Unlimited Marvels #2 (Featuring Incredible Hulk)

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Marvels Unlimited #2
Green Rage
Part 2
You and What Army?

Featuring... the Incredible Hulk

Written by Aaron Martel
Edited by Daniel Dyer

Desert Base, 23:10 hours

The MPs were named Myers and Preston. And they were running for their lives.

Until they stopped dead in their tracks as the military jeep they had been riding in crashed down directly in front of them from out of the very sky.

The two horror-stricken soldiers turned to view the creature that had literally hurled the jeep at them: A monstrous green brute dubbed the Hulk, which was snarling at them in a primal rage.

We’re dead, Myers thought. Killed by a big green monster.

But just as the Hulk tensed his mammoth muscles to charge at the powerless MPs, he was sidetracked by a firestorm of ammunition discharged from the weapons of the small band of soldiers that had arrived on the scene. The bullets seemed to come at the monster from everywhere, and amazingly enough, the Hulk was driven a few paces back by the barrage. This emboldened the two MPs, who ran toward the heated battle to give their comrades support.

In a haze of smoke the soldiers halted their assault and waited for their visibility to clear. After a few tense seconds the armed squad was shocked to witness the Hulk not only still standing, but also spreading his massively muscled arms out wide with a furious grimace.

“Hey!” Myers hollered. “What’s he doing-”

And the Hulk clapped his hands together, producing a sonic boom with enough concussive force to flatten the entire squadron like a house of cards. Momentarily dazed, the soldiers urgently fought to regain their equilibrium and rose up with their assault rifles at the ready-

But the Hulk was gone.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

New Mexico desert, 05:30 hours

Dr. Bruce Banner woke up with his head pounding and his muscles aching as if he caught a very bad case of the flu. He sat up and winced, shivering against the chill of the clear desert morning, and with a start realized why he was so cold. Looking down at his body, Bruce discovered he was wearing nothing but a ripped and stretched pair of purple trousers, but that was only part of the reason. He stood up, wobbling and befuddled, and discovered he was on top of a large desert ridge, flattened out like a plateau on the level Bruce was standing on. He could see Desert Base in the near distance, about a half mile away, and also the winding road that led there. And Bruce had utterly no memory of anything that had happened to him in the last six hours.

Still woozy and freezing to his bones, Bruce began to stagger down the side of the ridge, stumbling and falling numerous times on the way down. He was receiving scrapes and bruises for his efforts, but he was determined to reach the road leading to Desert Base.

Bruce reached the bottom of the ridge and lurched toward the road, oblivious to the car speeding towards the army base, straight in his direction. With a final distressed lunge Bruce stepped to the road and collapsed; the driver of the car slammed on the brakes and the vehicle skidded to a screeching stop just short of the cataleptic scientist.

“Doc!”

Rick Jones, Bruce’s young intern assistant, jumped out of the car and hurried to the side of his supervisor and mentor.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Bruce Banner’s quarters, 08:00 hours

Bruce sat on the edge of his bed in his bathrobe, freshly showered and sipping coffee, while Rick and Betty Ross, Bruce’s girlfriend, were closely monitoring him.

“I feel fine, so you don’t have to keep staring,” Bruce spoke quietly.

“I just wish you’d see a doctor,” Betty’s voice was thick with concern.

Bruce was mildly annoyed. “No more doctors. I’ve seen enough doctors. I was supposed to be discharged today anyway.”

“So you really don’t remember what happened?” Rick asked.

”No,” Bruce responded. “I must have blocked everything out. I certainly don’t remember any monster kidnapping me.”

“The Hulk,” Rick put in. “The Army’s calling it the Hulk.”

“It must have taken me up that cliff,” Bruce struggled to recall the events of the previous evening. “Obviously it didn’t harm me, but I don’t know what it could have wanted with me.”

“Maybe it had something to do with the sabotage?” Betty threw out.

“It’s possible, I suppose…I just don’t know.” Bruce was perturbed.

“They still haven’t found the guy that did it?” Rick questioned.

“No. My father’s practically turning over all of New Mexico looking for that MP,” Betty answered. Betty’s father was General “Thunderbolt” Ross, Commanding Officer of Desert Base.

“Well, I’m sure they’ll get him.” Rick was confident. “Hey, it’s the army, right?”

Bruce raised his eyebrows. “Well Rick, why don’t we get started working on the reactor?” The gamma reactor was Bruce’s project that had recently been sabotaged, and Bruce had been given clearance by military brass to make repairs and resume testing.

