"...What's a Hulk?"
"Not what, who," Red Hood says and walks closer, examining the cloning vat. "That's a person?" Enyo asks, confused at the monster. "Well, yes and no", Red Hood says while looking at a name written on the back of the cloning vat. "...RavTech?" Red Hood mumbles to himself.
"What does that mean?" Enyo asks, tapping the vat softly. "Yes, he is a person, and no, he is not. It's confusing, so don't worry about that." Red Hood sighs, looking back at the Grey-Hulk in the cloning vat, with his mouth set in a grim line.
"Why is he grey, though? And he looks shorter by a few inches...and smaller even?" Red Hood asks himself, confused. "He's supposed to be taller and bigger?" Enyo asks.
"Yeah the real Hulk is 8'3" and weighs about 1200lbs. Has green skin, green hair and green eyes." Red Hood gestures to the Grey-Hulk in the vat "While he looks to be 7'2" and around 1000lbs, and has grey skin, black hair and grey eyes."
"Anyway it doesn't matter. I only came to Jersey City to retrieve the--"
"--Bow Of Ra", Red Hood and Enyo say simultaneously. "Yeah, you said", Red Hood says, annoyed." "So I don't much care for some grey monster. That you act as if it is some apocalyptic threat or whatever." Enyo says flippantly.
"Oh trust me, Enyo. That grey monster is indeed dangerous enough to be considered an apocalyptic threat." Black Mask says from behind them. "You!?" Enyo glares at Black Mask.
"But let's talk about it when you wake up." Black Mask says just as green gas starts flooding the train car. The gas knocks out Enyo and Red Hood, who are not protected because of his broken helmet.
[ Morning]
Red Hood wakes up groggily, groans at his aching muscles, and looks at his surroundings. "I don't know what's creepier. The real thugs of Jersey City decor--." He looks down and frowns at his bare chest. "--Or that someone took off my clothes and tucked me into bed."
"Better than waking up with a bullet through my head. I must still be on Black Mask's good side." He sits on the bed and looks at his gear neatly placed on a table with a frown.
"For now"
Jason gets up and goes to the bathroom, washes his face and brushes his teeth. He looks at himself in the mirror seeing the fresh bruise across his jaw and above his left eye. Another three bruises are on his abdomen and one on his left forearm.
Jason walks into the bedroom and goes to the table with his gear. "Did he make a replica of my helmet?" Jason says, picking up and looking it over. He sits back down with a sigh and starts putting on his gear. Jason takes his DEDSeC phone, uses his Profiler app, and disables any cameras or bugs planted in the room. He dials a number on his phone.
"Morning Cat"
"Morning Red. How goes it over there?"
"Good so far I guess. Ran into a bit of a problem...Well problems"
"What kind of problems? Are you ok?!"
"Yeah, I'm fine, just some bruising, but I'm ok."
"Ok that's good I guess. And theses problems?"
"I ran into an interesting woman."
"...Interesting. How?"
"Well...she's an Amazon."
"An Amazon??"
"Yeah"
"Like Wonder Woman Amazon?"
"Yeah"
"Wow...that is interesting I guess. So what happened?"
"We fought. She was looking for this all-powerful weapon."
"You fought her!!"
"Yeah, but she started it!"
"...*sigh* Was this weapon there, that she was looking for?"
"No, whoever gave her, her intel sucked."
"And what's this other problem?"
"...Black Masks has his own Hulk now."
"..."
"...You still there."
"...*sigh*God I need a drink."
"Your underage."
"Shut up!"
"Sorry."
"How the hell did Black Mask even get his own Hulk?! Did you capture Banner for him or something?"
"Fuck no!. I don't even know where Banner is right now."
"Then how did he get a Hulk?"
"He gave me a job to hijack this train that was a few miles outside of Jersey. It was going smoothly until the Amazon lady Enyo--"
"Enyo?"
"Yeah that's her name, anyway. It was going smoothly until she came bursting out the train and started attacking me--"
"I'm pretty sure you probably said something to piss her off."
