A Feast for Kings (Hulk Solo)

[aklo]

NOTE: This takes place sometime before the Hulk's return to earth.


Within the vastness of space a rocklike ship hurled thru the void. Within the massive vessel sat a singular occupant, the newly reinvigorated "Green Scar". Hulk's mind was a fountain of rage. As he sat quietly within the ship the only thoughts that entered his mind were filled with one sole purpose: revenge. Revenge on those who had given him pain, despair, hope, and happiness--then snatched it all away due to their own fear and ignorance. The 'heroes' of earth would pay dearly for what they had done. He wouldn't just smash them, no--he would break them. Break them down to their very core, the way they had broken him.

A nearby planet was the only thing to detect the 'Stone Ships' presence. A room of technological marvels alerted them, with beeping and readings that were off the charts. The occupants of the room rushed to the screen.

"Lock on," a voice cried.

A screen on the central computer flashed on, and began triangulating on the ship's location. One locked on, it magnified.

One of the occupants of the room looked at another.

"Do you recognize from what race it hails?"

His companion shook his head in the negative.

"Regardless," he answered.

"Lock our tractor beams onto it. It will make a magnificient feast for the king, as well as whatever poor souls pilot it..."

[aklo]

It was a sudden lurch that snapped Hulk out of his meditatative rage, following by the strained moans of the ship's afterburners and propulsion system until it all suddenly went quiet. Hulk stood up and glanced around, seeing that the ship was now encased in some strange light. Then with a tug, the ship lurched to the side and its massive frame began traveling in the opposite direction. Hulk rushed to the control panels and fiddled with dials and switches with his massive hands, but the ship remained from under his control. The only clue to his fate being the readings that seemed to indicate he was entering a planet's atmosphere--followed by the solid thunk of his massive vessel hitting solid ground. Outside, Hulk could hear great commotion as several vehicles seemed to approach.

Outside, the ship was encircled by several members of the king's forces, all adorned in their technological battle suits. They didn't know who occupied the ship, and having no knowledge of from what planet the strangers hailed--it was best to side on caution.

Some of them waited patiently, with their blaster cannons aimed, while others jeered and taunted at the occupants to emerge. Ideally, it would be best to not damage the ship so the king could consume it as is--but if the strangers wouldn't come out peacefully exceptions would have to be made. Finally, the ship's platform lowered. The mech warriors trained their sights, and readied themselves to bark orders at the crew--but they weren't met by a crew as they believed. Instead they found themselves face-to-face with a jade titan, and he didn't look happy.

"Wha-what the hell is tha--"

Before the soldier could finish his sentence the Hulk was already atop them, knocking several aside with a single swing from his massive arm. The soldiers began firing their energy cannons at Hulk, but the powerful blasts which could tear most beings apart seemed to have no effect on him, leaving nothing but small bruises which seemed to heal in mere seconds. With firing of the laser beams grew more and more frantic with each moment as the Hulk made his way thru his foes, battering them down, up, to the right, to the left--it was like a dance alright, a dance of destruction and mayhem for those who dared to offend the Green Scar.

The remaining soldiers began to lose ground as they backed off, while continuning to fire. They couldn't run, however. The green giant before them would send several of them to the medical stations, maybe a few would succumb to their injuries--but running from the prey of the king...that would be a defininte death sentence.

Seeing that his opponents had lost their nerve, Hulk took an opportunity to grab one of his nearby assailants who lay haphazardly on the ground, his protective metal casing leaking somekind of fluid, with dead wires hanging pitifully from its broken armoring. Hulk hoisted the fallen soldier up to his face and snarled. With a booming voice he spoke: "GIVE ME BACK MY SHIP!"

[aklo]

Time seemed to stand still for a moment as Hulk held the helpless robo-soldier in his hand. Only when the rumble over tremendous energy split the air did everything feel real again. Hulk's head snapped to the side as a large object...or person approached, its body crackling with a tremendous amount of unknown power as thrusters sent it blazing towards Hulk's position. Hulk tossed his puny opponent aside as the robo-soldiers ran for the hills, giving a wide berth to their master, the king himself had arrived.

THOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

The ground shook as the massive techno-organic creature landed, even managing to tower over the Hulk. But the Green Scar simply stared at him unpreturbed.

"Interesting..." the king's robotic voice sounded.

"It has been sometime since I had to enter the hunt myself. Usually, my subjects are more than enough to deliver my meal to me. Tell me, alien. From what part of the stars do you hail? Are there more of your kind?"