“Yeah, Doc…” Rick mumbled, glancing at Betty, who was glowering at him. “I’m ready to get going.”

Betty took Bruce’s hands in her own. “Bruce, don’t you think you should take it easy after all you’ve been through…”

But she saw the look on his face, and she acquiesced. “Just promise me you’ll take it easy, okay?”

Bruce gently kissed her. “I will. And I’ll see you at Giovanni’s at five.”

The scene was interrupted by a knock at the door. Bruce looked quizzically at the other two and opened the door to see a tall, handsome young officer standing there; when he spoke he was cordial but all business.

“Dr. Banner? My name is Major Glenn Talbot, and I’d like to ask you a few questions about last night.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Desert Base Command Center, 10:00 hours

General “Thunderbolt” Ross entered the private war room where his command staff was waiting for him. He was not in a good mood. They stood up when he came in but he quickly bade them sit back down as he wanted to get right to business.

“All right,” Ross declared. “I want all the intel on this monster now.”

A lower ranking officer cleared his throat. “General, at approximately 23:00 hours last night the creature codenamed “Hulk” appeared. It assaulted two MPs on duty and threw their vehicle at them.”

“Waitaminute.” Ross wasn’t sure he heard the junior officer correctly. “Threw?”

“Uh, yes sir,” the officer continued. “It then took out a squad of men by…clapping its hands. This is according to the on-scene report by the MPs in question, a Myers and Preston.”

“Did anybody think to use a weapon against it?” Ross was fuming.

“Yes sir, but they apparently had no effect on it,” the officer squirmed as he reported. “After it disabled the squadron it then escaped.”

“And how did it do that?” Ross growled.

“Well sir, there was only one man who apparently saw it escape, the MP Myers, but…”

“Out with it man!” Ross bellowed.

“Apparently it uh…jumped.”

“Jumped.”

“Yes sir.”

Ross rubbed his forehead in disbelief and frustration while the room remained oddly silent. After Ross settled down he addressed the next topic.

“Talbot, how was Banner involved?” Ross queried.

“Sir,” Major Talbot responded. “According to Dr. Banner it seems he was abducted by the Hulk from his hospital room. The hospital confirms massive damage done to the wall in the room. The creature carried Dr. Banner to the ridge just outside the base and left him there for what purpose Dr. Banner doesn’t know. He can’t seem to recall the events that took place thereafter. His assistant Jones confirms he found Dr. Banner in close proximity to the ridge this morning disheveled and suffering from memory loss. Dr. Banner claims he has no knowledge of the Hulk’s whereabouts.”

Ross had his suspicions about that, but he kept that to himself for now. “And where is Banner now?”

“He and Jones have returned to the gamma reactor bunker to continue their work and make repairs,” Major Talbot replied.

Ross squinted his eyes scathingly at this. “Fine. So what manner of monster are we talking about here?”

Colonel Trent Baker, Executive Officer of Desert Base, passed a document around the table. On the first page was an artist’s rendering of a green enormously muscled humanoid creature that was drawn from the soldiers’ descriptions.

“The Hulk is at least seven feet tall, bipedal, somewhat humanoid or ape-like in appearance with its skin an emerald green color and it is so large it appears to be the size of at least four men,” Colonel Baker began. “Its skin is durable enough to withstand close range fire from multiple weapons leaving no apparent damage. It is impossibly strong. It lifted and tossed a military all-terrain vehicle and incapacitated at least ten men with its bare hands. The Hulk is considered to be extremely dangerous and under no circumstances should it be approached by a lone-”

“The hell with it!” Ross pounded the table with his fist. “I’m not going to have some monster tearing around my base! I want this Hulk destroyed at all costs! Baker, I want an armored unit at the ready when it appears again! Talbot, I want you to have that ridge investigated! Maybe the Hulk has set up camp there! I want every inch of this base scoured for any signs of its presence! I want this creature found and I want it taken down with extreme prejudice! Now GO!”

As the war room quickly cleared Ross stared straight ahead and addressed the empty room. “What the hell am I dealing with here?”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Gamma reactor chamber, 17:05 hours

The two men had been working feverishly without a break, and the strain was beginning to show on the face of Bruce Banner. He was trying to repair a safety valve without much success, and he threw down his wrench in irritation. Rick noted the brilliant scientist’s pale, sweaty countenance, and attempted to calm his nerves.

“Doc, why don’t we take five?” Rick eased the question.

Bruce wiped his brow. “Yes…all right. It’s just so damn aggravating. We had it, Rick, we were ready to go. Then some…spy comes and ruins my dreams. Just like that.”

