The Incredible Hulk: Last night, I saved a DJ’s Life
Chapter 1: Waking up in Hackettstown

-Oo-

Doctor David Banner, physician, scientist, was searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have, when an accidental overdose of gamma radiation alters his body chemistry. And now, when David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs. The creature is driven by rage and pursued by an investigative reporter.

"Mister McGee, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

The Creature is wanted for a murder he didn't commit. David Banner is believed to be dead, and he must let the world think that he is dead, until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him...

-Oo-

David’s breath came back to him in labored gasps, his head was pounding wildly. He opened his eyes to darkness and the scent of grass and gravel. He had no idea how long he was laying here. The last thing he remembered was the truck. “Oh my God! The driver…” He forced himself to sit up and tugged at his hair. The trucker was coming into New York State from Missouri and was kind enough to give him a lift. David’s keen medical instincts took over when he noticed the heavy man was sweating profusely and his skin tone was pallid. It was a heart attack if he had ever seen one. He begged him to pull over, but it was too late, the trucker clutched his chest and slumped over the wheel, all his weight on the gas pedal. David tried to CB for help and the truck was swerving all over the highway, ready to topple over the rail. That was when it happened, the creature’s instincts took over, suppressing David’s psyche. David closed his eyes again and rubbed his arms. It was chilly out here and as always; his clothing was in tatters.

“Hey! Don’t try and move, man, you still look out of it. That must have been some trip you were on.” A deep, masculine voice spoke.

David didn’t realize he had an audience and his eyes flew open again. A young man was crouched beside him in denims and a hooded gray sweatshirt. He had a strong hand placed on his shoulder to keep him relaxed. David adjusted his vision and stared into his intense, blue eyes. He was a very handsome, square jawed fellow with a dirty blonde, shag haircut and a short, horseshoe mustache. He couldn’t have been much older than twenty-two.

“I’m glad you woke up! I wasn’t sure what to do, but when I saw ya move, I knew you were alive. Here, take this.”

The man selflessly removed his jacket and put it over David’s shoulders. David was finally able to speak with gratefulness as he put it on.

“Thanks…thanks…it…it wasn’t a trip, no drugs…I…I was in an accident! I was in a truck and the driver…I have to find him!”

The young man helped David to his feet, but didn’t let him walk away. “Hey, there’s no truck accident around here. You must have been wandering pretty far. Look, I work in that building over there. Why don’t you come inside, grab a cup of Joe and calm your nerves.”

David complied and followed the young man off the side of the road. The building he had pointed out looked like a one floor house with large, white satellites out front. It was a radio station.

“Russ is gonna have my hide if I don’t get on the air soon. I’m the only one here and I begged these guys to let me have authorization for a late night broadcast…even if it only goes ten miles…” He smiled sheepishly.

David followed him inside the studio and into a back room furnished with a couch, refrigerator and small stove.

“This is our lounge of sorts, make yourself comfortable and wash up, the bathroom’s to the left. I have to get on the air in five minutes.”

“Wait…what’s your name, son?”

“Eric Jonas Kierstead. Friends call me EJ, which I don't like. I call myself ‘Jumpin’ Jack’ on the air, but you can just call me Eric.”

David finally felt all his senses returning. After every transformation he regained his strength plentifully. That was one thing he appreciated about the creature inside him. It made David, the man, have renewed energy and any illnesses or wounds would disappear. He shook his hand firmly.

“I really appreciate this, Eric. My name is David…David Barnes.”

“Great to meet ya, David. Just relax and if you’re hungry there’s some leftover Popeye’s in the fridge with some cokes. No beer allowed, sorry. Oh…” Eric strode to a small closet and pulled out a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, then knelt down and rummaged for a pair of sneakers. “I keep these here for emergencies and stuff. It should fit okay. I’m taller, but the waist shouldn’t be a problem. Aha! Here they are, sorry, they're very worn in." He passed David a pair of scuffed red and white Nikes. "If they're too big just double up on the socks.”

David was touched by his kindness. “Hey Eric, thank you very much. That’s quite alright about the beer, I don’t really drink anyway. Now, you better hurry and get on the air!”

-Oo-

David was content after scrubbing his face and getting a little food in his empty stomach. He wandered around the studio, admiring the posters and pictures from his youth. Elvis Presley, always his favorite, Buddy Holly, The Platters, Dion and Belmonts, the Supremes, and many other oldies singing sensations dotted the walls. A framed photograph of the DJs confirmed the studio’s opening as August 26th 1976; it was only four years old. He saw the red light blink from Eric’s tiny booth and approached the glass, listening in. The young man had an amazing speaking voice and it boomed with vitality and humor. He was rambling on about snarled highways from here to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, due to an overturned truck containing barrels of syrup. However, the irate drivers in P.A. decided to forgo their anger with a massive four am breakfast of sausages and flapjacks provided by the Amish. David stifled his laughter; Eric was just completely off the board with ads from phony sponsors such as ‘Tip Toe Tom’s box stepping school of dance’ and ‘Redrum’s hatchet factory.’

