Fantastic Four: Legacy of Tomorrow

"JANUARY 6, 2025"

The small dorm room was cluttered with textbooks, papers, and a few scattered comic books. Richard Ritchson stood in front of his phone, which was propped up on a stack of books. His excitement was palpable as he began recording the video, a wide grin spreading across his face.

Richard: (Excitedly) Yes! Finally! I got the internship inside the Baxter Building! I might actually get to meet my idol, Mr. Fantastic!

He paused for a moment, waving his hands in the air as if imagining the moment he'd finally come face-to-face with Reed Richards. He looked over at his roommates, Ganke and Miles, who were sitting on their respective beds, both with their phones in hand but visibly unamused by Richard's antics.

Ganke: (Sighing) Bro, really? Stop making videos here. This is supposed to be a dorm, not your personal vlog studio.

Miles: (Teasing) Yeah, bro. I mean, you had an Mr. Fantastic poster on the wall like it was some shrine.

Richard's face lit up even more, and he laughed, ignoring their criticisms. He turned the phone to face them, now trying to get them to join in on his excitement.

Richard: (Grinning) C'mon, guys! Smile for the camera! It's 2025 now! You gotta keep up with the times. Plus, I might pay my debt soon!

Ganke raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued despite himself.

Ganke: (Curious) Wait, wait. How much debt are we talking about, anyway?

Richard paused dramatically, leaning in as if to deliver the most shocking revelation of all.

Richard: (Nonchalantly) Oh, just 10 billion.

Ganke and Miles froze for a moment, processing the number, and then both of them simultaneously shouted in disbelief.

Ganke and Miles: (Shouting) 10 billion?!

Richard shrugged, his grin still wide.

Richard: (Casually) Yeah, but don't worry! I'm gonna pay it off once I get that internship and meet Mr. Fantastic. It's all gonna work out!

The room went silent for a beat as Ganke and Miles exchanged glances, clearly trying to figure out how one man could rack up such an absurd amount of debt. Meanwhile, Richard simply looked at the camera, still as hopeful and optimistic as ever.

Richard: (Confidently) I got this. Watch me.

Ganke threw his head back, exasperated, while Miles just shook his head, muttering under his breath.

Miles: (Sighing) Only you, Richard... only you.

Richard gave the camera one final thumbs-up before turning it off, oblivious to the chaos his statement had just caused.

He looked over at Ganke and Miles, who were both lounging on their beds, seemingly unfazed by his excitement.

Richard: (In disbelief) Dude, are we not gonna celebrate for me getting the internship at the Baxter Building? I mean, I worked hard to get it! This is a huge deal for me!

Miles shifted uncomfortably on his bed, his hand nervously running through his hair. He glanced at Ganke, who was pretending to focus on his phone, but clearly didn't want to be the first to speak up.

Miles: (Sweating) Uh, sorry bro... but I'm kinda busy later. I need to go to my mom's house.

Richard's face fell slightly, but he forced a chuckle, brushing it off. He then turned to Ganke, hoping for some support.

Richard: (Playfully) Ganke, come on, man. You're with me on this, right?

Ganke didn't even look up from his phone, clearly trying to avoid the conversation.

Ganke: (Casually) Same here. I've got stuff to do. You know, errands and... uh, other things.

Richard stared at them both, his gaze narrowing slightly as he processed their excuses. A flicker of doubt crossed his face, but he quickly pushed it away, looking down at the floor as a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Richard: (Thinking to himself) I know you two are lying... but... (pauses) I can't hate you both. You're my friends.

He let out a sigh, his shoulders sagging a bit as the excitement drained out of him. With a forced shrug, he turned to leave the room, his hand resting on the doorframe as he glanced back at his friends one last time.

Richard: (Sighing) Uh, okay. I'll go then. Bye...

As he stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him, Miles and Ganke exchanged guilty glances, both silently aware of how they had just let their friend down. Neither of them spoke, but the weight of their unspoken thoughts lingered in the air.

Ganke: (Softly) We should've just celebrated with him.

Miles: (Sighing) Yeah... we'll make it up to him, though. Maybe next time.

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Richard walked down the bustling city street, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his hoodie. His head was slightly bowed, and he mumbled to himself, his voice carrying a mix of frustration and disappointment.

