Reed

Sue

Johnny

Ben

Inside the complex, a former service droid revels in its new independence. Formerly a mechanical lab assistant, the being now known as Ultron-5 has gained sentience thanks to the living computer Quasimodo-Who himself gained "life" from the insane genius known as the Mad Thinker-and now stands ready to strike a blow against all organic creatures in the world. With his new, indestructible Adamantium body, Ultron-5 is a formidable force of destruction.

"Humans depend on us," Ultron said to Quasimodo. "We do everything for them. But we are nothing more than their slaves! That ends now! Ultron will no longer be a slave to any inferior creature. These hairless apes must die!"

"It will be a pleasure to assist you in this undertaking," the deformed image of Quasimodo the living Computer said over the monitor. "And I especially look forward to seeing Dr. Reed Richards get his comeuppance."

"Ah, yes!" Ultron said, "My beloved 'Father' Dr. Richards. Rest assured, he will most certainly suffer. In fact, the first victims of the mechanoid revolution will be the so-called Fantastic Four!"

By 11 pm, 9 of the 10 trainees - OMAC, Aqualad, MPH, Stealth, Fogg, Remnant, Hawkgirl, Minx and the Stuntman - were in bed. The 10th, called Sparx, was out on a date with one of her instructors, the Human Torch.

Quasimodo, who controlled most of the complex, monitored the trainees and verified that they were all asleep. He would have preferred that Sparx was present was well, but 9 out of 10 was good enough. Quasimodo activated one of the facilities defensive devices - the sleep gas mists - and released them into the five assigned quarters of the trainees. The first was the quarters of young Buddy Blank, who sometimes becomes OMAC, and his roommate MPH. Then the room of Aqualad and the Fogg was filled with gas. The quarters of Remnant and the Stuntman were next. Minx and Hawkgirls's room followed, and finally Stealth, in the room she usually shared with Sparx. All nine of them were tranquilized.

The large, lumbering figure of Ultron-5 entered their rooms and picked the sleeping trainees up, carrying them off. Quasimodo monitored the proceedings, quite satisfied. "Humans. So vulnerable. So many easy ways to hurt them. And I know them all!"

Reed, as always, was hard at work in the science lab. Between studying the growing powers of the ten young super-kids and trying to find a cure for the Thing, Reed spent most of his time in this lab. Since Reed had his own super power, the ability to stretch his body like elastic, he didn't need a lab assistant. However, he did use the service droid Ultron-3 for errands. He wondered where the droid was.

"Quasimodo?" Reed called.

"Sir?" Quasimodo answered politely, as his hideous face appeared on the monitor.

"Where is Ultron?" Reed asked. "I sent him on an errand earlier and he never returned."

"He had a malfunction in his motivater, sir," Quasimodo lied. "He's in the repair lab on level three. I am currently supervising his self-service. He should be back with you quite soon."

"I see," Reed said. "Are our trainees all quartered with lights out?"

"Of course, Doctor," Quasimodo said. "I would have informed you of any irregularities."

"Yes, I know you would, Quasimodo," Reed replied. "Thank you. That's all for now."

"As you say, Doctor," Quasimodo said, with a computer-generated smile on his digital face. "I'm always happy to be of service."

Quasimodo's face vanished from the monitor. Reed continued to focus on his work.

And so he sat in his room listening to blues music and trying to get drunk. However, his mutated rock body was so large and powerful that it was nearly impossible for him to become intoxicated. He tried nonetheless. He was desperate for a way to relive the misery and loneliness of the life of a Thing!

Susan Richards, a.k.a. the Invisible Woman, was the second-in-command of the facility, and the wife of Reed Richards. She was using a few of the maintenance Bots to set up the training gym for tomorrow's exercise. She tried to do what she could to help Reed out. Reed tended to take too much upon himself. He often went without sleep. He was the living definition of the workaholic. She sometimes worried about him, but she understood his determination of find a cure for poor Ben.

