My eyes scanned the message from Hank McCoy. The brilliant mutant scientist was known to me not only as a comic book fan but also as Reed Richards, as his work in scientific circles was quite renowned.
Once again, I was convinced that going on the show was the right move since it led McCoy to contact me.
While this message didn't extend an invitation to Xavier's mansion, it was a start that would lead me to the mutants.
"Hm, I suppose this is a good beginning…"
Drafting a message in a similar tone, I prepared for my date with Sue. After that, I needed to get ready for the trip to the Moon.
—= Diablo =—
The ancient alchemist awoke not in a dungeon. He was surprised to see light.
"Good day, Esteban de Ablo," a familiar voice spoke in English.
Esteban's eyes found the speaker, a man in armor.
"Who are you?" Esteban asked.
"I am Doom," the man replied. "And I am responsible for freeing you from the magicians' prison."
Esteban detected no hint of deceit in Doom's voice. Nevertheless, Esteban de Ablo remained vigilant. The dark magic within Diablo was ready to act.
Doom seemed to understand this, judging by what happened next.
BAM
The magical attack was deflected only thanks to Esteban's vast experience, but the power in Doom's hands was clearly greater.
"What part of my words did you fail to understand?" Doom asked. "Do not show your arrogance before Doom."
With these words, the magical pressure increased, making it difficult for Esteban to breathe.
"Unlike you, I do not owe my power to a lowly demon," Doom spat. "So know your place."
"What do you want?" Esteban asked, looking at Doom.
—= Two Weeks Later =—
"What do you think about visiting a school for gifted youngsters?" I asked Sue.
"Do you mean Xavier's School?"
She was aware that I had been corresponding frequently with Hank McCoy recently.
"Yes."
"Just the two of us?"
"Johnny would rather spend his time showing off, and Ben and Alicia planned a trip to Miami before our journey to the Moon. So yes."
"With arguments like that, I can't refuse," she replied with a sweet smile that brightened my day.
Just then, my smartphone rang.
BUZZ
"What did I expect?" I said, seeing the number displayed.
Sue raised an eyebrow.
"It's Natasha."
Sue's expression changed instantly. She knew what that meant.
"So, Fury."
"Yes…"
I knew Fury wouldn't call without a good reason, so it had to be serious.
"Hello?"
"Good day, Dr. Richards," came the sultry voice of a very dangerous person.
Knowing what Natasha Romanoff was capable of, I could resist her charms.
"What's the matter, Miss Romanoff?" I asked, getting straight to the point.
"You're no fun to talk to," she said with a hint of sadness in her voice. "Do you think I'd call you for no reason?"
"Yes," I replied without blinking. "What does our one-eyed friend want?"
To her credit, Natasha didn't pretend to misunderstand.
"He needs to meet with you, Dr. Richards," she said.
I could hear the fatigue in her voice.
It was clear why Fury had Natasha contact me. Unable to breach the Baxter Building, he needed to reach me this way.
"Alright. He wouldn't call for anything trivial. Tell him I can meet in an hour."
"Excellent. Our agent will pick you up. See you soon, Dr. Richards."
"See you soon, Miss Romanoff," I replied, ending the call.
"Let me guess, she didn't give any specifics?" Sue asked with a slight smile.
"No," I nodded. "I'm curious to see what happened…"
—= One Hour Later =—
"Are you sure you don't want to come?" I asked Sue.
"I have a feeling this meeting will be so dull I'll want to escape the moment Fury appears," Sue replied.
I had a similar feeling.
"Then, see you tonight?"
She leaned in and kissed me on the lips.
"See you tonight."
Recharged, my mood improved, though the apprehension about the meeting lingered. Outside, a red convertible from S.H.I.E.L.D. awaited, driven by a middle-aged man.
"Good day, Dr. Richards," he greeted.
"Good evening," I replied, settling into the back seat. "I assume Fury has been eagerly awaiting me?"
The driver smirked. "That's an understatement."
He drove at a brisk pace. I noticed the car was covered in high-level camouflage. People around us didn't see us, and likely, neither did the cameras.
Soon, we stopped in front of an unremarkable building, indistinguishable from many others in the area. However, as the car entered a car wash, it became clear what set this place apart… The platform under the car began descending.
"Quite futuristic," I remarked.
"Doesn't look like it to you," the driver noted, watching me in the rearview mirror.
