Without much effort, Richard extracted the information he needed from Betty Ross's memories, confirming details that aligned perfectly with his knowledge of the timeline.
As he had expected, Betty and Bruce Banner had once been deeply in love. Both were professors in Culver University's biotechnology department, sharing a passionate interest in gamma radiation research that had brought them together both professionally and personally.
Several years ago, Betty's father—General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross—had approached them with what seemed like a straightforward research proposal. He wanted them to develop methods for protecting soldiers from gamma radiation exposure, framing it as a defensive military application.
Banner and Betty had accepted immediately. The project combined their scientific interests with substantial government funding, and at the time, Betty's relationship with her father remained warm and supportive.
What they didn't realize was that General Ross had deliberately misrepresented the true nature of the research. Rather than seeking protection from gamma radiation, he wanted to harness its power to create enhanced soldiers—a new generation of super-soldiers who would surpass even Captain America's capabilities.
The military's obsession with recreating the super-soldier serum dated back to World War II. When Dr. Abraham Erskine was assassinated by Hydra agents, the secret of his enhancement formula died with him. Despite having access to Captain America's blood and decades of research, the military had never successfully reverse-engineered the original serum.
Eventually, they had shifted strategies, launching multiple parallel programs designed to create enhanced soldiers through different methodologies. General Ross commanded one such project, believing that gamma radiation might provide the key to surpassing the original super-soldier program's results.
Under the pretense of radiation protection research, Ross had effectively tricked Betty and Banner into developing the very enhancement process he desired.
The initial experiments had shown promising results, leading Banner to make a fateful decision that would change his life forever. Overconfident in their preliminary findings, he had conducted an unauthorized human test—using himself as the subject.
The transformation into the Hulk had been immediate and catastrophic. In his uncontrolled state, Banner had injured both Betty and General Ross before fleeing into the wilderness, beginning a fugitive existence that had lasted for years.
When Betty discovered the true purpose behind their research and learned that her father was actively hunting the man she loved, their relationship had deteriorated beyond repair. The father-daughter bond that had once been so strong was shattered by betrayal and conflicting loyalties.
General Ross had confiscated all research materials and assigned new scientists to continue the gamma radiation experiments, but progress had stalled completely without Banner's expertise. Despite years of effort, no one had been able to replicate his original transformation or understand why he alone had survived the process.
Meanwhile, Betty had remained at Culver University, officially focusing on her teaching responsibilities while privately hoping for Banner's eventual return. Despite the lack of contact for several years, she had never truly moved on from their relationship.
After completing his mental scan, Richard withdrew from Betty's mind and considered his options.
His plan remained elegantly simple: first, Samuel Sterns would lure Banner back to New York with promises of a potential cure. Second, Richard would abduct Betty, ensuring that Banner's emotional state reached the peak fury necessary for a proper Hulk manifestation. Finally, he would engage the enraged giant in combat—not because he expected a challenging fight, but because the opportunity was simply too entertaining to pass up.
With his strategy confirmed, Richard teleported away from Culver University. There were still several hours before classes ended, and he had no intention of sitting idle.
His next destination was the Pentagon, where he planned to examine General Ross's memories and assess the current state of the gamma radiation program.
The distance between Virginia and Washington D.C. was negligible for someone with instantaneous teleportation. Richard materialized in the airspace above the Pentagon, floating at high altitude while activating his enhanced vision and telepathic abilities.
Locating General Ross proved surprisingly easy—while the Pentagon housed numerous military officials, most generals were stationed at field commands rather than maintaining permanent offices in the building.
Once Richard had identified his target, he immediately established a telepathic link and began examining the general's recent memories.
The information he discovered was both predictable and disappointing. Despite several years of continued research and substantial financial investment, the gamma radiation program had made virtually no progress since Banner's disappearance.
General Ross had recruited numerous scientists to replace Banner, but none possessed the unique combination of expertise and intuitive understanding that had made the original experiments possible. The new research teams couldn't even reliably reproduce Banner's initial results, let alone advance the science further.
What General Ross didn't understand—and couldn't accept—was that Banner's transformation into the Hulk wasn't simply a matter of gamma radiation exposure. There were deeper forces at work, cosmic elements that made Banner uniquely suited for his monstrous alter ego.
In the most recent comic interpretations, the Hulk's origin had been retconned to involve gamma-powered entities and supernatural influences far beyond conventional science. However, in the cinematic universe, such mystical elements were unlikely to be relevant.
After completing his examination of General Ross's memories, Richard chose not to make direct contact. Instead, he teleported back to the Culver University area to begin the next phase of his plan.
One Week Later
Time had passed with surprising swiftness, bringing Richard to the completion of what he privately considered his most audacious side project to date.
While he had made brief trips back to Los Angeles to check on Wanda and Pietro's continued development, the majority of his week had been devoted to a single objective: systematically winning Betty Ross's affections.
In simpler terms, he was deliberately stealing Banner's girlfriend.
