Sue Storm Earns The Money

The Invisible Woman felt the gnawing inside her grow. She'd never heard **** addicts describe how it felt in withdrawal, but for her it felt like a hunger that couldn't be sated, like a sickness that ate at her body and mind. Listless and nervous at once, an ache in her belly, a twist in her guts that didn't permit anything else to stay in her stomach for more than a few seconds.

Crime wasn't an option. Dipping into the family finances wasn't an option. Which left...alternate sources of income.

Sue Storm's hands shook as she tapped in the code to 'The Vault.' A secure facility at the heart of the Baxter Building where Reed stored various bits and pieces of alien technology that they discovered on their travels. Over time, he would pick them apart, find safe uses for some of it, file patents...in the wrong hands, even a simple piece of alien tech could be revolutionary, or disastrous.

They were also worth a fortune. Not just as artifacts, but for the discoveries they could lead to.

It was just a question of finding a buyer. Someone trustworthy, with lots of ready cash, who would do a deal on short notice with no questions asked.

She made the call.

Pepper Potts was on the roof twenty minutes later, a hundred and ten pounds of athletic skinniness squeezed into a business jacket and skirt that cost more than some people's first care. The reddish hair shined in the sunlight as she greeted Sue with a hug and air-kisses on each cheek. Sue had sucked the last few rancid drops from the last empty bottle, just so that she wouldn't be shaking and sweating when she met Tony Stark's right hand.

"Not that I'm complaining," Pepper said as she browsed a collection of Inhuman echotech, the head of a Kree Sentry, and Skrull ray guns of every description. "And I'm happy to give you the money, but why do you need ten million in cash?"

"I don't need a gift, Pepper," Sue said. "You're getting a receipt. And...I can't tell you. Something's come up. Hush hush, very short notice, small window of opportunity. They'll know if I use fake bills, banks ask too many questions, and I don't want to go through S.H.I.E.L.D."

Which was all true, although it left out a lot. Like why she actually needed the money.

A part of her wanted to just confess. Tell Potts everything. Tony was almost as smart as Reed. He might be able to help her. Use nanites to strip out the addiction, or go over and blast Porkum into smithereens. There was no good reason not to tell him...except one.

Because it might not work. Porkum could get away. His technology might not be able to help her; he hadn't solved his alcoholism through technology. Then Sue would be left without Porkum's milk, without any way to get it. And the thought of that set the ache in her gut to churning again.

She couldn't risk Iron Man fucking this up for her.

So instead, Pepper Potts left with a bag full of alien technology, and Sue Storm was left with a briefcase full of cash.

The Invisible Woman made the call as soon as Pepper Potts was in the air.

"I have the cash," Sue said. "I want...ten bottles."

"No problem," Porkum said on the other end of the line. "But you'll have to pick them up personally. Come to this address at midnight..."

He rattled off a pair of cross streets. Sue took it down. Her hand shook as she scribbled the address on a notepad. A bad feeling settled in her guts, entirely separate from the aching knot that was the addiction. She hadn't expected to have to meet Porkum. Yet it was clear he planned this. He was in control.

Sue felt the bars of the invisible cage Porkum had trapped her in. Her jaw set in determination. She needed Porkum's milk. She was willing to pay for it. Yet if he tried to screw her over on this deal...the Invisible Woman would show him exactly who he was fucking with.