Richard: (Muttering) What's wrong with those two? They support my soccer games, play video games with me all night, but they can't celebrate my internship... What a drag.

He kicked a small pebble on the sidewalk, his eyes on the ground. Lost in thought, he didn't notice someone walking in the opposite direction until it was too late.

"BAM!"

Richard stumbled back, rubbing his shoulder, and immediately let out a shout.

Richard: (Irritated) Hey! Watch where you're going!

The person he'd bumped into was a girl who looked about 14, dressed casually but with a sharp, confident demeanor. She glared up at him, clearly unbothered by his tone.

Girl: (Firmly) Excuse me, you can't shout at me like that!

Richard blinked, incredulous, and took a step closer, pointing at her dramatically.

Richard: (Sarcastic) Geez, what are you, like 12? Maybe 11? Little girl, watch where you're walking next time!

The girl crossed her arms, her glare intensifying.

Girl: (Annoyed) Don't call me little girl! I have a name! It's Valeria. And for your information, I'm 14, you dumbass!

Richard froze for a second, processing her words, before rolling his eyes and smirking.

Richard: (Mocking) Wow, what an insult... from a little girl.

That was the last straw. Valeria marched up to him and grabbed a fistful of his white hair, yanking it with surprising strength. Richard yelped, his hands instinctively shooting up to try and pry her off.

Richard: (Panicking) Ow! Okay, okay! I'm sorry! Can you let me go now?

Valeria: (Smirking triumphantly) Say it again. Louder. I dare you.

Richard winced, feeling her grip tighten, and quickly waved the metaphorical white flag.

Richard: (Shouting) I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please let me go!

Satisfied, Valeria released his hair with a huff, stepping back and dusting off her hands. Richard rubbed his head, glaring at her, though his tone had shifted to something more sheepish.

Richard: (Muttering) You didn't have to go that far, you know.

Valeria: (Crossing her arms) Next time, think twice before calling me a little girl.

Richard sighed, shaking his head as he began walking away, still grumbling under his breath.

Richard: (Muttering) Great. First my friends ditch me, and now I get into a fight with some 14-year-old... What a nice day.

Valeria watched him go, shaking her head with a small smirk.

Valeria: (To herself) What a dumbass.

Richard stood outside the coffee shop, about to head in for a much-needed snack, when a raspy voice called out to him from nearby.

"Hey there, young man, can you come here for a moment?"

Turning toward the voice, Richard spotted an older woman seated at a small, cluttered table covered with colorful cloths and mysterious trinkets. A crystal ball glimmered in the sunlight, drawing his attention. She smiled at him, beckoning him over with a crooked finger.

Curiosity got the better of him, and Richard hesitated before walking over. He glanced at the sign above her table, which read, "Madame Agatha: Fortune Teller Extraordinaire." He tilted his head, then shrugged and sat down.

Agatha: (Smiling) Ah, good. My name is Agatha, young man, and I can predict your future... for just one dollar.

Richard raised a skeptical eyebrow but couldn't hide his smirk.

Richard: (Amused) Really? For a dollar? That's it?

Agatha: (Nodding confidently) Of course! My magic ball holds the answers to your destiny. What do you say?

He chuckled to himself but pulled a crumpled dollar bill out of his pocket and handed it over.

Richard: (Grinning) Alright, let's see what you've got.

Agatha took the dollar and placed her hands dramatically over the crystal ball, her eyes narrowing as if she were peering into another dimension.

Agatha: (Mysteriously) I see... your debt will be paid off... and you will get married in the year 2036.

Richard's eyebrows shot up, impressed despite himself.

Richard: (Smirking) Nice. Guess I've got a while to live the single life!

Agatha paused, her eyes narrowing as she looked deeper into the ball.

Agatha: (Continuing) Wait... how old are you, young man? 17, correct?

Richard: (Nodding) Yeah, how did you knew and why?

Agatha paused for a moment, her face unreadable, before continuing with a sly smile.

Agatha: (Slowly) Oh, nothing... it's just that your future wife will be 25 when you marry her. Quite the age gap, hm? Oh, and you'll have a daughter named Mary.

