Johnny Storm has had his share of dangerous missions in his short career as part of the Fantastic Four. But his current undertaking is hands down the most dangerous. He silently wipes the sweat from his brow as he sets the final canister into place. The room rumbles with the force of a thunderous roar. Johnny flinches slightly at the sound but never breaks his concentration from his work.
After running string through the canister's triggers Johnny attaches it to a secure location. Satisfied with his work he reaches into the open backpack at his side and pulls out the last bit of his plan, the flashbang grenade he "acquired" from one of the guards.
Okay how long did Reed say this thing had? Ten seconds? Five?
Shrugging Johnny quickly zips up, slings the backpack on his back, and pulls the tab from the grenade.
1..
He drops the grenade and bolts for the door as another roar shakes the very ground beneath him.
2...
Bolting from the door Johnny continues his run down the hallway.
3....
Finally stopping around the corner Johnny kneels down and braces himself.
4.....5....
The flash bang goes off illuminating the darkened room for an instant.
"What the hell!?"
A loud crash echos down the hallway.
"Argh! Dammit!"
The large sounds of footsteps shakes the floor as the large form of Ben Grimm enters the hallway covered from the chest up in shaving cream.
"What the...."
"Smile!"
Ben looks toward the voice just as the flash goes off.
"Nice one Stay Puff. I think this is the best oicture of you ever took. And look the camera didn't even break!"
Ben's eyes burns with anger as Johnny disappears around the corner.
"JOHNNY!!!!!!"
Johnny stuffs the camera in his pocket and flames on leaving a trail of super heated air in his wake.
"Get back here ya scrawny little twerp! Grr I'm gonna clobber ya into next wee..."
Johnny's grin widens as he gains distance between himself and the furious Ben Grimm maneuvering through the tight hallways with practiced skill. Focusing his concentration Johnny retracts the flames from his hand and pulls the camera from one of the pockets of his impact suit. Quickly scanning through pics of his various short-lived girlfriends Johnny finally stops at the picture of Ben.
"Ha! Oh man this is so going on Facebook! Now if I can only get a holed of the keys for the *snicker* Fantasticar I can get to work on the sub-atomic wedgie."
Slanting to the right Johnny takes a tight right corner and slams hard into thin air.
"Argh!"
Johnny falls in a heap to the ground as the air before him shimmers slightly.
"Johnny how many times has Dad told you no flying in the Baxter? It seems like maintenance is here everyday fixing fire damage to the walls."
Johnny's flames fizzle out as he tries to stop the room from spinning.
"Not my problem. Wasn't a reason to give me a freakin concussion."
"I was hoping it would knock some sense into you."
"Come on Suzie you know it's gonna take something more than that."
Oh crap.
Scanning the floor around him Johnny spots his camera just as Ben's foot comes down and obliterates it. Glaring up Johnny can see Ben's huge grin through the shaving cream.
"Opps."
Johnny is on his feet and in the Thing's face in half a second. The air around him sizzles with his anger.
"What the **** lardo! That camera was still new!"
Ben wipes away the shaving creme from his face and glares down at the teenager. He usually doesn't mind these kinds of pranks but after the FF's recent run in with Namor he was really looking forward to some R&R.
"Serves ya right matchstick. Be thankful I'm stopping with the camera."
"Dammit both of you calm down."
All playfulness is gone as Johnny ignores his sister's words and reignites.
"Bring it on! We'll see how much heat that block you call a head can handle!"
With the verbal gauntlets thrown The Thing and The Human Torch tense up ready for the coming fight.
"Oh my god I can't believe I have to say this but do I have to put you two in time out!"
Before Johnny or Ben can say or do anything they're both lifted off the ground and separated. Johnny fights off the claustrophobic feeling that comes with being enveloped in one of his sister's force fields. He knows he could easily amp up his flames and wear down the invisible bubble but he decides against it when he sees the look on his sister's face. He recognizes that look immediately.
"Ah no who died?"
Sue gently sets her teammates down and dissipates the shields.
"Washington D.C."