WARNING BEFORE READING ⚠️:This Chapter is still a work in progress I just wanted to put this out so you guys have something to read but expect updates and changes to this chapter.Once this chapter is fully finished this message will be gone.
World War Hulk Arc Part 1
Kade stood in his workshop, staring at the nearly completed ship. His hands trembled as he adjusted the final components, trying to push past the weakness coursing through his body. Every movement was a struggle, his strength fading faster than he'd anticipated. The doctor's words echoed in his mind: "Days, maybe a week."
He didn't have the luxury of time. Hulk was on his way to Earth, blinded by rage and grief. Kade knew that if he didn't stop him, there would be nothing left of the world they once called home.
The door to the workshop creaked open, and Kade turned to see the doctor standing there, a worried look on his face.
"You really shouldn't be doing this, Superman," the doctor said, stepping forward hesitantly. "You're in no condition to fly, let alone confront the Hulk."
Kade offered a weak smile. "I appreciate your concern, Doc, but I don't have a choice. If I don't stop him… no one can."
The doctor sighed, knowing there was no convincing the Man of Steel otherwise. He handed Kade a small vial filled with a bright blue liquid. "This is all we have left. It might give you a bit of strength and numb the pain, but it won't last long. Use it wisely."
Kade took the vial, nodding in gratitude. "Thank you. For everything."
The doctor lingered for a moment, then gave a nod of understanding. "Good luck, Superman. May the stars guide you."
Kade turned back to the ship, popping the vial open and downing its contents in one swift motion. A brief surge of energy coursed through his veins, giving him the strength to power through the final preparations. He knew it was temporary, but it was enough to get him off the ground and into the stars.
As the ship powered up, the workshop filled with a low hum, the engine roaring to life. Kade strapped himself into the pilot's seat, his hands gripping the controls tightly. His vision blurred for a moment, but he forced himself to focus. He couldn't afford any mistakes.
"Alright, let's do this," Kade muttered to himself as he initiated the launch sequence.
The ship trembled as it lifted off the ground, bursting through the roof of the workshop and shooting into the sky. Kade's heart pounded in his chest as he broke through Sakaar's atmosphere, the barren planet shrinking beneath him.
Kade slumped in the pilot's seat, his breath shallow and labored. The stars outside the cockpit blurred into streaks of light as the ship hurtled through the void of space. He could feel the radiation gnawing at his insides, his body weakening with every passing second. The control panel flickered as he pushed the engines to their limit, his only thought on getting back to Earth as quickly as possible. He had to reach the yellow sun—his only hope of survival.
"Come on... hold together," Kade muttered, his voice a ragged whisper. He reached up to wipe the blood from his mouth, his hand trembling from the effort. Every muscle in his body screamed in pain, but he forced himself to stay focused. "Just a little farther... I can't let Hulk... I have to stop him..."
He gritted his teeth, fighting to keep his eyes open. The ship's systems beeped incessantly, warning him of the strain on the engines. He ignored it. There was no time for caution, no time to care about anything but getting back to Earth.
His thoughts drifted back to Sakaar, to the explosion that had nearly killed him. The radiation from the blast had done more damage than he initially realized. His normally invincible body was breaking down, and his powers were fading fast. He needed sunlight, but the nearest star was too far away. Earth was his only hope, but at this speed, it felt light-years away.
Just as he began to drift into unconsciousness, the ship's sensors blared a new alarm, jolting him awake. Kade blinked, trying to focus on the screen in front of him. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, but when they did, his heart sank.
Multiple blips appeared on the radar, closing in on his position fast. Kade tried to focus his vision, the dots on the screen multiplying in his eyes until he forced himself to blink hard and clear his mind. "What now?" he groaned, feeling the last reserves of his strength slipping away.
The ship rocked violently as something struck it from behind. Kade was thrown forward, his head slamming into the control panel. Stars exploded in his vision, but he forced himself to stay conscious. He couldn't afford to black out now.
"Pirates," Kade realized as the ship's systems went haywire, sparks flying from the console. His stomach churned with frustration. Of all the times to be attacked, now, when he was barely holding on, was the worst possible moment.
Before he could react, another blast hit the ship, sending it spiraling out of control. The engines sputtered and died, the ship's artificial gravity flickering as the power drained from the systems. Kade's hands shook as he tried to reroute power to the engines, but nothing responded. The ship was dead in the water, drifting helplessly through space.
"No, no, no..." Kade muttered, his voice growing weaker. He could feel the life draining out of him. He didn't have time for this. Every second wasted here was another second closer to death—another second Hulk got closer to Earth.
The ship lurched as something latched onto it—grappling beams from the pirate vessels pulling him into their grasp. Kade tried to summon his strength, but it was like grasping at sand. He felt the ship being pulled into a larger vessel, the telltale signs of docking clamps echoing through the hull.