Richard blinked, unsure how to react to that.

Richard: (Awkwardly) Uh... okay...

Agatha leaned closer, her voice lowering dramatically.

Agatha: (Cryptically) But this year... you'll also get your own po-

Before she could finish, Richard shot up from his seat, holding up his hands.

Richard: (Quickly) Sorry, Miss Agatha, but I really need to eat. Thanks for the... predictions. Bye!

He practically dashed inside the bakery, leaving Agatha sitting at her table, shaking her head with a knowing smile.

Agatha: (To herself) I was going to say he gets his own powers this year... oh well, he'll figure it out soon enough.

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-LOCATION: THE BAXTER BUILDING-

Reed Richards sat at his desk, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of a nearby lamp. He flipped through a newspaper, scanning the latest headlines with his usual intense focus. His fingers drummed absentmindedly on the edge of the paper, occasionally stopping to read an article that caught his interest. The quiet in the room was interrupted when the door to his study swung open, and his daughter, Valeria, stormed in, her face flushed with frustration.

Valeria: (Angrily) Dad! There's some dude with white hair who bumped into me on the street and started blaming me for it!

Reed looked up from his paper, his eyebrows raised in mild surprise. For a moment, he simply stared at her, and then a chuckle escaped his lips.

Reed: (Laughing) Oh, Val, sounds like your first run-in with a teenager, huh? Hahaha.

Valeria's face turned even redder, her arms crossing in frustration.

Valeria: (Shouting) Dad! This is not a joke! He was so rude! He actually called me a "little girl"!

Reed sighed, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, but he quickly composed himself, sensing that Valeria was not in the mood for humor.

Reed: (Sighing) Alright, alright, I get it. Look, Valeria, maybe there's a reason for his behavior. There's actually something I wanted to discuss with you.

Valeria tilted her head, intrigued despite herself.

Valeria: (Curious) What's that?

Reed: (Serious) Well, we're getting a new student intern at the Baxter Building. His name is Richard Ritchson. He's 17, three years older than you, and I need you to help guide him.

Valeria blinked, a little taken aback.

Valeria: (Surprised) Me? Teach him?

Reed nodded, his fingers gently folding the newspaper.

Reed: (Nodding) Yes, you're the smartest girl I know, Val. He'll be arriving in a couple of hours maybe 2 or 3 and I think you're the best person to show him the ropes. If anyone can teach him a thing or two, it's you.

Valeria's expression softened slightly, though she was still slightly irritated.

Valeria: (Grumbling) Fine, but I hope he's not like the idiot on the street...

Reed chuckled again, the sound warm and reassuring.

Reed: (Smiling) Don't worry, Val. Hopefully, this one will be a little more... manageable. Just be patient with him, alright?

Valeria sighed, rolling her eyes, but there was a hint of acceptance in her voice.

Valeria: (Reluctantly) Yeah, yeah. I'll teach him. But if he's anything like that jerk, I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it.

Reed gave her a gentle smile and patted her on the shoulder.

Reed: (Lightly) I'm sure you'll do great, Val. You always do.

Reed started to walk away from his desk, his mind already racing with the tasks ahead. As he moved toward the door, he turned to Valeria one last time, a thoughtful look on his face.

Reed: (Calling back) Oh, and Val?

Valeria, still fuming slightly from the earlier encounter, glanced up from where she had been fiddling with a small gadget in her hands.

Valeria: (Impatiently) What now, Dad?

Reed paused in the doorway, a hint of humor playing on his features.

Reed: (Lightly) Wear your Fantastic suit with the V logo when you meet Richard. You'll want to make a good first impression. And I need to talk to your mother after all.

Valeria raised an eyebrow, clearly not thrilled by the idea but knowing it was part of her role in the family.

Valeria: (Sighing) Fine, fine... I'll wear the suit. It's not like it's my first time.

Reed nodded approvingly and gave her a soft smile.

Reed: (Smiling) Good. Also, Franklin's at the coffee shop, most likely drinking coffee with his friends.

Valeria's eyes brightened slightly at the mention of Franklin, though she kept her tone neutral.

Valeria: (Casually) Oh, I know. He always hangs out there. I'll catch up with him later.

