Chapter 5: Child of Gamma, Part 1
"So, how's everything out in the L.A. area, McGee?"
"Great, Mister Jameson. Working on that Iron Man story now."
"Nice to know. Now get back to work!"
Jameson hung up.
Well, at least it's a pretty place.
McGee hummed along with the classical music playing on the car radio as he passed by groves of orange trees and vineyards. Suddenly, he sighted a young woman by the side of the road, waving her hands in the air.
"What seems to be the problem?" McGee asked after he got out of his car.
The woman popped her car's hood open, giving McGee a full view of the engine.
"Looks like your radiator's conked out, miss…"
"Walters. Jennifer Walters."
McGee shook the woman's hand.
"Need a lift?" he offered.
"I called a tow truck. It should be here soon-"
As if on cue, the tow truck arrived.
"It'll be a while before we can get a replacement for your car, miss Walters."
"Rick, are you sure you can't cannibalize a spare one?"
"It's not worth the trouble."
Jennifer began to storm out of the garage.
"Wait! I can take you!"
She turned around.
"Thanks for offering me a lift, mister…"
"McGee. Jack McGee, Daily Bugle."
Jennifer chuckled slightly.
"Oh, so you're the man Bruce was telling me about!"
"Bruce? As in Doctor Bruce Banner?"
"That'd be Cousin Bruce alright. One of the nicest guys on the planet as far as I know."
"Yeah, but he's got enough anger management issues to choke a basking shark."
McGee braked suddenly.
"What the-" Jennifer asked.
A police officer walked up to the car from a nearby roadblock.
"Excuse me, but what's the holdup, officer?"
"Someone thinks they saw the Juggernaut. We're just supposed to hold this until SHIELD pops up and does something."
"But I'm clearly not the Juggernaut, now am I?"
"Move along."
"Who's this Juggernaut the police are so worried about?" Jennifer asked as the car continued along.
"He's with that Brotherhood of Mutants thing, and he's basically a walking, talking, and shouting battering ram in human form. Once he gets started, he's like a freight train."
Before Jennifer could say anything, the car came to a sudden halt as a loud rumbling echoed from the ground.
"Earthquake?"
Just then, a large green man in abnormally large purple pants leapt over the car and landed in front of it.
"The hell was that?" Jennifer asked.
"Hulk." McGee answered.
A more steady rumbling ensued. McGee looked out the rearview mirror, and a large man wearing an odd helmet was running towards the car.
Oh crap. Just where I didn't want to be.