A couple of things. First of all, Marvel owns all these characters. I don't. They're their property. I gain no profit from this. Second, this story is a crossover. I'll warn you - it contains spoilers for "X-Men", "X-Men 2", "Hulk", "Spider-Man", and "Daredevil." Please send me feedback. I want to know what you think.

Prelude

Daddy was gone and that's all Bruce Banner could remember.

The Gamma Charge - the green light - exploded, sending his father, David away. The monster that Bruce had become . . . this creature . . . this Hulk . . . was transforming into human. Into Banner.

Puny human . . . Bruce heard it say. Puny human . . . puny Banner . . .

Bruce tried to pry open his eyes - tried to swim him way back to life - but the voice kept stopping him. Like it was tugging him backwards, wanting the monster to replace him. But Banner swatted it away and pushed forward. The monster's voice, though, echoed after Banner.

Puny Banner . . . you like it and you feel guilty . . . you don't like it . . . but you want it . . .

Banner grimed himself and pushed upwards, away from the monster that called after him. I'm everything you hide inside . . . everything that you hate . . . I am the Hulk . . .

Bruce snapped up, flying out of the water. His father had become some sort of . . . absorbing man. But the green light - a Gamma Charge - had incinerated him. How did . . . how did Banner survive such a thing? That's when he realized something. He didn't. The Hulk did.

Banner walked out of the lake, and across the scarred ground, his body soaking wet and exhausted. He picked up speed as he heard two helicopters approaching. Bruce hid underneath a rock formation as the spotlights swept along the ground. He was safe.

Dawn came swiftly and by that time, Bruce had made it to a road. Snatching up a pair of clothes from a trailer park, he was fully dressed. Standing by the side of the road, he stuck out his thumb, hoping that someone would find him before . . . Betty?

No, Banner realized. Being with Betty would only make them both vulnerable right now. He would contact her when he needed to. When it was safe to.

A truck pulled up then, and the driver - a portly gentlemen with a scraggily beard - offered him a ride.

"Where ya headed?"

Bruce paused before answering. "North. As far north as you'll take me."