Once again moving through the facility he was in Reed's group, now consisting of four, after adding Ben, passed through various hallways and double doors, until eventually they came to a stop on a surgery observation deck.
As soon as they did both Susan and Franklin turned toward the windows, scared expressions overtaking their faces.
Turning to the windows themselves, Ben and Reed could understand why.
Down below in a room, Johnny lay in a bed unconscious, various medical equipment attached to his body. While a nurse and doctor checked him, each of them wearing heat resistant suits.
[Insert Image of Jonathan Storm/Human Torch Here]
Seeing this Ben raised a brow. "Okay, someone wanna explain why the people watching over Johnny are dressed like they're dealing with a five-alarm fire?"
"Because of the changes that have affected him due to the accident, like the rest of you." Franklin replied.
He then walked over to a computer terminal and turned it on. After which he brought up Johnny's vital signs and other data on him, before stepping aside so the others could view it.
"Intriguing." Reed spoke, as he reviewed the data that had been gathered on Johnny. "Johnny's body is literally generating copious amounts of plasma-like energy. And directly from his cells themselves."
"He's literally a walking plasma generator." Susan muttered. "No, wait. It's not plasma per-se. But rather a unique and totally new form of energy that resembles plasma and flames in a way." She spoke, speaking the like scientist she was.
Since Reed knew that in this reality just like her Earth-1610 counterpart, and counterparts from 2005, and the atrocious 2015, films, in this reality Susan was a genius in her own right that had four biochemical doctorates to her name.
"Both of you are correct." Franklin revealed. "Johnny's cells are currently producing a new and totally unique form of energy that mirrors the properties of plasma and flames. Which is why he's in a specialized containment room, even more than you three and Victor were. Because ever since the accident affected all of you and his abilities manifested his baseline body temperature hasn't dropped below 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit." He explained. Franklin then sighed. "What's worse, at times Johnny's temperature has suddenly spiked out of nowhere, reaching close to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit." Franklin spoke.
Terror in his voice.
Which neither Reed, Susan, or Ben blamed him for, given what they just told him about Johnny's powers.
"Johnny." Susan worriedly muttered. Thinking of her little brother. The one who liked to turn up the music so loud it annoyed her and could spend an entire day fixing up and improving a car engine while forgetting to eat.
Noticing Susan's worry Reed moved to place a hand gently on her shoulder, leading her to look at her.
"Sue, it's going to be alright." Reed stated firmly. "Johnny's going to be just fine. Because all of us are going to make sure of that." He stated.
"Yeah, Reed's right." Ben added. "The kid ain't going nowhere. At least not while I'm still alive and kicking. Even if I'm literally a ton of bricks at the moment."
Hearing Ben and Reed's reassuring words Susan began to calm down.
As did Franklin.
While they did this, within his containment room, Johnny began to slowly but surely open his eyes.
Noticing this while examining him the doctor and nurse activated the communication devices within their suits to the observation deck. "Doctor Franklin, your son is waking up. I repeat, he's waking up." The doctor spoke.
Back on the observation deck, Franklin, along with the others heard this immediately.
As soon as they all of them rushed down to Johnny's room.
Just as they arrived Johnny finished opening his eyes. "Oh, what hit me?" He groaned, as he slowly began looking around. Until eventually his eyes landed on his family and friends.
"Dad, sis, Reed, and a rock monster?" Johnny confusedly spoke.
"Hey, nice to see you too hot head." Ben spoke.
Johnny recognizing the voice. "Wait, Ben? Is that you?"
"Yeah." Ben replied. "It's me Johnny."
"Okay. Either this is all a dream or something seriously crazy went down while I was sleeping." Johnny muttered
"This isn't a dream, Johnny." Reed said. "This is all very much real. And yes, something crazy did go down while you were asleep." He added. Reed then stretched his arm to touch the ceiling before retracting it. "We got superpowers."
"What?" Johnny asked, blinking rapidly several times. Before turning to look at Sue. "Sis, tell me I'm not crazy and Reed definitely stretched his arm and put his hand on the ceiling just now."
"Don't worry Johnny, you're not crazy." Susan replied.
"Okay, just checking." Johnny replied. "Also, damn that was cool." He spoke. "So, wait, you're saying we all got powers from that accident? Then in that case what are mi-" Johnny began to say, only for his entire body to burst into flames a second later.
Leading everyone to take a step back.
"Johnny, calm down." Franklin told his son.
"Right. On it pop." Johnny replied. He then worked to calm down, and once he did the flames surrounding Johnny's went out. But not before he burned the sheets on his bed, and all of his clothes off, leaving him as naked as the day he was born.
"Agh!!" Johnny screamed like a little girl a second later, before using his hands to cover up his private parts.
"Hahahaha!" Ben beginning to laugh a second later.
"Ben!" Susan exclaimed, turning to face him.
"I know, Susie, I know I shouldn't be laughing." Ben spoke in between laughter. "But this is just too good an opportunity not to."
"Yeah, keep laughing it up for now rocky. But soon I'll have my revenge." Johnny spoke, giving Ben the stink eye.
But it did nothing to keep him from laughing.
As this occurred Reed, Susan, and Franklin couldn't help but start wearing wry smiles on their faces.
But despite this they were all happy. Since despite everything that had, or was, happening the current moment between Johnny and Ben proved things weren't totally ruined.
Meaning there was still a path they all could take to start a new future.