Heroine Addict

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<h3>August 22</h3> <p>You'd almost given up on getting any kind of response from Richards by the time he emailed you back over a week later. After all, the Fantastic Four were busy fending off alien invasions like those weird green shapeshifters and doing press-conferences and shit. It seemed like their importance was only ballooning with every new video or opinion piece about them. </p> <<reset>> <p>You know they're all anyone's going to be talking about when school starts up again next month. It'll be like the mutant sighting in DC all over again... maybe if you get in to see them you can parley that into some social credit.</p> <<button[[That'd be nice->E1 Baxter Building Response]]>><</button>>

<p>Doctor Richards response comes as a surprise - first an email asking a bunch of sciency follow-up questions, then an invitation to visit their offices in the Baxter Building. You were, of course, psyched at the opportunity - both to find out the nature of your powers, and to see the superhumans up close and personal.</p> <p>You don't normally geek out about celebrities, but these are superheroes. Like in the history books. Their offices are downtown, in Manhattan.</p> <<button[[You'll take the subway->E1 Baxter Building Trip]]>><</button>>

<p>You don't go out of your way to siphon energy on the train over from Queens. You couldn't avoid it if you tried, packed in with a crowd all dressed for the summer heat, bare arms and legs pressed up against each other, but you try and limit it as best you can, in case it screws up whatever tests Doctor Richards has planned.</p> <<recover 3>> <p>Not that he's given you any instructions regarding the tests, aside from getting a good night's sleep the night before.</p> <<button[[Which you did->E1 Baxter Building Lobby]]>><</button>>

<p>You pass from the heat of the New York streets into the cool lobby of the Baxter Building. It's a classy enough place, you guess, and stop by a plaque declaring it the former headquarters of the "All Winner's Squad" from 1944 to 1946, and from 1948 to 1950. You remember that that was the name of the group that the Invaders formed after the war, but only because Flash wouldn't shut up about how lame the name was.</p> <<button[[You've never been into history or ancient superheroes->E1 Baxter Building AWS 1]]>><</button>> <<button[[You always thought superheroes were cool->E1 Baxter Building AWS 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You were never a history geek but when your own abilities started manifesting you did a lot of research to try and figure out just what was wrong with you. For a brief period - the 1930s, 40s, and 50s - powerful beings with strange abilities walked the earth, fighting crime and battling each other. Then it all just kind of... stopped... until rumors of mutants started popping up in the 80s, and now with Richards and his team's flight just last month.</p> <<button[[Hit the elevator->E1 Baxter Building Elevator 1]]>><</button>>

<p>When you were a kid growing up in the mid-2000s you wished you'd been alive for the Golden Age of heroes. Red Raven, Angel, Jack Frost, the Thin Man, you had all the trading cards, read all the biographical comics. You'd even have been happy to have grown up in the 60s and 70s - an age of giant monsters and alien visitation. All the cool stuff - terrifying maybe, but cool - ended decades before you were born. The world got... cold. Boring. Mundane.</p> <<addSkill "SuperFan">> <p>The All-Winners Squad. Headquartered here from 1944 to 1946, and 1948 to 1950. You wonder what they were doing for that two year gap, but not for long. You've got your own business to attend to.</p> <<button[[Hit the elevator->E1 Baxter Building Elevator 1]]>><</button>>

<p>You consult the directory, then get in the elevator and press the button for the 30th floor. It stops a few times to let people get on or off, and with every floor you ascend you both your anxiety and excitement building.</p> <p><<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>You're going to get to meet Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, the Human Torch, and the Thing!<<else>>You might finally understand the nature of your powers!<</if>></p> <<button[[Get off on floor 30->E1 Baxter Building 30]]>><</button>>

<p>The elevator reaches the 30th floor lobby. It looks... unfinished, like construction is ongoing, with large plastic sheets sectioning off large portions of the floor, and bare cement flooring visible where the tiles leave off.</p> <p>A woman in a skin-tight blue costume with darker blue gloves and boots stands at a long reception desk with her back to you, arranging the flowers in a transparent vase. She turns as you disembark, brushing aside a lock of the blonde hair that frames her face in a short bob, and greets you with a smile.</p> "You must be <<listbox "$honorific" autoselect>><<option "Mr.">><<option "Ms.">><</listbox>><<textbox "$LastName" "Smith" autofocus>>." Her voice is a mix of melodic and confident, as calmly assured as it is welcoming. <<set $metSusanStorm to true>> <<button[[Check her out->E1 Baxter Building Oggle Sue]]>><</button>> <<button[[Shake her hand->E1 Baxter Building Sue Shake]]>><</button>> <<button[[Say hello->E1 Baxter Building Sue Hi]]>><</button>>

<<if $honorific == "Mr.">> <<run gender.setPronouns("male")>> <<set $gender to "male">> <<else>> <<run gender.setPronouns("female")>> <<set $gender to "female">> <</if>>

<<include "E1 Baxter Building Gender Assignment">> <p>She's very pretty, with creamy skin, soft blonde hair, and wide hips on an athletic frame wrapped in some kind of high-wasted skin-tight uniform, blue with a white circle bearing the number '4' drawing your eyes to her ample chest. She looks classy, but not fussy. Wholesome, but with a hidden sexuality just waiting to be unleashed.</p> <p>The smile freezes on her face as you blatantly check her out. "You want an 8x10 photograph?"</p> <<button[[Yeah, that'd be great->E1 Baxter Building Oggle Sue 2]]>><</button>> <<button[[That won't be necessary->E1 Baxter Building Oggle Sue 2]]>><</button>> <<button[[Oh wow, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare->E1 Baxter Building Oggle Sue 3]]>><</button>>

<<run $SusanStorm.decreaseRelationship()>> <p>Her eyes narrow, but the professional smile never leaves her face. "Let's... get you to Reed." She pauses, then indicates a smaller elevator off to the side. "We're getting an express installed for official team business, but for now we can take the auxiliary up to the 33rd floor."</p> <p>You step in and she follows, keeping a bit of distance between the two of you. She presses the button for the floor marked 33, and the doors close. She stares ahead while the elevator ascends, not even glancing in your direction, giving you free reign to check her out further until you realize that the interior of the car is reflective enough that she can probably tell what you're doing.</p> <<button[[Stop eye-fucking her->E1 Lab]]>><</button>> <<button[[Don't->E1 Lab Eyefuck]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>>

<p>You still have no idea what that uniform is made out of, but fuck is it tight. Like painted-on tight, clinging to every curve and cleft of her body, leaving very little to the imagination. It's turning you on, making you <<if $gender == "male">>hard<<else>>wet<</if>>.</p> <<run $SusanStorm.decreaseRelationship()>> <<include "E1 Lab">>

<p>Her face softens. "It's fine - I'm still getting used to all the attention. Comes with being a celebrity, I guess. I'm Susan Storm."</p> <<include "E1 Baxter Susan Intro">>

<<run $SusanStorm.increaseRelationship()>> <<include "E1 Baxter Building Gender Assignment">> <p>Susan gives you a gloved handshake, the smooth material protecting her from your draining touch. It's part of her uniform, but you've never felt anything quite like the material - structurally sound but thin and pliant. "I'm Susan Storm."</p> <<include "E1 Baxter Susan Intro">>

<<include "E1 Baxter Building Gender Assignment">> <p>You raise a hand in greeting. "Yes, hello."</p> <p>"Pleased to meet you. I'm Susan Storm."</p> <<include "E1 Baxter Susan Intro">>

<<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>><p>"The Invisible Girl," you say, recognizing her from the Fantastic Four's press releases.</p> <p>"That's me." She holds up a hand in a wave and it starts to fade from view before your very eyes.</p> <p>"Cool!"</p> <<run $SusanStorm.increaseRelationship()>> <p>"I like to think so." Sue gives you a small smile.</p> <<else>> <p>"You can turn invisible, right?" TV and social media have been saturated with the Fantastic Four's exploits for the past few weeks. You're pretty sure that's what her power is.</p> <p> "That's why they call me the Invisible Girl," she says, holding up a hand. It starts to fade from view before your very eyes.</p><</if>> <p>"Thanks for agreeing to see me," you say.</p> <p>"We're still wrapping up construction on our floors of the building." She indicates the rest of the floor as she walks you to a smaller elevator to the left. "It'll be our personal lobby when it's complete. For now we can take the auxiliary elevator up to Reed's lab on the 33rd floor."</p> <<button[[Check out her ass->E1 Baxter Building Sue Ass]]>><</button>> <<button[[Just follow Sue->E1 Baxter Building Elevator 2]]>><</button>>

<p>Sue's uniform is tighter around her rear, drawing taut around her hips and the cleft below her cheeks. It isn't quite painted on, but you're pretty sure you don't see any panty-lines.</p> <<include "E1 Baxter Building Elevator 2">>

<p>Sue presses the button for the 33rd floor, then stands next to you as the Elevator begins its ascent. You catch a whiff of her perfume - something floral - and she gives you a small assuring smile.</p> <<button[[To the lab!->E1 Lab]]>><</button>>

<p>You get into your apartment and - surprise surprise - nobody's home. Mom and Dad are probably working late, Kayla either working or out with whatever dipshit boyfriend she's currently fucking.</p> <<set $Energy -= 7>> <p>Coming down from the energy high you're starting to feel exhausted. You head inside, locking the door behind you, reflexively turning on the TV as you throw some leftover lasagna into the microwave.</p> <p>"...Fantastic Four managed to stop the so-called Miracle Man, identified by the police as stage magician Joshua Ayers. In a statement, Reed Richards wrote off the chaos caused by the man as simple parlor tricks."</p> <p>The screen flicks over to the distinguished-looking older man in a blue uniform. "Ayers's tricks weren't magic - not even stage magic. His only talent was for hypnosis, even when it came to his act. Once we determined that, it was a simple matter for Johnny to blind him with a flash. Temporarily, of course, but sufficient to keep him from maintaining eye contact."</p> <p>Reed Richards. Mr. Fantastic. Not a mutant. A few months ago he and his team went into space, got hit by cosmic rays, and came back... changed. With powers. The first new superhumans since the second world war. And from what you've heard, Doctor Richards is a brilliant scientist in almost every field.</p> <<button[[Maybe he can help you->E1 Home Call Reed]]>><</button>>

<p>Leftovers in hand you hit your room and settle down in front of your computer. It's easy enough to find Richards's contact information - the Fantastic Four have been very public. You send a hastily composed e-mail off to Fantastic@FFour.org, explaining your situation as best you can...</p> <<button[[And then you wait->E1 Baxter Building]]>><</button>>

<h3>August 12</h3> <p>Cindy's body stiffens as she leans back, arching, thighs clamping down around yours, giving out a final ecstatic shuddering half-gasp before falling back onto her bed. It's a far cry from what pornography has taught you the female orgasm is supposed to look like, but this is the first time you've seen it in real life.</p> <p>You tear your eyes away from her flushed face and fluttering eyelashes and look around her room, not sure exactly what to do next, certain that her mom, dad, and little brother downstairs heard her crying out.</p> <<button[[And she was trying so hard to stay quiet->E1 Intro 1]]>><</button>> <<set $metCindyMoon to true>>

<p>I mean, you know that porno shit is fake, that those girls are faking it. But you had your hand up her shirt, she had her tongue down your throat, she was motherfucking riding you, grinding on your thigh like she was putting out a fire... and now she's passed out on her bed, the scent of her pussy a strong perfume in the air.</p> <<button[[Is that what's supposed to happen?->E1 Intro 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You lean close to her, the taste of her cherry lip gloss faint on your tongue. She's breathing... no, more than breathing. Still giving out these little moans of pleasure - shifting her hips a bit, sort-of writhing in bed.</p> <p>"Cindy?" you whisper.</p> <p>"Mmmm... <<textbox "$FirstName" "Jesse" autofocus>>," she mutters your name. Your heart beats faster.</p> <small>You will have the option to play a male or female character, so choose your name accordingly</small> <<button[[The adrenaline hits->E1 Intro 3]]>><</button>>

<p>No. Not just adrenaline. You have this... gift. This power. Ability. Whatever.</p> <p>Freshman year you gained a rep out on the football field as tireless. You never needed a break, could keep at it longer than any of your friends. Wasn't the same when you played basketball or soccer or softball or anything... only games involving a lot of physical contact. Gradually you came to understand that every time you tackled someone - or were tackled back - you felt a fresh jolt of energy, like you'd just shotgunned a two litre coke - and they'd seem a little tired. Not so much that anyone else made the connection, since it only happened when you were playing contact sports, but you were able to figure out the connection.</p> <p>You were freaked out at first, not really understanding what it was or why it was happening. Since then you've avoided touching other people whenever possible... not too difficult, outside of the usual roughhousing. And really, any amount of clothing blocks the affect.</p> <<button[[You were careful because you didn't want to accidentally hurt anyone->E1 Intro 4a]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[You were careful because you didn't want anyone to find out->E1 Intro 4b]]>><</button>>

<p>That's what <i>they</i> did, right? Mutants? They hurt people, at least according to your mom. She'd fallen deep into the mutant hysteria rabbit-hole over the last few years, while your dad largely... let her. She said they were monsters. But you tried not to be one. Taking a little hit of energy from your friends - only a little, never more than that - while wrestling around was harmless. And it wasn't like you could even help it... mashed up against a crowd of strangers on the subway, you'd draw from a few people at once, but not so much that they'd feel more than winded when they disembarked.</p> <p>It was <i>harmless</i>.</p> <<button[[Not like just now, with Cindy->E1 Intro 5]]>><</button>>

<p>Your grandfather used to tell you stories about how when he was a kid in the 40s and 50s, giants walked the earth. Or flew. Whatever. Superheroes fighting in World War II. Captain America. The Human Torch. The Sub-Mariner. The Whizzer. Miss America. Blue Diamond. Jack Frost. Blonde Phantom. But they all vanished after the war, or in the decades that followed. Your whole life the only people with abilities beyond normal have been mutants - mostly urban legends until recent leaks forced the government to come clean. Last year, when somebody actually captured a mutant on video, lots of people lost their shit. Including your mom.</p> <p>They were real. They were dangerous. And you're pretty sure that you're one of them. If anybody finds out? Your life is over.</p> <p>So you've been real careful to avoid physical contact with people as much as possible - or at least, as much as possible without making it more suspicious. Not always an option on a crowded subway commute, but you don't absorb enough in a short time for it to really come off as anything other than transit weariness.</p> <<button[[Not like just now, with Cindy->E1 Intro 5]]>><</button>>

<p>She was all up on your business, you were all hot and heavy into hers, like every part of your bodies were smashed together. Wasn't like you'd never been kissed... but you'd never kissed anyone like that. It was wild and frantic... you even made it to second base. She seemed even hornier than you... maybe it's because cheating on her boyfriend added that extra bit of naughtiness?</p> <<button[[Fuck Hector, though->E1 Intro 6a]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[It just kind of... happened->E1 Intro 6b]]>><</button>>

<p>It's not your responsibility to keep his girlfriend faithful. You aren't dating the guy. And besides, it just kinda... happened.</p> <<include "E1 Intro 7">>

<p>You didn't mean to. Honest. You try to be, you know, a good person.</p> <<include "E1 Intro 7">>

<p>You and Cindy didn't really run in the same circles, but had been meeting on weekends to work on this lame-ass summer break science project, and you started getting close. Each weekend you got a little closer. Little incidental touches became casual hugging... snuggling while blowing the project off to watch some Netflix (neither of you are particularly good students), and then more snuggling than Netflixing.</p> <<button[[You kissed her first->E1 Intro 8a]]>><</button>> <<button[[She kissed you first->E1 Intro 8b]]>><</button>>

<p>You'd just gotten a good charge from some maybe-not-platonic cuddling - you can't choose not to draw energy from people, but it takes a long while for it to do more than make someone more than slightly drowsy - and you just impulsively turned and kissed her.</p> <p>She stared at you just long enough for you to worry that you'd majorly fucked up, then kissed you back, harder, smashing her pretty little lips against yours.</p> <<include "E1 Intro 9">>

<p>You'd just gotten a good charge from some maybe-not-platonic cuddling - you can't choose not to draw energy from people, but it takes a long while for it to do more than give them a slight drowsiness - and you said something that made her laugh - and she gave you a quick impulsive kiss on the lips.</p> <p>Before you could even register what had happened, you were kissing her back, almost frantically, crushing her pretty little lips with yours.</p> <<include "E1 Intro 9">>

<p>And that's what brought you here, heart pounding like a drum, staring down at Cindy Moon's dazed face in a room smelling VERY strongly of her arousal while footsteps come thudding up the stairs from down below.</p> <<button[[Slip out the window->E1 Intro 10a]]>><</button>> <<button[[Stay here and face the music->E1 Intro 10b]]>><</button>>

<p>This is a bad scene and your desire to bail overwhelms your concern for your study partner. Hell, as far as you know it's perfectly normal for girls to pass out after grinding themselves to orgasm. Or maybe that's just a Cindy thing. Either way, while Mr. Moon is pretty chill, his wife is your classic Asian tiger-mom and - while she <i>is</i> a MILF - not someone you want catching you with her suddenly unconscious daughter.</p> <p>You're off the bed and out the window, jumping down to the yard below, tucking into a roll as you hit the lawn and springing to your feet before you've even finished making up your mind.</p> <<button[[You're gone before anyone realizes it->E1 Intro 11a]]>><</button>>

<p>You feel an iron confidence settle around the pounding of your heart, draping you like a mantle. You got this. Whatever happens, you're in control. You can handle it. You can deal with it.</p> <p>Your thougts race as time seems to slow down while you consider your options. One of Cindy's parents is about to discover you sporting a massive hard-on in the room with their blissed out daughter, doubtlessly while investigating the sounds of their little girl having a raucous orgasm from dry humping you. The room smells like sex. You have a damp spot on your thigh where Cindy was grinding, and the crotch of her jeans is wet.</p> <<button[[You got this->E1 Intro 10c]]>><</button>>

<p>Cindy's mom busts on through the door, eyes wide. "Wh-what's going on in here?" She is every inch the Korean tiger-mom - fit in body and mind, always pushing her daughter to excel in academics, first to arrive at PTA meetings and last to leave.</p> <p>You slip into bullshit-patter mode. "Hey. Mrs. Moon, sorry if we were loud, the, uh project was getting pretty intense and Cindy got a little too exhuberant. You know how she gets, totally absorbed in her work. But, um, she kinda passed out from all the excitement. We lost track of time, and I didn't want to disturb her, so, you know, I thought I'd sneak out quietly. Science waits for no one, right?" You indicate Cindy's form on the bed as you slip out the door past her mother, moving with a smoothness that belies how fast your heart is beating.</p> <<button[[Siphon a little energy from Mrs. Moon->E1 Intro 10d]]>><</button>> <<button[[Slap her ass as you pass->E1 Intro 10e]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Don't press your luck->E1 Intro 10f]]>><</button>>

<<recover 1>> <p>Your hand brushes against Cindy's Mom's as you pass, and you drain a little of her energy - and adrenaline, hopefully calming her enough that you can get away. You can barely feel the hit with the whirling maelstrom of energy you've absorbed from her daughter, but it should soften her alarm slightly. You hope.</p> <p>Your feet take the stairs at a casual but steady pace. "Gosh it's late, I gotta be getting home - just have Cindy text me, kay? Kay. Bye." Somehow you manage to keep from breaking into a run until you've passed Cindy's little brother and dad watching TV in the living room, all the way until you hit the front porch.</p> <<button[[And then you're gone->E1 Intro 11a]]>><</button>>

<p>Your hand's moving almost before the impulse is fully formed, swatting Mrs. Moon firmly on her tight ass. She gives a squeal and jumps almost a foot in the air, whirling to stare after you as you take the stairs down to the living room. "I better be getting home - have Cindy text me, kay?"</p> <p>You don't dare turn to look but the lack of a shout of outrage or sounds of an angry mom tearing down the stairs after you implies that Mrs. Moon is staring after you in shock, unable to fully process the fact that her daughter's classmate just smacked her on the butt.</p> <p>You're not really sure why you did that, but it bought you precious moments to get out of the house without further awkwardness.</p> <<button[[And then you're gone->E1 Intro 11a]]>><</button>>

<p>You take the stairs at a brisk pace. "Oh it's late," you say. "Better run home. Have Cindy text me!" Lame, sure, but sometimes a lame line delivered with confidence is all you need, and confidence is all you got.</p> <p>You pass through the living room, giving Cindy's dad and younger brother a confident nod before disappearing out the door and into the night.</p> <<button[[Off you go, home->E1 Intro 11a]]>><</button>>

<p>You're not sure exactly why you <<if hasVisited("E1 Intro 10a")>>jumped out the window<<elseif hasVisited("E1 Intro 10e")>>slapped Mrs. Moon's ass<<else>>rushed out the door<</if>> like that. Or why you ran all the way home with strides so long it felt like you were flying, doing impromptu parkour stunts off of benches and parked cars along the way. You couldn't help yourself.</p> <p>You were full of stolen energy, true, but even more so you felt invincible, invulnerable, powerful. Euphoric.</p> <p>The trip feels effortless, but by the time you get home, your heart is pounding harder than you've ever felt it in your entire life, and you're starting to crash a little.</p> <<button[[Go home->E1 Home]]>><</button>>

<p>The elevator comes to a stop and you follow your guide out into an open space that's even less finished than the lobby you just left. An expansive concrete floor stretches to plywood walls stuffed with exposed insulation, below the mass of wires and pipes serving as a ceiling. In fact, most of the interior walls are empty frameworks against which are set complicated looking machines whose purpose you can't even begin to fathom.</p> <p>A massive being made of orange rock <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>- you recognize him as the Fantastic Four's Benjamin Grimm, now known as The Thing - <</if>>speaks with a voice like crushed gravel as he lowers a massive monitor to the ground. "Hey Sue. Who's the kid?"</p> <<button[[Introduce yourself->E1 Lab Intro Thing 1]]>><</button>> <<button[[Let Sue do it->E1 Lab Intro Thing 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You stick out your hand. "$FirstName. Good to meet you."</p> <p><<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>The Thing<<else>>The big guy<</if>> seems bemused as he almost gingerly takes your hand. As gentle as he is, the rough stone of his grip is uncomfortable and scratchy, and you get a sense of incredible strength from the grip. Stone or no, your hand still draws off a measure of energy, but it feels like drawing a teaspoon from the ocean - he probably doesn't even notice. "Okay. Yous can calls me the Thing, on account of that being what I am now. You a friend of Johnny?"</p> <<recover 1>> <p>"?He-s here to see Reed," Sue says. "?He, uh, has a condition where ?he sucks away people's energy with a touch."</p> <p>"I didn't feel nothin'," The Thing says. "Tell Reed that, maybe." He turns back to the equipment he'd been carrying. "Or don't, whadda I care?</p> <<button[[Go see Reed->E1 Lab Intro Reed]]>><</button>>

<p>"This is $honorific $LastName, Ben," Sue nods in your direction. "?He has a... condition where ?he drains energy with a touch. Reed's going to take a look at ?him."</p> <p>"Drains energy, huh? Sounds rotten. So you can't never touch nobody?" You think his expression conveys sympathy.</p> <p>"It doesn't drain that much," you say. "Most people don't notice."</p> <p><<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>The Thing<<else>>The rock monster named Ben<</if>> holds out his arm. "You can call me Thing. G'wan, give it a try."</p> <p>"Ben..." Sue sounds disapproving.</p> <<button[[Grab his arm->E1 Lab Intro Thing 3]]>><</button>> <<button[[Don't->E1 Lab Intro Thing 4]]>><</button>>

<<recover 1>> <p>You grab a hold of the rocky appendage, and feel the energy drain from the big guy's arm. It's... different from what you normally feel, but in a way you can't quite explain.</p> <p>"That it?" Thing asks. "I didn't feel... well... hardly nothin'. I guess."</p> <p>"Most people just feel drowsy," you say.</p> <p>"Maybe. Hard to tell." He turns back to the equipment he'd been transporting. "You tell Stretch that I hardly felt nothin'."</p> <<button[[Go see Reed->E1 Lab Intro Reed]]>><</button>>

<p>You demure. "Better not."</p> <p>The Thing snorts and turns back to his work. "Whatever you say, kid."</p> <<include "E1 Lab Intro Reed">>

<p>Sue leads you away from the Thing, deeper into the lab, to what looks like a makeshift medical station and some exercise equipment. Standing amidst it all is <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>Mr. Fantastic himself, Reed Richards, <</if>>an older man in his thirties fiddling with the equipment. He moves... oddly... his limbs extending and contracting and moving with an unsettling fluidity. He's dressed in an outfit similar to Sue's - dark blue on blue with the white circle and the number four - though she wears it much more attractively.</p> <p>Sue clears her throat. "Reed?"</p> <p>He looks up, momentarily confused, before focusing on you and snapping his fingers. "$FirstName, correct?"</p> <<button[[Correct->E1 Lab 2]]>><</button>>

<p>He undulates around the gurney between the two of you to shake your hand, his gloves protecting him from your energy drain. "Excellent, I'm Doctor Reed Richards. Glad you could make it in on such short notice."</p> <p>"Thanks. <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>I'm excited to be here, in the Fantastic Four's headquarters. <<else>>I just hope you can give me some answers."<</if>></p> <p>"Would you mind describing your powers again?"</p> One of Reed's fingers extends like a snake to turn on a tape recorder halfway across the room. <<button[[Tell the tale->E1 Lab 3]]>><</button>>

<p>"Okay. Well. If I touch someone, I feel refreshed. Like I just chugged an iced coffee. They get a bit woozy... like I'm stealing some energy from them."</p> <p>Reed's neck and arm elongate unnaturally while he types notes on a laptop half-way across the room. "I see. Does the transfer intensify with prolonged contact?"</p> <p>"Not really. It's just that initial hit, at least until it wears off after like ten or twenty minutes."</p> <p>"Anything else?"</p> <p>You should probably mention that thing with Cindy.</p> <<button[[Ask Sue to leave->E1 Lab 4]]>><</button>> <<button[[Talk about sex in front of Sue->E1 Lab 5]]>><</button>>

