Episode 5: Rampaging Hulk
Previously on Marvel DISK Wars...
Sandra: A lot has happened in the past few days and recently, the time was no different. We had to find the DISK inside a bank vault but had to deal with the villainess Diamondback. We were in a tight spot but thanks to Hikaru, Thor, and Hawkeye's interference, we emerged victorious and apprehended Diamondback. But I get the feeling that we're gonna need help more than ever.
Chris is still walking along the street, still listening to the music in his headphones. Unbeknownst to him, someone is watching him from behind a tree. Chris then had a bad feeling and started running.
Later, Chris is in an alley, looking at his hands when Spider-Man, hanging upside down from the first Fire Exit platform, called out to him.
Spiderman: Excuse me! I'm looking for directions to Chris Taylor's house. Do you think you can help me out?
Chris: Spiderman, what are you-?!
Spiderman: Hey, Chris.
It was nighttime in Boston, Massachusetts. In a dark alleyway, the man who followed Chris this morning, who is actually a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, hid behind a dumpster. He then called on his phone for help from S.H.I.E.L.D.
"That's right. The kid's in danger. We need backup and we need it right away." he said before a shadow loomed over him. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent noticed Abomination behind him as he gasped in shock. Suddenly, Abomination started to beat the agent up while another man sat on a fence. This man had a yellow mask with a sun logo and blue plumage on top. His name is Joel Murphy.
The next day, at Chris' apartment, Spiderman is seen jumping on the couch while Chris is sitting on the coffee table.
"So?" Chris asked as Spiderman stopped jumping, "Why don't you just tell me why you're here?"
"Ah, right, okay. You see, I have a special delivery. Ta-da!" Spiderman then showed Hulk's, Wasp's, and Captain America's DISKs.
"3 DISKs? I thought those were scattered around the world." Chris was surprised about this.
"They were. But, well, long story short, we're in a war with Loki to get them all back. And we'll need your help if we're gonna beat him in these DISK Wars. To release the superheroes from the DISKs, you need to have a biocode. You have the code. The installer put it in you. Scarlet Witch and Iron Man were materialized from their DISKs on the Raft and Thor is materialized in New York. Sandra, Akira, and Hikaru. They were able to free the heroes because they also have the biocode. Their bravery stopped the villains! It saved the world! But we need the help from everyone with the biocode installed in them." Spiderman said but Chris refused.
"Forget it."
"Forget it?!" Spiderman was shocked and confused, "But you-"
"Sorry, man. Saving the world? Not interested. Why do I gotta fight them for you? Find someone else." Chris said.
"There is no one else." Spiderman began as he slumped down on the couch.
Flashback - 2 days ago, Edward's House
Edward's bedroom is filled with numerous Avenger-themed merchandise, ranging from portraits to figurines. It even has a computer that Edward uses for his website. Right now, Spiderman paid him a visit.
"What do you say? Huh? Now that we took this cool selfie, maybe you can do me a favor" Spiderman said.
"Uh-uh!" Edward said, cowering on his bed and clutching his pillow.
"Come on, Ed. Buddy, hear me out. You could be a superhero!"
"No, thanks! I'm a wimp! I'm scared of my own shadow! Absolutely not! Nuh-uh!"
Spiderman sighed then groaned, "Okay."
The same 2 days ago, Jessica's House
As for Jessica's bedroom, it suits her style, being rich and all. It has a black grand piano and its own chair-and-table set. It even had some posters of Sandra Gonzales. Spiderman also paid her a visit.
"Your invitation sound's cool. I want to help. But my calendar's already packed with totally fun things to do. There's the Red Carpet Party, the cruise, fashion shows, sky diving, and all that from here. I'm sure you know how it is." Jessica said.
"Real sorry..." Edward apologized.
"See ya and good luck!" Jessica bid farewell.
Spiderman heaved another sigh and slumped on the couch as Chris finally realized.
"So I was your last choice, huh?" Chris said.
"No, man! Not at all! It's more like you're the guy who makes a big entrance at the end and saves the day! You're the main character! You rise to the occasion! You know, you're the hero!" Spiderman assured.
"You are one bad actor." Chris muttered.
While Chris and Spiderman are talking, Joel and Abomination entered Chris' apartment. Abomination ducked his head from the doorway to avoid getting hit.
