Spider-Bat: New Way Home

Chapter 26: A Rock and a Hard Place

Tony Stark sat in the center of a quarantined chamber, the sterile, bright light overhead doing little to dull the tension in the room. Around him sat Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Sue and Johnny Storm, and Victor von Doom. Despite their proximity, the space between them was weighted with unspoken questions, unresolved emotions, and lingering uncertainty.

"So," Tony began, swirling the holographic projection of the Fantastic's blueprint above his palm, "you're saying your powers didn't just come from that weird anomaly you encountered, but from where you were positioned on the ship at the time?"

Reed nodded, his face etched with both concern and fascination. "Exactly. The anomaly wasn't just energy—it interacted with the materials and circumstances unique to each of us at the moment of exposure."

"Fascinating," Tony muttered, leaning forward. "Go on."

Reed cleared his throat, gesturing at the floating blueprint. "I was in the outer hull, reinforcing the malleable substance we used to shield the ship. It was designed to withstand extreme stress, but the anomaly's energy caused it—and me—to stretch and warp. That's how I gained my… flexibility."

Tony raised an eyebrow, glancing at Johnny. "And you?"

Johnny grinned, leaning back with his usual cocky flair. "I was in the thruster bay, making sure the ignition systems didn't blow us to bits. When the anomaly hit, it supercharged the heat in the area. Guess it decided I should be its new furnace."

Sue interjected, her voice measured and calm. "I was in the control room, trying to bring the thrusters back online. When the anomaly surged, there was this… blinding light. It felt like it enveloped me, absorbed into me. Now, I can turn invisible—and manipulate force fields."

Victor, who had remained silent up to this point, finally spoke, his tone as cold and calculating as ever. "I was at the control console, monitoring the anomaly's energy signature. It overwhelmed the fusion systems of the ship, and in doing so, fused its energy into me. I've since learned to harness it."

Tony's gaze shifted to Ben. "And you, Big Guy? If you and Doom were practically sitting next to each other, why are you the only one who turned into a… rock?"

Ben crossed his massive, orange arms, his stony face twisting into a scowl. "That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?"

Reed quickly stepped in, adjusting his glasses as he spoke. "It took me some time to figure out, but the answer lies in those meteor fragments you always kept in your ears."

Tony frowned. "Meteor fragments?"

Ben grunted. "Yeah, from when planet Klyntar went kaboom. Apparently, Reed found 'em years ago on a mission. He gave them to me—I thought they'd bring me luck. Turns out, not so much."

Reed continued. "The fragments were exposed to cosmic radiation unique to Klyntar. When the anomaly hit, the energy interacted with the fragments and your DNA, transforming you into… well, this."

Tony tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Okay, but why orange? Is that a side effect of Klyntar radiation?"

Before Reed could respond, Johnny piped up with a mischievous grin. "Because orange is the new black, obviously. And, let's be real, Ben's diet is like 90% Cheetos."

Ben shot up, towering over Johnny. "I'm about to clobber you, Hothead!"

Johnny laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, Big Guy. You're just too easy."

Before things could escalate further, Reed's arm stretched across the room, wrapping around Ben and pulling him back to his seat. "Enough, you two. We have bigger things to discuss."

Tony smirked but quickly turned serious. He leaned in, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "Speaking of bigger things… I've got some intel to share. Doctor Bruce Banner is alive."

The room fell silent, the weight of Tony's words sinking in.

"Bruce?" Reed asked, his eyes narrowing in thought. "How? We all thought he—"

"I know," Tony interrupted. "So did I. But he's out there, and I'm meeting with him soon."

Sue tilted her head. "Why hasn't he come forward? Surely he knows he has allies."

"That's the thing," Tony said, his voice tinged with confusion. "He doesn't want anyone to know he's alive. He made that crystal clear. I don't know why yet, but I intend to find out."

Victor leaned back, steepling his fingers. "Secrets often hide the greatest vulnerabilities. Be cautious, Stark."

Tony nodded, the tension in the room growing thicker. "Don't worry, Doom. I'm always cautious. But if Bruce is alive, it means there's more at play here than we realize."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Tony's revelation settling heavily. Whatever lay ahead, it was clear their struggles were far from over.