<p>"This next part's... kinda personal..." you glance at Sue.</p> <p>"Sue assists me in my research," Reed says. "Whatever you have to say, she'll need to know, too."</p> <p>"Okay." You take a deep breath, cheeks flushed, focusing on the floor in front of you. "So, like... shortly before I reached out to you..."</p> <p>"Yes?" Reed takes a pipe out of his shirt pocket and sticks it into the corner of his mouth.</p> <p>"I was... making out with a girl... and she kinda..."</p> <p>"Yes?" Reed asks around the stem of his pipe.</p> <p>"Had an, uh, orgasm..."</p> <p>"I see," Reed says. "That does happen, from time to time."</p> <p>"And it was like... the energy hit I get from touching someone, but way more intense. A massive rush of... I don't know, euphoric confidence. I felt invincible, powerful, like I could do anything.</p> <p>"And on the way home, I was faster than normal. Was able to run seven blocks from her place without stopping, could vault over cars, felt stronger."</p> <p>"And the girl?" Sue asks from behind you.</p> <p>"Hit her harder too - she passed out. Texted me to apologize for falling asleep the next day." And to tell you that cheating on her boyfriend was a mistake and that you shouldn't come around anymore, but they don't need to know that.</p> <p>Reed fumbles with his pipe. "Ah. Well. Important additional data. Let's... ah... move on with the tests." He seems, if anything, less comfortable than you.</p> <<button[[Get on with the tests->E1 Lab Tests]]>><</button>>

<p>"Just before I reached out to you, I was making out with this girl..." Your eyes flicker to Sue's reflection in a computer monitor ahead of you. She's standing relaxed, arms folded, serious expression on her face. "And when she... got off... it was like my normal powers times a hundred. I felt stronger. Faster. More powerful, more confident... ran all the way home and I was barely breathing hard."</p> <p>"I... I see." Reed nods, seeming uncomfortable. "And the girl?"</p> <p>"Hit her harder, too. She was... well, pretty out of it."</p> <p>"Was she okay?" Sue asked.</p> <p>You turn to answer her. "Yeah, she texted me the next day to apologize for passing out on me. Said she was wiped." She also said that it'd been a big mistake, cheating on her boyfriend, and you shouldn't come over again. Reed doesn't need to know that.</p> <p>"Possibly a sexual component, then..." He shakes his head and clears his throat. "Let's... put that aside for now and get some tests done."</p> <<button[[Get on with the tests->E1 Lab Tests]]>><</button>>

<p>"Let's take some baseline readings first," Reed pulls privacy screens over, setting them up around the immediate area as Sue departs. "Take off your clothes, change into this." He hands you a one-piece outfit made of the same strange material as their uniforms.</p> <p>"I absorbed some energy on the way over, on the subway... does that matter?" You take the outfit in your hands. The material is almost impossibly stretchy, but clings to your form as you put it on. You're not terribly fond of the way it seems to emphasize all of your body's flaws... maybe you should start hitting the gym with Flash.</p> <p>"How long does the... the charge persist?"</p> <p>"Usually fades in a few minutes, but I've never measured it. The, uh, thing with Cindy lasted a lot longer." You pause. "It felt a little different when I touched Mr. Grimm."</p> <p>"Let's not worry about that just yet," Reed said. "It shouldn't influence our tests."</p> <<button[[Wear the suit->E1 Lab Tests 2]]>><</button>>

<p>Reed attaches a electrodes to your chest, neck, and abdomen. "Getting a baseline" involves a battery of physical and mental tests - running on a treadmill, blowing into tubes, doing increasingly difficult math problems, and memory-based puzzles.</p> <<exhaust 2>> <<button[[It's exhausting->E1 Lab Tests 3]]>><</button>>

<p>As the tests are wrapping up, Reed brings over a blond teen of around your age. "This is Johnny Storm, our Human Torch."</p> <p>"Sup." Johnny nods. He's wearing the same uniform as the others.</p> <p>"Hi." A lot of the media attention has been focused on the Human Torch, positioning him as a major teen heartthrob. You don't see it.</p> <<button[[Up close, he looks distressingly ordinary->E1 Lab Tests 4]]>><</button>>

<p>"Johnny has agreed to assist in our testing," Reed said, attaching electrodes to the pair of you, hooked up to a set of monitors. "I'd like you to draw off some of his energy, then we'll run the battery of tests again and see how your performance compares."</p> <p>Johnny pulls off one of his gloves and offers you his hand. "Put 'er there, pal!"</p> <<button[[Shake his hand->E1 Lab Test 5a]]>><</button>> <<button[[Give him a high five->E1 Lab Test 5b]]>><</button>>

You give the Human Torch a firm handshake. <<include "E1 Lab Test 5c">>

Johnny smirks as you slap his palm, catching your hand in his. <<include "E1 Lab Test 5c">>

<<recover 1>> You feel a small jolt of energy from the moment your skin contacts his. It feels... spicier, somehow, but exactly the difference isn't something you can define. <p>"Feel anything?" Reed asks.</p> <p>"A little, yeah." Johnny looks at his hand. "Like I just shotgunned a beer. Uh, rootbeer. Like the opposite of that."</p> <p>Reed ignores the teen's attempt to cover for himself. "Like tipsy?"</p> <p>"Not really, just a little drowsy."</p> <p>"Remain in contact please." Reed said, turning to the monitors.</p> <<if $gender == "male">><p>Johnny frowned. "What, like holding hands? Gaaaaay."</p><</if>> <<button[[Continue holding hands with Johnny Storm->E1 Lab Test Results]]>><</button>>

<p>After a minute or so of awkward sweaty handholding, Reed spoke up again. "Okay, that's enough."</p> <p>After Jonny releases your hand Reed puts both of you through the another battery of tests. Treadmills. Blowing into tubes. Math. You have to admit, even with the hit of energy you got from him, Johnny is in much better shape than you. It's not that you've lived a sedentary lifestyle - you're friends with Flash Thompson, you end up playing a lot of pick-up - but you're average at best.</p> <p>Johnny's something more.</p> <<button[[Get your test results->E1 Lab Test Results]]>><</button>>

<p>By the time you're back in your street clothes, Reed has his evaluation ready.</p> <p>"Initiating physical contact of at least one second duration initiates a transfer of metabolic function. Your metabolism is boosted, and as a result you do exhibit slightly enhanced capabilities, though still within the human norm. Likewise, tests reveal a corresponding increase in mental faculties and neural activity, particularly in regards to both recall and problem solving."</p> <p>He indicates Johnny. "This of course is linked to a similar decrease in capabilities from those you're drawing from."</p> <p>"Should contact be maintained beyond the initial contact transfer of metabolic energy continues, albeit at a reduced rate of decreasing returns... it takes one minute to equal the initial exchange, then two minutes to match it again, then four, and so on."</p> <<button[[And Cindy?->E1 Lab Test Results 2]]>><</button>>

<p>Reed's face flushes and he fumbles with his notes. "Ah... well, obviously we didn't test for this, but operating from the data you provided suggests that the transfer of energy would have to be greatly enhanced by, um, sexual energy... this would be in line with certain Eastern metaphysical theories."</p> <p>"So ?he-s gotta fuck to have superpowers?" Johnny looks intrigued.</p> <p>Reed shook his head. "What ?he is capable of is significantly beyond the human norm, Johnny. And as far as theories go... it's entirely possible ?he could bestow energy as well as absorb it."</p> <p>"How would I do that?"</p> <p>"Again, this is all theoretical," Reed says. "If you have the opportunity to test it, I would suggest focusing on what it feels like to draw energy, and visualizing the opposite... that won't make it happen, but it might help you <i>figure out</i> how to make it happen."</p> <<button[[What does this all mean?->E1 Lab Test Results 3]]>><</button>>

<p>"How can I even do any of this?"</p> <p>Reed took off his glasses, folding the arms and slipping them into his labcoat pocket. "There's no easy way to put this, $FirstName... but from genetic markers in the blood draw, it seems likely that your powers are the result of natural mutation."</p> <p>"I'm a mutant?" The word barely escapes your lips. You can hear Reed talking, but his words wash around you, senseless, meaningless. You realize suddenly it has to be true - there are no other explanations.</p> <<button[[You are a mutant->E1 Lab Mutant Revelation]]>><</button>>

<p>Mutants. <i>Homo Sapeins Superior.</i> Your whole life, you'd heard that Mutants were hiding among humanity, secretly using their weird powers to exploit you, take advantage of you, control you, plot to replace you. When you were a kid your mom held them up as a vague boogey-man, something terrible and alien that could be hiding inside anyone you knew.</p> <p>Then. Last year. A video of a young man shooting lasers out of his eyes on the streets of Washington DC went viral on social media. Too many people caught it and uploaded it from their phones for the government to write it off as a hoax. Proof that mutants were real - and powerful - didn't do a lot to stem the growth of anti-mutant hysteria. Especially with your mom.</p> <<button[[It was all Dad could do to keep her from home-schooling you->E1 Lab Assure]]>><</button>>

<p>Reed's arm snakes over and he places a weirdly rubbery hand on your shoulder. "I know you've got a lot to think about... but no matter the current political climate I can assure you - <i>homo sapiens</i> or <i>homo superior</i>, you can rely upon the Fantastic Four's discretion. However you want to play this - keep it secret, or be an out and open mutant - I will of course respect your decision."</p> <p>The rest of the visit is... well, it's a blur as you try and cope with the truth that you're not entirely human and never were. It would probably be wise to keep your powers - and status as a mutant - secret... a revelation like that would change everything. And not for the best.</p> <p>Numbly you agree to a follow-up appointment on some unspecified future date, and Sue gives you a lift home in the team's weird flying bathtub thing. You think she might have said some comforting words, but it's really all just a numb void in your memory.</p> <<button[[Home Again->E1 Lab Home]]>><</button>>

<p>The apartment is dark as you enter, the only light coming from the television in the living room. Your parents sit on the couch, under a blanket, watching some old movie. Your sister is, as per usual, nowhere to be seen.</p> <p>"$FirstName?" Your mom calls. "Your uncle Henry called again, wanting to know if you want to work with him this year."</p> <p>Your mom's brother Henry is a chemist working out of a private lab. He's... not the friendliest guy, and your mom has been bugging him to find some work for you for years. Only recently has he agreed to kick you a few bucks in exchange for cleaning up around the lab on weekends.</p> <<button[[I could use the money->E1 Lab Accept]]>><</button>> <<button[[Dude's too weird->E1 Lab Refuse]]>><</button>>

<p>"Okay, I'll swing by his place this weekend," you say, actually meaning it for once. Uncle Henry is intense, but the extra cash will come in handy.</p> <p>"Oh." Your mother sounds surprised. "Okay, I'll pass that along to him."</p> <<button[[Uncle Hank isn't really your biggest concern right now->E1 Home Reflect]]>><</button>>

<p>"I think I'm going to pass." Uncle Henry can be... intense, and prone to obsession. It probably makes him a good scientist, but a crappy boss.</p> <p>Your mother doesn't sound surprised. "Well, I said I'd ask."</p> <<button[[Uncle Hank isn't really your biggest concern right now->E1 Home Reflect]]>><</button>>

<p>It's the whole mutant thing. Your parents are middle-of-the-road liberals, generally tolerant people, but you've seen your mom's face when some story about Mutants comes on. She looks... upset. Afraid. Confused. Your dad, there's a little anger there too, though they've never really said anything about it.</p> <p>If they find out - when they find out - will they accept who and what you are? Or will you really and truly be on your own?</p> <p>And your friends? Flash? Liz? Tiny? Jason? You're solid now, but coming out as a mutant... it could change everything.</p> <p>The thoughts keep you up, late into the night.</p> <<button[[Continue->Episode 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You and Sally are led to a military tent packed with other survivors. You're provided with rudimentary care - eyewash, fluids to clean out your respiratory passages, treatment of the most severe wounds. Fortunately neither you nor Sally are seriously injured, at least, not as bad as some of the others here.</p> <<heal 1>> <<button[[Check on Sally->E2 Cordon Sally]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[Just rest->E2 Cordon 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You're led to a military tent packed with other survivors and provided with rudimentary care - eyewash, fluids to clean out your respiratory passages, treatment of the most severe wounds. Sally's brought in a bit later - found by soldiers after you ditched her - and she seems the worse for wear.</p> <<heal 1>> <<button[[Check on Sally->E2 Cordon Sally]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[Just rest->E2 Cordon 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You turn to Sally. "Hell of a first date."</p> <<if $SallyAvril.poorRelationship() or $SallyAvril.ditched>><p>She gives you a dirty look and turns away to mess with her phone. Guess it's not going well.</p> <<elseif $SallyAvril.goodRelationship()>><p>She gives out a pained laugh. "Well, at least it's not boring!"</p> <<else>><p>She gives you a pained grin. "Think the universe is trying to tell us something?"</p> <</if>> <<include "E2 Cordon 2">>

<p>A flash of blue catches your eye through the medical tent's flap - it's Susan Storm, the Invisible woman. Moving to take a closer look, you see that the Thing is with her, heading towards what looks like the command tent.</p> <<button[[Return to the tent->E2 Cordon 3]]>><</button>> <<button[[Join them->E2 F4]]>><</button>>

<p>A distant crash draws your attention as you turn from the tent's flap towards the interior.</p> <<if $SallyAvril.poorRelationship() or hasVisited("E2 Sally Danger Abandon")>><p>Sally's giving you the cold shoulder, but from the others you gather that the Fantastic Four managed to fight Namor off, only for the Sub-Mariner to return with the giant sea monster. Even now, the team was meeting with the military to procure explosives to try and defeat it.</p> <<else>><p>Sally greets you eagerly as you return. "You hear? They're saying the Fantastic Four defeated that Namor guy, but he came back with the giant monster. Now they're coordinating with the army to blow it up."</p> <</if>> <p>An officer clears his throat to get everyone's attention. "It's getting a little dangerous here - we're moving everyone inland. Line up, two by two, and we'll start loading everybody up into trucks."</p> <<button[[Wait your turn->E2 Cordon Evac]]>><</button>>

<p><<if $SallyAvril.poorRelationship() or hasVisited("E2 Sally Danger Abandon")>>Sally must be really pissed at you - she refuses to even line up next to you, standing next to a stranger, rebuffing any attempts you make to apologize to her. <<else>>Sally lines up next to you as you wait for your turns to climb into the truck, clearly excited by everything that's going on despite her slightly ragged condition. <</if>></p> <p>You look down at your arms - coated in dust, bleeding from many small cuts caused by sharp fragments of concrete and stone. You really did get lucky this time... it could have gone so much worse.</p> <p>When your turn comes you're loaded into the back of a truck for a bumpy ride inland. One of the other passengers has a working phone, and he keeps the rest of you up to date - apparently the plan is that the Thing straps a bomb to his body and jumps into the creature's gullet. Amazingly... it works, killing the creature and saving the city.</p> <<button[[Continue->E2 Cordon Evac 2]]>><</button>>

<p>As far as the date goes... <<if hasVisited("E2 Sally Danger Abandon")>>Sally is furious at you for ditching her after she wiped out in the dust cloud. She might not speak to you all the way to the hospital, but she leaves a number of angry text messages and blasts you in the gang's group chat. Everybody agrees that that was very much Not Cool, Dude. <<set $SallyAvril.relationshipDown to 6>><<set $SallyAvril.relationshipUp to 1>> <<elseif $SallyAvril.poorRelationship()>>it didn't go well. Sally is cool towards you all the way back to the hospital, and word gets out about the dud. Not your best moment, but whatever. <<elseif $SallyAvril.goodRelationship()>>despite everything else, Sally had a blast, and can't stop chatting all the way back to the hospital. You might not get any play, but everyone is going to know she had a good time. <<else>>you both agree that friendship is probably safer, in the long run. Sometimes when the universe sends you a message, you need to pay attention and listen. <</if>></p> <<button[[Continue->Episode 3]]>><</button>>

<p>You're led to a military tent packed with other survivors and provided with rudimentary care - eyewash, fluids to clean out your respiratory passages, treatment of the most severe wounds. You're largely uninjured yourself, but accept some snacks and water to replenish yourself after the long hike.</p> <<recover 1>> <p>As you chew on an energy bar, a flash of blue catches your eye through the tent flap. Ambling over for a look, you see Susan Storm, the Invisible woman. Moving to take a closer look, you see that the Thing is with her, heading towards what looks like the command tent.</p> <<button[[Check in with them->E2 F4]]>><</button>>

<p>As you return to the medical tent an officer clears his throat to get everyone's attention. "It's getting a little dangerous here - we're moving everyone inland. Line up, two by two, and we'll start loading everybody up into trucks."</p> <p>You look down at your arms - coated in dust, bleeding from many small cuts caused by sharp fragments of concrete and stone. You really did get lucky this time... it could have gone so much worse.</p> <p>When your turn comes you're loaded into the back of a truck for a bumpy ride inland. One of the other passengers has a working phone, and he keeps the rest of you up to date - apparently the plan is that the Thing straps a bomb to his body and jumps into the creature's gullet. Amazingly... it works, killing the creature and saving the city.</p> <<button[[Continue->E2 Cordon Evac 2]]>><</button>>

<p>It's the civil defense sirens, installed back in the 50s, usually only going off in case of hurricanes or alien invasion. Given the clear skies, you can narrow it down a little.</p> <p>Following the gaze of those in the crowd around you, you spot a flaming figure flying high in the sky to the northwest, probably over Bay Ridge. Your shoulders relax a little - whatever's going on, the Fantastic Four are handling it.</p> <<button[[Go check it out->E2 Danger Solo 2]]>><</button>> <<button[[Head to a shelter->E2 Solo Shelter]]>><</button>>

<p>The civil defense sirens only go off in case of hurricane warning or alien invasion. Given how clear the skies are...</p> <p>"Look!" Sally points at the sky behind you.</p> <p>You turn to look and see a flaming figure soaring high in the sky, probably over Bay Ridge. Your shoulders relax a little - whatever's happening is pretty far away, and it looks like the Fantastic Four are handling it.</p> <p>Sally's already pushing through the turnstiles. "C'mon, let's go check it out!"</p> <<button[[Ditch Sally->E2 Danger Manic Ditch]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Follow her->E2 Sally Danger]]>><</button>>

<p>You don't say anything, just watching as she rushes off, letting her run through the crowd on her own. As interesting as it might be to see the Fantastic Four in action up close, the immediacy of the sirens is giving you second thoughts... you turn, instead, and head towards the nearest shelter, as indicated by helpful signs indicating an eastern direction.</p> <p>She'll be <i>fine</i>.</p><<set $SallyAvril.ditched = true>> <<button[[Follow the signs->E2 Solo Shelter]]>><</button>>

<p>You look back to Sally and she's already got her phone out. "Looks like a general evacuation is being called - something about an attack in the Upper Bay!" There's a gleam in her eye and she starts heading towards the park exit.</p> <p>You know that look. She's not heading for the nearest shelter.</p> <<button[[Drain off some of her energy and convince her to take cover->E2 Danger Natural Drain]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[Follow her towards the bay->E2 Sally Danger]]>><</button>>

<p>You put on a burst of speed and grab her by the hand before she can out-distance you. Her energy hits you, peppy, almost spicy, and she stumbles slightly as a wave of fatigue washes over her. "Hey, hold up."</p> <p>She a hand on your shoulder to steady herself. "Oof, that last soda hit hard."</p> <p>Soda. Yeah. "Hey, this looks pretty serious. Maybe we should hit the shelter."</p> <p>She looks over your shoulder in the direction of the bay. "Yeah... maybe you're right."</p> <<button[[Escort her to safety->E2 Shelter]]>><</button>> <<button[[Head towards the bay without her->E2 Danger Calm Split Up]]>><</button>>

<p>Civil Defense Sirens, in place since the 50s, normally only going off due to a hurricane or alien invasion. Given the bright sunny day, you're going to assume it's not the weather.</p> <p>"Look!" Sally points at the sky behind you.</p> <p>You turn to look and see a flaming figure soaring high in the sky, probably over Bay Ridge. Your shoulders relax a little - the action is pretty far away, and it looks like the Fantastic Four are handling it.</p> <p>Sally tugs on your arm. "Let's find a shelter until whatever's happening is over." There's concern in her voice. If you hadn't drained her, she'd probably want to go see what was going on - and a part of you does, too.</p> <<button[[Head to the nearest shelter->E2 Shelter]]>><</button>> <<button[[Give Sally a boost and try to convince her to check it out->E2 Date Calm Boost]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>>

<p>You slip your hand into hers and focus, remembering Dr. Richards's words - <i>"Focus on what it feels like to draw energy, and visualize the opposite."</i> You've spent some time trying to visualize the energy as colored light flowing from those you come into contact with, and fill your mind with the opposite - energy flowing from you, down your arm, and into Sally's hand... filling her, energizing her.</p> <<exhaust 1>> <p>You don't just see it in your mind's eye... you <i>feel</i> it, a mild draining sensation. "You sure you don't want to head over, see what's going on?"</p> <<set $SallyAvril.boosted = true>> <p>"You know what?" The glassy weariness leaves Sally's eyes, replaced by their usual gleam. "Fuck it, let's go!"</p> <<button[[It's all you can do to keep up->E2 Sally Danger]]>><</button>>

<p>"You go on, there's something I want to check out first."</p> <p>Her hand finds your shirt collar, holding it loosely. "Are you sure?" There's concern in her voice.</p> <p>You pull away, scrambling for an excuse and indicate the signs showing the way to the nearest civil defense shelter. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine. I wanna... uh... call home and make sure my sister's okay."</p> <p>It's lame as hell but to your surprise Sally doesn't argue. "Okay. Be careful, $FirstName."</p> <<button[[Head towards the bay->E2 Danger Solo 2]]>><</button>>

<p>Sally stops at a CitiBike stand near the amusement park entrance. "C'mon, slowpoke!"</p> <p>"You want to bike it?" you ask.</p> <p>She consults her phone. "Looks like the action is up in Bay Ridge?"</p> <p>You cast your eyes up the coast. "That's a couple miles out."</p> <p>"Yeah, the trains aren't gonna be running and the roads are going to be choked with people coming the other way."</p> <p>She's got a point. "Any word on what's going on?"</p> <p>Sally swipes through her phone. "Here's a pic." She shows you a blurry photo of what might be the human torch and a mostly-naked figure you can't make out fighting an aerial battle. "Poster says it's... Namor?"</p> <p><<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>Namor, the Sub-Mariner, leader of a race of aquatic mer-people. You remember he was a bit of an anti-hero, sometimes fighting with the allies against the Nazis, sometimes declaring unilateral war against the surface world. He disappeared sometime in the 1950s... until now.<<else>>Namor? You have vague memories of someone named something like that fighting in World War II. But he was supposed to be a good guy, or something? You don't know, you're not a history nerd.<</if>></p> <<button[[Grab a bike share->E2 Sally Danger 2]]>><</button>>

<p>It's a half-hour bike ride up the coast to Bay Ridge. It all seems pretty calm as you reach Fort Hamilton - the army garrison - and you're starting to worry that you'd missed all the action when a colossal beast surges from the ocean to slam its way through some of the buildings along the shore.</p> <p>The thing is massive - like a bipedal sperm whale, only at least thrice the size, towering over the human built landscape. Even from a half-mile away, you feel like you're in its immediate presence, and fear grips your heart in an icy vise.</p> <p>"Holy shit!" Sally screams as a cloud of dust billows out from the creature's passage. She loses control of her bike and goes skidding into the debris.</p> <<button[[Pull over and seek shelter->E2 Sally Danger Coward]]>><</button>> <<button[[Race into the cloud to help Sally->E2 Sally Danger Help]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>>

<p>It's all happening so fast - you barely have time to pull your shirt collar up over your nose before you hit the cloud. Debris hits your skin like a hundred angry wasps, and you quickly lose control, but are able to keep your head off the ground as you spin and tumble over the asphalt. The pain is incredible, but you manage to keep your wits about you and crawl - blinded by dust - to where you last saw Sally.</p> <<hurt 4>> <<button[[Search for her->E2 Sally Danger Find]]>><</button>>

<p>Hacking and coughing, your grasping hands somehow find Sally in the cloud as she unsteadily rises. She clings to you - just as blind, just as hurt - as you make your way back behind a nearby truck, trying to keep something - anything - between you and the creature's destruction.</p> <<recover 1>> <<run $SallyAvril.increaseRelationship()>> <<button[[Make for shelter->E2 Sally Danger Soldier]]>><</button>>

<p>You swerve a little too fast and go tumbling off your bike, falling behind a moving truck as its far side is pelted with dangerous debris. The cloud of dust billows around the edges to choke you, but you're spared the worst of the danger.</p> <<hurt 2>> <p>You can't see how Sally has fared, but you can hear the giant monster continuing its rampage. You'll need to move.</p> <<button[[Pull your shirt up over your nose and wait->E2 Sally Danger Wait]]>><</button>> <<button[[Get moving, Sally's on her own->E2 Sally Danger Abandon]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>>

<p>Sally comes staggering around the edge of the truck, taking shelter alongside you, hacking and coughing. She really does look the worse for wear, coated with dust, bleeding from a multitude of small nicks and cuts caused by sharp flying rocks. She huddles against you, hiding her face in your side, nails digging into your arm.</p> <<recover 1>> <p>The slight hit of energy you get from her hands on you only serves to heighten your adrenaline rush.</p> <<button[[A figure emerges from the dust->E2 Sally Danger Soldier]]>><</button>>

<p>A soldier in urban camo wearing a gas-mask emerges from the dust, shouting something unintelligible but gesturing towards you.</p> <p>You help Sally to her feet and start stumbling his way. He hands both of you damp rags, which helps with the dust issue, and then guides you back towards a cordon of barriers, tents, and military activity.</p> <<button[[Hustle over->E2 Cordon]]>><</button>>

<p>Fuck this. You launch yourself away from the truck, away from the dust, away from the giant monster, leaving Sally to her own devices... and almost collide with a soldier in urban camo wearing a gas mask. He shouts something you can't make out and presses a damp cloth to your face before leading you back towards a cordon of barriers, tents, and military activity.</p> <<run $SallyAvril.decreaseRelationship()>> <<button[[Stumble over->E2 Cordon Alone]]>><</button>>

<p>You pull out your phone and scour social media for clues as to what's happening - and where. From what's trending you see that the Fantastic Four are fighting someone over in Bay Ridge... a blurry photo shows what's probably the human torch fighting a duel with a nearly naked flying figure.</p> <p>In the comments witnesses are swearing that it's <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>Namor, the Sub-Mariner. You know him as a World War II era superhero who fought alongside - and against heroes like Captain America or the original Human Torch. But he went missing almost seventy years ago?<<else>>some guy named Namor - apparently an old school superhero who went missing seventy years ago?<</if>></p> <p>Whatever the case, Bay Ridge is a five mile hike, so you get moving... the trains are probably down.</p> <<button[[A brisk hour's hike->E2 Danger Solo 3]]>><</button>>