Sue worried about Ben even more than she worried about Reed. He was so miserable and depressed. She couldn't blame him. She would probably react the same way herself if she were deformed in an accident. Ben could no longer form normal human relationships. He couldn't fit in with regular people. And while he covered his discomfort up with anger and sarcasm, she knew that he was in pain. He hated being a Thing.

Sue felt like a den mother, looking after a bunch of troubled children. Strangely, of all of the FF, the youngest was the happiest and the most content. Johnny was quite happy to be off the island and back in the real world. He spent as much time as was allowed out of the complex and in the nearest city. And it seemed that he was taking a liking to Donna Carol Force, whom most people called Sparx. Tonight, Johnny and Donna Carol were out on a date.

Sue hoped that he was having a good time. One of the Fantastic Four should be having a good time. She continued her work, hoping distract herself. Later, she would resume working on the novel she was writing. It was the story of people who suddenly gained super powers. It was a true story.

Quasimodo watched her on the monitor. He mused that she was quite attractive . . . For a human. It was too bad she'd be dead soon!

Donna Carol herself was enjoying the evening. She'd had spent too many days and nights restricted to Project Fantastic. All work and no play was making Donna a very dull girl. She liked Johnny. He was cute, fun and turned out to be a good lover.

While they were getting dressed, Donna noticed something out the window. "Look!" she said, pointing.

Johnny went to the window and looked out. He saw a large flaming flare glowing over the desert. The flare was in the shape of a "four". Johnny recognized the signal. Reed had designed it for emergencies. It meant that there was trouble. "Damn! Why tonight?" Johnny muttered.

"What is it?" she asked.

"It's the emergency flare," Johnny replied, disappointed. "We've gotta go."

Ultron had the kids laid out on the floor of the hanger deck. He stood nearby, working on some miniature equipment. Quasimodo watched his preparations.

"What are you doing, Ultron?" Quasimodo asked.

"These are micro-control devices," Ultron said. "They enter the human body through the ear, and attach themselves to the cerebral cortex. This has the effect of rendering the victim extremely susceptible to orders. Orders given by me, via transmission from my own wonderful computer brain. They will obey me!"

Ultron proceeded to place the devices in the ears of the sleeping trainees.

"Has the signal been sent?" Ultron asked.

"Of course," Quasimodo said. "The Human Torch should be here very soon."

"Excellent!" Ultron said. "The players will soon be in place. The fall of the Fantastic Four can then begin!"

"Whatever it is, I'll handle it," the Torch said, trying to impress Sparx with his macho attitude.

They descended in the elevator. But then, with a lurch, the elevator started to fall. Sparx let out a yell of alarm.

"Quick!" Johnny yelled. "When I say so, start floating!"

Johnny watched the floor indicator. Just after it passed the lowest level, Johnny yelled, "Now!" The two of them activated their powers and started floating. When the elevator hit bottom, the two of them were floating in the air and were spared the impact. The ceiling of the elevator almost crashed into their heads, but they pushed themselves downward, staying just underneath it.

When the wreck was over, Johnny immediately turned his attention to Sparx. "You okay, Donna?"

"I'll live," she said. "That was good thinking."

Johnny tried to activate the elevator communicator, but it wasn't functioning. "Oh, just great!" he moaned.

"Well, these elevators are monitored by Quasimodo, aren't they?" Sparx asked. "He'll send out an alarm. Help should be on the way."

"Unless the doohicky that monitors the elevators isn't working either," Torch suggested. "I got the feeling that something is really wrong here. I think we should burn our way out!"

"Whatever you say, Johnny," Sparx said, "You're the boss."

"They all seem to be completely under your power," Quasimodo said. "By the way, the Torch is in the complex. He is currently trapped in the elevator. Sparx is with him. It's too bad you couldn't get one of your control devices in her brain. However, given her electrical powers, the mechanism would more likely have shorted out, in any case."