Later that evening, Tony Stark stepped into the dimly lit room of Stark Tower, his usual confidence slightly shaken. It wasn't like Bruce Banner to disappear for long stretches without a word, and the lack of communication was starting to gnaw at him. He tapped a command into his watch, attempting to call Bruce yet again.

The line barely rang before he heard a faint vibrating noise. It wasn't coming from his watch—it was coming from the next room over.

Tony froze, his brow furrowing as he quietly crossed the hall. Pushing open the door, he found Bruce Banner standing in the center of the room, illuminated by the soft glow of display panels. Bruce had his back turned, his hands clasped behind him as he studied a large round shield mounted on an adjustable stand.

"How did you guys get a hold of this much Vibranium?" Bruce asked without turning around, his voice calm and thoughtful.

Tony leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "It's all the Vibranium that was left on Earth. Wakanda didn't want to let it go, but… let's just say they made an exception. I figured it should go into something worthwhile before the government decided to use it to blow up some foreign village in the name of 'freedom.'"

Bruce turned slightly, his fingers brushing over the edge of the shield. "What are you going to do with it now?"

Tony pointed toward a framed picture hanging on the wall. It was an old photo of Steve Rogers, mid-battle, his original shield raised against an onslaught of enemy fire. "I was thinking about giving it to Captain America. He seems worthy enough to hold it… whenever the government stops parading him around like a sideshow act."

Bruce nodded, a flicker of a smile crossing his lips. "Good choice," he said quietly.

For a moment, the two stood in silence, the only sound in the room the faint hum of Stark Tower's tech systems. Finally, Tony broke the stillness.

"So," he began, "are you going to tell me what happened the day of the Gamma explosion? You just vanished. One second you were there; the next, nothing. I thought you were disintegrated—or worse."

Bruce sighed, his shoulders tensing. "It's… hard to explain," he started. "Hell, I'm not even sure what happened myself. One moment, I was running out onto the field to warn Rick about the blast. The next, there was a blinding flash, and I felt something tear through me—like I was being ripped apart and stitched back together at the same time."

Tony's gaze softened, but his curiosity was still sharp. "And then?"

Bruce hesitated. "I woke up… away from the test site, my clothes in tatters, and this uncontrollable rage boiling inside me. Since then, everything feels like a blur—a dream, or maybe a nightmare I can't wake up from. I've tried to control it, but…" He trailed off, his voice tinged with guilt and frustration.

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Okay. That explains a lot," he said, smirking.

Bruce gave him a flat look. "I'm serious, Tony. Something happens to me when I'm scared or angry. I change into… something else. And I can't always stop it."

Tony raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I get it. You've got your thing; I've got mine. We're all works in progress, right?"

Bruce shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite himself. "Enough about me. When I heard John Jameson and the crew of the Discovery 13 were back, I knew I had to find you. What happened out there? The news said Richards' team came back… changed."

Tony let out a low chuckle, turning to one of his workbenches and pouring himself a drink. "Oh, they've changed, alright. And that's putting it mildly."

Bruce arched a brow, mirroring Tony's earlier smirk. "Okay. That explains a lot."

Tony set down his glass and turned back to Bruce, his expression more serious now. "The only way to explain it to you is to show you."

Bruce's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, show me?"

Tony tapped a button on his smartwatch, and a holographic projection appeared in the center of the room. It displayed Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Victor von Doom as they were moments after returning from their ill-fated mission: disoriented, confused, and visibly altered.

The projection shifted, showing Reed stretching his limbs to impossible lengths, Johnny engulfed in flames, Sue vanishing entirely, and Ben's transformation into his rocky form. The image froze on Victor von Doom, his body crackling with fusion energy, his expression unreadable.

Bruce stared at the projection, his jaw tightening. "And you're telling me this was all because of some anomaly?"

Tony nodded. "Reed's team encountered something out there—something none of us fully understand yet. But whatever it was, it didn't just change them. It rewrote them."

Bruce's eyes lingered on the frozen image of Victor von Doom. "And Doom? Is he still… stable?"

Tony hesitated. "That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? But if you're up for it, maybe you and I can figure out some answers together."

Bruce glanced at Tony, his expression cautious but intrigued. "Let's start with what we know. Then we'll see where it takes us."

Tony grinned, raising his glass in a silent toast. "That's the spirit. Welcome back to the madness, Dr. Banner."