<<exhaust 5>> <p>After an extremely long walk you reach Bay Ridge, and at first you're worried that you've missed all the action - everything seems so quiet. Then you see it - a massive creature that looks like a giant bipedal whale, towering over the skyscrapers a few blocks away. It looks like it's been having quite the rampage so far, and you don't see any sign of the Namor you were expecting.</p> <p>Fucking social media fake news.</p> <<button[["HEY! YOU!"->E2 Danger Solo 4]]>><</button>>

<p>You turn to see a soldier in urban camo wearing a gas mask approaching. "The fuck are you doing? Get off the street!"</p> <p>"Sorry, I-"</p> <p>He grabs you roughly by the arm, pulling you towards a military cordon of steel barriers and tents just outside Fort Hamilton, the city's Amry garrison.</p> <<button[[Comply->E2 Cordon Solo]]>><</button>>

<<include "NPCinit E2">> <<reset>> <h2>Episode 2 - A Date with Destiny</h2> <h3>September 16</h3> <<set $metSallyAvril to true>> <p>Sally reaches over and steals one of your fries, without even asking. She does this kind of thing a lot, and has probably eaten half the fries you've ordered throughout the years you've been friends. Mooch or not, she's been part of your crew since grade school, along with Flash, Liz, Tiny, Seymore, Jason... oh, and Peter, though you don't hang out with him anymore.</p> <p>Usually she picks away at everyone's food without asking, grazing from plate to plate. This is probably the first time it's been just the two of you - your first date. You haven't asked her out before - and it's not that she's bad looking - Sally's a gymnast, with a trim body, lustrous black hair kept curly and short. But she can also be pushy - even obnoxious...</p> <<button[[easily overlooked given the way she fills out her jeans->E2 Date]]>><</button>> <<button[[but she's vital and alive and fun to be around->E2 Date]]>><</button>>

<p>That's why you asked her out, after all. If anyone could help you forget about what you learned from Reed Richards - that you are a mutant - it's Sally. This is the first time you've gone out, because <<if $gender == "male">>you try to avoid dating people you can't just ghost if shit goes sour, and she is very much part of your friend-group. But fuck it.<<else>>she only recently hinted that she might be into girls. You'd normally avoid dating anyone from your friend group - not that Liz, the other girl, is queer - but fuck it, right?<</if>></p> <p>You're walking the boardwalk at Luna Park, a paper cone of rapidly depleting <i>Salt & Sizzle</i> hand-cut french fries in one hand, other arm around Sally's shoulder. You're cool on Coney Island in general, but Sally's an adrenaline junkie, and the amusement park sounded like a great first date... but after multiple trips on the Cyclone, Zenobio, Slingshot, and Thunderbolt, you're about ready to take a break.</p> <p>"I can't believe you spent the whole summer sniffing around Cindy Moon." She speaks out of the corner of her mouth, around the stolen fry.</p> <<button[[Gossip about Cindy->E2 Date Cindy]]>><</button>> <<button[[Let's not talk about Cindy.->E2 Date Not Cindy]]>><</button>>

<p>"I wasn't 'sniffing around.' We were just in the same summer class. Assigned to the same project. And that's over now." The class, the project, and your fun with Cindy.</p> <p>"She's such a jock." Sally laughs, tossing her short curly hair. You imagine how it'd feel between your fingers.</p> <<button[[You're a gymnast->E2 Date Gymnast]]>><</button>> <<button[[I like fit girls->E2 Date Fit]]>><</button>>

<p>Sally huffs, mock-offended. "A gymnast is nothing like a... hockey goon."</p> <p>"A hockey goon?"</p> <p>She grabs your arm and pulls away from you, stretching with a smile - her hand perilously close to touching your bare flesh. "Can Cindy put her legs behind her head?"</p> <<button[[Can you put your legs behind my head?->E2 Date Legs]]>><</button>> <<button[[Probably not->E2 Date probably not]]>><</button>>

<p>"You're so bad!" Sally laughs, throwing a half-eaten fry at you. You're lucky she has a bawdy sense of humor - if you'd tried a line like that on someone like Liz Allen, she'd have slapped you. <<if $gender == "female">>Probably because she's straight.<</if>></p> <<include "E2 Date Change Subject">>

<p>"See?" Sally said, as if that explained everything.</p> <<include "E2 Date Change Subject">>

<p>"Fit?" Sally swings her foot up and onto a boardwalk bench, gesturing at her calf. "Feel that."</p> <<button[[Push her foot off the bench->E2 Date Foot]]>><</button>> <<button[[Feel her calf->E2 Date Calf]]>><</button>> <<button[[Feel her up->E2 Date Feel]]>><</button>>

<p>"Settle down, Sally." You push Sally's foot off the bench. She pouts.</p> <<run $SallyAvril.decreaseRelationship()>> <<include "E2 Date Change Subject">>

<p>You give Sally's calf a squeeze. The muscle is rock hard, the tendons taut under her capris. "Nice."</p> <p>"Don't get that from hockey," Sally says.</p> <<include "E2 Date Change Subject">>

<p>You run your hand up from Sally's rock hard calf to her taut thigh. "Nice."</p> <p>She gives a small 'eep' and pulls her leg away with a gasp and a laugh. "You are so <i>bad</i>, $FirstName!"</p> <<run $SallyAvril.increaseRelationship()>> <<include "E2 Date Change Subject">>

<p>"Ugh, let's not talk about her," you say.</p> <<include "E2 Date Change Subject">>

<p>You decide to change the subject. Sally is an adrenaline junky - she's most interested in exciting topics.</p> <<button[[Talk about the reports of a monster in New Mexico->E2 Date Talk Hulk]]>><</button>> <<button[[Talk about the rumors of Norse gods in South America->E2 Date Talk Thor]]>><</button>> <<button[[Brag about having met the Fantastic Four->E2 Date Talk F4]]>><</button>>

<p>"You hear about that monster people say is running around New Mexico?" you ask. "What'd they call it..."</p> <p>"The Hulk?" Sally's eyes shine. "Oh my god, can you imagine? It's like one of those monsters from the 50s... they say it looked like a cross between a gorilla and a bear, could flip whole cars over and jump over buildings. What do you think it is?"</p> <<button[[Alien. Definitely alien.->E2 Date Change]]>><</button>> <<button[[Sounds like a mutant->E2 Date Change]]>><</button>> <<button[[Could be a robot->E2 Date Change]]>><</button>>

<p>"You hear they say that a Norse god overthrew a dictatorship down in South America?" you ask.</p> <p>"Oh I heard about that!" Sally's eyes shine. "Somewhere down like... San Diablo. They'd kidnapped a bunch of Doctors Without Borders or something and were going to execute them, when this guy just dropped down and started busting them up!" She punctuates this by throwing a few uppercuts into the air. "Do you think he was really a... a pagan god?"</p> <<button[[I dunno, maybe?->E2 Date Change]]>><</button>> <<button[[Could be one of those mutants, right?->E2 Date Change]]>><</button>> <<button[[Of course not, he was probably an alien->E2 Date Change]]>><</button>>

"Did I tell you I met the Fantastic Four?" <p>Sally stares at you for a moment before breaking out a sharp laugh. "Fuckin' Liar."</p> <p>"No, really. Went over to that Baxter Building they're moved in to, went up to that lab, met the lot of them."</p> <p>You can see her struggling over whether or not to believe you. "Are you fuckin' with me right now?"</p> <p>You flash the business card Reed gave you, the embossed 4 in a circle logo glistens in the late afternoon sunlight. "Dead serious."</p> <p>She scoops it up greedily, eyes flashing. "Holy shit! Is the Torch as hot in real life as he is on TV?" <<if $gender == "female">>Maybe she's bi?<</if>></p> <<button[[He just looks like a regular guy->E2 Date Choice]]>><</button>> <<button[[What am I, Parker? I can't tell if a guy's hot->E2 Date Choice]]>><</button>>

You decide to shift gears. <<include "E2 Date Talk F4">>

<<run $SallyAvril.increaseRelationship()>> <p>"That's so fuckin' cool!" Sally claps her hands. Some of the others along the boardwalk are starting to look your way. That's the problem with Sally - she gets amped up pretty quick. Which could work out in your favor if you also get her turned on... or it could get you kicked out of places and end the date prematurely.</p> <p>It occurs to you that you could use your power in a subtle way here - either to drain a hit from her and level her out, or to do what Doctor Richards suggested and try to <i>give</i> her a hit and amp her up even further. You look into her shining eyes, broad grin, excited face, and make a choice.</p> <<button[[Give her a hit of energy and amp her up->E2 Date Manic]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Take a hit from her and bring her down->E2 Date Calm]]>><</button>> <<button[[Don't use your powers on her, let Sally be Sally->E2 Date Natural]]>><</button>>

<p>You resist the urge to fuck with Sally's energy levels - not that you'll resist <i>touching</i> her, but avoid intentionally draining her or trying to infuse her with energy to change the tempo of the date. After all, you're going out with her because of who she is, right?</p> <p>Or because she was free today and said yes. Either way.</p> <<button[[What you're not feeling is chemistry->E2 Date Natural 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You're having a fine time. Sally's having a fine time. But you're not seeing any progress towards getting in her pants - or even a kiss. There's flirting, but it's that fun empty flirting she does with everybody.</p> <<button[[And that's okay->E2 Date Natural 3]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[And that's not okay->E2 Date Natural 4]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>>

<p>What this is, you decide, is hanging out with a friend - a pretty girl, yes - at Coney Island on a nice summer day. You're having a good time. She's having a good time. There's no reason to expect anything more. Right?</p> <p>Right.</p> <p>Just as you start congratulating yourself about how you know how to have fun, a siren starts going off.</p> <<button[[What's that sound?->E2 Danger Natural]]>><</button>>

<p>If you wanted to hang out with friends, you could have invited everybody along. This outing was about one thing: making time with Sally Avril. If you want that to happen, you're going to have to make a move.</p> <p>You're a virgin. Yes. That action with Cindy was the most you've had so far, yes. But that doesn't mean you've never been on dates before, never had a girlfriend. You know what to do to escalate things, to move them along, even without using your powers-</p> <p>Your scheming is interrupted by a sudden siren.</p> <<button[[What?->E2 Danger Natural]]>><</button>>

<p>You casually slip your hand into hers, all smooth-like. She gives you a wry smile - thinking, perhaps, that you're being slick - but you just want to maintain contact long enough to drain some extra energy from her - level her out a bit. She gives your hand a squeeze as she leads you through the crowds. Her energy is peppy, maybe spicy, with a bitter aftertaste.</p> <<recover 2>> <<button[[See how it affects her->E2 Date Calm 2]]>><</button>>

<p>Her rapid pace slows to a walk and her smile softens. She's still having a good time, you think, but she's gone from rushing off to the next amusement to watching the crowd, sipping on her soda, enjoying the warmth of one of the last days of vacation before school begins. The topic of conversation drifts to the gymnastics camp she visited over break, while you effortlessly dance away from questions regarding your visit to the Fantastic Four.</p> <p>"Hey, do you want to head back to my place?" She asks, tossing her soda into a nearby trash can.</p> <p>The sirens start before you can answer.</p> <<button[[What sirens?->E2 Danger Calm]]>><</button>>

<p><i>"Focus on what it feels like to draw energy, and visualize the opposite."</i> That's what Richards suggested, and over the past week since your appointment you'd given it a try - to minimal effect. On the train, moving through a crowd, even giving your mom a hug... you tried to give energy, rather than take it. It, by and large, didn't work, but you could feel... something... happening.</p> <<set $SallyAvril.boosted = true>> <p>You reach out and casually brush Sally's hand, focusing, trying to visualize the energy as a colored light flowing from her into you... and then reversing, flowing back into her, taking some of your own along the way. You feel a slight coldness at the point of contact, and an almost immediate wave of fatigue... subtle, so that if you weren't focusing on it, you might have missed it.</p> <<exhaust 1>> <<button[[Is that what it's like?->E2 Date Manic 2]]>><</button>>

<p>Is that what you do to people?</p> <p>The effect on Sally is instantaneous. Her eyes flutter briefly before opening even wider, the grin on her face widening almost painfully. "Fuck, let's go see 'em right now." She makes a sudden sharp turn, heading away from the shoreline towards the park entrance.</p> <<button[[What? Right now?->E2 Date Manic 3]]>><</button>>

<p>Sally walks backwards through the crowd, gesturing to you. "C'mon c'mon c'mon I wanna see that rock guy..."</p> <p>"What, you wanna go right now?" This really wasn't what you'd had in mind.</p> <p>"Yeah, c'mon, you can get us in, right?"</p> <p>You do your best to keep up as she weaves through the crowd."I don't know, I just met them the once, and-"</p> <<button[[Hustle to catch up with her->E2 Date Manic 4]]>><</button>>

<p>"Come on, slow poke!" Sally beckons, stepping up a bench and kicking off the fence around the bumper car arena to vault over a slow elderly couple in front of her.</p> <p>"Watch it!" The old man recoils while his companion gives a little yelp.</p> <p>Sally steps up on the curb, then back down, seemingly unable to keep still. "It's fine, I'm a gymnast."</p> <p>"They're all the way in Manhattan, you know."</p> <p>She takes a few steps and leaps, swinging around a lamp-post, one hand extended towards the sky. "Who?"</p> <p>"The Fantastic Four."</p> <p>She laughs, a sound of tinkling bells, and spins around the pole again. "Oh right, yeah, we better hit the subway then." She spins off the pole, using the momentum to surge through the crowd of pedestrians between you and the park exit.</p> <<button[[Follow her->E2 Date Manic 5]]>><</button>> <<button[[Slip away while she's distracted->E2 Date Manic Ditch]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>>

<p>You mutter apologies as you work through the crowd behind her. She's not nearly as fast - or wild - as you were leaving Cindy's house, but your power has her natural energetic nature amped up just enough that she's going to get hurt, or in trouble, or both. Very much not what you'd intended, and you're fairly certain there's no way you'd get the two of you in to see the Fantastic Four.</p> <p>"Think I could do a diving roll into a front flip over that?" Sally evaluates the turnstiles leading to the parking lot speculatively.</p> <<button[[Tell her to give it a shot->E2 Date Manic Yes]]>><</button>> <<button[[Tell her to get a grip->E2 Date Manic No]]>><</button>> <<button[[Shut her up with a kiss->E2 Date Kiss]]>><</button>>

<p>"Jesus, Sally, get a grip."</p> <p>Her face darkens and she quick-steps up into your face. "Don't be such a wet blanket, $LastName. Don't think I can do it? You wanna get on my bad-side?"</p> <<run $SallyAvril.decreaseRelationship()>> <p>Before you can respond, a nearby siren begins to wail.</p> <<button[[What now?->E2 Danger Manic]]>><</button>>

<<set $SallyAvril.stoleKiss = true>> <p>You use Sally's momentum to pull her around into your arms and give the startled girl a deep kiss, caressing her lips with yours, one hand gripping her wrist, the other holding the side of her face. She's too surprised, initially, to resist.</p> <<recover 1>> <p>You step away and she touches her lip, speaking faintly. "Did you just do that?"</p> <p>Your response is drowned out by the sirens.</p> <<button[[What now?->E2 Danger Natural]]>><</button>>

<p>You roll your eyes. "Yeah, probably. Why not give it a try." Why did you go out with this chick again? Okay, to be fair, she's not usually <i>this</i> difficult to manage. You really have no one to blame but yourself... you were hoping the jolt would have boosted her libido, not her childishness. You're hoping this is just a Sally thing, and not what your power does to people when reversed.</p> <p>Sally takes a few steps back from the turnstiles, arms raised, and you start to wonder whether or not she can pull it off - when the civil defense sirens start going off.</p> <<button[[Oh shit->E2 Danger Manic]]>><</button>>

<p>You slow down to a walk and Sally soon disappears into the crowd. You wonder, idly, how long it'll take before she realizes that you're gone... maybe not until she's reached the subway. It looks like she was headed to the F train to Manhattan, so you can catch the Q line back to Queens without running into her again. Sure, ditching her is a dick move and she'll be pissed when she realizes, but maybe you can spin some bullshit about being swept away by the crowd.</p> <<run $SallyAvril.decreaseRelationship()>> <p>Hands in your pockets, you start walking. The date didn't turn out the way you'd wanted it to... or rather, infusing her with some of your energy didn't work the way you wanted it to. Rather than boosting her libido, it just made her more manic... or rather, heightened her naturally energetic state. Not bad for a first real try, but clearly there's more control you need to learn to make this a useful ability.</p> <<set $SallyAvril.ditched = true>> <p>Your ruminations are interrupted by a sudden siren.</p> <<button[[What?->E2 Danger Solo]]>><</button>>

<p>"Sue! Ben!" you call as you head over.</p> <p>The Thing is surprised at your sudden appearance. "Hey, you're dat kid from before! What are you doing here?"</p> <p>"I was just down the coast when the sirens went off," you say. "Saw Johnny on his way over and-"</p> <p>"Forgive me for sayin' so, but you ain't got the kind of power that can help too much," the Thing turns and continues trudging, turning towards the ammo depot.</p> <<button[[He's probably right->E2 F4 2]]>><</button>>

<p>"That was either brave or foolish of you," Sue tells you, her<<if $SusanStorm.poorRelationship()>>frown telling you<<elseif $SusanStorm.goodRelationship()>>smile telling you<<else>>expression making it ambiguous<</if>> which way her suspicions lie. "You should get yourself somewhere safe."</p> <p>"What exactly is going on?" you ask. "I read something online about it being <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>Namor, the Sub-Mariner<<else>>some guy named Namor?<</if>>"</p> <p>Sue spares a glance towards the depot, then takes you aside. "Okay, to make it quick - Namor'd somehow been an amnesiac for the decades since his disappearance in the fifties. Somehow - I'm not clear on this yet - somehow my little brother brought him back, and he's declared war on the whole human race."</p> <p><<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>"That... does sound like the Namor I've read about."<<else>>"What? Why?"<</if>></p> <p>"I'm not a history buff but apparently that's the kind of thing he does," Sue said. "He summoned up that giant monster - Johnny and Reed are off fighting it, while Ben's got a stupid plan to blow it up, and I'm just sitting here on my hands because - believe it or not - invisibility doesn't help too much against a two-hundred foot tall whale monster." Her frustration is evident.</p> <<button[[Tell her you know how she feels->E2 F4 3a]]>><</button>> <<button[[Offer to hang out with her->E2 F4 3b]]>><</button>>

<p>"Sue..."</p> <p>She holds her hands up. "I'm sorry, $FirstName, I shouldn't lay that down on you... I just feel so... useless sometimes, with such a passive power."</p> <p>"Tell me about it," you say, smirking.</p> <p>"Oh!" Sue's eyes widen. "Yeah... I guess that must be just as frustrating for you - to feel the responsibility to help, but to get here and realize your power's too minor to have an impact."</p> <p>That really wasn't what you meant at all, but if Sue wants to think of you as a frustrated hero, you're not going to dissuade her. She's not wrong, though... your power offers minor energy transfers at best, unless you get someone off, which is so situational as to be...</p> <p>You glance at Sue. She's shading her eyes, gazing towards the sky, probably to try and get a glimpse of Reed and Johnny. You could maybe play on that... get her interested in 'helping' you to activate your power, so you could help her boyfriend and brother. Or... or maybe Reed's idea of "reversing" the power drain applies to the orgasm thing as well... maybe if she gets you off, she'd have the boost in strength and agility. Or maybe you can just convince her that it's a possibility.</p> <<button[[Offer to get her off and use the boost to help Reed and Ben->E2 F4 4a]]>><</button>> <<button[[Suggest she get you off to see if you can boost her->E2 F4 4b]]>><</button>> <<button[[Don't take advantage and offer only your company->E2 F4 3b]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>>

<p>"Do you want some company?" you ask. <<if $SusanStorm.terribleRelationship()>><p>Her lip curls in disgust at the suggestion. "No, thank you. I should get going. You... be careful." Wow, she <i>really</i> doesn't like you.</p> <<elseif $SusanStorm.poorRelationship()>><p>Sue's lip curls, but then she gives a soft sigh and shakes her head. "Thank you for offering, $FirstName, but I have to get going... Ben's going to need my support for what comes next."</p> <<elseif $SusanStorm.goodRelationship()>><p>Sue smiles. "I appreciate the offer, $FirstName, but it's going to be dangerous where we're going. You head back to the medical tent - they're going to be evacuating you soon."</p> <<else>><p>Sue shakes her head. "I appreciate the offer, $FirstName, but you should head back to the medical tent - they're going to be evacuating you soon."</p> <</if>> <<if hasVisited("E2 Cordon Solo")>> <<button[[Head back->E2 Cordon Solo Done]]>><</button>> <<else>> <<button[[Head back->E2 Cordon 3]]>><</button>> <</if>>

<p>"Okay now, hear me out."</p> <p>She glances at you sidelong.</p> <p>"What if... okay. You know my... other power?"</p> <p>"What other p..." Her eyes widen. "$FirstName!"</p> <p>"Hear me out! If someone... gets me off... I become superhumanly strong, fast, durable..."</p> <<if $SusanStorm.poorRelationship()>> <p>A scowl crosses her face. "Pig. I can't believe you'd even suggest that."</p> <<run $SusanStorm.decreaseRelationship()>> <p>"I'm sorry, I just want to be useful-"</p> <p>Her face darkens with anger. "You think I just... forgot about you leering at me the first day we met? Forgive me if I don't give you the benefit of the doubt here."</p> <p>Shit.</p> <<else>> <p>She hesitates, then shakes her head. "I get what you're saying and I... appreciate the offer, but I've read your report of the situation. Even with your enhanced abilities... that thing is too powerful. Even Ben's turning to explosives to try and stop it."</p> <p>Well, at least she thinks you're offering out of the goodness of your heart.</p><</if>> <<button[[Suggest trying the opposite->E2 F4 4d]]>><</button>> <<button[[Don't take advantage and offer only your company->E2 F4 4c]]>><</button>>

<p>"What about... we do it the other way."</p> <p>"Do what the other way?"</p> <<include "E2 F4 4b">>

<p>"What if... you were stronger?"</p> <p>"What do you mean?" Sue's voice <<if $SusanStorm.poorRelationship()>>drips with suspicion.<<else>>reflects her curiosity.<</if>> <p>"Okay... you know how Reed thinks I can reverse the flow of energy?"</p> <p>"That's just a theory..." Her eyes narrow. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"</p> <p><<if $SallyAvril.boosted>>"A theory I've tested... I can give others a boost of energy by touching them. <<else>>"Look, Reed was pretty confident that it'd work.<</if>> And I'm sorry, but I'm at a loss as to how else I could be of any help here. But working together, maybe we could..."</p> <p>A grim set to her face, sue pulled off one of her uniform gloves and held her bare forearm out, crossways, in front of your face. "Show me."</p> <<button[[What?->E2 F4 5]]>><</button>>

<p>"Show me that Reed's theory works. Give me some energy. Prove it."</p> <<recover 1>> <p>You reach out and put a hand on Sue's forearm, <<if $SallyAvril.boosted>>repeating the energy flow you'd performed with Sally, hitting Sue with a small boost to prove that you can. <<else>>remembering Reed's words - <i>"Focus on what it feels like to draw energy, and visualize the opposite."</i> You'd given it a try in the last week, and had gotten pretty good at visualizing the flow of energy within your body when you touched someone. You do the same now, only backwards, letting your energy flow into Sue.<</if>></p> <p>Sue brushes the hair back from her face. "I felt that."</p> <<button[[So...->E2 F4 6]]>><</button>>

<p>"I can't believe I'm considering this..." Sue mutters, pulling you by the hand into an empty supply tent. "That's my boyfriend and little brother out there. I can't just... sit here and let everyone else do all the work."</p> <p>It's hot inside, without any airflow in the New York September heat, stifling. You start to sweat almost immediately, and you weren't exactly fresh as a daisy to begin with after all it took to get here. Sue stops, seems to collect herself, and turns to face you.</p> <p>You wipe a bit of sweat from your lip. "So how do you want to-"</p> <p>"Please don't talk. Talking will only make it harder. I... I'm not the kind of girl who does this. Cheats. <<if $gender == "female">>And I'm not into girls.<</if>>"</p> <p>"Yeah, no, of course."</p> <p>"No talking. Please." She gestures. "Just... ah... take off your pants."</p> <<button[[Drop trou->E2 F4 Sue Sex]]>><</button>>

<<set $SusanStorm.hasJerked to true>> <p>You do sue one better, dropping your pants and underwear to pool around your ankle.</p> <<if $gender == "male">> <p>Sue fidgets, then steps close to you, wrapping her ungloved hand around your cock. Her hand is cool in the nearly oppressive heat, but not unpleasantly so, and you find yourself stiffening to hardness almost immediately. She looks around, grabs a crate, and sits on it next to you. Still pretty hot, though you'd have preferred her on her knees. "Be quick."</p> <p>You swallow dryly. "I'll try." It's not that you've never had a handjob before... but handjobs are pretty much as far as you've gotten. And only from girls your own age, never an older woman like Sue. The pressure in your balls feels immense, but to your surprise her mere touch doesn't make you explode.</p> <p>It takes her a few seconds before she works up the will to start moving, her soft fingers and palm gripping you lightly, dragging your cock's foreskin up and then down your rigid shaft. There's something she does - a little twist of the wrist, maybe, or the way her second gloved hand moves to support and gently cup your balls - that instantly propels it to the top of your handy ranking. Okay, so it's a ranking of exactly four, but this one's the best.</p> <p>"Let me know-" barely have the words left her mouth when you feel your dick start to tremble, and you barely remember to visualize the flow reversing before it does. It almost doesn't matter, as this orgasm - the first you haven't given yourself since Cindy - seems to rip something with it from the very bottom of your soul, a piece of your essence, or a part of the world of YOU with it. Your have a mental image of this well of energy erupting from your core - somewhere in you behind your balls - to flow out and surround Sue in an aura even stronger than the spurts of cum that go flying out across her face and chest.</p> <p>"You little FUCK!"</p> <<else>> <p>Sue fidgets, then steps close to you. "How do I..."</p> <p>"You mean you've never..."</p> <p>"No!" She says sharply, looking away from your crotch. "I mean, never anyone else's..."</p> <p>"It pretty much works the same way." You do your best to sound confident, casual, but the truth is? You've never done more with another girl than kissing. You have watched a lot of lesbian porn - the good stuff, not just the stuff they make for guys.</p> <p>Sue's staring at your pussy again, a combination of dread and fascination on her face. You guess that her being straight makes you the experienced one here. Moving slowly, you take her hand in yours - it's limp, but at least she's not flinching - and press it against yourself.</p> <p>"You're wet." Her voice is a hoarse whisper.</p> <p>"You're beautiful." Fuck, that was smooth.</p> <p>She blushes deeply and you turn away from her, pressing your back against her breasts, pulling her arm around you so that she can touch you the way she might touch herself. Something about this... about taking this straight girl in hand, having her touch you, even her cluelessness and timidity... it's really turning you on.</p> <p>"Touch me," you whisper, you almost beg. "Please."</p> <p>Her fingers start moving under yours, sliding along your wetness. You guide them where they need to go, alongside your lips, across them. The way her breath quickens when you slide her middle finger between your folds almost makes you swoon in the heat of the tent, but you lean back into her, causing her to tighten her grip involuntarily - and that brings you over the edge.</p> <</if>> <p>You hear her yell in surprise, but you're barely holding on to consciousness, slipping to the ground in a boneless heap.</p> <p>"$FirstName? Oh shit!" Somehow she's caught you before you hit the floor. "$FirstName?"</p> <p>"S'okay..." you think back to Cindy. "S'posed to be like this."</p> <<exhaust 10>> <<set $SusanStorm.boostedNamor = true>> <<button[[Pass out->H2 F4 Aftermath]]>><</button>>

