9517/Funeral for a Friend

Funeral for a Friend
Date of Scene:	07 January 2022
Location:	Vista Verde, New Mexico
Synopsis:	Bruce Banner and Jennifer Walters travel to Vista Verde in New Mexico for Betty Ross's funeral...and discover what actually happened may not be what is publicly known. Also that the Hulk's old Nemesis, General Ross, is now the Red Hulk...and Betty's coffin has no body in it.
Cast of Characters:	Betty Ross, Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner

---

Betty Ross has posed:
    Everyone has busy lives. And more so those who have the gift (or curse) of gamma mutation. Heroines and hulking is serious business. But in this case, the same thing happens to both Bruce Banner and Jennifer Walters.

    They are both contacted by a lawyer, who informs them of the sad news: Betty Ross is dead.

    Details of the cause aren't provided, but a date and time for the viewing and funeral are, along with tickets and hotel rooms provided. The lawyer in question would inform either that Betty had set the money aside a while back as well as that he should inform a list of people upon her passing.

    And that funeral is set in a town Bruce certainly knows well...Vista Verde, the town near the testing area and military base where he was first transformed into the Hulk.

    It's relatively easy to get there as a result, and to arrive in time for the outdoor viewing, that's being held under a tent in the relatively cool but not cold weather of New Mexico in winter.

Jennifer Walters has posed:
Jen was surprised as heck to find out that Betty had died, though the Avenger in her got a little suspicious that they haven't released the details of her death. That's not going to stop her from going to New Mexico for her funeral, though. Betty was a friend, and she meant a lot to her cousin.

She arrives a little early, having taken a quinjet instead of taking a commercial flight, though finding a place to park the thing is always a challenge. She's dressed appropriately for a funeral, a crisp black pantsuit with a black blouse underneath.

She scans the tent looking to see if she can spy Bruce, and to some lesser extent, Betty's father. Hopefully she can keep the two apart, since she doesn't want a Hulk (well, other than her) at the scene.

Bruce Banner has posed:
    Bruce struggles with this revelation for several days. There are so many things he should have said, he tells himself, so many things he could have said if he'd known. A nagging voice in his head tells him he wouldn't have said them even if he had the chance. Maybe he doesn't even know what he wanted to say, if he really were to think about it.

    From the moment the news arrive, Bruce makes himself scarce. He was not particularly good at opening up about these things even to Leonard, whose calls he has not returned in some time. Reasonably, he would take a Quinjet. He could do that. It would be quick. It would be safe. Bruce, however, is stubborn.

    He does appear in the crowd, a poorly tailored suit wrapped around his lanky body. The cut of it feels a little bit like a kid forced to wear a suit at a funeral.

    "Hey, Jen. Nice of you to come," Bruce says, especially dour today.

Betty Ross has posed:
    It's what one might expect who's had to attend funerals previously. There's rows of chairs, a pair of refreshment tables, and a fair amount of people in dark colored suits and dresses, but also quite a few uniforms. There are some things that do stand out, however.

    One is that the coffin is closed, sealed up. Usually that's when the body is...well, so bad off it can't be really viewed.

    The other, of course, is that Thunderbolt Ross himself is off to the side. Not in the uniform he would normally wear to such things, but in an ill fitting suit that looks off the rack. No one appears to be really talking to him much either, at least not the military types that would usually be congregating around a general. He doesn't even appear to have his usual staff types about.

    At least he hasn't spotted the newcomers, of course. He appears to be looking for answers deep in a glass of something alcoholic at the moment, more dour and quiet than his usual overbearing self.

    Shulkie, on the other hand, gets quite a few looks, as does Bruce from the scientific types attending, though none approach as of yet. There are some hostile looks from military types, but others seem either neutral. Or at least, not angry about Jen and Bruce's preference.

Jennifer Walters has posed:
When she spies her cousin, she makes her way over to him. "Of course," she says, giving him a gentle hug. "I'm so sorry," she says. "How are you doing?" There's obvious concern in her voice, and sadness too. She knows how much Betty meant to Bruce.

She spies General Ross off on his own, drowning his sorrows and scowls. It doesn't look like Betty's father is handling this particularly well, not that she blames him. Once she's got Bruce settled she'll go over and offer her condolences.

Bruce Banner has posed:
    Bruce doesn't refuse the hug, but there's an almost defensive sort of turn to his posture like it's still not something he's entirely familiar with. He awkwardly returns it after a brief second, however.

