Chapter 3: The Daughter

General Ross idly thumbed through the latest issue of the Daily Bugle as his plane descended toward the runway at Bluegrass Field.

"In a statement released yesterday, the mayor and chief of police wished the newly minted vigilante calling himself 'Iron Man' good luck…" he read.

As he continued to read the story, the plane hit the tarmac and came to a stop.

"Thank you for flying Wolfman Air. Please collect your luggage and disembark in a careful and orderly manner." a prerecorded announcement played.

General Ross rolled his eyes, gathered his belongings, and walked into the bright Kentucky sun.

HALF AN HOUR LATER:

"Anybody home?" Ross asked as he entered the house.

As if on cue, a young woman dashed towards the general and glomped him.

"Father! You're home!"

"Betty, let go…I can hardly breathe!"

Betty released her grasp on her father, who promptly dusted off his coat.

"So, how was your tour of service, Father?"

General Ross looked at his daughter's bespectacled face.

"Father?"

"It was middling. Every single time we had a chance of getting Banner, something ticked him off, and then the Hulk tore up the hardware!"

"Then why are you chasing him when you could try to reconcile with Banner?"

Ross chuckled.

"Betty, you remind me of your mother."