Planning

[time_dancer]

Val's room is something like a mix between a New York warehouse studio and a high tech lab. Instruments glow and beep along one wall and the windows (or are the flat screen monitors?) show the New York skyline in the early evening of Autumn. Over the center wall is a large portrait of the Fantastic Four family; Reed, Susan, Johnny, Ben, Alicia, Val, Franklin, and Jennifer figure prominately. On an opposite wall another family portrait shows a happy Susan with a seemingly equally happy Victor von Doom (in armor), an older Franklin (teen aged) and Val. Over by the lab area there is a dry erase board with the words "Save Johnny" written very large.

There is a round table in the center of the room with enough chairs for everyone. Food and drink (digital variations are present) are on a side table next to plates and cups. Floating above the table is a 3D holo-map showing a flat asteroid about the size of a couple football stadiums with several smaller asteroids floating about it. There is a red light blinking just off the center of the large rock island.

"So here's the landscape. Aunt Jen, you've had more experience with the Negative Zone. Would you mind explaining its nature for us?" Val asks once everyone is settled. All traces of her usual cheery self are gone, today Val is all business. At the head of the table there are also a few floating screens showing several different species of the insectoids and some stills of the character of N-Zone space.

Comments

[unbreakableben]

"Works for me," Ben adds with a grin. He's been quiet and standing at parade rest but absorbing the details. "As far as noise goes, are there any extra boom sticks? I could help with the bombardment until we get close enough for me to lay the smack down."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

Jen is almost startled by Ben's statement. She hadn't realized a Ben was there.

"Ben? Is that you?" She grins widely. "I haven't seen you since Ellen led us through Olney."

[unbreakableben]

"It's me," he replies with a big grin. It's likely weird seeing Ben so young let alone human but that grin can not be mistaken. He's also sporting a very military hair cut and his mannerism support the conclusion that he is in fact military now.

"If the calendar is to be trusted, I seem to be from the future compared to now. I guess the Landlord decided my help was needed and I can't argue with him. I'd appreciate it if no one would tell my past self about how things turn out? There's some things I need to face my own way."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

"Of course. The decision should always be left up to the time traveler unless life or death is involved - at least, that's my opinion."

Time travel paradoxes always fascinate Jen. It comes from facing Kang the Conquerer.

"But do you remember this mission, which could be considered your past? Or is this not part of your current time stream?"

[unbreakableben]

Ben shakes his head. "Afraid not. I think my own personal time frame is key here. To me this will happen in my future. I expect my old rocky self will be coming back as I remember doing it lots of times."

[will_scarlett]

"Aye, time an worlds 'ere are always strange. Keep 'old o'what ye know an the people ye know. That aids ye the most,"

He's not from one of their worlds but he knows what its like to know something that's almost home but not.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Drake Tungsten would have a field day with this," Ellen murmurs, rubbing at her temples. "Anyway. I'd offer you a gun, Ben, except that the only other heavy weapon I have access to is a Fat Man launcher, and I don't actually own any mini-nukes."

Other than the MIRV ones she's set aside from Fort Constantine, as she doesn't trust them and doesn't want them being lost.

[unbreakableben]

Ben chokes. "Nukes? Umm no thanks. Nukes in a microgravity environment don't seem like a good idea."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

Jen gives Ellen a Look. "I'm sorely tempted...never mind, never mind. I think we need to decide the team split."

She has to add something.

"I would love to unleash nukes on the Wave as we're leaving. But we don't have that option. So I'm taking as many down as possible. You may not have seen me in a melee before, but I advise you all to watch your backs when I go beserker. Fleshy debris will abound. I don't want to cover you with bug appendices or brains."

[a1enzo]

Enzo appreciates the warning. Otherwise, he might stop fighting to ogle.

Yeah, it's like that.

"I could do either. We cover a lot of stuff in training."

[will_scarlett]

"Aye, that'd make leavin' difficult. I'll probably be best near the back with me longbow as its got a long range an can come in with me sword whene'er ye need me,"

He doesn't think he's seen Jen fight but he knows berserkers and its never a pretty sight.

[time_dancer]

Val has seen some old video footage and she'd prefer to keep it to that but Johnny is more important that her squeamish level.

"I can also use my force fields to help protect you. I think I'd be best for the distraction team. I can make a lot of noise in a variety of ways."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Stealth isn't going to work for me," Ellen says. "Put me with the destruction team. Mjolnir's got good range, and so does my alien weaponry. And they don't leave very much behind."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

Jen gives her a sad look.

"It makes sense for me to be on Team Shhh. Unless yelling counts as Team Boom."

This next she directs at Ellen.

"I wanted you on my team, Ellen, so remember: this really is Olney times ten thousand. Watch your back and when we meet up at Johnny's location, I'll watch it for you."

She grins.

[unbreakableben]

"Well unless we find a big gun for me, I guess stealth it is. And don't worry Jen," he says turning to her with a grin. There's a brief flash and then he's glowing purple. "I'm still good for the smack down."

[will_scarlett]

"If I've those arrows that 'xplode an me own arrows, boom would probably be best for me."

[a1enzo]

"I guess I'm stealth unless anyone wants to give me anything noisy."

[time_dancer]

"Actually Enzo, I was thinking you could help with the boom. With your jet pack you can fire from above and keep an eye on the battle for the rest of us. If that's alright with you?"

[a1enzo]

"Oh! Sure, I can do that." He grins. "Aerial surveillance. Alphanumeric."

[time_dancer]

"Okay so we have two teams. One which will work as a distraction and cover for the other which will attempt to sneak in and get to Johnny. The distraction or Boom team is myself, Will (as he's best with ranged weapons), Ellen (since she's in power armor and a portable Telsa canon) and Enzo (who will be our eyes in the sky).

"The sneaky team will be Aunt Jen and Ben (since they're best with hand to hand), Mel (as she's best with stealth), Raylan (since a shot gun is really for close quarters) and Jan (since with her size changing abilities an flying she can harry the enemy). Does that sound about right? Are you okay with that Raylan and Jan?"

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

Jen, meanwhile, is gaping at Ben in his powered up form.

"Color coordinated teammate!" she finally crows. "Much better than Hawkeye."

[unbreakableben]

"Purple doesn't go with black and burgundy does it? Or does your Hawkeye dress differently?"

[biggerstingers]

"Superpowers go with just about everything, thank goodness," says Janet, "And I'm fine with starting off sneaking. There's always time for death from above later."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

"He wears puple, head to toe," Jen replies to Ben, and then laughs. "You look like Adam Warlock's evil doppelganger. Without the evil, of course. Can I just say wow? I've never met a Ben like you."

Jen turns her attention to Jan.

"We'll need you to harry and distract, Jan - is that okay? Once the sneaking part is over."

[biggerstingers]

"Sure. Not that I'd mind getting a few solid hits in, but bringing everyone back in is the big thing."

It is kind of the point for starting out on this.