"If that's why you cam here, the door's over there." Chris calmly demanded.
Spiderman shrugged and said, "Not gonna change your mind, huh?"
He then picked up Captain America's DISK, "And I thought this DISK would be perfect for you. Maybe I was wrong."
Spiderman then threw Captain America's DISK over to Chris, who grabbed it.
"I think you have what it takes to be Captain America's partner." Spiderman said.
Chris laughed mockingly, "Me? You gotta be kidding. No, I'm the polar opposite of Captain America."
"That's not what I meant."
Suddenly, Abomination charges through the door, into Spiderman, and out of the window, much to Chris' shock.
"You crazy?! There's this little think called gravity!" Spiderman yelled.
Spiderman and Abomination then crashed onto a parked car, causing the former to drop Hulk's and Wasp's DISKs.
"I'll take these. All does little Spidey needs is a nap." Abomination said as he picked up Hulk's and Wasp's DISKs.
"I hate to break it to you, Abomination, but you're gonna have to pay for the car out of your allowance." Spiderman said.
"Quiet!" Abomination then proceeded to beat up Spiderman while Chris stared at it with shock.
"Spidey's getting squashed." he whispered.
Joel went over to Chris' pictures and picked up one that shows him as a kid, along with his parents.
"So your dad's a big-time lawyer, huh? I wonder if he's gonna sue me for destruction of private property." Joel tossed the picture away as Chris glared at him.
"Well, it's nothing Loki can't take care of." Joel assured while Chris glanced at Captain America's DISK. Joel noticed it, too.
"Hey, what a great toy you got. But wait, you're gonna need this to D-Smash." Joel showed his his biocode.
At the city docks, Jessica is being shoved into a prison cell by another member of the Celebrity Six. His name is Manino Giordani.
"Hey, you! Didn't you mother ever teach you any manners?!" Jessica complained.
"Watch your mouth." Manino gestured her to Edward who is inside the vault, as well.
"Ed! The Captain America fan! What a coincidence! How are you doing?" Jessica asked.
"Well, how do you think?" Edward answered.
"Oh, right. Sorry."
"You two better make some room. One more will be joining you soon." Manino closed the door while Jessica stuck her tongue out.
Iron Man is soaring in the city skyline as he said to himself, "I got a bad feeling. We haven't heard from that S.H.I.E.L.D. agent for quite a while. Let's move."
As Joel chuckled menacingly, Abomination dropped the unconscious Spiderman on the floor.
"Just hurry up and get him." Abomination demanded.
"I know, partner." Joel replied.
'Man, I'm toast...' Chris thought, until he noticed a four-point twinkle in the distance.
"You give up now?" Joel asked.
"Or are you gonna fight me and show us how tough you really are?" Abomination continued.
"Let's see here... I say 'no' to both!" Chris said as he jumped off the balcony.
"Stop him!" Abomination exclaimed as he and Joel peered over the balcony, only to see Chris being carried in Iron Man's arms.
"Not him again!" Joel exclaimed.
"Sorry, losers! Catch ya on the flipside!" Chris bid farewell to Abomination and Joel as he and Iron Man flew away.
"This is Stark Express! Our package is secured! Out!" Iron Man said.
In the city's road was filled with traffic and the three kids were in a car with Pepper and Jamie. Akira sat next to Pepper, while Sandra sat in between Hikaru and Jamie at the back.
They have discovered that Chris held the blue DISK that contained Captain America, but the traffic was taking so long and Akira had to activate Iron Man to get Chris.
"Alright! Awesome! I mean, roger that. Over" Akira said in his biocode.
"What's your ETA for the rendezvous spot?" Iron Man said.
"Hard to say. We're stuck in rush hour traffic." Pepper simply said.
"This is not good. If the enemy's gang will take off, we won't be able track them." Iron Man remarked as he and Chris landed on top of another building.
"Well, why can't you just fly after them?" Chris asked.
"I'm afraid it's not that simple, kid."
"What do you mean?"
"This." Iron Man was then sent back to his own DISK, causing Chris to gasp and flinch in surprise.
Later that night, in Stark's Tower...
The four kids sat around the table with Pepper and Jamie.
"Put it on." Iron Man requested.
