Hulk 2099UG #3

I

The laboratory was secluded and the silence was driving the Shackle's captive mad. Well, perhaps it was just pushing him even more over the edge, for it's quite hard to drive one to insanity who embraces it as "Gamma" Ray does! He didn't mind the darkness as much, just the solitude. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy his own company, but the lack of exposure to other humans made it slightly hard to escape and this body was deteriorating fast. He was beginning to enjoy his manifestations, but none of the average human flesh could sustain his radioactive consciousness. And that was why he wanted the Hulk, or the Hulk's body more or less. Yes, the Hulk was the perfect specimen for Ray, and he could only dream about his future encounters, that or simply bide his time. . .

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II

The Hulk was tired. A simple statement to be sure, but the truth none the less. He had slowed his speed considerably once he thought that the Shackle had turned back with "Gamma" Ray in their possession. The name sent a slight shiver through the Hulk's massive frame. Ray was nothing to fear physically, but his actions, were quite chilling indeed. The Hulk could think of nothing that he feared more than losing his own mind, which seemed to be exactly what was happening to him. Ever since the explosion of the second Gamma bomb in California, he had been having bizarre visions, which often left him disorientated. They even showered his dreams. It seemed that giving up his thoughts to slumber wouldn't even protect him from succumbing to the horrors of his own mind. And now that his body was acting strangely he was beginning to wonder for his physical well being, also. The threat of the Shackle he could handle through physical confrontation, but now that his mental grasp was wavering and his physical abilities were beginning to escape him as well he was beginning to feel a sensation that he hadn't felt since he first turned into the Hulk. . .doubt.

He quickly looked over his shoulder to see if he had lost them. In doing so, he found himself laying on the ground as he tripped and fell. This wasn't something that he was accustomed to as the Hulk. Normally, anything in his way would have been torn from it's former position and destroyed in his rampaging flight. But he was noticeably losing speed and strength. He rolled over and sat up to look around. He was having problems focusing, and he kept seeing the face of his friend . . . no, the one he failed, Gawain. He couldn't think anymore, it simply hurt too much. He looked down upon his hands, expecting them to transform back into the puny human known as John. But the transformation never came. . .but why? He couldn't stick around to contemplate, for the Shackle were after him and that he was sure of. He hadn't put near as much distance between them as he had thought, and this he was beginning to understand. He got to his feet, but as he did so he was knocked back with an explosive force, as if a brick wall had been hurled at him. He knocked over a single tree before finally coming to a halt at the base of another tree. He touched his head, and found that he was bleeding!?

He looked up to see what had hit him, and through the blood and tears in his eyes, he could barely make out three figures standing on the horizon in front of him, and without thinking about it he knew for a fact that it was the Shackle, Isis' special police force. Their leader, Manacle, stepped forward with his eyes ablaze. It was he, who had the ability to generate and project force fields, that had assaulted the bewildered creature. Yes, that was all he was to the Shackle wasn't it? Manacle continued to approach the Hulk as he motioned for Headcase to slowly follow him. Padlock also began to approach from the Hulk's left. They were closing in on him, treating him as an animal! And for what reason? The Hulk couldn't begin to guess.

"You're under arrest," proclaimed Manacle.

"Wh--what," murmured the Hulk.

"I said that you are under arrest! And any attempt to resist will allow us to take extreme force with you as a result to your hostility."

"And we do mean with extreme prejudice," added Headcase.

"So please don't come quietly," sneered Padlock.

"Don't push him, Padlock," Manacle said, "we all know what he's capable of, and we don't need you making him angry!"

Despite his current position the Hulk wasn't about to be pushed around by a team of bullies nor was his new weakness about to relinquish his anger. He looked up at Manacle and said, "You dare track me down like some kind of hurt dog, and then expect me to come with you quietly!? You want me, eh? Well, you've got me!"

With this he leaped at the Shackle's leader and was thrown to the ground when he came into full force with a force field. Manacle wasn't crazy enough to leave himself unprotected this time. He began trying to pin down the Hulk with small force fields as the Hulk continued to roll out of the blasts way. Padlock leaped at the fallen creature bombarding him with his mutant powers over magnetism. As he did so the Hulk stood and grinned.

