Warbound, Part 3

A military patrol led by Major Desantis races to the dome that is surrounding the area now called Gammaworld. Along the way, he is followed by a news team looking for answers. He insists that the Hulk's Warbound are responsible, despite eyewitness reports that they are actually helping residents escape from the dome.

Meanwhile, inside the dome, the Leader introduces the gamma-spawned amalgamation called Horde to the Warbound. As most of the Warbound fight the creature, Hiroim continues to use his Old Power to open a tunnel through the gamma dome so that the residents of Stoneridge can escape. However, he becomes concerned for his comrades when Korg is injured in battle. Kate Waynesboro tells him to keep focusing on the tunnel. The Leader then mocks him, trying to encourage him to drop the portal and save his friends, break his oath before teleporting away. Hiroim struggles with the situation but is able to briefly turn his Old Power onto the creature knocking it away. He then resumes using his power to keep the portal open. As the last of the citizens and soldiers make their way out of the dome, Hiroim tells his comrades to get out while they can because he won't be able to open a way out again. Regardless of this, the Warbound refuse to leave their comrade behind. Suddenly, the arriving soldiers on the other side of the dome begin to open fire on the Warbound. This causes the tunnel through the dome to suddenly collapse and Hiroim's Old Power flare out of control, sending out a gamma burst that incinerates the soldiers. Hiroim finds himself launched into the air and crashing just outside of town. While not far away, the Leader gloats as the Old Power continues to feed and strengthen the dome.

As Hiroim recovers, Kate is able to track the location of the Leader's base. Hiroim tells the others that he cannot control the flow of the Old Power anymore. Using the energy to reform his severed arm, Hiroim tells them that the power bost allows him to feel every living thing in the area of the dome and warns them that there are more humans trapped in Gammaworld. When Waynesboro tells them that they have a little over an hour before long term genetic damage done by the dome was irreversible. With time being of the essence, Hiroim tells the others that he can destroy the Leader's machine. The Warbound then rush off to distract the Leader and buy Hiroim some time. However, before he begins, Kate pulls him aside and calls him a hero for the thousands of people he already saved. Soon, the others are off, leaving Korg behind so his stone body can help augment Hiroim's Old Power. As they race to the scene, Kate contacts the Leader and reveals that she has scanned his body and knows that he is dying, and that the gamma radiation he is using to try and cure himself is actually making his condition worse. When the gamma-spawned genius tries to blast them with a massive cannon, a SHIELD virus implanted by Kate causes it to explode in his hands instead.

Not far away, Hiroim reveals to Korg that there is no machinery underground and that the dome is being fueled by the Old Power. The only way to take it down is for Hiroim to die, something only Korg has the strength to do. Korg refuses to do this, but Hiroim reminds Korg that they are Warbound and sworn to an oath to help him with this task.

Recurring Characters

Warbound (Korg, Elloe Kaifi, No-Name of Brood, Hiroim), Kate Waynesboro, Leader, Horde

Tales of the Warbound Part 3

Kate Waynesboro continues her interrogation of Miek at the Negative Zone prison to learn what she can about the Hulk's Warbound. She turns her attention to Korg, who she believes has been observed to show mercy at times. Miek laughs at this, saying that Korg was once part of a Kronan invasion fleet that failed to conquer the Earth years ago. He tells her what happened when Korg's ship crash-landed on planet Sakaar.

Unaware that his crewmates also survived the crashed, Korg fled the wreck, chased by the Red King's Imperial soldiers. As he fled into the mountains he questioned what he would do next. That was until he crossed paths with a Sakaaran woman about to be raped by soldiers. Korg saved the woman who returned to her village and told the people there that she was saved by the mountain god. However, the tribal elder doesn't believe the story and fearing repercussions tells the woman's brother Arkis to petition the government with an explanation. Before leaving, Arkis and his sister pray to the "mountain god". Arkis asks the "god" to promise to keep his sister safe no matter what. These prayers are heard by Korg, who was hiding in a nearby forest. As the seasons passed, Korg lived up to this promise, helping Arkis' sister and her people from all manner of dangers.

However, soon the Imperial soldiers arrive accusing the people of being traitors. Expecting a slaughter, the soldiers were caught completely off guard by the arrival of Korg. The Kronan managed to slay all the soldiers. Much to his surprise, one of the soldiers was Arkis, who had been forced to join the army with an Obedience Disk. Barely alive, Arkis was happy to see that his god lived up to his promise, even though his sister was heartbroken to see him dead.

Finishing his tale, Miek tells Kate that Korg will always keep a promise, but this is not much of a comfort if you've met any of his friends.

Recurring Characters

Korg, Kate Waynesboro, Miek

Continuity Notes

• Miek mentions Korg's failed attempt to invade Earth, that happened in Journey into Mystery #83.