Hulk's brows furrowed in anger as he regarded the being before him. He didn't have time for this, and intended to end this exchange with a singular blow. He leaped up with tremendous force, intending to deliver a devastating punch to his robotic opponent, but to his surprise his grip was met by tremendous resistance as the being enveloped his fist with an open palm, the force of which sent shockwaves out--knocking the already retreated warriors even further back and to the ground. As Hulk landed on the ground his opponent struck out with another palm, and a contest of strength began. Hulk was surprised by his opponent's strength, but even now that strength was wavering as his foe's body shook, and metallic creaks echoed from his metallic shell as Hulk quickly began to gain the upperhand.

"Phe-phenomenal..." the king strained. "I never expected you to possess such strength. You will make a fantastic meal indeed!"

The Hulk's eyes widened in astonishment as the king's torso opened up, revealing a techno-organic compartment of somekind, teaming with technology, wires, and beeping lights, all of an alien design--and all seemingly mishmashed together as if each piece came from a seperate place within the universe. Everything was beginning to click, but before Hulk could make a move countless tentacle-like structures emerged from the creature's torso and constricted him. Hulk could feel his energy draining as the king howled in delight.

"Oh yes! So much energy! Your body is absolutely bursting with it!"

Though he fought against the creature's demonic coils, his strength slowly began to falter until he was literally dragged into the belly of the beast. The king let out a tremendous scream as his body became engulfed with gamma energy. His warriors looked on in astonishment as the king began to undergo a transformation before their very eyes, something that always happened when he enjoyed a new meal, but this time was different. His metallic shell gave way to new flesh, his body twisted and contorted until he matched that of his last meal, his height grew slightly shorter--and yet his body grew even wider as new musculature covered his frame. Then as quickly as the transformation began it ceased. The king blinked in confusion for a moment, then opening his mouth and began hacking. A moment later, an unconscious Bruce Banner found himself flung from the creature's gullet, wearing nothing but his trusty purple pants--it seemed even his gladiator gear had been consumed.

"What's this? I could feel more energy in him...more power to feed me..." the king wondered outloud. "What happened to all of that tremendous power? What kind of trick is this?"

The king's eyes narrowed in indignation as he regarded the small slime covered insect before him. Lifting a massive metallic-skinned finger towards on his subjects he barked his orders: "You! Bring him to the holding cells. Fetch the wizard, and tell him to discover the secret behind his abilities. I will not rest until I've consumed him whole!"

"For I am KHUNOL! THE DEVOURER OF ALL!"

[aklo]

Bruce awoke cold and confused. He crawled to a sitting position clutching at his head and let out a groan.

"Oh, you're finally awake..." a nearby voice called.

Bruce opened his eyes and looked around, realizing that he was inside a cell of some type.

"Whe-where am I? What happened?" Bruce immediately noticed his companion in the cell. A humanoid of some kind, though one that appeared to have several cybernetic components strewn throughout its body.

"You were captured by the king, Khunol. You're lucky, I guess. Usually aliens he captures are disposed of as soon as possible. You must have something he wants. Some kind of power."

Bruce fell silent for a moment as he thought back.

"M-my ship! I gotta get to my ship! Get off of this planet get back home!"

His companion chuckled.

"Home. That would be nice wouldn't it? Well, friend, you're looking at your new home. No one remembers where Khunol came from or when. But when he arrived on our planet he started consuming everything in sight. It wasn't always this barren wasteland. Any machinery, any energy source, anything he could get his hands on he made part of himself, or re-appropriated into his 'kingdom'. That's how the stories go anyway...and I guess it checks out."

Banner watched his cellmate as he gestured to his cybernetic body.

"We tried to fight back they say, he beat us and made us his slaves. His loyal subjects, though some are loyaler than others, as you can see. My fate is yet to be determined, but they'll either execute me, disassemble me, or bring me to Khunol to absorb on the spot--though I doubt he'd need me."

Banner considered his cellmates words. If what he said was true this Khunol was perhaps some kind of superweapon or artificial lifeform. Some kind of entity designed for some purpose. Perhaps as a weapon or war, or perhaps it once had more noble designs, to absorb dangerous energy sources--and got ideas of its own. Regardless of Khunol's origins, Banner knew he had to escape.

"Don't fret, friend," Banner said. "Where there's a will there's a way."

