Earth-717: Hulk Vol 1

Chapter 12: Incredible

"And so, the mysterious but powerful creature known as the Hulk had a confirmed sighting in Santa Fe, where the beast battled with what looked to be a mechanical suit of armour, inspired by the technology used by Tasha Stark. It is not known at this time where this suit came from, and the authorities had no theories when questioned. As for the monster who is being referred to as 'The Incredible Hulk' by eyewitnesses, he quickly vanished minutes after the climactic showdown. For more on this breaking story . . . ."

The display screen turned off. Fury looked back to Ross.

"So . . . . where is the Hulk now?"

Ross sighed and pulled his cigar from his mouth.

"I don't know," replied Ross.

"General."

"Look, I said, I don't know! He ran off after tossing Talbot into the air, alright?! You read the report. It's all true. All of it."

Fury narrowed his eye.

"And you mean to tell me that you didn't chase after him?"

Ross sneered and threw the cigar against the ground.

"Do you know how much I just lost?!" shouted Ross. "I lost my top lieutenant, my mission handler, my top engineer, half my damn base, most of my reputation. I nearly lost my daughter!"

Ross reached down and haphazardly grabbed the files and papers off the desk.

"All because of this, all this bullshit that you think is so important!"

Ross threw the papers into the air. Fury sat back in his chair.

"You and that bureaucratic Council of yours."

"You know that the Council and I are not one in the same," said Fury. "We don't see eye to eye on everything."

"Well then tell them I'm done."

Fury's eye widened.

"What?"

"You heard me," said Ross. "It's over. I'm done."

"You're done?" asked Fury, smirking. "Really? Thunderbolt Ross is just, what? Giving up? After all this time? You were the one who started this vendetta!"

"Well it's over. I didn't . . . . I didn't just lose material and allies. I lost something inside of myself when I saw my daughter clinging to that flag pole. Call it . . . . drive, or, call, call it resolve, call it whatever you want."

Fury tilted his head to the side as he folded his hands together.

"When I joined," started Ross, "when I moved up the ranks, I knew something, inside. That the soldiers have a duty. Soldiers save people, protect people. Monsters try to hurt them. I held to that. Held myself and all my men to that principle. But . . . . someone saved my daughter yesterday . . . . and it wasn't me."

Fury scoffed.

"So what? You going to pack up your things? Leave?"

"I'm transferring," said Ross. "I'm headed to Portland Air Base. I can't do this crusade anymore."

"Look, I get it," started Fury, "you felt betrayed by Major Talbot's actions . . . ."

"No, you don't," interrupted Ross. "It was because of my indiscretion that Talbot's mind was compromised. His blood is on me, the same as all his victims. You want someone to hunt the Hulk?"

Ross picked up his hat off the table and put it on.

"Find someone else."

"You think he's a hero?" asked Fury.

"He saved my daughter when I couldn't," said Ross. "I don't know if that makes him a hero . . . . but he's not a monster anymore."

Ross turned around and marched out of the room. The door shut behind him as Fury sighed. After taking a moment, Fury tapped a button on his desk. A voice was heard over the loudspeaker.

"What is the status of the General?" asked the voice.

"Ross is out," said Fury. "And he's probably taking what's left of his task force with him."

"Get Ryker on the phone," ordered the voice. "I think that he might have some . . . . invested interest, in helping us."


Betty stood on the edge of the pier. Holding her hands together over the edge of the guard rail, she looked out at the ocean. She closed her eyes as the gentle breeze massaged her face. Opening her eyes at the sound of bird calls, she looked up to see several pelicans flying overhead. Slowly inhaling, she then heard the sound of heavy footsteps on the wood behind her. She looked down at the water as Ross walked up next to her, placing his hands over the guard rail as she was.

For several minutes they both stood there in silence, staring out at the horizon of the ocean.

"Dad," said Betty, finally.

"Betty."

Betty swallowed before speaking again.

"How long are you staying?"

"Not long," replied Ross. "I have to ship out in about thirty minutes."

"Huh."

"I, uh . . . ."

Betty turned her head over to look at him.

"I wanted you to know about why I . . . ."

Betty shook her head.

"I already know," said Betty. "The fact that you requested the transfer said it all. Thank you."

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah."

"Can we make peace?"

"Soon."

"Are you going to look for him?"

Betty smiled.

"I'll never stop looking."


Bruce walked into a small town full of wooden cabins. The forest surrounding the area was thick with pine trees. He was wearing a fisherman's hat, a plaid shirt, jeans and a large backpack. ROB followed closely behind, floating around Bruce's left shoulder. As he walked past a handful of small shops, he heard the noise of scuffle nearby. Looking to the right, he saw young two men beating up a teenage boy. ROB turned invisible.

"Hey!" shouted Bruce. "Leave him alone!"

The two men turned around and looked at Bruce.

"Get out of here, old man."

Bruce sneered.

"You're making me angry," said Bruce. "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

THE END

The Hulk Will Return


Epilogue

In the destroyed remains of Sterns' underground lab, a small cloud of green mist began forming. After a few minutes, part of the mist took the shape of a human hand. It struggled and reached out before dissipating. Then, the mist took the shape of a female torso. Two arms reached out, and then a full head and hair. The head looked down at the gaseous, green arms.

"What . . . . what is this?" asked Ann.

"Evolution, my dear."

Ann looked to the left to see Sterns picking himself off the ground.

"Doctor Sterns?"

Sterns skin had turned green, and his forehead was elongated. He seemed to sigh with pleasure as he touched his forehead with the fingers on his left hand.

"I can hear them . . . . all the minds on the astral plane . . . . reaching out and calling to me . . . . hopes and fears, and dreams . . . ."

Ann tilted her head to the side.

"Can you hear them?" asked Sterns. "They are calling out . . . . it's beautiful."