The green light finally lit up and Eric effortlessly segued into some classic R&B tunes, starting with the Four Tops’ hit, ‘Baby, I need your loving.’ He spun around in his chair and David clapped, entering the booth and leaning on the small table in the corner.

“Eric, that was amazing! What are you doing cooped up in here? With talent like this you should be out there on the big stations in New York or California.”

Eric gave him a wide grin and set up the record player for continuous airplay of three more songs.

“Hey I don’t mind being here, but I do have plans, David. I’ll most likely head out to New York first...I wanna act, I wanna be on Broadway...musical comedies seem fun.”

"That's terrific! You have the right stuff for it." David suddenly realized he didn’t know where here, was. “That reminds me, Eric, where am I, exactly?”

“You’re in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Route forty six. This is the home of Bette Cooper, Miss America, nineteen thirty seven!” He said wryly. “It’s really a charming place to be, has lots of creepy looking Victorian homes. One day I'll have to show you the house that's always on fire but never burns down.” He joked, whistling the twilight zone theme.

“Ahhh, I see…and, do you work here every night?”

“No, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, one to six in the morning. I have another two hours to kill and then I’m making a dash to Stumpy’s Diner for some steak and eggs. You’re welcome to join me, my treat.”

David did not want to impose on Eric’s kindnesses any further. “No…I couldn’t do that…”

“Why not? C’mon, you have something better to do?”

“Well…not really…I guess I can join you for a coffee.”

“Now you’re talkin,’ David. I don’t take ‘No’ for an answer too easily. Say, you said you were on a truck that crashed? I was checking the police blotters and came up with this.”

Eric reached over for a slip of paper with his hastily scribbled notes and handed it to David. “There was a truck that crashed up on Route fifty-seven. It went over the railing and exploded! The driver was found laying off the highway in critical condition but they managed to get him to a hospital in time. The poor guy had a heart attack. David, how did you get out of that? I mean, how did you get so far, so fast?”

“I wish I could tell you Eric, but It’s all pretty hazy, I remember the trucker was going into cardiac arrest and he keeled over, the last thing that was clear to me was…”

The creature flashed through his mind, and he remembered throwing the big man over his shoulders with no effort. He must have brought him to safety and just ran from the scene.

“I…I pulled him out and then I left…”

“Pulled him out? The man was close to four hundred pounds!”

David shrugged. “You’d be surprised at the effects adrenaline can have on your system. Take yourself for instance. You’re very fit and muscular. If it was you in the situation, being twenty years younger, you could have gotten him out even quicker.”

“I guess so, I never really been tested like that…say, you talk like you’re a doctor or something.”

“Well…I…am…was…I mean…”

Eric waved him off. “I understand David, you don’t have to start telling me your life story if you don’t wanna. All I know is, you’re some kind of hero, and that deserves a breakfast!”

Eric flipped his microphone back on before David could protest. “Welcome back to WHEX, you’re listening to Jumpin’ Jack spinning your Yummy 45’s until the morning light. I’m gonna open the request lines again for all you rabid fans out there…” He leaned in and turned on the boards. “I wanna see lights! I want…Oh…here we go! Thanks for calling WHEX, what be your request?”

A sweet female voice came on the air. “Hi Jumpin’ Jack…I would…”

Eric cut her off immediately. “I know ya voice hon! You call me a lot, it’s so nice to hear ya on these cold and lonely nights, but I never did get your name.”

“It’s Rebecca…you can call me Becky.”

“Well Becky, can I just say you have a lovely voice, it’s like music to my ears.”

David knew if he could see the girl, she would have been blushing.

“That’s…that’s so nice of you to say…” She murmured.

“Don’t mention it… I hear some commotion going on back there, are you at work or somethin’?”

“Yes, I’m at work.”

“And where’s that, hon? If you don’t mind of course?”

“I work at…Stumpy’s…you know the twenty four diner off Route forty six?”

“Do I ever!” Eric exclaimed. “I was just heading over there after my shift for some of those famous steak and eggs! When I get there, I’ll be sure to ask for you…hello…hello…Rebecca?”

It sounded as if she dropped the phone, but she immediately answered, flustered.

“Yes, I’m still here! Oh, that would be great! You know, I do see you all the time…I’ve even been your waitress…you just…don’t know me.”

“Now I do! I’m gonna ask for you by name. So tell me, what’s your pleasure?”

“Umm…excuse me?”

“Song! I mean, what’s your song?”

“Do you have, ‘I only have eyes for you’ by the Flamingos?”

Eric was already shuffling through the records and set it up. “I sure do, anyone special I can dedicate this to…”

There was a long pause and then she answered tenderly. “I want to play it for someone I love from afar, every time I see him, my eyes overflow and I…I want to love every trace of his existence.”

