Tony Stark and Peter Parker, two of the most technically gifted minds in New York, independently arrived at the same conclusion: the person with the most complete, and often most inexplicable, knowledge of the city's burgeoning superhuman threats was Su Yi.
Su Yi was, at that moment, immersed in the quiet elegance of the Upper East Side with Vanessa Marianna, browsing vintage photography and selecting textiles for Jessica Campbell's new room. The ring of his secure satellite phone, reserved for high-level threat warnings and Tony Stark, interrupted the peace.
"Su, I don't know what you're up to, but drop it," Tony's voice crackled through the secure line, devoid of his usual playful preamble. "Ross just staged a full-scale military assault on NYU. Seriously, missiles and tanks. They were trying to take down some kind of overgrown, jade-colored giant. I need to know what that thing is, and I need to know why Ross thinks it's okay to declare war on the science department."
Su Yi's serene demeanor did not falter, but a crease formed between his brows. "The City of Freedom indeed," he murmured, his disappointment palpable. "Ross is truly courageous, or simply insane, to orchestrate that in the heart of the city."
He paused, collecting his thoughts, letting the gentle murmur of Vanessa discussing a rare silk tapestry fade into the background. He had expected this. The confrontation between the Hulk and the military was a fixed point in the timeline.
Su Yi briefly spoke with Tony, revealing the core truth: the 'monster' was Dr. Bruce Banner, a brilliant scientist cursed by gamma radiation, and that General Ross was driven by an unholy obsession to capture and weaponize him.
"The specifics are available in classified military records, Tony, records you should be able to access easily enough," Su Yi said, keeping the details of the gamma radiation and the initial experiment concise. "But the crucial takeaway is this: Banner is not a hostile enemy; he is a prisoner trying to escape his jailer. His only enemy is Ross."
Su Yi only asked Tony to do two things, both critical for preventing a far greater catastrophe. "First, stop General Ross from continuing this relentless, catastrophic pursuit. Use your influence, your money, and your status to pressure him. Secondly, and this is imperative, prevent Ross from giving any further, experimental enhancements to his chief operative, Emil Blonsky. He is the one who will become the true danger if Ross is allowed to proceed."
The gravity in Su Yi's voice cut through Tony's flippancy. Tony, recognizing the rare seriousness, simply said, "Got it. Banner and Blonsky. I'll shut down the General's circus before he turns Manhattan into a crater."
No sooner had Su Yi ended the call with Tony than the secure line chirped again—this time, with the frantic, excited energy of Peter Parker.
"Su, do you know? I just saw the craziest thing! I was flying over NYU, and the destruction is unreal! It looks like something giant tore the science building apart! They had tanks and helicopters, and I saw military units evacuating with heavy casualties! I think they were fighting a monster!" Peter's words tumbled out in a breathless, excited stream. "It's simply too crazy. What was it? Was it an alien? A terrorist using super technology?"
Su Yi listened, his frown deepening. Peter's natural curiosity was admirable, but his impulse to involve himself in high-level military conflicts was a liability. Peter, still reeling from the events surrounding Max Dillon (Electro), was eager to redeem himself, to prove he could handle the big threats.
"Enough, Peter," Su Yi cut in, his voice sharp and carrying an unusual note of reprimand. He had to say it twice before Peter's chatter finally stopped, replaced by a nervous, expectant silence.
"Su, do you know what that monster is?" Peter asked, chastened.
"I know. It is a highly dangerous, unstable situation that is currently being managed by military and national defense assets. I want you to step back completely. Let Tony handle this matter."
Peter sounded confused and slightly defensive. "But... I know I didn't handle Max's matter well last time. I was too emotional. This time, I will definitely be more cautious, I promise. I can help secure the area."
Su Yi sighed softly. "Peter, this is not a street brawl or a bank robbery. This matter was initiated by General Ross, a deeply stubborn and politically powerful military figure who views this 'monster' as a weapon, not a threat to be contained. Tony and General Ross know each other. Let Tony talk to General Ross. If it can be resolved diplomatically, without a fight, without involving S.H.I.E.L.D., and without further collateral damage, that is the only acceptable approach."
He emphasized the political reality. "Your appearance on the scene—even as a silent observer—will only complicate the situation, give Ross more ammunition to escalate, and potentially expose you to a level of organized military force you are not prepared for. Stay home. Focus on your friends. This is Tony's problem."
Peter understood Su Yi's meaning—the conflict was political, not just physical. "I see, Su. I understand. It's... it's just hard to sit still when something like that is happening."
"Patience, Peter," Su Yi advised. "Restraint is as vital a superpower as web-slinging. Go focus on celebrating Jessica's discharge. That's where you need to be right now."
On the other side of the city, Tony Stark was already executing his part of the plan. He didn't waste time with formalities. Using the thermal signature of the fleeing military convoys, he tracked General Ross to a temporary command post set up in a deserted hangar near the waterfront.
Ross was in a foul mood. The failure to capture Banner, the humiliation of having his best operative, Blonsky, utterly destroyed, and the certain political repercussions of his actions on the NYU campus had driven him to a dark place. He was alone, drowning his sorrows in cheap, military-issue bourbon, trying to calculate how to spin this failure into a victory before his superiors could strip him of his command.
The sudden, soft whoosh of air displacement heralded Tony Stark's arrival. The Iron Man suit, sleek and polished, landed with theatrical precision near Ross's table. Tony deployed, his expression one of bored disapproval, and he immediately sat down across from the General.