"I don't want to." Chris replied.
"Hey, I just saved your life." Iron Man complained.
"Gonna hold that over me..." Chris said as he put on his biocode and a mini hologram of Captain America appeared.
"Okay, heads up. Our situation is grave. Not only we have Jessica and Ed disappeared but Spiderman, too." Captain America said, "If we don't move quickly, we're gonna lose this fight."
"But you are wrong, Captain. With you on our side, our victory is assured. Now, we must make haste to the enemy's lair and liberate the children from their prison!" Thor said.
"Fine but where is the lair?" Hikaru asked.
"Investigation would be..." Scarlet Witch stated, pointing at Iron Man.
"Oh, so I guess it's mine?" Iron Man said.
"Yes. Surely, you can find them.." Thor said.
"He's right! You gotta find them!" Akira said.
"Yeah!" Sandra said.
"Okay, okay. Pepper, Jamie, what's the latest? Do you have any leads?" Iron Man asked.
"As of right now, we got nothing." Pepper said.
"Sorry." Jamie apologized.
Akira and Sandra sighed.
"You're getting a little cranky, kids. Isn't it past your bedtime?" Iron Man said in a teasing tone.
Akira and Sandra glared at him.
"How could we sleep at a time like this?!" Akira protested.
"We still have a mission." Sandra added.
"Akira, Sandra, part of a soldier's duty is keeping their body in tip-top shape. You mustn't neglect to get proper rest and nutrition-" Captain America said, but then he was put off.
The three kids gasped.
"What a joke. You don't need me for this. You can do the rest on your own." Chris said, taking off his biocode and putting it on the table before walking out of the room.
"Wait, you're gonna walk out on us just like that?!" Akira asked.
As Chris casually walked down the hallway, he remembered something about him and his parents.
Flashback - 1 month earlier
"Chris, what do you want to do with your life?!" Chris' father, Mr. Taylor, asked as his wife, Mrs. Taylor, is crying beside him.
"I know I don't wanna be a lawyer like you, Dad!" Chris snapped, his back turned to his parents.
"So, what then?! What are you gonna do with your life?! Are you gonna stay out in the streets, getting into fights, causing trouble? Just tell me. What do you want to do?!" Mr. Taylor demanded.
"How should I know? Just leave me alone!" Chris said, holding back his tears.
Chris then looked back at the entrance of the hallway. He could think about what he needed to do right now.
Afterwards, Akira, Hikaru, Sandra, Jamie, and Pepper watched the news and saw Hulk attacking an area.
"It is a gut-wrenching scene here! The tranquil town that was home to the air base is completely engulfed in flames! Residents have been evacuated to a shopping mall at the outskirts of town, with the police and military providing security." Rosetta began, before she noticed the Hulk standing around the carnage, "Look at that! First, the green beast attacked the air base! Now, it's laid waste to the town. There can be no doubt, this monster is the Hulk!
Jessica and Edward were also watching the news in their cell.
"But why would Hulk do that?" Edward gasped.
As Hulk continued his rampage, he looked up at the helicopter.
"It looks like he spotted our helicopter! He's lifting up a vehcile." Rosetta said as Hulk grabbed a broken car. He threw it but it missed the helicopter and crashed back down.
"He's completely out of control! He can't distinguish between friend or foe anymore!" Rosetta continued.
'You fool! You're supposed to be on my side!' she thought.
In the Celebrity Six's ship, the rest of the members were watching the news, too.
"Wow. That's some award-winning footage right here." Joel remarked. "Thanks for the update, Rosetta Riley."
"Did you successfully recover the Hulk's bio-DISK?" the last Celebrity Six member, Jubei Okuma, asked.
"Yup, it's all ours." Joel showed the DISK he got from the air base.
"Then get over there and D-Secure Hulk that beast. Our assignment was to orchestrate the destruction and work in secret."
"That's what he says."
"Hold on. I don't get to see something as entertaining very often. Let me enjoy it for a little while." Manino said as he and Joel sat down.
"Yeah," Angela agreed. "In time, they'll see how much a monster Hulk can be if he doesn't keep all the rage in."
"Exactly how long can we control him with that mystic spell you cast upon him?" Tim asked.
"Forever. Well, at least until my man, Diablo, releases him from his magic." Manino said.