The cockpit doors hissed open, and Kade barely managed to lift his head as a squad of armored pirates stormed in, their weapons drawn. They moved with the precision of seasoned mercenaries, surrounding him before he could even attempt to fight back.
"Hands where we can see them!" one of the pirates barked, his voice distorted through his helmet's communicator.
Kade's vision swam, but he forced himself to stay conscious. He raised his hands slowly, the motion taking every ounce of strength he had left. The pirates weren't taking any chances. One of them moved forward, slapping energy cuffs onto his wrists. As soon as they clicked shut, Kade felt his already weakened strength drain even further.
"Looks like we got ourselves a big one," another pirate sneered, looking Kade over with a mix of curiosity and greed. "This one's gonna fetch us a fortune."
"Yeah," another pirate agreed, prodding Kade with the barrel of his blaster. "The Skrull are always on the lookout for strong slaves. He'll be worth his weight in gold."
Kade's heart pounded in his chest, not from fear, but from sheer, unbridled frustration. He didn't have time for this. Every delay meant he was further from Earth, further from stopping Hulk. He needed to escape, but the cuffs sapped what little strength he had left. He could feel the radiation poisoning deepening its hold on him, making his limbs feel like lead.
The pirates dragged him out of the cockpit and down the narrow corridors of their ship. His feet barely touched the ground as they hauled him along, the energy cuffs pulling more and more strength from his body. Every breath felt like fire in his lungs, every step a monumental effort.
They threw him into a large holding cell, the door slamming shut with a heavy clang. Kade collapsed to the cold metal floor, his body unable to support him any longer. The cell was crowded with prisoners of various species, all of them beaten down, their eyes hollow with despair.
"Another one," one of the prisoners muttered, his voice devoid of hope. "Just another one for the slaughter."
Kade forced himself to sit up, leaning against the wall for support. His vision blurred, and he blinked rapidly, trying to focus. He could hear the pirates outside the cell, their gruff voices carrying through the thin walls.
"Set course for the Skrull outpost," one of them said. "They'll pay top dollar for this batch."
"And the big guy? What do you reckon he is?" another pirate asked.
"Doesn't matter," the first pirate replied dismissively. "Once we sell him off, he'll be their problem. We just need to keep him alive until then."
Kade's mind raced as he listened to the conversation. The Skrull? They were planning to sell him and the other prisoners as slaves to the Skrull? He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let these people be sold off, and he couldn't be delayed any longer. Hulk was out there, and the clock was ticking.
But what could he do? His strength was almost gone, and the energy cuffs drained him even further. He needed to escape, but how? His mind was a fog, the radiation poisoning clouding his thoughts.
He looked down at the cuffs on his wrists, his frustration boiling over. He needed to get these off, needed to find some way to get his powers back, even just a fraction of them. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the cuffs, trying to summon even the smallest amount of energy he had left.
His vision wavered, but he forced himself to focus, feeling a tiny spark of heat build in his eyes. It was barely anything, a flicker of heat vision, but it was all he had. Kade gritted his teeth, concentrating on that spark, willing it to be enough.
'Cmon god damn it work'Kade yelled in his head as he gritted his teeth trying to force even the smallest droplet of solar energy to come out.
A thin beam of heat shot from his eyes, barely visible, but it struck the cuffs. The metal began to glow, heating up as he concentrated with all his might. The effort was monumental, his head pounding with the strain, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.
The cuffs started to warp under the heat, the circuits inside sizzling and sparking. Kade poured every ounce of energy he had left into that tiny beam, his body shaking with the effort. The metal buckled, and with a final burst of heat, the cuffs snapped open, falling to the floor with a clatter.
Kade sagged against the wall, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The effort had taken almost everything he had, but he was free. He flexed his fingers, feeling the faintest hint of strength returning to his limbs. It wasn't much, but it was something.
The other prisoners stared at him in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Who are you?" one of them whispered, a young woman with hollow eyes.
Kade didn't answer immediately, focusing on catching his breath. His body was still weak, the radiation poisoning coursing through his veins like poison. But he had to keep going. He had to get out of here.
"I'm Superman and I'm the one who's getting us out of here," Kade finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. He pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly as he stood. The room spun around him, but he forced himself to stay upright. "But I need your help."
The prisoners exchanged uncertain looks. They were scared, defeated, but Kade could see a flicker of hope in their eyes—a tiny spark that had been missing for so long.
"What do you want us to do?" the young woman asked, stepping forward.
"Stay close to me," Kade said, his voice growing stronger as he spoke. "We're going to take this ship."
"But how?" a man in the back of the cell asked, his voice trembling. "There are too many of them, and we're... we're just prisoners."
Kade turned to the man, his eyes hard. "You're not just prisoners. You're survivors. You've made it this far. Now, we're going to make it the rest of the way."
The man hesitated, but then nodded, a steely determination settling over his features.