Rick watched Bruce hold his head in his hands and felt for him. “Doc, it’s not over. We’re gonna fix this machine, it’ll do everything you designed it to do, and you’ll be recognized as the genius you are.”

Bruce smiled at Rick’s awkward pep talk. “I know, Rick, I know. You can’t let me have a moment of self-pity, eh?”

“Not a chance,” Rick grinned back. “And when they catch this guy-”

“I seriously doubt the saboteur will ever be found,” Bruce piped in. “It’s been too long, and General Ross probably thinks I did it anyway.”

“That’s crazy.” Rick’s face was skeptical.

“Plus Ross must be preoccupied with this creature running around. I don’t think he’s concerned with the gamma reactor.” There was a moment of strained silence.

“Okay, Rick,” Bruce was composed. “How about we try to power up, and then we’ll call it a day. You repaired the main power line, right?”

“Right!” Rick zipped into the control room and turned on the P.S. system. “Okay, Doc. Stand back. I’m about to start it up.”

Bruce took a few steps back from the reactor as Rick pulled the lever to send electrical juice to the core. There was a peculiar humming noise followed by a burst of sparks originating under the reactor assembly and shooting outward like a fountain.

“Shut it off! Shut it off!” Bruce screamed as Rick frantically pushed the lever back and the sparking ceased. Rick dashed into the reactor chamber to find Bruce inspecting the burned-out wiring underneath the reactor that Rick had spent the entire day working on.

“Doc!” Rick voiced anxiously. “Are you all-”

“You stupid moron!” Bruce exploded, grabbing Rick by the shirt. “You said it was repaired! Don’t you know what you’re doing?! I’ll do it all myself you brainless oaf! I-”

And then Bruce clutched his own shirt, writhing in obvious pain. He staggered back away from Rick, and he groaned in agony as his eyes appeared to Rick like they had changed color from his normal brown to a deep emerald green. Moving rapidly Bruce stumbled to the reactor chamber door and punched the keys to open it, while Rick stood watching, stunned by Bruce’s uncharacteristic outburst.

It took a few moments for Rick to collect himself, but then with a pang of guilt he realized Bruce might need his help, so he dashed after the frail scientist hoping to smooth things over and resolve their conflict. But Bruce had such a head start he had already passed through the control room and reached the elevator to take him back to the surface. Rick frenetically punched the code to open the control room door and raced to catch Bruce, who was fumbling through the open elevator door. Desperately Rick poured on the speed and leaped into the elevator just as the doors slid shut. As the elevator began to rise Rick turned to talk to Bruce and gasped at what he saw.

With his back to Rick Bruce was growing, physically growing, and his skin was turning bright green as he was tearing through his clothes. His voice had dropped several octaves and was morphing into primal grunts and animalistic growls. Near the end of the unbelievable transformation it dawned on a horrified Rick what was happening, and he tried to comprehend it all out loud.
“Doc Banner,” Rick stammered. “You’re the Hulk.”

And Rick immediately wished he hadn’t spoken as the green behemoth whipped around and glared at the young assistant with seething rage.

“Banner…” the Hulk rumbled. “Hulk hates that name!”

And the mighty creature lightly backhanded Rick, sending him flying back into the elevator wall and rendering him unconscious.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened up to an antechamber filled with a dozen very surprised and heavily armed soldiers who were there to guard the reactor bunker.

Snarling savagely, the Hulk stepped out of the elevator.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Desert Command Center, 18:00 hours

“General Ross!” the communications officer excitedly reported. “The Hulk has appeared on base and is spotted heading for the entrance gate!”

“What?” Ross boomed. “Alert all units! I want that big bastard brought down and I want his head mounted in my office! Now get him!”

Smiling fanatically, the old general felt a familiar fire burning in his belly as he put on a set of communications headphones, the promise of combat getting his blood racing.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Desert Base, 18:45 hours

The path of destruction left in the Hulk’s wake was staggering. Heavy mechanized assault vehicles were overturned. Numerous wounded soldiers littered the trail, victims of a powerful swat from the jade giant’s hands. It was as if a swath had been cut through the base like a scythe through a wheat field.

The two sentries posted at the north entrance to Desert Base were firing upon the huge green figure running towards them, emptying their magazines to absolutely no effect. With a prodigious roar the Hulk ran past them and crashed through the heavy oak gate, projecting wooden splinters through the air in all directions and barely slowing him down. The sentries could only feebly watch before radioing Desert Command of their failure.

