Issue #19: "The Date"
The following is a complete work of fiction. Though the situations may have been inspired by real life, the events portrayed have never occurred, either in world history or in the author's past, in any way, shape, or form. Any resemblance to real people alive or dead is purely coincidental. Thank you. Enjoy the story.
A pair of hands is busily digging through a box, throwing small pieces of jewelry out of it. A voice is heard attached to the hands.

"Do, do, do, do ..."

A long shot reveals who this person is digging through a jewelry box: it's Sonic Boom in street clothes. She's dressed up in a pleated blouse and a pair of slacks. Suddenly, Bulk appears in the doorway, in casual attire.

"What's up, Meredith?"

Seeing him in the mirror, Sonic Boom turns around to face him.

"Don't you rebeber, Gary? Tonight is by dade wid Chack."

Bulk's expression enlightens. "Oh, yeah, I remember now. I was just wondering what I'm going to be doing tonight."

"You'be god blanz, doo. You're taging Ghalida oud subwhere."

Bulk's eyebrows lift. "I am?"

Sonic Boom coyly smiles at him. "Yub. Show her a good dibe, jusd brig her bagk by 11."

"Cool." Bulk smiles, turning to leave the room.

Later, a car pulls up by the apartment building Sonic Boom lives in. A buzzer goes off, one which Bulk answers.

"Who is it?"

"Is Meredith ready?"

"Sure, come on up."

Momentarily, a knock on the door brings Bulk over to answer it. In the room walks Ramm, with Tigress with him.

"It's nice that you decided to take Khalida out somewhere, Gary."

"No problem, Mr. Porter." Tigress walks over to Bulk, immediately hopping up on his shoulders. Although she seems to be too large for him to hold, Bulk quickly utilizes his power, increasing his body mass enough to allow her to lie comfortably on his shoulders. Unfortunately, his head hits the ceiling as well.

Meredith walks in. Ramm comes over to her quickly, taking her in his arms.

"You look gorgeous, Mere."

Meredith signs, "You're not so bad yourself."

Jack chuckles, turning to Bulk and Tigress. "We should be back here by about midnight. Just be back here by eleven, okay?"

"We can handle that, sir."

Jack nods. Turning to Meredith, he motions, saying, "well, shall we?"

Meredith smiles as they walk out the door, closing it behind them. This leaves Bulk and Tigress alone. Bulk slowly decreases his body mass until he's able to take Khalida off of his shoulders and lay her on the couch. She sits up (in her animal-like way) and looks up at Gary.

"Well? What would you like to do tonight?"

Khalida shrugs. (Her knowledge of English has increased dramatically since her last appearance) "I don't care. Anything you want."

Bulk sits down next to Tigress, deep in thought. Finally, an idea hits him.

"There's a movie playing nearby I've been dying to see. I'll take you there." Pulling out his wallet, Bulk opens it, flipping through the bills it contains, satisfied that he has enough money.

Tigress smiles. "That's fine."

Bulk opens the door in front of Tigress, allowing her to leave ahead of him. After locking the door, Gary starts growing, until he's big enough for Tigress to rest on his shoulders. She jumps up on him, and they walk out of the building.

In the darkened theater, Bulk and Tigress are seated near the back, so that Bulk's size won't bother anyone. Tigress is cuddled close to Bulk, but still sitting like a tiger. The movie they're watching is a science fiction film.

Bulk turns toward Tigress.

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

Tigress nods. Their coversation, however, is interrupted by something tearing a hole in the screen. When the lights suddenly go up, a pair of criminals is revealed, and the screen tearer is a large musclebound man with molding hands and feet: it's Demolition.(Ed. Note: For more on Demolition, see Issue #9.)

"Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt. We're just shutting down this theater. Show's over!"

Suddenly, Demolition looks up toward the back and sees Bulk and Tigress.

"Hey, you two! Get over here now!"

Hearing this, Bulk and Tigress run to the exit, shutting the door behind them. Bulk grows as he leans against the door. Just as he hits the size he wants, small arms fire is heard pounding against the door. Bulk feels the shots, but isn't seriously hurt by them.

"Great, just great! I finally get to take you out and this happens!"

Tigress puts one of her cat ears against the door. "I don't hear anything now."

"Not for long, you won't. If I recall Demolition's M.O., he likes to play with his hostages before he goes to work."

A scream is heard inside the theater.

"Aww, man, we've gotta do something!"

"Can't we call the rest of the team?"

"Can't. This is the team's day off, and they scattered. The Flea went up to the U.P., Cutup and Paragon are in Canada, we know where Sonic Boom and Ramm are, and C.aT. is fixing the DPD mainframe tonight."

Tigress becomes worried.

"I know you're scared, Khalida. I am too. We're not exactly the big guns here, girl."

Tigress clutches to Bulk in fear.

