Bruce Banner was a scientist and researcher. He loved to learn new things, solve mysteries, and find the answers to difficult questions. When he was still studying for his degrees, he had dreams of what he would do in the future.
All the things he had wanted to do, how he would have made the world a better place, left his mark on history as one of the greatest minds of all time.
Yet, that hadn't happened, and it likely never would.
He would still do his best, try and make the world a better place. he was however very unlikely to be remembered for it.
Joining up with the military had been a mistake. Firstly, they clearly hadn't respected men of science like himself. While they had plenty of resources to go around, and the lap he had worked on had been top-of-the-line, he had been rushed.
Worse yet, they had lied to him, giving him false information, intercepting the data from his tests, and making changes to it. They had hidden what he was truly working on and still expected him to somehow make it all work.
It was a miracle that he hadn't blown something up with the way they had him work.
He still thought that testing the finished product on himself had been a mistake, it had been far too risky. But he had been young, confidant, and downright arrogant.
And so, the Hulk was born.
After that he feared that he would never be able to engage in what he loved. Forever forced to run and hide.
Yet the Foundation had given him a way out, a new life, and more mysteries to solve than he could ever have hoped for.
Already in the first year, he had learned about many unbelievable SCP objects; he had gone from running from the military to running away from the literal end of the world!
Luckily, it was another world and not this one. But still, the fact that he could even go to other worlds was amazing.
He had come a long way indeed. Far from being scared of the military, whatever it was due to the sheer power of the Hulk or merely the power he could leverage as a valued member of the Foundation.
Yet, today, he wasn't sitting in his lap, nor was he spending time learning about fascinating SCP objects from Lena. No, instead, he was sitting in a very uncomfortable seat on an even more uncomfortable jet.
He was traveling at speeds he didn't think was possible, not without special training at least.
Going at speeds over Mach 5 should have been downright dangerous, yet here he was, doing just that. He had to admit, he was really curious as to how they were dealing with the G-force. For while he did feel some, it was a far cry from what he should have felt.
He would have loved to ask questions, but this whole thing had very much been rushed.
He had been working in his lap, looking over the code for the SCP-4885 containment protocol. He was still no closer to figuring out how to kill this dangerous object, how he could avenge Oliver.
But there he was, looking over code when he had been rushed out to a jet, the person escorting him had been in such a hurry that Bruce had to run to keep up with them.
Then he took a jet, going full speed to another SITE, where another much faster jet awaited him.
And now he was traveling at insane speeds, rushing halfway across the world to help deal with a containment situation.
He was nervous; he couldn't deny that. This wouldn't be the first time he had helped with containment for an SCP object, but this time, it was different.
This time, it wasn't Bruce Banner they needed, but Hulk.
As Bruce sat in the cramped jet, his mind buzzed with thoughts about the situation awaiting him. He stared out the small window at the endless sky, his body tense with anticipation. Before long, the jet's onboard communication system crackled to life, and the voice of a Foundation agent came through his headset.
"Doctor Banner, we're approaching the site. You're being briefed on SCP-682—subject designation 'The Hard-to-Destroy Reptile.' I'll provide you with everything you need to know for your upcoming engagement."
Bruce shifted in his seat, adjusting his headset. "Go ahead," he responded, his voice steady, though he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of dread. He had read about SCP-682 before—brief snippets here and there—but now that he was being thrown into the middle of its containment, he needed to understand the full picture.
The agent's voice remained clinical as he laid out the details. "SCP-682 is a Keter-class entity. It is highly intelligent, extraordinarily adaptable, and possesses immense physical strength. It has demonstrated an extreme hatred for all forms of life, especially humans. Containment is nearly impossible due to its rapid regenerative abilities and extreme durability. It can evolve and adapt to most threats."
Bruce grimaced at the description, knowing that the situation was far worse than he initially thought. He imagined the chaos down below, the destruction the creature was capable of.
"What are its weaknesses?" Bruce asked, leaning closer to the microphone.
There was a brief pause before the agent replied. "That's the issue, Doctor. We haven't found any. No known method of neutralization has been successful so far. Our efforts have slowed it down, but nothing more."
Bruce clenched his jaw. "And you want me to...?" he trailed off. They had brought him in because of the Hulk—because they believed brute force might do what countless weapons, strategies, and other methods had failed to do.
"You are one of the few assets we have that can go toe-to-toe with SCP-682, sir," the agent replied. "We need to contain it—slow it down, at the very least. The entity has already caused extensive damage, and it's on a collision course toward downtown Tokyo. Captain Rogers and his team are doing their best, but they need backup."
Bruce sighed heavily. Of course, they needed the Hulk. They always did. But even as his mind flashed with worry, there was a part of him—a deep, primal part—that felt the familiar pull. The Hulk wanted out.
"One more thing," the agent added. "Captain Rogers and his team—Bucky Barnes and Peggy Carter—are engaging SCP-682 as we speak. The creature is growing stronger with every passing minute. If we don't stop it soon… the consequences will be catastrophic."
Bruce closed his eyes, feeling the shift coming on, the pulse in his blood growing stronger. "I understand," he said quietly. "Prepare for my arrival."
The agent's voice softened slightly. "Good luck, Doctor Banner."
Bruce let out a deep breath and leaned back in his seat, feeling the change stir inside him. His skin tingled as the transformation began to take hold, muscles tightening, bones cracking as the Hulk emerged. His last clear thought before the jet's doors opened was simple:
This fight was going to be ugly.
The Hulk stood at the edge of the jet's ramp, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline, muscles tensing as the ground rapidly approached below. The wind whipped against his massive frame as he stared down at the chaos unfolding.
Even from this height, the roars of SCP-682 could be heard, tearing through the streets of Tokyo. The massive lizard swatted at Captain America, Bucky, and Peggy, who were doing their best to evade its brutal attacks.
With a guttural growl, the Hulk felt the full transformation take over. His eyes glowed with anger, his skin now an unmistakable green. His breathing became deep, primal, filled with the raw fury that only the Hulk could harness.
"Hold on, Banner," came the voice in his earpiece. "We're almost in position—"
But the Hulk wasn't waiting.
With a thunderous roar, he leaped from the jet, the wind rushing past him as he plummeted toward the battlefield below. His massive form hurtled through the air, casting a shadow over the already-damaged streets. His eyes were locked onto the hulking figure of SCP-682, the reptile's enormous form towering over the chaos it had created.
Captain America, seeing the shadow of the Hulk descending, shouted a warning. "Everyone, move! Now!"
Peggy and Bucky barely had time to dive out of the way before the Hulk came crashing down, landing directly onto SCP-682's back. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, the force of the Hulk's landing shaking nearby buildings and knocking debris loose from rooftops. SCP-682 let out a deafening roar as the Hulk's feet crushed into its scaled hide, its body buckling under the force.
The reptile thrashed violently, whipping its tail in an attempt to throw the Hulk off, but the Hulk gripped tightly to the beast's armored back. With a savage snarl, the Hulk slammed both fists down onto SCP-682, driving the lizard's body deeper into the pavement. Cracks spread out from the point of impact as the Hulk unleashed his fury.
SCP-682 roared again, twisting its neck to snap at the Hulk, but the Hulk was too fast, leaping off the creature's back and landing a few feet away. He let out a ferocious roar of his own, slamming his fists into the ground and glaring at the lizard, daring it to come at him.
The two titans stared each other down, each seething with primal rage. SCP-682, though wounded, was far from beaten. Its eyes glowed with hatred as it reared back, preparing to charge at the Hulk.
"Hulk… SMASH!" the green giant bellowed, meeting the charge head-on.