"I'm not sure if you noticed, but I'm not made of metal," he laughed as he smashed his opponent with a backhand. The blow merely knocked Padlock off of his feet due to the Hulk's fledgling strength.

"Headcase, NOW!"

At the order of his leader, Headcase began probing the Hulk's mind, only to find that it was a complete mess! Altering one's psyche was no easy task to begin with, but for some unfound reason, Headcase was finding his current attempt to be virtually impossible. In fact, it felt as if the mind of the Hulk was pulling him in, and he was being flooded with a mass of previously unleashed psychic feedback. The moment of connection shocked Headcase and the Hulk as they stood with blank expressions.

"What the he--"

With this Manacle knew that he had to break the connection before Headcase lost himself. The results would be unpredictable, and he wasn't about to lose another member of Isis' force. He encased his hands in two large battering rams of force and used them to slam into the Hulk, knocking him back, and releasing Headcase from the battle. He looked over and saw that his companion was breathing, but he had no idea what condition he was in mental wise. He looked over and saw Padlock getting to his feet.

"Padlock, we have to end this quick! Headcase is down!"

Padlock then used his magnetic abilities to control what little metallic objects would detach from their uniforms. As the pieces flew toward the Hulk, he knew that it wasn't near enough. He thought about what do to as they flew toward their opponent.

The Hulk opened his mouth as if to say something and was quickly startled to find that he couldn't! What now, he thought. But as he kept moving his mouth open and closed in an attempt to produce some sort of sound he found that it was useless. In shock he left his guard down. He turned to see Padlock just as the pieces of metal wrapped and contorted around his mouth as a muzzle.

Padlock shrugged his shoulders, and muttered, "Well, at least that'll keep your trap shut!"

Manacle sighed and used all of his power to wrap the Hulk's body in a force field, stopping him from defending himself. As the Hulk began to panic and fight back, Manacle felt the pressure rising in his gut, and he quickly screamed at Padlock, "Do something!!! He's going to get lose! Take him down. . ."

As he said this Padlock leaped forward and said, "My pleasure."

With this he used his magnetic abilities to create a polar attraction between his fist and the Hulk's metallic "muzzle." When the two connected it hit the Hulk with enough force to knock him out cold. His head snapped back and finally his visions left him alone in peace.

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III

The cell was secluded and the silence was driving the Shackle's newest captive mad. The Hulk had been slowly losing faith in his own thoughts, and now that he was awake again, he could do nothing to escape them. They danced around the room shouting and laughing at him. Occasionally they would scream out in agony. Yes, he was the cause for much pain wasn't he? The darkness didn't bother him as much, just the solitude. Without the voices of others he was left to his own devices, which weren't much help at all. His body was aching all over, and now his throat was growing very hoarse and raw. He couldn't speak, and it was perhaps this aspect of the silence that frightened him the most. He was indeed losing it, and it there was a slight chance that "Gamma" Ray and the Hulk were more alike than either of the two cared to admit.

The Hulk managed to get to his feet. His throat hurt more with each attempt to speak, and these attempts were growing more and more desperate as his futile endeavors to speak turned into even more futile attempts to cry out in panic. He was trying to close his eyes, do anything to stop the voices of those who called out to him, but there was nothing he could do stop them from prying into his mind. He tried crashing himself into walls, anything to take his mind off of the rambling of those who weren't there. Or were they? This was too much for the Hulk to think about and he soon fell to his knees from exhaustion. He laid there in a state of hopelessness.

He didn't even bother to look up when he heard the footsteps outside of his cell. And when the door slowly slid open and the light shone into the large green man's face, it was met with an apathetic stare. The Hulk's stare pierced the men, and it wasn't until Padlock reached out and smacked him across the face that he bothered reacting to the guards' presence.

"Wake up, Beast!"

"Padlock, keep your hands off of him. He will be brought to trial, and then perhaps you can get your shots in," Manacle cut in.

The Hulk looked up and noticed that only two of the group were present.

"But what about what he did to Headca--"

"That's enough! Now I said to prepare him for court. And I meant it," replied Manacle.

