Somewhere deep in a lab
In the dimly lit underground lab, the air buzzed with bubbling liquids and the hum of high-tech machinery. Emil Blonsky stood before a reinforced glass chamber, his eyes locked on the swirling green concoction within a large syringe. His heart raced, but not with fear—this was anticipation. The failed attempts, the wasted years of military service, and the endless obsession for power were finally about to pay off. He was moments away from becoming something more than human. Something unstoppable.
Behind him, General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross loomed, his face a mixture of apprehension and determination. The two shared a silent understanding. This was a desperate move, a last resort to bring down Banner's monstrous alter ego. Ross had lost sleep, his career teetering on the edge, all thanks to the Hulk. He needed a weapon to combat Banner, and Blonsky was the man to become that weapon.
"Are you sure about this, Blonsky?"
Ross asked, his voice gruff, but with an undercurrent of unease.
"There's no going back once you inject that serum."
Blonsky turned his head, flashing a grin that was equal parts arrogance and desperation.
"I've been ready since the day I laid eyes on Banner's beast. This is it."
A group of scientists stood huddled at the far end of the room, their expressions nervous as they monitored the lab equipment. Some tapped furiously on tablets, tracking vital signs, while others whispered in anxious tones about the unpredictable nature of gamma radiation and super-soldier serums. Dr. Sterns, one of the leading minds behind the serum, adjusted his glasses nervously.
"General, we still don't know what kind of side effects this could have. The gamma infusion is incredibly volatile, even more so with Banner's DNA mixed in,"
Dr. Sterns warned, his eyes darting between Blonsky and the readouts on the monitors.
Ross didn't break his gaze from Blonsky, his lips pressing into a hard line.
"Side effects are irrelevant. I need results."
Blonsky stepped forward, the syringe held tightly in his grip. He stared at it for a moment before turning to Ross.
"I've spent my whole life preparing for this. The serum's ready."
Ross nodded once.
"Do it."
Blonsky didn't hesitate. He jabbed the needle into his arm, and as he pushed the plunger, the thick, green serum rushed into his veins. For a moment, there was nothing. The scientists watched in tense silence, their hands hovering over keyboards and scanners. Ross stood rigid, his eyes narrowing as he waited for a sign, any sign.
Then, Blonsky's body jolted.
It started as a tremor, his muscles twitching violently beneath his skin. His breathing became ragged as his heart pounded uncontrollably. He staggered forward, clutching his chest as searing heat erupted through his bloodstream. He dropped to one knee, groaning, his voice strained.
"Something's… happening,"
one of the scientists whispered, their voice barely audible over the growing whine of the machinery.
Blonsky's muscles bulged, veins protruding like cords beneath his skin. His skin turned an unnatural shade of green, his bones cracking as his body began to stretch and contort grotesquely. He threw his head back, letting out a guttural scream, his eyes wide with agony and rage.
Dr. Sterns frantically tapped on his tablet.
"His vitals are off the charts! Heart rate's skyrocketing, skeletal structure—oh my god…"
Blonsky's body expanded rapidly, his spine arching as thick, jagged bones tore through his back, forming a ridge of spikes. His arms elongated, muscles tearing and rebuilding with monstrous power. His face twisted, jaw widening as tusk-like teeth pushed through his gums. The transformation was violent and brutal, his humanity being stripped away in mere moments.
Ross took a step back, eyes widening as he watched Blonsky become something… unrecognizable.
"Blonsky!"
he shouted, his voice almost drowned by the sound of cracking bones and the beast's roars.
The glass of the reinforced chamber cracked as Blonsky—now fully transformed—rose to his feet. He towered over the room, a hulking, grotesque figure with green, scaly skin, and piercing yellow eyes. The scientists recoiled in horror, some stepping backward as Blonsky's massive form cast a dark shadow over them.
Blonsky—now the Abomination—looked down at his massive hands, flexing his enormous claws. A wicked grin spread across his monstrous face.
"So… this is power,"
he growled, his voice deep, rumbling, and distorted beyond recognition.
Ross stared up at him, his expression unreadable.
"Blonsky? Can you hear me?"
he asked, but there was an edge of uncertainty in his voice.
The Abomination's head snapped toward Ross, and for a moment, recognition flickered in his monstrous eyes. Then, without warning, he slammed his fist into the concrete floor, sending a shockwave through the lab. The ground shook violently, equipment toppled, and the glass shattered completely. Scientists screamed and dove for cover as debris flew.
