Memories at Coney Island.

Making her way down the streets of Manhattan, Susan Von Doom remained invisible, weaving past pedestrians on her way to her destination. She was not too sure if it were where she thought it would be, after all this was a different dimension, and so many things were different here than in her own version of the city. After crossing several blocks from the Baxtor building, Susan Von Doom smiled when she looked up to the gated fence of the Latvarian Embassy and the building looming behind the heavy iron fencing.

“Home sweet home.”

Making herself visible and looking down at the simple intercom at the gate, she was about to press the ‘speak’ button when the intercom came to life.

“Susan Von Doom… You have been expected. Please come in.”

The electric whirl of a gate motor signalled before the heavy gate slide to the left, giving the woman the space to step inside the property where she was met with the building’s defense systems aiming at her. Dozens of targeting lasers followed her with every step as she made her way to the front door of the embassy with a smile on her lips.

“I knew you’d let me in without a fight.”

*

Driving up to the curb of the docksides of Coney Island, the occupants of the blue hatchback stepped out and looked around, just as the car unfolded and transformed into a giant humanoid robotic woman and joined the group of women. Looking around the entrance to the park over the pier, the group of Susan Storms looked around, trying to spot who they were looking for.

“Huh… A little different than how I remember it.”

“Yeah… They kept the roller coaster?”

“They did in MY dimension.”

Walking deeper into the pier, the ladies gathered quite a crowd of onlookers who stopped in their tracks from playing carnival games or checking out rides and ogled them as they passed by. And not for good reason. How often do you see a group of women including a giant robot car, a wendigo, a demoness, and an eldritch tentacles she-creature walking through Coney Island?

“Hey, look doll, the freaks are out.” Called out a chuckling man with a woman around his arm, his own friends sharing in the laugh as stood and watched. “Make sure that cat has a leash ladies.” The man laughed out loud, turn to head out and sip from his drink, just as Wendigo Sue snapped her tail and thwacked the man across the back of his head and make him spit out his drink.

“Yeah… The ass-holes haven’t changed around here.” Muttered the towering beast woman, ignoring the man’s complaints in the background as they walked deeper down the pier until they were at the edge of the docks and stopped. Being the only ones visible, they ignored the crowd who followed them to look out into the waters, then turn their attention to an empty bench overlooking the bay.

“Alright Susan, quit hiding, we KNOW you’re here.”

Suddenly becoming visible and sulking in the middle of the bench with her head resting in her hands, the woman wiped her eyes and looked away from her interdimensional copies. “How’d you know where to find me?”

Crossing her arms and rolling her eyes, the tentacle haired creature stepped forward and looked out across the bay of the pier. “Are you kidding? This is where we would go to get some time to ourselves, its also the place where we first met Reed.”

Taking her seat next to the woman, the model did the same on the opposite side, gently resting a hand on the woman’s knee and smiling back at her. Getting a smile back from the Invisible Woman.

“Look, I’m sorry about what happened earlier.” Spoke the blue robotic woman as she crouched to one knee to see Sue eye to eye. “But look at it from MY perspective, it’s been years since I could be physically intimate with Reed like that. You just don’t get the same experience when everything is… Digital.”

“I’m sorry too.” Sighed the succubus, fluttering her wings behind her and folding her arms under her bust. “I was starving… And I thought better that I got a quick meal from Reed than some random stranger.”

Slowly nodding and leaning back in her seat, Susan continued to avert her eyes to her duplicates. “It’s just… I don’t know… I should be MAD at you, mad at Reed… But he didn’t cheat on me, on me, didn’t he? Gah! It’s all so fucking confusing!” Slumping back down to rest her chin under her hands, Susan sulked. The woman’s mood improving slightly when she felt the alien woman gently rest a hand on her shoulder.

“I think we’re just homesick Suzie, lord knows I miss MY Reed back home just as much as the others do.” Sighing, the blue skinned creature leaned back and smiled sadly. “My Reed still loves me for me, even if I still look like a horror show.”

Sitting up again, the Invisible Woman leaned to the side and pulled the four-armed woman close for an embrace. Beside her, the model looked around with a wistful smile before turning to look back at the two on the bench.

“So, this is where you met Reed? Your husband?”

Nodding almost in unison, Sue and the others looked around the pier and shared a knowing smile.

“We were kids, still in high school. I came with my brother Johnny down here and we bumped into Reed and Ben after they got off the tilt-a-whirl, Ben told me later it was so he could be a better pilot by dealing with negative g-forces, Reed however didn’t have the stomach for it and practically collapsed at my feet. We got to know each other after we split for a Sunday to sooth his stomach.”

Nodding to the story and hearing the others look back at the memory fondly, the model leaned to the side and combed her fingers through her hair.

“I remember that night… Except… I never took a step towards the tilt-o-whirl, Johnny convinced me to try the bumper cars instead, I never met your Reed.” Looking away with a sad smile, the woman continued. “I graduated and pursued my modelling career and Johnny went on to be a stunt driver. Then 5 years later Johnny got into an accident during a bike jump and has been in a wheelchair ever since.”

“Oh Suzie…”

“I kept up my modelling and got passed around at parties by my manager like I was a fucking prostitute, then there were the scandals and… And…” Sniffing and wiping a tear from her eye, the woman hugged herself tightly and looked like she was at the brink of breaking down. When she felt Susan wrap her arms around her, she did not hesitate to hug back. “I mean look at YOU, you’re married, you’ve got a family, you’re famous, you have superpowers…”

“Shh… It’s okay sister…”

“And all because I turned left instead of right at a fucking carnival…”

Gathering close to share a hug with those sitting on the bench, the other Susans waited for the former model to let it all out. Looking out to the rest of Coney Island, the Invisible Woman smirked and got an idea.

“Hey… Who’s up for making some good memories in this place?”

Hearing the model of herself chuckle, they all got up from the bench and made to go back into the carnival end of the pier. Just as they were, the succubus looked behind her to find the former sex-**** still looking out of the pier, stone stiff.

“Suzie, are you coming?

Slowly turning her head to look back at the group, the woman blinked her eyes and focussed on the pier again, a look of clarity in her eyes as she slowly approached them.

“I… I REMEMBER this place…”