The Ultimates #11

Emergence Part Four:

Hulk

The Ultimates . . .

After facing down 9/11 most Americans thought they could persevere through it all but then disaster struck again in the form of a vicious super human known as Graviton and it was by sheer luck and overwhelming numbers that the black ops team known as "The Howling Commandos" had brought the immensely powerful man down. Almost immediately thereafter General Nick Fury had been tasked with forming a more public team to take care of threats like Graviton. With Uncle Sam's blessing Nick Fury trimmed down some of the excess programs and set about forming a super human team he had dubbed "The Ultimate Humans" or the more PR friendly "Ultimates".

The Story So Far . . .

Nick Fury revealed his Ultimates to the world with a bang during a rescue of the very guests who were there to see them. Their introduction was a success but it seems nothing good can last for long. Cap tried to teach Hank some self-defense but ended up embarrassing him in front of a number of soldiers, creating a rift between the two. Tony Stark has refused Iron Man from joining their group despite their having worked together successfully more than once. Jan teased the rash Bruce Banner into working feverishly on the super soldier serum overnight, missing his date with his new girlfriend Betty Ross. When Betty breaks up with him Bruce, self-injected with his new serum, turns into a massive Hulk that has just escaped the Triskelion . . .

An Excerpt from Brian Banner's Departing Letter to His Son

Bruce, the shame I feel in writing you this letter has kept me silent all these years. I am not sure how much you remember of your dear mother or how she died, but what I did I had to do. You see, Bruce, there is something I never told you, Rebecca would never let me. You were an accident, one that I had hoped would never happen. Not because I dislike children but because of something far worse.

Your Grandfather was a monster, beating my mother and myself at any drunken chance he had. He was evil inside but hid it from the entire world but the two people who loved him the most. I inherited this monster gene, and even worse, thanks to a lab accident before you were born developed further genetic defects. I vowed never to have a child the world does not need another Banner monster.

I see now that, though you may hide it well, you carry the monster gene inside of you along with my own genetic defects. I must go now and prepare against the monster you will become, the world, and especially those you love, will thank me.

Manhattan Streets, USA

The streets of Manhattan were busy, as usual, with residents rushing from one destination to the next like their lives depended on it. Some of the people were rich, their stretch limos rolled along with windows rolled firmly up, others were poorer, tattoos and metal decorated them like lights on a Christmas tree. New York City was used to its myriad freaks and geeks that roamed the streets day and night. Nothing could have prepared it for the Hulk.

Like an earthquake Hulk landed in the Manhattan streets, sending waves of debris flying away from it. The massive creature's radioactive green eyes glared balefully at the stunned onlookers who stared in shock and awe. It let loose a roar deeper and louder than any lion's.

Most of the people shrank back in fear, covering their children with their own bodies. The Hulk snorted at their cowardly reaction and strode confidently down the street, daring anyone to challenge him. This wasn't the same beast that had emerged to save Captain America. That Hulk had been reactionary and pinkish in hue but this Hulk was slate gray and much more intelligent. It had learned.

An unaware driver turned the corner in his SUV and crashed into the Hulk. With a crunch the front of the vehicle buckled and steam spewed up, obscuring the driver's view of what he had hit.

"Hey buddy! Why don't you watch where . . ." The man shouted at the Hulk as he jumped out of his SUV, but he stopped when he saw the eight-foot tall monstrosity that stood glaring down at him. The driver froze on the spot. His legs refused to move as the Hulk lowered himself to look directly into the man's eyes. Holding his glare steady the Hulk reached out with one massive fist and flicked the SUV. Over a ton of steel and plastic flipped end over end screeching against the asphalt as it slowly skid to a halt over fifty feet away.

The blood drained from the driver's face. The Hulk sneered at him then straightened itself and walked on. With a whimper the man collapsed as his legs gave out underneath him, his whole body trembling. Pedestrians screamed and ran in every direction away from the Hulk.

It wasn't long until the cops came, but that just made things worse.

"Freeze!" the first policeman that arrived on the scene whipped his gun out immediately. The Hulk ignored him and continued advancing toward the cop. Without a second warning the policeman let loose with his pistol. Eight shots rang out in quick succession, each one sparked off the creature's thick hide.

"Shit!"