<p>You wake up some time later in the medical tent.</p> <<recover 2>> <<if hasVisited("E2 Cordon") && not $SallyAvril.poorRelationship()>><p>"Easy there." Sally presses a cool glass to your lips, helping you drink a sip of water.</p> <p>"What happened?"</p> <p>"You passed out due to heat-stroke, dipshit," Sally laughs. "They found you in one of the tents. No, but seriously, are you okay?"</p> <<else>> <p>"Easy there." A medic is pressing a cool glass to your lips, helping you drink a sip of water.</p> <p>"What happened?"</p> <p>"Heat stroke. An MP found you passed out in an empty supply tent. It happens, you're fine."</p> <</if>> <p>"Fine." Sue just left you there? Cold. "What about the monster?"</p> <p>"Fantastic Four beat it," a kid sitting on the ground near you pipes up. "Thing was all jumping down the monsters throat SHOOSH with a bomb PCHEW and when the Namor tried to blow his horn to summon another one-"</p> <p>"Horn?"</p> <p>"Oh yeah he had a magic Atlantis horn?" The kid sounds fuzzy on this part. "But he was going to toot it and then the Invisible Girl popped up out of nowhere and grabbed it from him! Invisible!"</p> <p>"Invisible?"</p> <p>"He never saw it coming ha ha!"</p> <p>The medic speaks up. "You're fine to go now. Just take it easy the rest of the day."</p> <p>"Got it." <<if hasVisited("E2 Cordon") && not $SallyAvril.poorRelationship()>><p>Sally throws an arm around your shoulder. "Come on, let's get back to Queens."</p><</if>> <<button[[As far as your date goes->E2 Cordon Evac 2]]>><</button>>

<p>It's only a few blocks to the civil defense shelter, also known as the New York Aquarium subway station. The place is already packed with concerned and irritated looking civilians, though you don't see Sally - knowing her, she's probably on a train headed for the Bay, eager to see the Fantastic Four in action fighting whatever alien or monster is causing trouble.</p> <p>You and Sally hunker down to wait for the all-clear to be given.</p> <<button[[Let's hope it doesn't take too long->E2 Solo Shelter 2]]>><</button>>

<p>It's only a few blocks to the civil defense shelter, also known as the New York Aquarium subway station. The place is already packed with concerned and irritated looking civilians, though you don't see Sally - knowing her, she's probably on a train headed for the Bay, eager to see the Fantastic Four in action fighting whatever alien or monster is causing trouble.</p> <p>You hunker down to wait for the all-clear to be given.</p> <<button[[Feeling a little guilty->E2 Solo Shelter Guilty]]>><</button>> <<button[[Not feeling guilty in the slightest->E2 Solo Shelter Not Guilty]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>>

<p>You did ditch Sally, after all. <<if hasVisited("E2 Danger Solo")>><<if not hasVisited("E2 Solo Find Sally")>>And you didn't even try and find her after the sirens went off.<<else>>And you weren't able to find her after the sirens went off.<</if>><</if>><<if hasVisited("E2 Danger Manic Ditch")>>And that was <i>after</i> the sirens had gone off, with her fully intending to head towards trouble.<</if>> What an asshole.</p> <<button[[It's who you are - better to just accept it->E2 Solo Shelter 2]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[You can do better->E2 Solo Shelter 2]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[You can be better->E2 Solo Shelter 2]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>>

<p>You are who and what you are.</p> <<button[[A coward->E2 Solo Shelter Coward]]>><</button>> <<button[[Selfish->E2 Solo Shelter Selfish]]>><</button>> <<button[[Someone who has rejected the weakness of guilt->E2 Solo Shelter Sociopath]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Your interest in Sally begins and ends with your dick->E2 Solo Shelter Misogynist]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>>

<p>The world is a dangerous place, and in the end, we face it alone. You can't get all worked up over whether Sally or anyone else is in danger when you yourself aren't safe. It's sad, but true... especially now that you know you're a mutant. And if that makes you a coward, you're a living coward.</p> <<include "E2 Solo Shelter 2">>

<p>You're not Sally's <<if $gender == "male">>dad<<else>>mom<</if>>. You're not responsible for her, or for anyone else... you have to take care of yourself, and that's it. The rest of the world? They can take care of themselves. And if that makes you an asshole, you're an asshole.</p> <<include "E2 Solo Shelter 2">>

<p>Guilt is for lesser people, and you've always been above such petty things. Especially now that you're <i>Homo Sapiens Superior</i> - a mutant. Life is hard, and sometimes you end up hurting people... and that's their fault for not taking better steps to protect themselves from people like you.</p> <<include "E2 Solo Shelter 2">>

<p>As soon as you figured out you weren't getting into Sally's pants, you instantly lost interest in spending time with her. The "date" became a waste of time, and you were counting the minutes until you could make a graceful exit. It's not that you can't play the long game... but honestly, Sally's probably not worth the investment.</p> <<include "E2 Solo Shelter 2">>

<p>Time passes quietly - you're far enough away from the action that you don't directly hear or see anything, but you're able to track what's going on via social media.</p> <p>New York had - apparently - been the subject of an attack by a giant sea monster summoned by none other than Namor, the Sub-Mariner. <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>He was, you recall, one of the premier heroes of the 1940s - fighting the axis powers alongside Captain America and the original Human Torch. He was also known for waging war against the surface world on behalf of his aquatic Atlantean kingdom, and had gone missing sometime in the 1950s - until now.<<else>> Apparently he'd been a big deal hero during World War II, but hadn't been heard of in almost seventy years.<</if>> <p>Why he's back now isn't clear, though there's a lot of speculation... what is known is that the Fantastic Four are opposing the rampage of his giant sea beast, controlled by some kind of magic horn. In the end, the beast is defeated when the Thing leaps down its gullet with a bomb strapped to his back.</p> <<button[[Really?->E2 Solo Shelter 3]]>><</button>>

<p>Whatever the case is, after an hour the trains resume running, and they let everybody go home. You're relieved that it's over, but also kinda wish you could have seen the Fantastic Four in action.</p> <<button[[Maybe next time->Episode 3]]>><</button>>

<p>The New York Hall of Science is a museum over in Flushing Meadows, about a half-hour train ride from home. You went there a bunch of times as a kid, though by the time middle school had ended you were more interested in first sports, and then girls.</p> <p>Okay, mostly girls.</p> <p>Still, you have some fond memories of the hands-on exhibits, but that's not why you've come to the nuclear waste disposal exhibition. And you're not terribly interested about nuclear waste, either. It's Cindy.</p> <p>Cindy Moon, the girl you were fooling around with before your powers manifested in such a powerful way last month. She's not really interested in science either, but you overheard her complaining to a friend about how her mom was making her miss hockey practice to attend. She's been avoiding you since the incident, and you haven't really had the chance to talk.</p> <<button[[You want to make sure she's okay->E3 Hall of Science 2]]>><<set $E3CindyOk = true>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[You want to make sure she doesn't remember anything incriminating->E3 Hall of Science 2]]>><<set $E3CindyRemember = true>><</button>> <<button[[You want to see if she wants to fool around again->E3 Hall of Science 2]]>><<set $E3CindyFool = true>><</button>>

<p>The place is surprisingly crowded given the subject matter, but that might just be because it's hot out today and the place has air conditioning. You see a few kids from Midtown. Nerds, mostly, and a few STEM types here because they think it might look good on their college applications.</p> <p>A lab-coated egghead is giving a presentation near a bank of machines. "We at GTL share many consumer concerns about nuclear contamination, which is why we're developing new technologies to safely control radioactive output." Snooze city.</p> <p>But hey, there's Cindy.</p> <<button[[Approach her->E3 Hall of Science Cindy]]>><</button>>

<p>You amble on up, all casual-like. "Hey."</p> <p>"Oh god." Cindy rolls her eyes, clutching her books to her chest. "I don't want to do this right now, okay?"</p> <<if $E3CindyOK>><<include "E3 Hall of Science Cindy Ok">><</if>> <<if $E3CindyRemember>><<include "E3 Hall of Science Cindy Remember">><</if>> <<if $E3CindyFool>><<include "E3 Hall of Science Cindy Fool">><</if>> <p>She turns and stalks away from you. "Go fuck yourself, $FirstName." Her erect middle finger is the last thing you see as she vanishes into the crowd.</p> <<button[[That went well->E3 Hall of Science Parker]]>><</button>>

<p>"Hey, I just want to make sure you're doing okay. You were pretty out of it when I left."</p> <p>"Yeah, when you left." Cindy's eyes narrow. "When you left me to deal with my mom all by myself, asshole."</p> <p>In retrospect that was a pretty shitty thing to do, but you were high on your power's newfound twist at the time. "I'm really sorry-"</p>

<p>"Just real quick," you blurt before she can leave. "You notice anything... unusual about that night?"</p> <p>"You mean besides you ditching me when I passed out and leaving me to explain to my mom what'd happened?"</p> <p>"Yeah, besides that." Like whether or not she realized you had weird energy draining powers.</p>

<p>"That's cool," you acknowledge. "We can communicate, uh, non-verbally."</p> <p>"What?" She seems confused.</p> <p>You raise your eyebrows suggestively. Her face reddens.</p>

<p>As you're turning to leave, a yelp catches your attention. Turning you see your nerdy classmate Parker grabbing his hand, a pained expression on his face.</p> <<button[[Fuckin' Parker, man->E3 Hall of Science Peter Parker]]>><</button>> <<button[[Leave->E3 Hall of Science Leave]]>><</button>>

<p>Peter freakin' Parker. Hard to believe that you were friends back in middle school. He was always kind of a drip, but kids, you know, kids are all kinda lame. Thing is, the rest of you grew out of it. By the time you'd hit high-school, Sally'd got rid of her braces, Liz grew some tits, Tiny hit his growth spurt, Jason stopped being as much of a little shit, and you'd grown into the fine specimen you are today.</p> <p>Not Parker, though. Pete withdrew even more. Spent all his time jerking off with test-tubes or whatever. Sure, you all gave him shit - especially Flash - but if he stuck up for himself and maybe hung out more he'd at least be part of the scene. As it was? Kid was a sad sack joke all through high school.</p> <p>Looking a little pale, Parker runs from the Hall of Science.</p> <<button[[That's Parker for you->E3 Hall of Science Leave]]>><</button>> <<button[[Fuck with him a little->E3 Hall of Science Bully]]>><</button>>

<p>Thoughts of Parker are left behind as you exit the Hall of Science.</p> <<include "E3 Expo Over">>

<p>Giving Parker some shit always cheers you up, and you'll need it, after that scene with Cindy. You follow the dweeb outside... he's not looking too good, like he's in a state of shock. What, is he freaked out by science, the only thing the nerd's good at?</p> <<button[[Fuckin' loser->E3 Hall of Science Bully 2]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Maybe he's really sick->E3 Hall of Science Bully 2]]>><</button>>

<p>Parker heads out the back, clutching his hand like a little bitch. Maybe he broke a nail, you don't know. You follow, more out of boredom than curiosity, as he staggers up the sidewalk outside the Hall.</p> <p>"Yo, Bookworm, meet any chicks at the atom-smasher?" The familiar sneering tone of Flash Thompson, Midtown's star quarterback, comes your way.</p> <<set $metLizAllen to true>> <p>As you turn the corner you see him yelling after an oblivious-seeming Peter. "Yo, Parker, I'm talking to you!"</p> <p>Liz is on his arm, subtlety holding him back from going after the kid. "I don't think he heard you." She pauses. "Actually, he looks kind of sick. Maybe he needs a doctor."</p> <p>"Aw, wimps like him always look like they need a doctor." Flash laughs the idea off.</p> <<button[[Go hang out with Liz and Flash->E3 Friends]]>><</button>> <<button[[Keep following Parker->E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker]]>><</button>>

<p>You leave your friends behind, not wanting to let the bookworm get away. He might be really sick. You might be really bored. Maybe both.</p> <p>As you turn the corner you see a couple of toughs hasslin' Peter. They're not teens like you - they're men. Hoods, and rough looking ones, too.</p> <p>A guy wearing a leather jacket shoves Peter into the wall with enough force that the glasses fall off his face. "Watch where you're going, you little shit." His friend, wearing a flat cap, laughs.</p> <p>This is bad. Parker might be a twerp, but these guys might hurt him. Like, really hurt him.</p> <<button[[Stay away and watch what happens->E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 2A]]>><</button>> <<button[[Go see if you can help Parker->E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 2B]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[Get out of here->E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 2C]]>><</button>>

<p>You stay well back and watch to see what happens next, either out of a desire to see the punk get creamed, or in case you need to call an ambulance.</p> <p>Parker pushes away from the wall with a fervor that astonishes you, moving faster than you'd have expected, and throws a blindingly-fast right hook at the guy. Parker being Parker he misses... but to your astonishment he hits the streetlight pole behind the guy with enough force to give it a visible dent.</p> <p>"This guy's crazy!" flat-cap says.</p> <p>Parker, for his part, runs off.</p> <<button[[Keep following him->E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 3]]>><</button>> <<button[[Check out the streetlight->E3 Hall of Science Follow parker 2D]]>><</button>>

<p>Fun's fun, but these guys could seriously hurt the little guy. A little teasing is one thing - you don't want him to end up in the hospital... or worse! You head over, hoping that the presence of a witness will keep the punks in check.</p> <p>Before you can even cross the street, however, Peter pushes away from the wall with a fervor that astonishes you, moving faster than you'd have expected, and throws a blindingly-fast right hook at the guy. Parker being Parker he misses... but to your astonishment he hits the streetlight pole behind the guy with enough force to give it a visible dent.</p> <p>"This guy's crazy!" flat-cap says.</p> <p>Parker, for his part, runs off.</p> <<button[[Keep following him->E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 3]]>><</button>> <<button[[Check out the streetlight->E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 2D]]>><</button>>

<p>You turn on heel and head back the way you came. Whatever mess Parker has gotten himself into... well, he has it coming, but you don't want to be around if he ends up getting hurt. Too many questions, and you have a secret of your own to keep.</p> <<include "E3 Expo Over">>

<p>You cross the street and take a look at the streetlight Parker walloped. There's definitely a dent - in the shape of a human fist. Did Parker do that? Is this some weird science thing? Or is he a mutant - like you?</p> <<button[[Go after him->E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 2E]]>><</button>> <<button[[Get out of here->E3 Expo Over]]>><</button>>

<p>Leaving the streetlight behind, you hasten to catch up to the little nerd. Turning the corner, though, you don't see him. You don't see any side alleyways or shops he could have ducked into, but the little twerp somehow gave you the slip.</p> <<include "E3 Expo Over">>

<p>You run off after him, past the confounded thugs and their dented street light, and around the corner. Just as you make the turn, you see a speeding car racing towards Peter as he staggers unsteadily into the street. For a few horrifying moments you think you're about to see the twerp get flattened - when he does an unbelievable back-flip fifteen feet up into the air to land fixed to the side of a building.</p> <<set $E3sawParkerClimb to true>> <p>What the absolute fuck.</p> <<button[[Is he a mutant?->E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 3A]]>><</button>> <<button[[I don't even know->E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 3B]]>><</button>>

<p>Is he like you? A mutant? Born with powers beyond those of normal men? Only instead of borrowing energy, his mutant ability is what... super jumping? Sticking to walls? Something weird like that?</p> <p>There was something unsettling about the way he moved, the way he jumped, less like a human, more like a... a creature. Shit, is that racist? Some kind of internalize mutophobia? You don't know.</p> <<include "E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 3B">>

<p>Parker scrambles up the side of the building and disappears onto its roof. You don't really have a way to follow him, so after a few moments gawking, you turn and walk back the way you came. While this is an interesting development... you have your own concerns to attend to.</p> <<include "E3 Expo Over">>

<<if hasVisited("E1 Lab Accept")>><p>It's about time to meet with your weird uncle Hank over at his lab anyway... and after that head on over to the Baxter Building for another round of tests with Doctor Richards.</p> <<button[[Head over to Hank's->E3 Hank]]>><</button>> <<button[[Nah, fuck 'im, just go to the Baxter Building->E3 Baxter Building]]>><</button>> <<button[[You have time to hang out with your friends first->E3 Friends]]>><</button>> <<else>><p>It's about time to go head on over to the Baxter Building for another round of tests with Doctor Richards.</p><</else>> <<button[[Go to the Baxter Building->E3 Baxter Building]]>><</button>> <<button[[You have time to hang out with your friends first->E3 Friends]]>><</button>> <</if>>

<p> <<if hasVisited("E1 Lab Accept")>>You make the easy decision to blow off your weird uncle Hank and chill with your friends instead.<</if>> <<set $metLizAllen to true>> Your usual hangout, Pavelli's Pizza, is only a few blocks west of Midtown High. As per usual it's pretty busy, but Flash has enough cache at the school to secure you your usual booth in the back, leaving you sitting across from him and his on-again-off-again girlfriend Liz - judging from the way he's got his arm around her waist, it's currently on-again.</p> <p>You split a Pavelli Supreme between the three of you - Liz taking one, leaving you and Flash to thumb-wrestle over who gets the fourth. He wins, more often than not, but you don't really mind. It's just pizza.</p> <p>"How'd the date with Sally go?" Flash asks. "You get any?</p> <p>Liz elbows him. "Don't be crass."</p> <<button[[You know it->E3 Friends Sex Lie]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<if $SallyAvril.poorRelationship() or hasVisited("E2 Sally Danger Abandon")>> <<button[[It went fine, you lie.->E3 Friends Fine Lie]]>><</button>> <<else>> <<button[[It went fine.->E3 Friends Fine]]>><</button>> <</if>> <<button[["Coulda been better, if it wasn't for the whole monster attack."->E3 Friends Monster]]>><</button>>

<p>"Hell yeah, we totally boned!" you lie.</p> <p>"My man!" Flash leans in for a fist-bump.</p> <p>"That's not what Sally said," Liz frowns, shooting you a disgusted look.</p> <p>"She's just being modest," you blow it off.</p> <<run $LizAllen.decreaseRelationship()>> <<run $SallyAvril.decreaseRelationship()>> <<button[[Whatever->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>>

<p>"It went fine," you say around a mouthful of pizza.</p> <<if $SallyAvril.goodRelationship()>> <p>Liz's eyes twinkle. "Better than fine, I heard."</p> <p>"Rock on," Flash grins.</p> <</if>> <p>"You gonna see her again?" Liz asks, leaning forward.</p> <<button[[I'd like to->E3 Friends Sally Again]]>><</button>> <<button[[Maybe?->E3 Friends Sally Maybe]]>><</button>> <<button[[Probably not->E3 Friends Sally No]]>><</button>>

<p>"I don't know, maybe?" It's hard to say - Sally can get pretty wild. Nothing you can't handle, but you're not sure you need the extra excitement in your life.</p> <<button[[You'll need to think about it->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>>

<p>"Eh, probably not." Sally's idea of fun can be a lot of trouble... and you're not sure that fucking around in your friend-group is the greatest idea. Particularly with your powers - dating anyone is going to be challenging if it goes well enough.</p> <<button[[And if it doesn't, what's the point?->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>>

<p>"Yeah, I'd like to." You wouldn't mind going out with Sally again... she's fun. A little wild, but nothing you can't handle... and you can always sap her energy a little if she starts getting a little too crazy.</p> <<button[[Another date would be cool->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>> <<button[[She'd make a fine girlfriend->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>> <<button[[After all, you haven't fucked her yet->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>>

<p>"It went fine," you say around a mouthful of pizza.</p> <p>"That's not what I heard," Liz said.</p> <p>Was she shit talking you? "What'd you hear?"</p> <p>"You know Sally," Flash says. "Don't take it too seriously."</p> <<button[[Well... it ain't like you don't deserve it->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>> <<button[[That bitch...->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Giant monsters ruin everything->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>>

<p>"Fine, up until that giant monster started fucking up the city," you say.</p> <p>"Oh my god," Liz's eyes widen.</p> <p>Flash starts choking on his pizza, until Liz whaps him on the back. "Dude! You were uptown for that?"</p> <<if hasVisited("E2 F4")>><<button[[I ran into the Invisible Woman and the Thing->E3 Friends F4]]>><</button>><</if>> <<if hasVisited("E2 Sally Danger")>><<button[[We ended up in the middle of it->E3 Friends Danger]]>><</button>><</if>> <<if hasVisited("E2 Shelter") or hasVisited("E2 Solo Shelter")>><<button[[We hid in a civil defense shelter->E3 Friends Shelter]]>><</button>><</if>> <<button[[We were at Coney Island->E3 Friends Coney]]>><</button>>

<p>"We were at Coney, Flash - you can see Bay Ridge from there."</p> <p>"That's so close!" Flash said, clearly jealous. "Man, I wish I'd been able to see the Fantastic Four take on that fish guy!" For all his cool bluster, Flash is a big fanboy when it comes to the superheroes. <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>It's one of the reasons why you first started hanging out Freshman year - your shared interest in the old school heroes like Captain America and the Whizzer.<<else>>It's one of the things you give him shit for, but it's almost adorable in its own way.<</if>></p> <p>You're tempted to brag about how you're headed over to the Baxter Building to meet up with Reed Richards, but can't think of a reasonable excuse as to why - and you're not quite prepared to come out as a mutant. Not yet.</p> <<button[[Maybe not ever->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>>

<p>"Yeah, we were up near Bay Ridge. Things got pretty hairy."</p> <p>"Oh no way, dude," Flash is astonished. "Man, I wish I'd been able to see the Fantastic Four take on that fish guy!" For all his cool bluster, Flash is a big fanboy when it comes to the superheroes. <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>It's one of the reasons why you first started hanging out Freshman year - your shared interest in the old school heroes like Captain America and the Whizzer.<<else>>It's one of the things you give him shit for, but it's almost adorable in its own way.<</if>></p> <p>You're tempted to brag about how you're headed over to the Baxter Building to meet up with Reed Richards, but can't think of a reasonable excuse as to why - and you're not quite prepared to come out as a mutant. Not yet.</p> <<button[[Maybe not ever->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>>

<p>"Yeah, we ended up in a civil defense shelter, it sucked."</p> <p>"Oh, that's awful, dude," Flash shakes his head. "I hear those things smell like old shit."</p> <p>You nod. "It was rank as hell."</p> <p>Liz holds up her slice of pizza. "Guys, I'm trying to eat here, don't be gross."</p> <<button[[Continue->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>>

<p>"Yeah, we took shelter in a military cordon. And you'll never guess who I saw there."</p> <p>"Who?" Liz asks.</p> <p>"The Thing and the Invisible Girl."</p> <p>Flash slams his pizza slice down on the table. "No way, dude? You <i>saw</i> them? Like up close?" For all his cool bluster, Flash is a big fanboy when it comes to the superheroes. <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>It's one of the reasons why you first started hanging out Freshman year - your shared interest in the old school heroes like Captain America and the Whizzer.<<else>>It's one of the things you give him shit for, but it's almost adorable in its own way.<</if>></p> <p>You're tempted to mention just how close you saw the Invisible Woman... but that would lead to questions. Questions that might lead to the fact that you're a mutant. So as much social cred as hobnobbing with super-heroes might get you... you're going to let it slide. For now. "Yeah, they passed within like ten feet of me."</p> <p>"You get an autograph?" Flash almost begs.</p> <p>"They were probably too busy dealing with the monster and the fish guy," Liz said.</p> <<button[[Yeah, that's it->E3 Friends Flash Piss]]>><</button>>

<p>Flash puts his pizza crust down back on the spinner in the middle of the table. "Yo, I gotta go PISS."</p> <p>"Thanks for the update." Liz rolled her eyes. "You boys. I swear."</p> <p>Flash flashes you a dumb smile then gets up and ambles over towards the restrooms.</p> <<button[[Ask Liz out->E3 Friends Hit on Liz]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Just chat with her->E3 Friends Liz Chat]]>><</button>>

<p>You watch the bathroom door close, then lean in over the table. "So Liz. You wanna go see a movie this weekend?"</p> <<if $gender == "male">> <<if $LizAllen.poorRelationship()>> <<run $LizAllen.decreaseRelationship()>> <p>Liz's face darkens. "You <i>know</i> I'm dating Flash, $FirstName."</p> <p>"I'm not going to tell if you don't."</p> <p>"Pig." She glowers at you.</p> <<button[[Whatever->E3 Friends Flash Back]]>><</button>> <<else>> <<run $LizAllen.increaseRelationship()>> <p>A slight blush rises in her cheeks. "Why Mr. $LastName. Are you asking me out?"</p> <p>You can't help but smile. "Depends on whether you say yes or not."</p> <p>She shakes her head. "Charming. But you know I'm going out with Flash, right?"</p> <p>"No harm in asking, right?"</p> <p>"Mmm hmm. Not as long as Flash doesn't find out. I won't say anything... but you should watch yourself."</p> <<button[[Well, you shot your shot->E3 Friends Flash Back]]>><</button>> <</if>> <<else>> <<if $LizAllen.poorRelationship()>> <p>Liz rolls her eyes. "Don't take this the wrong way? But I don't really want to hang out with you."</p> <p>"Why not?"</p> <p>"You were kind of shitty to Sally?" Liz said. "I'm still mad at you."</p> <p>Oh. Right.</p> <<button[[Don't gotta be a bitch about it->E3 Friends Flash Back]]>><</button>> <<else>> <p>She looks surprised for a moment, eyes wide. "Like as friends, right?"</p> <<button[[No, like a date->E3 Friends Gay Date Liz]]>><</button>> <<button[[Yeah, of course->E3 Friends Friend Date Liz]]>><</button>> <</if>> <</if>>

