Seated leisurely before his computer, Sean watched the events unfolding in Samuel Sterns' laboratory through the omniscient surveillance of Skynet...
It played out like a tedious, drawn-out film filled with trivial details.
Dr. Banner, in his desperation while on the run, had made a grave mistake by placing his trust in a stranger. His lack of caution had reduced him to a prisoner. Had he maintained even basic vigilance, the situation might have unfolded entirely differently.
Yet, the true root of this predicament lay with the ever-resourceful S.H.I.E.L.D... or, more accurately, the clandestine force parasitizing that vast organization.
Long before the failed capture operation in Brazil, they had taken notice of Bruce Banner, the man pursued by the military.
At that time, Banner, who could transform into the Hulk, was still the prey of General Thaddeus Ross. S.H.I.E.L.D. had no reason to intervene, and the accidental nature of the experiment that birthed the Hulk made replication nearly impossible.
Thus, Nick Fury had not prioritized Banner as a high-value surveillance target...
But Hydra, lurking in the shadows, was far more invested. The organization's leader from the last century, Johann Schmidt (the Red Skull) had been born from Dr. Erskine's Super-Soldier Serum, as had his nemesis, Captain America.
General Ross's attempt to replicate the serum under the "Rebirth Program" had inadvertently created the Hulk.
This line of thought revealed how Dr. Erskine's Super-Soldier Serum, which was developed during World War II, continued to exert immense influence.
Hydra's keen interest in Bruce Banner stemmed from their desire to harness power surpassing even that of the Super-Soldier.
After the war, Hydra had attached itself to the crumbling Soviet empire and used its vast resources to produce a batch of Super-Soldiers... aside from the Winter Soldier that is...
These men were physically formidable, masters of assassination, and among the world's top operatives. Unfortunately, the serum's side effects; aggression and uncontrollable rage, remained unresolved.
Hydra's leadership deemed the cost-to-benefit ratio unacceptable and shelved the project, sealing these failed experiments away in the frozen wastes of Siberia. With the Soviet Union's collapse, the secret was buried...
So when Samuel and Banner (under the aliases "Mr. Blue" and "Mr. Green") began communicating via encrypted channels, Hydra operatives embedded within S.H.I.E.L.D. immediately took notice and reported it.
This was why Samuel had suddenly grown greedy: someone had offered him unimaginable wealth, tempting the stubborn, arrogant biologist...
...
As night fell, a suited bald man arrived as promised...
"This is the second-generation serum sample." His eyelid twitched slightly as Samuel handed him a vial of glowing green liquid.
"And Bruce Banner?" the bald man asked casually, accepting the vial.
Samuel snorted, "He is currently my stepping stone to greatness. Naturally, I'll protect him well."
He knew exactly what this S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Sitwell, was scheming. There was no chance he'd hand Banner over, not before fully unlocking the potential of gamma technology.
"Does this still have the same irreversible side effects as the last batch you gave us?" Sitwell inquired.
Their initial purchase from Samuel, which is the first-generation serum extracted from Banner's blood, had ended disastrously. Test subjects either exploded into green gore or became uncontrollably violent.
"I haven't yet perfected the extraction process. The toxicity in Banner's blood is too high. Subjects injected with it become enraged, turning into bloodthirsty killing machines." Samuel ran a hand through his messy hair as he explained.
Though he now had ample serum samples, achieving stable results remained a distant goal.
"That doesn't meet our requirements, Dr. Sterns." Sitwell's tone turned sharp.
Hydra had no use for defective products. Their leadership wanted a refined and reliable serum... and if possible, Bruce Banner himself. The remnants of the Nazi regime had countless methods to brainwash him into an obedient tool.
The bald agent adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, saying, "Rather than waste time, why not hand Banner over? S.H.I.E.L.D. can offer you substantial funding, or even a dedicated research team under your leadership."
If not for Samuel hiding Banner, he wouldn't be negotiating so politely. Once Samuel outlived his usefulness, he'd be discarded without hesitation.
Samuel smirked, "Ha... You can't afford my price anymore." he said.
When he had first acquired Banner's blood samples, these covert operatives had come knocking. But times had changed. After witnessing the Hulk's power, he no longer blindly obeyed Sitwell's demands.
"Bruce Banner is my personal treasure trove. Until I've unlocked all his secrets, no one takes him from me."
Sitwell studied the fool before him, whose greed was plain to see. Clearly, Samuel saw Banner as a goldmine, one that even Hydra's endless funds might not satisfy.
Before Sitwell's scowl could fully form, a massive dog emerged from the shadows.
Its singed, patchy fur and hulking frame which was comparable to a leopards, made it a terrifying sight. Drool dripped from its razor-sharp fangs.
No one would guess this beast, capable of tearing a man apart, had once been a stray plucked off the streets.
"Don't even think about scheming, Agent Sitwell. I'm no fool who'll blindly trust you or your shadowy organization." Samuel halted the dog's advance with a command, grinning, "You pay for the serum. You supply test subjects. Once I've unraveled Banner's secrets, he's yours."
"Dr. Sterns, as the Jews say, 'Once a contract is signed, there's no room for renegotiation.'" Sitwell said, eyeing the restless dog, its eyes glinting with predatory hunger.
Samuel laughed heartily before countering, "But Jews also say, 'If there's an extra dollar to be made, I won't let it slip.' So our terms must change. Without me, you'll never find Bruce Banner!"
Holding the ultimate bargaining chip, he had no fear of betrayal. Even if Sitwell's organization could mobilize agents and armies, he had another card to play...
The third-generation serum, his key to a new world.
"Oh, and you're not my only buyer. A generous patron has paid handsomely to provide mercenaries as test subjects." Samuel relished Sitwell's stormy expression.
He'd long grown tired of the agent's condescending attitude. He was no lackey to be ordered around.
"You'll get what you want, Dr. Sterns." Sitwell forced a smile, his gaze lingering on the shelves lined with glowing green vials.
Neither schemer realized a pair of eyes watched them from the darkness, their every word and transaction laid bare.
This seemingly crude laboratory wasn't as secure as they believed. At the very least, it couldn't shield them from Skynet's gaze...
...
Closing his laptop, Sean drummed his fingers on the desk...
The situation had grown increasingly intriguing. The mighty Dr. Banner, temporarily stripped of the Hulk's power, was now at the mercy of a minor player like Samuel Sterns.
Meanwhile, Hydra had surfaced, stepping into the light of his awareness.
"How entertaining." The young puppeteer hidden in the shadows smiled faintly.
He couldn't help but wonder, 'Where will this twisted path lead next?'