Below the massive Vioxx hovering vessel, the city of Pittsburgh crumbles in the darkness. A stabilized force field cuts off the city from the rest of the world, allowing for those desperate to get out to exit but for those to get in to be left out in the cold. The Vioxx known as Prometheus leads the renegade race against the clock in order to save the Vioxx race from pending death.

As Pittsburgh falls, Prometheus’ armies of Vioxx begin excavating the fallen city for a rare iron ore beneath the surface. Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom find themselves contained by the alien madman.

“Prometheus, Release us so that we might be able to assist you.” Reed pleads.

Prometheus turns sharply to Mr. Fantastic.

“So that you may jump me given the chance in order to get the upper hand? I’m afraid not, Mr. Richards.”

“Richards, Prometheus is a fool, especially if he has dared to take the true Dr. Doom as his prisoner.” Doom declares.

 Reed ignores Doom’s statement and rubs his chin as Prometheus watches a large view screen broadcasting the excavation of the fallen city of Pittsburgh. Reed turns his own attention to the view screen.

 “Sue…”

_______(4)_______
 “Lord Prometheus will be pleased with the amount of Iron Ore we’ve already excavated from the Earthlings,” an Vioxx warrior informs another as they walk down a long corridor.

 “Indeed. We will have enough to return to the home world and—“

 The wall burst into pieces, slamming the two into the wall, as the Fantasticar comes racing through. Onboard, Susan Richards, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm eagerly begin the search for their family.

 “Any luck Suzie?” Ben asks.

 Susan’s long blonde hair flows as the Fantasticar races through the corridor of the Vioxx ship. She looks over the scan results hoping to track down her two children, her friends, and her husband. 

“I’m picking up Franklin’s watch communicator. It’s two levels above us.”

 Sue’s brother Johnny’s fist ignite into two fire balls, melting the ceiling above the Fantasticar as they travel further into the Vioxx vessel.

 “Coming Through,” Johnny yells melting anything in their way.

Ben places his rocky exterior hand on Sue’s shoulder. 

“It’ll be okay, Suzie. We’ll get to them.”

 Susan’s blue eyes tear up as the Fantasticar speeds down another corridor of the Vioxx vessel.

 “I know, but in what condition?”


_______(4)_______
In another part of the massive city-wide Vioxx craft, a woman’s voice screams out in pain. In a separate containment unit, the young Franklin Richards finds himself strapped down next to his sister.

 “It’s goin’ to be alright, Vicky. I promise.”

 Franklin reaches over and holds his crying younger sister’s hand while the screaming continues.

“Let her go, you monster!” Alison Cory yells to a Vioxx scientist.

 Contained in a containment cell, Alison Cory must watch helplessly as a Vioxx scientist conducts tests on her friend Alicia Masters-Grimm.

 “Be patient, earthling. Once I finish with her, you will be next.”

_______(4)_______
Prometheus stands before Reed and Doom’s containment cells, smirking almost.

 “It seems that Susan Richards, Benjamin Grimm, and Jonathan Storm have made it aboard. I’m afraid they will not be able to join us.”

“You under-estimate the power of those three, Prometheus. I, myself, must struggle against them. Perhaps together—“

Doom’s body is forced to the floor with the rise of Prometheus’ hand. Straps tie Doom to the floor as it morphs into a table and raises to Prometheus’ waste.

“Save your useless attempts to gain my assistance in your pitiful agenda’s, Dr. Doom.”

Prometheus raises another hand and Reed is violently thrown into the same position as Doom. Reed’s table quickly morphs across the floor to put Reed’s head at Doom’s.

With Prometheus standing in the middle of them, two more tables rise out of the floor. One with Victoria Richards and the other with Franklin Richards.

“Dad!” Franklin yells before a containment gag quiets him.

“What are you doing Prometheus?” Reed questions.

Prometheus smirks.

He stands between all four of them. Reed’s feet at 12, Franklin’s feet at 3, Doom’s feet at 6, and Victoria’s feet at 9.

