridge. I’ll have to take a rain check on it."

Reed and Sue spent much of the morning in the confines of Reed’s laboratory. This was quite a rare occasion to see the two of them together. Reed discovered to his dismay that he could no longer operate his computer systems. The increase in the size of his hands and fingers prevented him from pressing the buttons to his computers. In response Reed decided to show his love of work to his own love Sue.

“Sue, you know I wouldn’t be able to use these computer systems without you,” he said.

In response Sue immediately grasped Reed’s big orange bulky hands.

“Reed, I’ll be your fingers for as long as you need them,” replied Sue.

Reed hunched over his towering body and moved his head closer to Sue to give her a kiss.

“Sue, I do believe then we maybe spending a lot more quality time together,” said Reed.

Sue then sighed and avoided Reed’s kiss as he moved to her.

“Reed, don’t get carried away. Hanging out in this lab all day is not my idea of quality time.”

Reed realized the mistake he had made and turned his attention back onto the tests that he had been doing in order to find a panacea for the team’s current situation.

“I did a molecular analysis on myself and it is as I feared. I had hoped that Victor would have made some miscalculation during the transformation process. Our DNA has been permanently altered."

The time was 12:00 p.m. and Ben sat on the couch motionless in front of the television. After getting tired of watching a talk show an interesting idea entered into Ben’s head.

I wonder what else is on the tube? he thought. Damn, can’t seem to find the remote.

Ben then noticed the remote located on a table across the room. Too tired to get up Ben decided he would experiment with his new stretching powers to retrieve the remote.

Come on arm get the remote!! I’m going to have to ask Stretcho how to get this body of mine working.

It was now mid-afternoon about 3:00 p.m.and Reed decided earlier on that it was necessary to have a meeting where he would be able to inform his fellow team mates of his findings.

“I called this meeting to talk about the current status of the team," Reed began. "I’m not aware of how to rid ourselves of Doom’s machinations; therefore, Sue and I concluded that we should begin training sessions where we can practice using our new powers."

Ben looked around from the table that the three had sat at.

“Where’s that slacker, Johnny?” he asked.

Reed and Sue snickered at Ben’s comment. Ben rose from his chair and walked towards a nearby window when all of a sudden he had lost his balance, which caused him to tumble onto the floor. Ben rolled over onto his back and looked at his shoelaces and discovered that a mysterious assailant had tied them.

“Dammit!! My laces!" Ben screamed. "Where is that smart-mouth chump at?”

Johnny turned visible and invisible right before Ben’s eyes and began to taunt him. Ben stood up from the floor and threw punches into the air in hopes they would make contact with Johnny. To Ben’s dismay he was unable to connect the punches and hit nothing but air.

“Ben, I’m right behind you. No I’m on your left. Not that one the other one!” taunted Johnny.

Ben frustrated threw his hands up into the air and gave up on his pursuit of Johnny.

“Drats!!, I got the rotten fish out of this powers switching deal,” whined Ben.

Reed put his large hand on top of Ben’s shoulder to comfort him.

“Don’t be so down Ben. I’ve done quite well with those powers of yours.”

Night had fallen upon Manhattan and the Fantastic Four were recovering from hours of intense training in their gym. Sue and Johnny watched the nightly news when a disturbing news report began about the Fantastic Four.

“Reed, I think you should come see this,” said Sue.

Reed walked in view of the television with Ben at his side.

“Crusty face has our names splattered all over the tube,” replied Ben.

Johnny could not resist his temptations to share his view of the report to the others.

“No kidding Ben, I think we might be in for a beating,” sarcastically retorted Johnny.

Ben shook his head in response to Johnny’s quip.

“Nah, I doubt it," said Ben. "Most of our crooks are either locked up, or hiding under some rock in space.”

Reed sat quiet and just listened to the newscast. The newscaster appeared in front of a high security prison with microphone in hand.

"An unknown source has revealed to us that the Fantastic Four have lost their powers. Here is an interview with one villain currently residing in prison,” stated the newscaster.

The film played and showed an interview with Otto Octavius, otherwise known as the infamous Doctor Octopus.

"That Reed Richards is a moron, a complete fake of a scientist!" Doctor Octopus exclaimed. "I took the powers of the Fantastic Four away from them!"

The newscaster continued to interview Dr. Octopus.

"So you are telling us that you were able to strip the F.F. of their powers, but can’t break out of prison?” questioned the newscaster.

Dr. Octopus’s face turned a red hue and the news report ended. Reed recalled Ben’s last comment and threw his take on the situation.

"Still Ben," Reed began. "You don’t see the bigger picture here. What two bit criminal would not love to get their name in the papers for defeating the FF?”

Sue rose from the couch with an angry look on her face.

"Doom thinks he can play games with us. Well if these criminals do come to take us on they won’t be having a pleasant surprise when they find out we have some kind of powers."

Johnny could not keep himself silent any longer.

"If you ask me Doom is practicing his stand up routine,” said Johnny.

"Johnny, I second that motion," Reed said. "The unknown factor is if Doom is toying with us still why."

Off the planet Earth where the FF had been adjusting to their new lives, a space vessel appeared where once the bright light existed. Upon the bridge stood a tall man that’s body swelled with power. The Captain had just risen from his sleeping chamber and was slightly disorientated. He looked out across the bridge into the depths of space.

"What is the meaning of this?"

A large computer voice bellowed from the ships hull.

“Cosmicus, your whole purpose will now be relayed before you”, echoed the computer.

Cosmicus stared toward the computer screen.

“My purpose?” Cosmicus questioned.

“Cosmicus you are to go to the planet earth and face the Four”, added the computer.

Cosmicus stood silent as the computer began to explain the mission, which he was destined for. Unbeknownst to Cosmicus in the space vessel, which is currently in, his own possession has its own cargo of four beings currently in storage.