With that Padlock reluctantly used his powers over magnetic forces to drag the Hulk along by his metallic harness. The Hulk didn't bother looking around to see what his surroundings were as they passed through corridor after corridor. Soon enough it was all just a haze of endless numbered hallways in which they dragged their captive through.

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IV

The Hulk opened his eyes as Manacle burst through the double, doors of the Isis' court house. It was fashioned after an old twencen court house with a bench for the judge and seats for the jury. Many of the town's citizens filled the room as they came to watch the trial of the Hulk. Manacle grabbed the chain hanging from the Hulk's harness and dragged him over to a table. He then ordered the creature to sit, and he complied with a very apathetic expression. The two guardsmen stood behind their captive and waited for the trial to begin. A well dressed man looked over toward the two and nodded. He wore the same badge as they on his shoulder. Padlock saluted and Manacle gave a slight nod of respect.

It wasn't long until a man dressed identical to the Shackle walked into the room and pronounced, "All stand, for Judge Brune Welles."

All stood and Padlock reached up to strike the Hulk who refused to stand, or simply didn't hear the announcement. No one could be sure for he was acting quite strange. The Judge sat down and called out, "You may all be seated."

Everyone sat down and the Hulk flinched in his seat as Judge Welles banged the gavel on the old bench to start the proceedings. He was now paying attention to his fate, yet there was nothing that he could do about it. He sat there and waited for his sentence.

The Hulk looked up at the Judge and watched his lips moving, but he couldn't make out what he was saying. It didn't really matter, now did it? He tried to speak but his throat was raw, and nothing came out. It ached and he tried to call out. He couldn't. He kept opening his mouth. . .and closing it in a frenzy to call out in his defense. Still nothing happened. What's happening to me, he wondered. As the Judge spoke a group of men began to approach him. The Hulk stood up, knocking the table over as he leapt to his feet. He couldn't move his arms. . .they had restrained him!

"What are you doing!? Guards stop him," cried the Judge.

The guards began to fire upon the Hulk with their weapons. He ignored their firing as he fought to break the restraints. He thrashed back and forth fighting against the metal of the restraint. The citizens of Isis leapt up and ran toward the Hulk, reaching out and hitting them, and kicking him, trying to do their part to keep this beast down. The Hulk could feel the anger rising up within him. It was like a great pressure filling him up inside, like a bomb about to explode. He tried to cry out for the people to stop, but once again, he found his vocal chords fighting against him. He couldn't speak, and he could feel the anger working against him, burning into his brain. He opened his mouth not to scream out at the angry mob, but to ask someone, somewhere, for help. As his primal instincts began to swell in his chest, he knew that there was nothing that could be done. If only he could warn them. . .

Suddenly the Hulk burst forth from his restraints, swinging his arms out, knocking a few citizens flying through the air, and through the walls of the courthouse. He could no longer think. He wasn't controlling his actions as he lashed out at the guardsmen, crushing them in his bare hands, using his claws to slash through man, woman, and child. They began to run, and he leapt after them, stepping on them, as he ran out of the courthouse, wrecking everything in his path. Nothing could withstand the Hulk's onslaught as he crashed through the huge double doors leading out into the streets of Isis. The passer-bys who had stopped to see what all the commotion was about, would pay for it with their lives. The Hulk bound for the streets, on all fours, as he flew into the midst of a group of pedestrians. He crushed some of them under his feet, as he knocked the others away with his massive arms.

"We have to stop him, Manacle," cried Padlock.

"You think I don't know that!? What do you suggest?"

"I--I, uh, I don't know."

"Well, we have to do something! You wanted him, take him!"

With that Padlock leapt out onto the street, taking the Hulk's focus off of trashing a building, and onto him. The Hulk turned and ran toward Padlock, without so much as blinking. He was all animal now. Padlock used his powers over magnetic fields to send a hailstorm of debris flying at the Hulk. The Hulk continued to run without so much as flinching as the debris bounced off of him. Padlock barely managed to dodge as the Hulk leapt at him. As Padlock turned, the Hulk quickly launched a new attack, lashing out and smashing into his opponent with lethal force. The blow knocked Padlock flying backwards, as Manacle used a force field to slow his descent. The Hulk didn't wait, as he dived toward Padlock, using his own momentum to crash through the side off of a building. The Hulk moved on, trashing the building, and attacking it's inhabitants. Padlock didn't move.