For the first time the Hulk grinned as the man flung his worthless gun aside and pulled out his Taser. The twin probes launched from the Taser met with no more success than the gun, they fell to the ground uselessly. The Hulk on the other became annoyed at the cop's persistence and he reached for the man. At first the policeman's training served him well and he was able to dodge the first two swipes. He tried to duck behind a car but Hulk's hand clamped down on his left leg like a steel vice.

"Stop!" the cop cried out in panic. There was an audible "pop" as the Hulk squeezed tighter, the cop's ankle now broken. His foot dangled uselessly as the Hulk threw him at another pair of policemen running onto the scene. The three officers went sprawling away and the Hulk stomped on.

Hangar 2, Triskelion

Fury's single eye burned in anger as SHIELD agents scrambled about to try and get an aircraft ready, around him stood the majority of his Ultimates. Black Widow and Black Knight had both been raced to the trauma ward. A scraped up Hawkeye was still present but looked out of sorts, something Fury had never seen.

"Alright!" Fury took the stubby end of a burned out cigar from his mouth. "We don't know what the hell Banner has become but he put Natasha and Dane in critical condition. Now he's running amok in New York. We've got to bring the son of a bitch in, dead or alive, I don't care which."

"We know he was messing with the super soldier serum," Captain America added. "Whatever has happened to him may be involuntary, we should try and bring him in alive. Unless America has changed more than I think we still don't leave a man behind if there is hope."

"You don't work for America anymore, Cap," Fury reminded the super soldier, anger hardening his words. "Shield is under the United Nations. We bring back Banner dead or alive, whichever gets the job done first."

Cap scowled but, like a good soldier, kept his mouth shut. Hank looked about at his teammates nervously, were they really going to do this, go out and kill Bruce Banner? For the first time Hank didn't think he wanted to be a part of the team anymore. His stomach clenched and he suddenly felt nauseas. He looked over at Jan and was shocked to see she actually looked excited. How could she?

Hawkeye was silent, still pale and hazy eyed from his first encounter with the monster Hulk. Hank was no tactical genius but this wasn't good, they were down two members it would be just the four of them against a monster that had taken out a squad of soldiers and punched a hole in the Triskelion.

"Don't forget this thing took hundreds of bullets and shrugged them off like they were spitballs, we go in with everything we got. I know some of you are thinking of Banner but whatever that thing is, it isn't Banner. You can't hold back. This is what we were made for, people. Load up!"

"Let's do this!" Jan yelled excitedly as they jogged toward the awaiting hover jet. No one else said a word.

Manhattan Streets, NYC

Sirens screamed, interrupted occasionally by staccato bursts of gunfire. SWAT teams had set up blockades around the Hulk, parking bulletproof vans along every available exit. They were quickly emptying the streets of pedestrians, getting them what they hoped would be a safe distance away. The Hulk didn't seem concerned.

The Hulk marched on up the street, aiming right for a big black SWAT van. The team sat sweating as they stared out from behind their vehicle at the impossible form in front of them.

"Didn't Shield just take care of this ugly mug?" One of the SWAT team members asked, trying to mask his fear with irritation.

"Naw," said another as he chomped down on his Nicorette gum. "I saw that one on the news, it was a different guy."

"Where the hell are these things coming from?"

No one had any time to answer as Hulk decided he had waited long enough to attack. With a thunderous bellow he charged forward. Rapid bursts of bullets sprayed toward him but screamed harmlessly of his thick gray skin.

Raising on massive fist he brought it crashing against the SWAT van. A few of the team were able to dodge aside but most we caught up by the flying vehicle. They all landed tumbling end over end with the crashing van, most of them were eviscerated in seconds by the flying debris, shards of glass and strips of broken metal tore through their flesh with near-hurricane force.

The only two SWAT left fit for combat struggled to get to a position where they could open fire. The first was barely able to let off a couple rounds before the Hulk brushed him aside like one would a gnat. The Hulk's massive rough hand broke his nose and cracked a couple ribs before sending him tumbling backward, losing his gun in the process. The second screamed in rage but was silenced when the Hulk turned and glared at him balefully with one glowing green eye.

After a small moment of silence only punctuated by far off screams or the occasional SWAT yelling at a pedestrian the Hulk stopped and sniffed the air. With a grunt it turned west and leaped into the sky, leaving behind a once idyllic neighborhood that now resembled a war zone. The lone remaining SWAT member breathed out a long shaky sigh of relief.

