Ultimate Fantastic Four: N-Zone, Part 3
Issue: #15
Writer: Warren Ellis
Pencils:
Inker: John Dell
Colors: Dave Stewart

As the shuttle Awesome moves through the N-Zone, Johnny Storm admits to not feeling well, and complains that he expected the N-Zone to be more exciting. Sue is scanning the area for energy signatures; Reed mentions that the N-Zone is a broken universe, nearing the end of its life. Underwhelmed by the science, Ben Grimm decides to go for a space walk, which he thoroughly enjoys -- for the few minutes he has before the shuttle intercepts an alien transmission.

The crew discusses the implications; someone is out there and wants to communicate, but first contact with an alien race wasn't in the mission planning. (Except for Reed, who actually wrote up a series of procedures for it, just in case.) Ben points out that any aliens who have survived this long in a dying universe aren't likely to be nice guys. In the end, all four of them agree to check out the transmission and follow it to its source.

On the way, they pass what appears to be the skeleton of a huge animal resembling a pterodactyl. Approaching a sun and its closest planet, they find a space station, made of many ships that have been welded together. The transmissions are coming from the stations.

Reed begins sending information back. He starts with the 1s and 0s of binary code, then the number pi. He receives a picture of a hydrogen atom back; the graphics become increasingly more detailed, until finally language begins to pour out of the shuttle's speakers. The voice invites the shuttle to dock. A quick vote shows all four team members want to meet the aliens. Reed slows the ship and docks as the others put on their space suits. As the shuttle links with the docking bay, the final panel shows an insect-like face in the door's window.

Submitted By: Seldes Katne