35 Machine Man 34

As the AVP Scout ship swiftly glided through the skies, I approached the Brooklyn Bridge, as I peered down to check on the situation. One of the lanes bore the aftermath of an accident, with Ben Grimm, in his rocky form who appears to have used his colossal defense and strength to shield a man in a suit and end up destroying a truck.

Before descending from the cloaked AVP, I saw Sue turning herself invisible, remember the things that happened on the TV and how she embarrassed herself, I quickly made my move. Deactivating the cloak and unveiling the sleek and futuristic craft to the eyes of the public. In an instant, a cacophony of exclamations and queries erupted from the crowd.

"What on earth is that?" exclaimed a middle-aged woman, her eyes widening in both awe and fear as she clutched her purse tightly.

A group of teenagers, using the latest smart A-T Phones in hand, speculated animatedly while recording. "Is that some secret military project? Dude, this is like straight out of a sci-fi movie!" remarked one, his friends nodding in agreement.

"ITS! ALIENS!!!" shrieked a man with wild, disheveled hair, pointing dramatically at the AVP Scout ship. His proclamation triggered a ripple of gasps from those nearby. "That rock creature must be one too, and they're here to invade us!" he declared with a mix of terror and excitement.

As I confidently stepped out of the ship, the excitement among the onlookers soared to a new height. A young boy, perched on his father's shoulders, pointed with wide eyes. "No way! It's Specter! He's here to beat the rock monster!" he shouted, eliciting cheers from those around him.

Amidst the varied reactions, Reed Richards a curious scientist in the crowd, intrigued by the advanced technology on display, muttered to himself, "Fascinating... the convergence of cutting-edge technology, but its unlike anything I've seen, rather than conventional technology that we have…"

Dropping down from the AVP Scout Ship, my boosters slowing my descent as they cut off at a certain height, I hit the ground with a soft thud, executing the iconic superhero landing.

The Kid and teenagers seeing this can't help but gasp and say in unison "That is so cool!"

Spotting Reed Richards, I couldn't help but express my dissatisfaction with his actions. Asking a woman to strip in public, really. Even if she has the power to turn invisible, no one in their right mind would ask someone to do that.

I playfully smacked the back of Reed's head, adding a touch of sarcasm to my tone. "For a genius, you sure act clueless sometimes. How could you ask a lady to strip down and expose herself to the public?"

Reed, ever the scientist, tried to rationalize, "But she can turn invisible."

My frustration peaked as Susan Storm, in the midst of Reed's explanation, inadvertently turned visible while in the process of undressing. I moved swiftly, intercepting her before the situation could get worse. "Stop," I intervened, looking at Susan voluptuous body. "Please don't do this, your better than this. No more stripping, please."

Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, approached with an exuberance that hinted at his recognition. "Oh my god, I can't believe it, you're him!"

Turning to Johnny, I greeted him with a nod. "Yeah… hi, we can talk about this later. You better help your friend before more problems arise."

Johnny, still in awe, nodded enthusiastically. "Right! We're here for Ben."

Curious, Susan turned towards me, inquiring, "How did you know?"

I turned to face her, revealing the distinctive visage of Specter. "I'm Specter," I declared as I activated my thrusters, lifting off the ground. "We can chat later. Right now, let's focus on helping your friend." With that, I soared towards the scene were Ben Grimm, needed assistance.

Dropping into the midst of the chaos, I could sense the tension escalating. However, I was slightly late to prevent a situation from spiraling out of control. As a transmitter on the side of the bridge exploded, triggering panic. In the midst of the chaos, Ben made a run for it, as an officer fired their guns at him, the bullets ricochet of his body, having no effect.

I descended to the bridge, addressing the officer who had attempted to shoot Ben. "Hold your fire! You might hit a civilian," I urged, emphasizing the need for caution. "I'll deal with him; you help the people trapped in their vehicles."