Manacle started to run off toward the Hulk, and stopped to think. Instead he reached down and activated his communicator. "Uh, Captain Hannock?"

"Yes, Manacle! Report, and hurry! We've got lots of casualties, all over the city."

"Well, sir, that's just it. I hate to say it, but Headcase is still down, possibly brain dead, and well, now Padlock is down, too. I haven't confirmed it, but I think he's dead. The Hulk is still just making his way through the city."

"Yes, I know. It's caused wide spread panic, and lots of casualties. Yes, begin emergency evacuation. I'll sound the alarm. Captain Hannock, out."

"Yes sir," Manacle said. Then he turned and began shouting, "Everyone please make ways to your vehicles in a safe and orderly fashion. You may be asked to leave."

And with that Captain Hannock's voice could be heard over the city's loudspeakers shouting, "ATTENTION CITIZENS OF ISIS. PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAYS TO THE ACCESS AREAS OF THE CITY, THIS IS NOT A TEST. THIS IS AN EVACUATION. PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THESE AREAS IN A SAFE AND ORDERLY FASHION. WE ALREADY HAVE MANY CASUALTIES. . .WE DON'T NEED MORE. ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAFETY AREAS LEADING OUT OF THE CITY. . .I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A TEST."

With that, Manacle turned to make his way toward one of the safety areas as he helped the fallen citizens along the way. In the distance he could hear the destruction and explosions that were in the wake of the Hulk's path. He was on a rampage, and there was nothing that could be done. Yes, the Hulk was unstoppable, as he destroyed every building in site, in a frenzy that he couldn't control. Everyone is his path stared into the face of a beast, right before they lost their lives. His primal instincts didn't distinguish between race, sex, or even age. Everyone was equal in the eye's of this beast.

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V

"Gamma" Ray laughed as he heard the destruction in the distance. He could only think of the perfect specimen who was now on a rampage through these peoples' "precious" city. Yes, well, they deserved it didn't they. No one understood people like "Gamma" Ray and the Hulk, now did they? Well, these were the thoughts that scattered through his radioactive consciousness. He slowly turned his head as he heard footsteps running down the hall outside his "cell." He could hear the small cry of a child, and the panic of a woman, as they checked each door, only to find them locked. Yes, the Hulk was on a rampage, and these poor souls were looking for refuge.

"Mom, I found one."

This was the simple statement that fell joyfully upon Ray's ears as the doorknob to the lab he was in slowly turned. He laid back and sat there silently waiting for his chance. The young boy ran into the room and stopped to look around. His eyes were staring around in wonder. All the gadgets and scientific equipment, not meant for the prying hands of a young man, but in all the commotion, who would notice? He reached out to a beaker full of chemicals.

His mother ran into the room, and reached out grabbing his arm and said, "Billy! Don't touch anything, and be quiet."

"Okay."

His mother closed the door and waited, as Billy made his way through the room. He walked over to the table where Ray was. He saw the decayed body of Ray's host. He stared at it and said, "Hey Mom! What is this!?"

His mother looked over at the table and cried out, "Don't touch that Billy!"

As she did so she ran over to the table, and pulled Billy away.

"Eeewww, this doesn't look good," she said as she pulled the cover back over his host's body. As her hand slid over the rotting flesh "Gamma" Ray lashed out and grabbed her hand. As he did so, he focused, and sent his own mind out into her body, leaving the rotting corpse that was soon to die, and entering a new host, which wouldn't stand up to his radioactive presence, but which would help him find his prey. . .the Hulk.

Billy saw this, and cried out, "MOM!!!"

"Gamma" Ray took a moment, and then ran his hands over his new body. "Well, well, well, isn't this different. A woman. . .I could enjoy this," he laughed.

Billy began crying and wrapped his arms around his mother, who was now none other than "Gamma" Ray. He looked down at the crying child, and grabbed him by the hair. He looked into his face, and slung him backward hard onto the ground.