Reed gave a small chuckle before stepping out of the room.

Reed: (Heading out) Alright, you two behave. I'll be in touch.

Valeria nodded absentmindedly as she began to prepare her suit, her mind already shifting from the earlier frustration to the tasks ahead. The mention of Franklin had already eased her mood a little, but she knew that her father's request wasn't one she could ignore.

As Reed disappeared down the hall, Valeria sighed and glanced at her reflection in a nearby mirror. With a small, almost imperceptible smile, she grabbed the Fantastic suit from the nearby closet, ready to face the challenges of the day both the new intern and whatever else might come her way.

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-BACK TO COFFEE SHOP-

He walked toward the counter, his mind focused on getting his usual extra shot of espresso, no sugar. Just as he reached for the cup that had his name on it, a figure suddenly brushed past him, knocking into his shoulder.

Richard: (Annoyed) Oi who the f... Excuse me, that's my...

Franklin, in a hurry, barely spared him a glance as he grabbed the coffee cup that was meant for Richard and took a quick gulp before dashing toward the door.

Franklin: (Apologetically) Sorry, I need to hurry and get my coffee instead!

Richard blinked, standing there in stunned silence as Franklin rushed out of the coffee shop, leaving a confused barista in his wake.

Richard: (Shaking his head) What a weirdo...

Just as he was about to turn back to the counter, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen Dr. Reed Richards was calling. He quickly answered.

Richard: (Picking up the phone) Uhh, hello, Dr. Reed Richards?

Reed's voice came through the phone, calm and measured.

Reed: (On the phone) Hello, Richard. I was wondering, where are you currently?

Richard leaned against the counter, still eyeing the coffee in his hand.

Richard: (Slightly irritated) Oh, I'm in the coffee shop. Just recently got my coffee... though it was, uh, stolen by a guy who looks kind of like me? But I'll be there in about an hour.

He turned to the lady behind the counter, still frowning as he watched her work on his new coffee order. He cleared his throat before continuing his call.

Richard: (To the lady) Hey, how long is it gonna take for the coffee the guy stole from me to be made?

The barista glanced up, giving him a small smile.

Barista: (Polite) Maybe two minutes, sir.

Richard nodded and turned back to his phone, giving the doctor a quick update.

Richard: (On the phone) Alright, I'll be there in 30 minutes if that's fine with you, Doctor?

Reed's voice came through, sounding as calm and collected as always.

Reed: (On the phone) That works just fine, Richard. I'll be expecting you. See you soon.

Richard hung up and sighed, watching the barista prepare his coffee with extra care. He glanced at the door where Franklin had hurried out, shaking his head again.

Richard: (Muttering to himself) What a strange day...

The barista smiled warmly as she slid the freshly prepared cup of coffee across the counter.

Barista: Here you go, sir. Your mocha?

Richard raised an eyebrow, slightly amused.

Richard: (Grimacing) I'm too young to be called 'sir,' but thanks. Can you put it in a to-go cup? I need to head out.

The barista nodded, chuckling softly as she began transferring the mocha.

Barista: (Cheerfully) Sure thing! One moment.

As Richard waited, he glanced at the door absentmindedly, sipping the remnants of his frustration. Meanwhile, across the street, Franklin Richards was leisurely strolling back into the Baxter Building lobby, a smug grin on his face, holding the stolen coffee. Just as he entered the lounge area, his sister Valeria, clad in her sleek Fantastic suit with a prominent "V" logo, approached him.

Valeria: (Cheerfully) Hello, brother. How was your day?

Franklin: (Shrugging) Eh, not bad. My friends canceled our meetup, so I ended up stealing some random white-haired dude's coffee.

Valeria's cheerful expression instantly dropped.

Valeria: (Shocked) You what?! You stole someone's coffee? What kind of person does that? Tell me what did this guy look like?

Franklin: (Smirking) White hair, tall, and kinda pissed when I grabbed it. Why do you care?

Before Valeria could respond, the door to the building slammed open, and a voice rang out.

Richard: (Angrily) What the fuck!

Both siblings turned to see Richard standing in the entrance, his freshly made to-go cup in hand. Valeria's eyes went wide before narrowing in recognition.

Valeria: (Pointing) You!