"I understand how this place works, so it's not that impressive."
"Problems of geniuses…" the agent rolled his eyes.
At that moment, the platform stopped. By my calculations, we were about five kilometers underground.
"Thanks for the ride," I said, stepping out of the car.
Outside, Fury and his agents awaited.
"Good day, Dr. Richards," Director Nick Fury greeted.
"Hello, Director Fury."
"Follow me," he said.
We proceeded down the corridor.
"What do you think of our headquarters?" he asked at one point.
I knew this wasn't their main base. I was aware they had a more impressive one.
"I'm not thrilled that my taxes fund this place," I replied honestly. "But you didn't invite me to discuss your headquarters, did you?"
Fury smirked. "Unfortunately, no."
—//—
Fury led me into a room filled with holographic monitors displaying surveillance footage. From what I could see, these cameras were tracking New York City and its surroundings.
"Why did you call me here?" I asked Fury.
Fury nodded to one of his staff members. The images on the monitors changed.
"Hm," I muttered.
The screens showed the events leading to the creation of the Hulk. It was easy to understand that Bruce Banner had been building a bomb.
"While I understand the basics, additional explanations wouldn't hurt," I said, looking at Fury.
The one-eyed director of S.H.I.E.L.D. responded, "I suppose I can clarify a few points. As you can see, a military project under Bruce Banner's direction spiraled out of control. The explosion that should have incinerated Banner turned him into this creature. It calls itself the Hulk. It's highly aggressive and impervious to any weaponry that the military or we can deploy within the U.S."
The footage showed tanks and missiles being used against the green giant. S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives also tried to counter the monster with advanced Stark weaponry, but this only enraged the Hulk further, making it destroy everything with even greater force.
"We haven't yet tested our most powerful weapons on him," Fury continued. "And our scientists haven't been able to develop a countermeasure in such a short time. And we're running out of time."
"You want me to replace Tony Stark for you?" I asked, not hiding my confusion at such a proposal.
Even without my comic book knowledge, I could see Stark's patterns clearly. These patterns were impossible to miss with my knowledge.
"Yes, Dr. Richards, based on our research, you're the most likely to find a solution," Fury answered directly.
The Hulk wasn't just a product of science. According to recent Hulk comics from the 616 universe, the Hulk was not just a simple result of a scientific experiment but the actions of an entity called the One Below All. Given the events leading to the birth of the Fantastic Four and the Hulk, my universe, if not 616, is very close to it.
"Hah..."
My eyes focused on the footage of the military engaging the Hulk. I was almost certain that the military initiated the battle.
"I'll stop the Hulk, but it will be on my terms," I said, looking at Fury. "Only on my terms."
Fury's stern gaze met mine, but I didn't flinch under the leader of the Howling Commandos' scrutiny.
"Alright, Dr. Richards," Fury agreed.
It seemed he had no other options.
"Then I'll need all the data your people have on this creature," I said, looking at Fury.
—= Some Time Later =—
"Stretch, did I hear you right?" Ben started, his voice filled with disbelief and amazement. His eyes sparkled with skepticism. "You agreed to help the head of a spy organization tame a green monster that the military couldn't handle?"
The room fell into a tense silence. It was clear that such a mission didn't excite the team. Their gazes were filled with doubts and disapproval.
"What's bothering you, Ben?" Johnny asked with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with mischief and challenge. "Where's your adventurous spirit? Or are you just scared to face this Hulk?"
Surprisingly, this simple provocation from Sue's younger brother worked against Ben. His face turned red, and his gaze became even more determined.
"What did you say, Matchstick?!" Ben exclaimed, his voice filled with anger and challenge. "I'm ready to pound that green troll right now!"
My best friend was now eager to fight Banner's alter ego. Sue and Alicia, who were present, sighed heavily. Their sighs sounded like the soft chime of bells, full of disappointment and weariness from the constant male competitions. It seemed I heard a faint "Oh, these boys" along with the sigh.
"Our main goal is to try to bring back Bruce Banner's personality, not to pound the Hulk," I interjected, trying to bring a note of reason and strategy to the conversation.
"What makes you think it's not Bruce Banner who just went crazy with these new powers?" Sue asked, her voice full of genuine curiosity.
I had an answer for that. I waved my hand, and footage showing the moment when Hulk spoke appeared.