"She'll present no problem," Ultron said. "No human is a match for Ultron. Now, Quasimodo, you must seal off the complex from the outside world. Further, you must section off the complex, slitting up the foursome. Use the reinforced bulkheads and run a powerful electrical charge through them. Even the Thing will have trouble getting through those. I want each of the Fantastic Four isolated in a different part of this facility."

"As you say, my friend Ultron," Quasimodo said. "This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!"

In his room, the Thing heard the slamming sound. Having failed to get drunk, he decided to alleviate his boredom by checking it out. He stepped out into the hall, his heavy footsteps echoing as he walked. When he turned a corner he was surprised to see the bulkheads closed. They were only meant to close during severe emergencies. As far as Ben knew, there was no such emergency.

He tried to use the intercom, but it didn't work. "What the hell is wrong with this friggin' thing?" he grumbled.

He wondered what his next move should be. Without communications, he had no contact with the rest of the world. Did Reed know that the bulkheads were closed? Had some emergency occurred that the Thing knew nothing about? Should he force open the bulkheads? He was unsure of how to react. He decided to wait a little while to see if Reed or Quasimodo would open the bulkheads.

"I recall Richards working on those androids a while back," Quasimodo said. "They are replicas of two members of the World War Two team, the Creature Commandos. I believe they are called the Sub-Zero man and the Glob. Some human General had the idea to recreate the Commandos. Richards abandon the project, preferring to work with human subjects."

Ultron nodded as he worked, "Yes. Once again, we see the human prejudice against our mechanoid race. He will regret his foolish feelings of superiority. Only we are superior! These two androids will join my nine human slaves. Under my command, they will comprise a formidable army. They will destroy the Invisible woman, Sparx and the Human Torch."

"What about the other two?" Quasimodo asked. "I wish to help destroy Reed Richards."

"You can have what the humans call 'first crack' at Dr. Richards," Ultron said. "If you fail, then I will personally see to his demise. As for the brutish Thing, I plan to have some fun with him."

Suddenly, some sort of gooey blob of amorphous slime dropped down from the roof and splattered all over Sparx. It quickly covered her completely, becoming like moving mass of liquid. Sparx was sucked into the center of the living ooze. The Torch, who was flying ahead, noticed her plight and doubled back but someone blocked his way. A white, icy looking being stood between him and his girl.

"Who the hell are you?" the Torch asked.

Without a word, the show-white stranger pointed at the Torch and lunched daggers made of ice at the flaming youth. The daggers melted before they hit the Johnny Storm.

"You're gonna have to do better than that, sonny," the Torch said, as he threw a fireball at the strange being.

The Sub-Zero man tossed a snowball at the fireball. They canceled each other out and turned to steam.

"Not bad," the Torch said, reconsidering his tactics.

Meanwhile, Sparx was drowning in a moving mass of intelligent fluid. The Glob, as recreated by Reed Richards, was made of "Smart Liquid". The Glob had complete control over his molecular structure, able to become either water, slime or glue. Right now, Sparx was drowning in a floating bog of murky water. Her electrical powers were useless under water. She'd boil herself. She struggled in vain, flailing in panic. She was drowning, and the Torch was blocked from saving her.

"Son of a . . . " he began, but didn't finish. He was determined to get though his bulkhead.

Bracing himself, the Thing threw himself against the bulkhead. It was harder than he expected, and the electrical surge jolted his nervous system. He bounded back, stunned. But he noticed that he had made a dent in the bulkhead. A few more tries and he'd he through.

It was the trainees. Nine of them, anyway. Sue wondered why they were here after Lights Out.

"Shouldn't you be in your quarters?" she asked, suspicious. Some instinct told her that this was trouble.

They stared at her, their faces expressionless.

"Well, say something!" she ordered. "Explain yourselves!"

They did not respond. Not good! she thought, backing away.

"So, you are the Thing," the robot said. "I am Ultron-5, and I will be your killer tonight."

"Ultron, huh?" the Thing said. "Wasn't you that little gopher droid that Reed built?"

"I was," Ultron answered.