In an elegant restaurant near the Fox theater district, Meredith and Jack are enjoying a candlelit dinner, accompanied by violin music.

"You sure went all out, Jack." Meredith signs.

"Thank you, Mere." Jack signs back. "You deserve a candlelit dinner once in a while."

Meredith and Jack clutch hands. Meredith's expression suddenly becomes far off.

"What's wrong?"

"I was thinking about Gary and Khalida. Wondering how they're enjoying themselves."

"They probably went to a movie. Don't worry, Mere, you live in one of the safest districts of Detroit, and I don't think anyone's going to challenge a 20 foot purple kid and a human tiger, do you?"

Meredith smiles. "I suppose not."

A wall has a hole punched through it by a hammer. Seeing this, Bulk knows it's not an actual hammer, but one of Demolition's "hands."

"We've gotta do something right quick."

"What?" pines Tigress.

"I'm thinking." Suddenly Bulk's face lights up. "Waitaminit! I think I've got it."

Inside the theater, Demolition is now terrorizing a young woman up on the screen stage. He's formed his left hand into a long post with a hook attached to it.

"You're sexy, baby. I've got all this power. Doesn't that make you in the least attracted to me?"

The woman is so scared, she would probably say she was in love with Mr. Potato Head. Her knees start to shake.

"Let's take some of this restrictive clothing off, here. You're about to faint!"

Forming his right hand into a sledgehammer, Demolition swings it into the screen, smashing a wall behind it. At the same time, he unbuttons three buttons on the woman's blouse with the post.

"HEY! BUTTHEAD!"

Demolition is distracted by a voice coming from the back of the theater. He can't see anyone there.

"YEAH, I'M TALKING TO YOU, PUSBRAIN!" A closer examination shows it's Bulk, yelling into the back exit of the theater.

"You can't say that! I'll destroy you!"

"FAT CHANCE OF THAT EVER HAPPENING! YOU COULDN'T PUNCH YOUR WAY OUT OF A PAPER BAG FILLED WITH DOG CRAP IN THE LATE AFTERNOON!"

Demolition is becoming steamed. "You two," he barks at his men. "Find him and kill him."

The gunmen start hunting the aisles for the mysterious speaker. Just as Demolition turns to see where they go, a set of eight slashes start to appear in the screen. As they widen, they create a large enough hole for the person causing the slashes to crawl through: it's Tigress. Demolition turns to face her.

"Is this the best you can do against me? A child?"

Tigress roars savagely, leaping into the air and jumping on Demolition, baring her claws fully: they're at least six inches long. Demolition was unprepared for the attack, and collapses under the tackle. His hands start to liquefy, but regain their shape, and soon form into fists. He plows one into Tigress, who rolls with the punch. Regaining her three-point stance, she hisses and snarls at Demolition.

"You merely caught me unprepared. This time you won't be as lucky!"

While Demolition is giving the following discourse, the two gunmen look up from the same aisle and see Bulk. He gives them a "shhh" sign, and they nod, running silently in fear from the theater.

"It was unlucky for you that you were here. This theater owes money to my boss, Miss Maroone. It's gonna pay up, one way or the other. I'd rather take it out as a pound of flesh!"

Bulk sneaks up behind Demolition, raising his fist. Tigress smiles.

"What are you smiling at, child? You haven't won yet!"

A shadow appears over Demolition. In a low, frightened voice, he mutters, "... then again ..."

Bulk drops his fist down on Demolition's head. Demolition is rendered out like a light. At once, the theater crowd is around Bulk and Tigress, wishing to show their gratitude. Tigress jumps up to give a bear hug to Bulk.

Later that night, Bulk and Tigress are sitting on the sofa in Sonic Boom's apartment, when the door opens. Meredith and Jack walk in.

"So, what'd you two do tonight?" asks Ramm.

"Oh, not much. Just went to a movie."

Tigress giggles. Ramm seems confused, but shrugs it off. "Well, let's get ready to go, Khalida. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow, and I've got to be at the 7th Precinct early."

Tigress nods. Bulk walks with her to the door. As they exit, Jack turns to Meredith.

"See, what did I tell you, Mere? Nothing to worry about!"

Meredith comes closer to Jack, until she's in his arms.

"Ohh, shud ub and giss be."

Jack gladly obliges, planting a big kiss on Meredith.

Outside the apartment, Bulk and Tigress are conferring.

"I hope that little attack tonight didn't spoil your evening, Khalida."

Khalida raises her eyebrows. "On the contrary, Gary, I enjoyed myself a lot."

Gary smiles. "Well I guess Jack wants to take you back home for the night. I suppose this is good night."

Khalida smiles, dipping her head, shuffling her right foot back and forth. Gary bends down so that he's eye to eye with Khalida.

"G'night, Khalida."

"Good night, Gary."

Holding her chin in his hand, Gary kisses Khalida. And all is well.

FIN
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