Ultimate Fantastic Four: N-Zone, Part 4
Issue: #16
Writer: Warren Ellis
Pencils:
Inker: John Dell
Colors: Dave Stewart

The Fantastic Four finish putting on their space suits and enter the alien space station. The door closes behind them and the station's atmosphere is pumped into the room. Sue mentions the atmosphere would kill them after three breaths or so.

A winged creature enters through a door on the other side of the room. At first it speaks an unknown language, which the translator Reed carries only partially translates (the first words: "Welcome to last station. I annihilate."). Finally the alien places a device on the glass faceplate of each human's space suit. The device cuts a hole in the glass and inserts a speaker that translates the alien's words. He introduces himself as Nihil, which is a title for leaders, he says. Reed explains that his team is from "somewhere else"�, and Nihil offers to show them around the station. He tells them that no one leaves the solar system any more, since the universe is dying and the sun provides the energy. Reed admits that his ship is from another, younger universe. Nihil offers him information on what his people have learned about surviving the aging of their own universe.

Suddenly Johnny collapses. Sue examines him visually; his skin has turned very rough and brown. She and Ben carry him back the ship. Reed apologies to Nihil and leaves. We get the first hint that Nihil has plans for Reed and his shuttle.

Johnny lies in the medical area. Sue hooks him up to an intravenous bag of nutrients that should keep him going until they got home, as long as they leave immediately. Reed agrees they need to go, but he wants to set up a way to communicate with Nihil, and to get a few environmental samples. He also needs to explain to Nihil what's happening. Sue comes up with a theory on Johnny's condition, and Ben escorts Reed back to the space station.

Ben comments that the inhabitants of the station aren't just refugees, they're trapped on the station. None of them seem to have many possessions, except Nihil. Ben finds that suspicious, to say the least. Reed complains that the universe is a wondrous, mysterious, exciting place, and that all of the geniuses he's met just want to use everything for their own evil ends.

Reed explains the situation to Nihil and offers to set up communications so they can talk. Nihil wants a lot more than that -- he wants entry into the younger, newer universe. His race lives a long time, and it's likely that he will see the final collapse of his own universe. He presses a button, and the communication devices in Reed's and Ben's helmets explode, shattering the faceplates and exposing the two humans to the station's poisonous atmosphere.

Submitted By: Seldes Katne