<p>You spell it out for her. "No, like a date. Get some dinner, see a movie, then see where it goes."</p> <p>Her eyes widen and her face pales. It's almost cute, seeing her so flustered. "I... I'm flattered, $FirstName, but you know I'm not... I'm straight, right?"</p> <p>"Yeah, but..."</p> <p>She wrings her napkin between her hands. "And... and I'm seeing Flash, anyway. So even if I was... gay... which I'm not! But if I was. I'm seeing Flash. Your friend. Okay?"</p> <p>"Yeah, geeze, I get it." Drama queen.</p> <<button[[Still, that was pretty funny->E3 Friends Flash Back]]>><</button>>

<p>"Yeah sure. Like as friends." <i>Fuckbuddies</i>, you add silently.</p> <p>"Yeah, why not. We can see if Sally can make it - you want I should ask Flash and the guys, or should this be a girls' night?"</p> <p>"Girls only," you keep your face straight. "Let's make a threesome of it."</p> <p>She blinks. "What? Oh, yeah, we can catch something the guys wouldn't go for."</p> <<button[[Heh heh, yeah->E3 Friends Flash Back]]>><</button>>

<<if hasVisited("E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker")>> <p>Liz takes another bite of her pizza. "So what was up with Parker?"</p> <<if $E3sawParkerClimb>> <p>You hesitate to bring up Peter Parker jumping out of the way of that car, then scuttling up the side of the building.</p> <<button[[He might be a mutant, and you don't want to draw attention to that->E3 Friends Parker Deflect]]>><</button>> <<button[[She'd never believe you->E3 Friends Parker Deflect]]>><</button>> <<button[[You're not sure how to capitalize on this yet->E3 Friends Parker Deflect]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<elseif hasVisited("E3 Hall of Science Follow Parker 2C")>> <p>You ditched him after he ran into a couple of tough looking hoods, but you don't want to look like a pussy in front of Liz, so you merely shrug. "I dunno, I couldn't find him after leaving you guys."</p> <p>"Oh." She looks out the window. "I hope he's okay."</p> <p>You blow it off. "Oh, he's probably fine."</p> <<button[[He is not probably fine->E3 Friends Flash Back]]>><</button>> <<else>> <p>You lost sight of him after he got away from those goons, but you don't really need Liz to worry more than she already is. "I wasn't able to catch up with him after I ran into you guys. He's probably fine."</p> <p>She smiles weakly, then looks out the window. "Yeah. Sure."</p> <p>She's not buying it. Not that you lost him, but that he's probably fine.</p> <<button[[Which, to be fair...->E3 Friends Flash Back]]>><</button>> <</if>> <<else>> <p>You shoot the shit with Liz for a bit, discussing various topics of interest to students going to Midtown High School.</p> <<button[[Empty words to fill empty time->E3 Friends Flash Back]]>><</button>> <</if>>

<p>"Yeah, I dunno. He wandered off before I could check on him."</p> <p>Liz nods, still somewhat concerned. "Well, I hope he's okay. He might be a twerp, but he looked really sick."</p> <<button[[You shrug->E3 Friends Flash Back]]>><</button>>

<p>The door to the Men's Room flies open and Flash saunters on out. "Man, I feel ten pounds lighter."</p> <p>Liz makes a face. "Ew, Eugene, don't be gross."</p> <p>You just laugh. "Dude."</p> <p>He settles back at the table. "What else you got lined up for the weekend?"</p> <<button[[Just some tests->E3 Baxter Building]]>><</button>>

<p>Your uncle Hank runs a private lab out of the old Victorian he lives in. It's a nice place, but ever since his wife passed away the entire upstairs seems basically abandoned, as he spends most of his time down in his lab. Guy was uncomfortably intense before she died, and now? It's uncomfortable to be around him.</p> <<set $HelpingHank to true>> <p>Still, you've agreed to help him down at the lab weekends or after school.</p> <<button[[He is your uncle, after all->E3 Hank 1]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[You could use the money->E3 Hank 1]]>><</button>> <<button[[It'll get Mom off your back->E3 Hank 1]]>><</button>>

<p>Uncle Hank is waiting for you when you arrive, wearing a crisp labcoat over his jeans and turtleneck sweater.</p> <p>You step off your bike in his driveway. "Am I late?"</p> <p>He checks his watch. "No. Merely prompt. You rode your bike?"</p> <p>You nod, resisting the urge to say something sarcastic.</p> <p>"You can put it in the basement stairwell, around back. This neighborhood has gone to hell lately."</p> <p>"Thanks, Hank."</p> <<button[[Follow him around back->E3 Hank 2]]>><</button>>

<p>"But of course." He holds the back door open, indicating the stairs leading down to the basement instead of into the kitchen. "Oh, and $FirstName..."</p> <p>You pick up the bike and start hauling it down the stairs. "Yeah?"</p> <p>"Around the other scientists, please call me Doctor Pym. To do otherwise would be bad for discipline."</p> <<button[[Other scientists?->E3 Hank 3]]>><</button>>

<p>Downstairs you discover that there are a three other men in white labcoats at various stations, working with some kind of equipment. "Hi."</p> <p>One looks up and offers a brief wave. A second merely stares at you. They're as weird as your uncle.</p> <p>Hank... Doctor Pym... comes in after you. "Gentlemen, this is our lab assistant, sourced from a local high school. Make use of ?him as you are able."</p> <p>You take in the equipment. "What are we working on?"</p> <p>"<i>We</i> are working on a government contract." He hands you a clipboard with a thick document attached. "Here. Sign this NDA."</p> <<button[[Pretend like you're reading it then sign->E3 Hank 4]]>><</button>> <<button[[Sign it without even bothering->E3 Hank 4]]>><</button>>

<p>You sign the form where indicated, and then hand the clipboard back to your uncle.</p> <p>"Excellent. Now. The lab has been commissioned to work on various projects for the Federal Government - currently, testing new forms of radiological suppressants." He notes your blank look. "We're looking for ways to protect people from radiation."</p> <p>"Oh, yeah, of course." You nod.</p> <<button[[Continue->E3 Hank 5]]>><</button>>

<p>You spend the next few hours helping out by putting away equipment, monitoring and recording readings, and taking dictation. The other scientists are, once they warm up to you, warm and friendly, though your uncle doesn't seem inclined to socialize with them any more than with you. In fact, if anything, he's sharper with them, and seems to resent their presence.</p> <p>Soon enough you realize it's about time to leave to head to Manhattan - accounting for traffic, if you don't want to be late to the Baxter Building.</p> <<button[[Tell Hank you have to get going->E3 Hank 5a]]>><</button>> <<button[[Ask your uncle if you can leave->E3 Hank 5b]]>><</button>>

<p>You approach your uncle. "Hank- er, Doctor Pym, I have to get going."</p> <p>He checks his watch. "Already? I see. Very well." He digs out a few crumpled twenty-dollar bills and hands them to you, his gloved hand protecting him from your powers. "You won't be needed tomorrow, but be here by five Monday night."</p> <p>You straighten out the bills, counting them, and slip them into your wallet. "Thanks, Doctor."</p> <p>"Tell your mother 'Hello' for me." His demeanor remains as cold as ever.</p> <<include "E3 Hank 6">>

<p>You approach your uncle. "Hank, uh, it's getting late. Can I go?"</p> <p>He doesn't look up from his microscope. "Do you have somewhere you need to be?"</p> <p>"Yeah." When he doesn't respond, you continue. "I actually have an appointment over in Manhattan."</p> <p>He straightens up. "All the way over in Manhattan?"</p> <p>"Yeah, uh..." you're not sure whether or not to go into detail with him. Your uncle is a scientist, however.</p> <<button[[Tell him you're headed to the Baxter Building->E3 Hank 5c]]>><</button>> <<button[[Leave it at that->E3 Hank 5d]]>><</button>>

<p>"I've got to go over some lab-work at the Baxter Building."</p> <p>This gets his full attention. "The Baxter Building? You mean with Reed Richards."</p> <p>"Yeah, you know him?"</p> <p>His eyes narrow. "We've gone to some of the same symposium. And I suppose this was nothing you could have come to me for?"</p> <p>Honestly, it'd never even occurred to you. Your uncle is a biochemist, but you don't think he deals with genetics or mutation. "No, sorry."</p> <p>His distaste for Richards is clear, though to be honest it's the same sort of disdain he shows for the other scientists he's working with in his lab. "Very well. Here." He pulls a few bills out of his pocket and hands them to you. Your uncle does not work well with others.</p> <p>"Thanks, Doctor."</p> <<button[[He doesn't respond->E3 Hank 6]]>><</button>>

<p>You trail off, withering under your uncle's intense scrutiny.</p> <p>"Very well." He digs out a few crumpled twenty-dollar bills and hands them to you, his gloved hand protecting him from your powers. "You won't be needed tomorrow, but be here by five Monday night."</p> <p>You straighten out the bills, counting them, and slip them into your wallet. "Thanks, Doctor."</p> <p>"Tell your mother 'Hello' for me." His demeanor remains as cold as ever.</p> <<include "E3 Hank 6">>

<p>You hang up the lab coat you'd been wearing, head to the stairs, grab your bike, and carry it out to Hank Pym's backyard.</p> <<button[[Head to Manhattan->E3 Baxter Building]]>><</button>>

<p>You take your bike down in the subway across the river to Manhattan, then ride upsteam against the flow of traffic to the Baxter Building. Once there, you secure your bike on the rack out front, then take the elevator up to the Fantastic Four's floors.</p> <p>Most of the rehab work seems to have been done, and this time there's a receptionist there to greet you. You give her your name and she summons the elevator up to the lab - and then you notice she has no legs. She's a torso built into the desk, some kind of creepy robot.</p> <<exhaust 1>> <<button[[Freaky->E3 Baxter Building Lab]]>><</button>>

<p>As you enter the lab - also finished, now, without all the construction going on - Reed's freaky-ass long neck stretches out to greet you. "$FirstName! Glad you were able to make it back out. Have there been any new development with your powers?"</p> <<if hasVisited("E2 F4 Sue Sex")>><p>Behind him, Susan Storm meets your eyes briefly, but she quickly looks away.</p> <<elseif $SusanStorm.goodRelationship()>><p>Behind him, Susan Storm catches your eye and gives you a friendly wave.</p> <<elseif $SusanStorm.poorRelationship()>><p>Behind him, Susan Storm looks up briefly, sees you, and she departs for somewhere deeper in the lab.</p> <<else>><p>Behind him you can see Susan Storm adjusting some of the lab's equipment.</p><</if>> <p>Reed's neck retracts towards his body, with you following. "Any changes in your abilities since we last spoke?"</p> <<button[[Not really->E3 Baxter Building Lab Tests]]>><</button>>

<p>"Great, let's get started." He puts an articulated harness covered with wires over your shoulders. It sits loosely until his weird stretchy hands buckle you in, like a life preserver.</p> <p>"What do I need to do?" You ask.</p> <p>"For now, just stay still... I'm going to take some baseline readings."</p> <<button[[Got it->E3 Baxter Building Lab Tests 2]]>><</button>>

<<exhaust 2>> <p>An exhausting series of lab tests follow, where Reed has you work out while siphoning small amounts of energy from himself, Johnny, Sue, and even The Thing. He takes copious notes, and after an hour or so you're starting to feel pretty strung out.</p> <p>Finally, he concludes his last test and brings you a bottle of water to rehydrate with.</p> <p>"Well, we did some good work today," Reed tells you.</p> <<button[[Learn anything new?->E3 Baxter Building Lab Report]]>><</button>>

<p>"I'm always learning something new when science is involved!" Reed says. "But in your case specifically? A few very interesting findings, yes.</p> <p>"Firstly. The nature of the energy you collect. It appears to be some sort of... bioenergy that doesn't entirely map to piezoelectricity; closer to Eastern philosophical constructs of <i>chi</i> or <i>prana.</i>"</p> <p>"What's that mean?"</p> <p>"Well, these forms of energy are difficult to measure scientifically as they're less... let's say objective. They carry with them some essence of the... well, donor is the word I'd use. Makes repeatedly viable results slightly more difficult to come by."</p> <<button[[Oh->E3 Baxter Building Lab Report 2]]>><</button>>

<p>Reed interjects quickly. "That doesn't mean I don't have answers for you... just that they're coming more slowly than I'd hoped."</p> <p>"Good?"</p> <p>"Good. My second finding - most of the tests today were to determine if your capacity to store energy has a limit. You said you started to feel... how did you put it?"</p> <p>"Strung out. Not really tired... but stretched thin."</p> <p>"Stretched thin is something I know a thing or two about!" Reed makes his weird rubbery limbs undulate. "Seriously, though, there's a point at which storing energy becomes dangerous, with unpredictable consequences... we were able to approach it in the lab, but in the field your absorption's diminishing returns means that it'll be difficult to hit the limit normally."</p> <p>The pit of your stomach sinks. "What kind of dangers?"</p> <p>"Temporary loss of control. Erratic behavior. Physical strain on your muscles, tissue, and organs. So be careful."</p> <<button[[Yikes->E3 Baxter Building Blackout]]>><</button>>

<p>Suddenly, the lights go out and the lab is plunged into darkness.</p> <p>"Boys?" Sue's voice asks.</p> <p>The Thing and Human Torch respond in unison. "Wasn't us!"</p> <p>Johnny continues. "Don't we have our own generator, Reed?"</p> <p>You can hear the unsettling sounds of the stretchy scientist moving in darkness. "We do - this outage has to be externally imposed."</p> <<button[[Follow his voice->E3 Baxter Building Blackout 2]]>><</button>> <<button[[Stay put->E3 Baxter Building Blackout 2]]>><</button>> <<button[[Try and find your way to the stairs->E3 Baxter Building Blackout 2]]>><</button>>

<p>There's a click, and the shutters over the lab's windows rise. Something appears to have been draped over them - all of them - and after a few moments you realize it's thick netting.</p> <p>The Thing stares grimly out the window. "Whatcha waitin' for, burn through that mess."</p> <p>A sheath of flame envelops Johnny Storm - this is the first time you've seen it up close, and find yourself recoiling involuntarily. As he brings his arms up, the flames seem to concentrate on his arms before pouring out in a thick jet, out through the window. "Damn, they must be asbestos or something!"</p> <<button[[That can't be good for you->E3 Baxter Building DOOM SPEAKS]]>><</button>>

<p>Suddenly, a cold and quasi-mechanical voice booms from unseen speakers outside. "Fantastic Four, heed the words of Doctor Doom!"</p> <p>Reed's face goes pale. "That voice! It can't be! I thought he was dead!"</p> <p>Sue cranes her neck, trying to see out the window. "Who is it, Reed?"</p> <p>Reed hesitates, looking from you to his teammates. "Victor von Doom was a college classmate. Brilliant, but obsessed with merging science and the occult. He was expelled after a lab accident severely disfigured him."</p> <<button[[That's fucked up->E3 Baxter Building DOOM SPEAKS 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You think you can see some kind of helicopter outside, far up above.</p> <p>Doom's voice continues. "You are my prisoners, all of you! If you wish me to spare your lives, do exactly as I command! First: Send Susan Storm out to me! I shall hold her hostage to ensure your continued cooperation. Send out one of your flares to signal your obedience!"</p> <p>"That's it!" Thing reaches out the window and grabs the netting, only to convulse as an electrical charge pours through his body.</p> <p>Protected by their gloves, Reed and Johnny are able to pry the electric netting out of his hands.</p> <<button[[Continue->E3 Baxter Building DOOM SPEAKS 3]]>><</button>>

<p>Sue puts a hand on Reed's shoulder. "I don't see a way around it, Reed... it might be the only way to get him into the open. If he's as dangerous as you say, we'll need an edge to take him on."</p> <p>Reed pounds a fist into his hand. "I don't like it, but you're right, Sue. There's more than the four of us at stake... there's the whole building and all the people in it. But I won't let him hurt you!"</p> <<button[[Offer to Charge Sue Up->E3 Baxter Building Charge Sue]]>><</button>> <<button[[Keep quiet->E3 Baxter Building 4]]>><</button>>

<p>You speak up. "Sue... do you want me to give you a boost?"</p> <<if hasVisited("E2 F4 Sue Sex")>><p>Sue instantly grasps your meaning and shoots you a look of disbelief, before her eyes flicker to her husband.</p> <<else>><p>Sue looks a little confused. "What?"</p> <</if>> <p>Reed shakes his head. "I don't think a quick hit of energy is going to help her much here, $FirstName."</p> <<button[[Let it go->E3 Baxter Building 4]]>><</button>> <<button[[Clarify that you mean sexually->E3 Baxter Building Charge Sue 2]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>>

<p>"No, I mean, uh... like sexually."</p> <<if hasVisited("E2 F4 Sue Sex")>><p>Sue is pissed. "$FirstName!"</p> <<else>><p>Sue is shocked. "$FirstName!"</p> <</if>> <p>Johnny's jaw drops. "Dude! Not cool!"</p> <<run $SusanStorm.decreaseRelationship()>> <<run $FantasticFourRep.decreaseReputation()>> <p>The Thing gives a dark chuckle. "Is this fucker for reals?"</p> <p>Reed seems lost in thought.</p> <p>Sue elbows him sharply. "Reed!"</p> <p>Reed snaps out of it. "Oh no, of course not. No. I... appreciate your desire to be helpful, $FirstName, but that's an entirely inappropriate suggestion. Frankly I can't believe you even brought it up."</p> <<button[[Well it was worth a shot->E3 Baxter Building 4]]>><</button>>

<p>Reed fires the Fantastic Four Flare out the window, and the netting near it parts. He then helps Sue up onto the sill, and she climbs gingerly out, gloved hands finding purchase in the very same netting. You, Reed, Johnny, and Ben watch as she makes her way slowly upward.</p> <p>"Now what?" Ben asks.</p> <p>Reed strikes a resolute pose. "Now we see what that madman wants."</p> <<button[[You're excited->E3 Baxter Building 4a]]>><</button>> <<button[[You're terrified->E3 Baxter Building 4b]]>><</button>>

<p>This is so cool - seeing the Fantastic Four in action, fighting a new supervillain. So many of your classmates would kill to be where you are now!</p> <<include "E3 Baxter Building 5">>

<p>This is some serious shit - a real live supervillain has thrown an electrified asbestos net over the building, and is extorting the world's only superheroes to send them a hostage. God, why did you have to get yourself caught up in all this?</p> <<include "E3 Baxter Building 5">>

<p>After a few tense minutes, Doctor Doom speaks again. "Now that the Invisible Girl is my hostage, and a guarantee against your retribution, you will climb up and join as well."</p> <p>Johnny turns to Reed. "What if he tries to kill us all when he has us on board?"</p> <p>"Easy, son. If he wanted us dead, there are easier ways to arrange it. This has to be part of some baroque master plan of his."</p> <<button[[Wish them luck->E3 Baxter Building Good Luck]]>><</button>> <<button[[Fight alongside them->E3 Baxter Building Join]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>>

<p>Reed stretches himself out the window, and Johnny flies out after him.</p> <p>Be gives you a look. "Can youse believe these yutzes?" He shakes his head, then laboriously climbs out the window after them. You follow slightly behind.</p> <<if $Skills.length == 0>> <<button[[Fortunately, you're pretty fit->E3 Baxter Building Join Fit]]>><</button>><</if>> <<button[[Carefully - you're pretty high up->E3 Baxter Building Join 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You may not be on the football team, but you're a pretty athletic guy. It's no sweat for you to swing out the window onto the netting covering the building and climb up after the Fantastic Four to the roof.</p> <<addSkill "Athletic">> <<button[[Other than how high up you are->E3 Baxter Building Roof]]>><</button>>

<p>You lean out the window and grab a hold of the asbestos netting covering the Baxter Building. Moving carefully, you step into it from the ledge, telling yourself that it's just like climbing a ladder.</p> <<button[[30 floors up->E3 Baxter Building Roof]]>><</button>>

<p>Reed and the others look surprised when you join them on the roof. A helicopter painted in the motif of some savage animal - a tiger or a shark, perhaps - hovers overhead.</p> <p>"Kid..." the Thing starts.</p> <p>"$FirstName, it's not safe for you to be up here," Reed begins, only to be interrupted as a caged dome attached to a sturdy cable descends from the body of the craft.</p> <p>The cold voice comes from the helicopter's external speakers. "FOUR OR FIVE MATTERS NOT TO DOOM. ENTER AND ASCEND OR WATCH SUSAN STORM DESCEND - RAPIDLY."</p> <p>Johnny gives you a look that's hard to read. "Well, guess you're involved now, $LastName." You can tell he's worried about his sister.</p> <<button[[Enter the cage->E3 DOOM]]>><</button>>

<p>"This is intense," you say. "I wish I could help, but-"</p> <p>"Even if you could, it would be irresponsible for us to let you involve yourself." Reed stretched himself out the window.</p> <p>"Don't worry, $LastName, we got this." Johnny flies out after him.</p> <p>"Good luck," you wish them.</p> <p>The Thing snorts. "Yeah, luck, sure. Take it easy, kid."</p> <<button[[Head down to the lobby->E3 Baxter Building Exit]]>><</button>> <<button[[Snoop around a bit first->E3 Baxter Building Snoop]]>><</button>>

<p>Alone in the Baxter Building... and you didn't see Reed set any security protocols before he left. You suppose they won't mind you taking a look around - who knows if and when you'll have another chance? Most of the equipment here is - frankly - well beyond your ability to understand. You're not uneducated, but you have the feeling that even a science nerd like Parker or even your uncle Hank would be hard pressed to figure out what any of it's for.</p> <<button[[Start pressing buttons and flipping switches->E3 Baxter Building Snoop Lab Flip]]>><</button>> <<button[[Steal something->E3 Baxter Building Snoop Steal]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Leave without screwing around->E3 Baxter Building Exit]]>><</button>>

<p>They probably got some nice things here. You like nice things. The elevator isn't <i>supposed</i> to bring you down to the living quarters, and there's a locked door leading to a stairwell heading the same way.</p> <<if $Skills.length == 0>> <<button[[Rewire the elevator panel->E3 Baxter Building Rewire]]>><</button>> <<button[[Pick the stairwell lock->E3 Baxter Building Lockpick]]>><</button>> <</if>> <<button[[Grab something from the lab->E3 Baxter Building Filch]]>><</button>>

<p>You grab something. You don't know what it is, but you grab it. It's about the size of a smartphone, but doesn't have much in the way of controls or displays, just a single button. Pressing it makes the device pulse, but you're not sure if it did anything else. Whatever, it's a Reed Richards original, maybe you can sell it on eBay.</p> <<addInventory "Richards Device">> <<include "E3 Baxter Building Steal Done">>

<p>You grab a loose screwdriver and remove the elevator's panel, then rewire the buttons. It doesn't take too long... you're no electrical engineer, but you're good at things like this - making things do what they shouldn't.</p> <<addSkill "Saboteur">> <p>You take the elevator down a floor to the living quarters of the Fantastic Four, to a hallway linking their personal bedrooms along with a dining area, living room, and other communal spaces.</p> <<include "E3 Baxter Building Steal">>

<p>A few of Reed's tools make short work of the lock on the stairwell door. You're not a burglar or anything, but you took an internet course on lockpicking to facilitate busting into places for fun you weren't supposed to have.</p> <<addSkill "Intrusion">> <p>You jog on down a flight to the living quarters of the Fantastic Four, to a hallway linking their personal bedrooms along with a dining area, living room, and other communual spaces.</p> <<include "E3 Baxter Building Steal">>

<<button[[Head to Reed's room->E3 Baxter Building Steal Reed]]>><</button>> <<button[[Check out Sue's room->E3 Baxter Building Steal Sue]]>><</button>> <<button[[Go to Johnny's room->E3 Baxter Building Steal Jonny]]>><</button>> <<button[[Gank something from Ben->E3 Baxter Building Steal Ben]]>><</button>>

<p>Ben's room is... surprisingly spartan. There's a specially reinforced bed, a sturdy steel riveted dresser, and a few 500 pound barbells. Given how strong he's supposed to be, you can't imagine they give him much of a workout. You don't find much you can lift, let alone is worth stealing from a guy who could twist you into a pretzel.</p> <p>In his top dresser drawer you find a box of fine cigars. Might as well grab 'em as your souvenir.</p> <<include "E3 Baxter Building Steal Done">>

<p>Reed's room is surprisingly spartan, like he doesn't really spend a lot of time here. The bed is immaculately made, and he doesn't have much in the way of personal effects. You do see a Fantastic Four branded flare-gun that you snag as a souvenir, well aware that if you ever use it they'll know you took it.</p> <<addInventory "Fantastic Flare">> <<include "E3 Baxter Building Steal Done">>

<p>Johnny's room reminds you a bit of Flash's. He's a teenager who loves fast cars, good times, and hot babes. His walls are covered with posters of all three, and his floors are strewn with clothes. It has that vague stank of adolescent male.</p> <p>Johnny thinks of himself as king shit, so stealing from him... getting one over on him... it'll have to be something that matters to him. That's how you become king shit.</p> <<button[[What matters to such a superficial shit?->E3 Baxter Building Steal Jonny 2]]>><</button>>

<p>There, on the shelf above his desk. A model car... an old roadster from the 40s or 50s. You can't see teenage Johnny Storm playing with model kits - probably something he made when he was a kid.</p> <<button[[It's yours now->E3 Baxter Building Steal Jonnys model]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Let him keep it->E3 Baxer Building Steal 2B]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>>

<p>Fuck Johnny - he's an asshole anyway. You snag the model and high-tail it back to the elevator.</p> <<include "Baxter Building Exit 2b">>

<p>Kid's a prick, but this seems like something important. Like one of his happy childhood memories from before he became the Human Torch. No need to be a dick, his life is hard enough.</p> <<include "Baxter Building Exit 2b">>

<p>Sue's room is surprisingly normal for one of the worlds only superhumans. Bed, armoire, vanity. A few stuffed animals among too many pillows on the bed. Same as you might see in any woman's bedroom.</p> <p>You snag a pair of her panties out of the hamper near the door, as a trophy.</p> <<button[[Sniff them->E3 Baxter Building Sue Sniff]]>><</button>> <<if $gender == "male">><<button[[Jerk off in them->E3 Baxter Building Sue Jerk]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<else>><<button[[Rub one off with them->E3 Baxter Building Sue Rub]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <</if>> <<button[[Change your mind->Baxter Building Done]]>><</button>>

