tyler_gone | Helicopter over Maryland, Thursday (Reply)

General Ross	"--What do you mean he's popped up on the grid?" General Ross gritted his teeth, looking over at the still sedated man across from him on the helicopter. They couldn't risk him changing, but questioning needed to be done, so the doses had been lowered. Just a bit.
Tyler	Tyler came to a kind of dull awareness slowly while the chopper was in midair, waking with a start and going to stand before he realized his arms were held in cuffs. Marla? was his first drowsy thought before his eyes focused on the general. You got the wrong guy, he tried to say again. Except it came out more like "Goddawon guy."
General Ross	Ross' gaze went back to the man--Banner-- for a moment before he focused back on the voice on the other end of the radio. "Send Blonksy and a team in to get him then." That finished his attention was on the Banner impostor or, well he wasn't sure. "You're not going anywhere."
Tyler	Tyler was handcuffed and sitting on the floor of a helicopter. His head felt like it was splitting open from the effects of the tranquilizers, and, for bonus fun, there were soldiers aiming guns at him. He gave the general the most level look he could manage. "No shit." Somehow, that came through clearly.
General Ross	That... Didn't sound like the Dr. Bruce Banner he knew. Nevermind that. "I don't know how you managed to trick SHIELD systems with that e-mail, but you're not getting away, Banner."
Tyler	The look Tyler gave him would have clearly asked what kind of drugs he was on, but it was spoiled by his still-droopy eyelids. "Not Banner," he said, trying to enunciate. "Dunno wha' else you wanna hear."
General Ross	"Do you really expect me to believe that someone who just happens to know Tony Stark after he pulled that stunt with his military contracts just happens to look like a fugitive from the government? Our mistake, we'll let you go as soon as we land." Ross asked, sarcasm dripping from every word.
Tyler	Tyler swallowed a mouthful of drool, and suddenly his speech got a little clearer. "Believe it, don't believe it, I'm still not this Banner guy. Island's known for doubles. Any numbnuts who's there an hour can tell you that much."
General Ross	Ross closed his eyes, very comfortable with potentially kidnapping an innocent man. Because, well, he couldn't be innocent with that face. "Doubles don't just happen, Banner. You're the biologist. You should know that."
Tyler	"Biologist?" Tyler's eyebrows were shooting way, way up. "No, no, no. No. Chemist on a good day." A beat. "Did your goons consider looking at my ID before cuffing me?"
General Ross	"IDs can be faked." That explained everything. At least, it did when dealing with a man who managed to cross borders for three years without being caught. "This isn't a game, Banner. We're going to cut you open and find out why you're the way you are. You're not getting away again."
Tyler	Tyler started to give an annoyed answer. "I know IDs can be faked, but -" Then the rest of what the general said hit him, and he froze. This was so not good. "I guarantee you, you wouldn't find anything weird if you cut me open. Which you aren't going to do."
General Ross	"Oh? And why is that?"
Other Tyler	Something was flickering through Tyler's eyes now, a darker presence taking hold. "Because I don't intend to fucking let you." And that should be the end of that.
General Ross	Ross gave him a look to show just how afraid he wasn't. "We've got you on enough tranquilizers that any changes will be impossible."
Other Tyler	"You think he's not immune to tranqs by now?" Tyler asked. "They keep shooting us up with that shit. Makes him dopey, but I'm still here and I am nobody's lab rat." Which he demonstrated by trying, rather violently, to wriggle out of his bonds.
General Ross	"I don't know what game you're playing at, Banner, but it's not going to work." Tell that to the soldiers who got very jumpy at the sudden movement. It took a stern look from the General before they trained the guns back on him.
Other Tyler	Tyler totally ignored the general and turned his attention on the soldiers. "Gentlemen, when we land, you are going to uncuff me and you are going to give me a running start. And then you are going to aim your nice pretty guns at the general and see how he likes it. Because you know I am not Banner." His tone left no doubt he expected his orders to be followed.
General Ross	"This isn't a game, Banner. This is a matter of national security," Ross said, shaking his head. "They saw what you did on that college campus. You're not going anywhere." His radio crackled to life, a muted voice on the other end informing him of something. "Take him down and we'll sort it out on base. Keep the other two for questioning."
Other Tyler	His appeals to the soldiers went ignored, and Tyler stopped in his struggles after giving them one final glare. Stupid lack of minions. "You'll sort it out and see you have the wrong guy," Tyler claimed. "God, I knew the military was incompetent but I never thought it was this bad. Thanks for destroying any shred of patriotism I had."
General Ross	"Don't you dare say anything to me about patriotism," Ross said, deadly quiet as he leaned forward. "I'm going to make sure you and your little monster don't hurt anyone ever again." And make it into something that could be controlled, but the other reason helped you sleep at night. "We'll be getting to New York soon enough to pick up whoever you have impersonating you. You'll both go to the lab."
Other Tyler	Tyler started to laugh. It wasn't a pleasant sound. "Don't you get it, man?," he asked, impatient. "I am the monster. And I'm as curious as you are to see the double. Handsome guy, I'm sure."
General Ross	Ross sat back, not going to listen to this crap anymore. Banner, it seemed, had only become more unhinged on the run. "Don't take your guns off him."