Eric sat back with a bemused grin, trying to remember her and an image quickly came to mind. She was a little thing with ivory skin and an adorable, heart shaped face. She had pleasingly full lips and a warm smile for him every time he showed up. Why didn't he put the two together? He always felt warm and content around her, and it wasn't the coffee refills.

“It sounds like true love to me. Those are beautiful sentiments. Whoever this man is, he better look your way soon, or he may miss the best thing that could ever happen to him.” With that, Eric let the needle drop and the tender melody began to play. ‘My love must be a kind of blind love, I can’t see anyone but you…’

David found himself sighing inside, thinking of his second wife, Caroline. Lovely Caroline, who, although dying from a brain tumor, valiantly tried and succeeded in helping him sooth the raging beast inside him. He must have been in a wistful state for a few minutes because he soon heard Eric calling him.

“Earth to David! Drop the antennas! You okay buddy? You looked a little out of it?”

“Oh...oh sorry, just…thinking. If you don’t mind, I’m going to take a nap on that comfortable looking sofa in the lounge.”

“Be my guest, I’ll wake you up as soon as I’m ready to go.”

-Oo-

Rebecca Wagner refilled the sugar bowls and salt and pepper shakers, and then put more napkins on each table. She was watching the entrance carefully. She patted down her wavy ponytail for the fifth time and tried to smooth out the wrinkles in her pink waitressing dress. Why did she open her big mouth and announce on the air where she worked? She knew Eric ‘Jumpin’ Jack' Kierstead was going to be seeking her out now. She glanced into a mirror over the table with a frown. Her usually cheery, blue-green eyes looked tired. She dug into her dress pocket and quickly applied a bit of pink lipstick and pulled at her eyelids to wake them up. Linda, a middle aged waitress with curly red hair and long red nails brushed by her with a steaming plate of French toast.

“Let’s go doll face, this isn’t a pageant. I’m sure Prince Charming will be on his way any minute. We still have other customers.”

Rebecca rolled her eyes when she passed. Linda was always poking fun at her or trying to belittle her in some way. Another waitress, Missy, often said that Linda was just a washed up beauty queen jealous of her youth and beauty. Rebecca didn’t think she was beautiful, at least not like the women on television or in the movies, but she tried to keep herself looking stylish. She thought of Eric. With his looks he would surely want someone just as gorgeous for a relationship. A vehicle pulled up to the lot and she peeked through the blinds. Her heart leaped in her throat, it was not the familiar worn, brown pinto Eric drove, but a black and white muscle car with a slew of rough men inside. They stumbled out and pounced into the diner, four of them in all, with scowls and black leather jackets.

“We’re lookin’ for the DJ! Is he here yet?” The leader demanded.

Eddie, ‘Stumpy’ Wilson came out from the kitchen, rubbing his hands on his apron. He approached the men without fear, ready to take them on, one and all.

“He ain’t here right now, whaddya want? Ya want some breakfast, then have a seat.”

The men sauntered inside like they owned the place and took the largest booth. However the leader caught sight of Rebecca and grabbed her arm, dragging her to their table.

“Yeah! I want breakfast, and I want this chick to wait on us.”

Rebecca shoved him off. “Get your hands off me! I’ll wait on you when I’m ready.”

She stepped back but he pulled her toward him, almost groping her. “Ain’t she a feisty little trollop?” His buddies started laughing furiously.

Eddie pulled out a baseball bat from behind his counter and waved it near his head.

“I don’t want trouble in my diner! Get away from her and just leave, Mario!”

Mario Maltese paid him no mind, keeping a tight grip on Rebecca. “I ain’t leavin’ here until I see the DJ and get my money!” He shouted.

“I don’t care about your vile business practices. You want your money, go find him somewhere else and take it outside! This is a clean establishment!”

Eddie didn’t want to swing and risk hitting Rebecca. The rest of Mario’s group slid out from their booth and at his urging and started smashing the ketchup bottles and throwing the napkin holders to the floor.

“That’s right! We’re gonna keep it up until he shows his prettyboy face!”

Eddie shouted for his cook, Danny, to call the police but two of the gang yanked him from out of the kitchen. They held his arms behind his back and were about to put him face down on the searing grill.

“STOP! DON’T DO THAT!” Eddie pleaded. The rest of the customers and the staff backed away into the corner. There was no way out, except past the gang.

Mario ordered them to pull Danny away from the grill, but they kept him down on the counter. Danny was elderly and put up no resistance. Rebecca prayed Eric didn’t show up. She had no idea what these men wanted, but she couldn’t bear to see him hurt. She started to kick at Mario furiously and bit his arm. Mario gritted his teeth in rage and slapped her to the floor. Eddie sprinted over and helped her up. She held her lip with tears.

“Just get out of here you jerks! We didn’t do anything to you!”

Mario leaped up and wrenched the bat from Eddie, pushing him into Rebecca, roughly. They both fell into the red diner stools. He smashed the cash register until the drawer sprung open.

“I said, I ain’t leavin’ until he gets here, and if he doesn’t, we’ll take the money out of you!”