Lieutenant Thunderbolt Ross was pacing back and forth screaming at whoever was unfortunate enough to get in his way. Surrounding his daughter’s house was a huge ring of soldiers armed with the best weapon but everybody here knew that wasn’t going to be enough. No, they’d need more.
“Relax, general,” Doctor Will Magnus said with a grin, the same grin that was plastered in all the magazines and science journals the young robotics genius had to take photos for. “My Metal Men will handle it.”
“Firstly, it’s lieutenant,” Ross barked. “Secondly, my daughter is in there with that… that monster and if anything happens to her I will personally shut down that dumb Metal Men project of yours. Stark let you get away with a lot. Don’t forget who’s handling all your ‘mistakes’ Magnus.”
Magnus clenched his fist, still keeping his suave grin however there was an edge to his voice. “Alright boss, sure thing.”
Magnus spoke into his smart watch. “Mercury, what’s going on inside the house?”
“Nothing much, Doc,” Mercury said, his long red face squished between pipes. “They’re just talking about Banner’s childhood.”
“Tin, Iron, Gold,” Magnus said. “You in position.”
The shining porcelain faces of Gold, Iron and Tin flashed onto the screen. Tin was standing by the door, always eager to prove himself. Gold and Iron were at the side of the building ready to jump in in case Mercury failed to rescue Ms. Ross.
“Lead?”
With heavy footsteps atop the roof, the bulky Lead perked his head up, his entire body ready to spread out and envelop the building in case Banner got out of control.
Magnus grinned. “And let’s not forget my darling Tina.”
A glittering female robot stepped by the doctor’s side. The robot had an hourglass figure, with a doll like grin and a face that was more sculpted than the other Metal Men.
“Oh, you flatter me Doc,” Tina said, leaning on the Doc’s shoulder and placing a hand on his chest.
Ross scoffed. “You program that thing?”
Magnus looked offended. “She’s not a program, she has a will of her own, don’t you Tina?”
“Yes, Doc,” Tina said, resting her head on Magnus’s shoulder.
“Whatever, creep,” Ross said.
“Doc, we might have a problem,” Mercury said through the comms. Ross rushed to the doctor.
“What’s up?” Magnus asked.
“Banner’s starting to freak out!” Mercury said.
It was at that moment they heard Betty’s shrill scream echo in the air.
…
Betty was standing face to face with a monster. It roared and it fought with itself, tossing its arms around, breaking tables, chairs and tearing through the wallpaper in a whirlwind of flailing limbs.
But he never got close to her, whenever the monster saw her face he looked as if he was in pain. In those brief moments she saw Bruce.
But she didn’t have time to figure out what was happening. She was surrounded in a swirl of red that looked like blood, a robot with a cartoonish face and odd face proportions grabbed her.
“Sorry, miss,” it said. “But we have to get you out of here.”
The robot burst through the window, carrying Betty in its arms. She heard the Hulk wail, saw him reaching out a hand but suddenly her door burst open and two more weird robots came and started to attack the Hulk.
There was a lot of noise around her, men in green started to surround her. She heard her father’s relieved voice, felt blankets being wrapped around her but all she could think about as the sirens wailed and the gunfire rang was the name of her fiancé.
“Bruce,” she muttered.
…
“I-I can handle you,” Tin said as he charged at the Hulk, turning himself flexible so he could wrap himself around him. But the Hulk was faster, he grabbed a hold of Tin’s face and crushed it in his palm.
“Tin!” Iron called out. Hulk let go of Tin’s body, screws spilling out of the spot that his head used to be.
“Tin’s out,” Gold said to Magnus. “Iron no!”
Iron rushed at Hulk, striking his face in a flurry of fists, forcing Gold to fight. Gold stretched out his fist, striking Hulk across the face. Iron rushed in for a tackle but the Hulk was quick, grabbing his arm and tossing him to the ground. Before he could crush Iron’s face under his foot, Mercury burst out of the pipes wrapping himself around the Hulk.
“I got you now, you big green turd!” Mercury yelled. The Hulk growled, trying to grab Mercury but Mercury slid around his body like a snake. That gave Iron enough time to fight, striking him across the face.
“Remember,” Gold said. “We’re supposed to capture him!”
“Look at what he did to Tin!” Iron growled. “And you’re telling me you want to capture him.”
“It’s the Doc’s orders,” Gold said. “We can’t disobey them!”
“Fine,” Iron said.
“Lead!” Gold said, speaking into his built-in comms. “Begin operation wrap around.”
“Sure… uh thing boss,” Lead said from atop the roof. Lead spread his huge body across the house, wrapping around it like a giant grey blanket.
“What are they doing to my house?” Betty said.
“Relax doll,” Magnus said. “They’re just making sure that boyfriend of yours doesn’t get out.”
“C’mon Doc,” Platinum said. “Let me join them. I barely get to have any fun.”
