Lights, Cameras, Frame Job!

It took Cap several minutes to get Reed on his feet and moving to the S.H.I.E.L.D. car. On the way there, Reed looked concerned and said "Wait... Where are all the civilians and more importantly where is the Pogo Plane?"

Cap looked around as well. The Pogo Plane was here when he arrived nearly an hour ago and so were about 50 civilians. Now the whole area was empty; no people and no plane. "Sue must have flown them out, but why?"

Even in the emotionally damaged state he was now, Mr. Fantastic was still a consulate analyst. "Sue didn't fly them out. At least not directly. While I was paralyzed, I saw her use a portal of some type to teleport out. She didn't talk to anyone here after she... After we got here. That means that some or all of the civilians were in Diablo's thrall and it happened long enough ago that she was able to instruct a pilot among those here in the security codes and intricacies of the Pogo Plane. We need to get to somewhere safe and fast."

The two heroes entered the S.H.I.E.L.D. car and Cap quickly got them into flight mode. As they took to the air, he informed his passenger "This car is one that Nick Fury personally set up in a safe house. Even the Helicarrier can't trace it without Fury's personal security code. This is about as safe as we will get Reed."

Reed quickly adjusted the onboard satellite TV to pick up CNN and to their horror they saw the other shoe drop. The headline banner said, "Hero Hunt: Live Update!" and the announcer added "Live from Avengers Mansion, we are here to cover the Avengers press conference regarding the systematic hunting and killing of some of our most prestigious heroes. So far Dr. Steven Strange, the self-proclaimed Sorcerer Supreme, as well as Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm of the Fantastic Four have been confirmed as fallen to the killer or killers. Oh, it appears that we are about to begin. Approaching the dais is Iron Man of the Avengers and the Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four."

Iron Man began "Last night, as you know tragedy struck the hero community when Dr Strange was savagely murdered. In the course of investigating the clues left behind, both the Avengers and the Fantastic Four were likewise ambushed. The Avengers were barely able to escape their trap with their lives, but the Fantastic Four were not so lucky."

Sue then took the mike "Ben Grimm and my brother, Johnny Storm..." Sue trembled for a second and a single tear flowed down her cheek, but quickly righteous anger appeared to take over as she continued "Were brutally murdered by an alien being from another timeline impersonating my husband Reed Richards. This being is in fact an alternate universe version of Reed that used advanced technologies to threaten the lives of everyone at the Watson Finger Lakes Retreat. While I got the innocent bystanders to safety, the Thing and the Human Torch attempted to contain the creature and were slew with what looked like an antique sword. His technology made this device capable of cutting through even Ben's skin and Johnny's nova flame. By the time I got them to safety..." Sue bit her lower lip and looked down.

Iron Man reached over to put his armored hand on the heroine's shoulder. As Sue looked up, she gave the Avenger a nod. "More than 50 people have Susan Richard to thank for their lives today. If she had tried to stay and help contain the imposter Mr. Fantastic then none of them may have escaped. For the remainder of this emergency we of the Avengers are proud to reactivate Susan's Avenger membership. As it is, we know, from the admissions of our attackers in Baltimore and at the Finger Lakes, that Captain America and one other hero from our world had been murdered and replaced just like Reed Richards. That third person is Professor Charles Xavier. All civilian, military, and super hero forces have been mobilized in the search for the three imposters."

Cap looked at Reed and without so much as a word, they knew they were in agreement. Cap set course for Salem Center, New York. They needed heroes and it looks like they now knew some that could use a hand.

*****

After the press conference was over, Sue placed her hand seductively on the armored Avengers chest and purred "So sweetie, what do you say I get a can opener and... I free 'Willy'?" She smiled evilly and licked her lips as her chaperone removed his helmet to reveal Diablo.

With an evil chuckle the villain replied, "My dear, 'Willy' doesn't want freedom; he simply wants to play with you!" Susan squealed with delight as she embraced her lover. After a fiery kiss, the sorcerer looked into her beautiful blue eyes and said "Well, while our slaves are moving to intercept our enemies, we have time for a little fun and they will need more than a lucky talisman to escape this time!"