Johnny stops and looks to Ben, thinking that perhaps Doom isn't the only one who has lost his mind.

"Who said what? There's no one else here but us."

Ben doesn't respond to Johnny. He looks around for the source of the female voice, but still is unable to locate it's owner.

"Who are you?"

Johnny looks to Ben again in discomfort and places his hand on Ben's head checking for a fever. He looks to Ben and then glances forward to two images materializing almost out of thin air. But before Johnny can flame on, he's struck by a blast of cold winter ice pellets. The force of the pellets knocks him to the ground on his buttocks.

"There's only one person I know that would attack me with ice pellets," Johnny says as he flames on.

As the Human Torch flares towards the visually impaired image of a man and woman, a ice wall is formed and Johnny finds himself crashing forward into it. He de-flames and falls to the ground.

"Who are you? Why can't we see you?" Ben asked as he ran charging towards the two assailants that assaulted his partner.

As Ben charges, he's lifted into the air and held at bay. A force field of sorts surrounds him. He violently begins punching the walls of his containment but is un-successful.

Johnny returns to his feet and flames on and hovers lightly above the ground.

"Stop this, Drake!" Johnny shouts, revealing he knows the assailants.

Ben is lowered to the ground lightly and the force field containment is removed and the two images completely materialize before Johnny and his eyes.

"The X-MEN?" Ben asks.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Grimm. It was our only way of knowing if you were truly who you said you were." the X-Men's Phoenix informs.

"I don't get it, Phoenix... why test us? The Fantastic Four and the X-Men have been allies for years," Ben questions.

Phoenix looks to her teammate Iceman, then her emerald eyes return their focus to Ben Grimm of the Fantastic Four.

"Iceman and I are here to examine the damage caused by one of the Fantastic Four's greatest adversaries, Dr. Doom. It's because of him that this city was devastated, which I know you are aware from a simple mind probe."

Torch approaches Iceman and smirks.

"Ice Pellets? What is this? The third grade?"

"Better keep it yourself, Torch," Iceman replies with a cocky grin. "You know I'd love the opportunity to have to 'chill' you out for a while."

Phoenix and the Thing look to Iceman and Torch, whom are bantering.

"I think that's enough, Bobby..." Phoenix in-directly orders.

"Oh c'mon Jean, let me show the hothead I can still kick his ass."

Torch childishly sticks out his tongue at Iceman as Iceman returns to standing next to Phoenix. The Thing looks again to the devastation that surrounds them.

"Doom's not the Doom we've all grown to know. He's becoming a rogue psychopath that'll stop at nothing to get what he believes is rightfully his. He caused Richards to have a stroke and destroyed the Plaza, not to mention he took out most of the Fantastic Four's rogue gallery." Ben informs the two X-Men.

Phoenix telekinetically hovers into the sky above Iceman, Torch, and the Thing. She looks to the far west and senses life-forms, strong life-forms. She lowers herself to the ground next to Ben.

"We aren't alone," Phoenix declares.

Before she can finish her sentence, a jet rockets overheard and sets down nearby. The side panel door of the jet opens and very familiar figures exit.

"The Scarlet Witch, Thor, and Captain America..." Iceman informs.

"Hello Ben, Please send my prayers to Mr. Fantastic. Wanda informed me of his condition thanks to Doom." Captain America tells Ben as he shakes his hand.

Captain America nods his head to the X-Men's Iceman and Phoenix.

"Quite thy destructive now," Thor says in regards to Dr. Doom's destructive path left over the fallen city.

"Yeah Thor, Doom did a number here," replies Iceman.

"I don't understand it. Doom destroys the home, the technology, and then proceeds to take out the Fantastic Four's man in-charge. What was the reasoning behind it?" Scarlet Witch questions.

Ben places a hand on Thor's shoulder as he looks to Wanda.

"Ole Vic's been trying to rid himself of the Fantastic Four for years. Whenever he has a plan, the Fantastic Four have always stopped him." Ben tells Wanda.

"In other words, Doom's gone mad." Cap informs the group.

Phoenix steps forward.

"With recent events, the X-Men have been pretty occupied... if only we could of been there."

Torch smirks and pats Iceman's back.

"Eh, the X-Men can't be everywhere... besides, Doom's been lurking around in the shadows for awhile. He's been waiting for the right moment to strike. In fact, Sue believes that this recent thing with causing Reed to have a stroke was just a part of his master plan. No one except Doom knows what Doom's next move is," Torch states.

Captain America looks skyward and sees another jet in a distance.

"We've got company..."

Phoenix does a quick mind-probe and generates a telepathic image of the approaching visitors.

"It's S.H.I.E.L.D. and US Agent and Sabra of Excalibur." Phoenix enlightens.

"Of course S.H.I.E.L.D.'s going to have a lengthy investigation and they'll determine it was caused by Doom and just let it slide." Torch grumbles.

