Doom Is Pleased, but...

"So," Doctor Doom's hologram said. "Your seduction proceeds apace."

"Of course," Moonstone said, and she sipped her whiskey. The doctor had her shoes off, feet propped on the desk, viewing Doom's floating blue holographic head between the V formed by her crossed ankles. "The Invisible Woman is already engaged in an extramarital affair. She just hasn't fully digested that fact yet."

"Excellent," Doom said, his gravelly voice offering the first real approval since he had formed his unlikely partnership with Karla Sofen. "And...what then?"

Moonstone blinked.

"What then?" she repeated. "I'll...get her to break up with her husband. That'll be the end of the Fantastic Four."

"Oh? And after you have her divorce Reed Richards, will you continue the relationship? Do you plan to marry her and be stepmother to the Invisible Woman's children?" Doom prompted.

Moonstone blinked again.

"I...uh..." she stammered. In truth, Moonstone hadn't quite thought through the scheme any further than the achievement of destroying Sue Storm's married life.

Doom's gaze was cold and calculating.

"Understand me, Moonstone. I do not seek some temporary victory over Reed Richards. I wish to destroy him from within. You should be considering longer-term goals and laying plans for the future," he said.

"The future," Moonstone repeated, feeling stupid for having said it again. She set down her drink. "You mean you want me to marry Sue Storm?"

Doom's iron mask could not smile...but Moonstone shivered as she thought about this from his perspective. Reed Richards cuckolded by a woman. His wife leaving him for her lesbian lover. That would be...emasculating. Exactly the kind of thing that Doom would want.

But is it what I want? Karla wondered. Do I really want to be "Dr. Stone" forever? How long can I hide my real identity from Sue? I mean, do I really want to be married? A step-mom? Granted, the idea of waking up and having a beautiful blonde bitch eating my pussy out is great, but...

"I will look forward to further developments," Doctor Doom said, and then his hologram winked out as he ended the call. Leaving Moonstone with a pounding heart, and many questions to ask herself.