"Do you have any blood samples I can look at?" Bruce asked.

Tony smiled. "Right to work, huh?"

"Did you expect anything less?"

"Not really. I'm just glad to see you are still alive," Tony replied. "I don't have any blood samples here, but I have an even better idea."

Bruce raised his eyebrow in curiosity. "Oh yeah, what's that?"

Tony set his glass down and leaned against the edge of his workbench, studying Bruce with a thoughtful expression. "You know," he began, "watching these holograms only tells half the story. If you really want to understand what happened to Reed and his crew, you're going to need to see them in person."

Bruce raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed defensively. "In person? You think they're just going to sit down for tea and let me run tests on them?"

Tony chuckled. "Well, no. But I'm Tony Stark. I can charm my way into anything—or out of it, depending on the day. Besides, Reed's a scientist like you. If anyone's going to appreciate your insight, it's him."

Bruce hesitated, glancing back at the hologram. "I don't know, Tony. If what you're saying is true, their transformations aren't just surface-level. This is deep, fundamental stuff. Cellular, maybe even quantum. I don't want to make things worse by poking around."

Tony shrugged, the corners of his mouth quirking up in a sly grin. "Hey, you won't be poking alone. I'll be right there with you, doing what I do best—being a genius billionaire playboy philanthropist. And if things go south, well, that's why they are being quarantined on a military base."

Bruce couldn't help but smile at Tony's bravado. "You've got an answer for everything, don't you?"

"Only when it's a good question," Tony replied. He gestured toward the door. "Come on, Banner. You didn't come back from the dead to sit around in my tower playing 'what if.' Let's go see the Fantastic Five. You'll get your answers, and I'll get to enjoy the look on Reed's face when he realizes he's not the only science guy in the room."

Bruce sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, Stark. But I'm trusting you to handle the introductions. If one of them tries to clobber me, I'm not responsible for what happens next."

Tony smirked, clapping Bruce on the shoulder. "Deal. But between you and me, let's hope Ben's in a good mood. That guy's got a right hook that'll make whoever the other guy he's fighting think twice about smartin' off to him ever again."

Bruce's expression darkened slightly at the mention of "the other guy," but he nodded. "Let's just get this over with. I'm going to need a disguise. I don't want to be found right now, remember?"

"Sure," Tony replied. "We'll just put you in a Hazmat suit. I'll tell them you're there for bloodwork."

Tony led the way to the hangar bay, where one of his sleek private jets was waiting. As they boarded, Bruce glanced out at the city skyline, his mind racing with possibilities—and doubts.

"You're sure they're stable?" Bruce asked as they settled into their seats.

Tony leaned back, hands behind his head, exuding his usual confidence. "Stable is a relative term. But if anyone's going to figure out how to define it, it's you and me. Buckle up, Banner. This is going to be one hell of a science fair."

The jet's engines roared to life, and the two geniuses were on their way to what promised to be a meeting of the minds—and possibly a clash of egos.

As Bruce Banner stepped into the quarantine room, he couldn't help but notice how cramped the space felt, with its low ceilings and sterile white walls. It was a stark contrast to the grandeur of Stark Tower or the high-tech labs he was used to.

"Did you expect them to put us up in the Ritz?" Ben Grimm quipped, his gravelly voice laced with humor as he gestured around the room.

Reed Richards approached Bruce, his arms extended for a handshake through the protective Hazmat suit he was wearing. "Nice to see you back, Banner," Reed said warmly. "Your wormhole equation worked to perfection."

Ben chuckled dryly and held up his orange, rock-like hands. "Yeah. Perfection, alright," he muttered, shaking his head at his current state.

Tony Stark, ever the mediator, stepped forward and addressed the group. "Alright, listen up. Bruce is going to take some blood samples from each of you. Hopefully, we can figure out how to help you guys manage—maybe even reverse—your new abilities."

Victor von Doom scoffed, leaning back with his arms crossed. "I fail to see the need for yet another scientist meddling in our affairs. We have enough intellect in this room already."

Reed frowned and turned to Victor. "Bruce has one of the highest IQs on the planet. I'll gladly take any insight he can offer. This isn't the time for ego."

Ignoring the tension, Bruce opened his case and retrieved a syringe. "Let's get started," he said, approaching Reed.