“I told you that I needed you two to save my race. That is what I am doing.”

Reed realizes he is useless to free himself or his children.

“Heaven help us.” Reed says.

Prometheus raises his arms to the ceiling of the chamber. The ceiling opens revealing the black sky of space. Energy from Reed, Doom, Franklin, and Victoria flows into him and then releases into deep space.

_______(4)_______
As Alicia screams out in pain, the Vioxx Scientist monitors the results of his tests. In an attempt to learn about the Earth’s race, he strips Alicia of everything that’s ever been done to her. Returning her body to the earliest form of a virgin without de-aging her, he concludes his testing.

 “Quite remarkable findings, indeed. You are a simple being. Blind to sight, yet remarkable,” he concludes.

Alicia’s body is worn. She is exhausted. Alison can only watch as she knows that she must now endure the same fate as Alicia. 

“I need a hero…”

 With that said, the walls to the chamber burst into flame. Alison quickly turns to see the Fantasticar.

 “Johnny,” Alison yells.

 Johnny, Ben, and Sue quickly emerge. Ben sees Alicia held against her will and battered. He feels with rage and begins to pound the Vioxx scientist.

 Sue quickly assists her blind friend Alicia away from Ben and the Vioxx scientist.

Ben’s large fists pound into the Vioxx’s body like a freight train into a deer caught in its path. The Vioxx Scientist’s bones crack and shatter at each assault.

 Johnny frees Alison from her containment cell and de-flames. She quickly embraces him, crying.

 “Oh thank god you found us.” Alison cries.

 Ben ends his assault as he regains control over his emotions. The Vioxx Scientist’s body lies on the floor of the lab.

 “Ben,” Alicia asks as Sue holds her with an invisible telekinetic bubble.

 Ben walks over and Alicia embraces him.

 “It’s okay, Alicia. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

 Sue looks around.

 “Where’s my children?”

 Alison releases from Johnny’s embrace and looks to Sue.

 “They were with us, but they were taken away. I don’t know where they are. I’m sorry.”

 “It’s not your fault, Alison… but someone is going to answer to me.” Sue declares as she returns to the Fantasticar.

 “Susan…” a female voice speaks.

 Sue turns to see two figures enter the chamber.

 “Queen Invisible… the Shadow Queen.” Johnny says.

“Answer me now and live. Where are my children and Reed?” Sue asks storming over to the Shadow Queen.

 “Prometheus has them. He’s excavated Pittsburgh. It’s been destroyed. The Vioxx have all of the unique iron ore they need to save their planet. Prometheus is using the Richards’ children power and the minds of Reed and Victor to reformat the Vioxx home world.” Shadow Queen informs.

 Sue looks to Shadow Queen’s companion.

 “How do I stop him?”

 Ari, Shadow Queen’s companion, looks to Sue Richards. 

“Death.” Ari states.

 The chamber begins to shift and the ceiling begins to collapse. 

“What’s all the shaking about?” Ben questions.

 Ari looks to the Fantastic Four’s Thing.

 “It is the vessel’s decimation. It will begin to self destruct once the Iron Ore teleportation to the home world is complete.” Ari concludes.

 “We must stop Prometheus and save our family, at all costs.” Sue orders.

 Ben carries Alicia on board the Fantasticar as Johnny assists Alison. Sue looks to Shadow Queen and Ari. 

“How about doing something helpful for a change? Help us stop Prometheus and help me save my family.” Sue states.

 Shadow Queen nods and boards the Fantasticar. Ari looks around as the chamber begins to crumble.

 “What about you, Ari?” Shadow Queen questions.

 “Go. I must stay. Do not question my motives.”

 Shadow Queen nods and Susan Richards controls the Fantasticar from the chamber just as it falls onto Ari.

 “He was my friend.” Shadow Queen lowers her head in sadness.

 “Trust that he knew what he was doing. We have a job to do.” Sue says as the Fantasticar continues through the corridors of the Vioxx vessel.

_______(4)_______
“The world of the Vioxx’s transformation is almost complete!” Prometheus declares as a large amount of energy exhausts from his body into the darkness of deep space.

