hulk 2
After dropping a bomb called "Truth," Owen didn't bother sticking around and walked out of Star Company, a briefcase already in hand"one that held two badass knives.
In reality, there was a specific reason he'd told Tony he was a super soldier. His power increased the more he trained. And, of course, he spent half the day in the gym to grow stronger. He even felt he was already on par with Captain Arica at that point.
But the more strength he wanted to gain, the more specialized equipnt he needed. Especially since the ti spent training kept increasing.
And obviously, he didn't want to spend 24 hours a day in the gym just to gain a single kilo of strength. Sure, that was way more than any human could manage"humans had growth limits"but still.
He knew a tech genius who might be able to create tools to improve his training. That would be much better. Now, all he needed was a scientist to figure out how his body was transforming. And a very specific person ca to mind.
He pulled out his phone before dialing a number.
"What do you want? I'm busy," said the voice on the other end"General Nathaniel.
"Hey, old man. Have you found Banner yet?" Owen asked with a calm smile.
"We're not even looking for him. He's not a priority," Nathaniel replied, unfazed.
"Can you find him for ?" Owen asked seriously.
"Fine," said Nathaniel calmly before hanging up.
"Great. Maybe we can get him to join the army. And if he doesn't want to, we'll just let Hulk join," Owen added with a relaxed smile.
…
In a remote town far from the big cities, people walked along dirt roads with horses and wooden carts filled with goods and food. It was the kind of scene that showed that even in the modern era, there were still people living in almost old-fashioned ways.
In one of the wooden shacks with tal sheet roofs, a man stepped outside, looking around suspiciously, before walking up to a passing food cart that was even selling chickens.
He bought a chicken and returned inside. Then he ca out again, lighting a fire in an improvised outdoor kitchen beside the house, using firewood. The town had electricity, refrigerators, and running water, but gas was harder to co by"unless soone went into the city to get tanks. Firewood, on the other hand, was everywhere and much cheaper.
The man trying to light the fire was Bruce Banner, a renowned scientist specializing in gamma radiation. Not only that"he was also an expert in biophysics and genetic modification through radiation.
"Seven doctorates, including specialties in biophysics, nuclear engineering, and gamma radiation… and you're struggling to start a fire? Didn't your dad ever take you camping?" said a voice behind him.
Owen suddenly appeared, startling him. Banner quickly turned around, eyeing the man's outfit with suspicion.
He wore military green pants, a black T-shirt, and a dog tag chain around his neck that glinted in the light. Over one shoulder hung a military jacket matching his pants, and he wore a green cap.
The truth was, Owen dressed like a soldier because he'd had to make it look like he was on an official mission to co here. Bonus: one of his five required annual missions now counted as complete. Two birds with one stone.
"My dad abandoned my mom and when I was a kid," Banner said, a bit defensive.
"Well, my mom left in front of an orphanage on a cold day and walked away. If the director hadn't gone out for milk at that exact mont, I'd be dead," Owen replied calmly.
"You ca to try to arrest ? I'm warning you"it won't be fun," said Banner seriously.
"For the giant, half-crazy, green rage monster? Don't worry. Hulk is my friend," Owen said, completely calm.
"Hulk? How do you know his na?" Banner asked, shocked. He'd only recently figured out how to call him that.
"Like I said. Hulk is my friend. And by the way, I ca alone. That's the level of trust we're working with," Owen added, keeping his cool.
But, obviously, to Banner, that sounded like sothing only a lunatic would say. Who the hell considered a monster like that a friend?
"So what do you want?" he asked seriously.
"First, an invitation to join the military. As an analyst, of course. If we made you run drills with the others, hmm… let's just say it'd be intense. I an, if they're running for their lives, that counts as motivation, right?" Owen joked, laughing at the image in his head.
"But basically, I need your help. Hulk can co too, by the way. Would be fun to bring him on a mission," he added with a smile.
"You're insane," Banner said, not holding back.
"You know, I know a rcenary who never shuts up with his nonsense, and lots of people think he's crazy based on the missions he's completed. So say the more missions you do as a soldier, the crazier you get. So I can't deny it… but I won't admit it either," Owen said, still calm.
"Fine, bring Hulk out. I want to talk to him. If he wants to co with , there's nothing you can do to stop him, right?" he added as he stepped closer.
Banner's eyes widened, and fear crept into his expression. He took a few steps back as Owen approached.
"You know, the way you're acting makes feel like so high school bully picking on a nerd. By the way, I was technically a nerd… but I kicked all the bullies' asses," Owen said, stepping even closer.
"Wait, wait. Don't co any closer," Banner pleaded, a little scared. "If Hulk cos out here… this whole town could be wiped out."