He attempted to draw blood from Reed's arm, but the needle refused to penetrate. Instead, Reed's skin stretched and warped around the syringe like rubber.

"Well, that's new," Bruce muttered, scribbling a quick note before moving on to Johnny Storm.

As Bruce brought the needle closer to Johnny, the metal began to heat up and sizzle, the tip glowing red-hot.

"Yeah, that's not happening," Johnny said, smirking as flames briefly danced along his fingertips.

Bruce turned to Sue Storm next. He aimed for her arm, but the needle simply hovered, unable to pierce her skin as if an invisible barrier was protecting her.

"Force field?" Bruce asked, glancing at Reed, who nodded.

"Appears so," Reed confirmed.

Bruce sighed and approached Ben. "Alright, let's see if I can get anything from you." He jabbed the syringe against Ben's rocky arm, but the needle bent on impact, rendering it useless.

"You've gotta try harder than that, Doc," Ben said with a grin, flexing his massive arm.

Finally, Bruce moved to Victor, who regarded him with thinly veiled disdain. As Bruce inserted the needle, Victor winced slightly, and suddenly a surge of energy exploded from his body. It shot through the syringe, and because Bruce was holding it, the energy transferred into him, sending him flying backward.

Bruce crashed into the wall, slumping into a corner. The team rushed toward him, concern etched on their faces.

"You okay, Doc?" Ben asked, his heavy footsteps thudding as he approached. He reached out to tap Bruce on the shoulder.

Bruce remained crouched, his back to the group. His breathing grew heavier, more labored. His muscles bulged, his frame expanding. A deep, guttural growl escaped his throat.

"Banner?" Reed called cautiously.

Ben tapped Bruce's shoulder again. "Hey, pal, you alright?"

In an instant, Bruce spun around, now fully transformed into the Hulk. With a ferocious roar, he swung his massive hand, back-fisting Ben with enough force to send him crashing through the wall.

"BEN!" Johnny shouted, his body instantly igniting as he prepared for a fight.

Through the gaping hole in the wall, the team could see Ben tumbling through the air, landing with a thunderous crash in the open field outside the base.

The quarantine room fell into chaos as the Hulk roared again, his glowing green eyes locking onto the others. The transformation was complete, and the unstoppable force within Bruce Banner had been unleashed.

Johnny stepped forward, ready to take on the brute.

"Hold on, Johnny!" Reed stretched an elongated arm to hold him back. "Don't antagonize him!"

Victor von Doom's eyes narrowed as he adjusted his metal gauntlets, energy flickering at his fingertips. "I told you this was a mistake. Bringing him here was reckless."

"Victor, don't—" Sue began, but her words were cut off as Bruce—now fully transformed into the Hulk—let out another thunderous roar. His massive frame turned toward the group, his eyes locking onto Victor, who stood with his arms crossed defiantly.

"Big guy looks cranky," Johnny quipped nervously, his flames intensifying.

Reed stepped forward, his hands raised in a calming gesture. "Bruce—Hulk—listen to me! You're not in danger. You're safe here!"

But the Hulk wasn't listening. His fists clenched, and he took a step forward, the ground shaking beneath his weight. Victor stepped in front of Reed, his voice cold and commanding.

"Let him come," Victor said, electricity crackling along his fingers. "Let's see if this hulking humanoid can handle me."

"No!" Sue shouted, throwing up an invisible force field between the Hulk and Victor. The Hulk slammed a fist into the barrier, and although it held, the sheer force sent shockwaves through the room, causing equipment to topple over.

Outside, Ben Grimm groaned as he climbed out of the crater, rubbing his rocky head. "Oh, it's clobberin' time," he muttered, shaking off the dust. He stomped back toward the quarantine room, his heavy footsteps echoing ominously.

Back inside, the tension reached a boiling point. The Hulk smashed through Sue's force field with a deafening roar, sending shards of invisible energy scattering. Victor unleashed a bolt of concentrated energy from his hands, striking the Hulk square in the chest. The green behemoth staggered but didn't fall.

"Bruce! You have to stop this!" Reed shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "We're your friends!"

The Hulk's glowing eyes flicked toward Reed, and for a moment, there was a flicker of recognition. But before anything more could happen, Ben burst back into the room through the gaping hole in the wall.