Soaring across the Manhattan skyline the Hulk's malevolent green eyes scanned the massive city. This Hulk was different than the scar-pink entity that had initially emerged from Banner. This one's eyes were focused with cunning and a constant angry sneer marred its wide face. It had learned from its previous experiences. It remembered all too well what had happened last time it had emerged, Banner had forced it back into his emotionally chaotic mind. There it had witnessed everything that had happened to Banner through a hazy fog.

No one realized it but the Hulk had a mission. He remembered the Ultimates, the strongest men in the world. Hulk knew he was stronger than them and he wanted to prove it. He was heading back to where the Ultimates had captured Banner and Cap. He knew they would come. The Hulk indulged a quick self-satisfied smirk as it played out in its mind how it was going to tear apart the men who pretended to be strong like him. No one was as strong as the Hulk. Hulk show them all.

Manhattan Skyline, NYC

No one spoke as the hover jet zoomed smoothly toward downtown. Clint sat silently replaying the recent events in his head. Over the years he, Dane and Natasha had been through countless mission together, each more deadly than the last. He had never felt as close to losing them as he had today. That thing that Banner had become seemed unstoppable.

"I need your head in the game, son," Fury's gravelly voice came from behind him.

"What game?" Clint retorted angrily. "This suicide mission? The monster just shrugged off high-caliber bullets like they were paper. What are we supposed to do to defeat him? The only ones on this mission worth anything are me and Cap."

"Hey!"

"No offense, Jan," Hawkeye continued. "But we have two scientists, a thawed super soldier and a glorified Shield agent."

"One of those scientists can grow to 35 feet tall!" Fury jabbed a finger in Hank's direction. "That thing might be tough but we've still got the advantage. You've got all of Shield behind you."

"This won't help anything," Cap interjected. We've got to come up with a plan and come up with one fast."

Clint sneered and turned away from the eternal optimist. "You keep telling yourself that's gonna help."

"Barton!" Fury barked.

"We are nearly to the drop zone, sir!" the pilot interrupted. Glancing up Clint saw several thick columns of black smoke rising into the hazy skyline.

"Everybody get it together or this will be a suicide mission," Fury admonished then turned and joined the pilot in the cockpit.

"This seems familiar," Cap started to say but was interrupted by the side door sliding open, wind ripping through the hover jet.

They slowly lowered in front of an apartment building with a gaping hole in its face. Clint realized why it was familiar.

"This is where we picked up Cap from Banner the first time!" Clint shouted.

Fury looked back at the archer, his one eye wide. "It knows what it's doing! Ultimates, get out now!" Clint leaped from the open door, Cap at his side. Just then something hurtled into hover jet, sending it careening downward to the street. It landed with a crash, pieces of propeller and weaponry spraying down the street.

Hawkeye and Cap landed in the gaping hole, rolling with their momentum, a buzzing betraying the presence of Jan as well.

"Where's Fury and Hank?"

"I don't know . . ." Jan said as she resumed her normal size, her voice sounded small and afraid. A load bellow echoed above them.

Stark Tower, NYC

"I'm not gonna lie," Tony Stark eyed each of his board members. "Nick Fury is bringing as much pressure as he can."

"Then why don't you just give him access to the Iron Man technology?" Ezekiel Stane, the youngest member of the board, asked. His father, Obadiah, was Stark's most trusted advisor and sat just to his right. Obadiah gave a sharp look to his son and shook his head slightly.

"If we gave him access to the Iron Man tech we would be obsolete in a year," Obadiah argued. "The second Fury gets his hands on the Iron Man he would start reverse engineering the armor."

"I'm not sure the company can withstand another blacklisting for government contracts."

"Just let Iron Man join his little team of superhumans," another board member declared. "It'd be good for PR."

"Iron Man is not Stark Industries employee," Tony began.

Before anything else could be said the double doors opened up and in strode Rhodes, his already grim face looking grimmer than usual. Behind him strode Pepper Potts, as professional as she was beautiful, though the look on her face was strained. Something definitely was not right.

"Tony, we've got a problem!" Rhodes grabbed a remote from the conference table and turned on the TV, quickly changing it to a news channel.

"As you can see the Ultimates have just arrived, though they seem to be shy a few members." A reporter blabbed on while video of smoking rubble and wreckage played behind her. "No one is sure where the creature came from or what it's motives are but everyone is sure it is NOT peaceful."