Banner calmed his mind and focused. It was rare he actively tried to bring the Hulk out, but lately it was easier than ever. He waited. Nothing. Gritting his teeth he focused even harder, allowing his frustration to transform to feed his quiet anger. Still nothing.

Wha-what's wrong? Why can't I change? Banner thought as he let out an exasperated sigh.

"Ah, so the rumors are true," his cellmate commented. "I heard mention that you had some kind of power or magic. A shapeshifter, are you?"

"Something like that..."

"As I said, Khunol devours energy among other things. I hate to say it, but he may have drained the tank dry. Why else would he feel comfortable locking you away in a dungeon?"

Banner blinked as he considered his cellmate's words. Did this Khunol inadvertently cure of? No. It was impossible, he'd spent years trying to find a cure for the Hulk. Not only himself, but Reed Richards, the Leader, some of the smartest people on earth besides himself. No one was able to stop the Hulk permanently. But still, he was outnumbered and outgunned. If he couldn't transform he was in serious trouble.

As if on cue a new sound emerged. A doorway had opened and heavy footsteps approach.

"They come..." his cellmate began. "The king's interrogator."

[aklo]

As the mechanical cell door slid open every part of Banner's body told him to make a break for it--to find his ship and escape from this planet. But one look at the "interrogator" before him shot that plan down. As much as he hated to admit it, he was helpless without the Hulk.

"Greetings, I am King Khunol's most trusted adviser. You may call me Jiam."

"I see you've become acquainted with that traitorous scum. Do not fret, he is not long for the world. You, however, the king has taken a great interest in. Tell me now, what is the secret to your power? Make it easy on yourself."

"Why don't you just let me go free, and I promise, I'll tell you all about it."

Jiam wagged a finger at Banner.
"Nah uh. I'm afraid that's not how it works here." A strange blue glow began to form around the interrogator's hand. Bruce's cellmate panicked and hit the floor as a tremendous streak of concussive energy emerged from Jiam's finger, striking Bruce and lifting him upward before pinning him against the wall.

"Khunol says you have great power. I do as well, in the form of techno-sorcerory. Show me then, this power you possess."

Banner strained against the force of Jiam's magic. Try as he might, he couldn't break free from the sorceror's grip, and despite panic setting in, his Hulk transformation was still nowhere within grasp.

"Your form is fragile. This I can tell immediately. Strange that you possess such power and refuse to use it to save yourself."

Jiam released Banner, who fell to the floor like a wet tissue paper--gasping to catch his breath.

"Make it easy, and just tell me the secret to your power. Stop hiding."

"Believe me," Banner started. "If I could show you, I would. Something's wrong...my 'power', it's not working. Something your king did to me. I need time...time to gather my wits...time to plow thru my emotions..."

"Emotions?" Jiam said curiously. He waved his hand, and another blast of magical energy erupted forward. But this time the wave was not a concussive blast, rather Banner felt a tingling sensation engulf his body for a second, and just as quickly it left.

"Ah, I see. Your ability requires an emotional response to activate. I suppose Lord Khunol has you feeling a bit down does he? Well, let us see if we can put a little pep in your step."

[aklo]

Banner was led from his cellar down a dark and cold corridor, seemingly a mixture of stone and metal, until arriving inside of a large circular room. At the behest of Jiam he was placed onto a metallic flat table, not too dissimilar from an operating table on earth, the entire time completely powerless to trigger his transformation despite the anxiety and flat out fear he felt. The Hulk remained elusive even when the cold and strong restraints emerged from the table to clamp his wrists and legs in place.

Maybe this really is it... Banner thought. Maybe the Hulk is somehow gone for good...

Banner felt scared, but strangely enough he also felt a small ping of relief. He'd spent so much time throughout his life trying to cure himself of the Hulk. The only problem was he needed him now, perhaps more than ever.

As Banner struggled in vain against his restraint a computer-like device emerged from the floor before Jiam. Jiam began typing commands into the device, and a moment later several mechanical arms displaying cutting tools and what appeared to be projectiles emerged from the ceiling.

"This is one of our Rooms of Ascension; where we turn dull organic creatures into cybernetic beings. However, it can easily become a makeshift torture chamber."

Another push of a button and a large cutting tool jutted from the ceiling and sliced Banner across the face. He let out a groan of pain as the burning pain ran thru his mind. Another arm emerged, stabbing him in the shoulder then the arm. This time Banner let out a scream.

Jiam paused for a moment, as he observed.