<p>You wrap the silken panties around your stiff cock and start stroking yourself with the material. It's not so much the raw sensation of the fabric against your dick... though that is nice... as it is the feeling of violating her most intimate of spaces. Surreptitiously. She'll never know, will she? Does that make it better? Hotter?</p> <p>A few more frantic strokes and you explode, soaking her panties with your cum.</p> <p>After wiping your hand reasonably clean, you toss the panties back into the hamper before heading out to the elevator.</p> <<button[[Leaving a souvenir instead of taking one->E3 Baxter Building Exit 2b]]>><</button>>

<p>You lay back on Sue's bed, pulling down your jeans and caressing your thighs. Turned on and surrounded by Sue's scent, you slip your hand into her silken panties and use them to start stroking yourself. It's not so much the raw sensation of the fabric against your labia... though that is nice... as it is the feeling of violating her most intimate of spaces. Surreptitiously. She'll never know, will she? Does that make it better? Hotter?</p> <p>A few more frantic strokes and you explode, soaking her panties with as you cum.</p> <p>After wiping your hand reasonably clean, you toss the panties back into the hamper before heading out to the elevator.</p> <<button[[Leaving a souvenir instead of taking one->E3 Baxter Building Exit 2b]]>><</button>>

<p>You give them a good sniff, inhaling the dirty-laundry smell of unwashed cunt. Thinking about who she is, her power, the way you're invading her privacy - it gets you <<if $gender == "male">>hard<<else>>wet<</if>>. You slip them into your pocket.</p> <<include "E3 Baxter Building Steal Done">>

<p>Not inclined to push your luck, you decide to get out while the getting's good.</p> <<include "E3 Baxter Building Exit 2b">>

<p>You take a look at the consoles, switches, and levers that make up Reed Richard's laboratory equipment.</p> <<if $Skills.length == 0>><<button[[Fortunately you understand a thing or two about computers->E3 Baxter Building Snoop Lab Hacker]]>><</button>> <<else>><<button[[You fuck around at random->E3 Baxter Building Lab Flip Random]]>><</button>> <</if>>

<p>You spend some time flipping switches and pressing buttons, <<print either ("causing the lights in the lab to flicker ominously.", "causing grinding sounds to emanate from somewhere deeper in the lab.", "eliciting a series of beeps and boops.", "playing a selection of Reed's personal music library. You wouldn't have thought him such a big fan of the Wu-Tang Clan.", "raising and lowering armored shutters on the windows." )>></p> <p>After you've had your fun, you pack it up and go.</p> <<button[[You should probably get out of there->E3 Baxter Building Exit 2a]]>><</button>>

<p>You've always been into computers. Not, like, in a nerdy way... but in a see-what-they-can-do-for-you way. Changing test grades. Cracking your classmates email passwords. Sending e-mail bombs to people you dislike. That kind of shit.</p> <p>Okay, maybe it is a little nerdy, but it serves you well here as you're able to navigate Reed's file system well enough to access his notes on your condition.</p> <<addSkill "Hacker">> <<button[[See what Reed is holding back->E3 Baxter Building Snoop Lab Hacker 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You're not sure how much time you have, so you quickly skim through Reed's notes. Despite his sometimes esoteric shorthand, you're already familiar with most of it, so you can figure out some of what's new to you. Reed has - well, he's definitely been holding out on you.</p> <p>First off - he sees a great deal of potential in the sexual transfer of energy, but laments the moral and ethical difficulties in such a study, and is leaning against leading you down a path of discovery on your own for reasons he doesn't quite specify. The implication is that he doesn't quite trust your moral judgement, though he doesn't come right out and say it.</p> <<button[[Well, fuck you too, buddy->E3 Baxter Building Snoop Lab Hacker 3]]>><</button>>

<p>Reeds notes continue with speculation into other facets of your abilities. Not only, does he believe, that you can get learn to distinguish elements of a donor's engram through the way their energy "tastes," but that upon bestowing said energy you might be able to influence their patterns with the energy you provide - though he hasn't gone onto detail as to what exactly that means or how you'd be able to accomplish it.</p> <p>Still, the possibilities are enticing - not mind control, not exactly, but a far more subtle influence or form of manipulation.</p> <<button[[Interesting->E3 Baxter Building Snoop Lab Hacker 4]]>><</button>>

<p>He ends with idle musings as to the nature of your bioenergy compared with esoteric stories of eastern martial arts masters and yogi - but it seems to be pure rambling speculation.</p> <<set $KnowsPotential to true>> <<button[[You should probably get out of there->E3 Baxter Building Exit 2a]]>><</button>>

<p>Not sure what else to do, you head down to the lobby to leave the Fantastic Four to their fate. Not like you can do anything about it anyway, and it sounds like this Doom guy has got personal beef with Richards.</p> <<button[[You hope they're okay->E3 Baxter Building Exit 2a]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[You hope you don't have to find a new scientist->E3 Baxter Building Exit 2b]]>><</button>>

<p>The netting is gone by the time you get down to the street, and police are helping escort frightened New Yorkers and tourists from the building. From the gossip around you, you take it that Doom flew away with his net soon after the Fantastic Four climbed on board.</p> <p>You hope they're okay - true, you probably would have just gotten in the way, but that doesn't mean you don't feel like a heel ditching them like this. Even if your power wasn't meaningless, you don't have the grit for superhero business.</p> <<button[[Get out of there->Episode 4]]>><</button>>

<p>You hope that Richards gets out of this scrap alive - you'd hate to have to find a new scientist to handle your case. And who could you trust not to turn your life upsidown? Richards is a superhero. He has to play the role. And he's done right by you so far.</p> <<button[[Maybe your uncle Hank->Episode 4]]>><</button>>

<p>The cage ascends - smoothly and with far less swing than you'd expect from such a device, even with Ben Grimm's weight. You're pulled into the darkness of the helicopter's hold, and almost immediately feel the acceleration as the vehicle blasts away.</p> <p>Reed's voice comes from the darkness. "Astounding - the vehicle must incorporate some advanced thrust mechanism."</p> <p>"Feels like we just broke the sound barrier," Ben's grumbling voice adds. "But I didn't hear no boom."</p> <p>"We mustn't underestimate Doom's technological prowess," Reed sounds almost admiring of the man who's kidnapped his girlfriend.</p> <<button[[Mere minutes pass->E3 Doom Arrival]]>><</button>>

<p>The helicopter slows, descends, and comes to a stop. It descends, and a cargo hatch slides open to reveal a chamber of stone blocks lit by what appear to be medieval torches. The cage opens likewise, allowing the group to file out.</p> <p>"Estimating travel time and our apparent speed from the city, we must be somewhere in the Adirondacks," Reed hazards.</p> <p>"In a castle?" Ben examines the mortar-work of the walls.</p> <p>"Apparently." Reed surveys the room, then gestures towards the chamber's sole exit.</p> <<button[[Follow along->E3 Doom Throneroom]]>><</button>>

<p>The hall leads to a spacious audience chamber, where an imperious man in articulated metal armor and a green hood sits in a golden throne, a crude iron mask concealing his face. Sue stands to his left, bound by ropes pinning her arms to her side, while a full-sized tiger lounges on his right.</p> <p>Ben eyes the guy carefully. "Okay so, we rush 'im, right?"</p> <p>The armored man... Doctor Doom, you suppose... brushes a hand along the tiger's fur. "As fast as you imagine yourselves to be, I can guarantee my pet here is faster." His voice is no less mechanical, no less cold than it was coming from the helicopter, only the volume has changed. "I have a task for you. Succeed and you will be rewarded with freedom. Fail and... well. I have my hostage."</p> <p>Reed frowns. "Tell me, Victor. What is it you want from us?"</p> <<button[[Wait and see->E3 Doom Throneroom 2]]>><</button>>

<p>"Richards. I have outdone you with my latest invention. A time travel device."</p> <p>Reed nearly recoils. "Victor, time travel is-"</p> <p>Doom points at him. "Beyond you. But not beyond me. Of course you are curious, but I am uninterested in satisfying you. Your task will be to test this device with a simple goal - you are to go back to the 18th century and recover Blackbeard's treasure for me."</p> <p>There's a moment of stunned silence. Reed, Johnny, and Ben exchange glances.</p> <p>"Are you serious?" Reed asks.</p> <<button[[Laugh->E3 Doom Throneroom 3B]]>><</button>> <<button[[Don't Laugh->E3 Doom Throneroom 3A]]>><</button>>

<p>You let out an involuntary bark of laughter, possibly brought on by the stress of the situation.</p> <p>Johnny audibly gasps, and your kidnapper's eyes flick towards your face, before seemingly dismissing you.</p> <<set $DoomPatience -= 1>> <<include "E3 Doom Throneroom 3A">>

<p>Doom rises from his throne. "Serious as the grave, Richards. As the grave. I must remain here to operate the device."</p> <p>"Dis guy's a joke, he ain't gonna bring us back."</p> Ben folds his arms. <p>"If I wanted to eliminate you I would not choose a method so baroque. I have need of the treasure, and to claim it I will need to bring you back as well."</p> <p>Reed turns to Johnny and Ben. "Whatever else Doom is, he's not a liar. He'll keep his word."</p> <p>"He'd better," Johnny glowers.</p> <<button[[Continue->E3 Doom Throneroom 4]]>><</button>>

<p>Reed turns to Doom. "Swear, Victor. Swear that if we do as you ask, you'll let Sue and $FirstName go."</p> <p>The armored man idly gestures as if the request is a piffle. "Of course. The only purpose Sue served was to get you here, and I have even less interest in the other one."</p> <<button[[Be silently relieved->E3 Doom Throneroom 4A]]>><</button>> <<button[[Tell Doom you're insulted->E3 Doom Throneroom 4B]]>><</button>>

<p>You glance at the others but don't say anything, silently relieved that they're the ones getting thrown into the past instead of you. A former classmate of Mr. Fantastic that Reed considers brilliant but unhinged... you're in way over your head.</p> <<include "E3 Doom Throneroom 5">>

<p>"I'm starting to feel a little insulted here," you say.</p> <<set $DoomPatience -= 1>> <<if $DoomPatience <= 0>> <p>Without so much as looking in your direction, Doom jabs a button on his throne, and you find yourself suddenly falling as a trap door opens up under your feet.</p> <<if $SusanStorm.averageRelationship()>><p>"$FirstName!" you hear Susan gasp before you're swallowed up by darkness.</p> <<else>><p>"That's better," you hear Doom intone before you're swallowed up by darkness.</p> <</if>> <<include "E3 Doom Obliette">> <<else>> <p>Doom ignores your outburst.</p> <<include "E3 Doom Throneroom 5">> <</if>>

<p>Reed nods. "Very well, Victor."</p> <p>Doom leans forward. "Then prepare to go back... hundreds of years. You have forty-eight hours to recover Blackbeard's chest, at which time you will return here." He presses a button on his throne. "Do not fail me!"</p> <p>A golden light shines up from the metal plate that Johnny, Reed, and Ben are standing on. It rises - a flat plane of glowing energy - and as it does so seems to absorb them within in.</p> <p>Sue reaches out towards her teammates. "Reed! Johnny! Thing! Be careful!"</p> <<button[[They're gone!->E3 Doom Throneroom 6]]>><</button>>

<p>Doom addresses you directly for the first time. "Yes. Gone to fetch me the gems that will make me unstoppable!" There's a glint of madness in the eyes beneath the mask, but it's a cold calculating insanity.</p> <<button[[Ask him about the gems->E3 Doom Throneroom 7a]]>><</button>> <<button[[Ask him if you can leave->E3 Doom Throneroom 7b]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Remain silent->E3 Doom Throneroom 7c]]>><</button>>

<p>"Gems?" you ask.</p> <p>"Your intellectual curiosity reflects well upon you, but know that Doom is not to be questioned." He rises from his throne, gesturing that you and Sue should walk ahead of him. "Suffice to say that the gems were owned by Merlin, and will bring great power to whomsoever possesses them."</p> <<button[[Merlin?->E3 Doom Throneroom 7d]]>><</button>>

<p>Sue shoots you a dirty look, but doesn't say anything.</p> <<run $SusanStorm.decreaseRelationship()>> <p>Doom rises from his throne, gesturing that the two of you should walk ahead of him. "I can assure you that were we in my native Latveria I would be able to offer you proper hospitality. But worry not - while two days will pass for them in the past, it will take far less time in the present... I only have a few preparations to make."</p> <<button[[Preparations?->E3 Doom Throneroom 7d]]>><</button>>

<p>Doom rises from his throne, gesturing that the two of you should walk ahead of him.</p> <<include "E3 Doom Throneroom 7d">>

<p>Susan follows, and you take up the rear - to your astonishment, the tiger follows after, head low, tail whipping behind it. Doom leads you up a flight of stairs, past empty room after empty room - bare stone walls and floors with little decor compared to the throne room with its hanging tabards and burning sconces.</p> <<button[[Ask why everything's so spartan->E3 Doom Throneroom 8a]]>><</button>> <<button[[Follow in silence->E3 Doom Waiting Room]]>><</button>> <<button[[Take Sue's hand->E3 Doom Throneroom 8c]]>><</button>>

<p>"Hey, how come this place is so... unfinished?" you ask.</p> <<set $DoomPatience -= 1>> <<if $DoomPatience <=0>><p>Doom pauses, then presses a button on his armored gauntlet, and you find yourself suddenly falling as a trap door opens up under your feet.</p> <<if $SusanStorm.averageRelationship()>><p>"$FirstName!" you hear Susan gasp before you're swallowed up by darkness.</p> <<else>><p>"That's better," you hear Doom intone before you're swallowed up by darkness.</p> <</if>> <<include "E3 Doom Obliette">> <<else>> <p>"Don't be insipid."</p> <<include "E3 Doom Waiting Room">> <</if>>

<p>You covertly slip a hand into Sue's.</p> <<if $SusanStorm.goodRelationship()>><p>She gives your hand a squeeze and gives you a grateful look out of the corner of her eye.</p> <<run $SusanStorm.increaseRelationship()>> <<elseif $SusanStorm.poorRelationship()>><p>She pulls her hand away, flinching at the unexpected touch, and her frown deepens.</p> <<run $SusanStorm.decreaseRelationship()>> <<else>> <p>She seems surprised at the gesture and gives you a hard-to-read look before pulling her hand away, preoccupied with her missing teammates.</p> <</if>> <<include "E3 Doom Waiting Room">>

<p>Finally, Doom reaches a room with a sturdy door. "You will wait here while I finish my preparations, after which you will join me in the observation room for your companions' return. If all goes well, you will be released unharmed."</p> <p>"How can we trust you?" Sue asked. "You kidnapped us!"</p> <p>"Doom is a man of his word." The madman gestures and the door opens. "However, do not mistake my hospitality for weakness - attempt to escape and I will consider myself released from my promise to Richards that you would be released unharmed."</p> <<button[[Enter the Room->E3 Doom Waiting Room 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You're ushered into a large bare room holding only a surprisingly mundane modern couch. Doom shuts the door behind you, and you hear it lock, sealing you in.</p> <p>Sue collapses on the couch, face in her hands. "Oh, Reed."</p> <<if $SusanStorm.poorRelationship()>><<button[[Apologize to her->E3 Doom Waiting Room Apology]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>><</if>> <<button[[Comfort her->E3 Doom Waiting Room Comfort]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[Give her space->E3 Doom Waiting Room 3]]>><</button>>

<p>For whatever reason you haven't really hit it off with Sue, whether through your own attitude or simple misunderstandings. As much as you can see that she's worried about the others, you're the last person who should be offering her comfort. "Hey."</p> <p>She pauses, eyes flickering towards you.</p> <p>"I'm sorry for... being such <<if $gender=="male">>an asshole<<else>>a bitch<</if>>. I hope your team is doing okay."</p> <p>She doesn't move for several seconds, then gives you a curt nod. "Yeah."</p> <<run $SusanStorm.increaseRelationship()>> <<button[[It's a start->E3 Doom Waiting Room 3]]>><</button>>

<p>You sit down next to Sue, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Hey, hey, it'll be okay. The guys have been in tougher situations than this."</p> <<if $SusanStorm.poorRelationship()>><p>She stiffens at your touch, then rises and begins to pace. "Yeah. Okay."</p> <<else>> <<run $SusanStorm.increaseRelationship()>> <p>She leans against you slightly, and you can feel her warmth. She shudders, but her costume protects her from your draining touch. "Thrown into the past at the behest of a madman..."</p> <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>><p>"It's not the first time a villain has captured your team. The Mole Man? Those green alien guys?"</p> <p>Sue nods. "Yeah... but I get a feeling that this time is different. This Doom... he's cut from a different cloth."</p> <</if>> <p>It does sound pretty bad, but keeping Sue calm is your best bet to getting out of this alive.</p> <</if>> <<button[[Time Passes->E3 Doom Waiting Room 3]]>><</button>>

<p>An hour goes by. Abruptly, Susan stands, a determined look on her face. "Okay. There's nothing we can do to free ourselves locked up in this room. And no way to help Johnny, Reed, and Ben back in the past."</p> <p>"Right." You nod.</p> <p>"So I'm going to have to wait for my moment... Doom's clearly driven by ego, so he'll want me present when the boys return - a witness to his victory. We can't trust that he'll keep his word, so if I continue playing little miss helpless he won't consider me a threat. It's our only edge."</p> <p>You shake your head. "It's not much."</p> <p>Her face doesn't soften. "It's all we have."</p> <<button[[Offer to give her a boost - sexually->E3 Doom Waiting Room Proposition]]>><</button>> <<button[[Ask how you can help->E3 Doom Waiting Room Help]]>><</button>>

<p>"How can I help?" you ask.</p> <<if $SusanStorm.hasJerked && $SusanStorm.goodRelationship()>> <p>"God, $FirstName, I don't know..." Sue trails off, looking down at her fists. "Listen to you... just a kid. We're the Fantastic Four, we're supposed to be protecting people like you." She chuckles, then looks up, brushing an errant strand away from her eye.</p> <p>"I can't just do nothing, Sue. That's not who I am."</p> <p>"I know, $FirstName. I know." Her voice is quiet. "Listen, I'd never suggest this in a million years, but I need your help."</p> <p>"What can I do?"</p> <p>She closes a hand over yours. "Like... like with Namor."</p> <p>Like with... ohhhhhh.</p> <<button[[Make sure she means it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Help 2a]]>><</button>> <<button[[Fuck yeah, let's go->E3 Doom Waiting Room Help 2b]]>><</button>> <<else>> <p>Sue gives you a smile. "I appreciate the sentiment, $FirstName... but this is serious. Maybe deadly serious. I'm... responsible for keeping you safe, and your... powers... don't exactly lend themselves to this kind of thing."</p> <p>She's got you there. Even if you somehow convinced her to let you get her off, the extra strength and energy wouldn't be as useful as her invisibility.</p> <p>She continues. "When he comes back for us... I'm going to do what I can. You find someplace safe to hide, and we'll come get you when it's over."</p> <<button[[Hide and wait, got it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><</button>> <</if>>

<p>You swallow, thinking back to the <<if $gender=="male">>handjob<<else>>finger-banging<</if>> Sue gave you the day Namor attacked the city. "Are you sure?"</p> <p>She closes her eyes. "I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't think I needed the extra power." She's clearly extremely reluctant.</p> <<button[[Drop your jeans->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob 2]]>><</button>> <<button[[Talk her out of it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Rejection]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>>

<p>Your jeans are in a pool around your feet almost before she finishes talking. "Fuck yeah, let's go."</p> <p>She stares at you. "You know what? Never mind. It was a stupid suggestion."</p> <p>What? "No, no, you're totally right, you should get me off. To stop Doom."</p> <p>She turns away. "Jesus Christ, what was I thinking. No. No, I can handle this on my own."</p> <<button[[Accept this->E3 Doom Waiting Room Help 3a]]>><</button>> <<button[[Cajole her->E3 Doom Waiting Room Help 3b]]>><</button>>

<p>You sheepishly pull up your jeans. "Sorry. I, uh..."</p> <p>She gives you a weak smile. "It's... okay. No. I get it. You're a teenager. And maybe that's what I forgot." She shook her head. "I'm going to have to be the adult here. It was just... my fear talking. Taking advantage of you like that... it would make me no better than Doom."</p> <<button[[Teasing bitch->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[She's probably right->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><</button>>

<p>"Aw c'mon," you waggle your <<if $gender=="male">>dick<<else>>hips<</if>>hips in her direction. "Look, I'll get myself almost all the way there, you can just finish me off."</p> <<run $SusanStorm.decreaseRelationship()>> <p>"Jesus Christ, put <<if $gender=="male">>your dick away<<else>>your pants back on<</if>>."</p> <<button[[Teasing bitch->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[She's probably right->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><</button>>

<p>Time passes until the door suddenly opens, revealing Doom's armored form. Sue is on her feet in a moment.</p> <p>Doom steps aside, gesturing towards the hall. "The time of your companions' return draws near. Return with me to my control room."</p> <p>"Are they alright?" Sue asks.</p> <p>"We will discover their fate together."</p> <<button[[Follow Sue out into the hall->E3 Doom Control Room]]>><</button>>

<p>A short walk brings you and Susan to a control room filled with computer equipment, along with a massive screen set into one of the walls, showing the image of Doom himself standing before a control panel in his throne room.</p> <p>The Doom in the room with you gestures to the far side of the room. "Wait there while I handle the others. Remain silent if you value your lives."</p> <<button[[Is this a recording?->E3 Doom Control Question]]>><</button>> <<button[[Stay silent->E3 Doom Control 2]]>><</button>>

<p>"Is that a recording?" you ask.</p> <<set $DoomPatience -= 1>> <<if $DoomPatience <=0>><p>Doom pauses, then presses a button on his armored gauntlet, and you find yourself suddenly falling as a trap door opens up under your feet.</p> <<if $SusanStorm.averageRelationship()>><p>"$FirstName!" you hear Susan gasp before you're swallowed up by darkness.</p> <<else>><p>"Learn from their mistake," you hear Doom intone before you're swallowed up by darkness.</p> <</if>> <<include "E3 Doom Obliette">> <<else>> <p>"Don't be insipid."</p> <<include "E3 Doom Control 2">> <</if>>

<p>You and Sue move off to the side, though not so far that you can't still see the screen.</p> <p>Doom rolls his neck on his shoulders, then puts his hands on the controls. "Behold. They return."</p> <p>On screen you see an impossible horizontal plane of light rise from the floor, leaving in its passage Reed, Johnny, and Ben - the latter dressed in calf-high boots and tattered pirate regalia. Between the three is an iron-bound wooden chest.</p> <p>Doom speaks into his forearm words that are echoed by his on-screen double. "Ah! My three emissaries have returned, as I knew you would."</p> <<button[[Continue->E3 Doom Control 3]]>><</button>>

<p>Reed gestures towards the chest. "We promised to bring you Blackbeard's chest, Doom. Well, here it is."</p> <p>"Good!" The Dooms speak in tandem, the one on the screen rubbing its gauntleted hands together. "Good! The gems in that chest will help me gain mastery over the world. Those little baubles are more than they seem - they were originally the property of Merlin, the ancient magician! He gave them mystic power... the power to make their owner invincible!"</p> <<button[[Merlin?->E3 Doom Control 4a]]>><</button>> <<button[[Yell out to warn the guys that there are two Dooms->E3 Doom Control 4b]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[Remain silent->E3 Doom Control 4c]]>><</button>>

<p>"Merlin?" you whisper to Sue.</p> <p>She doesn't turn your way, eyes fixed on Doom and the screen. "Honestly, I have no idea."</p> <<include "E3 Doom Control 4c">>

<p>"It's a trap!" you shout, hoping Doom's microphone picks up your voice. "Guys, there's another Doom!"</p> <p>Doom points in your direction without turning his head, and a trap door opens up beneath your feet.</p> <<if $SusanStorm.averageRelationship()>><p>"$FirstName!" you hear Susan gasp before you're swallowed up by darkness.</p><</if>> <<include "E3 Doom Obliette">>

<p>The on-screen Doom approaches the chest. "And now that power shall be mine! With these gems in my possession, no force on Earth can stand before me!" He flips open the lid, and you can clearly see that the chest is filled with heavy lengths of chain. The Doom in your room clenches his fists. "Worthless chains? I've been tricked!"</p> <p>The Thing approaches menacingly. "Yer gonna be more 'n that, brother. Let's get him, guys!"</p> <p>The screen Doom whirls, firing a pistol at Ben's midsection. "Fool! You think you can defeat Doom so easily?"</p> <p>"Just watch me!" The bullet ricochets harmlessly off of Ben's rocky exterior, and he brings his massive fists down across the Doom duplicate's torso. The figure shatters into a pile of mechanical parts.</p> <p>"It's a robot!" Ben gasps.</p> <<button[[A robot duplicate!->E3 Doom Control 5]]>><</button>>

<p>Doom hits a button and a chrome sphere descends from the ceiling of the throne room on screen. The villain speaks directly, his image appearing on the surface of the sphere. "Naturally. I am hidden in a room far above you. A room from which I can extract all the oxygen from your chamber. Farewell, Fantastic Four!" He presses a stud on the wall. "Such is the reward for betraying Doom!"</p> <p>By your side Sue fades from view, her voice deadly calm, entirely serious. "He's forgotten about us. There's still one chance... I'll see if I can wreck the control panel, you start making your way to the door and find a place to hide."</p> <<button[[Distract Doom->E3 Doom Control 6a]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[Try and help Sue->E3 Doom Control 6c]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[Slip off quietly->E3 Doom Control 6b]]>><</button>>

<p>Lacking any kind of a weapon you take off your shoe and whip it at Victor von Doom. <<if $Skills.includes("Athletic")>> It bounces off the back of his head and falls to the floor. <<else>> It misses, but slaps against the bottom of the display in front of him. <</if>> Doom starts and turns towards you in disbelief, raising his gauntlet in your direction. "You DARE?"</p> <p>Before he can do anything, though, the control panel in front of the madman explodes, sending him stumbling back amidst gouts of flame and sharp jagged metal.</p> <<button[[Run->E3 Doom Control 6d]]>><</button>> <<button[[Finish Doom off->Doom Control Room 6e]]>><</button>>

<p>You rush up to the fallen villain, ready to beat him into submission.</p> <p>"FOOL!" Doom grabs you by the ankle, sending a thousand volts of electricity up your leg and into your body. The pain is immense, like being struck by a thousand needles all the way all over your body, needles that explode in a way that causes all of your muscles to clench and unclench rapidly, followed by the most intense heat you've ever felt and the smell of your own flesh cooking.</p> <p>This in turn is followed by the oblivion brought by death.</p> <p>GAME OVER</p>