 Reed, Doom, Franklin, and Victoria weaken as Prometheus drained them. The wall of the far corner blasts with a fiery fireball as the Human Torch enters the room.

 “Sorry to drop by un-announced, but you have my nephew and niece and I’m not paying for a babysitter.” Johnny says snatching Prometheus from the middle of the captive four. 

Johnny slams Prometheus into a wall and right into the grasp of the Thing. Ben grabs Prometheus by the waist and smashes his body into the floor.

Prometheus quickly releases a blast of energy, knocking Ben into table which  restrains Doom.

 “Sorry about that metal head, I didn’t see where I was goin’.” Ben informs the now released Doom as he rubs his head.

 “Not a Problem, Mr. Grimm.” Doom says as he fires his own blast into Prometheus.

 “No one holds Dr. Victor Von Doom against his will!”

 Doom unleashes a lethal blast into Prometheus, only to have Prometheus redirect it. Shadow Queen jumps in front of Victor taking the full blow. She and Doom are both forcefully pushed into a far wall.

 Sue quickly releases Franklin and Victoria and with the assist of a invisible telekinetic force blast she frees Reed.

 “NO! You are ruining everything!” Prometheus yells as the entire city-wide vessel begins to shimmer and shake.

 “It feels like we’re coming apart.” Ben states.

Reed and Doom quickly rush to the control panel.

“Out of the way, Richards.” Doom states pushing Reed from the controls.

 Reed quickly elastically wraps himself around Doom.

 “Sorry Victor, but I can’t let you do what you were about to do.” 

Doom’s eyes squint as the control monitors begin to flash. The open ceiling begins to close.

 “Richards, the vessel is meta-morphing! This is the chance of a lifetime! We can save the alien technology and change the world side-by-side. This is the opportunity to work together again.” Doom declares. 

The vessel begins to shake violently. Sue quickly boards Franklin and Victoria onto the Fantasticar to sit with Alicia and Alison. She returns to the fallen Shadow Queen. She checks for a pulse and lowers her head in grief.

Johnny and Ben battle it out with Prometheus, whom quickly gets the upper hand by using a force blast to shove them into a computer console.

Prometheus runs to Doom and Richards, knocking the struggle enemies to the side. He quickly takes control of the console.

 “You can not stop the inevitable!” Prometheus declares.

 Dr. Doom quickly regains to his feet and extends a hand to Reed. Mr. Fantastic takes his hand and stands.

 “We must stop him, Richards.”

 “I agree, Victor.”

 With that being said, Doom and Richards together surround Prometheus. Richards’ body wraps itself around Prometheus’ body while Dr. Doom sends the triumphant blasts into Prometheus. Prometheus releases a horrifying scream as it evaporates.

“Reed!” Sue yells noticing that the vessel is shifting.

Reed and Doom quickly surround the control console of the command chamber. After glancing over the system, they come to a startling discovery.

 “The barrier is still surrounding the city. We have little time to escape before the barrier encloses crushing this vessel.” Doom states.

 “So what do we do?” Johnny asks.

 A blinding flash erupts in the middle of the chamber, Ari re-appears.

 “You have freed the Vioxx home world from Prometheus’ control. The iron ore from your planet has cured our race and has allowed us to restore a barrier around our planet.” Ari informs.

 “How do we stop the destruction?” Reed asks.

 “I shall show you.” Ari says.

 Victoria and Franklin appear beside him, holding his hands. Sue quickly looks back to the Fantasticar noticing that Ari somehow teleported them to his side.

 Ari, Franklin, and Victoria are surrounded by a light bluish mist. Doom and Richards eyes glow a bright gold. Sue, Ben, and Johnny approach them. Sue’s eyes glow gold, as does Ben and Johnny’s. Alison and Alicia witness from the Fantasticar.

 “What’s happening?” the blind Alicia asks.

“I don’t know, Alicia… I don’t know.” Alison says watching in amazement.

They are all enclosed in a bubble of sorts.