"Your heart rate is showing extreme discomfort and fear, yet I can detect no abnormal biological changes. Let's up the ante, then."

Jiam pushed a few more buttons, and a moment later all of the mechanical arms struck out at once, slicing and stabbing through Banner's body, firing burning lasers that pierced and melted flesh. Banner let out a howl as the excruciating pain tormented his body. 2-minutes? 5-minutes? The length of the ordeal became a blur until abruptly ceasing.

Bruce lay on the table struggling to catch his breath and bleeding profusely. He winced as he looked up to glance at Jiam, a flash of anger in his eyes.

"Feeling angry are you?" said Jiam. "Still, no change to your biological condition. Let's go deeper."

With that Jiam stepped away from the computer and took a few steps towards Banner. He recited something in a foreign language, and a tremendous bolt of energy erupted from his hands and traveled into Banner's head. Banner's vision went black for a moment, but in its place he soon saw a flash of events whirl through his mind's eyes. The events were too quick for him to consciously register every bit, but he managed to glimpse enough. Nearly every event he'd experienced up to that point flashed thru his brain as a singular blur. When it stopped Banner lay on the table motionless and nearly comatose.

Jiam stumbled slightly as he rubbed his head, struggling to catch his bearings.

"Your mind is full of pain," he said.

"You long to obtain freedom, respect, and love but are ultimately destined to be alone. I almost pity you..."

Jiam stepped back to the computer.

"Still no change. How sad, you could've been part of something greater still. I suppose all that's left is to dispose of your broken husk."

Bruce lay motionless on the table. His body wracked with pain, his mind nearly broken. Tears streamed down his face as he accepted the end.

No... he thought inside his head. Or was that someone else's voice? Can't die here...have to get back to earth...

HAVE TO MAKE THEM PAY!

Suddenly the computer began buzzing, stunning Jiam for a moment.

"His life signs...they're suddenly off the charts...!" Jiam looked above the screen at Banner and saw that his body had suddenly doubled in size. Veins popped out of his progressively muscular physique as he struggled against his restraints.

“I…still…have…a…life…TO…LIVE!!!"

[aklo]

Jiam watched in stunned silence as Banner’s body convulsed uncontrollably on the table. It was clear that this was it, something had finally triggered the transformation into the power source his master craved. Jiam watched as the humanoid’s size increased while he spasmed and fell from the table, landing on all fours. Jiam pulled up a holographic scream within arms reach, and punched in some commands. His master would arrive shortly.

The Hulk stayed on the ground for a moment, as he fought to find re-orientate himself.

“Hm…where the hell am I?” he said as he rubbed his eyes.

“Wait! Now I remember! That big dumb gorilla got us blasted off into space!”

Grey Hulk got to his feet as he prepared to turn towards Jiam.

“Gotta figure a way off’a thi—” Hulk was cut short as forcefield of energy suddenly enclosed his body.

“Hey!”

“Sorry. But you’re not going anywhere. The master has deemed you worthy of consumption, and that is what’s going to happen to you.”

Hulk narrowed his eyes at Jiam as he inspected the forcefield.

“Hmph. Nobody’s going to consume me, pal. Once I get outta here I’m gonna turn ya into a can opener though. Maybe use ya to have a few drinks once I get back to Vegas!”

“Vegas?” Jiam asked curiously. But his curiosity fell on deaf ears as Hulk was already pounding on the force field, desperately trying to break free.

“No use,” Jiam chuckled. “My forcefield is powerful enough to hold a full grown Azul. You couldn’t possibly hope to break them!”

Hulk was not deterred by Jiam’s taunts. He didn’t know what the hell an Azul was, and he didn’t care. He didn’t know what kind of set-up these cyborg monstrosities had, but he was certain about one thing - their setup hadn’t accounted for the Hulk. And it seemed his prophecy would come true, as a section of Jiam’s forcefield suddenly found itself cracking under the force of a gamma-enforced grey fist.

“N-no!” cried Jiam. “Monster! How do you break my forcefield?! It’s impossible!”

A few more rage-filled strikes, and Jiam watched helplessly as his energy field collapsed under the might of the Hulk. The cybernetic being took a step back as he raised his staff defensively. If machines could feel fear, Jiam was feeling just that, or its closest comparison as the muscle-bound grey figure confidently strolled towards him.