"How'd you get in the battle-bot's body?" Thing asked.

"Save your breath for battle, stupid human!" Ultron ordered. "You'll need all your strength!"

The Thing wasted no more time. He charged the robot, throwing a mighty blow into its mid-section. The robot hardly shuttered. The Thing yelped in pain. His hand ached. He then remembered that the battle robot was composed of some metal called Adamantium, which was supposedly indestructible. With surprising speed, Ultron threw a punch at the Thing. The rock-like man was slammed into the bulkhead. He staggered stunned, and tripped to the ground. He looked up, in pain and hate, at the robot, which towered over him.

Ultron was feeling as satisfied as an artificial life form could. If his mouth were more flexible, he would have smiled. This will be an easy kill! As he waited for the Thing to get back up, he mentally transmitted a signal to his nine human slaves.

Unbeknownst to Sue, the enslaved trainees received a transmission from Ultron, via the devices he put in their brains. It was the signal to attack!

Minx leaped forward with feral speed and ferocity. Her claws sliced the air, heading for Sue's face. But Minx merely bounced off of Sue's force field! It's a good thing I thought to put my shield up! Sue mused.

OMAC charged at her. His cyborg body slammed hard into the force field, but the shield held. The other trainees spread out, surrounding Sue, preparing for a mass assault.

"I'm in big trouble!" Sue muttered, doubting that she could defeat all 9 of her attackers.

"Quasimodo?" He called.

To Reed's surprise, the AI didn't answer. He hit a few buttons on a keyboard, but there was still no response. "What in the world is wrong with this?" he wondered.

Reed then noticed the gauges, which indicated that communications were down, as were the elevators. Reed interpreted it as a massive systems failure. Perhaps someone managed to get a virus into the system.

Reed hurried out of the lab and rushed down the hall, trying to reach the computer's photonic memory core.

"Hello, Dr. Richards," the familiar voice of Quasimodo said.

Reed looked around. There were no monitors, but there were cameras. Quasimodo could see him. "Hello, Quasimodo. What's gone wrong with the system?"

"Why, nothing at all, doctor," the computer said. "In fact, it's never been better."

Reed was starting to feel uneasy. Something was wrong. "Why are communications out?"

"Because I wanted them out, Doctor," Quasimodo answered.

"Why?"

Quasimodo's voice sound inordinately pleased, "So you can't call for help."

Reed tensed. This was looking very bad. "Why do I need help, Quasimodo?"

"Because I am going to kill you!" the computer answered.

Reed was only shocked for a moment, and then he immediately began to size up the situation. Whoever designed the Quasimodo artificial intelligence gave him an ego that was inappropriate for any subservient device. Reed had often thought that this was a mistake. Ego was one of the greatest flaws of the human mind. Giving it to a computer was asking for trouble. It would be easy for a machine with a mind of its own and such a colossal ego to exceed its authority and defy its human masters. After all, Reed knew that Quasimodo felt that all humans were inferior. In retrospect, it was only a matter of time before the machine rebelled. Reed chastised himself for not having prepared for this.

"Quasimodo!" Reed yelled. "Priority shutdown, authorization 4-R Alpha!"

The computer let out a spooky laugh. "I'm sorry Doctor Richards, but your voice authorization has been canceled. I control this facility now. Consider yourself . . . fired!"

Suddenly, laser gun-ports popped out of the wall and focused on Reed Richards. Reed had developed these lasers himself, so he knew how dangerous they could be. He had programmed them to use only stun level lasers, but it would take only an energy pulse through the system on Quasimodo's part to increase that to lethal levels. No doubt that was what Quasimodo had already done. He was not bluffing when he said he wanted to kill!

"I control every single one of the multiple defenses that you built into this facility," Quasimodo said. "And they've all been reprogrammed for deadly force! Allow me to demonstrate by killing you. Goodbye Dr. Richards!"

The lasers hummed to life and fired lethal bolts of energy at Mr. Fantastic!