“Relax Tina,” Magnus said. “You’re a woman robot, let the men do all the work.”
“Oh, you’re right, Doc,” Platinum said. “Don’t want to get my hands dirty.”
Betty scoffed. “Pig.”
The house was covered in a veil of darkness as grey metal started to spread across the windows and the doorframes. The Hulk was surprisingly still, Iron was still using him as a punching bag and Mercury grunted, struggling to wrap himself around him.
“Alright, Doc,” Gold said. “We have the entire house under lockdown. Tell Casper to get the helicopters…”
“Hulk… angry…”
“Huh?” Mercury said.
“What’d you say you little shit?” Iron said with venom, punching Hulk in the stomach.
“Iron stop,” Mercury wheezed.
“See what he did to Tin and then tell me to stop,” Iron growled.
“Gold,” Mercury grunted. “I’m struggling to…”
Hulk grabbed Mercury’s face, ripping him off his body as if he were a leech. And he didn’t know if it was just the darkness but the Hulk seemed to be a little bigger.
“Help…” Mercury cried out; his voice muffled by the Hulk’s fist. “Hel…”
His cry was cut short as Hulk crushed his head under his fist, Mercury’s body splashing across the floor as if it were blood.
Red liquid dripped from the Hulk’s left fist onto the floor below. Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop.
“You wouldn’t like Hulk when he’s angry,” the Hulk said, his eyes hidden underneath a veil of darkness.
…
“Alright that’s a wrap,” Ross said. “How long till the helicarriers get here…?”
“What are you going to do to him?” Betty said, stepping up to her father.
“Just run some experiments,” Ross said. “Try and cure…”
“Stop with your bullshit!” Betty shouted. “What are you actually going to do with him?”
“Guys I wouldn’t call it wraps just yet,” Magnus said.
“Why what’s the matter?”
“Gold and Iron, their coms are down,” Magnus said, fear spreading in his eyes. “It’s expected of Tin but these two…”
“I’m sure it must be a glitch,” Ross said. “What with that big guy…”
But then they all heard it. The sound of something hitting metal. Something heavy.
Everyone tensed.
“Doc…” Lead said. “I don’t feel very good.”
“Mercury do you copy?” Magnus said. “Gold, Iron, anyone.”
That sound again, this time it was like a thunderclap.
“C’mon,” Magnus cried. “Respond! Respond!”
“Men,” Thunderbolt growled. “Brace yourselves.”
The men in green tensed, they had their guns pointed at the giant dent protruding from the Metal Men’s body like a tumour as the giant fist hammered away, inching closer and closer to escape.
And then the sound stopped.
Everyone stared at the dent dumbfounded. For a brief moment they relaxed.
That moment was all he needed.
Like lightning he struck, the soldiers cries and screams chorusing in the air. Gunfire was useless, the soldiers fired and fired but the bullets bounced uselessly off the massive brute’s green body. The slow but large Metal Man tried to attack Hulk but was crushed underneath his massive heel. The Hulk roared in the air.
Platinum of the Metal Men noticed the bodies of her comrades, reduced to scraps. She knew Doc wouldn’t want her to do this but she had to do something to avenge her friends.
“Tina no!”
Tina rushed at the Hulk but the Hulk was faster, he grabbed her in mid-air. Tina tried splitting her body into fibres to avoid his massive fists but the Hulk grabbed those thin fibres and flailed her around like a mace, using her perfect face to knock back soldiers and other men who tried to get close. When he was done, he ripped her head away from the rest of the body and threw her lifeless body aside.
The Hulk started walking, with each footstep feeling like a tremor. Gunfire rained down on his body but the bullets bounced off uselessly, falling on the ground like hailstones. He stared straight at Betty with those green eyes of his and for a brief moment Betty thought she was staring at the Devil.
Ross stepped in front of Betty. Doctor Magnus was on his knees, reduced to a snivelling heap after he saw what had happened to Tina. “Tina,” he wailed. “Tina!”
Ross took out a pistol. “You’re not getting anywhere near my daughter you freak!” Ross said, firing at him with a pistol that felt like a toy gun. “You hear me!”
The Hulk just grabbed him and put him aside. Betty tried to scramble away from the monster but she knew it was futile. The Hulk grabbed and slung her over her shoulders.
“LET GO OF MY DAUGHTER YOU MONSTER!” Ross screamed. A few dozen soldiers gathered up and were about to fire. “NO, YOU IDIOTS, THAT BASTARD HAS MY DAUGHTER!”
“Let go of me!” Betty cried. “Please let go of me!”
She tried hitting him but she knew it was futile. Her little fists bounced off his green body like plastic.
“No!” Ross cried as a tank fired its missile. Betty thought she was dead but when her eyes open she saw she was wrapped under the beast’s massive body.
“YOU IDIOTS!”
Ross’s men started to fire. “STOP, STOP!”
The Hulk cast a sad look at Ross and with giant leap, he strode across the sky.
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