“Fixit. The name is Fixit. And once I take you apa—URGH!” Hulk let out a gruff yell as Jiam blasted him with magical energies square in the chest, lifting the grey goliath off his feet and sending him careening into the ground. But it wasn’t enough as Hulk got back all fours, inspecting the smoldering wound on his chest.

“Heh. Not bad. Too bad for you, I’ve had worse.”

As Hulk got back to his Jiam took another step back. He’d never run from his duties before, never allowed one of his master’s prizes to get the better of him. But as the grey behemoth regarded him with a malevolent gaze of rage and sadism, the urge to escape became ever larger. That is, until the very ground beneath them suddenly began to quake.

“M-master!” Jiam cried with joy.

“Oh…” Hulk said to himself. “Ain’t this just peachy.”

[aklo]

Khunol examined the muscular grey form that stood before him.

“What manner of trick is this? You were a different color before.”

Hulk grinned. “Don’t look so glum friendo. You’re lookin’ at the bonified article here. The real Hulk is back in town.”

With that Fixit took off raising a fist back and preparing to deliver a tremendous blow to Khunol, but he was taken aback by a swift strike from his foe that sent him sailing into the floor with a thud. Hulk quickly got back to all fours, wiping neon green blood from his lips and face.

Cripes he thought. This bastard’s almost as strong as Blonsky!

“Heh.” Hulk stood up to his feet

“Not bad, but you’re gonna—” Hulk was cut short as another blast of magical energy erupted from Jiam but luckily he was able to dodge just in time, receiving only smoldering skin on his side.

“HEY!” Hulk shouted as he bounded to the side. He was starting to get angry.

Hulk took a leap towards Jiam who met him with another powerful blast of magic, taking the grey giant out of the air, but this time Hulk landed on his feet and continued to make his way towards Jiam.

“The…adults…are…ungh…TALKING!” Hulk said as he waded thru Jiam’s magical blast, his flesh was being seared by the magical energy, but all this dude was spurn him on, increase his rage, and with it his power. Jiam couldn’t help but take a step back at the imposing figure neared. Hulk reached out a hand towards Jiam, but was cut short by a swift strike from Khunol that sent him crashing back to the ground.

“Amusing. I don’t know what trick this is, but you’re barely a meal compared to the other one. I must have more of that power.”

Khunol turned towards Jiam. “You’ve failed Jiam. This weakling is not what I desired!”

Hulk sat up, his eyes burning with fury.

“I…already told you…” he gasped through smoldering flesh and fresh green blood.

“I am the HULK!”

With that Hulk smashed his palms together, unleashing a massive thunder clap that struck Jiam and sent his cybernetic body careening into a wall and into the hallway. Jiam’s body crumbled in a jumbled mess of flesh and wires.

Khunol raised an eyebrow as he stared at Jiam’s ruined body before turning his attention back to Hulk.

“THE WORST HULK OF THEM ALL! I’M BIG AND BAD! AND NO ONE MAKES A FOOL OF FIXIT! NO ONE!”


"0101010101"

Hulk grinned before turning his attention back to Khunol. "Awww. He wants to use his people words..."

Before Khunol could respond Hulk dashed towards him, dodging under his opponent’s massive swing and delivering a swift uppercut to the chin that sent Khunol sailing into the ground with a quaking thud.

Grabbing onto Khunol’s tail Hulk grunted as he lifted his foe off the ground and began spinning around before releasing him, sending the massive form crashing thru the ceiling and over into the horizon. But he wasn’t done yet, Hulk leaped after his foe preparing to deliver the killing blow…

[aklo]

Khunol sailed through the air. The grey humanoid’s sudden burst of fury and strength caught him off guard, but it was nothing his new and improved form couldn’t handle as he somersaulted over, righting himself and landed on all fours, just as the grey form approached from above. With speed that betrayed his massive musculature Khunol reached out and snatched Hulk from the sky, slamming him into the ground with tremendous force.

Hulk grit his teeth as he struggled in vain against Khunol’s vice-like grip. Where’s all this power coming from?! he thought. He’d figured the guy was about as strong as old Emil, but turns out he might be even stronger. Dammit! That big green moron let him absorb all that energy! Now I’M gonna pay the price for it!

“Well, ‘Hulk’, it seems I’ve underestimated you. You’re just full of surprises aren’t you. But I’m the ‘Big Bad’ on this planet. And once you’re out of the way my reign will continue undisturbed.”