"Until! She started attacking me. I managed to subdue her,
giving Black Mask enough time to steal the train car with his "Game Changer" inside."
"Which is the Hulk, I'm guessing."
"Yes, anyway, Enyo and I made a temporary truce and sneaked into the train car as Black Mask was leaving, and I saw the Hulk, which wasn't really the Hulk."
"What do you mean?"
"Black Mask had talked about some "future of genetics" stuff. So--"
"You helped Black Mask steal a Hulk clone?!"
"...In my defence, I did not know what was on the train before finding that out myself."
"...So it's not Banner but a clone of him."
"Yes. But it was only the Hulk part of Banner."
"So he was in his Hulk form?"
"Yes, but he was also different."
"Different how?"
"Shorter, smaller and he had grey skin instead of green."
"So it's like a downgraded Hulk that's grey."
"Yes. I call him Grey-Hulk."
"...Of course you would name him."
"Hey!"
"So did find out who you stole the Grey-Hulk from by any chance?"
"Yeah I did. Some company called RavTech?"
"RavTech? Never heard of it."
"Me too. So I want you to--"
"Look into it."
"Yeah, If you can, I'm still busy over here. And if you find anything, have Apollo check it out."
"Will do."
"Great...So how was your day yesterday?"
"*sigh* Boring nothing special happened, unlike you."
"Cheer up. I'm sure something interesting will happen soon."
"Yeah. Whatever you say."
"How's the kid doing?"
"He's still a bit bumped out about Pyro not giving him any leads."
"He'll get better soon."
"...Yeah..."
"...Yeah..."
"...I miss you."
"I miss you too, Cat."
"Well, I have to go now but stay safe, and I love you."
"I love you too. Bye."
Jason ends the call with a smile and pockets his phone. He picks up the replica helmet, puts it on and walks out of the room.
Red Hood goes to the top floor of the building, where he finds Black Mask standing by a large floor-to-ceiling window, looking at Jersey City in the morning light.
"Awake at last, eh?" Black Mask says, back turned to Red Hood.
"The bed was just too comfy, sorry", Red Hood says unapologetically. "You certainly had a busy. Taking down a Mutant on your own and luring her into that train was certainly not an easy task." Black Mask turns around, looking at Red Hood.
"Yeah all according to plan", Red Hood says.
"Granted, your technique is a little unorthodox. Though I appreciate you aren't some gutless stooge like the people, I employ." Black Mask says and starts walking off to an elevator on the other side of the room. "It was unfortunate I had to render you both unconscious", Black Mask says apologetically.
"Water under the bridge, Boss. And...where is Enyo?. Asking for a friend," Red Hood says casually.
"Please, a trifle." Black Masks says flippantly.
"Only you would think an Amazon is a trifle", Red Hood mumbles to himself, amused.
Red Hood and Black Mask enter the elevator and descend twelve floors down. The elevator stops and opens. Red Hood and Black Mask exit the elevator walking into a giant laboratory with scientists at different stations working and a few security scattered about. At the centre of the room is a giant spherical chamber filled with a green liquid, with the Grey-Hulk floating inside.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but how the hell much money do you have, dude?" Red Hood looks around, amazed at the facility and equipment. "Even the X-Men couldn't afford half this science crap."
"Actually, the biggest investment was in the people. Scientists and technicians from across the globe." Black Mask says smugly. "It was through them that I learned about this clone. Not directly, because it was a creation of RavTech. And like most of RavTech's enterprises...They go through great lengths to make certain the right hand never knows what the left hand is up to."
"RavTech? I've never heard of them before," Red Hood says.
"Neither did I until a few months ago. They are very secretive. I only got confirmation of the clone's existence when they ordered its destruction." Black Mask says with a shrug.
"Which as far as they know is exactly what happened." Red Hood says. Red Hood and Black Mask walk down the stairs and stand a few feet away from the Chamber containing the Grey-Hulk wearing only dark blue compression pants.