As I spoke, an unexpected explosion diverted my attention. I quickly ascended, only to witness a firetruck careening dangerously, colliding with the cable-stayed bridge. The impact left a firefighter hanging precariously from the truck, in imminent danger of falling.

In the midst of the chaos, I noticed Johnny Storm shielding a kid from the flames, displaying his heroic instincts. Simultaneously, Sue Storm activated her forcefield ability to contain the explosion, preventing further calamity.

Descending swiftly, I reached the firefighter hanging precariously and used my new abilities to save him from a potentially fatal fall. Employing a mechanical tentacle from a squiddy drone I have previously absorb, I carefully lowered the fireman to safety.

As I surveyed the scene, I recognized the imminent danger posed by the firetruck dangling from the bridge. Determined to avert disaster, I moved to secure the rear end of the truck. The weight, approximately 30 tons, proved challenging to lift. Even with all my current upgrades I can only lift around 15-20 tons. In a moment of necessity, I harnessed the newly acquired powers. Two colossal boosters emerged from my back, reminiscent of fluegel/21Z from Armored Core materialize at my back, emitting a brilliant light as they charged with energy. The powerful created a dazzling blast at my back creating jet trails, coupled with the boosters on my sole and elbow, provided the necessary propulsion to lift the firetruck.

Amidst the struggle, I observed Ben Grimm swiftly approaching, lending his formidable strength to aid in the rescue effort. Together, we managed to bring the firetruck to safety, diffusing a potential disaster on the Brooklyn Bridge.

As I ascended towards the center of the bridge, my gaze fell upon Ben Grimm, encircled by the police with weapons drawn. The onlookers, witnessing the heroics Ben displayed earlier, began clamoring for restraint.

"Did you see what that guy did? Lifted a whole firetruck like it was nothing!"

"Yeah, he's a real-life superhero! The police should be thanking him, not pointing guns."

"Don't shoot him! He's a hero!"

The chorus of voices grew, with more people joining in to offer praises and applause for Ben's actions. A courageous fireman stepped forward, intervening to deescalate the tension. "I saw him lifting that truck! Saving a bunch of lives," he exclaimed, supporting Ben's.

Meanwhile, as the crowd marveled at the events, some keen observers couldn't help but notice the enigmatic figure of Specter who's floating in the air. Comments about my new appearance and the advanced AVP Predator Scout Ship buzzed through the excited chatter.

"Look at Specter! He's got a new suit and some insane-looking spaceship!"

"Man, that ship looks like it's from another planet. Are you sure Specter is not an alien?

The discussions continued, weaving a tapestry of admiration for the heroes on the bridge and the intriguing developments that unfolded before their eyes. Cheers and applause echoed, creating a memorable scene of collective appreciation.

In the control room of the SHIELD headquarters, multiple monitors displayed live feeds from the Brooklyn bridge. The scene was chaotic, reporters surrounding the newly emerged Fantastic Four, capturing their first public appearance after saving countless lives.

Nick Fury, the one-eyed director of SHIELD, paced in front of the monitors, eyeing the footage. Maria Hill, his second-in-command, and Agent Phil Coulson stood nearby, analyzing the situation.

Fury turned to Coulson and Hill, his expression unreadable. "Well, what's your take on the Fantastic Four? Threat or potential asset for the Avengers Initiative?"

Coulson, adjusting his sunglasses, leaned back against the console. "They're not your typical superhero team, Director. Reed Richards, is a genius scientist. If we can get him on board, he could provide valuable intel and tech. Sue Storm, the one with invisibility powers, is level-headed and strategic."

Maria Hill chimed in, "The big guy, Ben Grimm, is practically indestructible. He's got a history military trained and an astronaut. While Johnny Storm, might be a wildcard. He's young and a bit of a hotheaded."

Coulson sighed. "Individually, not so much. But together, they could be formidable. However, they seem more like a reactive force, saving lives rather than causing trouble. Ben and Sue especially – they could be an asset if we can convince them."