"That's right, Alice," a man interrupted her, video switched to a reporter on the scene, smoke curling up behind him. "Not five minutes ago, a creature, closely resembling the one that had already terrorized Manhattan, leaped into a residential neighborhood an proceeded to tear it apart. Police and SWAT have made no progress in stopping or even slowing the beast. Thankfully Captain America and his team seemed to have just arrived."

Just as the man finished his sentence the cameraman panned to a large hover jet descending from the sky. Suddenly an enormous chunk of concrete came hurtling from a roof into the hover jet. Debris spayed down on the reporter and cameraman, the two stumbled over each other trying to get some distance from the action. On the rooftop behind them a gray form appeared and roared in triumph.

"Happy, Pepper, Rhodes, come with me, we need to contact Iron Man," Tony walked briskly passed his board. "As for the rest of you, this meeting is over, if that thing comes anywhere near the Tower I want you to evacuate."

"Where are you going?" Obadiah asked worriedly, standing up.

"To get some help for Captain America."

The four marched their way through the marble corridors of the twenty-seventh floor until they arrived at Tony's personal elevator. Pulling out a key Tony unlocked a panel just under the call button and pressed the number 42. With a pleasant "bing" the elevator doors opened and all four stepped inside.

"Let's get Iron Man suited up," smiled Happy. The other three nodded grimly.

Manhattan, NY

The air was choked with dust and smoke. Rubble from nearby buildings and wreckage from the hover jet crash lay strewn about the street below. For a moment all was still. Then a small piece of metal, torn from the hover jet, began to move. It slowly slide aside as a tiny figure in a black and red outfit climbed painfully from the dust-covered wreckage.

With a groan Hank grew to his normal size, just over six-feet. "Hey!" Hank looked up. Thirty feet above Hank was Nick Fury desperately clinging to the side of a building. "Get me down."

Hank smirked at the sight above him. "I'm not so sure Fury, I'm just a scientist, I might be too worthless to get it done."

"Pym! I swear to God . . ." before he could finish another roar came from above.

"Coming!" Hank suddenly lost his smirk. With a quick press of a button near his right hand Hank grew to thirty-five feet in seconds. Reaching up he grabbed Fury from the wall and cradled him in his right hand.

Pain erupted in his chest cavity. Something hit him hard.

Hank tried to be careful not to crush Fury in his hand while he struggled for balance. The Hulk had landed on his chest and punched him, cracking a rib. Hulk raised his arms for another blow. Hank batted him off his chest. The gray behemoth went flying away, crashing through the walls of an apartment building.

"Get me down!" Fury demanded as Hank staggered. He lowered the spy to the ground as he help his ribcage with his other hand. "Unh, I can't breathe!"

"Pym!" Fury shouted pointing at Hulk leaping right back into the fray. Hank started to turn but it was too late, Hulk would reach him before he could do anything. Suddenly a second form appeared out of nowhere and collided with the leaping Hulk. It was Cap. He landed and rolled on Hank's shoulder before turning and leaping to engage the Hulk once more.

The Hulk glared balefully at Cap.

"You don't want to do this, Banner."

The beast bellowed, even more enraged at the mention of his alter-ego's name. It was not weak Banner. It was Hulk, strongest there is. Almost gorilla-like it raised its arms and charged at Cap.

The super-soldier's enhanced reflexes served him well as he side-stepped the Hulk's charge and managed to get in a quick swipe with his vibranium shield. Off balance the Hulk stumbled forward but stopped itself. It swiped behind itself with its tree-trunk arms, hoping to catch Cap off-guard. Cap had anticipated the move and leaped over the Hulk, landing behind him once again. He took his shield in both hands and brought it down as hard as he could on Hulk's Achilles' tendon. Hot bright green blood spurted him in the face.

The Hulk roared with pain and surprise. It had been surprised when Hawkeye had hurt it but had never expected to feel pain again. It attempted to turn on its attacker but was surprised to find its left leg uncooperative. This just seemed to anger the Hulk further, his eyes glowing brighter than ever.

"I don't want to hurt you."

The Hulk spat at him.

"Way to go, Cap!" Steve could hear Hank shouting.

"That ought to slow him down," Fury was fast approaching to help. The Hulk limped toward them, each step getting steadier and steadier.

"Oh crap."

"What is it, Cap?"

"He's healing."

