The news of Tony Stark's disappearance broke shortly after he left, attracting a swarm of paparazzi to the airport. They were kept at bay outside the gates, as military personnel secured the area. The soldiers were primarily there for Rhodey, who was returning from Afghanistan and was expected to bring Tony back with him. However, they hadn't anticipated the arrival of Goliath himself.
The soldiers were astonished when a massive plane with shark-like coloring opened up and Tony Stark emerged. Only Pepper was prepared for this, ensuring that the car was positioned close to Thomas's plane.
Tony slowly stepped out of the plane, glancing back at Thomas for a moment. Thomas nodded, silently offering his support. Tony returned the nod and then made his way to Pepper, while several military personnel moved closer to provide protection.
Thomas watched Tony, then turned his gaze to Pepper. With his Magnificent Sight, he saw the immense gratitude in her eyes. He smiled broadly, showing his white teeth, and then turned to his pilot. "Sam, good job. You're free to go."
"Got it, Boss."
"And I've got some business to take care of." Thomas stepped towards the exit of the plane. The setting sun cast a warm glow, and a gentle breeze brushed against his skin.
He surveyed the area. A few military personnel and airport workers were scattered around, and someone had already started taking pictures.
Tony got into his car and drove off with Pepper, leaving Thomas by his plane.
"Finished one thing, start another," he muttered as he walked down the tarmac. His imposing figure and large strides drew everyone's attention, overshadowing all around him.
He had a new problem to tackle. General Ross had called him on the plane, informing him about a troubling situation. Emil Blonsky, a soldier Ross had hired, had deviated from his mission and was poised to cause chaos and civilian casualties. A man named Bruce Banner, who was in the helicopter with General, suggested that Blonsky was in Bayside.
Thomas owed the General a favor, so he decided to handle it. He couldn't afford any casualties on his watch, so time was of the essence.
He turned away from the crowd, seeking an open space to take off and jump further. Just as he straightened up, his keen hearing picked up the sound of a camera being turned on.
The camera was rolling, and Thomas thrived on being in the spotlight. But he couldn't forget the urgency of his mission.
Why not do both?
Bayside was north of their location. He moved away from the airplane, far enough to see Sam in the cockpit. Wilson gave him a thumbs-up.
More people had gathered, some filming with their cell phones. One of the military men couldn't resist and stepped out from behind a corner, phone in hand.
Thomas took a step, then another, and a third.
He picked up speed, his powerful strides shaking the ground beneath him.
With a mighty roar, "YAGH!" he leaped into the air. The force of his jump sent a shockwave through the tarmac, causing the onlookers to stagger. The sheer power of his takeoff was palpable, the air vibrating with his energy as he ascended, leaving the ground far behind.
He was a blur of motion, rocketing towards Bayside with a single, earth-shattering leap.
***
Bayside, New-York.
The situation was far from pleasant, and the atmosphere in the helicopter was downright depressing. General Ross had just picked up Bruce Banner, and while his daughter Elizabeth nuzzled Bruce for comfort, he ended the call. He already regretted bringing Blonsky into the unit several times over.
There was no denying Blonsky's capabilities as a soldier. He was strong, professional, and fiercely loyal to his cause. His commitment was so intense that he was willing to expose his body to dangerous chemicals, transforming his mission from a straightforward assignment into a personal vendetta.
First, he took a simple dose, then he insisted on a higher one, despite being warned about the unknown consequences. Blonsky's burning hatred for the Hulk drove him to the brink, ready to sacrifice anything—even human lives—to destroy his nemesis.
For General Ross, this was unacceptable. He wanted to capture the Hulk to prevent casualties, not cause more of them.
A recent radio transmission reported that Blonsky had done something horrifically reckless, resulting in another green creature rampaging through the streets.
"Father, who did you call?" Elizabeth Ross asked, clutching Banner's hand. Bruce, too, looked at the General with worry etched on his face.
"Support. He can handle him," Ross replied, sitting back in his seat. A soldier shifted to give him more room.
"Time is running out! We don't know when he'll show up!" Bruce said, his voice tinged with anxiety.
"Stay in your seat, Banner. Everything's under control. And anyway, what do you propose to do?" the General objected.
"I... I have to go down there," Bruce stammered.
"No!" retorted Betty, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward her. They had just managed to lift Bruce up and start healing him. She couldn't let him transform into the green beast again. Bruce had no control over the Hulk.
"Listen to me, Betty. It's different now. I have something to fight for, something to hold on to. This is the first step toward making things better. This time, the Hulk and I will work as one," Bruce protested with towering confidence.
The General raised an eyebrow at that. It was hard to believe Bruce could rein in this uncontrollable beast. Maybe he would make things worse. And why rush into battle when he had already summoned one huge blond man who he thought could easily handle it? He hadn't wanted to call in this favor; the blond guy in the Hawaiian shirt owed him, and he preferred to save that for a dire situation. That's why he brought Blonsky and used the weapons. But the situation had spiraled out of control, leaving him no choice.
Truthfully, he didn't care much about Banner's fate—or the Hulk's. If Bruce died, it would solve a problem and keep his daughter safe. So he agreed to Bruce's request.
"General, please turn the helicopter around and open the door," Bruce pleaded.
"As you wish," Ross replied, signaling the pilot to comply.
As they approached, the sounds of chaos grew louder and more intense. The General clenched his jaw as he observed the turmoil through the helicopter's window. His mistake was only worsening. Though he couldn't see what was at the center of the destruction, he was certain Blonsky had a hand in it.
They hovered near the epicenter, and Ross opened the helicopter door. To his displeasure, he saw his daughter and Banner share a kiss. Over the muttering drowned out by the helicopter blades, he locked eyes with Banner.
"Thank you, General," Bruce said, nodding.
Then, in an act of fearless resolve, Bruce did what no scientist would typically do—he jumped out of the helicopter.
The General watched as Banner's body plummeted towards the ground, but something else caught his eye. Off to the side, a massive figure landed on one of the buildings.
Standing four meters tall, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sporting very long hair, the figure was unmistakable.
"Finally, he's here," Ross muttered to himself.
Soon, this place was going to get very hot.