"So I'm guessing you used me to trigger the defenses of the bio chamber." Red Hood says irritated. "Didn't think you'd mind" Black Mask shrugs.
"Now watch as my staff removes the clone from the chamber", Black Mask says with a clap of his hand, which sends the staff to work.
The Chamber starts draining the green liquid, and as the liquid is about waist length with the Grey-Hulk, he starts thrashing and clawing at his throat as if drowning in air.
"WAIT! stop the process! You're killing him," Red Hood yells.
"It is bizarre. The more air it gets, the more it seems to be drowning on oxygen." Black Mask says, intrigued.
"AAARG!" Grey-Hulk screams, smashes the ChamberChamber and falls out on the ground coughing.
"The guy's a fighter, got to give it him that", Red Hood sighs in relief.
"It just broke through four inches of polycarbonate glass. At least it's as strong as advertised." Black Mask says, impressed, looking down at the Grey-Hulk. Red Hood and Black Mask are standing calmly, looking at the dazed Grey-Hulk while the rest of the people are running away from the area.
"He looks scared. Helpless." Red Hood says and walks over to Grey-Hulk.
"Not the characteristics I was looking for, to be honest," Black Mask says, miffed.
Red Hood kneels and puts his hand on the Grey-Hulk's shoulder, causing him to look up at him. "It'll be ok, big guy. Trust me." Red Hood says softly.
"Where I am?" Grey-Hulk says and passes out.
[ Few Minutes Later]
"So that's your big plan? Chain him up and brainwash him with Dark Web clips of Hulk." Red Hood says agitated, looking in the room with Grey-Hulk now wearing a two-piece compression suit and chained up.
"It needs to understand what it is capable of...before I can start telling it what to do," Black Mask says calmly. "I am used to playing the cards that have been dealt me, Red." Black Mask says, sighing and pointing at Grey-Hulk. "Either it'll learn, or there are...other options available to me." Black Mask says sharply.
"If you don't mind. I'd like to try something first. See if I can't get through to him," Red Hood says. "Not at all. I trust your instincts," Black Mask says and starts walking away with a wave. "...Thank you," Red Hood says.
Red Hood goes to a control panel to open the door to the room containing Grey-Hulk.
"You're wasting your time," Enyo says from a glass cell behind him. "Enyo! what are you doing here?" Red Hood asks, looking at her. "Observing this creature. There is nothing there." Enyo says coldly, looking at Grey-Hulk.
"Just for saying that, I'm not gonna help you break out." Red Hood says. "There is not a cell on earth that can hold me," Enyo says arrogantly. "Sure thing, "Michael Scofield", whatever you say." Red Hood says with a scoff.
"Black Mask is clearly interested in acquiring wealth and power." Enyo glares, arms crossed. "It stands to reason that he may provide a lead to the artefact I seek."
THUMP
Red Hood and Enyo look over and see Grey-Hulk break free from his chains and lightly hit his hand on the protective glass with a dazed look.
"...Hulk...Smash?"
" "Nothing there" eh?" Red Hood says smugly to Enyo.
[ QUEENS - Midday]
Red Hood walks into the Hideout and sees Max sitting by the couches playing games and Felicia sitting at her computer, busy with something.
"Hello, your King has returned peasants," Red Hood shouts, taking off his helmet, placing it in the armoury and walking over to Felicia.
"Fuck off," Max says, not looking up from his game.
Jason just chuckles and picks up an annoyed Felica from her chair and hugs her tightly which she hugs him back. Jason gives her ass one firm squeeze and a smack and pulls away from the smiling down at her. Felicia just rolls her eyes at him and frowns, looking at the bruises on his face. She pushes him into a chair to sit.
"...So what brings you here?" Felicia asks, walking over to the infirmary and taking out the salve she made for cuts and bruises. "Thought I'd visit for a bit," Red Hood says with a shrug, taking off his jacket and chest armour.