It was true, the wound that Cap had created was already closing, tissues rapidly stitching themselves back together. The Hulk smirked. It charged toward Cap with a bellow. Cap raced toward it, shield in front of him.

CLANG! The sound of the two colliding was deafening. Amazingly Captain America stood his ground against the massive monster. Hulk himself was surprised, eyes wide for just a moment before scowling in frustration. Hulk grabbed the edge of the shield and lifted it, Captain America and all. He violently flung it away as hard as he could, Cap managing to let go just before being smacked aside by Hulk's ham fists. He tumbled end over end down the street finally coming to a rest about one hundred feet away. He didn't move.

"I never did like you, Banner," Jan screeched as loud as she could in her tiny Wasp form. She blasted at him with her stinger blasts, little yellow blasts of energy singed his skin. One stray blast hit the Hulk in the eye.

Hulk roared in annoyance and swatted ineffectually in the air. Wasp zipped around his flying fists with ease, continuing her energy assault. Seeing his opportunity Fury took aim with an M-14 and let loose. The higher caliber bullets slammed into Hulk, actually knocking him off balance and causing him to stumble backward.

Still holding his ribs Giant Man slowly got to his feet. Clint meanwhile had been prepping for his battle. He fired a zip line with his bow. He used his bow to zip down toward the battle raging below. He grabbed a collapsible arrow that he had strapped to his thigh and extended it. As soon as he was above the Hulk he dropped from the line. He landed on the creature's back and jammed the arrow into its shoulder blade. Before the creature could react he leaped acrobatically away executing perfect back flip and landing on his feet.

Hulk seemed to be actually getting bigger, Clint could swear the behemoth had grown a full foot since they had first engaged him. BOOM! The arrowhead exploded inside Hulk's flesh.

It let loose with a bellow that shattered windows. Protecting his face with his forearm Hulk took a running charge at Fury. The spy leaped to the side at the last second, unable to see clearly, the Hulk didn't notice until he was racing past the spy. Hulk spun and swatted at Fury, this time the Hulk's blow connected and the world's head spy was sent flying against a brick wall.

Thankfully as Fury fell Cap stirred awake.

Stumbling at first, Cap charged towards the Hulk. Just before they connected another arrow flew into Hulk's face and exploded. Cap took advantage of the distraction and used Hulk's smoking head as a launch board to jump over the monster and make a beeline for his shield that he had finally just spotted several blocks away.

Even an Olympic sprinter would have a hard time covering such a great distance and returning but Cap was better than any sprinter. He raced down the asphalt at the speed of a horse easily leaping over any of the abandoned cars that stood in his way. In less than a minute he had covered the half-mile stretch to his shield. He scooped it up and sprinted back, just barely beginning to breath heavy.

Back in the fracas Hank picked up a massive chunk of asphalt and chucked it at the Hulk, just before it struck the slate-colored giant another explosive arrow broke the chunk into flaming projectiles. Hulk roared in annoyance.

He turned a baleful green eye on the archer and leaped.

"Oh shit!"

That was all Hawkeye got out before Hulk landed sending debris and Clint flying. Luckily it was the shockwave that had tossed Clint before Hulk could get his giant hamfists on him.

Hulk roared in triumph. Hank kicked him.

"That'll buy us a few seconds," Cap commented as he returned with his shield in hand. Cap miscalculated.

Hulk landed, roaring, right next to Giant Man before any of them thought to look up. Hulk grabbed a chunk of concrete and smashed it into the side of Hank's knee. There was a massive "Crack" as Hank's knee bent sideways. With a blood curdling scream Giant Man fell to the ground, smashing several cars under his huge bulk.

Hulk glared at the rest of the Ultimates, as if daring them to do something about it. Cap charged but was easily batted aside. Hulk charged toward an unprepared Hawkeye. The archer leaped back just as a massive energy blast slammed into the Hulk from above, knocking the behemoth back.

"Whoa ugly," Iron Man intoned as he landed next to the former Howling Commando. "Whose our friend here?"

"As far as I know it doesn't have a name," Clint drew another arrow and let it fly just as the Hulk was regaining its feet. "All I do know is that it is big and ugly and we've got to stop it before it hurts anyone else."

"Sounds good to me."