 The vessel slams into the wreckage city of Pittsburgh, burrowing deep into the earth. The vessel begins to glow a bright gold and begins to transform. The walls surrounding the chamber seem to morph and advanced.

 Ari hovers high over them all, glowing a bright golden color.

 “The intelligent minds of Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom,”

“The civil ruggedness of Benjamin Grimm,”

 “The youthful spirit of Johnny Storm,”

 “The beauty of Susan Storm Richards,”

The Vioxx vessel transforms into a beautiful technologically advanced city. Similar to that of the city of the past, but far more advanced. The Vioxx boundary surrounding the city fades and the sky becomes blue. Doom fades from the chamber, as does the body of the Shadow Queen.

 “I return you to your world with a gift. The praise of a raise that was ruled by a madman. Thank you, Fantastic Four.” Ari says as he disappears in a blinding flash.

A white rose breaches through the ground at Susan’s feet. Reed embraces Sue and his two children, as they all disappear in a blinding flash.
 

_______(4)_______
A white dove flies through the partly cloudy sky as the sun’s rays touch it’s wings. It lands on a sign.

 “Welcome to Pittsburgh. City of The Next Century.” Ben reads as he holds the hand of his blind wife Alicia Masters-Grimm.

 “It smells so rejuvenated, so fresh, so peaceful.” Alicia says.

 Ben hugs his virgin wife as a tear streaks down his cheek and glimmers in the sunlight.


_______(4)_______
“It’s a new era for us, Sue.” Reed says as he enters the shiny metallic building that resembles (but not identical) of that of the Fantastic Four’s once upon the time headquarters; Four Freedoms Plaza. The four sided top of the building is embraced with the 4 on each side, North, East, South, and West. 

“It truly is, Reed. The events that occurred seem so mystical.” Sue says holding her daughter Victoria.

“It’s change, Sue. It’s a step into the future. Ari of the Vioxx teamed the Fantastic Four with that of Dr. Doom to change the fate of Pittsburgh. He used Doom and I to design, he used Ben to form the civilization, he used Johnny to create the environment, he used Franklin and Victoria’s abilities to shape the creation, and he used you to create the beauty.” Reed says holding the hands of his wife and son Franklin.

 The elevator doors open to a beautiful living quarters. Sue and Reed’s eyes open in amazement and astonishment.

 “Welcome to Fours Tower…” Sue says.

 “Fantastic!” Reed says in speciation.
 

_______(4)_______
“Alison, check out Club 4!” Johnny says standing on the corner in front of the newly constructed investment of the Fantastic Four’s Club 4 in downtown Pittsburgh.

Alison smiles at Johnny, while fantasizing the inside.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s check out the dance floor! Flame On!” Johnny says flaming up and carrying Alison inside.

The newly developed city of Pittsburgh shimmers in the sunlight. Today is a day of Rebirth. The Beginning of a New Era.



_______(4)_______
ELSEWHERE
“He has arrived, my Baroness.”

Sitting on one of two thrones, the female figure stands.

 “I see you have been expecting me, Baroness Von Doom.”

 He smirks. He is… Victor Von Doom. Dr. Doom. And before him is the woman no longer known as the Shadow Queen or Queen Invisible. She is now Baroness Von Doom, the wife of Dr. Doom.

 “Yes, My Husband.” She steps off the throne’s step and stands before the man known simply as Doom. She raises her hands and grabs the ends of his mask. Slowly, she removes his mask.

 The chemical scars that have plagued him are no more. Dr. Doom has been given a gift for his assistance with helping to free the Vioxx.

 “It’s a new era for us, Baroness.”

 Victor smiles as he embraces his wife. A passionate kiss ensues.

NEXT ISSUE:  After the events of this special end of era Fantastic Four #50 issue, Pittsburgh; City of the Next Century adjusts to the combined technology of Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom and fall into a position of separating from the U.S. way of life or learning to adapt to the country they were once part of. Also: President Robert Kelly over steps his position and appoints Reed Richards to a position he might not be ready for!