The Baxter Building's upper floors hummed with energy. Reed had set aside one of the labs for "new recruits," though Greta still felt strange standing in a room filled with alien tech and devices she couldn't even name. Candy, however, looked right at home — lounging on a console chair, spinning in circles while popping another lollipop into her mouth.
The doors hissed open. A tall figure stepped through — Louis.
She wore a black-and-gold suit lined with faint patterns that shimmered like butterfly wings. Her eyes glowed faintly, as though lit from within, and as she entered, tiny golden butterflies materialized in the air around her, fluttering silently before fading like sparks.
"Louis!" Candy hopped up and rushed over, grinning ear to ear. "Knew you wouldn't leave me hanging!"
Louis gave her a small smile and embraced her, though her expression carried a weight Candy rarely wore. "It wasn't easy leaving. The Serpents' shadow spreads faster than anyone realizes." Her gaze flicked to Greta, then to the Fantastic Four watching from the back. "You must be the ones she spoke about."
Reed nodded politely, already studying the butterfly aura with scientific fascination.
But Candy tilted her head. "Wait… where's Mona? Didn't you two always travel together?"
Louis's expression darkened slightly. "Mona couldn't leave immediately. She said she had… work to finish. Two more days, maybe. She'll join us as soon as she's free."
Greta frowned. Something about the way Louis said it didn't sit right, but she stayed silent.
Candy clapped her hands together. "Fine, fine! Then it's just us until Mona makes her grand entrance." She gave Louis a playful nudge. "And you're gonna love New York."
Louis didn't reply. Her glowing eyes flickered, and more butterflies scattered briefly across the lab, dissolving into golden dust.
For a moment, even the Fantastic Four fell quiet, a silent recognition that this woman carried more than just beauty and light. There was a storm behind her glow.
And Greta knew — if the Black Serpents were truly preparing to destroy the world, then Louis's power was going to matter.