Up in midair, an armed helicopter was circling above the street.
Inside the chopper, General Ross, in uniform, was facing off against his daughter, Betty. The cause of the standoff was obvious: Bruce Banner, strapped to a gurney.
Ross's face was tight with anger. "Betty, you're not with this kid anymore—why are you still protecting him? And the danger he poses—I'm done trying to keep that under control!"
Ross had been committed to the Super Soldier program for years.
Just then, the pilot shouted, "General Ross, what is that thing up ahead?"
Ross looked out at the street. A massive green monster was rampaging, plowing through everything. With terrifying strength it flipped cars like toys. Frowning, Ross muttered, "Where did this one come from—and why does it look like Bruce?"
Ross still didn't know Emil Blonsky had already turned into the Abomination. He immediately tried to hail Blonsky, but there was no way Blonsky was answering now. With no reply coming in, a wild thought flashed through Ross's mind: "Don't tell me that green giant down there is Blonsky."
"Return to base. Now," Ross ordered.
Banner had already come to and had seen the Abomination tearing up the avenue. He immediately thought of the blood samples left with Sterns. Obviously, this green giant wasn't Sterns, but it had everything to do with him.
Banner spoke up quickly. "My blood was at that place just now—this green monster has to be something Sterns created. Blonsky took people to grab me and never came back. That thing down there must be Blonsky."
Ross's voice dropped. "That bastard down there is definitely Blonsky."
Banner hurried on. "Conventional weapons won't hurt him—I know that better than anyone. Unless I can transform, no one can stand against him."
Resolve flashed in Ross's eyes. He shouted to the flight crew, "Best speed to the military base!"
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York office, reports of a green monster on the streets had already come in. The man in charge, Coulson, immediately contacted Director Nick Fury at HQ. After getting the intel, Fury pulled traffic-cam feeds from nearby streets.
At first, Fury assumed it was the Hulk. But once he saw the green figure on the screen, he knew—this wasn't the Hulk. This was another green monster altogether.
Fury dialed Tony Stark.
Just yesterday, Iron Man Tony Stark had agreed to join the Avengers.
Inside Stark's place, Tony was working on a new suit.
"Mr. Stark, Director Fury is calling."
Tony took the call. Fury quickly briefed him on the Abomination's appearance. Tony pulled the satellite feed at once. As soon as he saw the creature's raw power on the street, he told Fury, "This guy's strength is off the charts. I can't handle this alone. Get in touch with the Spider Alliance—see if that Hellblood Demon can step in."
Tony still didn't know that the Hellblood Demon was Maguire.
Fury agreed. After hanging up, Tony suited up as Iron Man and blasted into the sky.
Back at S.H.I.E.L.D., Fury rang Natasha and brought her up to speed.
Elsewhere, in a shadowed alley, Aunt May was tugging Maguire along at a run. In moments they'd put some distance between themselves and the Abomination's path of destruction. Aunt May was breathing hard. Maguire looked at her, panting, and a faintly mischievous smile touched his lips.
"This should be safe," Aunt May said quickly. "What was that thing? That was terrifying."
Maguire gently patted her back.
He didn't realize the plot wasn't following what he remembered. Banner truly thought he couldn't turn into the Hulk and hadn't jumped out of the helicopter.
It was already eleven at night. Maguire looked at Aunt May and said something that made her face flush in an instant; she fidgeted, not knowing how to respond.
Seeing that, Maguire realized he couldn't rush this. "I mean—it's late. Let me take you home."
Aunt May nodded. She was no youngster, but she was conservative by nature; otherwise she wouldn't have gone without a boyfriend all these years. Looking at the gentle warmth on Maguire's face, a sudden impulse stirred in her. She stepped closer to him.
Maguire's heart leapt. "Guess tonight won't be a total loss after all."
Just as he opened his arms to her, a grating voice cut in.
"Kid, you really landed yourself a prize. But you're a bit young—doubt you can handle it. How about we big brothers show you how it's done? No need to thank us. It's our pleasure."
Maguire's eyes went cold. Rage surged up.
"Are you f**king kidding me? You trash really have a death wish?"
"If I end this too fast, that's on me."
He had no intention of letting Venom stand by and spectate while he was in the middle of… other business.
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