Hulk watched helplessly as Khunol’s massive mouth unhinged itself not unlike a snake. He could do nothing but stare in horror as bio-mechanical tentacles emerged from the creature’s gullet, slinking through Khunol’s fingers and around Hulk’s body. Already he could feel the gamma energy slowly seeping out of his body.

Getting weaker! Hulk thought in a panic. Gotta figure outta way…Got to…

Hulk was helpless as Khunol released his grip on him and allowed the tentacles to slither around and constrict his entire form before pulling him into his mouth. Hulk struggled, but it was in vain, there was nothing he could do as he grew weaker by the second, and before long he found himself trapped within the belly of the beast quite literally. The tentacles continued to ensnare him, now digging into his hide and creeping ever more into his flesh. He grit his teeth from the stinging pain which only increased as he felt his strength fade away.

“This can’t be!” he shouted.

“I CAN’T GO OUT LIKE THIS…” Hulk continued to struggle in vain as his helplessness gave way to a frustrated rage.

“I can’t…I gotta get back…back home…back to earth…gotta deliver some payback…gotta…GOTTA…MAKE…THEM…PAY!”

Khunol gripped his stomach and grinned as he felt Hulk’s power coursing thru his veins.

“Amazing. It’s like there’s no limit…just when I think I’ve hit bottom he just keeps infusing me with more energy! It’s incredi—”

Khunol paused. Something began to feel off. He stared at his massive hands which now began to give off a faint green glow.

“No. No it’s impossible! Nothing in the universe has infinite power!”

Khunol stumbled back in shock. Around him the designates of his world began emerging from their shelters, slowly and carefully, peering around corners and thru windows.

“YOU!” he shouted with desperation. “HELP ME! GO TO MY CHAMBERS AND FIND THE EXTRACTOR! GET THIS THING OUT OF—”

A massive explosion sounded as green light filled the air, engulfing Khunol’s form in a fantastic energetic explosion visible from space.

To the onlookers, it appeared as though the world was breaking.

[aklo]

Green light bathed the planet, blinding all of its inhabitants, the radiative gamma energy frying equipment and making sensors go haywire. Luckily for the inhabitants most of the powerful explosion was focused upward in a fantastic ray. Then as quickly as the energy explosion began it ceased, seemingly drawn back towards the source. Slowly the inhabitants of the world unshielded their eyes and moved again as the strange energy dissipated.

Inside the technological enclaves, the Khunol’s scientists noted the change - the gamma energy had indeed vanished, no, not vanished returned back to its source. Through damaged barely functioning equipment, the scientist-wizards of Khunol were astonished by what was transpiring.

"Wh-what's going on out there?" asked a frightened scientist as he overlooked the half-functioning equipment measuring the massive gamma output. "This energy -- it isn't like anything we've ever encountered before. And what remains is returning...returning to him!"

"HRRRRRRR...!" The Green Scar hunched over and clenched his fist as he absorbed the ambient gamma energy within the environment, his body glowing a fantastic neon green as power coursed thru his green veins. Luckily for the citizens of this world he was able to get a hold of his rage before things went completely supernova. There was enough awareness to divert most of the energy upward at a split moment. He wasn't sure if he did it for this planet outright, as much as he did not want to destroy his ship. Once the glowing ceased, Hulk righted him and stood triumphantly as pieces of Khunol’s destroyed bio-mechanical body fell around him. He furrowed his brow as he glanced around, expecting an attack from Khunol’s followers, but none came. Then a footstep, followed by more, Hulk whirred around to see a plethora of the planet’s denizens gathering around him. But their demeanor was not one of hostility, but of relief, hope, and awe.

One of the small constructs bowed, and then fell to his knee, followed by the others.

“Khunol is dead…” he said wearingly. “Finally we are free, thanks to you hero!” The crowd burst into cheers and chants as they began singing the exploits of Hulk’s heroism.

Hulk turned away from his new worshipers, he had more pressing concerns than the devotion these forsakened creatures hurled at him.

“MY SHIP,” he boomed. “Where is it?”

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Hulk left the planet of Khunol, returning on his journey back to earth. His journey to take revenge on those who’d betrayed him, those who’d killed the woman he loved and destroyed his happiness. The denizens of the planet he’d visited welcomed the end of Khunol’s reign and sought to rebuild a new and prosperous society.

However just as things return to normalcy they also change. It was the scientifically minded citizens who noticed it first. A change in the DNA structure of their bio-mechanical kin. Then the dreams began, and some within the rebirth chambers could swear they remembered seeing a door, a Green Door.

Complete