~Baxter Building, Sean's Residence~
A visibly anxious Reed Richards sat on the couch, accepting a cup of coffee from Mindy...
In front of outsiders, the usually violent little girl maintained an impeccably well-behaved and adorable facade.
"I'm going to do my howork now," Mindy said sweetly, her voice soft as she scampered back to her room in her frilly princess dress.
"Your cousin is very well-mannered. It's rare for kids her age to be so quiet and obedient," Reed remarked after taking a sip of coffee, his agitation gradually subsiding.
Sean rely smiled at the praise. Only those who had witnessed Mindy's true nature knew just how much of a headache this seemingly cute little girl could be.
He received weekly tearful complaints from the school principal, though generous donations ensured the administration turned a blind eye.
"I didn't expect you to be discharged so soon," Sean said, eyeing Reed, already guessing the purpose of his visit.
No doubt, Reed and his team had already discovered their abnormalities. Exposure to the cosmic storm and the bombardnt of high-energy particles hadn't left them unscathed.
"Sean, uh... have you felt... anything unusual lately? Any discomfort?" Reed asked hesitantly, like an awkward doctor.
He was too embarrassed to co right out with it. He had made bold assurances before, only for his miscalculation to lead to the space station's destruction and his friends' bizarre physical changes.
"No," Sean shook his head, "I had the Red Queen run a full dical scan. No abnormal radiation levels in my blood, and all vital signs are normal..."
"...Though I wouldn't mind waking up one day with superhuman strength..." He t Reed's eyes with a knowing smile.
Under Sean's penetrating gaze, Reed fidgeted.
Rembering Ben's transformation into a rock-like being, he decided to co clean, "The cosmic storm completely altered the DNA of , Susan, Johnny, and Ben. We've gained extraordinary abilities, but it might also be life-threatening..."
"So you're asking if I've changed like you?" Sean chuckled, turning on the TV.
The news was covering a massive pileup on the Brooklyn Bridge... a runaway truck had triggered a chain collision involving dozens of cars, followed by a terrifying explosion that nearly sent a firetruck plunging into the river.
The unprecedented accident could have claid hundreds of lives if not for the intervention of the Fantastic Four!
"Congratulations. After Tony Stark, you're the next group of superheroes to debut publicly," Sean said with amusent, "All of New York knows about you now. They're calling you the Fantastic Four. Catchy na."
Seeing that Sean already knew everything, Reed slumped in defeat. This was one of the few failures in his life, the last being when Susan left him.
"It's an absolute disaster!" Reed groaned, running a hand through his hair...
Unlike Johnny, he didn't think gaining superpowers was 'cool', especially after witnessing Ben's drastic physical change. The guilt gnawed at him.
"Altered human DNA could lead to unpredictable mutations, even death! Only Johnny would think this is sothing to show off!"
Hearing that, Sean smirked. He disagreed with Reed's perspective.
The future Mr. Fantastic always overanalyzed every step, even planning a hundred moves ahead. While this reduced errors, it also caused him to miss opportunities.
Susan was a pri example. Compared to Reed, even Victor Von Doom was more decisive. Upon discovering his powers, Doom's first thought had been how to grow stronger, not reject this 'gift'.
If not for Doom's arrogance and his predestined role as a villain, the Fantastic Four might not have erged victorious.
"You're resisting the changes in your body, Reed?" Sean's eyes glead, "Any ideas on how to fix it? This isn't an incurable disease. With your intellect, a solution shouldn't be hard."
"I want to build a machine that generates a controlled cosmic storm to reverse the effects. If successful, it might restore us to normal."
True to his genius, Reed had devised a plan in record ti. Yet hesitation lingered in his expression... the thod wasn't foolproof.
"An interesting concept, but the risks are high. The slightest miscalculation could exacerbate your conditions exponentially, or might even be fatal." Sean saw the flaw imdiately...
Accidents like theirs were nearly impossible to replicate, otherwise, it would be a thod for mass-producing superhumans...
Exposure duration, radiation types... every variable affected the outco.
The Fantastic Four, for instance, had been in similar conditions, yet their abilities differed drastically. Ben's transformation was the most extre, his flesh turned to unyielding rock.
"Maybe I can help," Sean offered.
He was intrigued by non-mutant superhumans... this could be a fascinating research subject.
"Your mutated DNA might hold the key to evolutionary breakthroughs. Reed, you should embrace this. It's not a bad thing. You're not mutants facing discrimination, New York sees you as celebrities!"
Reed exhaled in relief at Sean's reassurance. Days of frustration and guilt had weighed on him... the failure of the experint, the harm to his friends...
"You need to pull yourself together. At least for Ben's sake!"
...
After seeing Reed off with his spirits slightly lifted, Sean's gaze turned contemplative...
A minor calculation error could be fatal in recreating the cosmic storm. However, with Skynet's precision, exact replication might not be impossible.
"Hmph, what evil sche are you plotting now?"
Sean's musings were interrupted by Mindy, her arms crossed like a disapproving adult.
"I was clearly thinking about how to help Dr. Richards," Sean said with feigned sincerity.
"Yeah, right," Mindy scoffed, "Last ti you said nerds like him are the easiest to trick."
Sean grabbed the little girl who knew too much. The forr Hit-Girl was showing signs of evolving into a full-blown otaku, spending her allowance on gas and junk food. So "friendly ideological guidance" was clearly necessary.
"God of War is too violent for kids... confiscated! GTA 5? Vulgar and crude! I'll hold onto it... Huh, The Witcher? That's rated M! I'll keep it safe until you're older. Oh, and cut back on snacks, I'll take these too!"
After a thorough sweep of Mindy's room, Sean erged victorious, his arms laden with contraband. The fuming little girl clawed at the air in a desperate effort to reclaim her treasures.
"This is for your own good, Mindy. Moderation is key at your age. Less ice cream and soda, more exercise. Gotta stay in shape." With one hand, he effortlessly subdued Mindy's protests.
Marching off with his spoils, Sean mused that the re-education of this violent loli was a long and arduous task...
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Read ahead on my P@treon...
[email protected]/MayaMatengele01
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