"Alright, big guy," Ben growled, rolling his shoulders. "Round two. Let's see what you've got."

The Hulk snarled, pounding his fists on his chest like a primal beast. Ben charged, and the two titans collided with earth-shaking force. Their punches echoed like thunderclaps, sending shockwaves that rattled the entire base.

"Everyone out of here, now!" Reed ordered, his body stretching to push Johnny and Sue toward the exit.

"We're not leaving Ben!" Johnny protested, his flames flaring higher.

"You'll be more use to him alive!" Reed snapped.

Victor remained rooted to the spot, watching the battle with calculating eyes. "Perhaps this will remind you all why uncontained power is a liability," he said coldly.

The fight between Ben and the Hulk raged on, their blows causing further destruction to the room. The others retreated to the observation deck, where Reed frantically began analyzing data from the incident.

"What do we do, Reed?" Sue asked, her voice trembling.

"We need to calm him down," Reed said, his hands flying over the controls. "If we can reach Bruce—if there's any part of him still in there—we can stop this before it gets worse."

The Hulk roared again, grabbing Ben by the arm and hurling him into a support beam, which buckled under the impact. But Ben stood up, cracking his neck.

"Alright, Hulk," he said, his gravelly voice full of determination. "You're strong. But so am I. Let's dance."

The fight was far from over, and the team could only hope they'd find a way to stop the unstoppable force before it was too late.

The battle between the Hulk and Ben Grimm raged on, shaking the entire base with their blows. Each hit was thunderous, sending shockwaves through the structure. Ben fought valiantly, but Hulk's raw power was overwhelming, each blow sending fragments of Ben's rock-like body in all directions.

Victor von Doom stood off to the side, clenching his fists as he watched the destruction escalate. His patience finally snapped.

"Enough!" Victor shouted, his voice echoing through the room. He removed the gauntlets he wore to help contain his immense energy, allowing his power to surge unchecked. Turning his focus to the Hulk, Victor unleashed a concentrated blast of fusion energy directly at the creature's back.

The force of the blast struck Hulk with incredible intensity, sending him tumbling through the hole Ben had crashed through earlier. Smoke rose from the large burn mark scorched into Hulk's back.

Hulk groaned as he struggled to his feet, dazed but still defiant. The look in his glowing green eyes was one of stubborn resilience. Victor, now visibly enraged, began to overcharge his body with power. Energy crackled and flared around him as he prepared to unleash another, even more devastating blast.

"Let's take this monster out!" Victor declared, raising his arms, his hands glowing with searing energy.

Just as he was about to fire, Sue Storm stepped in front of him, throwing up a force field between Victor and the Hulk.

"No!" she screamed, her voice filled with desperation.

The blast collided with her force field, but instead of dissipating, it ricocheted off and shot straight back at Victor. The energy struck Victor in the face, hurling him backward with violent force.

"Victor!" Reed shouted, sprinting toward his fallen teammate. He knelt beside Victor and carefully turned him over. Victor's face was horribly burned, the damage severe.

Meanwhile, in the chaos, the team realized they had lost track of Tony Stark. Suddenly, a pained cry cut through the noise.

"Help!" Tony's voice was weak, filled with agony.

Ben looked around and spotted Tony pinned beneath a massive support beam that had collapsed during the battle. Rushing over, Ben lifted the beam with ease and threw it aside—straight at the Hulk.

"Look what you've done!" Ben bellowed, his voice a mix of anger and grief.

The Hulk caught the beam mid-air and, with a primal growl, bent it in half before tossing it aside.

Tony lay on the ground, pale and trembling. "I—I can't feel my legs," he whispered, his voice filled with terror.

The room grew eerily silent as the Hulk glanced around at the destruction he had caused. His chest heaved as his rage began to subside, replaced by an almost childlike regret. With one last look at the scene of chaos, the Hulk turned and leapt away from the base, disappearing into the distance.

Reed, Sue, and Johnny rushed to Tony's side, doing their best to stabilize him while Ben stood nearby, visibly shaken by the carnage.

Seconds later, "Where's Victor?" Reed suddenly asked, looking around.

The group turned toward where Victor had fallen, but his body was gone. All that remained was a scorched mark on the ground and the faint hum of dissipating energy.

Victor von Doom had vanished.