The Titanlord, back in his human form, sat on the edge of the bed, the digital light of the monitor casting a soft glow over the sparse apartment. It had been an eventful day, to say the least. He had fought and defeated the Abomination in broad daylight, revealing himself to the world in a way that sent ripples through every level of power. And yet, for the next hour, he'd given Bruce Banner space to think and reflect. Now, Ajax had some time to himself—and he intended to make the most of it.
He rummaged through drawers and shelves until his fingers landed on something plastic and firm.
"Ah-ha!" he exclaimed triumphantly, holding up a driver's license card. Reading it out loud, he grinned, "Ajax Evarson. Born on July 11, 1983. So I'm 25 now? Cool. And the address matches this apartment. At least I'm not squatting."
Sighing with relief, he pulled out a credit card from his back pocket. "Now to see how financially blessed I am." He moved to the computer setup in the corner and booted up the machine. With a gesture of his fingers, he interfaced with the system directly, letting his digital dimension powers seep into the circuits. Bypassing all firewalls and security protocols took less than a heartbeat.
"Let's see... Bank account first." Lines of code flickered across the screen until a dashboard of financial data appeared. Ajax let out a long, low whistle. "Ten million in liquid cash. Not bad."
He dug deeper into the investment tab and arched a brow. "Five percent ownership in the Baxter Building, Stark Industries, and Osborn Corp. That's... interesting. Very interesting."
He scrolled through a portfolio that included sports teams, local tech start-ups, and entertainment ventures. His smile widened. "I have shares in some of the top teams in the MLB and NFL? If I use those as collateral, the banks will crawl to me with offers."
Satisfied, he closed the financial tabs and opened a new window. This time, he typed in something more personal.
"Manga," he whispered.
He pulled up lists, old favorites and new releases, flipping through titles like a kid in a candy store. When he found a few of his beloved series, he threw his fists in the air.
"Yes! If I can persuade these mangakas to license their work for VR adaptations, I could dominate the VR entertainment sector!" His voice echoed with excitement.
Then a thought struck him—one he hadn't considered until now. This was the Marvel Universe. That meant technology and innovation were already eons ahead in many aspects. But with his digital dimension powers, he could still push boundaries no one else could.
"First things first... I need help. Someone to manage things. An AI."
With a wave of his hand, the screen flickered again. Binary code scrolled across at rapid speed, condensing and shifting until the face of two middle-aged men appeared.
[ I am online, Master Ajax. ]
[ I am online too, Master Ajax. ]
Ajax smirked. "Alfred, Sebastian. Welcome to the world. You two have different jobs despite being my AI butlers."
Looking at the face of Sebastian, Ajax said, "Your service is required in the dimension. I'll see you there."
[ Alright then, I'll be seeing you in your dimension, Master Ajax. ] Saying that, Sebastian's face disappeared from the computer.
Then, looking at Alfred, he said, "Alfred, you'll be my financial manager, my digital butler, and my advisor."
[ Certainly, Master Ajax. I've noted that the Baxter Building has two vacant floors. I've initiated proceedings to acquire them in your name—one for your residence, one for your VR gaming company. Do you have a name for the company? ]
"Axer Games."
[ Noted. Also, Tony Stark has just announced that he is the Iron Man. Based on projected market volatility, Stark Industries shares will soon skyrocket. Should I proceed with acquisition? ]
"Yes. Buy up as much as we can. But don't sell the Osborn shares. I want leverage there."
[ Understood. Is there anything else, sir? ]
Ajax leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing with thoughtful amusement. "Actually, yeah. I want you to run some global surveillance. Specifically Sokovia. Look for Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. They should be teenagers around now, peaceful protestors, not involved with HYDRA yet."
[ Accessing now... Confirmed. Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, age 17. Active in peaceful demonstrations in Novi Grad, Sokovia. Their parents were killed in crossfire involving Western weapons a few years ago.]
Ajax's brows drew together. "So it's already begun... the seeds of what they'll become."
He paused, then chuckled. "What would it take for me to become king of Sokovia? Not seriously. Just... playing with the idea."
[ Given the current state of the nation—political instability, weak governance, public unrest—a strong and charismatic figure could take control with minimal resistance. Especially one seen as a protector. ]
"Interesting," Ajax muttered. "Not today, though."
He opened new windows and started combing through the digital archives of this world. If he was going to make a difference here—if he was going to protect it—he needed to know what he was dealing with.