    "I'm hanging in there, Jen. Managing. I've got some projects going and trying to keep a low profile. You know. No big guy."

    He glances over toward Ross, alone and nursing that beverage. He frowns a little and rubs the back of his neck. "It all seems so sudden, you know? I feel like I should have been in touch."

Jennifer Walters has posed:
"I admit, I was surprised to hear," Jen says, turning back to Bruce. "It's not something you expect, at least with somebody as young as Betty. She was in good health last I heard."

"Don't beat yourself up too badly," she says kindly. "Relationships are hard, even when you don't have the big guy to worry about."

Bruce Banner has posed:
    "Thanks, Jen. Still. There's always a million questions with things like this. Not just personally, but you know," Bruce pauses.

    "As a doctor." He glances toward Ross again. "Do you think that's odd?"

Betty Ross has posed:
    The more you watch, the more you notice...it's not just that Ross doesn't have his usual cronies, but that a lot of the military types are actively avoiding him. Even snubbing him. The scientists seem to be congregating together and talking quietly, and also not offering much to Ross other than the bare minimum of condolences.

Jennifer Walters has posed:
Jen lowers her voice so others can't hear. "I think this whole thing is odd, Bruce." She spares a glance over at the casket, "Why haven't they released the details of her death? You would think that they would, even with a closed casket funeral."

"Then there's General Ross," she says, tipping her chin to the man. "Why isn't he in uniform?" Emerald eyes scan the rest of the congregation. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Bruce Banner has posed:
    "Exactly." Bruce says, keeping his focus as though he's looking at something else and lowering his voice. "I'd say 'don't draw attention,' but I know your poker face has always been even better than mine." The scientist shuffles in his suit, tugging at his tie a little. "Act like you're straightening my tie to block them from reading your lips. We need an exit plan, but not before we get to the bottom of this. You want to talk to Ross? I think..." Bruce inhales. "I don't think he'll want to see me."

Betty Ross has posed:
    There are others besides Ross Bruce knows, especially among the science team. There aren't THAT many specialists in gamma theory, after all. Quite a few of those, a few biologists, physicists, and the like. Granted, it's been a bit since he's spoken to any of them, but they are there.

    Meanwhile, out near the fence that closes off this plot of green grass in the midst of the more rocky scrublands surrounding the town, a few shadows fall over the fences, a low basso growl, then a chuff made as they approach the fence...

Jennifer Walters has posed:
Jen obligingly starts to fiddle with Bruce's tie. "It doesn't feel like an ambush to me," she says, "unless Ross is a much better actor that I gave him credit for." She straightens a bit when she's done with the tie and brushes imaginary lint off the shoulders of Bruce's suit. "Yeah. Probably not the best idea. Go mingle and see if any of your old acquaintances know anything and I'll talk to him."

She nods and makes her way over to the solitary man and sits down next to him. "I'm... sorry for your loss," she says, not unkindly. "How are you holding up?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
    "I'm sure I can find someone who doesn't run away screaming." Bruce replies. "Maybe." He manages a weak smile.

    As Jen goes toward Ross, he moves toward the nearest scientist, trying to remember who he might have a little good karma left with. ...the list is unfortunately small.

Betty Ross has posed:
    TRoss stirs a bit as Jen's shadow falls over him before she sits. "Hmph. If it isn't the lawyer turned Avenger." he snorts, finishing off what's left in his glass in a long series of gulps. "Is the monster here to gloat? You here as his nursemaid?" There's a definite bitter anger in Ross's voice, but it's hard to say who it's really aimed at...Jen, Bruce, or himself. "Shoulda guessed someone would contact you." He tosses his empty glass away with a grunt. "Well, here I am. Disgraced, dishonored and without a damned thing left I spent decades building...not even my...." He trails off, rubbing his face, letting out a humorless laugh. "Guess it's worth a laugh. Get it out of your system."

    Dr. Ihrin Ghesciu, third generation Romanian, specialist in biochemistry, and approaching her retirement at this point. "...Bruce?" she says after a moment, not looking how to react at first. "...wow, it's been...a long time." She pauses. "I'm...sorry. I know you and Betty were close once. This whole mess is...fucking crazy, pardon my French.

Jennifer Walters has posed:
Jen doesn't rise to the old man's bait. "Not here to gloat," she says, softly. "You know how much she meant to him. Meant to all of us." She shakes her head, "I'm not laughing. If anything I'm concerned. This isn't like you, Ross. What happened?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
    "Dr. Ghesciu," Banner says, managing a polite smile. "Should I call you Ihrin? It's been a while and I don't want to be too...familiar. Sorry I've been out of touch, but..." he trails off.

    "What happened?" he asks. "This all seems so sudden. And Ross is...did something happen to him, too?"

Betty Ross has posed:
    Another snort, as Ross folds his arms over his chest. "...it's...classified." he grumbles, shaking his head. "The details. But..." He closes his eyes and lets out a rough exhale. "...but I fucked up. I'll admit that. Trusted someone I shouldn't have, and Betty..." He shakes his head again, his fingers curling over into fists, his eyes narrowing. Almost a glint of gold in his eyes for a moment, burning in the pupils. "Tell you for free, kid. If it's the last thing I do, I'm gonna find that snide green son-of-a-bitch and make him suffer for killing my little girl. Uniform or no uniform."

"Bruce..." Ihrin frowns a bit. "...honestly, I don't know all the details. We were working on a project to deal with radiation treatments. Gamma specifically, or at least that was what Betty was working on. My understanding is that there was some kind of accident and she was...well...irradiated seriously." She shakes her head, frowning. "Then there was later some hullabaloo...her father was on a rampage, the base was on lockdown, then they suddenly shut the project down. Shuffled us all into temporary research positions in the meantime." She sighs. "Poor Betty. She really didn't deserve that. I wish I could tell you more, but I was only tertiarily attached to the project...ah, the Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project, it was called."

    There's suddenly an audible crunch and shriek of metal giving over by the fence, which suddenly shakes and twists. Whatever is doing it is hidden by a small copse of trees designed to provide some privacy. Good news! It worked! And the fence comes down with a crash!

Jennifer Walters has posed:
Jen scowls as Ross explains... or rather fails to explain as the case may be. Her eyes narrow and for the first time she feels a spark of anger. "Do /not/ try to blame this on Bruce," she says. "He was nowhere near your facility at the time."

Bruce Banner has posed:
    For a moment, there's a flare of Banner's nostrils and what seems to be a brief flash of green. His watch beeps twice, and he inhales sharply, then exhales, then inhales again.

    "Sorry. An accident? Do you know who else was---"

    Bruce jerks his head toward the sound of the crash. "Ihrin, you should get somewhere safe. This seems like trouble. Stick with General Ross or the brass. They know how to keep their heads down."

Betty Ross has posed:
    Ross snorts. "Didn't SAY it was Bruce, did I? There's another-" he start to say. when the fence suddenly twists and collapses, turning around. "What in the Sam Hill..."

    There are are a few screams and yells and three...things come bounding through the trees. They look like they might have been some sort of dog...maybe a coyote originally. But now...they're the size of draft horses, with greenish scales running down their backs with long porcupine like quills sparsely running down the back. Their mouths are definitely canine, but with too broad muzzles, filled with curving teeth and long tails with a heavy spiked tip at the end, and long yellowed claws that dig into the turf as they surge forwards, charging for the crowd.

    One leaps, then lands partially on the coffin, shoving down as the wood splinters and shatters, falling into two pieces.

    Empty.

Jennifer Walters has posed:
"What the hell?" Jen shouts, jumping to her feet. "Everybody, get back! Bruce! Try to stay calm and get people safely out." She raises an arm as one of those coyote-manticore type things crash on Betty's casket and shatters it into splinters. She really shouldn't be surprised that it's empty. "Ross! Get out with the rest of them while I take care of these guys. Afterwards you and me are gonna have /words/."

She leaps into action, going after the one that's closest to the civilians, aiming a punch at it's head. "I did /not/ wear the right shoes for this," she mutters.

Bruce Banner has posed:
    "Jen, we've got trouble, we've--" Bruce watches in horror as one of the beasts charges in and toward the coffin. When it splinters and reveals the deception, Bruce grinds his teeth. "Keep it together, Bruce," he tells himself as his watch beeps sinisterly again. He moves to put himself in between Ihrin and the beasts, pushing her toward the evacuating group.

    "Not sure long I can keep Mister Green Jeans back, Jen, but I'll see if we can't get people to cover. He picks up a folding chair, brandishing it in front of him like a lion tamer.

Betty Ross has posed:
    The gamma hound snarls as She-Hulk leaps at him, then lets out a yelp as it takes a fist to the face, a few teeth going flying as it flips end over end to crash into a tree, shattering it as it topples over, the other two going wide as they are drawn to the fleeing funeral goers but are wary of Shulkie, trying to get around her.

    Ross snorts, his eyes narrowing, then slamming a fist into his opposite palm, walking forward as he glances at Bruce. "What, now you don't wanna fight?" he smirks.

    Then he grows, his eyes turning a blazing yellow as his outfits start to shred, his skin turning a crimson red as he bulks up, breaking into a run as he delivers an uppercut to one of the hounds trying to get around Shulkie. "LUCKY I GOT SOME SHIT TO WORK OUT HERE!" Ross...no, the Red Hulk...roars.

Jennifer Walters has posed:
"It's okay, Bruce," Jen calls out to her cousin, "If you can't hold it back just get up here to help out."

She sidesteps a few feet trying to keep herself between the dogs and the unpowered people when, of all people, General Ross turns into a Hulk. A Red Hulk. This she was not expecting. "What the hell!" she shouts, stunned at this turn of events.

She shakes herself out of it when the dog tries to sneak past her and she turns to engage it. She goes in with a choke, trying to get her arms around the things neck to try to knock it out. She's not in the habit of killing things. Not even gamma irradiated dogs.

Bruce Banner has posed:
    The beeping of Banner's watch intensifies steadily, rapidly. With time, it becomes clear it---it seems to be matching his heartrate. Green spills into his retinas and the scientist drops to his knees, his body rapidly gaining mass as fabric rips and tears away from his swelling frame. Finally, the Hulk grabs hold of his suit and rips it from his chest with a roar.

    "HULK SMASH!" the green goliath bellows, launching toward the nearest mutant and slamming a massive fist into the creature.

Betty Ross has posed:
    The gamma hound snarls, squirming powerfully in Jen's grip as it tries to twist around to snap at her, growling loudly as its teeth crack together. Up close, there's something in the ruff around the beast's neck...a thin, high tech collar of some sort, small LEDs blinking on it.

    Red Hulk throws himself full tilt into the hound he's attack, trying to smash it with a foot as it rolls back to its feet and throws itself forward as he delivers a powerful punch to its side, drawing a yelp and a whimper as it slams into the ground again.

    The gamma hound that hit the tree rolls back to its feet, shaking its head as its tail lashes back and forth, before it grunts and makes for where its packmates are under attack still, barking loudly as it charges for Jen's back, then jerks up short as Hulk suddenly looms over it, another pained yelp coming from it as the massive fist slams into it, sending it flying into the air again!

Jennifer Walters has posed:
Jen reaches under the collar to snap it off and stuff it down her blouse for safe keeping. Something to do with pockets and women's clothing. When that's done she lets go and falls into a fighting stance to deliver a couple of punches at the dog's head. While she may not be as strong as the other two Hulks, she makes up for it in technique.

Bruce Banner has posed:
    Technique is not something in the vocabulary of the Hulk. At least, not this Hulk. He engages one of the beasts like a child throwing a tantrum---albeit a child with physical power to rival the strongest on earth.

    "Why dogs after puny Banner?" he grumbles.

Betty Ross has posed:
    The dog jerks back as Jen pummels it, its heavy scales not enough protection to save it from the punches as it jerks back and forth. It yelps, backing up, its attitude changing, its aggression seeming to lower, before it suddenly turns and tries to flee, tail between its legs. Metaphorically speaking, heading back for the breach in the fence.

"Hmph. Terror weapons. Probably after the project personnel..." Ross growls, leaping over to the dog he knocked back, then picking up the tree. "Hey fido, go fetch!" He baseball bat swings the tree, sending the dog flying with a yelping whine, then smashing it down on top of it repeatedly until it stops moving.

Crude, but effective.

    The Hulk's powerful swings might be childish, but they definitely make an impact...literally, as the dog is smashed into the ground by the repeatedly hits, staggering as it rears up, trying to claw at Hulk's face with its long yellow claws.

Jennifer Walters has posed:
"Unless they're after /you/," Jen says to Red Hulk. The turn of the fleeing dog's attitude isn't lost on her, though. She rushes back to the tent where all the little snacky things are, quickly clears off one table, and starts frantically dumping all the food on it. Once she's got enough for a sizable meal, she takes the tablecloth and turns it into an impromptu bindle, and rushes after the dog.

She takes a page out of Hulks playbook and *leaps* into the air with her superior strength and lands a few yards ahead of it. "Woah there, buddy," she calls out to it, trying to keep her voice calm. She spreads her arms to try to keep it from fleeing even more. "Good boy... who's a good boy? You are!" She reaches into the bindle to take a few hours d'ovures (yes I know I spelled that wrong) and toss them right in front of the dog.

Bruce Banner has posed:
    "Hulk not know Red Hulk. Why is Ross also hulk? Only Hulk is Hulk." He glances over at She-Hulk. "...and Jen. Jen is also hulk."

    The beast snaps at him, but the Hulk is undeterred. A claw swipes across his face, drawing green blood, and the Hulk retailiates, slamming the beast down with his heavy mitts and another wordless roar.

Betty Ross has posed:
    The gamma hound pulls up short as Jen jumps in front of it, skidding to a halt as it lets out a whine, backing off as it crouches down, barking in warning, then tilting its head as the food is thrown its way. Its wide nose flares as it sniffs the air, approaching the food warily, then jumping at the roar from the Hulk. But snapping up one of the tidbits greedily a moment later.

    Red Hulk lets out a rough laugh. "Cuz I earned it." he snaps, resting the tree on his shoulder as he stalks towards Hulk, watching but not helping as the hound claws wildly at him, then a gurgling yelp as it's slammed into the ground, a crater smashing around it as it squirms queakly, gasping for air. "Heh. Not where I was before...now I got everything I've learned after years of fighting you, AND everything you got too." He flexes a bicep. "The full package. Hehehehe..."

Jennifer Walters has posed:
"Ross," Jen calls out, even though her main attention is still focused on the dog. "If I find out that this was just a ploy to lure us out here just so you could show off, I'm going to chew you a new one."

"That's it..." she says calmly to the dog, and reaches out for another snack, tossing it on the ground a little bit closer to her. "You're not so mean after all, aren't you," she says in the tone of voice that people get when they're talking to an adorable puppy. "Somebody just made you mean."

Bruce Banner has posed:
The green Hulk snorts at Ross's response. Hulk lets go of the thing after slamming it before brushing his face with the back of his hand. The slash has already closed up again, new skin growing to fill in the cut. The Green Goliath stares at Red Hulk, his breaths heavy still from the excitement. The rage is almost visible.

    "Does Ross know dogs? Who sent dogs?"

Betty Ross has posed:
    "Oh, don't make me BLUSH, now..." Ross says with a shit-eating grin. Apparently his gamma given powers include super obnoxiousness as Red Hulk.

    And from the look he's giving the Hulk, he's half hoping Big Green is going to throw down with him, baring his teeth right back at him. "They're experimental animals." he rumbles out. "Got nothin' to do with me anymore." His brow furrows, as he glances at the unconscious dog in the crater. "...kinda more focused than we ever got 'em to be." he admits after a moment.

    The gamma hound by Jen seems a bit unnerved by the sounds of its packmates getting the green smacked out of them, but also snaps at the snack, making it disappear again down its toothy maw. It seems a little wary of Jen still, its ears perking up, but it isn't growling anymore. This may be because she is giving it food at the moment, but still. Not trying to eat her instead or shying away completely at her approach.

Jennifer Walters has posed:
Jen is one of those people who has a firm belief that there is no such thing as bad dogs, only bad owners. Lord only knows what they did to this poor guy to make him like this. She peeks around back. Girl. She pulls some more treats from the bindle and holds it out to the dog, encouraging it to come and take it out of her hand. "C'mere," she says gently, "I'm sorry for hitting you like that. Do you forgive me?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
    Hulk snorts, but he does not pick a fight (yet). "Dogs not Ross's dogs...then whose dogs? Hulk not like these dogs." He paces around, not pushing further. It's a very stompy sort of pacing. "Betty. Where is Betty?" He finally asks. Apparently Bruce did not relay some messages to the big guy.

    Or perhaps the Hulk's insight is more keen than some might think.

Betty Ross has posed:
    The hound growls just a bit at the reminder of being smacked, but then grunts and slowly approaches, before snapping at the food Jen is holding.

    And her hand, which also disappears inside her mouth!

    But it doesn't bite down, just removes the treat, though now Jen has gamma hound drool on her hand. Though her tail flicks back and forth tentatively too.

    Ross hmmphs, then tosses away the splintered tree he's holding, letting it crash to the ground behind him. "Bah." He scowls at the dog, then back at the Hulk, before raising a hand, pointing at him. "I don't like you, monster. But, just this once...I'm real good with you smashing the hell out of the one behind this shit." He walks over to the dog, toeing it as he reaches down to pick up the shattered pieces of another collar. "His name is Sterns. Samuel Sterns."

    He pauses, looking back towards the coffin, a flicker of grief across his face. "And he killed Betty."