Richard: (Pointing back) You!

Valeria: (Clenching her fists) You again, you white-haired bastard!

Franklin, caught in the middle of the chaos, looked between his sister and Richard with mounting confusion.

Franklin: (Slowly) Wait... you know him? Because he's the guy I was talking about. You know... the white-haired dude?

Richard's eyes widened as he jabbed a finger toward Franklin.

Richard: You! You're the one who stole my espresso! And you!

He turned his finger toward Valeria, his frustration boiling over.

Richard: You know this little girl?

Valeria: (Furious) Little girl?! You have some nerve, you coffee-deprived lunatic!

Valeria's face turned bright red, and she stomped forward.

Valeria: (Fuming) And he's the guy who bumped into me earlier and called me a little girl!

Franklin took a cautious step back, raising his hands in defense.

Franklin: (Nervously) Uh... can we all just calm down here? It's just coffee, right?

Richard: (Still fuming) Just coffee?! That was my espresso!

Valeria crossed her arms, glaring at both of them.

Valeria: (To Franklin) You're the worst. And you!

She turned her gaze to Richard. But he jabbed his finger toward Valeria.

Richard: No you! Don't act all innocent. You know small whining little girl!?

Valeria: (Angrily) Little girl?! I swear if you call me that one more time!

Franklin: (Holding up his hands) Whoa, whoa, whoa! Time out. You two know each other? This is getting way too weird.

Richard: (Crossing his arms) Oh, I know her all right. She's the pint-sized menace who almost tore my hair out on the street.

Valeria: (Snarling) And you're the idiot who blamed me for your clumsiness!

Franklin held up his hands in mock surrender, trying to defuse the situation.

Franklin: (Muttering to himself) This is getting awkward...

Valeria: (Fuming) Awkward? You stole his coffee, Franklin! And this guy...

The three stood in tense silence for a moment, the air practically crackling with irritation, until Franklin broke it with a sheepish laugh.

Franklin: So... how about we all calm down and start over?

Richard and Valeria exchanged glares but grudgingly seemed to consider the suggestion, the brewing storm between them momentarily subsiding.

Valeria: What are you even doing here, you weirdo?

Richard, still holding his mocha, gave her a pointed look.

Richard: (Snarky) I'm the intern at the Baxter Building, you little girl!

Valeria froze, her face twisting into a mix of shock and horror.

Valeria: (Shouting) You what?! No, no, NO! It can't be you! Oh god!!

Richard raised an eyebrow, confusion clouding his expression.

Richard: (Skeptical) What do you mean, it can't be me?! Of course I'm the intern! What, you think I'm lying?

Valeria stumbled backward, trying to process the news. She then noticed Richard was still looking at her, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Richard: (Mocking) Also, why do you wear a Fantastic Four suit with a V logo?

Valeria's jaw tightened, her cheeks flushing with anger and frustration.

Valeria: (Snapping) I'm a part of the family legacy, alright?! And for the record, I'm Valeria Richards you know, the smartest person in this damn building!

Richard paused as the pieces started to fit together.

Richard: (Realization dawning) Oh, shit... so... you're...

Franklin, who had been observing the entire exchange with a raised eyebrow, spoke up, drawing Richard's attention.

Franklin: (Casually) Yeah, we're the children of Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman.

Richard's eyes widened even further as he let out a quiet curse.

Richard: (Muttering) Oh, fuck... so... how should we...

Before Richard could finish his sentence, Franklin suddenly turned and bolted toward the door, taking advantage of the confusion.

Franklin: (Shouting) I'm starting to doubt the connection between the two of you!

Valeria spun around, her fists clenched in frustration as she saw her brother running off.

Valeria: (Yelling) Franklin Richards, get back here!

Richard watched as Franklin disappeared out the door, then turned his attention back to Valeria, who was fuming with anger.

Richard: (Grinning) Looks like we're off to a great start.

Valeria gritted her teeth, glaring at him, her frustration only growing by the second.

Valeria: (Coldly) You better watch yourself, white-haired boy. This is just the beginning.

Richard, still amused, shrugged nonchalantly.

Richard: (Sarcastically) Oh, I'm shaking.

NEXT ISSUE IN FEBRUARY 3