Ross remained standing, unfazed by the chaos. His gaze locked with the Abomination's.
"We have work to do,"
he said, his voice steady.
"There's still a Hulk out there."
The Abomination grinned, baring his tusks.
"Let him come,"
he rumbled, his voice a monstrous echo. He flexed his enormous arms, feeling the raw, destructive power coursing through him. He had become what he always wanted—something more than human. Something that could finally take down the Hulk.
With a thundering crash, the Abomination stormed out of the lab, each step shaking the ground beneath him. Ross watched him go, his mind racing with both the potential and the uncontrollable danger he had just unleashed.
The world had no idea what was coming. And neither did Bruce Banner.
The next day with Bruce Banner
The cold night air whipped through the narrow alley as Bruce Banner moved silently, his hood pulled low over his face. He kept his head down, avoiding the gaze of anyone who might recognize him. The streets of the small town were quiet, but Banner knew better than to let his guard down. He had been on the run long enough to sense when danger was close, and tonight, danger was everywhere.
His duffel bag, slung over one shoulder, was light. A few clothes, basic supplies, and the bare essentials of his research. Nothing that could tie him down for too long. He couldn't afford to stay in one place more than a night, maybe two if he was lucky. Constant motion—that was his only chance at survival. General Ross wouldn't stop until he had him locked away… or worse.
The low rumble of distant engines echoed down the street. Banner tensed. His breath caught as he ducked into the shadows of a nearby alley, pressing himself against the cold brick wall. He could feel it in his chest, the familiar rise of tension. His heartbeat quickened, and with it, the ever-present threat of losing control.
"Not now,"
he whispered to himself, closing his eyes and forcing deep, steady breaths.
"Stay calm."
The engines grew louder, more distinct now. Military. Banner knew the sound too well. He peeked around the corner and saw them—black SUVs with tinted windows rolling slowly through the narrow streets, their lights off, moving like predators on the hunt. Ross was here. Banner swallowed hard, his pulse quickening.
He hadn't expected them to find him so soon.
From the past few months he had been successful in throwing them off his tail and he knew that it was not just his ability to hide but that someone has been helping him throwing General Ross of his tail while he was thankful for that he was also deeply concerned because that meant who this person was he constantly knew where he was and could track him but after months of hiding he had been caught up now.
As the lead SUV rolled to a stop at the end of the block, the doors opened with a quiet precision that sent a chill down his spine. General Thaddeus Ross stepped out, his posture rigid, his eyes scanning the street with military sharpness. Dressed in a black trench coat, he looked every bit the man Banner had tried to escape for years—a relentless hunter, a man driven not by duty but by obsession.
"Search every building, every alley,"
Ross ordered his men, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable authority.
"He's here somewhere. I want Banner found. Now."
The soldiers, clad in tactical gear, moved out swiftly, fanning into the shadows with their rifles ready. Banner felt the walls closing in. He couldn't outrun them, not with the streets locked down like this. Every escape route was blocked.
Banner knew what would happen if they found him—he'd be dragged back into custody, experimented on, dissected, all in the name of controlling what lurked inside him. The Hulk was a weapon to Ross, nothing more. And now, Ross had more than just soldiers on his side.
He heard footsteps approaching, closer now. He was running out of time. Banner's heart raced, pounding louder in his ears. He clenched his fists, trying to stay calm, but it was getting harder. The Hulk was always just beneath the surface, a force of rage that clawed at him, begging to be unleashed.
"No… please,"
Banner muttered, his eyes squeezed shut as he tried to center himself.
"Not here… not now."
The footsteps were just around the corner. The soldiers were closing in.
Suddenly, a stray cat darted out from behind a dumpster, startling the nearest soldier. The man jerked, his rifle raised, but before he could fire, Banner took his chance. He bolted from the alley, sprinting across the street and disappearing into another shadowed passage, his footsteps light but quick.
Ross's head snapped in Banner's direction, his instincts razor-sharp.
"There!"
he barked, pointing toward the alley Banner had vanished into.
"Move in!"
The soldiers followed Ross's orders without hesitation, but Banner was already gone, weaving through the maze of backstreets. His mind raced, searching for a way out.
He turned a corner and found himself at a dead end—an old brick wall, too high to climb, too solid to break through. His breath came in quick, ragged gasps, and the pounding in his chest grew stronger, angrier. He could feel it rising—the heat, the pressure, the unmistakable surge of power that he fought so hard to control.