<p>Doom seems absorbed by watching Ben, Reed, and Johnny grapple with their fate while you start slipping towards the door - so much so that he's taken entirely off-guard when whatever Sue's doing causes the control panel to explode in his face. To Doom's credit he doesn't cry out as he recoils - perhaps his armor protects him - but you're able to slip out in the chaos.</p> <<button[[Run->E3 Doom Control 6d]]>><</button>>

<<if $Skills.length == 0>> <p>Taking advantage of Doctor Doom's distraction, you sidle up to the controls behind him, looking them over. Whatever they do, whatever their purpose is is completely beyond you - but you've always been good at making things do what they shouldn't.</p> <p>You twist a few of the dials enough that some of the meters - whatever they measure - seem close to maxing out. You hope this helps whatever it is that Sue is planning to do.</p> <p>Doom abruptly turns around. "What do you think you're-"</p> <p>His anger is cut short as the panel behind him explodes, sending him stumbling to the ground.</p> <<set $DoctorDoom.hatesYou to true>> <<button[[Run->E3 Doom Control 6d]]>><</button>> <<else>> <p>Taking advantage of Doctor Doom's distraction, you sidle up to the controls behind him, looking them over. Whatever they do, whatever their purpose is is completely beyond you. You start flipping switches and turning dials at random, hoping it helps whatever it is Sue is doing.</p> <p>Doom abruptly turns around. "What do you think you're doing?" He steps towards you, and the panel explodes behind him - however, your distraction has caused him to move out of range and he barely staggers. "You fool, you've signed your death warrant!"</p> <p>Before you can react you hear a sudden retort, and a sudden pain blooms in your chest - a gaping bloody hole caused by the pistol held in Doom's hand. You sink to the ground, consciousness fleeing your dying body.</p> <p>GAME OVER</p> <</if>>

<p>You run from the chamber, explosions echoing behind you accompanied by Doom's cursing.</p> <<button[[Look for Sue->E3 Doom Control 7a]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[Look for a hiding place->E3 Doom Control 7b]]>><</button>>

<p>"Sue?" you call, not seeing the Invisible Woman anywhere. Possibly because she's invisible.</p> <<include "E3 Doom Control 7b">>

<p>A sudden explosive shudder rocks the castle, sending dust filtering down from above. Heading in that direction you discover a great gap in the wall, as if it'd been knocked down by tremendous force. Outside you can see Reed, Sue, and Ben on the ground, staring up at the sky - where Johnny Storm, in full Human Torch glory - chases after Doctor Doom, escaping on a jet pack.</p> <p>For a moment you think he's going to catch up before his flames falter and he falls from the sky, landing painfully in a tree. The other three members of the team set off towards him.</p> <<button[[Join Them->E3 Doom Join Them]]>><</button>>

<p>You jog after the others, catching up as they help Johnny out of the tree. "Hey guys."</p> <p>"$FirstName." Reed gives you a nod, a look of relief on his face. "You managed to get out on your own."</p> <p>"What happened?" you ask.</p> <p>"Sorry I..." Johnny falters. "I pushed myself too hard, killed my flames."</p> <p>"It was a good attempt, Johnny." Reed pats him on the back.</p> <<button[[So what now?->E3 Doom What Now]]>><</button>>

<p>You step away. "No."</p> <p>Sue looks confused. "$FirstName?"</p> <p>"You don't need my help, Sue." You shake your head. "Doom's powerful but... but you're the Invisible Woman. You're smart, you're clever, you got this."</p> <p>She shakes her head. "$FirstName, he has my brother. Reed. Ben. We can't afford to take chances."</p> <p>"He's arrogant and he's underestimating you." You continue talking the woman out of giving you a hand job. "But... you don't want this. I don't want you doing something you'd regret... and given the circumstances... I can't guarantee I'd be able to, uh, deliver."</p> <p>"You're a teenager," Sue deadpans, but a smile creeps onto the corner of her lips. "No. You're right. I'm... I'm letting fear control me. And that's unfair to you. You... you're something else, $FirstName." Her eyes go to the door again. "When he comes back for us... I'm going to do what I can. You find someplace safe to hide, and we'll come get you when it's over."</p> <<run $SusanStorm.increaseRelationship()>> <<button[[Hide and wait, got it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><</button>>

<p>"Maybe not all..." You let the words hang there in the air.</p> <p>"Oh?" Her back is to you as she examines the door, fingers running along its frame.</p> "Yeah, I could... give you a boost. With my powers. <<if $E2SueBoostedNamor>> Like I did with Namor." <<else>> " <p>Sue shakes her head. "Trust me, I'm already pretty wired."</p> <p>"No, I mean... the other kind of boost. The more powerful one Reed was talking about," you clarify.</p> <</if>> <<if $SusanStorm.poorRelationship()>> <p>Sue turns to you with a scowl. "You're fucking unbelievable, you know that?"</p> <<button[[Tell her to go fuck herself->E3 Doom Waiting Room Sue Fuck You]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>> <<button[[Apologize->E3 Doom Waiting Room Sue Sorry]]>><</button>> <<else>> <p>She turns to you, eyes widening. "Oh, you mean..." She makes a <<if $gender=="male">>jerk-off motion with her hand<<else>>come-hither motion with her fingers<</if>>.</p> <<button[[Nod eagerly->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob]]>><</button>> <<button[[Angle for some head->E3 Doom Waiting Room Blowjob]]>><</button>> <</if>>

<p>"I'm unbelievable?" You can scarcely believe your ears. "You're unbelievable. Go fuck yourself."</p> <p>She scowls. "I'm going to do my best to keep you alive here, $FirstName... but after that, I want you to stay away from me, my fiance, my family, and my friends."</p> <p>"Like Reed has been such a big help so far." You snort.</p> <p>She ignores your comment. "When he comes back for us... I'm going to do what I can. You find someplace safe to hide, and just stay out of my way."</p> <<run $SusanStorm.decreaseRelationship()>> <<button[[Hide and wait, got it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><</button>>

<p>You close your eyes for a moment. "Look... I'm sorry, okay? I know I've been kind of an asshole to you, but this is all so much out of my depth... I've just been terrified by the whole thing. I'm... acting out, and you don't deserve that."</p> <<button[[And you mean it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Sue Sorry Sincere]]>><<run $Morality.doGood()>><</button>> <<button[[But don't really mean it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Sue Sorry Insincere]]>><<run $Morality.doEvil()>><</button>>

<p>Sue's eyes narrow, and then widen. "I'm... sorry, $FirstName. I know, you're just a kid... like Johnny. It's not your fault that you're acting out, and I need to remember that I'm the adult here." Her face hardens. "But you can't act so inappropriately. Keep it up, and I'll have to ask Reed to stop helping you."</p> <p>You feel a faint sense of relief, but you've got a lot to make up for.</p> <<$SusanStorm.improveRelationship()>> <p>Her eyes return to the door. "When he comes back for us... I'm going to do what I can. You find someplace safe to hide, and just stay out of my way."</p> <<button[[Hide and wait, got it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><</button>>

<<if $Skills.length == 0>> <p>Sue's eyes narrow, and then widen. "I'm... sorry, $FirstName. I know, you're just a kid... like Johnny. It's not your fault that you're acting out, and I need to remember that I'm the adult here." Her face hardens. "But you can't act so inappropriately. Keep it up, and I'll have to ask Reed to stop helping you."</p> <p>You suppress a smile. You've always been a good liar.</p> <<addSkill("Deceptive")>> <<$SusanStorm.improveRelationship()>> <<else>> <p>Sue's eyes narrow. "Don't give me that, you little shit. You're an opportunistic pervert trying to take advantage of me any way you can. Frankly, you're a menace... but I'm still going to do my best to keep you alive here, in the hopes that some day you grow up into someone who isn't a complete piece of shit.</p>" <p>Geez.</p> <<run $SusanStorm.decreaseRelationship()>> <</if>> <p>Her eyes return to the door. "When he comes back for us... I'm going to do what I can. You find someplace safe to hide, and just stay out of my way."</p> <<button[[Hide and wait, got it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><</button>>

<<if $E2SueBoostedNamor == false>> <p>She bites her lip and looks away, clearly conflicted. "<<if $gender=="male">>I... I'm <i>with</i> Reed, you know?<<else>>You know I'm straight, right?<</if>>" She continues before you can respond. "Fuck! I'm so fucking worried about him, about my brother..."</p> <p>"About Ben?" you prompt.</p> <p>"Yeah, sure." She shakes her head. "Look it's... I barely know you, and I'm not... it's just that the stakes are so high..." She gives a full body shudder, then nods and snaps her fingers towards you. "Okay, but don't, like... make it weird. Any weirder than it has to be."</p> <p>"I'll try," you agree.</p> <p>She doesn't seem to know what to do with her hands, rubbing her arms. "Okay, just... get it out and let's get this done with."</p> <<else>> <p>"Fuck, $FirstName, I don't know..."</p> <p>You shake your head. "I don't know how else I can help, Sue."</p> <<if $SusanStorm.averageRelationship()>> <p>She lets out a long sigh, running a gloved hand through her hair. "Shit. I can't believe I'm doing this again... last time, okay?"</p> <p>Your response is mechanical, automatic. "Oh, yeah, of course, it's just an emergency."</p> <p>She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Okay, okay, get it out."</p> <<else>> <p>"Jesus fucking Christ, I can't believe I'm going to get you off again." She stares at your crotch, a rueful expression on her face. "Let's be quick, while Doom's busy."</p> <</if>> <</if>> <<button[[Drop your jeans->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob 2]]>><</button>>

<p><<if $gender=="female">>You waste no time in pulling your cock out of your jeans, giving it a few reflexive tugs.<<else>>You waste no time in pulling your jeans off and exposing your pussy to the open air.<</if>></p> <<set $SusanStorm.hasJerked to true>> <<if $E2SueBoostedNamor == false>> <<if $gender == "male">> <p>After a moment of hesitation Sue reaches out and wraps her gloved fingers around your semi-erect shaft. It's a strange feeling - the almost-vinyl of whatever he glove is made out of, transmitting just enough warmth from her hand to your cock. It's slick but not as smooth, maybe, as her hand would be, but not in a bad way.</p> <p>She doesn't waste any time before starting to stroke - mechanically at first, pumping your cock with a reverse grip while staring resolutely over your shoulder. She's clearly not happy with this - a sexual act she's been driven to out of desperation - and somehow the clinical detachment she's trying to maintain makes it even hotter.</p> <p>A few minutes pass and all her efforts seem to accomplish is getting you fully erect. "Are you close?"</p> <<else>> <p>Sue fidgets, then steps close to you. "How do I..."</p> <p>"You mean you've never..."</p> <p>"No!" She says sharply, looking away from your crotch. "I mean, never anyone else's..."</p> <p>"It pretty much works the same way." You do your best to sound confident, casual, but the truth is? You've never done more with another girl than kissing. You have watched a lot of lesbian porn - the good stuff, not just the stuff they make for guys.</p> <p>Sue's staring at your pussy again, a combination of dread and fascination on her face. You guess that her being straight makes you the experienced one here. Moving slowly, you take her hand in yours - it's limp, but at least she's not flinching - and press it against yourself.</p> <p>She blushes deeply and you turn away from her, pressing your back against her breasts, pulling her arm around you so that she can touch you the way she might touch herself. Something about this... about taking this straight girl in hand, having her touch you, even her cluelessness and timidity... it's really turning you on.</p> <p>After a few minutes of caressing, she asks, quietly. "Are you close?"</p> <</if>> <<button[[Close? She just started->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob 3]]>><</button>> <<else>> <p>Sue <<if $gender == "male">>grabs your cock with a hand<<else>>slips a hand between your legs<</if>> - gloved, this time. It's a different sensation... <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>>you remember reading that the team's outfits are made of something Reed calls <i>unstable molecules</i><<else>>you're not sure what the material is<</if>>, but it feels a little like vinyl - slick, but not as soft as her naked flesh was the last time.</p> <p>She begins <<if $gender == "male">>stroking your cock<<else>>sliding her fingers along your lips<</if>> almost immediately, <<if $SusanStorm.relationshipGood>>making a brief if embarrassed eye contact with you<<else>>strenuously avoiding meeting your eyes<</if>> in a way that quickly gets you panting. "I need you to be quick."</p> <<button[[Quick? She just started->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob 3]]>><</button>> <</if>>

<p>"I'm sorry, this isn't exactly the most erotic situation," you say... but it kind of is, in a weird way. "I can't come on command."</p> <p>She shifts her hand slightly. "We don't know how long we have. Or if we're being watched."</p> <<button[[The thought turns you on->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob 4]]>><</button>> <<button[[The thought makes you nervous->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob 4]]>><</button>>

<p>"Pressure's not going to help," you tell her.</p> "Fuck. Sorry." <<if $SusanStorm.relationshipGood>> Sue closes her eyes and lets out a big sigh, then drew a finger from her uniform's collarbone to its belt. Almost magically, her uniform top parts along a hidden seam, baring a triangular section of skin from her shoulders to her navel. "Don't get used to this." With her free hand she reaches into her top to pull her breasts free, letting them hang heavily from her chest. <<button[[Stare at her breasts->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob 5b]]>><</button>> <<button[[Grab some titty->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob 5c]]>><</button>> <<else>> She pauses, then pulls the glove off her hand. "Just... relax. Close your eyes. Forget about how fucked up the situation is. Forget that it's some strange woman getting you off... think about some girl from class that you like." <p>You close your eyes, but remain very much aware that it's Susan Fucking Storm, the Invisible Girl, <<if $gender=="male">>grabbing your dick<<else>>between your legs<</if>>. <<if $E2SueBoostedNamor == false && gender == "male">>It's not that you've never had a handjob before... but handjobs are pretty much as far as you've gotten. And only from girls your own age, never an older woman like Sue.<</if>></p> <<button[[That just makes it sweeter->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob 5a]]>><</button>> <</if>>

<<if $gender == "male">> <p>You hear Sue move closer to you, her bare palm running the length of your hard shaft. "I know sometimes you boys need a little encouragement to get going, yeah?"</p> <p>"Not usually." You lower your head to her shoulder, feeling her hair brush the back of your neck, inhaling the mixed scent of her sweat, conditioner, and vanilla skin cream.</p> <p>"It's okay, but I need you to cum for me." She whispers into your ear, her voice low, sultry. "Can you do that, $FirstName? Cum for me? I need you to cum all over my hand, I need your cum, $FirstName."</p> <p>That gets you going. You feel your balls tighten, and barely remember to visualize the flow of energy reverse before it does. The sudden rush of your orgasm seems to come from the very bottom of your soul, ripping something free as it does, some part of our essence - imagery of a well of energy erupting from your core fills your mind.</p> <p>Sue steps back, dodging most of the thick spurts of spunk issuing from the tip of your cock. "Shit!"</p> <p>You sink to your knees, little strength left in your body.</p> <p>"I didn't think there'd be so much - $FirstName?" Sue's voice fades as the darkness wells up around you.</p> <<else>> <p>You hear Sue move closer to you, a stiff finger slipping between the lips of your aching cunt. "Sometimes we girls need a little encouragement to get going, yeah?"</p> <p>"Sometimes." You lower your head to her shoulder, feeling her hair brush the back of your neck, inhaling the mixed scent of her sweat, conditioner, and vanilla skin cream.</p> <p>"It's okay, but I need you to cum for me." She whispers into your ear, her voice low, sultry, a second finger joining the first. "Can you do that, $FirstName? Cum for me? I need you to cum all over my hand, I need your cum, $FirstName."</p> <p>That gets you going. You feel your inner walls tighten around her fingers as the heat blossoms, and barely remember to visualize the flow of energy reverse before it does. The sudden rush of your orgasm seems to come from the very bottom of your soul, ripping something free as it does, some part of our essence - imagery of a well of energy erupting from your core fills your mind.</p> <p>Sue holds you tight as you start to convulse, shudders wracking your entire body. "Shit!"</p> <p>You sink to your knees, little strength left in your body.</p> <p>"I didn't think you'd - $FirstName?" Sue's voice fades as the darkness wells up around you.</p> <</if>> <<button[[Pass out->E3 Doom Aftermath Ejaculated]]>><</button>>

<p>Susan Storm has nice fucking tits. Full and round, heavy but with only a little sag, almost defying gravity. You start to breathe harder as you stare at them, thinking about sucking on her pert little nipples with their broad aureola<<if $gender == "male">>, thinking about grabbing them and holding them together while you jam your cock into her cleavage over and over-<</if>></p> <p>A hint of amusement enters Sue's voice. <<if $gender == "male">>"I know sometimes you guys need a little visual-"<<else>>"I guess a little visual aid helps us girls too-"<</if>></p> <p>She's cut off as you start to cum, a powerful orgasm that buckles your knees sends you falling over backwards as she lets go<<if $gender == "male">> to try and evade the ropes of semen you send her way<<else>> in surprise<</if>>.</p> <p>"Shit! Fuck! $FirstName?" This last is said with some concern as you find yourself slipping from consciousness.</p> <<button[[Pass out->E3 Doom Aftermath Ejaculated]]>><</button>>

<<exhaust 20>> <p>She yelps as you reach out and grab her breasts, holding them in your hands, feeling their almost ponderous weight. Full and round, they're heavy with only a little sag.</p> <p>Sue visibly stops herself from pulling away, the hand that's not <<if $gender == "male">>jerking your cock<<else>>between your legs<</if>> closing around your wrist tightly. "You need to ask first, $FirstName. You don't just go grabbing."</p> <p>"Sorry, I couldn't... it'll help. It'll help me cum faster."</p> <p>She gives you a dirty look but didn't pull away. "Be gentle. Be nice."</p> <p>"I can be nice," you tell her, stroking from the underside of her breast to her nipple.</p> <p>She shivers a little and you feel a little bolder, rolling her stiffening nipple between your forefinger and thumb, pulling slightly.</p> <p>"Gentle," she repeats, stroking your <<if $gender=="male">>cock a little faster, with a tighter grip, a little twist of the wrist<<else>clit a little more firmly, a little faster<</if>>. "Like that. Just like that."</p> <p>The slight guttural note slipping into her voice is all it takes to push you over the edge and you start to cum, a powerful orgasm that buckles your knees sends you falling over backwards as she lets go <<if $gender=="male">>to try and evade the ropes of semen you send her way<<else>>in surprise<</if>>.</p> <p>"Shit! Fuck! $FirstName?" This last is said with some concern as you find yourself slipping from consciousness.</p> <<button[[Pass out->E3 Doom Aftermath Ejaculated]]>><</button>>

<p>You go for it. "It'd be faster if you went down on me."</p> <p>Sue lets out a short sharp laugh. "I'm not <<if $gender=="male">>sucking your cock<<else>>licking your pussy<</if>>, $FirstName. Are you fucking serious?"</p> <<button[[Play it off->E3 Doom Waiting Room Kidding]]>><</button>> <<button[[Insist->E3 Doom Waiting Room Blowjob 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You force out a laugh. "No, sorry, I'm just nervous. I joke when I'm nervous." You shake your head. "But seriously though... if you think you need the boost in power for dealing with this Doom guy, I'm here."</p> <<include "E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob">>

<p>You shake your head. "Look, I'm sorry, but we really don't know when this guy'll be back, and this is a terrifying situation for me. I don't... do well under pressure."</p> <<if $SusanStorm.goodRelationship()>> <p>Sue stares at you for a moment. "Sorry. No. I get it. I'm terrified too, and I've had to go up against guys like this more and more often." <<if $E2SueBoostedNamor>> She stares at the ceiling. "Just this one time, though, okay? Because you're right, we don't know how much time we have, and all the men in my life's lives are on the line."</p> <<button[[Oh yeah sure of course->E3 Doom Waiting Room Blowjob 3]]>><</button>> <<else>> She shakes her head. "I can't... <i>do that</i> to Reed, though."</p> <p>"Not even to save him?" you ask.</p> <p>"Hand stuff's as far as I can go."</p> <<button[[Agree->E3 Doom Waiting Room Handjob]]>><</button>> <<button[[Apologize and forget it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Back Off A]]>><</button>> <</if>> <<else>> <p>Her lips draw into a firm line. "No, $FirstName. I can handle this without cheating on my fiance, believe it or not."</p> <<button[[Apologize and forget it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Back Off B]]>><</button>> <<button[[Whine about it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Whine]]>><</button>> <</if>>

<p>"I'm sorry, I shouldn't push you." You hold up your hands. "That was disrespectful of me, and you deserve better."</p> <p>The ghost of a smile crosses her face. "Thank you for understanding." Her eyes go to the door again. "When he comes back for us... I'm going to do what I can. You find someplace safe to hide, and we'll come get you when it's over."</p> <<run $SusanStorm.increaseRelationship()>> <<button[[Hide and wait, got it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><</button>>

<p>"Okay, okay, it was just a suggestion." It was worth a shot.</p> Her eyes go to the door again. "When he comes back for us... I'm going to do what I can. You find someplace safe to hide, and we'll come get you when it's over."</p> <<button[[Hide and wait, got it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><</button>>

<p>"C'monnnnn," you whine. "Look, I'll get myself most of the way there, you just... get me across the finish line."</p> <<run $SusanStorm.decreaseRelationship()>> <p>Her face contorts. "You're fucking disgusting, you know that?" Her eyes return to the door. "When he comes back for us... I'm going to do what I can. You find someplace safe to hide, and just stay out of my way."</p> <<button[[Hide and wait, got it->E3 Doom Waiting Room Wait]]>><</button>>

<p>"Oh yeah, sure, of course."</p> <p>Sue gives you a skeptical look. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this. Take off your pants and sit on the couch."</p> <p>You're there, sitting, jeans off, <<if $gender == "male">>dick as hard and rigid as a flagpole<<else>>pussy steaming wet<</if>> almost before she finishes talking. No girl has ever <<if $gender == "male">>sucked your cock<<else>>licked your cunt<</if>> before. You may be a little eager.</p> <p>Sue sits next to you on the couch, eyes locked onto your penis, face flushed with - shame? Embarrassment? Arousal? Probably not arousal. She doesn't really want to be here, to be doing this. Somehow her reluctance only makes you hornier... so much so that you almost feel like your blood is vibrating.</p> <p>"You need to be fast," she reminds you, brushing her hair behind her hair, leaning in.</p> <<button[[That won't be a problem->E3 Doom Waiting Room Blowjob 4]]>><</button>>

<p>"That won't be a problem," you assure her.</p> <<set $SusanStorm.hasBlown = true>> <<if $gender=="male">> <p>You're not sure but you think you might have seen a small grin at the corners of her mouth before she lowers her lips around the head of your cock. The wet heat is incredible, like nothing you've ever felt, soft but firm at the same time, with her tongue sliding against the underside of your glans.</p> <p>Holy shit is this good.</p> <p>Your fingers clutch at the couch cushions as the Invisible Woman takes more of your length into her mouth, her lips sliding down about halfway, tongue swirling. She's... you don't even know what she's doing, but it feels like her mouth is rapidly fluttering against the sensitive tip of your penis. It's too much.</p> <<button[[Warn her->E3 Doom Waiting Room Blowjob Warn]]>><</button>> <<button[[Grab her head and cum down her throat->E3 Doom Waiting Room Blowjob Throatpie]]>><</button>> <<else>> <p>You try not to be insulted as Sue approaches your spread crotch with a look of concentration and befuddlement. Despite having the parts herself, you'd imagine that, as a straight girl, this isn't a view she's used to. She's close, her hot breath on your most intimate parts.</p> <p>"Just do what you like guys to do." You wonder if Reed's one of those guys who just doesn't eat pussy... waste of his powers if he doesn't, really, but he kind of seems like the type. "Kiss it."</p> <p>"Where?" Sue's voice is small, almost inaudible.</p> <p>"Anywhere." You slide a hand through her hair, holding her by the back of her head, drawing her in.</p> <p>She's breathing faster now - it tickles - and you feel her lips brush yours. Her tongue flicks out, licking you, tasting you, light fluttery lashes... and combined with how on edge you are, the danger, and how you've convinced this gorgeous straight girl to eat you out, it's enough to get you going.</p> <p>You take charge, grinding your pussy against Sue's face, against her lips, nose, and mouth, doing most of the work for her. Her ragged breathing is enough to get you over the edge.</p> <<button[[Warn her->E3 Doom Waiting Room Blowjob Warn]]>><</button>> <<button[[Don't->E3 Doom Waiting Room Blowjob Throatpie]]>><</button>> <</if>> <<button[[Warn her->E3 Doom Waiting Room Blowjob Warn]]>><</button>>

<p>"I'm cumming," you gasp.</p> <p>She looks up at you. "What?"</p> <<if $gender == "male">><p>Almost instantly you're cumming, streams of cum splattering against her cheeks, her chest, her open mouth.<<else>><p>Almost instantly you're cumming, back arched, limbs rigid, letting wave after wave smash into you.<</if>> You can hear her surprise, but the effort is so strong, so powerful, that you find yourself sinking into the darkness of the couch as you release a torrent of pent up energy into Susan Storm.</p> <<exhaust 20>> <<button[[Pass out->E3 Doom Aftermath Ejaculated]]>><</button>>

<p>As you feel your orgasm begin to release, you grab Susan by the head and buck your hips forward, holding her in place as you <<if $gender == "male">>release a torrent of pent up cum directly into her throat. She stiffens at first, but then begins to swallow rather than choke,<<else>>arch your back, riding the spasms of your orgasm,<</if>> and you can visualize the energy of your power flow from a small dark core within you, into her mouth, down her throat, into her gullet<<if $gender == "male">> - far stronger and more definite than when she gave you a handjob<</if>>.</p> <p>As the energy leaves you, before you sink into unconsciousness, you catch a glimpse of her backing away - not furious, not outraged, but full of a vibrant energy that reminds you of how charged up you were when you left Cindy's that first night.</p> <p>But only briefly, because then you pass the fuck out.</p> <<exhaust 20>> <<button[[Pass out->E3 Doom Aftermath Ejaculated]]>><</button>>

<p>After the immediate panic passes, you're not certain whether you're falling or not - there are no sensations of movement, of temperature, of anything, as if you're floating in an endless void. So complete is your oblivion that you can't even feel the motion of your arm when you try to slap yourself.</p> <<button[[Time passes->E3 Doom Obliette 2]]>><</button>>

<p>Time passes. You're not sure how much, without anything to gauge it by. Absent the generalized fear of what's going to happen to you, it'd probably be really boring.</p> <<button[[More Time Passes->E3 Doom Obliette 3]]>><</button>>