"HULK NOT WEAK BANNER! HULK IS HULK!" he shouted when Ross called him by Bruce's name. These words echoed in the room, leaving a significant silence in their wake.
"Quite a strong argument," Sue said, looking at the further actions of the military and the Hulk with slight shock. Her eyes widened in surprise, and her voice held a note of disbelief.
Thanks to the AI I managed to sneak into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s network when entering their headquarters, I soon received more detailed data from the events. The screens in the room came to life, displaying classified footage of the military actions.
The military, armed to the teeth, took strategic positions around the building where they believed the Hulk was hiding. The sun blazed mercilessly, reflecting off steel helmets and gun barrels, adding to the scene's tension. The commanding officer, a man with hard features, signaled the operation to begin with a wave of his hand.
At first, the air was pierced by the sound of tranquilizer darts designed to neutralize the Hulk without lethal force. However, as soon as the first dart touched the Hulk's skin, his eyes flared with fierce light. He roared, his powerful body tensed like a coiled steel spring.
"HULK SMASH!" his voice, filled with rage and pain, echoed through the area, making the air vibrate with his power.
The military, not expecting such a reaction, froze momentarily but then opened fire with automatic weapons on their commander's order. Bullets ricocheted off the Hulk's skin like off reinforced glass, causing him no visible harm.
The conflict quickly escalated into an open battle. The Hulk, using his incredible strength, began tossing military vehicles like toy cars, creating chaos and destruction.
Our eyes were glued to the screen, showing the disorder and devastation the Hulk unleashed in response to the military's aggression. At that moment, it became clear that our task was incredibly challenging. Not only did we need to subdue the Hulk, but we also had to do it in a way that minimized destruction and avoided civilian casualties.
Stones for the God of Stones! Souls for the Throne of Souls!
One of the main reasons I agreed to address the Hulk problem was to study Bruce Banner during combat. My task was not only to find a way to stop his destructive outbursts but also to understand the essence of his transformations. This was a unique opportunity to study Bruce Banner when all his senses and emotions were heightened to their limits.
"Hmm, time to think this through," I muttered, watching the footage of the Hulk's battle.
I needed to come up with a viable countermeasure against his current powers.
Thanks to the AI, I could analyze the Hulk's strength, speed, and endurance in detail. I needed to know the baseline of what the Hulk could do.
"Hmm," I murmured as I saw the numbers.
There were no exact figures, only fluctuating numbers, which were pointless to work with.
"In that case, it's time to move on to the next option," I said, considering other alternatives that didn't require precise measurements of the Hulk's strength, speed, and durability.
Given my advancements in studying psionic energy, it was feasible to create a weapon based on this energy.
"Kronos, show me all the information on psionic energy, particularly its effects on the human brain," I instructed.
"Do you want to use the principles on which the mind cocoons were built?" Susan asked me.
My team was currently in the Kronos dome. Thanks to Pym's subatomic particles and my research on the fabric of space-time, I managed to create a spatial distortion, thus increasing the area inside the dome.
Because of this, Ben and Johnny could train without any inconvenience. At this time, Sue and I were also training in our way. Specifically, Sue was creating complex force constructs and lifting artificially weighted objects.
"Yes," I nodded. "As you can see from the data, which can't be erroneous due to the AI's structure, the Hulk's physical data are highly variable."
Sue frowned, understanding what I meant.
"Which tells us that his strength fluctuates."
"Exactly," I nodded. "And this leaves a small number of means to interact with him."
Kronos, my trusty AI, responded immediately to my request. The screens in my lab came to life, filled with diagrams, graphs, and texts describing various aspects of psionic energy.
In theory, if we correctly adjust the frequency and power of the energy, we could not only calm Bruce Banner during his transformation into the Hulk but also possibly find a way to control these transformations. Although I was somewhat skeptical about this, as the Hulk's origin might have more mystical roots.
"I'm sure if anyone can find a solution, it's you," Sue said, reinforcing my confidence.
"Thanks for believing in me," I said, kissing her.
The sweet smile that appeared on Sue's face told me I did the right thing.
With renewed energy, I doubled down on my work.
—= Some Time Later =—
"Kronos, start the simulation," I commanded.
"Starting the psionic weapon simulation..." Kronos responded.
Then numerous tests began on the weapon I had created.