"No, no, no,"
Banner whispered, gripping his head as his body began to tremble. His skin prickled, his muscles tensing painfully. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus, to breathe. He couldn't let the Hulk take over. Not here. Not surrounded by soldiers.
The sound of boots echoed down the alley. Ross's men were closing in, weapons raised, their shadows growing long in the dim light.
"Banner!"
Ross's voice called out, closer now. He was just beyond the alley.
"You know you can't run forever. We'll find you. You don't have to do this the hard way."
"Stay away from me you don't get it he will come out and many will die again"
But Thaddeus was relentless like a person driven with madness and craze he didn't listen testing the beast within him pushing his patience past the limit.
"Surrender now Banner there is no other way for you"
Ross shouted as the soldiers closed on him pointing their guns at him making it harder for it control his anger before they could move any closer a sound overhead broke through the tension—a low, mechanical hum, like a jet engine hovering above. Banner's eyes snapped open just as a sleek figure descended from the sky, landing silently in the alley in front of him.
The crimson and gold armor gleamed even in the dim light of the alley, a beacon of sleek, modern technology cutting through the shadowed streets. The figure inside the suit stood tall, every movement precise, exuding an air of quiet confidence. When the voice crackled through the helmet's speaker, it was cold and mechanical, modulated beyond recognition. Whoever was inside clearly didn't want to be identified—not yet.
"I'd listen to the man if I were you,"
the voice reverberated through the alley, metallic and commanding. The sound bounced off the walls, catching everyone off guard. The soldiers instinctively froze, fingers twitching toward their triggers, unsure of how to respond to this sudden intrusion. The armor itself was unlike anything they had ever seen—a sleek, futuristic machine standing between them and their target.
General Ross, standing rigid beside his men, scowled in frustration. His eyes narrowed, trying to assess the situation. This wasn't part of the plan. He had cornered Banner, had him within reach, and now this… thing had dropped out of nowhere to interfere. The man behind the metal mask, whoever he was, had no idea what he was getting himself into.
"Whoever you are, step aside!"
Ross barked, his voice rising in anger.
"This is a matter of national security! You're interfering with a military operation. That man behind you is a monster!"
The general's tone was one of barely contained fury, his fists clenched as he tried to hold onto the last bit of control he had over the situation. The soldiers around him shifted uneasily, their weapons trained on both Banner and the mysterious figure in the suit.
The voice from the suit didn't waver. Calm, precise, and devoid of emotion, it responded.
"Banner, I can help you get out of here. But you need to trust me."
Banner, his back against the wall, stood frozen for a moment. He hadn't expected this. There was something familiar about the voice behind the modulation, something that tugged at the back of his mind. Then it clicked.
The man in the armor had been helping him. The misdirection's, the moments when Ross had been so close but somehow lost the trail—this stranger had been behind it all.
"It was you," Banner muttered, piecing it together.
"You've been throwing them off my trail."
A tense silence fell over the alley. The soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons, clearly unsure of what was happening but ready to respond to any sign of aggression. The tension was palpable.
"Whoever this is, Banner, don't listen to him!"
Ross growled, taking a step forward. His frustration was boiling over. He was so close to capturing his target, and now this unknown figure was standing in his way.
"You have no idea who you're trusting! He's no ally—he's a coward hiding behind a mask."
The armored figure ignored Ross, his attention focused solely on Banner.
"We don't have much time. You want out of here? This is your chance. But if you're going to trust me, you'll have to take a leap of faith."
Banner's heart raced, his mind torn between the familiar danger of Ross and the unknown behind the mask. He had no other choice. The soldiers were closing in, and if he didn't leave soon, the Hulk would emerge. It was a risk, but it was better than the alternative.
"Alright,"
Banner said, his voice tight with tension.
"But if you do anything out of place…"
His eyes narrowed, the unspoken threat hanging in the air.
"You know what will happen."
The man in the armor tilted his head slightly, as if acknowledging the warning.
"Noted, Doc."
In an instant, two small metal spheres dropped from the suit's gauntlet, clattering to the ground between the soldiers and Banner. The moment they hit, a thick cloud of smoke erupted, filling the alley with an impenetrable screen of gray. The soldiers shouted in surprise, rifles swinging wildly as they tried to regain their bearings, but the smoke swallowed them whole, rendering their weapons useless.
Banner coughed, his vision completely obscured by the smoke. He felt a strong grip suddenly seize him by the arm. Before he could react, he was pulled upward with a force so sudden it knocked the breath from his lungs.
"Hope you can handle flying, Doc," the metallic voice echoed in his ears just as they shot upward, rocketing into the night sky.
