While Arthur and Johnny were still exchanging jokes, and Susan tried in vain to maintain some seriousness, the mood around their small circle felt light. The shared laughter cut through the natural tension of space travel, bringing an almost homely atmosphere into the ship.
But not everyone was comfortable with the scene.
From his station, Reed Richards cast discreet glances—though not discreet enough to hide their intensity. His mind, always so logical and meticulous, tried to rationalize what he was seeing.
(They're just talking… just laughing at something silly… It doesn't mean anything. It can't mean anything…)
Yet every time Susan smiled at Arthur, Reed felt as if a blade pierced his chest. It wasn't irrational jealousy—it was something far worse: the realization that, despite all the years he had spent by her side, he had never been the reason for that light in her eyes. Reed was a genius, yes. An explorer. A man of science. But when it came to matters of the heart, he was like a child lost in a maze with no map.
His fingers gripped the ship's controls tightly. He didn't notice, but his index finger tapped nervously against the panel.
(Arthur… who exactly is this man? Where did this natural ease come from? How can he just… fit in so effortlessly?)
---
Not long after, they finally arrived at the massive space station and disembarked from the ship. The place was colossal, with endless metallic corridors and energy cables crossing the ceiling. The constant hum of machines and the beeping of computers filled the air, creating the impression that every second in that station was precious.
After disembarking, each member was assigned their own tasks.
"Su—" Victor began, already reaching out his hand for Susan to accompany him. But before he could finish, Arthur stepped forward, interrupting him with a calm smile.
"Sue, I'm not familiar with this station yet. Could you show me around?" Arthur asked in such a natural tone that it sounded like an innocent request—but the spark of amusement in his eyes told a different story.
(I'm loving how much this irritates him…) Arthur thought with a mental chuckle as Victor's expression instantly darkened into a stormy scowl.
"Of course," Susan replied promptly, clearly eager to help. To her, it was simply an act of kindness—but to Victor, it felt like a personal insult.
Victor watched as Arthur and Susan walked away side by side. His eyes narrowed, and his fist clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked. In a surge of rage, he slammed his hand against the metal wall. The loud clang echoed down the corridor… followed by a pained groan as the impact shot through his hand.
"Pfft… hahaha…" Johnny couldn't hold it in, bursting into laughter so hard he nearly doubled over. But when he noticed Victor glaring at him with eyes that could burn a man alive, he quickly grabbed Ben by the arm. "Come on, let's get out of here!"
Ben grumbled but didn't resist. "Yeah, yeah… but I'm still laughing about this later."
Victor took a deep breath, massaging his aching hand, then shifted his glare toward Reed, who was still calmly adjusting his equipment as if nothing had happened.
Reed merely glanced up, shrugged as if to say "not my problem," and went back to work in silence.
Victor snorted in frustration and stormed down the corridor.
---
"His face, man… that was priceless!" Johnny laughed, still replaying the scene in his mind. "Did you see Victor's face when Arthur just walked right past him? Hahaha!"
Even Ben, usually so serious, couldn't hold back a chuckle. "Yeah… I'll admit it, that was funny. Doom deserves that every now and then."
The two kept walking down the corridor, still amused by Victor's involuntary humiliation.
---
Meanwhile, in another section of the station, Arthur and Susan walked side by side toward one of the maintenance areas.
"So, this section controls most of the station's life-support systems. We have to check oxygen pressure, power flow, and make a few adjustments on the stabilizer recalibration," Susan explained, used to guiding any newcomer who arrived there.
Arthur observed everything attentively. His eyes swept over the cooling pipes, pressure valves, and digital panels flashing in various colors. He studied every detail with an analytical gaze, as if he could dismantle the entire system in his mind and rebuild it even better.
"I see," Arthur said calmly. He then moved to a panel, crouched, and began inspecting the exposed cables. His fingers brushed over them naturally, as if he were in his own workshop. "This circuit here… it's draining way too much power. If it keeps this up, the pressure pump will overload in less than two hours."
Susan blinked, surprised. "You noticed that just by looking?"
Arthur tightened a fastening screw with skill.
"It's obvious. See the cable's insulation? It's slightly darker, showing signs of overheating. Plus, the panel's vibration isn't uniform. That happens when the energy flow isn't properly balanced."
Susan stared at him, wide-eyed. "Tony Stark wasn't lying about you."
Arthur smirked slightly, keeping his eyes on the panel.
He grabbed a wrench from a nearby toolbox, adjusted the pressure valve, and realigned the connectors. The panel stopped its annoying hiss, and the lights flickered back into perfect sync.
Susan's eyes widened in awe. "You just fixed in minutes something our team would take hours to diagnose!"
Arthur stood up, wiping his hands on his pants as if it were nothing. "It's just about paying attention. Machines, in the end, aren't that different from people. When something's wrong, they always give signs. You just need to know how to listen."
Susan remained silent for a few moments, watching him with a mix of surprise and admiration. She wasn't used to seeing an outsider handle such a complex area with such ease.
"And here I thought you were only good at talking," she laughed, shaking her head.
Arthur shrugged with a teasing smile. "Don't underestimate me, Sue. I can surprise you in a lot of ways."
Susan laughed along, but deep down, she couldn't shake the thought that Arthur was far more than he appeared.
---
Hours passed as each member of the team focused on their own tasks. The steady sounds of keyboards, tools, and machines filled the Space Station, a near-mechanical rhythm of productivity. But amid the intense focus, Reed noticed an unusual reading on his monitors: the sensors indicated that the Cosmic Storm was approaching much faster than any previous prediction.
A chill ran down his spine at the thought of the consequences. Then a crucial detail hit him like a blow: Ben was still outside the station, working on essential repairs, completely exposed. Panic surged in his chest, fast and suffocating.
Reed didn't hesitate. He grabbed the comm headset and transmitted in a firm, urgent voice: "Ben! Get back inside immediately!"
Outside, Ben was focused on his work, ignoring the approaching storm. "But I'm not finished out here yet…" he muttered, determined to complete the mission. But at that moment, a strange shiver ran down his back.
When he looked out toward the horizon of space, he saw the crimson glow beginning to envelop the station. The cosmic storm, as magnificent as it was terrifying, surged forward with deadly speed.
With no time to waste, Ben fired up his thrusters and began flying back toward the station, every move calculated at maximum speed. But fate was merciless. The storm reached him before he could make it to safety, hurling blasts of energy that slammed him against the station's reinforced glass with a thunderous crash that echoed throughout the module.
"Ben!!" Reed cried out, his heart nearly stopping at the sight of his best friend colliding with the barrier. But the calamity wasn't over. The cosmic storm tore through the station's protective shield as if it were fragile, flooding the interior with a crimson, crackling mist.
Inside the station, Arthur and Susan were still focused on their work when they noticed the approaching red haze. Susan's eyes went wide, and her protective instinct took over: she leapt in front of Arthur, placing her body between him and the oncoming storm.
The crimson energy crashed into Susan, throwing her back against Arthur, who stood directly behind her. Arthur, stunned, caught her as she collapsed into his arms.
(Why did she step in front of me!?) he thought in disbelief.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."