"Don't worry. Didn't you notice everyone left the village a while ago while we were talking? I'm not an idiot," Owen replied seriously.
Banner realized it: the last person he saw was the vendor. No one else had passed by since.
"Wait…" he said again, but then tripped over a branch he had ant to use as firewood.
Without doing anything else, his body started turning green. After all, he'd only recently learned how to transform, and he still didn't fully control his anger. As he always said"he was always angry.
"GRRRRAAAA!" Hulk roared as he erged, even more easily than Owen had expected.
The giant turned imdiately, looking for an enemy, but when he saw a familiar face… he froze, confused.
"Hey, Hulk. Long ti no see," Owen greeted calmly.
Although any trained professional would notice that his body posture was ready to dodge at any mont. He hadn't let his guard down for a second.
"FRIEND!" Hulk said in his brutal voice, recognizing him instantly.
Owen sighed internally. Hulk recognizing him was a good sign, because deep down, he knew he was doing sothing crazy. Maybe his confidence"having a strength level close to Captain Arica's"had led him to do this. Or maybe it was the serum, which people claid affected personality, starting to kick in.
After all, he rembered being a serious soldier, trained to control his emotions. But lately, he'd been letting go a lot more. Luckily, he didn't have the sa mood swings as the "faulty" future Cap… or Red Skull.
Being carefree wasn't all bad. Maybe being too serious in life wasn't so great either.
Owen left those thoughts for later.
"Hey, I ca to invite you to play. Wanna co?" he asked naturally.
"YES!" Hulk replied without hesitation. His first friend was inviting him to play.
It was a peculiar sight in the village: a massive green monster walking calmly alongside a man down a dirt road.
So ti later, Banner regained consciousness as the sound of an engine rumbled nearby. He opened his eyes and realized he was sitting inside a military plane, his entire body covered in a red sauce"his face and hands too.
"It's barbecue sauce. Looks like Hulk loved it," said Owen, sitting not too far away, watching Banner calmly.
"What?" Banner was surprised by one specific fact: how he'd woken up inside a plane flying normally. Hulk had been there just monts ago, and yet everything was under control.
"Looks like it's true"you really are his friend," he added, settling into his seat, disgusted by the sauce all over his clothes.
"Ten kilos," said Owen.
"What?" asked Banner.
"He ate ten kilos of beef ribs with barbecue sauce. I wonder where it all goes," Owen comnted with interest, watching him.
But Banner had no interest in continuing that conversation.
"So… what are you going to do with ? Use for experints now that you can control Hulk?" he asked seriously.
"Nope. By the way, Ross lost the right to try and catch you. General Nathaniel, head of Special Forces, is now the one who decides whether you're a threat to the country. But he wasn't even looking for you. I asked to find you faster because I need your help"like I said earlier," Owen explained with a calm smile.
"What do you want for?" asked Banner.
"Basically, the super soldier serum you foolishly used and ssed up with ended up creating our green friend here. Soone else perfected and improved it"no real growth limit"and gave it to . Well… technically injected it into without warning," said Owen, while Banner's expression shifted to disbelief.
Then Owen grabbed one of the weapons lying nearby, and Banner tensed, as if expecting to be shot for not believing him. But obviously, Owen had no such intention. Using both hands, he easily bent the gun in half and then tossed it to Banner.
The scientist had no choice but to believe what he was seeing.
"Wait… did you say no growth limit? How? I an… are we talking genetic evolution, cellular advancent, or…?" Banner began, but Owen raised a hand to stop him.
"No idea. The only person who knew how it worked is dead. All he told was that the more I train, the more my body adapts and improves. He also said sothing about energy control, but for now, that's not a power I have," Owen explained calmly.
"So… are you gonna help , or do I just kidnap you?" he asked with a friendly smile.
"I don't have a choice, do I?" said Banner.
"Nope. But hey, you can't complain. You won't have to keep hiding out in small towns struggling to light a fire for hours," Owen replied with a grin.
"As long as the other guy doesn't destroy one of your military bases and end up a national convict," said Banner, finally giving in.
"Don't worry. Even if you won't admit it, Hulk's just a guy who needs the respect he deserves, and he won't be violent. And of course, he needs to learn a bit of manners," Owen comnted. He was sure General Nathaniel had so training plan in mind for Hulk to help control his destructive rage. After all, unlike Ross, the general didn't see Hulk as a threat"but as soone worthy of respect for his power.
A man raised on the battlefield knew how to recognize those who deserved respect… unlike Ross, who just wanted to capture, dissect, and break Hulk down like so experint"challenging his existence as if he were superior.
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