"I doubt it, Torch. Doom created a act of terror against the United States. If caught, He'll be tried." Captain America states.

"Like anyone will ever catch bucket-head," Iceman tosses out.

Scarlet Witch interjects, "I agree with Iceman, Dr. Doom has been around for years and has yet to really come to pay for his crimes. I honestly don't think the Fantastic Four can handle Doom anymore. He's become to big of an adversary."

The S.H.I.E.L.D. jet flies over top and continues towards the east side of the former city, causing a light breeze.

"Listen Lady, the Fantastic Four can handle themselves and anything thrown at them probably better than the two teams of Avengers combined." Ben shouts.

"Let's calm down, I know this is a emotional discussion, Ben. Doom changed the Fantastic Four quite irreversibly. Wanda just means that perhaps the Avengers should step up and assist more when the Fantastic Four are against the wall with Doom. We are all heroes here... the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-Men. When in a time of need, we come to each others aid." Cap states.

"Yeah, well... where were ya's when we needed ya this time? Perhaps if you would of stepped up Reed wouldn't be in the situation he is now." Ben questions with doubt.

"We've all been busy... it's a dark time in our world right now. We've all grown and we've all changed, just like our adversaries." Phoenix informs.

Torch adds, "So True, Phoenix. Doom's the perfect example of how we've changed and how our times have changed. We aren't in the little leagues anymore. It's time for us to step up to the plate and play some ball."

"Did you just say 'play with our balls'?" Iceman chuckles.

"Funny, Snowman." Torch says sending a flame at Iceman's feet, causing Iceman to jump back.

"Enough Talking. Johnny and I have to get back to the Fours Tower in Pittsburgh. It's the new base of operations for the Fantastic Four, incase any of you aren't up on the news. Let's go, Matchstick," directs Ben.

CLUB 4 - PITTSBURGH, P.A.
--- MIDNIGHT

Sitting at a table, Jennifer Walters sits next to Alicia Masters - Grimm in a trendy black dress drinking a small rum and coke. She looks across the room to see Benjamin and Johnny walk in.

"Oh Alicia, Ben and Johnny just walked in." Jenn informs.

Ben sits down next to his wife Alicia and kisses her on the cheek, before looking over to Jennifer.

"Where's Sue and Reed?" Ben questions.

"Sue's in the back and Reed didn't want to come out," Scott Lang informs Ben as he sits down at the table in a gray suit.

Johnny walks over to the bar in his slightly pressed suit and orders a drink, before a tap on his shoulder grabs his attention. He turns to see a brown haired woman in a luscious silver gown standing before him.

"Umm, Hi. What are you doing here?"

She smiles having known Johnny and his other friends.

"Actually, I just accepted a job with the Pittsburgh Post. I just moved into an apartment last week. I read an article about the newest and hottest nightclubs in town and saw Club 4 was listed. Once I noticed it was run and operated by the Fantastic Four, I just had to stop in."

She is Alison Cory. A reporter that could of let the world know about Mr. Fantastic's stroke, but decided not too. Regardless of what it would mean for her career.

"That's great, Alison... you look outstanding."

"Thank you," blushes Alison Cory.

Johnny offers her a seat at the bar next to him as he sits.

"So what have you been up too?"

"Well, I just got back from doing a story for the Post on the devastating destruction of Milwaukee. I got the story, of course. However, I could of done without flying back with April O'Neil, some photographer Peter Parker, and some other reporters. It was the worst flight of my life," states Alison.

Johnny chuckles.

"I managed to get two great interviews though. One with Iron Man and the other with a few members of the Champions. Sometimes, I love my job." Alison says as the bartender waits for her to order.

"Well, I hope you like Pittsburgh..." Johnny says standing up.

Alison quickly turns to Johnny and smiles.

"Would you like to do dinner sometime? or maybe a movie?" Alison asked.

Johnny smirks.

"I'm gay, babe. Sorry."

"You are?" questions Alison.

"Yeah. I think so anyways..."

"Oh..."

"I'm flattered though, really I am." Johnny says.

"It's alright. It probably wouldn't have been a good idea anyways."

Johnny sighs, "Yeah, probably not."

Elsewhere - PITTSBURGH, P.A.
--- MIDNIGHT

In the dark, a ruby robed woman figure sits in a throne-like chair watching a monitor before her. It is uncertain what she looks like for her robe covers a great majority of her face. A man entered the room wearing a butler uniform.

"Ma'am, I have gathered the information you have requested."

The woman raises her right arm and hand and a violent shock of telekinetic energy forces the butler against the wall of the dark room knocking him out. She lowers her arm and sighs.

"You were trained to refer to me as one thing and one thing only..."

She stands and looks over his lifeless body.

"The Shadow Queen will not tolerate incompetent imbeciles."