<p>Seriously?</p> <<button[[Seriously.->E3 Doom Obliette 4]]>><</button>>

<p>Eventually, something changes... suddenly. You hear Doom's voice. "Your biometrics are just interesting enough to warrant sparing you, for the moment. Tell me, <<if $gender == "male">>boy<<else>>girl<</if>>: What is Richards's interest in you?"</p> <<button[[Tell him about your power->E3 Doom Interrogation]]>><</button>> <<button[[Tell him to go fuck himself->E3 Doom Impertinent]]>><</button>> <<button[[Tell him nothing->E3 Doom Impertinent]]>><</button>>

<<hurt 5>> <p>A sudden electrical charge runs through your body, like being stabbed with a thousand red-hot exploding needles at once.</p> <p>"Impertinence will bring you only pain." Doom sounds more irritated than angry. "I ask only once more: what is Richards's interest?"</p> <<button[[Tell him about your power->E3 Doom Interrogation]]>><</button>> <<button[[Ffff... fuck you...->E3 Doom Done With You]]>><</button>>

<<hurt 5>> <p>"Unfortunately for you, Doom's interest isn't that deep."</p> <p>The volts come again, this time more powerfully, and they're the last thing you ever feel.</p> <p>GAME OVER</p>

<p>"I'm a mutant," you tell him. "I can absorb and bestow energy."</p> <p>"Richards is a fool, and you just as much for seeking his help." Doom's voice drips with contempt. "Fortunately for you I have a few scant free moments with which to study your unique biochemistry."</p> <p>Sensation returns, and you find yourself floating in a glass tube of clear liquid, completely nude.</p> <p>Doom glowers at you from the other side of the glass. "You will find this uncomfortable, but take solace in the fact that it will add, in some minuscule way, a footnote to Doom's understanding of mutant science."</p> <<button[[...good?->E3 Doom Test]]>><</button>>

<p>After a thorough interrogation into what Reed has discovered - encouraged by electric shocks if Doom thinks you're being dishonest or insufficiently subservient - Doom moves on to his own theories. You find yourself hooked up to various electrodes, along with IV lines into both of your forearms.</p> <<exhaust 1>> <p>Doom consults a tablet. "First we are going to see whether or not this <i>bioenergy</i> can be mechanically manipulated. How does this feel?"</p> <<button[[He draws a finger across the tablet->E3 Doom Test 2]]>><</button>>

<p>You feel a wave of fatigue wash across you. "Ah! Yeah, fuck."</p> <p>Doom nods to himself. "And now?"</p> <p>He draws a gauntleted finger across the tablet again, and you feel the energy surge back into you. "Yeah, that's... better..."</p> <<button[[Doom does not smile->E3 Doom Test 3]]>><</button>>

<<recover 20>> <p>Doom does not relent, finger on the tablet, and you can feel the energy continue to pour into you - intensifying. Normally, when you touch someone, there's a limit to how much energy you take in at once, but Doom's technology seems to bypass this limit. It doesn't feel like it does when you gave Cindy an orgasm either - there's no euphoria, no rush, no high, just a sense of pressure.</p> <p>"Stop," you manage. It's getting harder to think, and the colors in the room are going funny. "It's too much!"</p> <p>Doom gives it a few more seconds, if only to prove that it was his choice to stop, not yours. "Interesting."</p> <<button[[It hurts so bad->E3 Doom Test 4]]>><</button>>

<p>You'd collapse if you weren't already floating in a tube. The intense pains stops, but you can feel a strong ache in your teeth, muscle, fingernails, and joints.</p> <p>Doom speaks, though probably not to you. "There is a definite limit to the amount of energy you are able to absorb. Exceeding this limit leads to mental and physical degradation, loss of control, and hallucinations. While said energy can be drained as well, subject's utility as a battery is limited."</p> <<button[[Probably a good thing->E3 Doom Test 5]]>><</button>>

<<exhaust 9>> <p>Doom flicks the tablet and you feel the energy level drop. "Interesting. There is a different character to energy drawn now... resentment? Fear? Hate? Theory. Subject's emotional state impacts the qualitative nature of the energy transference."</p> <p>Resentment, fear, hate... sounds about right.</p> <p>Doom pauses, then opens a small hatch in the side of your tube. Remarkably, the liquid you're floating in doesn't flow out. "Supplementary test to see if the emotional transference flows both ways."</p> <p>The steel plates over his gauntleted hand retract and he reaches through the liquid to grab your arm. The energy returns - in its normal fashion - and you get a taste of his essence.</p> <<button[[Drink deep of DOOM->E3 Doom Test 6]]>><</button>>

<p>It's dark. Abyssal dark, but rimmed with an almost blinding sense of confidence.</p> <p>Doom withdraws his arm and consults his tablet. "As suspected. Subject's emotional readings have shifted. Unclear as to whether this is due to the essence of Doom, or a simple response to having one such as I initiate physical contact." He looks up at you. "Either way, it seems likely that you have some ability to read or even manipulate emotional energy. Should you develop the discipline to control your emotions and read the impressions you receive from others. This is a potential you can reach, but one irrevant to Doom. Consider yourself twice-blessed for your insignificance."</p> <<button[[The panel in your tube closes->E3 Doom Test 7]]>><</button>>

<p>Doom turns away, and many of the lights in the chamber dim. "Perhaps after I have finished with Richards I will perform more comprehensive procedures upon you."</p> <p>"Wait..." your voice is weak.</p> <p>"Doom waits for no man." The darkness swallows him up, and you are once again alone in a sea of senselessness.</p> <<button[[Float->E3 Doom Test Rescue]]>><</button>>

<p>After an indeterminate period, the darkness is shattered when the unseen door to the chamber is smashed in by one Benjamin Grimm, the Thing.</p> <p>He calls over his shoulder. "Found the kid!" He steps into the chamber, falling short as the light from the corridor falls over you. "Jesus, $FirstName, what did he do to you?"</p> <p>Reed's top half flows into the room behind him. "Ben, wait-"</p> <p>Ben does not wait, drawing back a massive fist and using it to shatter the glass tube. The viscous goo flows out, almost carrying you with it, if it wasn't for the stone-skinned man catching you. You cling to consciousness for mere moments before passing out in his arms.</p> <<button[[It's a relief->E3 Doom Test Aftermath]]>><</button>>

<p>You awaken to find Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben looking down at you with some concern. You're outside now, in the mountains, while Doom's castle burns in the distance. "What happened?"</p> <p>"Are you alright?" Reed asks.</p> <p>"It was amazing," Johnny gushes. "Doom had us trapped in this airtight room, but Sue - she rigged his gear, wrecking his electrical equipment and setting us free."</p> <p>"Yeah, I never new Sue to get so technical." You can hear the pride in Ben's voice.</p> <p>Sue shrugs. "What can I say? I guess my boys being threatened activated my Momma-bear instincts."</p> <p>"I really wish we could have caught up with Doom, though." Johnny pounds a fist into his palm.</p> <p>"It's not your fault," Reed consoles him. "We're still getting used to the limitations of our powers."</p> <<button[[What Now?->E3 Doom What Now]]>><</button>>

<<recover 1>> <p>You awaken to find Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben looking down at you with some concern. You're outside now, in the mountains, while Doom's castle burns in the distance. "What happened?"</p> <p>"Are you alright son?" Reed asks. "Sue says you passed out."</p> <p>"It was amazing," Johnny gushes. "Doom had us trapped in this airtight room, but Sue - she body-checked him from behind and slammed him against the wall, wrecking his electrical equipment and setting us free."</p> <p>"Yeah, I never new Sue to get so physical." You can hear the pride in Ben's voice.</p> <p>For her part Sue avoids your gaze. "What can I say? I guess my boys being threatened activated my Momma-bear instincts." It seems like the boost you gave her has worn off, but you still feel drained as hell.</p> <<button[[What Now?->E3 Doom What Now]]>><</button>>

<p>"What now?" you ask.</p> <p>"Now?" Sue looks off to the East. Back, presumably, towards New York. "Now we start walking."</p> <p>Ben rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "Great. Next time, let's handle things my way."</p> <<button[[Start Walking->Episode 4]]>><</button>>

<<include "NPCInit E3">> <<reset>> <<set $E3sawParkerClimb to false>> <<set $HelpingHank to false>> <<set $KnowPotential to false>> <<set $Inventory to []>> <<set $DoomPatience to 2>> <<set $E2SueBoostedNamor to false>> <<if hasVisited("E2 F4 Sue Sex")>><<set $E2SueBoostedNamor to true>><</if>> <h2>Episode 3</h2> <h3>September 25th</h3> <p>Your senior year at Midtown High starts a month later, and as you'd figured, everybody's talking about the Fantastic Four. You barely notice, as wrapped up in your own personal drama as you are, mind racing between thoughts of your mutation<<if hasVisited("E2 F4 Sue Sex")>>, the giant monster attack in new york, and the <<if $gender == "male">>handjob<<else>>fingerbang<</if>> Susan Storm gave you. It may have been over quick, but it was the most fun you'd had with someone else's hand... and you hear that afterwards, she was able to steal some magic horn from Namor, the Sub-Mariner. You weren't conscious for it, but you consider it proof that your power works to infuse with energy as well as to take it.<<else>> and the giant monster that attacked New York.<</if>></p> <p>Oh, and there was the matter of your date with Sally. It went <<if $SallyAvril.poorRelationship()>>poorly. She snubbed you at school, and let everyone know in no uncertain terms how lame you were.<<run $MidtownRep.decreaseReputation()>><<elseif $SallyAvril.goodRelationship()>>well. She was cheerfull and affectionate in school, and word spread quickly about what a good time you were.<<run $MidtownRep.increaseReputation()>><<else>>okay, you guess - at least, things aren't noticeably weird in school.<</if>></p> <<button[[Continue->E3 2]]>><</button>>

<p>Now it's the weekend and you have time to kill before your followup with Doctor Richards tonight.</p> <<if hasVisited("E1 Lab Accept")>><p>You could start working for your uncle Henry, helping him out in his lab for a few bucks here and there. He's kind of an intense guy, not a lot of fun to hang out with most of the time, but you told your mom you would, and you could use the cash. So that's option one - you could head out to his town-home and make some money.</p><</if>> <p>The gold standard is, of course, hanging out with your friends - Flash, Liz, Tiny, Jason, Sally, Seymour. Yeah, you saw them all week at school, but hanging out weekends is a different deal... and to be honest you were pretty busy freaking out over your mutations over the summer, so you've been feeling pretty isolated. Plus, Flash'll flip his shit when you tell him about meeting the Fantastic Four - if you can come up with a good excuse as to why you were meeting with them.</p> <p>There's also some scientific exhibition about nuclear waste disposal going on at the Hall of Science. It's early enough in the year that you don't need the extra credit, but if you're going to be perfectly honest you're not the most diligent student. Mr. Warren - your science teacher - proposed the exhibit to the class, but only fuckin' Parker was interested.</p> <<button[[Hang out with your friends->E3 Friends]]>><</button>> <<if hasVisited("E1 Lab Accept")>><<button[[Earn a few bucks working for your uncle->E3 Hank]]>><</button>><</if>> <<button[[Go to the nuclear waste disposal exhibition->E3 Hall of Science]]>><</button>>

<p>Thank you for playing the Episode 3 build of Heroine Addict. New episodes will be released periodically, and when you download one you should be able to continue from wherever you saved. This cannot, of course, be guaranteed, but what do you want for free?</p> <p>If you like the game and would like to show your appreciation, I have a <a href="https://subscribestar.adult/affogado">tip jar</a> you can use for that very purpose. Heroine Addict will always be free, but the more I make in tips, the more I can afford to devote time to working on the project.</p>

<br>Release $version <<if $debug>><br>Health: $Health / $MaxHealth<</if>> <br><<showmeter '$HealthBar' `$Health / $MaxHealth`>> <<if $debug>><br>Energy: $Energy / $MaxEnergy<</if>> <br><<showmeter '$EnergyBar' `$Energy / $MaxEnergy`>> <hr> <b>Skills:</b> <<if $Skills.includes("SuperFan")>><br>Superhuman Fan<</if>> <<if $Skills.includes("Hacker")>><br>Computer Hacker<</if>> <<if $Skills.includes("Intrusion")>><br>Intrusion<</if>> <<if $Skills.includes("Saboteur")>><br>Sabotage<</if>> <<if $Skills.includes("Athletic")>><br>Fitness<</if>> <<if $Skills.includes("Deception")>><br>Deception<</if>> <br> <b>Inventory:</b> <<if $Inventory.includes("Richards Device")>><br>Reed Richards's Device<</if>> <<if $debug>> <br>MORALITY: $Morality.good / $Morality.evil = <<print ($Morality.good / $Morality.evil)>> <br>SUE: $SusanStorm.relationshipUp / $SusanStorm.relationshipDown = <<print ($SusanStorm.relationshipUp/$SusanStorm.relationshipDown)>> <</if>>

by Affogado

[[Character Codex|Codex]] [[Affogado|https://affogado.itch.io/]] [[Tip Jar|https://subscribestar.adult/affogado]]

<<include "Disclaimer">>

<<if $debug>><h1>WARNING! DEBUG MODE ON! DISABLE PRIOR TO RELEASE!</h1><</if>> <p><i>Heroine Addict</i> is an ongoing serial work of erotic fanfiction set in the Marvel Universe. It is a work in progress, currently consisting of one episode. Additional episodes will be appended to the end, so you should be able to save your progress and continue playing when the game is updated and you download a new version... but this cannot be guaranteed. You should probably start a new game for this release.</p> <p>All sexual acts are consensual and depicted between characters of at least 18 years of age. If you are below the age where it is legal to view such materials in your country, do not play this game.</p> <p>This is an early release with little in the way of sexual content. If you find any bugs or other errors, feel free to leave a comment to that effect on the game's [[itch.io page->"https://affogado.itch.io/heroine-addict"]].</p> <<button[[Got it->E1 Intro]]>><</button>>

<<newmeter '$EnergyBar'>> <<label 'Energy'>> <<colors 'blue' 'yellow'>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter '$HealthBar'>> <<label 'Health'>> <</newmeter>> <<set $version to "0.3.1">> <<set $Health to 10>> <<set $MaxHealth to 10>> <<set $Energy to 15>> <<set $MaxEnergy to 20>> // absolute limit on our energy before it hurts us <<set $BaseEnergy to 10>> // this is our normal energy level. <<set $LokisFavor to false>> // do we have Loki's favor? <<set $DoomTech to false>> // did Doom enhance us? <<set $debug to false>> //turn off before release /********************************************************** ** Skills come in an array - $Skills - checked with the ** ** hasSkill() macro, uses the addSkill() macro. If you ** ** have a skill you have a skill, but it can be improved ** ** (more copies in the array) if you're good enough. ** **********************************************************/ <<set $Skills to []>> <<set $Inventory to []>> // Morality <<set $Morality to { name: 'Morality', good: 1, evil: 1, doGood : function () { this.good +=1; if ($debug == true)$.wiki(`<<notify>>Good: ` + this.good + ` Evil: ` + this.evil + `<</notify>>`); }, doEvil: function () { this.evil +=1; if ($debug == true)$.wiki(`<<notify>>Good: ` + this.good + ` Evil: ` + this.evil + `<</notify>>`); }, isGreat: function () { return (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) > 0.9) }, isGood: function () { return (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) > 0.7) }, isNeutral: function () { return (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) < 0.8) && (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) > 0.2) }, isPoor: function () { return (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) < 0.3) }, isTerrible: function () { return (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) < 0.1) } }>> <<set $ASMorality to { good: 1, evil: 1, isGood: function () { this.good +=1; $.wiki("<<notify>>That was Good<</notify>>"); }, isEvil: function () { this.evil +=1; if (State.variables.debug) {$.wiki(`<<notify>>That was evil.<</notify>>`);} }, isGreat: function () { return (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) > 0.9) }, isGood: function () { return (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) > 0.7) }, isNeutral: function () { return (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) < 0.8) && (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) > 0.2) }, isPoor: function () { return (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) < 0.3) }, isTerrible: function () { return (this.good / (this.good + this.evil) < 0.1) } }>> <<include "NPCInit">>

// Health based macros <<widget "hurt">> <<set $Health -= _args[0]>> <<notify>>Ouch! _args[0] damage taken<</notify>> <<updatemeter '$HealthBar' `$Health / $MaxHealth`>> <</widget>> <<widget "heal">> <<set $Health += _args[0]>> <<notify>>_args[0] damage healed<</notify>> <<if $Health > $MaxHealth>> <<set $Health = $MaxHealth>> <</if>> <<updatemeter '$HealthBar' `$Health / $MaxHealth`>> <</widget>> // Energy based macros <<widget "drain">> <<set $Energy -= _args[0]>> <<if $Energy < $BaseEnergy>> <<set $Energy = $BaseEnergy>> <</if>> <<updatemeter '$EnergyBar' `$Energy / $MaxEnergy`>> <</widget>> <<widget "exhaust">> <<set $Energy -= _args[0]>> <<notify>>_args[0] energy lost<</notify>> <<if $Energy < 0>> <<hurt $Energy>> <<set $Energy = 0>> <</if>> <<updatemeter '$EnergyBar' `$Energy / $MaxEnergy`>> <</widget>> <<widget "recover">> <<set $Energy += _args[0]>> <<notify>>_args[0] energy recovered<</notify>> <<if $Energy > $MaxEnergy>> <<set $Energy = $MaxEnergy>> // implement burn? <</if>> <<updatemeter '$EnergyBar' `$Energy / $MaxEnergy`>> <</widget>> <<widget "reset">> <<set $Energy = $BaseEnergy>> <<set $Health = $MaxHealth>> <<updatemeter '$EnergyBar' `$Energy / $MaxEnergy`>> <<updatemeter '$HealthBar' `$Health / $MaxHealth`>> <</widget>> // Skill and inventory macros <<widget "addSkill">> <<run $Skills.push(_args[0])>> <</widget>> <<widget "addInventory">> <<run $Inventory.push(_args[0])>> <</widget>> // Morality Widgets

/* Susan's main conflict is whether or not she likes and trusts you. If she does, she'll be willing to cheat on Reed with you as a paramore. Lovers. Someone she turns to. If not, you're a matter of practicality, blackmail, and desperation. So: Actively Cheating vs Blackmailed */ <<set $SusanStorm to { name: 'Susan Storm', met: false, cheating: false, blackmail: false, relationshipUp: 1, relationshipDown: 1, increaseRelationship : function () { this.relationshipUp +=1; $.wiki("<<notify>>Relationship with " + this.name + " improved<</notify>>"); }, decreaseRelationship: function () { this.relationshipDown +=1; $.wiki(`<<notify>>Relationship with ${this.name} worsened<</notify>>`); }, greatRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.9) }, goodRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.7) }, averageRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.8) && (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.2) }, poorRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.3) }, terribleRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.1) } }>>

/* Sally is sadly doomed, but you can have a nice enough dating relationship. */ <<set $SallyAvril to { name: 'Sally Avril', relationshipUp: 1, relationshipDown: 1, met: false, ditched: false, boosted: false, increaseRelationship : function () { this.relationshipUp +=1; $.wiki("<<notify>>Relationship with " + this.name + " improved<</notify>>"); }, decreaseRelationship: function () { this.relationshipDown +=1; $.wiki(`<<notify>>Relationship with ${this.name} worsened<</notify>>`); }, greatRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.9) }, goodRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.7) }, averageRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.8) && (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.2) }, poorRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.3) }, terribleRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.1) } }>>

<<set $FantasticFourRep to { name: 'The Fantastic Four', reputationUp: 1, reputationDown: 1, increaseReputation : function () { this.reputationUp +=1; $.wiki("<<notify>>Reputation with " + this.name + " improved<</notify>>"); }, decreaseReputation: function () { this.reputationDown +=1; $.wiki(`<<notify>>Reputation with ${this.name} worsened<</notify>>`); }, greatReputation: function () { return (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) > 0.9) }, goodReputation: function () { return (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) > 0.7) }, averageReputation: function () { return (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) < 0.8) && (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) > 0.2) }, poorReputation: function () { return (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) < 0.3) }, terribleReputation: function () { return (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) < 0.1) } }>> <<set $MidtownRep to { name: 'Midtown', reputationUp: 1, reputationDown: 1, increaseReputation : function () { this.reputationUp +=1; $.wiki("<<notify>>Reputation with " + this.name + " improved<</notify>>"); }, decreaseReputation: function () { this.reputationDown +=1; $.wiki(`<<notify>>Reputation with ${this.name} worsened<</notify>>`); }, greatReputation: function () { return (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) > 0.9) }, goodReputation: function () { return (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) > 0.7) }, averageReputation: function () { return (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) < 0.8) && (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) > 0.2) }, poorReputation: function () { return (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) < 0.3) }, terribleReputation: function () { return (this.reputationUp / (this.reputationUp + this.reputationDown) < 0.1) } }>> /* Liz is dating flash early on. If she likes you enough - and you pursue it - she'll be willing to cheat with you. */ <<set $LizAllen to { name: 'Liz Allen', relationshipUp: 1, relationshipDown: 1, met: false, cheating: false, increaseRelationship : function () { this.relationshipUp +=1; $.wiki("<<notify>>Relationship with " + this.name + " improved<</notify>>"); }, decreaseRelationship: function () { this.relationshipDown +=1; $.wiki(`<<notify>>Relationship with ${this.name} worsened<</notify>>`); }, greatRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.9) }, goodRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.7) }, averageRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.8) && (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.2) }, poorRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.3) }, terribleRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.1) } }>> /* You have two possible relationships with Peter. // One, you might be his buddy. // Two, you can continue to antagonize and bully him. // There's also the metric of whether you know his secret... // And, later, if you're blackmailing him. // Blackmailing Pete can get him to share his girlfriends with you (Gwen, MJ) or perform other small favors, but // as long as you don't break the law or threaten his loved ones he will resentfully comply // But if you're his buddy you can get similar favors, though he might expect some in return // and cheating with his girls behind his back is still an option. // So: Knowing his secret, Revealing This, and Blackmailing */ <<set $PeterParker to { name: 'Peter Parker', secretKnown: false, knowsYouKnow: false, blackmailing: false, relationshipUp: 1, relationshipDown: 1, met: false, increaseRelationship : function () { this.relationshipUp +=1; $.wiki("<<notify>>Relationship with " + this.name + " improved<</notify>>"); }, decreaseRelationship: function () { this.relationshipDown +=1; $.wiki(`<<notify>>Relationship with ${this.name} worsened<</notify>>`); }, greatRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.9) }, goodRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.7) }, averageRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.8) && (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) > 0.2) }, poorRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.3) }, terribleRelationship: function () { return (this.relationshipUp / (this.relationshipUp + this.relationshipDown) < 0.1) } }>> <<set $DoctorDoom to { name: 'Victor von Doom', hatesYou: false }>>

<h2>Character Codex to the Heroine Addict Universe</h2> <style> table { font-size: 0px; line-height: 0px; //width:100%; border:1px solid #b3adad; border-collapse:collapse; //padding:5px; } table td { border:1px solid #b3adad; //text-align:left; //padding:5px; //background: #ffffff; //color: #313030; } </style> <table> <tr> <td><<if $metCindyMoon>>[img[images\cindyMoon.png][Codex Cindy Moon]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> <td><<if $metSusanStorm>>[img[images\susanStorm.png][Codex Susan Storm]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> <td><<if $metSallyAvril>>[img[images\sallyAvril.png][Codex Sally Avril]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> <td><<if $metLizAllen>>[img[images\lizAllen.png][Codex Liz Allen]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> <td><<if $metJeanGrey>>[img[images\susanStorm.png]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> <td><<if $metJanetVanDyne>>[img[images\susanStorm.png]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> </tr> <tr> <td><<if $metSomeone>>[img[images\susanStorm.png]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> <td><<if $metSomeone>>[img[images\susanStorm.png]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> <td><<if $metSomeone>>[img[images\susanStorm.png]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> <td><<if $metSomeone>>[img[images\susanStorm.png]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> <td><<if $metSomeone>>[img[images\susanStorm.png]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> <td><<if $metSomeone>>[img[images\susanStorm.png]]<<else>>[img[images\unknown.png]]<</if>></td> </tr> </table> <<back>>

<h2>Cindy Moon</h2> <p>Cindy Moon is a girl you know from Midtown High. A solid C-student, she spends more time playing hockey than studying - which might be why you spent time in summer school together. You grew close over the summer, culminating in a make-out session that ended in an orgasm for her and the discovery of sex-linked powers for you.</p> <<if hasVisited("E1 Lab Tests")>><p>Ultimately she regretted cheating on her boyfriend Hector and stopped seeing you before your senior year began.</p><</if>> <<back>>

<h2>Susan Storm</h2> <p>Susan Storm is the Fantastic Four's Invisible Woman, who famously gained her powers on an illicit trip into space through some means involving cosmic rays. She's a few years older than you, has an athletic if womanly figure, blonde hair cut in a bob, and deep blue eyes. You think she's in a relationship with Reed Richards.</p> <p> <<if $SusanStorm.terribleRelationship()>>For some reason she absolutely despises you. <<elseif $SusanStorm.poorRelationship()>>She doesn't seem to like you very much. <<elseif $SusanStorm.averageRelationship()>> <<elseif $SusanStorm.goodRelationship()>>She acts friendly towards you. <<elseif $SusanStorm.greatRelationship()>>She really seems to like you. <</if>> </p> <<back>>

<h2>Sally Avril</h2> <p>Sally's been your friend since grade school, part of the same crew along with Liz Allen, Tiny McKeever, Seymour O'Reilly, and Jason Ionello, along with Peter Parker... though once you hit Midtown High, the gang swapped out Pete for Flash Thompson - a definite improvement overall.</p> <p>She's an accomplished gymnast with a figure to match, short curly black hair, and sparkling blue eyes. Above all else Sally's an adrenaline junkie, always looking for the next big thrill.</p> <p>You went on a date with her once <<if $SallyAvril.stoleKiss>> and stole a kiss <</if>> <<if hasVisited("E2 Sally Danger Abandon")>> but abandoned her during a giant monster attack. Not your greatest moment <<elseif $SallyAvril.ditched>> but ditched her as soon as the civil defense sirens went off, like an asshole <</if>>.</p> <<back>>

<h2>Liz Allen</h2> <p>You've known Liz since grade school, along with Tiny McKeever, Jason Ionello, Sally Avril, and Peter Parker. Her dad's a wealthy hotel magnate who owns some restaurants on the side, so she typically hosts the best parties and can get the gang mad discounts if you all want to go somewhere fancy.</p> <p>Despite her wealthy upbringing she's not really mean, but she can be a little flighty or callous at times. She's been dating your friend Flash Thompson off and on throughout high school, which is too bad because she <i>is</i> one of the prettiest girls at school.</p> <<back>>