Now free of the military base the Hulk spied a familiar ridge a short distance away, and increased his already amazing rate of speed. His momentum built, the Hulk then leaped into the air, covering so much distance the jump had the appearance of actual flight. He landed with a great BOOM at the base of the ridge, and he bent his knees preparing to leap to the top.

But just as he took to the air again the Hulk was knocked off course by a pelting storm of bullets, careening him into the ridge wall and plummeting him back to Earth. The green brute rose up to see a hellfire missile fired at him by one of the two Apache copters that had just attacked him. He instinctively ducked, and the missile detonated into the ridge, creating a giant landslide that completely buried the Hulk under tons of solid rock. Then there was only smoke and silence.

“Warbird One to Desert One. Target has been neutralized. Do you copy?” the copter pilot reported in.

“Warbird One do you have a visual?” came General Ross’ anxious voice over the radio.

“Negative, Desert One, but nothing could have survived-” The pilot lost his train of thought as he gawked incredulously.

The vibrating and low rumbling sound gradually increased until the rubble exploded and the Hulk emerged with a bestial roar, any vestiges of humanity replaced with blind animal rage. Before the shocked copter pilots could react, the Hulk easily lifted a six-ton boulder and heaved it at one of the choppers, smashing through and destroying its tail and rotor. As that copter went down the green goliath leaped at the other one, barely missing it as the pilot dipped sharply in a desperate evasive maneuver. The copter flew away from the ridge as fast as its engines could thrust with the Hulk bounding after it in close pursuit.

“Desert One! The Hulk is alive and on my tail! I can’t shake him! Repeat, the Hulk is-”

And the pilot’s words were cut off as the Hulk plunged down from above and smashed through the copter’s rotor and cockpit in a fierce green blur. For an absurdly frozen microsecond the pilot and gunner could only gape at the gigantic hole in their aircraft as they crashed to the ground.

His enemies defeated and enraged beyond description, the Hulk threw back his head and let out a tremendous roar towards the battered Desert Base.

“HULK WILL SMASH YOU ALL!”

And from a standing position he jumped into the air again, a mind-boggling leap covering well over a mile heading in the direction of his tormentors’ location.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Giovanni’s Restaurant, 18:30 hours

Sitting at her special table Betty Ross had been impatiently waiting for Bruce Banner well over an hour when she heard the big siren go off signaling imminent danger. Betty had never heard that siren before, but she knew exactly what it was.

Bruce, her mind somehow immediately latched onto.

Her irritation with her tardy boyfriend forgotten, Betty got into her car and sped to his quarters, a small apartment complex specifically set aside for civilian employees of Desert Base. She hoped he was there and had merely forgotten their dinner date, but a feeling of unease was creeping in her gut. Something‘s wrong, she knew as she knocked and entered Bruce’s apartment. And the fact that Bruce wasn’t home only fueled the turbulent emotions of the young biology professor. He must still be at the reactor bunker, she thought. Her heart pounding, Betty went back outside, swiftly closed the door and turned to go to her car-

CROOM!

The Hulk thundered down directly in front of Betty, the shockwave flinging her violently off her feet. Too terrified to even scream, Betty looked into the livid eyes of the monster as he raised his massive green fist above her; she squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the killing blow… that never came.

Betty meekly opened her eyes to see the Hulk standing in front of her, his fist lowered and his face bizarrely softened. He seemed confused, unsure. Betty climbed back to her feet and stood to face him, her entire body trembling in fear. It was then the remarkable happened.

“Betty…?” the Hulk grumbled.

Betty’s mouth fell open in absolute astonishment but before she could react the noise of approaching soldiers caught the ears of the creature and he turned away from her. Coiling his powerful leg muscles like immense springs, the Hulk launched himself skyward and away from Betty, who watched the green monstrosity clear the army base and disappear into the desert evening.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

New York City, JFK International Airport, 20:00 hours

The jumbo airliner taxied down the runway in preparation for its flight to eastern Europe. Seated toward the back of the plane was a plain, ordinary man in dark glasses who was rubbing his newly shaved head as he spoke on a cell phone.

“Da, comrade, my passport has been changed and my passage is now safe to return. And I have the photographs. They will be in your hands at this time tomorrow. Do vstrechi.”

And Emil Blonsky settled back in his seat, his hand patting the thin penlight in his pocket that had easily passed through American security, a thin smile on his lips.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

New Mexico desert, 20:00 hours

High atop the flattened apex of a desert rock ridge the Hulk sat, viewing with disinterest a lazy arid sunset. The fury was dwindling in his breast, and he had at last what he truly desired: to be alone and at peace.

The end.