The world below blurred into nothing but a hazy swirl of lights as they ascended rapidly. The rush of wind whipped past Banner's face, his heart racing as he struggled to get his bearings. The suit's thrusters roared beneath him, carrying them higher and higher above the small town.
For a brief moment, the only sound was the rush of air and the mechanical hum of the suit's engines. Banner's stomach dropped as he looked down, seeing the soldiers scrambling like ants below, still lost in the smoke. General Ross was a small figure now, staring up at them, helpless as his prey slipped through his fingers once again.
After a few seconds, they levelled off, the suit slowing to a steady glide over the landscape below. Banner breathed deeply, trying to steady himself. The adrenaline still surged through his veins, but the immediate threat of the Hulk subsided, if only for the moment.
"Who are you?"
Banner asked, still trying to process everything that had just happened. The armor, the voice, the rescue—it was too calculated to be a coincidence.
"Why are you helping me?"
The man inside the suit paused for a moment, as if weighing his response. Then, in that same modulated voice, he answered,
"All in good time, Bruce. For now, just know that you're not alone."
With that, they soared off into the night, leaving General Ross and his soldiers far behind. The pursuit would continue, Banner knew that much. But for now, he was safe, flying into the unknown with a mysterious ally by his side.
After flying for nearly an hour, Bruce Banner had stayed quiet, his mind racing with questions but too consumed by the rush of events to voice them. The wind and the hum of the thrusters had been the only sounds accompanying his thoughts as they soared through the night sky. He focused on calming his heart, keeping the Hulk at bay, and processing what had just happened. Everything had happened so fast—General Ross, the soldiers, the metal suit, the smoke—and now, here he was, flying with a stranger who had just saved him from capture.
As they approached the Malibu coastline, the silhouette of a sleek, modern mansion came into view. Its glass windows reflected the moonlight, perched on a cliffside that jutted out over the ocean. The mansion's roof slid open automatically, revealing a high-tech landing pad within. With practiced precision, the man in the suit descended gently into the open space.
Banner's feet hit the floor of a pristine lab, filled with state-of-the-art technology that made his jaw tighten with both admiration and unease. The high ceilings, the sleek metal surfaces, and the dim glow of holographic interfaces gave the place a futuristic feel. He took a breath, steadying himself as the man in the suit released his grip.
"JARVIS, did anyone follow us?"
the man asked, his voice sharp and commanding.
A calm, polite voice echoed through the lab, speaking with the kind of precision Banner would expect from military AI.
"No, sir. You were successful in throwing them off the trail. I've ensured all security cameras and satellite feeds were disrupted during your journey."
The response made Banner glance around, startled. He looked up, scanning the room for the source of the voice, which seemed to be coming from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"Is that... an artificial intelligence?"
Banner asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and hesitation. His mind was already working, analysing the level of sophistication that an AI like that would require.
The man in the suit turned slightly, his helmet still obscuring his face.
"Yes, Doc. Meet JARVIS—Just A Rather Very Intelligent System."
His tone was more casual now, as if introducing an old friend.
"JARVIS, say hello to Dr.Banner and make sure he's comfortable."
The AI responded almost immediately, its tone warm and respectful.
"Hello, Doctor Banner. It's a pleasure to meet you. May I offer you something to eat or drink?"
Banner nodded in acknowledgment, still processing the advanced AI and the situation he found himself in.
"Uh… hello,"
he replied quietly, though his focus was already shifting to the man in front of him.
He had held off on his questions for long enough. Whoever this was, they clearly had resources—advanced tech, an AI, and the kind of means to evade a military operation. That didn't happen by chance. His heart was finally steady, and his mind clear. It was time to get answers.
"So,"
Banner said, his voice steady as he turned to face the man in the suit.
"Tell me, who are you, and why did you save me?"
The man in the armor paused for a moment, his hands reaching up to the side of his helmet. With a soft hiss, the helmet released, lifting away to reveal the face beneath.
A familiar grin greeted Banner—one that seemed to carry both a sense of amusement and an unspoken familiarity with danger. The face was unmistakable, though Banner hadn't expected to see it behind the armor.
"Hello, Doc,"
the man said, his voice now free of the modulated distortion. His eyes gleamed with a mix of mischief and something else—concern, maybe, or curiosity.
"It's finally nice to meet you."
Banner's eyes widened in recognition. He had known that voice, the casual arrogance, the underlying intelligence. But still, seeing the man's face now, it was a surprise.
"You… you're Tony Stark…."