Getting into trouble, getting answers.

Flying overhead in the Fantasticar, Reed kept his eyes open for his wife among the pandemonium below. With him were Johnny and Ben looking down at the city while Tigra and Jen sat with the two kids in the back seat. All of them had been searching for Susan since they made it to the roof of Five Freedom Plaza and used the flying car to scan the city. Doctor Strange followed them up in the sky, levitating with the aid of his red cloak. Down below it was as if a riot had broken out into the city; fires, overturned cars and destroyed building were left in the wake of just a single wendigo… As of now there were at least a dozen according to the SHIELD radio Tigra took with her from one of the frozen guards back at the Richards home. Looking out the side window, Johnny Storm kept his eyes peeled looking for his sister, until he felt a tug at his sleeve that turned his attention to his niece and nephew behind him.

“Is mom going to be alright Uncle Johnny?”

“I don’t know kids, I hope so.”

Listening in on radio chatter, Tigra nodded to herself as if she were taking notes when her eyes lit up and she waved her hands to get Reed’s attention. “Guys, guys, GUYS! There is a SHIELD transport nearby that claims they dealt with a wendigo, one that turned invisible! Transport eight with Delta crew.”

Stopping the Fantasticar to hover over the city, Reed looked over his shoulder behind him to see Tigra listening intently to what she was getting from the walkie-talkie. “Well? Where did they land?”

Raising her finger as if to silence him, Tigra nodded and looked out the window. “They’re out over at the Helicarrier, they’re hovering just over Madison Square to contain the Wendigo and re-arm, if we get there, we might get some ans…”

Not letting her finish, Reed sharply turned the Fantasticar around and at top speed flew across the city towards the Helicarrier’s location. In the span of minutes, the Fantastic Four and their friends and family found themselves in front of the massive air fleet vessel flying over the city, where smaller transports came and went off its flight deck and spread out across the city to contain the growing wendigo threat. The moment they entered the Helicarrier’s airspace, a pair of SHIELD fighters flew parallel to the Fantasticar, ordering them to land on the flight deck where they would be briefed.

Landing the vehicle over the deck, Reed opened all the doors and pulled himself free of the car as a group of armed SHIELD flight deck officers approached the vehicle and eyed the man and his family with trepidation. “Professor Richards, you were ordered to remain in your home until the crisis was resolved. You will come with us right now.”

“Where’s transport number eight? I need to speak to the crew who just arrived.”

“THAT is classified! You will come with us NOW, or we WILL be **** to detain…”

“Reed!”

Running through the flight deck and ignoring the protests of the SHIELD agents now occupied with Ben, Johnny and the others, the blue spandex wearing man elongating his limbs to increase his stride exploring the flight deck, searching for the parked vessel. Nearby he could see other harrier transports being loaded down after hauling their prisoners out of their cargo bays with steel nets. The beasts looked limp and ****, most likely from some potent tranquilizer after being subdued. Not far from the row of vessels were holding pens were the Wendigo already captured were contained and their **** state maintained by a crew of medical staff to keep them sedated before being relocated. Looking over the serial numbers of each vessel, Reed quickly made his way from one vehicle to the next, ignoring the calls and demands of the SHIELD officers behind him until he managed to find the transport ship where the crew were being checked over for injuries after landing 30 minutes ago. Seeing one of the agents lock eyes with him, Reed hurried towards the one agent being tended to by a medic and grab hold of his shoulders to look him right in the eyes.

“You! You sent a report that you thought you saw Susan Storm somewhere in the city, where was that?”

“Hey! You’re not supposed to be here, just who the hell…”

“Answer me!”

“I would suggest you answer the man, officer Ramirez” Replied Doctor Strange, descending from the air to hover above the ground just as the others finally caught up to Mr. Fantastic. “Time is of the essence, and we can no longer excuse your protocol.”

Looking up at the sorcerer supreme and the rest of the group arriving along with SHIELD guards chasing up to meet them. The man looked up between the **** Reed and stern looking Doctor Strange, and folded. “y-yeah… At least I think it was her. We were heading into the city to capture one of the strays that seemed to be cropping up around town, but we got overwhelmed. There were three of them. Some of us got injured and then a female one showed up, appeared out of nowhere…”

“Was it sis?” asked Johnny with a worried tone.

“Oh, please tell me she didn’t harm anyone.” Worried Reed out loud, turning away from the man as the worst ran through his mind.

“Well… That’s the weird part, I thought we were all goners when she showed up between us and the jet here, that is until she started attacking the other Wendigos.”

“What?!” Snapped out of his rumination, Reed looked back at the man in confusion.

“Yeah, jumped right over my head and started chomping down on the one that got Carl, gave us all time to get out of there to safety.”

Stepping back from the man, Reed’s mind began to spin with thoughts. The others looking just as surprised by the explanation given to them.

“So yous sayin Suzie’s still in there somewhere?”

“My sister is still in control? But she went berserk in the apartment.”

“She became dangerous when she was provoked.” Scratching his chin with his arms crossed, Stephen Strange fell deep in thought as Reed had. “Her mind has been consumed by the rage and hunger, but her core is still intact, this is a good sign Professor Richards. But the strain on her mind, it must be overwhelming…”

“Reminds me of my cousin.” Piped in Jennifer. “He’s always told me that the Hulk was a separate being to him, but when you get right down to it, the Hulk is just Bruce if you take out the brains, fear and give him a 30 megaton right hook.”

“Does that mean we can still save her?”

Hearing the click of weaponry all around them, Reed and the others had finally acknowledged the SHIELD security who by now were aiming their weapons at the team and fellow Avengers. “REED RICHARDS! By order of SHIELD, you and your compatriots are under arrest for defying command!”

“We’re the Avengers small fry, he’s with…”

“I DON’T GIVE A DAMN WHO YOU’RE WITH, FREAK!” Barked the officer, pointing his rifle at Tigra that made the feline woman narrow her eyes. The rest of the Four and Avengers stared back at the armed guards circling them. “HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD AND GET ON YOUR KNEES!”

Stepping back and finding the others were close by and ready, Reed was at a loss on what to do next. His worry had gotten the better of him. Feeling his children grip at his hands from behind his back, the man listened in as the guards continued to demand they surrender. Until another voice called out that got all their attention.

“GET ME SOMETHING TO EAT! NOW!!!”

“Carl, calm down, just let me…”

“NOW!!!” Shoving the woman out of his way to get to the kit hanging from the side of the transport’s interior. The SHIELD agent pried open the container and bit down on a packaged protein bar with such desperation, he barely registered the wrapper still in his mouth. “Not enough… NOT ENOUGH!”

“Officer, stand down!”

“Not enough…” Clutching at his stomach, the man sneering with anger and tossing the kit across the flight deck where one of the guards ducked to avoid it. Staring back at the Four and Avengers, his skin was pale as chalk and his eyes looked blood shot. “Want more… Want… Wa…” The crunch of bone distracted everyone as the man clutched at his head and growled. His clothing becoming skin-tight until it burst at the seams, growing taller and larger by the second. His already grey hair turning stark white as it spread out and enveloped his entire body. Clawed toes shook off the remains of his shoes, while his clawed hand pulled off the taters of his uniform. Staring back at the SHIELD officers and heroes, the monster bared its fanged teeth. His eyes blood red and wild with hunger and rage. “Wendigo….”