"How nice," Max says sarcastically from across the room. Jason just flips him the bird without looking, getting a chuckle from Max.
"I'm guessing these are from that Amazon chick, Enyo?" Felicia asks, pointing at his bruised abdomen and left forearm. She applied the ointment first on his jaw and above his left eye.
"Yeah, her speed caught me by surprise," Jason says, smiling up at her. He grabs Felicia by the waist and places her on his lap. Felicia only huffs.
"I wasn't able to find anything on RavTech," Felicia says applying the rest on his abdomen and left forearm. She nods in satisfaction and places the salve on the desk. "Well, that's a bummer," Jason says with a slight frown. Jason sighs and places his head on the crook of her neck.
"You ok?" Felicia asks, brushing her fingers through his hair. Jason just nods and says nothing but takes a deep breath and exhales. "You smell good," Jason says voice muffled in her neck. Felicia just chuckles softly.
"It's like they forgot I'm here," Max says, disgusted at his two mentors cuddling.
[ JERSEY CITY - Night]
"I'm so glad you could join me," Black Mask chirps at the dining table with Jason in his casual clothes. Black Mask pours himself and Jason a glass of wine.
"Growing up, dinner was the most important meal in our home. We would come together as a family. Talk about our day. Share the insights we learned about ourselves--and each other." Black Mask says, taking a drink from his wine.
"Sounds nice. I spent most nights in my room reading books." Jason says with a shrug and takes a drink from the wine. "You, for instance," Black Masks says, taking another drink from his wine.
"While you were out cold last night I had your iris scanned. Had it run through every database you can imagine." Black Mask leans back in his chair and points at Jason. "There is certainly a ton of data on the Red Hood, But the man behind the mask? Nothing." Black Mask sighs.
"I'm pretty shy. You have any questions. Just ask" Jason smirks, taking another drink from his wine.
"I confess I'm curious about the emblem on your chest. Are you a Bat enthusiast or something" Black Mask grins looking expectant. "Fuck no! I'm terrified of Bats," Jason laughs. "Then why use a Bat as an emblem?" Black Mask asks, confused.
"So that every time a criminal sees the emblem, they will know my fear," Jason says with an evil grin.
"I can totally toast to that", Black Mask laughs.
[ Soon After]
Red Hood is standing looking at Grey-Hulk and sitting on the floor looking at a projected Hulk image.
"It is a weapon of mass destruction, and you wishing it to be anything else is naïve," Enyo says, getting Red Hood's attention. "Honestly, how have you lived this long without being able to identify a threat." Enyo sneers.
"I have been doing just fine, as you can see," Red Hood says gesturing to himself. "Do what you want. But don't come running to me when you're dead," Enyo scoffs.
"I'm sorry if I may have made it seem like I'm interested in you, but I'm not, like, at all interested in you. So take your tsundere act elsewhere, lady," Red Hood says with a wave walking into the room and leaving a very annoyed Enyo behind.
Red Hood closes the door behind him and walks up to the Grey-Hulk stopping a few feet behind him.
"Hey," Red Hood says softly.
"URM?" Grey-Hulk turns to him, curious.
"You ok big guy?" Red Hood inquires, nodding to the projected image.
"...Hulk...Smash?" Grey-Hulk says, looking at the image. "...Hulk?" He frowns at the projection. "No. Am Not Hulk." He glares at the projection.
"Right, you're not Hulk. There's only one Hulk. And you're not him" Red Hood says softly. Red Hood takes off his helmet and smiles at him. "That's ok. You don't want to spend your whole life being someone else."
"Then..." Grey-Hulk looks down at his hands, confused and lost. "...Who Am?"
"Red Hood, whatever you're trying to do won't work," Enyo says, irritated. "He's not a person. He can't process this. He's a Monster"
"No! Me Am Not Monster!. Me Am Not Hulk..." Grey-Hulk growls getting up and glaring at Enyo.
"...Me Am...TITAN!" Titan declares with a snarl, his grey eyes glowing red.