Betty blinked as several new trucks entered the military base. All personnel had already been evacuated. So what was this?
Slowly Betty stepped out as a van door opened and soldiers started to carrying computers! Hard drives! Betty gasped. "Are those the computers from the facility?" she asked.
"Yes mam." A soldier replied. "The general ordered them retrieved, hopefully someone will be able to extract the information from them so scientists can find out what went wrong."
Betty chewed on her lip as she looked at the computers which was carried inside… Computers which contained information. About everything in regards to the facility and the experiment. Then her eyes landed on it. Folders… Paper folders with names on them.
If she could just slip in and out. No one would have to know that she had taken a little peak.
After all, what could a peak hurt? Even if they were classified papers? Perhaps this was one of those times where it was worth asking forgiveness rather than permission.
For how long Bruce had been sitting on his knees, alone in the cold empty passageway was unclear but finally he stumbled unto his legs and walked towards the warm light until finally he entered a big open cave where a fire was burning in the middle and mutants were huddled together in the corners.
All looked up at Bruce with cold hateful eyes, someone was sobbing by the wall and Bruce swallowed. "What… What happened?" he asked.
There was no reply, just those cold stares from all the mutants around him.
"Please." Bruce asked. "I just want to help."
"What happened?" Samuel asked from where he sat, leaning casually up against the wall. "The reactor blew up Bruce. And the pressure of the blast tore a hole in the west wall exposing us to the gamma radiation." he informed. "Shortly after, we began to mutate. All of us."
Tolokov who sat a bit away from Samuel lowered his head and closed his one visible eye.
"Yuri…" Bruce breathed as he walked over to the now stout grey mutant and then sat down on his knee.
"It hurt." Yuri whispered. "It hurt so much.. Every cell in your body. Growing and changing. Ziz like fire."
Bruce reached out a shaking hand then touched Yuris hand only for his eyes to widen. Yuris skin was not fleshy or soft, it was hard. It almost felt like a warm stone and Bruce gasped as he picked up Yuri's hand with both his hands.
"We escaped through the hole created by the blast." Samuel then continued. "Then we made our way to the roof trying to get outside. How-ever… When we reached the roof we saw them. Tanks, those soldiers. And they were shooting at someone. A huge green man. We believe another mutant, some other poor fool who didn't quite manage to make it to safety." he stated. "How-ever we saw all we needed. Those brainless soldiers were shooting missiles at that poor man. What would they do if they saw us?" he asked. "So we turned around. We had to flee."
"I.. I'm glad that you made it out okay." Bruce swallowed.
"Okay?" Samuel asked. "Don't make me laugh. We managed to flee but where are we supposed to flee to Banner?!" he asked angrily. "Look at us, you utter buffoon!"
Bruce bit his lip. "Urhm Yuri. If it's okay with you if I try to take a sample?" he asked.
"If you can." Yuri shrugged.
Bruce swallowed as he ripped a piece of cloth from what remained from his pants, then placed it under Tolokov's hand as he tried to scrape off a bit of the stony skin. Letting the dust fall down on the cloth which he folded together in a package and put into his pocket. "I'll figure something out. I promise." he said.
"You also promised it would be safe." Samuel commented bitterly.
"I have a question." a new voice sounded. It was deep, extremely deep. It made the hole cave rumble and slowly… Slowly Bruce turned around.
He looked to the furthers wall which was still in the dark. There was a shadow, a large shadow. Huge.. bigger than any of the other mutants in the cave. Much bigger.
"How come." The deep voice asked as the creature slowly leaned forward. "That we are all looking like this but you." he seethed as he moved closer and finally the flames from the fire revealed a massive green face. Looking as grotesque as the others, almost reptilian. Scales going over this persons entire body. "You… Look normal."
And everyone's eyes were on Bruce.
The massive creature came closer and closer. "You ran out… You were exposed. Or should have been. Why are we stuck like this. But you? You're fine!"
"I…. I don't know." Bruce swallowed. "I don't even know how I survived."
"That is a good question." Samuel commented as he looked at Bruce. "You were not protected by led. Why are you looking normal?"
"I have no idea!" Bruce gasped.
And the big creature stood up, he towered over Bruce. A giant!
There were whispers all around Bruce and he turned around. He saw all the glowing eyes, looking at him. And the whispers. "He's normal." "Why is he normal?" "He lied to us." "Was it on purpose?"
"No…" Bruce shook his head. "It wasn't. I swear it wasn't!"
The massive scaly giant sneered.
"Easy Sergeant Blonsky." Samuel asked and Bruce turned around as he looked up at the massive mutant.
"Sergeant?" Bruce asked. "You… You're the sergeant that Ross stationed." he gasped. "I.. I'm sorry I."
And suddenly. Blonsky grabbed Bruce's throat and held him up. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!"
"Urgh." Bruce hissed as he struggled, his eyes squinted tight.
"Why wont you answer! DOCTOR BANNEEEER!" Blonsky shouted.
And Bruce's eyes open now shining bright green. Veins going across his body and he roared as he pushed Blonsky away. So harshly that the massive body of Blonsky flew back and into the wall as Bruce landed on the floor.
His eyes wide open and bright green as he seethed and foamed, his body growing.
"My god." Tolokov gasped. "He is infected!"
"Hmm." Samuel snorted. "Delayed effect?" he asked as he stood up. "Well then Bruce. How does it feel?" he asked as he moved closer to the body contorting on the ground. "The cells burning. The muscles stretching. Not very nice is it?" he asked. "Serves you well that you-" BAM!
Samuel did not get one more word in edgewise, a massive green fist had hit him right in the head and send him crashing into the wall.