"General Ross," Tony greeted, his voice dripping with condescension. "I heard you're trying to catch a big green guy. Looks like you failed spectacularly. You bombed a university, Ross. Even for you, that's heavy-handed."
Tony immediately highlighted his shortcomings upon meeting, which only caused General Ross's face, already flushed with alcohol and fury, to contort into a mask of pure resentment.
Ross slammed his glass down. "What, Stark? Did you come to mock me? Or can you actually help me catch him? Because I'm afraid your fancy flying toaster armor is no match for that thing."
Tony Stark, ever confident in his technology, bristled. "Ross, you don't understand my armor at all. Aside from one specific person, I don't think there's anything on this planet that can defeat my armor. I've faced artillery attacks from terrorist organizations that make your tactical maneuvers look like a children's parade."
General Ross was clearly not interested in Tony's technical prowess. "Only those idiots in the council would focus on your armor, Stark. They don't see the big picture." He poured himself another, generous measure of liquor.
"If I can catch him, and successfully research him, I can cultivate an invincible army. The Hulk is impervious to bullets, impervious to artillery. He wouldn't even need any weapons or equipment. Think, Stark! No need for a massive, expensive army—just one hundred of those things, or even fewer, and they could dismantle any city, any threat, on Earth."
Tony Stark leaned back, his easy confidence draining away, replaced by an expression of genuine alarm. Ross wasn't exaggerating; he was articulating a nightmare scenario. One hundred such beings could destroy a city, and he was absolutely serious about creating them. This confirmed Su Yi's statement: the General was researching something terrifying, and his obsession knew no ethical bounds.
"Ross, you're not listening to yourself," Tony stated, his voice hard. "This is not about the next generation of super-soldiers; this is about a man who needs a cure, not a prison. And it is certainly not about creating a monster army."
He decided to use blunt persuasion. "Ross, give up the idea of continuing to capture the Hulk. Let me handle Banner—discreetly. We can find a way to stabilize him, perhaps even utilize his genius. He is a scientist, not a weapon."
Ross stared back, his eyes dark with suspicion. He didn't trust Tony Stark, the flamboyant businessman whose motives were always suspect.
"I can handle it myself," Ross snarled, pushing his chair back. "You have ulterior motives, Stark. Banner is military property, a failed project that needs to be contained or replicated, not coddled by a playboy industrialist."
Tony grabbed his arm. "Wait, Ross. You must stop. How will you solve it? You've already bombed a school in the middle of New York City. Are you planning to bomb the rest of the city next? You must immediately halt your insane actions, or you will be sent to court, and I will personally testify against you for endangering the city."
General Ross stopped in his tracks, pulling his arm away, his eyes now blazing with a desperate, animalistic frenzy. The threat of political ruin was the only thing that could make him hesitate.
"You think I haven't considered the consequences, Stark? I have already come this far. If I stop now, the consequences will be unimaginable—professional ruin, disgrace, jail. But if I can produce results, if I can deliver the world's most powerful weapon, then I gain the support of everyone who matters! The damage? I'll find an excuse. A foreign attack, a specialized terrorist cell. Then I can seize the opportunity to lead the global suppression efforts and make another fortune for the military industrial complex. Don't presume to lecture me on patriotism, Stark."
"Tony Stark, this is an internal matter for us," Ross hissed. "As a businessman, you'd best not interfere."
Tony was utterly speechless, shaking his head. "What else can you do? You've already failed, more than once. You couldn't capture him in Brazil, and you couldn't capture him here. You couldn't even keep your own operative, Blonsky, standing! You are putting the entire city at risk. Are you planning to create another monster? You should know that one uncontrollable monster is dangerous enough. If another uncontrollable monster appears, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
General Ross's frenzied mind seized on Tony's final, desperate insult. A flash of chilling inspiration crossed his face—a look of pure, destructive clarity.
That's right. Fight fire with fire. No, fight a giant with a giant!
You are the Hulk, so I will research a new giant. Who cares what color he is, as long as he can defeat the Hulk and be brought under my control. Tony Stark was right: Blonsky was no match, even with the super-soldier serum. He needed more. He needed Banner's power.
General Ross turned and left without looking back, marching straight toward the medical facility where the severely injured Blonsky was being treated.
Tony Stark spread his hands, utterly defeated. "Great. I think I just gave the General an idea for a sequel. That went well."
Persuasion had failed. Tony's attempts to use reason and political pressure were useless against the General's pathological need for power and redemption. He had confirmed Su Yi's worst fear: Ross was utterly unreasonable, driven by a self-serving madness.
Tony immediately activated his communications system. "JARVIS, prioritize contacting Rhodey—no, contact Fury at S.H.I.E.L.D. Tell them General Ross is an active, destabilizing threat in New York City, and he is attempting to create a second, uncontrollable gamma entity. We need to strip Ross of his command immediately."
Tony knew he was racing against time. Ross had already begun his actions. He would continue to capture the Hulk, but more disastrously, he would continue to strengthen Blonsky. This time, he would use the one thing that had made Banner invincible: the Hulk's gamma-irradiated blood, stolen from the battle scene, to synthesize a new, exponentially more powerful giant! The birth of the Abomination was now inevitable.
Su Yi's two core warnings were coming true, and Tony Stark was powerless to stop the bureaucratic momentum of the military industrial complex. The stage was set for a monstrous, city-shattering conflict, all while a young woman named Jessica Campbell lay oblivious in a hospital bed, preparing for her discharge into a world about to be torn apart.