Iron Man took to the sky just as Hulk charged again. Another blast failed to have the same effect as before as the Hulk was expecting it. It did hold him at a standstill as Hawkeye sent arrow after arrow into the beast. At first the tide finally seemed turned in the Ultimates' favor. Cap returned from his latest heavy blow, he was limping.

Hulk dodged Iron Man's blast, launching himself at the surprised and injured Cap. One of Hawkeye's arrows stunned Hulk just in time with enough voltage to bring down an elephant. The Hulk recovered in seconds.

It was more than enough time for Cap to retreat from Hulk's grasp and Iron Man's blasts to catch up.

"Where the hell is Wasp?" Hawkeye snarled into his earpiece.

"I'm right here," came her angry voice over his earpiece. "I've been communicating with Betty."

"What's Banner's girlfriend gonna do?" Hawkeye rolled his eyes before launching another stunning arrow. "Kiss the toad to turn him back into her prince?"

"No," Jan's voice was indignant. "She's been analyzing Banner's research and thinks she knows how to shut the Hulk down."

"Alright, Betty!"

"She can't hear you."

"Let's just finish this," came a new voice over the earpiece.

"Fury!" Hawkeye grinned as the super spy came jogging forward to rejoin the fray.

"Wasp! What do we need to do?" Fury took back command of the situation immediately.

"Distract him, but don't hit him in the face," Jan informed them. "I've got to get real, real close."

Jan had been mostly absent from the battle since before Iron Man had arrived since the explosions that kept hitting Hulk in the face could have easily killed her and she didn't want to even think about Iron Man's energy blasts. She zoomed in a little closer to her former co-worker.

"Iron Man," Fury spoke into his earpiece between rounds of gunfire at Hulk's abdomen. "I assume you've been listening this entire time."

"Every word."

"Then let's take this son of a bitch down."

"Fury, when this is over me and you are going to have some one on one time," Iron Man told the General.

"I'd ask what you meant by that but right now I don't care," Fury retorted. "I've got a gray giant to bring down. You heard the woman, people, aim low."

Even though they kept all their shots away from Hulk's head Jan's heart pounded in her ears as she buzzed right toward his head, shrinking as small as she could go. Which is smaller than she had ever let Hank know, but he was incapacitated so she wasn't worried about it.

"Okay," Jan tried to pump herself up as she made one last dive. "Here it goes." She plunged directly into his ear canal. Hulk roared and slammed a hand against his ear. She flew into the wall of his ear canal just bypassing his ear drum before crashing.

"This is disgusting," Jan moaned, covered in ear wax, her wings to heavy with the filth to fly.

"Are you passed the ear drum?" came Betty's voice in her ear.

It was pitch black, Jan used a light "sting" to light up her path. "Follow the canal until you find an extra soft spot on your left." Betty directed her as she ran into the Hulk's skull, flapping her wings as hard as she could to rid them of the ear wax.

"Here I thought this job would be glamorous." Jan mumbled to herself.

Meanwhile Iron Man let loose with one last blast before swooping down and punching the Hulk in the side.

"Really?" Hawkeye laughed into the earpiece.

"I can't keep blasting him forever," Iron Man snapped back. "I don't have infinite energy you know."

The armored hero swooped in for another blow but Hulk was prepared this time and grabbed onto Iron Man's leg.

"Oh crap."

Hulk smiled as he pulled Iron Man in close despite him using his boosters at full capacity. Nothing was going to stop the Hulk now.

The Hulk grabbed Iron Man's face mask and began to squeeze. Sparks flew and the titanium plating bent in Hulk's hand like clay. Suddenly the Hulk stopped, just before ripping off Iron Man's faceplate. The titan turned and stared at it's surroundings in what seemed like dumb shock. The Hulk dropped.

The Hulk's gray skin quickly began to take on a warmer hue. Fury took a piece of what was left of an SUV hood and tossed on top of the rapidly changing Hulk. They could still hear the popping sounds as Hulk's body shrunk down to Banner's size.

"Jan, get out of there!" Fury shouted into his earpiece as everyone else stared on in a mixture of disbelief that it was over and overwhelming relief.

"Already done," Jan appeared before them, a smug smile plastered across her beautiful face.

Stunned pedestrians began crawling out of their inadequate hiding places. At first all were silent, a few blinking and staring at the chaos around them. Then, they turned to their saviors and erupted into adrenaline-fueled cheers. Media helicopters began circling overhead as cheering crowds gathered around the Ultimates.