World History Snapshot
The X-Men: Ajax read about the rumors, conspiracy theories, and fractured footage of mutants in action. The mutant's hasn't been public for a long time, but names like Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr were whispered in shadowed corners of government and academia.
"Charles might have erased the memories of the whole world about mutants through his Cerebro." Ajax speculated.
Fantastic Four: He found records of the Storm siblings, Reed Richards, and Ben Grimm. They were renowned scientists and explorers, often pushing the boundaries of physics and technology. They had not yet undergone their fateful space voyage—but the groundwork was laid. The Baxter Building was their base of operations.
"Doom isn't active either. He is ruling his kingdom as a normal human." He pasued and continued "Wait a minute. Being the ruler of a country have it's perks right? Diplomatic immunity and all?"
The Eternals: A few blurry historical mentions, sightings over centuries, worshipped as gods in ancient cultures. Still off the radar, but Ajax could tell: they were watching.
Frank Castle: Then, he found someone else—a man who shouldn't be famous yet.
"Frank Castle... The Punisher. Not yet, though. He's just a decorated marine now. Family still alive." Ajax's eyes turned serious. "Not for long if things go the way they did in the other timeline."
He stood up. "Alfred. Find where Frank Castle is stationed. I want to meet him. Save him and his family before that massacre happens. And if he's willing, offer him a job. Head of security at Axer Games. He can be my shield while I build."
[ Already on it. Castle is stationed in New York, just returned from a mission. His family will be at Central Park in two weeks for a picnic. That's when it happens. ]
Ajax's red eyes glowed golden faintly. "Not this time."
Looking at the monitor, he ordered "Alfred. Pull everything on him. Find his squad and the operation they did in Kandahar. Make the information public as soon as possible, everyone involved in the operation should be located and the infromation of their location should be passed to the US President and all the media outlets."
[Affirmative sir. Extracting information on Operation Cerberus.....]
He glanced back at the screen, where Alfred continued updating files. A small window opened with a real-time map of the world.
Black dots. Red dots. Blue dots. Yellow dots.
Villains. Future villains. Heroes. Future heroes.
--------------------------------------------------
Inside the dimension
Bruce Banner sat slouched in a plush armchair that seemed to mold itself to his body—comfortably unnatural, a clear sign that it hadn't been crafted by any earthly artisan. The beach view before him was serene, waves gently crashing against the soft sands in rhythmic comfort. It was peaceful—too peaceful for someone carrying the Hulk inside them.
He sighed, long and deep, and pressed both palms to his face.
What he had seen earlier haunted him. Hulk—his other self—unleashed in a way that chilled Bruce to the bone. Destruction wrought not out of necessity or desperation, but glee. Unshackled, the Hulk had acted like a child given free rein in a house with no rules. He tore through the constructs of this strange dimension without inhibition, laughing, almost… joyful.
Bruce stood abruptly, shaking his head as if trying to rid himself of the image. He began pacing, his footsteps soft on the polished floor.
"What am I supposed to do?" he murmured, running a hand through his hair. "How do I… handle that?"
He turned his thoughts inward, trying to navigate the maze of choices presented to him.
Goliath had offered him two options. The first: be returned to Earth, to wherever and whenever Bruce wanted. Simple. Easy.
The second: stay here, in this strange dimension—this pocket reality crafted by a man whose power Bruce still didn't fully understand—and try to better understand the Hulk. Perhaps even teach him.
But a third option gnawed at Bruce's mind. What if… he could separate the Hulk entirely? Could there be a way to surgically extract the green monster from his DNA and be free of him once and for all?
"I should ask him that," Bruce whispered to himself.
Putting those heavy thoughts aside, he began to take in the space around him. The destruction from earlier—the twisted rubble, broken structures, and vast crater left in the wake of Hulk's rampage—was gone. In its place stood a spacious, luxurious room overlooking a pristine beach. The kind of view one might find in the Maldives. The transition had been so seamless, so perfect, that Bruce felt as if reality itself had changed around him.
"How does he do this?" Bruce muttered, genuinely perplexed.
A deep, composed voice responded from behind him, carrying a crisp British accent. "Because, sir, Master Goliath is the ruler of this dimension."