Suddenly, Diablo appeared out of nowhere, holding a bottle of purple liquid.
"It's alchemy, not magic. I merely summoned a science known to the ancients." he said. "The beast is held captive by the laws of nature and my will."
Akira, Sandra, Hikaru, Jamie, and Pepper are now walking in the corridors.
"Why don't we just get S.H.I.E.L.D. to take all of us to the Hulk?" Akira asked.
"It's more complicated that that. We can't go to S.H.I.E.L.D." Hikaru said.
"Even so, it's gonna take us hours to get there by car!" Sandra pointed out, "Dad, Ms. Pepper, have you two got anything for that?"
"You know what, I might have an idea." Pepper said.
The three kids followed them into a room and Akira gasped at what they saw: a yellow plane!
"Pretty, cool huh?" Iron Man said.
"Yeah but does it work?" Akira said.
"Of course! I designed it!" Iron Man said.
Scarlet Witch rolled her eyes, "Obviously..."
Sandra's eyes sparkled, "For real?! So you are the super cool dude we thought you were!"
"Now, let's board." Jamie said, "Pepper will be piloting it."
The five began making their way into the pilot.
"Wait. I think someone wants to join us." Thor said.
The four turned around and saw Chris.
"You changed your mind! This is great!" Akira said in a happy tone.
"Don't get too excited, man. I think those creepy guys might come back to try and find me. So I'm coming with you. Don't expect me to fight." Chris stated.
"Ha, so what happened to Mr. Tough Guy?!" Akira shouted.
"Akira, knock it off. We don't have time for that stuff." Hikaru said.
"Your brother is right, let's go." Sandra said and Akira nodded at her.
"Ugh, that Hulk. I always suspected something's not right about him. And ever since he got trapped inside that bio-DISK, he showed everyone what a monster he actually is." Jessica said.
"No, you're wrong." Edward contradicted.
"Huh?"
"I said 'You're wrong!' Hulk isn't a monster at all. Everyday he has to overcome his weaknesses and fight his own rage. Hulk is a hero, alright? There's gotta be a reason he's doing all of this!" Edward snapped at Jessica.
"Okay..."
"So stop talking bad about him-!"
Jessica only stared at him as he lowered his head down and apologized.
"You know what? You got more guts than I thought, kid. Come on, I can't do it alone but together, we can pull this off!" Jessica said as she moved her chair in front of the door.
"Uh... pull what off?" Edward asked.
"A jailbreak, of course!" Jessica threw her chair on the door but it didn't even made a single dent.
"W-What?! That's impossible! I mean, how is throwing a chair gonna get us out of here?" Edward asked, until a vent opened above him.
"Lucky us! Good job! we're gonna need a stepstool." Jessica happily remarked.
Edward pointed to himself questioningly and Jessica gave him a wink.
Hulk is now running among the wreckage he made, still mad with power.
"Hulk smash everything! Must destory evil world!" Hulk bellowed.
Afterwards, the plane landed into the area of where the Hulk was.
Akira, Sandra, Hikaru, Jamie, and Pepper were shocked to see fire in the area around the Hulk.
"I think we found the Hulk!" Pepper said.
"We'll stop him here!" Sandra said. "You guys ready?"
ACCEPTED: MATERIALIZING. ENERGY IDENTITY
"Right!" Hikaru and Akira said.
"Mighty Thor, D-Smash!" Hikaru said. He threw his DISK and Thor appeared.
ACCEPTED: MATERIALIZING. TECH IDENTITY
"Iron Man, D-Smash!" Akira shouted. He threw the DISK and Iron Man was released.
ACCEPTED: MATERIALIZING. MAGIC IDENTITY
"Scarlet Witch, D-Smash!" Sandra shouted. She threw DISK and Scarlet Witch materialized.
Thor, Iron Man, and Scarlet Witch flew straight in front of the Hulk.
"Hulk! Calm your rage!" Thor shouted, "Look around you. Are you blind of the destruction you caused here?!"
Hulk didn't seem to recognize them.
"Hulk will smash these new enemies" He roard.
"He's not acting like himself." Scarlet Witch pointed out.
"Yep, he's gone cuckoo." Iron Man continued. "Thoughts?"
"I intend to resolve this the Azgardian way. To free him from this evil spell! I summon the power of Fenrir!" Thor shouted and hit Hulk with his hammer, "Now, Hulk, will you listen to reason?" Thor asked, before Hulk grabbed him by his hand.
"You make Hulk angry." Hulk said.
"But how could that have failed?!" Thor stated.
Hulk then raised Thor high, "You don't like me when I'm angry!" he shouted and threw Thor in the ground.
Scarlet Witch notice strange magic surrounding the Hulk's eyes.
"Iron Man, there's dark magic surrounding the Hulk. I think someone is controlling him." Scarlet Witch said.
"So it would seem. Okay, that's about enough, big guy." Iron Man said and started firing at Hulk, but the latter blocked the former's blasts.
"Hulk will teach you to smack!" Hulk shouted and started charging at the two heroes.
Iron Man quickly flew up and Scarlet Witch jumped out of the way.
"Stark, hitting him will make him more angry!" Scarlet Witch said.
"This is getting us nowhere." Iron Man said, "Samurai Boy! Lady Diva! It's time for the secret code!"
"HULK NOT DONE WITH SHINY MAN! SHINY MAN WILL PAY! TIME FOR HULK TO SMASH!" Hulk shouted grabbing Iron Man's leg and threw him down.
Pepper, Jamie, and the three kids gasped in horror.
"The angrier Hulk gets, the stronger he becomes." Jamie pointed out.
"I don't think I can watch anymore." Pepper looked away.
"Guys, we gotta do something!" Akira said.
"Do you think we can D-Secure both of them?" Hikaru asked.
"Wait, you should D-Smash Captain America and save them!" Akira said.
"I can't. I just D-Smashed Thor. My biocode hasn't recharged!" Hikaru said.
"Mine, too." Sandra said.
"Aw man." Akira groaned. "Mine hasn't either."
"Unless..." Sandra trialed before she and Akira went up to Chris.
"You're our only hope. D-Smash Cap for us! We can't charge up in time." Akira said.
Chris hesitated for a bit but couldn't say anything.
"Look! If nothing changes, then..." Sandra said pointing to the flaming area, where Scarlet Witch was fighting Hulk and dodging his attacks, "You'll help us, aren't you?! That's why you joined us! Well, Chris?!"
"Yeah, okay. Whatever. Just give me the DISK and the bracelet." Chris said to Pepper.
"Way to go man! You see? You can be a hero whenever you wanna be!" Akira said.
"Whatever you say, you'll still pull through! Told you you could help us!" Sandra added.
"It's up to you. Thanks, Chris." Pepper said giving the Captain America DISK to Chris.
Hikaru, Akira, and Sandra high-fived each other.
"Well, then, I guess it all comes down to this. I'm not a punk but I'm not a boy scout. I don't fit either label. I don't know what it means to be a hero. Just react to the moment and deal with the consequences." Chris said as he remembered what happened in the past few days, including the words his father said to him.
"What should I do? What do I wanna become?" Chris asked himself.
"Tough question. What do you want to become? I'll help you find out. You don't need to decide now. The answer will come. I'll stick with you on your journey." Captain America said.
"But what if we don't find figure it out?" Chris asked.
"Let's see... I guess... laugh it off and try again!" Captain America smiled.
"That's supposed to be some sort joke?" Chris was surprised by this.
"I know that's not my usual style, but I got you smiling. That's a start." Captain America said as Chris smiled.
Back in the fight area, Iron Man and Thor were still lying on the ground after being beaten up by Hulk while Scarlet Witch was losing her strength to fight the Hulk.
"We're not done yet." Iron Man said as he saw Hulk running away from him, "Come back here! I'm just getting started! You hear me?!"
Chris ran up to where the Hulk was.
"Who are you?" Hulk asked. "Tell me."
"I'm still trying to figure that out myself. But I have feeling you already know this guy!" Chris said, taking out his DISK and activating it.
ACCEPTED: MATERIALIZING. FIGHT IDENTITY.
"Captain America, D-Smash!" Chris shouted.
He threw his DISK on the ground and Captain America appeared.
"Courage! Honor! Freedom and hope!" Captain America said.
Scarlet Witch gave a weak smile, "Cap..."
Hulk could only glare and growl at Captain America.
To be Continued...
