Machine Man 39 Party Part 1

We arrived at the luxurious cruise ship. The exterior gleamed with polished surfaces and towering decks, adorned with the cruise line's emblem, a symbol of wealth.

As we stepped on board, the interior surpassed even the grandeur of the ship's exterior. Gleaming marble floors welcomed us, and crystal chandeliers overhead cast a warm, inviting glow. The walls were adorned with exquisite artwork, a blend of classical and contemporary masterpieces that added to the ship's aura of refined taste.

Amidst this, Felicia Hardy, with her keen eye for luxury, couldn't help but comment on the surroundings. "Alex, look at this! It's like stepping into a floating palace. Reminds me of the galas my family used to host. "

Smirking, I replied, "Well, when you come from a wealthy family, these kinds of things might feel like a casual affair. But I'm glad you're enjoying it. Anything catch your eye in particular?"

Felicia Hardy, with her keen eye for luxury, couldn't help but focus on a particular painting. "Alex, look at this! It's the original 'Green Car Crash' by Andy Warhol, it was sold recently at Christie's New York for a whopping $71.7 million. The stark depiction of a car crash, rendered in vibrant greens, it's both provocative and thought-provoking. Warhol's exploration of the intersection between celebrity, tragedy, and consumer culture is truly groundbreaking."

Smirking, I replied, "Impressive, Felicia. Not just a connoisseur of fine living, but an art enthusiast as well. You're full of surprises."

Her eyes sparkled as she continued, "Art tells stories, Each stroke, each color, they convey emotions and narratives. It's fascinating to see how artists like Warhol can challenge our perceptions through their creations."

As we made our way to the deck, an expansive area that offered panoramic views of the vast ocean stretching into the horizon. Plush loungers lined the deck, occupied by a diverse crowd of passengers, each embodying a different status and class.

On one side, well-dressed individuals sipped champagne and engaged in animated conversations. On the other the ship's crew moved gracefully, attending to the needs of the passengers with a seamless blend of professionalism and courtesy.

The atmosphere buzzed with the mingling of diverse personalities. The Fantastic 4 stood as a focal point, their presence drawing attention from all corners. An African American blind woman, seemingly close to Ben Grimm, added a touch of uniqueness to the group.

As I observed the scene, my eyes caught glimpses of unmistakable wealth. The 1% of society had gathered, including notable names like the Kochs, Pritzkers, Lauders, and even the Rockefellers. The opulence of the ship seemed to attract the elite, creating an environment where affluence and influence converged.

Yet, despite the lavish surroundings and the excitement surrounding the Fantastic 4, a lingering doubt nagged at me. The question echoed in my mind: What drove these people to hurriedly invest in the Fantastic 4? Was it the allure of superpowers or a hope for unprecedented returns?

My skepticism is due to the previous incidents with Reed Richards. His company's history of burning through money without tangible results. Those investments seemed like a gamble.

But what caught my eye was the unexpected presence of SHIELD agents mingling in the crowd and among the attendees. I know they will make contact with them, but not in this manner.

They are disguised as guards, waiters, and crew members, they seamlessly blended into the crowd, silently executing their surveillance duties. It seems SHIELD is really putting it all int to try and rope them in.

I alerted Skynet to hack into SHIELD's database, keen on checking if the Fantastic Four had unintentionally blown my cover during our encounter. To my relief, there was no file or record mentioning my presence. It seemed that Ben and Susan were adamant about keeping my identity as Specter a secret.

As I delved deeper into the records, particularly those captured by my Bee Drone, it became evident that only Ben were aware of my alter ego. But Susan even with her bright mind seems to be confuse about my secret identity, either that she is a great actor.

Their interactions showed a level of discretion, especially on Ben's part. His rocky exterior concealed any subtle changes in his reactions, making it nearly impossible for others to detect any knowledge about Specter.

Checking Susan Storm's records, it was apparent that she was accustomed to dealing with individuals of certain authority. She handled the aftermath with professionalism, not even revealing her doubt about my identity to Reed or even Johnny, her own brother.

But I doubt ol' Nick Fury haven't figure things out yet. Even if I have hack all the recording device on that time and stayed mostly invisible, or a double. I have this gut feeling; I am sure he can connect the dots. I just hope when we meet, things would turn out as I imagined.

As Felicia and I approached the Fantastic Four, a sea of people greeted us in the luxurious cruise setting. Felicia, radiating an almost hypnotic charm in her corseted red gown, gracefully wrapped her arms around my elbow. The scene set a tone of opulence and intrigue.

"Hey, Mr. Arasaka! Pleasure to see you here," exclaimed Mark, a fellow billionaire in the crowd. "That new prosthetic of yours is truly impressive."

"Thank you. Always expanding, you know," I replied, offering a congenial smile.

Samantha, a renowned lady reporter from the city's top newspaper, chimed in, "Who's the lady, Alex? She's a stunner."