Bruce turned sharply to find a distinguished middle aged man standing beside a mahogany cabinet, dressed in a perfectly tailored butler's uniform. Every detail of his appearance—from the pristine white gloves to the subtle silver embroidery on his cuffs—spoke of elegance and precision.
"And you are?" Bruce asked, both surprised and cautious.
"I am Sebastian, personal attendant to Master Goliath," the man answered with a faint smile. "I serve as his advisor, butler, and, when needed, enforcer."
Bruce arched a brow. "Enforcer?"
"Yes," Sebastian replied simply, his smile not wavering. "This realm requires balance, and sometimes, balance requires a firm hand."
Before Bruce could press further, the distorted, commanding voice of Titanlord echoed through the room. "Sebastian is the one who manages this place when I'm not directly involved. And yes, Bruce, this place—this dimension—is mine."
Bruce's mouth fell slightly open. "Yours?" he asked, incredulous.
"It is," Titanlord replied evenly, materializing in a shimmer of golden light. He stood with arms crossed, eyes glowing faintly. "And everything in it bends to my will."
Bruce staggered mentally, trying to wrap his mind around the scope of such a statement. His inner scientist screamed for details—quantum physics, metaphysics, multiversal theories—but he bit his tongue. For now.
He chuckled weakly, shaking his head. "I have so many questions."
"I'm sure you do," Titanlord said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But first, have you made your decision?"
Bruce hesitated. "I was wondering…" he began slowly, "Is it possible to separate the Hulk from me?"
"In this dimension? Yes," Titanlord said without missing a beat. "Here, the rules of biology and physics are mine to shape. I can isolate Hulk from you—give him his own body, his own identity."
Bruce's eyes widened. "Then why not do that permanently?"
"Because," Titanlord said, stepping closer, "outside this dimension, such a separation would be unstable. It could kill you. Or him. Or both. Your bond was formed in a chaotic burst of gamma radiation. It wasn't designed to be undone easily."
Bruce nodded slowly, the weight of that truth settling in. "Then what was your plan?"
"To separate you temporarily," Titanlord answered. "To give you both a chance to understand one another. Hulk is only a few years old, Bruce. You see him as a force of destruction, but he's also a child—untaught, unrefined, ruled by instinct and emotion. He doesn't know better."
Turning to Sebastian, Titanlord gestured. "Sebastian will oversee Hulk's education, along with you. Together, you will teach him. Discipline him. Show him that there is a difference between strength and savagery."
Bruce folded his arms, then rubbed his temple. "You're asking me to be his father?"
Titanlord gave a small nod. "In a way, you already are."
A long silence followed. Bruce looked at the floor, then out the window, then back to Titanlord.
Finally, he let out a long breath. "Alright. I'll do it. I'll stay. I'll help him."
Titanlord smiled beneath his golden aura. "Good."
With a snap of his fingers, a shimmer in the air formed beside Bruce—and there he was. Hulk. Seven feet tall, muscles coiled like taut cables, wild hair swaying with the ambient energy of the dimension. He blinked, confused, as if waking from a dream.
Then his eyes locked onto Bruce—and a grin spread across his green face.
"Banner!" he roared with delight and lunged.
Before Bruce could react, Sebastian moved.
In the blink of an eye, the butler was between them. He raised a single gloved hand—and stopped Hulk's punch with one finger.
The air rippled with suppressed force.
Hulk's eyes widened in shock. He growled and threw another punch. Sebastian spun, dodging effortlessly, and countered with a palm strike that sent Hulk skidding back across the floor.
Hulk grunted, shaking his head. He charged again, but Sebastian was already moving, his steps calm and precise. Each blow from Hulk was parried, redirected, countered. The room trembled, but no damage was done. Everything bent and absorbed the kinetic energy, designed to withstand such chaos.
Finally, Hulk sat on the ground, panting, glaring at Sebastian, who hadn't even broken a sweat.
Sebastian adjusted his cuffs and looked to Bruce. "He has potential. But he must learn restraint."
Then he turned to Hulk and said, "That is not how you greet your father, Master Hulk."
Bruce blinked. "Father?"
Hulk tilted his head in confusion.
Titanlord laughed. "Yes, Bruce. Father. Now the two of you have a lot to talk about."
As Sebastian helped Hulk to his feet, Bruce Banner felt something unexpected stirring inside him.
Hope.
Here, in this impossible dimension, perhaps he and Hulk could become something more than just enemies trapped in one body.
Perhaps they could become… whole.