The virtual model of the Hulk, created based on data stored in the S.H.I.E.L.D. database, experienced the capabilities of my weapon.
After a few dozen successful simulations, I could breathe a sigh of relief, knowing the weapon worked as I had intended.
"Congratulations, Dr. Richards," Kronos said.
"Thank you, Kronos, but this is only the beginning. Now we need to ensure our weapon is just as effective in real conditions," I replied, unable to hide my optimism. My thoughts were already racing ahead to practical tests and potential improvements to the device.
"Dr. Richards, should we begin preparations for real-world testing?" Kronos inquired, his voice emotionless yet seemingly sharing my excitement.
At this moment, it was just me and Kronos in the dome. The rest of the team decided to stay outside, opting to enjoy some fresh air.
"Yes," I nodded. "Begin assembling all the necessary equipment."
—= General Ross =—
"Repeat what you just told me?" Thaddeus Ross demanded, glaring at the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Nick Fury sat at Thaddeus Ross's desk, his single eye fixed on the old general.
"I'm saying the Hulk matter falls under S.H.I.E.L.D. jurisdiction."
"The hell it does!" Ross shouted in fury.
"This decision has been approved by the Council," Fury responded simply.
"I won't accept this! The Hulk is a military project, and it should remain under the army's control," Ross insisted, his voice growing more resolute.
Fury, despite Ross's outrage, remained calm. His demeanor was unwavering, reflecting his experience and confidence.
"Unfortunately, the Council thinks otherwise," Fury concluded, putting an end to the discussion.
—= The Fantastic Four =—
"I sincerely hope you succeed, Dr. Richards," Natasha Romanoff said to me.
The Black Widow was assigned to us by S.H.I.E.L.D. as their liaison for this operation.
"Don't worry, gorgeous, Johnny Storm's got this!" Johnny said with a grin.
Judging by Natasha's expression, his response didn't inspire much confidence.
"Don't worry, Agent Romanoff," I reassured her. "We've got this. I'm ready for the upcoming confrontation."
"So am I," Ben said, cracking his stone knuckles.
The red-haired spy looked at us for a few moments, then sighed and said, "The Hulk was spotted an hour ago in this area."
She pointed to a region marked in red. It was a deserted area with no signs of civilians for miles.
"Considering his movement," she continued, "he'll be here in ten minutes."
She pointed to the edge of the red area where the Hulk seemed to be headed.
"Have you figured out why he's heading there?" I asked Natasha.
She shook her head.
"Hm," I said, looking at the map. "Alright, this marks the start of Operation Hulk."
Ben smirked and looked at me with a challenge in his eyes, Johnny grinned widely, readying himself for the battle, and even Sue felt a thrill from the upcoming confrontation.
"We'll manage," I said with a slight smile.
—= Asteroid M =—
Max Eisenhardt watched the footage his subordinates had brought him. The broadcast showed the newly formed team of heroes. Magneto would have found this uninteresting if not for what happened on that show.
Reed Richards had revealed to the world the story of Magneto that he had preferred to keep hidden.
—//—
The Fantastic Car, the latest marvel of engineering by Dr. Reed Richards, gleamed under the laboratory lights. The upgrade it received was not just an improvement; it was a revolution in quantum mechanics and thermodynamics. Its sleek surface reflected the revamped engines, now operating so quietly that they were barely audible even up close. The speed promised by this upgrade could cut travel time through Earth's atmosphere in half, and the energy efficiency meant longer flight durations.
"The drones have found him," I said, watching the screen displaying data from my robots. "We'll be there in about thirty minutes."
Ben grinned and clenched his fists, saying, "I'm ready."
I glanced at him and, ensuring he was equipped with the necessary gear, nodded and said, "Don't hold back."
—= Benjamin Grimm =—
Ben Grimm, also known as the Thing from the Fantastic Four, felt a slight nervous excitement about the upcoming battle. Since becoming part of the Fantastic Four, his life had changed forever. Becoming the Thing, he gained incredible strength but also great responsibility for his team.
Today, he was about to face the Hulk. Thanks to Reed's data, he understood that the Hulk was an extremely powerful being. That's why he took his training in the Kronos capsule very seriously.
"Ben, are you ready?" Reed asked.
Grimm grinned and said, "I was born ready, Stretch."
"Let's stick to the plan."