Everyone gasped and then turned to the large green creature now standing on the floor as he roared.
"Bruce?" Tolokov asked. "BRUCE!" he shouted.
Only for the big green mutant to hit another mutant and another. Grabbing a rock and throwing it.
"What's gotten into you?" Tolokov shouted.
Samuel gasped from the wall. "He's lost his mind!" he shouted.
"I'll handle this!" Blonsky shouted as he came running back. A lifted fist aimed straight at the new green creature.
Only for the creature to turn around. Lift his own fist and in a shock wave the two fists met and send both back where they came from making all the mutants scream.
"BRUCE!" Tolokov threw himself at the green creature. "Stop it!"
Only for the green creature to grab him and smash him into the ground where Tolokov was left groaning.
Samuel gasped as he stood up and then yelled. "RUUUUN!"
And all the mutants screamed as they ran the only way they could, towards the only exit in the hall as Blonsky and Bruce's massive forms returned to fight, the shock waves going through the entire cave.
They smashed each other in the faces and body, but neither were touched. Unlike the cave which was slowly collapsing.
The group of fleeing mutants had finally reached the cave exit where a big stone blocked the exit, easily it was flipped away only for all to stop shocked.
For outside… There were tanks. And there were soldiers.
General Ross stood in front wide-eyed looking up. Behind him was a tank… A tank with inbuilt radar which would be able to pick up on large heat signals.
Samuel hissed as he moved backwards back towards the shadows and so did everyone else as the soldiers gaped.
Then, from behind them there was a large crash as two massive creatures broke through the cliff itself and flew up into the air.
The soldiers all gaped as they saw the two creatures which kept fighting in mid air. Exchanging blows.
"CONCENTRATE ON KEEPING THOSE INSIDE THE CAVE AND WHEN THOSE TWO COME BACK DOWN SHOOT THEM!" Ross shouted as he first pointed at the mutants in the cave opening and then at the two much bigger mutants which were falling downwards again.
And true enough they plummeted down and landed right among the soldiers who screamed to take cover while the monsters exchanged blows.
"Now is our chance!" Samuel gasped. "RUN!" and all the mutants ran out while soldiers screamed trying to take cover from the two massive mutants.
Several rounds of shot were fired, but they simply fell off as every blow was a minor shock wave forcing all the soldiers to take cover.
"MEN!" Ross shouted. "Take cover and fire!"
That made Blonsky halt and he gasped. "Sir?" only to get a fist right in the face sending him back, he landed on his back on the ground only for the big green creature to jump and land on him and then smacked him in the head with his fists.
Over and over and over. A rain of fists on Blonsky who didn't even get a chance to move or fight back.
Finally a missile was fired, hitting his attacker and sending him into the cliff and he roared only for another missile to be fired and yet another over and over.
The big green creature roared and finally he jumped again. Jumped away.
The soldiers though ran to Blonsky and surrounded him, all having their guns aimed right at him as they stood in a circle each holding a gun or a riffle. Loaded and aimed.
Blonsky gasped as he looked up at the circle of soldiers.
"Careful." Ross ordered from the back. "If that thing moves to quickly. Shoot."
"Si… SIR!" Blonsky shouted in a deep growling voice and everyone gasped.
Ross halted then slowly he moved forward. "Step aside." he asked and the soldiers willingly stepped aside to open a hole for Ross. He frowned as he looked down at the massive creature in front of him. "Did you just speak?" he asked. "If you can speak. Now would be the time."
Blonsky swallowed. "Sir… Please." he asked. Tears forming in his eyes. Then he sniffed. But sucked in a breath. "Sergeant Emil Blonsky. Sir!" he exclaimed. "ID 1-1-8-3 sir! Stationed Nevada south base sir! U.S. Military soldier Sir!"
And everyone gasped shocked. Ross most of all stood, wide-eyed looking at the massive creature on the ground in front of him.
Slowly, slowly Blonsky stood up. All the guns still aimed at him.
And then he saluted. "Sergeant Emil Blonsky reporting!" he exclaimed as he stood straight. His face twisted as if he was holding back tears.
"Hold your fire!" Ross exclaimed and everyone lowered their guns as they wide-eyed looked up.
"Sergeant Blonsky?" Ross asked again.
"Sir." Blonsky swallowed, then he sniffed.
"My god." Ross breathed.
"I.. I'm sorry sir." Blonsky gasped as tears rolled down his eyes. "This is no way for a soldier to act. Forgive me."
Ross held up a hand. "You performed your duty admirable. You don't need to feel shame." he assured. "Sergeant Blonsky. You're coming with us to base." he said. "There you will give full testimony about what happened inside the facility. And then we'll get you help. You understand?" he asked. "We'll get you help."
Blonsky nodded. "Thank you sir."
"No need to thank me." Ross said in a stern frown. "It's merely what those fools who let this happen owes you." he stated. "Come on. We'll head for base." he stated.
In the base Betty was sitting with a bunch of old documents.
She gasped as she looked over the numbers. A document which had never been entered into the system.
This folder had a name on it. "Doctor Samuel Sterns." and dated back an entire decade. Long before Bruce had ever become attached to the project.
Betty gasped as her eyes were on the numbers. The numbers written and made by Sterns and then had never left this very folder. Kept away from everyone. "This was never going to work." she realized. "This could never have worked in the first place… Bruce was working from the numbers he had. But the numbers given to him. Were wrong."
Samuel hissed as he ran across the desert with his group of mutants.
They should never have given Banner the project! If he had only remained leader nothing would have happened. They would have been fine!
This was not his fault!