Kade moved to the door, his movements still sluggish, but his resolve unshaken. He placed his hands on the cold metal, feeling for any weak points. The radiation poisoning made it hard to concentrate, but he had to push through. He didn't have time to wait for his powers to fully return. Hulk was still out there, heading toward Earth, and every second counted.
"Stand back," Kade ordered, his voice firm despite the weakness in his body.
The prisoners shuffled back, giving him space. Kade took a deep breath, gathering what little strength he had left. With a grunt of effort, he slammed his fist into the door. The metal dented, but didn't break. He hit it again, harder this time, the sound echoing through the small cell.
The door groaned under the pressure, the metal buckling more with each blow. Kade's fists were a blur as he pounded on the door, his determination growing with each strike. The poisoning sapped his strength, but he didn't let it stop him.
Finally, with a deafening crash, the door burst open, the metal crumpling under Kade's assault. He stumbled back, breathing hard, but there was no time to rest. The ship's alarm blared as the pirates realized their prisoners were loose.
"Let's go!" Kade shouted, leading the charge out of the cell.
The prisoners followed him, their fear replaced by a newfound sense of purpose. They surged forward, overwhelming the few pirates who tried to stop them. Kade fought through the pain, his movements growing more fluid as his body slowly healed.
But he knew he couldn't keep this up for long. He needed to find a way off this ship—needed to get back to Earth. Hulk was still out there, and Kade couldn't let him reach Earth unchecked.
They fought their way through the ship, Kade leading the charge with what little strength he had left. The pirates were caught off guard, unprepared for such a fierce resistance.
As they reached the hangar, Kade could feel his body beginning to fail. The radiation poisoning was taking its toll, and he didn't have much time left. But he couldn't stop now. He had to keep going, had to get back to Earth.
"There!" Kade pointed to a small shuttle docked in the hangar. "We can use that to escape!"
The prisoners surged forward, boarding the shuttle with frantic speed. Kade was the last to board, his vision swimming as he stumbled onto the shuttle. He collapsed into a seat, his strength finally giving out.
"Get us out of here," he managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.
The young woman who had first spoken to him took the controls, her hands shaking as she fired up the engines. The shuttle roared to life, lifting off the deck and blasting out of the hangar. Kade felt the acceleration press him into his seat, his eyes closing as exhaustion washed over him.
He had done it. They were free.
But as the shuttle raced away from the pirate ship, Kade's thoughts drifted back to Earth. He was still so far away, and Hulk was out there, getting closer with every passing second. Kade knew he was running out of time.
As the shuttle sped through the darkness of space, Kade's mind was consumed by one thought: Earth. He could feel the life draining from his body, the radiation poisoning relentless, gnawing at his very being. But he had to get home—he had to warn them, had to stop Hulk. The moment the shuttle stabilized, Kade pushed himself up, staggering towards the small escape pods at the rear of the shuttle. The young woman piloting the ship noticed his movement and called out, "Where are you going? You're too weak—stay with us!"
Kade shook his head, his vision blurring. "I can't. I have to get back... to Earth," he muttered, his voice a rasp of determination. He slammed his hand against the release mechanism, the pod door sliding open with a hiss. "This pod... it's my only chance."
"But you'll die out there!" another prisoner cried, fear etched in their voice.
Kade managed a weak smile. "Not if I make it to the sun..."
He climbed into the pod, setting its course directly for Earth. As the door sealed shut, the last thing he heard was the muffled protests of the prisoners, their voices fading as the pod launched away from the shuttle, hurtling through space at breakneck speed. Kade leaned back, his body trembling with exhaustion. He felt the icy fingers of death creeping over him, but he refused to close his eyes. Not yet. Not while there was still hope.
The journey felt like an eternity, his mind a haze of pain and fleeting memories. But then, in the distance, he saw it: Earth, a shining blue gem in the void. And beyond it, the yellow sun, its golden light calling to him like a beacon. He knew what he had to do, knew that it was the only way to survive.
With what little strength remained in his weakened body, Kade reached for the hatch release. His fingers fumbled over the controls, slick with sweat and trembling, but he managed to pull the lever. The hatch blew open, the vacuum of space instantly pulling him from the pod and into the void.
For a brief moment, Kade floated weightless, the cold of space biting into his skin. His vision darkened, his heartbeat slowing to a painful crawl. But then, the sun's rays washed over him, bathing him in warmth and light. He felt it, the raw energy of the sun coursing through his body, mending the damage, purging the radiation. His muscles tightened, his heartbeat quickened, and his breath came in sharp, revitalizing gulps.
As his strength returned, Kade floated there, suspended in the vastness of space, feeling the power surge back into him. But with that power came something else—a cacophony of screams, cries of fear and desperation, echoing in his mind. He strained to focus, and the source became clear. New York City. His friends were in danger, their voices a desperate plea for help.
Kade's eyes snapped open, glowing with renewed energy as he turned his gaze toward Earth. He could hear their cries, feel their fear as if it were his own. He was out of time. With his strength almost fully restored and his purpose clear, Kade prepared to act.