After being contacted by Fury, Natasha, the Black Widow, abandoned her current mission and set out to recruit a key member of Fury's "dream team."
This particular member was arguably the strongest asset the team would have. But Natasha knew she'd need to be extremely cautious; one wrong move could leave her dead.
The person Fury had tasked her with finding was Bruce Banner, a brilliant scientist specializing in gamma radiation research. But Banner was far more than just an intelligent scientist—he was also the host of a being with unimaginable strength, a creature that defied the very laws of reality.
That being was the Hulk, born when Banner suffered an accident during a gamma ray experiment intended to recreate the super-soldier serum used on Captain America.
By recruiting Banner, Fury would not only gain a scientist capable of tracking down the Tesseract but also a being of incalculable power—one who could turn the tide against any threat.
Natasha's mission had taken her to Brazil, a country rich in natural resources but plagued by corruption, where crime ran from the bottom to the top—from street gangs to businessmen to politicians. She was currently in one of the sprawling favelas of Rio de Janeiro, the last place Banner had been seen after escaping yet another pursuit by the military, led by his former boss—and the father of his ex-girlfriend—General Ross.
It didn't take long for Natasha to locate the area of Banner's last known confrontation. Using her training and skills, she tracked down clues he'd left behind while evading his pursuers. Following the trail, she reached a small shack. She approached cautiously, peeking through one of the holes in the wall.
Inside, she saw a man lying on the floor in ragged clothes. Though he looked worn and malnourished, Natasha knew better than to underestimate him.
This man was Bruce Banner—the very person she'd been sent to find.
Natasha knew that trying to sneak up on him could put him on edge, and dishonesty would only make things worse. So, she chose to be direct. This mission was dangerous enough as it was; the last thing she needed was for him to turn into the Hulk because he felt threatened.
Taking a deep breath, she walked up to the shack's rickety wooden door and knocked, calling out to him.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Dr. Banner! Dr. Banner! Are you there?"
Banner, who had been lying on the floor, groaned as he pulled himself up, leaning on a termite-ridden piece of furniture.
"Urgh…"
He pressed a hand to his forehead, unsure if his headache was from hunger or the aftereffects of his last transformation. But that didn't matter right now—he heard someone knocking on the door and calling his name. He knew it wasn't the military; if they'd found him, they'd have torn this shack apart the moment they spotted him.
"Please, go back! Whoever you are, I'm not accepting visitors," he said, his voice strained as he tried to manage his headache.
"Please, Dr. Banner, let me in. I—no, we—need your help. The Earth needs your help."
Banner frowned. The voice on the other side of the door was asking for his help to save the Earth. He thought he must be hallucinating. Exhaustion and sleep deprivation were finally catching up with him, he figured.
He dragged himself to the door, wanting to confirm whether this was a trick of his tired mind or if there was actually someone outside. After all, who would seek help from a man who could turn into a rampaging monster at any moment?
Reaching the door, he opened it cautiously.
Even as he took in the sight of the red-haired woman standing outside—a striking figure in black clothes that hugged her athletic frame—he wasn't entirely convinced he wasn't imagining things.
"Sorry to ask, but… are you a hallucination?" Banner muttered, his inner thoughts spilling out.
Natasha raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled by the question. Was Banner okay? Could the being inside him somehow be affecting his mind?
But unlike Banner, she didn't voice her doubts aloud. She stayed focused, keeping her face calm and composed.
"I'm definitely real… at least, I was the last time I checked," she replied dryly. "But that's not important right now."
"We're running out of time, Dr. Banner. We really need your help to save the Earth."
Banner blinked, still processing. "O-okay, that's… good. You're real. I thought I was hallucinating for a moment."
"But… I don't think I can help anyone right now. Look at me," he said, gesturing to his worn, dilapidated state. "I can barely take care of myself, let alone save the Earth."
Natasha didn't waste time trying to comfort him. She knew what he was saying was true. But he was the only gamma ray expert they had access to, and they needed him. She decided to appeal to both his scientific mind and his desperation for a cure.
"Dr. Banner, you're the only one who can help us. We need your expertise in gamma rays to locate an object that could bring about the end of the world."
"And this object isn't just dangerous—it's in the hands of someone who plans to use it to dominate the world."
Her words were calculated, her tone earnest. Her years of training made her an expert at persuasion, and anyone watching would've been convinced by her sincerity.
"B-but—" Banner began, but Natasha interrupted before he could finish.
"Before you say no, there's more. We have something at our base that could help you find a cure."
She let that sink in, watching the hint of hope flicker in his eyes.
"And that's not all. While you're working with us, we'll put a stop to any attempts by General Ross and the military to pursue you. You'll be safe."
Banner couldn't deny that he was tempted. But it sounded too good to be true. What could S.H.I.E.L.D. possibly have that might help him cure the monster inside him?
As if reading his mind, Natasha pulled out a smartphone. On the screen was a photo of a man he recognized instantly.
How could he not? This man was the reason he'd started his own research on gamma radiation, the inspiration behind the experiment that had turned him into the Hulk.
It was Captain America.
"Maybe with his blood…" Banner murmured, his mind racing.
He looked back at Natasha, his earlier hesitation replaced by determination.
"I'm in. Where do I sign?"
Natasha allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. Her mission was complete, and without any complications. Now, all that remained was to get Banner back to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.