"This is Felicia Hardy, my lovely secretary," I introduced with a subtle emphasis, and Felicia gave a charming smile.

"Alex, good to see you, man! How do you always end up with such gorgeous dates?" inquired Robert, a business associate.

"Fortune favors the bold, my friend. And, as you can see, I've been quite daring," I responded with a suave grin, subtly emphasizing my protective stance around Felicia.

Another guest, curious, asked, "Is she the heiress of the Hardy fortune?"

Felicia, joining the conversation, teased, "Well, aren't you sweet? But no, just a humble lady enjoying a night out with her charming boss."

Approaching the Fantastic Four, I extended a warm greeting, "Reed, Ben, good to see you guys again. Let me introduce you to Felicia Hardy."

"Reed, Ben, good to see you guys again, Sue and Johnny, how are things." I said with a warm smile. "Let me introduce you to Felicia Hardy. Felicia, this is Reed Richards, the genius behind our favorite superheroes and Ben Grimm, the ever-lovable Thing and As you know the flower of the group Sue the invisible lady and Johnny."

"Hey what you mean just Johnny?" said Johnny feeling abit offended by the lack of enthusiasm in his introduction.

Felicia smiled graciously and extended her hand. "Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about the Fantastic Four."

Johnny Storm, always the charismatic playboy, couldn't resist trying to charm Felicia. With a smirk, he leaned in a little too close, but before he could say anything, Susan Storm stepped in with a stern look.

"Remember we're in public," she chided Johnny, then turned to Felicia. "Sorry about that. Johnny can be a bit... forward."

Felicia, regaining her composure, smiled, "No problem at all."

Susan, catching a glimpse of the engagement ring on Felicia's finger, raised an eyebrow, "Wait, is that an engagement ring?"

Alex and Felicia exchanged a glance, their expressions mirroring that of startled deer caught in the headlights. Little did Sue knows, the ring in question was not a symbol of impending matrimony, but rather a thoughtful gift from Alex to Felicia.

As the news reporters nearby caught wind of Susans Storm remark, a flurry of excitement erupted, with cameras clicking incessantly. Sensing the potential for scandal, Sue quickly stepped in, pulling Felicia into a congratulatory hug.

"Well, congratulations! Alex, you sly dog, when did you pop the question?" she exclaimed, her words tinged with a hint of playful jealousy.

Caught off guard by the unexpected attention, Felicia found herself at a loss for words, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Alex, startled by the events, attempted to defuse the situation with a sheepish grin.

"No, we're not," he interjected, his tone tinged with amusement. "We're just friends."

Felicia nodded in agreement, though her silence spoke volumes. She sought refuge in a feeble attempt to clarify the misunderstanding. "Yes, yes, we're not in a relationship... yet," she added, her gaze cast downward in embarrassment.

Not wanting to exacerbate Felicia's discomfort, Alex playfully nudged her and echoed her sentiments. "Yes, we're just friends," he affirmed.

Sue couldn't help but smirk at the exchange, though a flicker of jealousy briefly crossed her features either it's about Alex or just a girl wanting her own engagement ring we'll never know. "Oh, I see. Keeping things hush-hush," she remarked, her tone tinged with amusement. "Well, when it happens, make sure to invite us to the wedding. We wouldn't want to miss the event of the century."

As the reporters descended upon them with a barrage of questions, Sue and her colleagues found themselves swept up in the whirlwind of excitement and misunderstanding. 

The news reporters, sensing a headline, started firing questions. "Mr. Arasaka, is it true you're engaged? Who's the lucky lady?"

I responded with a charming smile, "I am sorry but we would like to keep things for ourselves and just want to enjoy the cruise. I hope you understand."

Amidst the growing buzz and probing questions from the reporters, Ben Grimm, ever the dependable friend, stepped forward, creating a diversion.

"Hey, c'mon, give the man some space!" Ben's gruff voice cut through the noise as he positioned himself between us and the persistent reporters.

"Thanks, Ben," I said, relieved for the intervention.

"No problem, I know how these media folks can be," Ben replied with a nod.

As the reporters redirected their attention to Ben, a calming presence approached. Alicia Masters, a friend of the Fantastic Four, stepped forward. With her warm smile, she greeted us.

"Alex, Susan, Ben, what's all the commotion about?"

Felicia, still slightly stunned by the unexpected turn of events, hadn't fully recovered. Alicia, sensing her unease, approached Felicia with a friendly demeanor.

"Hi there, I'm Alicia Masters. Don't worry; things can get a bit chaotic around here. It's a pleasure to meet you, Felicia?"

Felicia, breaking out of her daze, managed a smile and replied, "Uh, yes, that's me. Nice to meet you too, Alicia."

Seeing Felicia's genuine surprise and confusion, Alicia chuckled, "Welcome to the world of superheroes and media frenzy. It takes some getting used to."