Coulson, still observing the monitors, replied, "She's demonstrating strong leadership, Director. Controlling the situation, giving orders – it's clear she's the one calling the shots."

Maria Hill concurred, "Reed Richards seems more focused on scientific aspects. Susan is the one guiding the team on the ground."

Fury raised an eyebrow, "Scientist a researcher? What has Richards contributed so far?"

Coulson hesitated before answering, "Not much, Director. While he has impressive academic credentials, there's no significant practical contribution. In fact, he recently filed for bankruptcy and had to turn to his rival, Dr. Doom, for financial aid on the project."

Fury scowled at the revelation. "So, we've got someone with a big brain, but no accomplishments. Keep an eye on him. See if he has anything he can contribute besides his stretching powers."

"Keep monitoring. If they're leaning towards cooperation, we'll make the offer. If not, we at least know what we're dealing with. Coulson, get in touch with them. Hill, prepare the proposal. Let's see if the Fantastic Four are willing to be more than just a public spectacle."

As the SHIELD agents continued their tasks, Nick Fury's stern gaze remained on the monitors. He leaned back in his chair, contemplating the broader implications of superpowered individuals emerging.

Fury, his voice cutting through the room, declared, "Keep an eye on Arasaka and Doom. If the Fantastic Four got their powers, there's a high possibility those two might be next."

Maria Hill, ever analytical, responded, "Arasaka and Doom are already on our radar, Director."

Coulson added, "Monitoring them closely, sir. Any sign of unusual activities, and we'll be on it. We can't afford any more loose cannons in the field."

Fury nodded, acknowledging the importance of their vigilance. "We're living in a new world. Powers are popping up left and right. If we're to assemble a team of super heroes, we need to be ready for anything. Keep me posted, and let's make sure Arasaka and Doom don't catch us off guard."

As they move on to the next topic that Fury is worrying about. "Talk to me about Specter," Fury ordered, prompting Maria Hill to pull up relevant information on the mysterious figure. "This suit – it's beyond anything we've seen. Can it really grow mechanical tentacles and change its form?"

Maria responded, "Yes, Director. Specter's suit is a marvel of engineering, possibly nano machines, our scientist has been working on the same technology, but have not borne any fruit yet. As for Specter's its unlike anything we have seen, It can adapt to different situations, making him more machine than traditional armored suit he use. And that small spaceship – it's like nothing we've encountered before. Alien tech, perhaps."

Coulson chimed in, "The big question is, who is Specter? Is he human or an extraterrestrial visitor? We've checked databases, and there's no record of anyone matching his profile. He's an unknown variable, sir."

Fury leaned back in his chair, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "So, we've got Spiderman here, who's apparently Peter Parker. And now, Specter – a walking enigma. Is he a threat, Maria?"

Maria considered her words carefully. "It's hard to say, sir. He's been operating independently, and while he's shown a willingness to help, his motivations remain unclear. We're looking into every angle. There's a speculation online going around that he might be an alien baby sent to Earth, taken in by a kind couple, but it's just speculation. He's been consistently has done nothing but protect innocent civilians, sir."

Nick Fury raised an eyebrow at the intriguing possibility. "An alien baby turned Earth's protector, huh? That sounds like some comics book plot , but keep digging. I want to know more about this Specter – where he came from and what his game is. We need to know if he's a scout, sent here for some unknown purpose. And regarding Spiderman – can he be an asset to the Avengers, or is he too much of a wild card himself?"

Coulson offered, "Spiderman's been a local hero, saving lives. But integrating him into the Avengers? We're still assessing. He's got incredible strength and agility but his fighting skill is not as good as a well-trained agent, but whether he fits into the bigger picture remains to be seen."

As the control room buzzed with activity, the mysteries surrounding Specter grew, now adding the Fantastic Four, Doom and Arasaka increasing the layers of complexity to SHIELD's already intricate web of monitoring and analysis. Giving them more head ache.