Ben nodded and stretched his limbs. Even in his stone form, his body experienced some issues typical of his regular body.
"Yeah, yeah," Ben said. "I'm gonna brawl with the green giant to study him, and once you've got all the data, we move on to phase two, where we work together to calm the Hulk and bring Banner back."
"Exactly," Reed confirmed. "See you soon."
Ben smiled and said, "See you soon, Stretch."
—= Some Time Later =—
Ben Grimm found the Hulk rather quickly. Fortunately, the Hulk emitted a specific type of gamma energy that Reed had learned to identify.
Besides, it was hard to miss a massive green colossus.
As Ben approached a certain distance, the Hulk turned his attention to the Thing.
"Hello, Hulk," Ben said.
Seeing that the Hulk didn't attack him immediately, Ben continued, "Can you turn back into Banner?"
"HULK NOT BANNER!" the Hulk roared. "HULK IN CHARGE! NOT BANNER!"
"I see," Ben replied. "So you're not going to listen to me?"
"HULK IN CHARGE!" the Hulk growled.
The two giants stood facing each other, filled with determination and power, their shadows intertwining on the ground, creating a scene of impending chaos.
Ben took the first step, his massive, stone legs trembling slightly with tension. The Hulk responded with a roar, his green skin tightening in anticipation of the blow. In the next moment, the air exploded from the collision of the two giants.
The Hulk, using his incomparable strength, landed a powerful blow on Ben, who struggled to stay on his feet under the force of the attack. The Thing countered with a strong punch to the Hulk's jaw, making him step back. The ground beneath them cracked and crumbled, unable to bear the weight of these titans.
The battle raged on, each blow thundering like a storm, echoing through the surroundings. Ben, despite his superhuman endurance, felt the Hulk's punches breaking through his defenses. He knew he couldn't afford a single mistake.
In the midst of the fight, the Thing gathered all his strength for a decisive blow. He lunged forward, breaking through the Hulk's defense and landing a series of quick, precise punches, each aimed at weakening his opponent. The Hulk retaliated with equal fury, his blows just as powerful as ever, but Ben began using his agility to dodge and counterattack.
At that moment, Ben realized the fight would be long and grueling.
—= Reed Richards =—
While Ben and the Hulk exchanged blows, generating explosions of power that echoed through the area, I was engrossed in analyzing the data from the scanners. The computer, equipped with the latest scientific advancements, worked flawlessly, gathering valuable information about the Hulk during the fight.
The screens before me flashed, displaying complex graphs and models showing changes in the Hulk's biochemical composition, his physiological response to stress, and even the very structure of his cells. It was like a puzzle, each piece slowly fitting together to form a complete picture, allowing me to understand the Hulk's nature more deeply.
Meanwhile, the battle between Ben and the Hulk reached its peak. Each blow they landed on each other was so powerful that the ground beneath them cracked, creating craters. Dust and debris swirled around them, forming an aura of destruction. Despite his stone skin, Ben began to feel fatigue, his movements slowing, but he was determined not to give up. The Hulk, on the other hand, seemed to grow stronger with each hit, his green eyes blazing with fury and determination.
As soon as I realized I had gathered enough data, I said, "Initiate phase two."
—= The Battle Site =—
The sudden appearance of Reed Richards and his Fantastic Four team on the battlefield introduced a new element to the already tense confrontation between Ben Grimm and the Hulk. Using innovative teleportation technology, they arrived at the epicenter of the battle, surprising the green giant and giving the Fantastic Four the advantage of surprise.
"I was wondering when you'd show up!" Ben said with a hint of irony, continuing to fend off the Hulk's powerful blows. Despite the incredible fatigue and numerous bruises, he smiled, seeing his teammates.
Johnny Storm, known as the Human Torch, wasted no time and burst into bright flames, becoming a living beacon in the middle of the battlefield. He soared into the sky, creating a halo of fire around him. Streams of flame erupted from his hands, aiming at the Hulk, trying to distract him and give Ben a moment to catch his breath.
Susan Storm, the Invisible Woman, was focused and calm. She expanded her force field, creating a protective barrier around the battle zone to prevent the spread of destruction and protect the innocent. This dome became a witness to the grand confrontation, containing the energy of the fight within its bounds.
"Time to end this," Reed Richards said, holding the psionic device.
Stones for the God of Stones! Souls for the Throne of Souls!
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT