One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[Johnny Blaze]

The monster's icy prison shatters to pieces, and the Devil Hulk looks at the new faces standing in front of him.

Then the beast does something it hasn't done since it was freed from the prison in Banner's psyche. It smiled.

The Devil Hulk snapped his hand down and grabbed the side of a parked old VW station wagon. With a casual toss, the Devil Hulk hurled the car at Iron Man, smashing the hero dead on and sending him with the VW sailing down the street.

The monster roared and charged forward, batting Captain America aside with a backhand and slashing Superman across his chest with the claws of his other hand.

 

[wiegeabo]

"It's not really..." I start before looking up at Jay suspisciously.

"This is the League, isn't it?"

Wally was always brighter then he gave himself credit for. I'm glad to see that hasn't changed.

"Wally-"

BREEPBREEPBREEPBREEPBREEPBREEPBREEPBREEPBREEPBREEPBREEP

I'm startled for a second, and have the communicator in my hand the next. "The distress beacon. From...Superman?!"

For someone like Superman to need the League...

"Wally, where's your remote?" I'm already out of my chair searching for it before Wally can say anything. "Got it!"

I turn on his tv and start flipping through channels as fast as the tv can manage. But I only need to go through a few before I realize almost every channel is showing the same thing.

"Is that...the Hulk?"

 

[Byrd Man]

The monster's icy prison shatters to pieces, and the Devil Hulk looks at the new faces standing in front of him.

Then the beast does something it hasn't done since it was freed from the prison in Banner's psyche. It smiled.

The Devil Hulk snapped his hand down and grabbed the side of a parked old VW station wagon. With a casual toss, the Devil Hulk hurled the car at Iron Man, smashing the hero dead on and sending him with the VW sailing down the street.

The monster roared and charged forward, batting Captain America aside with a backhand and slashing Superman across his chest with the claws of his other hand.

Captain America

I wince in pain as the Hulk's blow slams me hard into the ground. I skid and come to a stop next to a battered car.

Quickly picking myself up, I charge to where Superman and Hulk are fighting it out.

Tossing my shield in the air ahead of me, I spring off my feet and get ready to land.

Superman

Shaking off the pain of the monster's attack on my chest, I drive my first into his face and hit him with a laser blast.

He roars out in pain as Captain America's shield strikes him in the head. I watch, almost in slow motion as the captain lands on the monster's back and strikes him hard with a punch.

 

[Keyser Soze]

The monster's icy prison shatters to pieces, and the Devil Hulk looks at the new faces standing in front of him.

Then the beast does something it hasn't done since it was freed from the prison in Banner's psyche. It smiled.

The Devil Hulk snapped his hand down and grabbed the side of a parked old VW station wagon. With a casual toss, the Devil Hulk hurled the car at Iron Man, smashing the hero dead on and send him and the VW sailing down the street.

The monster roared and charged forward, batting Captain America aside with a backhand and slashing Superman across his chest with the claws of his other hand.

"Ugh!"

Being hit by a volkswagon knocked me to the ground with enough force to leave a crater in the road underneath me. Not the most elegant of opening salvos, Tony. Clumsily, I push myself to my feet in this enormous Hulkbuster armor.

"Right. My turn."

I charge at this Hulk thing, and bringing my two hands together, smack him square in the chest. My gauntlets were installed with rocket-boosters, packing enough energy to blast the creature backwards over a mile into the very fringe of the city limits.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

The Devil Hulk righted himself, digging his feet into the earth and coming to a stop. With one leap, the monster is airborne, his sights set on Iron Man.
Iron Man sees the monster coming down at him, and fires his beam cannon that hit's the Devil Hulk directly in the chest. The creature winces, but his momentum carries him through the attack and straight to Iron Man.

The Devil Hulk's claws slice into Iron Man's armor, digging three deep gashes into his chest plate as he touches down. The monster lands on his feet, the impact shaking the immediate area like an earthquake. As he lands, the Devil Hulk smashes his elbow across Iron Man's face, knocking the hero hard into the ground.

 

[Keyser Soze]

The Devil Hulk righted himself, digging his feet into the earth and coming to a stop. With one leap, the monster is airborne, his sights set on Iron Man.
Iron Man sees the monster coming down at him, and fires his beam cannon that hit's the Devil Hulk directly in the chest. The creature winces, but his momentum carries him through the attack and straight to Iron Man.

The Devil Hulk's claws slice into Iron Man's armor, digging three deep gashes into his chest plate as he touches down. The monster lands on his feet, the impact shaking the immediate area like an earthquake. As he lands, the Devil Hulk smashes his elbow across Iron Man's face, knocking the hero hard into the ground.

This thing doesn't give up easy!

I kick its leg out from under it, and as it falls towards me, I bring my two hands smashing together, one connecting with each side of the beast's head. Now those rocket-boosters are pointed inwards, whacking around its ears with enough force to crack a mountain.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

The Devil Hulk howls in pain and falls onto his back. The monster roars in anger as he clutches his head. Iron Man doesn't let up as he pounds on the creature while it's prone.

Iron Man brings his hand down for a strike, but the Devil Hulk catches Tony's fist in his jaws. With a sickening crunch, the creature bites down through the armor and into Iron Man's flesh.
With a jerk of his neck, the Devil Hulk flings Iron Man away and kicks up.

The monster howls like a demon and then sets it's sights on Superman...

 

[wiegeabo]

The Devil Hulk howls in pain and falls onto his back. The monster roars in anger as he clutches his head. Iron Man doesn't let up as he pounds on the creature while it's prone.

Iron Man brings his hand down for a strike, but the Devil Hulk catches Tony's fist in his jaws. With a sickening crunch, the creature bites down through the armor and into Iron Man's flesh.
With a jerk of his neck, the Devil Hulk flings Iron Man away and kicks up.

The monster howls like a demon and then sets it's sights on Superman...

Ten thousand blows reign down on the creature before it's able to take a single step. Every swipe of it's hand meets nothing but air as he takes punch after punch.

"That'll be quite enough of that." The bones in my hands feel like they're in a thousand pieces, which is probably true. But I push through the pain, knowing my body will heal.

Now that I'm standing still, the monster slowly turns towards me. Rage almost pouring out of its eyes, it's teeth bared like some ungodly animal. It starts to take a step towards me, but the jingle of the chains around his arms and neck confuse him.

"NOW!"

Twin streaks of red pull the chains at superspeeds, lurching the Hulk off his feet in midstep. Wally and I run for all we're worth, knowing that the Hulk will only remain bound for a short time. And he indeed rips through them with no effort in only a couple of seconds. Fortunately, we're in the middle of the Mojave by the time it happens.

The Hulk rolls for half a mile once the chains break. But he looks completely uninjured.

I glance at Wally. "Did you have a chance to come up with a plan B?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

The Devil Hulk slams down from the sky in front of the Flashes, causing dirt and sand to kick up into the air. The Flashes instinctively raise their hands to shield their eyes from the stinging sand.

The Devil Hulk reaches out wide and quickly brings both his hands together in a deafening thunderclap. The shockwave blows the speedsters backwards across the desert sand and blows apart nearby cacti and shrubs.
The sound of the thunderclap carries all the way into Los Angelas, echoing through the empty streets.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

"Gentlemen, crime is up." Hamilton Hill says to Deputy Grogan and myself as we sit across his desk.

A second term incumbent with a erroding constituency, Hill is eyeing a third term and will doing anything he can to reach that goal. Even if it includes beating up on me.

"From the monthly stat reports, there is a 4% increase in crime overall."

"They're clean." I say bluntly.

"Excuse me, Commissioner?"

"The stats are clean. I didn't massage them or manipulate them in anyway. When I first became commissioner, I told you I wanted to do police work and I'm giving you police work."

"But these numbers won't help anyone out come election time."

"It's not my job to get anyone elected."

Hill smiles and laces his fingers together.

"You serve at the pleasure of the mayor."

"With all due respect, I'm not playing the numbers game any longer, Mister Mayor. That's how Loeb did it and Tomasi did it before him. I'm tired of seeing cops playing this stupid numbers game, shining **** and turning it into gold while one generation is teaching the next generation not to do the job. The numbers game crippled this department!"

"Be that as it may. I want to see a double digit decrease in the crime rate by this fall....what about this area here? The Western District has an 8% decrease in the crime rate."

"It's because Two-Face has scared everyone off the drug corners and runs his own. Now, I have the Major Crimes Unit looking into this."

Hill arches an eyebrow and shakes his head.

"Why, exactly?"

"Because he's doing illegal activites!"

"But the crime is down? Commissioner, sometimes a certain amount of crime is a nessecary evil. I want you to pull the Major Crimes Unit off the case."

I shake my head and stand up. Hill is trying to talk to me, but I just walk out of his office into disgust.

On my way out, I shake my head at the man outside, Deputy Krol.

"Deputy, I hope you run for Mayor. You certainly earned my vote."​

 

[Red_Robin77]

Ten thousand blows reign down on the creature before it's able to take a single step. Every swipe of it's hand meets nothing but air as he takes punch after punch.

"That'll be quite enough of that." The bones in my hands feel like they're in a thousand pieces, which is probably true. But I push through the pain, knowing my body will heal.

Now that I'm standing still, the monster slowly turns towards me. Rage almost pouring out of its eyes, it's teeth bared like some ungodly animal. It starts to take a step towards me, but the jingle of the chains around his arms and neck confuse him.

"NOW!"

Twin streaks of red pull the chains at superspeeds, lurching the Hulk off his feet in midstep. Wally and I run for all we're worth, knowing that the Hulk will only remain bound for a short time. And he indeed rips through them with no effort in only a couple of seconds. Fortunately, we're in the middle of the Mojave by the time it happens.

The Hulk rolls for half a mile once the chains break. But he looks completely uninjured.

I glance at Wally. "Did you have a chance to come up with a plan B?"

"I was kind of hoping you'd think of one."

The Devil Hulk slams down from the sky in front of the Flashes, causing dirt and sand to kick up into the air. The Flashes instinctively raise their hands to shield their eyes from the stinging sand.

The Devil Hulk reaches out wide and quickly brings both his hands together in a deafening thunderclap. The shockwave blows the speedsters backwards across the desert sand and blows apart nearby cacti and shrubs.
The sound of the thunderclap carries all the way into Los Angelas, echoing through the empty streets.

"My back really could have done without..." I groan as I pull myself and run full speed in the direction of the Hulk.

I run around him, slowly deteriorating the ground around him, slowly making a trench.

"Pleaseworkpleaseworkpleaseworkpleasework."

 

[Catman_prb]

"Wow," Supergirl said, watching the ongoing battle "Is every hero so patronising?"

She watched as one of the Flashes, she couldn't make out who, dug a trench around the creature, who was busy trying to hit the red blur that was surrounding it. The blonde kryptonian glared at the Hulk, hitting him full on the chest with red hot eyebeams. The monster glared at her, taking a lumbering step towards her.

And straight into the trench that the Flash had just constructed.

Kara walked a little closer to the hole, and can hear some seriously loud growling from the depths.

"Okay, I think it's angry now,"

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Hank Pym

"That's it, if we haven't heard from Thor in the next 15 minutes, we need to go in there." Pym sighs, exasperated, as he paces the interior of the Quinjet.

"So let me get this straight, we're about to actually invade another country?" the Green Lantern asks, but no one wants to answer.

"Goddamn it's hot in here, mind if I crack open a window?" Hawkeye walks over to the door, but is stopped before he forces it open.

"Wait...What is that?" Wonder Woman gets up from her seat, walking towards the cockpit and looking out the window, soon joined by the rest of the team.

"That's...not good."

Outside, a group of more than 20 people in matching uniforms have made a line. Watching the Quinjet, or rather, the spot where the Quinjet sits cloaked, the men and women form a line along the Kahndaqi. They set not a foot over it, but stand like a brick wall. Waiting.

"They know we're here. Let's just hope Thor knows what he's doing."
​

 

[Catman_prb]

"That's it, if we haven't heard from Thor in the next 15 minutes, we need to go in there." Pym sighs, exasperated, as he paces the interior of the Quinjet.​

"So let me get this straight, we're about to actually invade another country?" the Green Lantern asks, but no one wants to answer.​

"Goddamn it's hot in here, mind if I crack open a window?" Hawkeye walks over to the door, but is stopped before he forces it open.​

"Wait...What is that?" Wonder Woman gets up from her seat, walking towards the cockpit and looking out the window, soon joined by the rest of the team.​

"That's...not good." ​

Outside, a group of more than 20 people in matching uniforms have made a line. Watching the Quinjet, or rather, the spot where the Quinjet sits cloaked, the men and women form a line along the Kahndaqi. They set not a foot over it, but stand like a brick wall. Waiting.​

"They know we're here. Let's just hope Thor knows what he's doing." ​

"I think I can hit their leader from here," Hawkeye said, pointing an arrow tip out of the window that he's forced open.

"I would suggest that you don't," Vision said, his feet propped up on the seat in front of his, managing to make his normally emotionless voice sound bored. The TV in front of him played an episode of Family Guy.

"That would likely antagonise them to the point where they riot. And I doubt even you are heartless enough to murder a pregnant woman in cold blood," Vision said "Besides, this is the one where Peter fights the Chicken man for the first time,"

 

[Keyser Soze]

Khandaq

When the citizens of Khandaq looked up at the sky on this bright, sunny morning, they saw a formidable figure flying through the sky. Not that this was an unheard of sight - their beloved ruler, Black Adam, was known to survey his kingdom in this very manner. But this flying figure was not Black Adam.

Thor hovered high above Khandaq, and waited. He knew it was only a matter of time. And he knew that, if Adam was anything like he believed him to be in his personal experience of him, he would answer this silent challenge directly.

"Thor."

Thor turned around to see Black Adam flying towards him, anger etched in his features.

"Adam."

"Why have you come here? You are trespassing on my land!"

If Thor was not careful, this could come to blows very quickly.

"We ventured through Hel and Jotunheim together, Adam. Is it too much to ask that I be granted an audience here in your homeland?"

Adam hesitated, eying Thor suspiciously.

"What do you want?"

"To talk. To understand what has happened, to hear your side of the story. That is all."

There was an extended period of silence, as Black Adam considered this. Finally, he gave a grudging nod.

"Very well. Come with me."

"This is about more than pride, Thor."

Thor and Black Adam were sitting in a cavernous reception hall in Adam's palace. The setting appeared to be casual enough - each sat on a comfortable sofa, and one of Adam's servants had brought them drinks before leaving them to converse in private. But both of these colossal beings were tense, ready for the outbreak of battle at any moment.

"You do not know the workings of America like I do. They treat the Middle East like it is their property, each country a resource for them to rape and exploit until it is all dried up. I have seen it happen too often, I know where this is going. It begins with these.... clandestine missions, then it leads to a full-scale military invasion of my homeland to search for some imaginary weapon of mass destruction. Then they conquer, occupy and oppress, like they have done time and time again."

Thor did not respond, merely nodded for Adam to continue. He remained respectfully silent, allowing Adam to tell his side of the story uninteruppted.

"I suppose you have been told this.... Sentry killed terrorists, yes? Terrorists may have died but his hands, but the 'cleanup crew' they sent in afterwards wiped out scores of innocent mutant slaves - men, women and children, mutants I had long searched for in an attempt to rescue them from this captivity. This, by any rational definiton, was an act of war. America breached all kinds of UN sanctions with this highly illegal trespass into my country to murder my people. Yet because the world fears me, they stand by and let President Luthor do as he sees fit."

Thor was still silent, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of horror. Could this really be true? Is the government he now works for responsible for the mass murder of innocents?

"And this.... Luthor," Adam spat the word out with contempt, "Do you not think he was fully aware of how I would react? He was testing me, see how far he could push me. He wanted me to react in anger, so he could have an excuse to declare Khandaq a threat to America! That's how the American government has long been able to justify its actions, by keeping its citizens scared and therefore compliant..."

"May I speak?"

Thor could remain silent no longer. Adam nodded.

"You may, prince of Asgard."

"If you believe Luthor wanted you to react like this... why give him the satisfaction? Why prove yourself to be as base and bloodthirsty as he assumed you were?"

"What choice do I have? I cannot appear weak, or he will push further and further..."

"Then let him. Defy him, Adam! He wants violence to beget violence, but should you respond instead with dignity and grace, what then for Luthor? He has but two choices - to withdraw, or to overplay his hand. And should he choose the second, then surely the world will recognise that you are in the right."

Adam shook his head with a degree of uncertainty.

"I wish I had the faith in this world that you do, my friend."

"I do not take that word lightly, Adam. You helped me in my time of need, and for that I will indeed forever view you as my friend. So the words you have spoken here have not fallen on deaf ears. I will return to America, and I will investigate your claims, and should evidence emerge that you are correct in your fears, the skies of Washington will darken to deepest black under the storms of my wrath."

Adam nodded. It was now his turn to fall silent.

"But you must give me time. As you undoubtedly know, the Avengers wait on your borders, under orders to attack your country, to apprehend you and your metahuman army. It is only I who hold them back. Now I do not sell short your strength. They may not be strong enough to capture you, you may kill them all, or take them prisoner. But if you do that, there is no going back. If you are right about Luthor, that will be his smoking gun. America's armies will march onto your soil, and even if you survive the war that will ensue, it will be at great cost. Terrible bloodshed, on both sides. Once you embark on this path, it will be too late to turn back."

Adam's eyes flickered with anger, but all the same, his expression suggested he was being swayed by Thor's words.

"I humbly ask that you withdraw your troops, give the world some... gesture that we are not on the brink of war. Tell me you will do this, and I will go back to The Avengers right now, and tell them we are getting on our plane and going back to America, leaving you be. We all take a step back, and we get the chance to investigate this situation with clearer minds. Give me time, friend, to set this right."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Wow," Supergirl said, watching the ongoing battle "Is every hero so patronising?"

She watched as one of the Flashes, she couldn't make out who, dug a trench around the creature, who was busy trying to hit the red blur that was surrounding it. The blonde kryptonian glared at the Hulk, hitting him full on the chest with red hot eyebeams. The monster glared at her, taking a lumbering step towards her.

And straight into the trench that the Flash had just constructed.

Kara walked a little closer to the hole, and can hear some seriously loud growling from the depths.

"Okay, I think it's angry now,"

The Devil Hulk roared as he leaped from the trench, landing right in front of Kara.
The monster's hand shot out, gasping Supergirl by the throat.
Pulling the young hero inches away from his face, the Devil Hulk snarled, spittle flying from the creature's mouth and onto Kara.

But the little hero could not say a word as the creature's iron grip crushed her throat, cutting off her air supply and causing her world to slowly fade to darkness...

 

[SenseiofCheese]

"What the hell is going on out there?"

Hawkeye's words brought everyone's attention to the window he had been staring out of the last few minutes. The still, silent chain of Kahndaqi metahumans had not moved an inch since they arrived, but one of them...

Sparks were flying out of the man's fingertips as he tapped his foot impatiently on the ground. Visibly frustrated, the man raised his hand but his outstretched arm was immediately grasped by the woman on his side. The two exchanged heated words, sweat glistening on their faces. Finally, the man shouted something which, to the Avengers, sounded vaguely like "Screw this."

KRA-KOOM

A massive bolt of scarlet energy swallowed the Quinjet. Red tendrils punched through the solid steel hull of the transport and gripped it tight, hurling it through the air. Moments before the hunk of steel crashed back to the ground, it stopped inches above it enclosed in a green protective bubble.

"Jesus ****ing Christ!"

"That's not good."

"Hera..."

"Go! Go! Go!"

 

[Karem-Knight]

S.H.E.I.L.D. Hellcarrier

Lex took his seat on board the Presidential Marine One as him and several members of the Secret Service sat, landing gently on the floating S.H.E.I.L.D. Hellcarrier they all got out as one woman stood in front of other agents of the Untied States' organisation. One of his men opened the doors for Lex as he stepped outside to the strong breeze that surrounded them. Walking towards the S.H.E.I.L.D. operatives, the President gave a smile of a man who's plans were coming together all too perfectly.

"Afternoon, Miss Waller."

"Mr. President.... I think you'd better come inside to our communications room."

They walked inside the Hellcarrier and took several lifts down to the centre of the massive base while Waller gave Lex an update of the situation.

"I regret to inform you that during the time of your journey to the Hellcarrier, we had lost contact with The Avenger's Quinjet after what appeared to be a metahuman or mutant powered attack..one with electrical based powers managed to shut-down all operations while Thor was still negotiating with Black Adam. We were not able to identify the man but resources tell us they were attacked from Kahndaq's borders, I have just been informed that Hawkeye's com-link with us is still on line and I have been waiting for you next course of action."

"Very well, I will speak with him right now."

The elevator stopped as Luthor, the agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. and Waller all walked over to the central communications hub. Waller opened up the signals and started speaking into the computer.

"Hawkeye, this is Amanda Waller. What's the situation?"

"This really isn't he best time now Waller!" static electricity interrupted the signals and made it hard for Hawkeye's voice to be heard.

"Hawkeye. I repeat, what's the situation!?"

"The Quinjet was just somehow...attacked. I don't how, but everything is shut down..it was one of Adam's guys attacking us. He wasn't a normal joe that's for sure."

"Barton. This is the President speaking, right now we are all involved in a major international incident. But that man who just attacked the Quinjet has just completed an act of war. Inform your team mates that they have full Presidential permission to attack Kahndaq and get into contact with Thor as quickly as you can."

Lex then shutdown communications himself. Waller then turned round to him.

"What now?"

"Now, we send in all the reserved speical ops teams we can into Kahndaq. I want this cleared up as quickly as possible, the media will be all over this unless we clear it up fast. Contact all personal you can and inform them of our situation in Kahndaq."

 

[Optikal]

"So how long do you reckon this is going to take?" Rhodes asked as the doctors wheeled him towards the operating room.

"It depends on how well your body responds Mr Rhodes. Tony Stark has the finest technology in the western world so I don't imagine there'll be too many problems".

Rhodes swallowed and rested his head back. In his wildest dreams he wouldn't have imagined that one day he'd be strolling around with cybernetic limbs. "Well do your work good Doc, I want to walk out of this place more like the terminator and less like C-3PO!"

The doctor cracked a small laugh. "Don't Worry James, you'll be looked after by the very best. I assure you, everything will be fine".

12 Hours Later

For the millionth time, Rhodey awoke to the bright flourescent lights of a hospital ward. His vision was different. In fronts of his eyes, a stream of information flickered like the internal displays of a fighter jet cockpit. It was strange, yet he felt himself processing the information in the back of his mind. He was thinking without actually thinking. Funnily enough, he felt no pain. In fact, he felt stronger than he ever had.

Rhodes sat up, a very faint metallic hum accompanying his movements. He grabbed for the bed sheet covering him with a metal hand and uncovered a pair of metaillic legs. "Holy shi-" He whispered, flexing his new limbs, feeling the power there.

He rose, standing upright. A mirror had been placed in the room with him and Rhodes moved in front of it. Staring back at him was a metallic warrior. He looked a lot like Iron Man, but darker. The black and silver of the armour reflected in the harsh synthetic light of the room. It looked like the whole suit would be immensely heavy but it was as light and comfortable as a second skin. The eyes glowed an eeire red from a face that was covered with a plate. Rhodes twisted and moved, testing the joints, unsure of how much was man and how much was machine.

Stepping back, he closed his eyes and pressed the side of the helmet covering his head and felt the faceplate receed. Slowly, nervously, he opened his eyes and stared into his reflection.

"Jesus Christ. What've they done to me?!"

 

[Keyser Soze]

The Devil Hulk roared as he leaped from the trench, landing right in front of Kara.
The monster's hand shot out, gasping Supergirl by the throat.
Pulling the young hero inches away from his face, the Devil Hulk snarled, spittle flying from the creature's mouth and onto Kara.

But the little hero could not say a word as the creature's iron grip crushed her throat, cutting off her air supply and causing her world to slowly fade to darkness...

"Don't you know that's no way to treat a lady?"

Trying my utmost to block out the pain from the Hulk's last attack, I lunge at the creature, knocking it to the ground and breaking its grip on Supergirl. I don't let up, bombarding it with a series of rights and lefts to keep the thing down and dazed. But that won't be enough. If any of us have learned anything, it's that we don't stand a hope in hell in a knockdown-dragout with this twisted version of the Hulk. I need to find a way to end this, and fast.

Then the idea hits me. A stupid, stupid idea. And one that just might work.

"Right, big guy, we're going for a ride."

With great exertion, even in this specialised armor, I pick up this Hulk beast and sling it over my shoulder. Then I launch into the air, going up and up. The air gets thinner, the skies darker, the temperature colder, but still I keep on going up.

"How do you feel about space travel?"

 

[Optikal]

​

New Mexico.


The sun had set a while back, but the air was still warm with its heat. James finished lifting the last post into place and drove the last few nails into the freshly cut wood.

"You're not going to be escaping this place again any time soon" he muttered to the big stallion in the paddock. The huge jet black horse snorted its disconent and pawed at the dusty ground as James collected up his tools and headed towards the house.

It was only a small place, far away from the seething masses and the nastiness that came with it. He turned thoughts away from old friends and enemies and considered the check list of jobs needed to be done tomorrow. The ranch had been ramshackle when he'd bought it, now though, it was functioning as it should.

As he approached the house he noticed a lone figure sat upon his porch. The man noticed James approaching and stood, hands on hips watching him approach. Even in the dark he knew who it was. The cowboy hat, the plaid shirt, dusty jeans and unmistakeable aroma of cigars and whiskey.

"Long time no see, Logan!" James grinned as he stepped up to the man. "How'd yer find me?"

Logan grinned and stepped up, gripping the Indian with a firm handshake. "It ain't hard to find a guy who'se seven foot tall and built like a brick ***** house. The locals are runnin' terrified. An' yeah, it's good to see you too Jimmy".

James lead the way up the porch and dropped into an old wooden chair, offering Logan a spot on an accompanying bench. Logan sat as Jimmy reached down and pulled an icebox from under his seat, cracking open the lid to reveal a stash of iced beers. "Help yourself man".

Logan gratefully grabbed a couple and took off the caps with a partially drawn claw. He passed one to his host and took a long swig of the other. "Look Jimmy, I'm going to cut to the chase. About a week ago I was down in New York takin' some time to sort out some stuff. Anyway, I'm approached by one of the government types going by the name of Rick Flag".

Jimmy cocked an eyebrow as he sipped his own beer. "Flag? Not heard of him?"

"You won't have done. He works for a set of spooks called the D.M.A, Department for Metahuman Affairs. They've learned that a bunch of scum suckin' leeches callin' themselves the Freinds of Humanity have decided to take it upon themselves to rid the world of people like you an' me. Basically, you powers or abilities and these goons are gonna try an' take you out. Flag and the DMA have come knockin' on my door to put a team together to get rid of these people before they go takin' out people they decide shouldn't be allowed to live".

Jimmy listened intently, waiting a moment to make sure Logan had finished. "Logan... I'm sorry buddy but I'm not the kind of guy you're looking for. I'm not interested in that game any more".

Logan nodded and stood up, leaning against the porch railing. "Jimmy. I'm sorry. I know what I'm asking is tough for you but I also know you'd want in. They've taken Danni, Jimmy. The Friends of Humanity abducted her two days ago. We've heard nothing since".

Jimmy dropped the beer bottle from his hand as he rose. He face dark but his eyes blazing.

Logan let out a small sorrowful sigh to himself.

 

[Optikal]

Rhodes stepped back from the mirror and moved to the window. The faint whir of his cyberntic componets still shook him up a bit. Even stranger though was that he could 'feel' the technology around him. Everything from the medical machines in his room to the vending machines and computers out in the ward. It was like his cybernetics had a connection with other machinery, like it was all an extension of himself.

Pushing the thoughts from his mind, Rhodey focused on the view. The sun was shining, reflecting its warmth across glass and steel and brick. The sky was open and blue over the city, though he didn't know which city it actually was.

-Current Location: San Diego, California.
-Population: 1,279,329

The information flashed up into his mind unbidden. Matter-of-factly. Machanically.

Rhodey swallowed the dryness in his throat. "Ooookay" he muttered to himselfas more information about the city flashed up in his head. His own constant HUD display.

Rhodey though about the man that had paid to make him a cyborg. Rhodeys best friend; Tony Stark. Rhodes wondered if he should call the man and let him know that he was awake.

-Tony Stark. Direct Call.
-Dialling...
-Line established

Rhodes looked around the room ,as he heard the faint buzz of an open telephone line, yet he didn't even have a reciever, never mind an actual phone. He was unsure whether or not his new body was even capable of such a thing. Rhodey found himself smiling at the irony. He'd been brought back from the dead, lost his limbs and he'd been turned into a real life cyborg but he found the most absurd aspect the ability to make a call with nothing but a thought.

"Uhhh..... Tony? Hello?" he said apprehensively, unsure that he would recieve and answer.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Don't you know that's no way to treat a lady?"

Trying my utmost to block out the pain from the Hulk's last attack, I lunge at the creature, knocking it to the ground and breaking its grip on Supergirl. I don't let up, bombarding it with a series of rights and lefts to keep the thing down and dazed. But that won't be enough. If any of us have learned anything, it's that we don't stand a hope in hell in a knockdown-dragout with this twisted version of the Hulk. I need to find a way to end this, and fast.

Then the idea hits me. A stupid, stupid idea. And one that just might work.

"Right, big guy, we're going for a ride."

With great exertion, even in this specialized armor, I pick up this Hulk beast and sling it over my shoulder. Then I launch into the air, going up and up. The air gets thinner, the skies darker, the temperature colder, but still I keep on going up.

"How do you feel about space travel?"

The Devil Hulk sneers at Iron Man, raking at his armor with his claws, cutting gashes across it's back. The creature's clawed feet slashed at Tony's legs and stomach, but Iron Man pushed on through the pain and the danger as his armor was slowly torn to shreds.

But even as the sparks flew, the Devil Hulk's head began to bob and his breathing became harder and harder.
Looking around them, the Devil Hulk saw the stars and his eyelids began to sag a bit. The monster tried to shake away his grogginess, but it was an impossible task. The Devil Hulk was too fixated on destroying Stark that it failed to realize what the Iron Knight was doing until it was too late.

Slowly Iron Man released his grip on the beast, letting the monster slowly float away from him.
The Devil Hulk's groggy eyes looked back onto Iron Man as the hero's suit began to short circuit. Then the monster's eyes shut as it slowly descended back towards the planet below...

 

[Catman_prb]

"Complete your original mission", Xavier stated.
"Continue to recruit the next class of mutants for the Institute. I will keep you all up to date with the findings of the spy."

"All right, Professor", Scott sighed.

"All right, team...let's get to it."

"Cool," Jamie said as the team strapped themselves.

"So guys, consulting time. Keep shagging Jubilee or move my nefarious eyes onto Laura. I value your input. Cept you Kurt, you can stop s******ing,"

"Oh, and where are we going today - Paris? Is it Paris? Come on Cyk, let it be Paris,"

 

[Keyser Soze]

The Devil Hulk sneers at Iron Man, raking at his armor with his claws, cutting gashes across it's back. The creature's clawed feet slashed at Tony's legs and stomach, but Iron Man pushed on through the pain and the danger as his armor was slowly torn to shreds.

But even as the sparks flew, the Devil Hulk's head began to bob and his breathing became harder and harder.
Looking around them, the Devil Hulk saw the stars and his eyelids began to sag a bit. The monster tried to shake away his grogginess, but it was an impossible task. The Devil Hulk was too fixated on destroying Stark that it failed to realize what the Iron Knight was doing until it was too late.

Slowly Iron Man released his grip on the beast, letting the monster slowly float away from him.
The Devil Hulk's groggy eyes looked back onto Iron Man as the hero's suit began to short circuit. Then the monster's eyes shut as it slowly descended back towards the planet below...

And, that's Hulkbuster officially DOA.

My stupid idea worked, and this Hulk thing is out for the count. Hopefully the landing will finish the job. If my on-the-spot calculations are correct, the creature's downward trajectory should ensure it lands somewhere in the middle of Angeles National Forest, and not on some poor sucker's head. But I have far more pressing concerns to worry about than where the Hulk beast is going to land. Namely, the fact that I'm now locked in a giant, lifeless hunk of dead weight, and I'm falling from orbit towards the earth below.

Inside the oversized arm of the Hulkbuster armor, I rummage around for the manual release switch. This was a lot easier to get a grip off when mountainous woodland wasn't rushing up to greet me. But before panic can cloud my senses, I find it, and flick the switch. Instantly, the back of the Hulkbuster armor gives way, and in my regular Iron Man armor underneath, I boost myself backwards out of the now-useless shell, letting it plummet to earth alone with the unconscious creature.

"There goes a few billion bucks."

As I fly towards the projected crashzone, I'm surprised by an incoming phone-call redirected from my home line. Inside my helmet, I see the caller ID flash up on a small screen before my eyes. It's Rhodey.

"Answer."

"Uhhh..... Tony? Hello?"

"Hey Rhodey, how you holding up? I'm kinda in the middle of something right now..."