"Stop your crying, brat."

As he left he shut the door, and locked it. With the lights out. He laughed as he heard the child crying out his to his mother. What a day, thought Ray.

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VI

His rage gone, the Hulk felt strangely alone. Its power had led him from the City�s central square to its eastern edge. He had stopped there because nothing was left in front of him to destroy. Inhaling deeply, the Hulk turned to survey the damage he had wrought. Within his immediate sight, not a single structure remained intact. Scanning the rubble and debris, his eyes stopped to focus on a single frail arm extending out from beneath a collapsed wall.

Massive arms moved quickly to clear the debris. The Hulk�s sudden concern for the person beneath blinded him to the considerable effort exerted to reach them. What should have been seconds turned into minutes. Concern became horror as his work revealed the broken body of a small boy. He attempted to shout Gawain as he fell to his knees, but the vocal cords would not respond. �No, this was not Gawain,� he thought as he cradled the lifeless body in his arms. Gawain was already dead, the result of past failures. At least that is what the Hulk used to believe. The delusions had blurred his sense of reality to the extent that he was no longer sure.

Not that it mattered. It was becoming clear to the Hulk that he had failed here. The stench of death was about him and he knew it. Blood was all over his body and it certainly was not his. Even worse, his memory was frighteningly clear in one respect: he had enjoyed the killing. The fear of his victims had fueled his rage, increased his power. It was as if his last hours in LA were playing out all over again. There the rage had led him to kill a pack of gamma irradiated mutants (Hulk 2099 UG Prologue -Ron). At the time, he justified it as self defense, but was it more?

The swell of doubt turned to fear as the Hulk contemplated his actions. "John never would have done this."

"John. . .," he stops in mid thought.

"There is no John anymore. I am the Hulk and my sole purpose is to kill and destroy!" The thought sent a shiver through every cell of his increasingly erratic mind. Where did it come from? If he was not John, then who was he? For a few minutes, a glimmer of humanity had resurfaced within the beast. It was gone now, frightened by the demons lurking beside it.

Distraught, the Hulk dropped the dead child and rose to his feet. His rage had thoroughly subsided and the aches and pains of battle were becoming more apparent. He was tired, afraid and wanted nothing more than to find a place to rest. Despite his anxiety, the many questions clouding his mind would wait til morning. Turning to the Southwest, he began walking to a part of Isis that had escaped his destructive hands. Behind him, a man emerged from the underbrush at the city's edge.

"Hello Hulk. I've waited a long time for this."

The Hulk turned to see a tall, muscular man with closely cut brown hair. He wore a black jumpsuit with green trim and was carrying some type of pack upon his back. He did not appear to be one of the Shackle, but the Hulk was not completely sure. What he did know was that he wanted to be left alone.

"My name is Atlas and I have come to take you with me."

As the stranger moved forward, the Hulk began to feel threatend. Despite his calm demeanor, the Hulk sensed that this man was not a friend. He tried to speak but again his voice said nothing. Fearful of his berserker rage, the Hulk dropped his fists hard to the ground to knock the stranger off his feet. To his incredible surprise, nothing happened.

Sensing the Hulk's confusion, Atlas leapt into the air, striking a solid blow to the face. The Hulk stammered, then fell backward to the ground. Dazed, he tried to stand but found himself unable to move. Although tired, he knew there was more to this problem than mere exhaustion. His body was failing him completely this time. As he drifted from consciousness, the Hulk struggled to accept the loss of the one thing still somewhat reliable in his life: his power.

The man known as Atlas knelt over the Hulk's unmoving form, a smile appearing across his face. "You and all that you represent finally belong to me."

Hiding in the shadows of debris and rubble, a lone woman watches and smiles as well.

"This is going to be more fun than I thought."

NEXT ISSUE: Join us for Part 1 of "GROWING PAINS" a three part arc that delves into the Hulk's past and sets the stage for his future. Who is Atlas and what is his connection to the Hulk? Speaking of the Hulk, what is going on with his mind and body? Answers to these questions and more of Gamma Ray in a story we call GROUND ZERO.



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