Sue's new life!

The world outside went by as usual. The Fantastic Four continually looked for Sue never giving up hope. Janet Van Dyne was temporarily on the team as Sue's replacement. The mystery of her disappearance was now a legend like Amelia Earhart, or more correctly...Bigfoot. Multiple TV shows like "Unsolved Mysteries" in its heyday reported on her disappearance. Some believed she simply up and left, others that she was dead. Still, there were some views people thought outlandish. A man named Nigel Hawthorne went on many TV shows claiming Sue was living not only amonst apes in the wilds of the Savage Land, but in fact AS an ape. However, strangely all of his footage was destoryed in a "boating accident" as he claimed. He argued that Sue herself had sank his ship and his footage. He was largely laughed out of many scientific circles. His witnesses, the men who allegedly ferried Sue to San Francisco were all quite. One said he feared reprisal by Sue herself.

Nigel often tried to return, but the guides were not going back to the region. Something had spooked them, and legends abounded that the area was now cursed.

So the world went on, and none knew the truth...that Nigel was right.

The former Susan Storm-Richards yawned loudly in the midday sun. Her tan skin felt warm. She sat picking berries with the other females. The males were on a hunt, with Taug leading them as usual. Sue smiled to her son, who was running with the other children. Sue was amazed at his growth. He was only several months old and looked to be about the size, strength and knowledge of a two year old human. Though he looked neither human nor gorilla. He was somewhere in between.

Sue remembered much about her former life. The ones called "heroes" could keep it, she told herself. This was a simpler life. A happier life. Here she was not fighting to save the world. Though as the new Queen of this mountain, she was tasked with defending her space. Intruders often came.

Once a pair of creatures that Sue called "men" had come to look upon her child. They were amazed when a blonde woman came crashing through the forest hooting at them. She dragged her knuckles as an ape and beat her enormous breats. She even bared her teeth at them, signifying they were in her territory. The "men" were so frightened that they never returned.

No longer did Sue worry. Taug provided her with all. She truly lived as a gorilla queen. She remembered the names of things from her past, but the memories were fading. She doubted if she could still drive on of those "car" things. She could never return. What would they think of her child? For that matter, what would they think of her mate? She held her stomach. It was protruding slighlty. Soon the family would grow again, and she knew she needed to be here.

As if answering her call, Taug came crashing through the forest. Today's feast was a deer. As usual, Sue ate right next to Taug, and right after him. This day was a little different as Sue watched a challenger to Taug's supremacy. Her eyes dilated as usual, waiting to see who the victor was. She understood if Taug lost, it meant he lost her as well. As usual, Taug won. Sue smiled and stood on her hind legs. She sauntered up the hill to the cave, and gave Taug a knowning glance. It was time to collect his reward. She knew that he loved when she walked upright. She beckoned to him to follow.

The young son of Taug listened intently to the sounds of mewling. He always wondered what his parents did in that cave. Today he decided to slowly follow. He got away from the other gorillas watching him and crawled up into the mouth of the cave. He noticed his mother's long blonde hair. He could see they were bathing in the pools. He watched as the rocks grew red around him. To his amazement his father got behind his mother. He appeared to place something inside his mother. "Oooooouuu!" his mother grunted in gorilla, "Ooouuuu!" Her eyes were wide. His father seemed to be slamming into the back of his mother. He wanted to run and help his mother, as it appeared father was killing her. Yet he hesitated and noticed the smile on his mother's face. She seeemed to enjoy this strange game. Suddenly they both let out guttural bellows and collapsed into the pool.

Feeling the game was over, the young apeboy walked towards the pool. His mother was twirling the hairs of his father. She smiled brightly at him and motioned for him to come sit with them.

Such strange parents, he thought.