Despite Betty's continued emotional attachment to her missing lover, Banner's multi-year absence had created an opportunity that Richard exploited with calculated precision. Without resorting to any supernatural abilities, he had relied purely on natural charisma, physical attractiveness, and carefully crafted conversation to break through her psychological defenses.
Within seven days, their relationship had evolved from complete strangers to intimate friends who shared their deepest thoughts and feelings. While they hadn't yet progressed to physical intimacy, that milestone seemed inevitable given the current trajectory.
Richard found himself genuinely impressed by Betty as both a person and a woman. While she might not possess the stunning beauty of some individuals he had encountered, she was unquestionably attractive. Combined with her height of approximately five feet seven inches and the intellectual sophistication that came with her academic background, she represented an appealing combination of physical and mental qualities.
Betty's popularity at Culver University was evident in both her students' enthusiasm for her classes and the number of male faculty members who showed obvious romantic interest. However, none of her colleagues had successfully penetrated the emotional barriers she had erected since Banner's departure.
In the original timeline, Betty would eventually begin dating a psychiatrist after giving up hope of Banner's return. However, either that relationship hadn't yet formed or Richard's intervention had prevented its development entirely.
Culver University - Present Day
Richard sat on his usual bench outside the biotechnology building, waiting for Betty to finish her afternoon classes. The routine had become comfortable over the past week, providing him with a sense of normalcy that he rarely experienced.
When the dismissal bell rang, he watched Betty emerge from the building in animated conversation with several colleagues. The moment she spotted him, her face lit up with genuine pleasure.
"I didn't expect to see you today," she said as she approached, her voice carrying notes of surprise and happiness.
"I found myself with free time and thought I'd ask if you're available for dinner tonight," Richard replied smoothly.
"I'd love to," Betty answered without hesitation.
"Excellent. Shall we go?"
Rather than heading directly to a restaurant, Richard suggested stopping by Betty's house first. The afternoon was still young, and Betty wanted to change out of her professional attire before their evening together.
The drive to Betty's residence took only fifteen minutes through the light afternoon traffic. Her home was a modest single-family house that reflected her academic salary rather than any family wealth—despite her father's military rank, Betty clearly preferred to maintain financial independence.
"Would you like to come in for coffee?" Betty asked as they pulled into her driveway.
"That sounds perfect," Richard agreed with a warm smile.
While he and Betty had become close friends over the past week, sharing personal stories and intellectual discussions, he had never been invited into her private space. The gesture represented a significant step forward in their developing relationship.
Betty's living room reflected her personality—comfortable furniture arranged for conversation, bookshelves filled with scientific journals and literature, and subtle decorative touches that suggested refined taste without ostentation.
"How do you take your coffee?" Betty asked as she set down her purse and moved toward the kitchen.
"Light on sugar, heavy on cream," Richard replied, settling onto her sofa to examine the room more closely.
The space felt lived-in but lonely, as if it had been designed for two people but inhabited by only one for an extended period. Subtle signs of Banner's former presence remained—a second coffee mug that was never used, space on the bookshelves where volumes had been removed, and an emotional emptiness that no amount of professional success could fill.
Betty returned with two steaming mugs, handing one to Richard before settling beside him on the sofa.
"Thank you," he said, accepting the coffee and noting how her fingers lingered against his during the exchange.
They spent several minutes in comfortable conversation, discussing Betty's classes, Richard's mysterious business interests, and the small observations about life that had become the foundation of their friendship.
When Betty excused herself to change clothes, Richard's phone vibrated with an incoming message. He glanced at the screen and smiled with satisfaction.
The text was from Dr. Samuel Sterns: "Mr. Green has returned to New York. He's requesting an immediate meeting. What should I tell him?"
Richard's pulse quickened with anticipation. After a week of careful preparation, the final phase of his plan was beginning.
He quickly typed a response: "Schedule the meeting for noon, three days from now. Use your laboratory at Greyburn College."
Sterns's reply came within seconds: "Understood. I'll send the details immediately."
Richard pocketed his phone just as Betty returned to the living room, now wearing an elegant light green dress that accentuated her figure without being overtly provocative.
"That color suits you perfectly," Richard observed, his appreciation clearly genuine.
Betty's smile in response was radiant, carrying an emotional warmth that spoke to the connection they had developed over the past week.
They spent another twenty minutes in conversation before departing for the city's commercial district, where Richard had planned an evening that would serve multiple purposes—strengthening their bond while positioning himself for the dramatic events to come.
After browsing through several upscale shops like a couple enjoying each other's company, they arrived at the French restaurant where Richard had made reservations.
While not a Michelin-starred establishment, the venue possessed an excellent reputation for both cuisine and atmosphere. The evening unfolded with wine, sophisticated food, and the kind of intimate conversation that transformed friendship into something deeper.
As Richard drove Betty home after dinner, the atmosphere in the car carried an electric tension that both passengers recognized but neither acknowledged directly.
"Would you like to come in?" Betty asked as they reached her house, her voice carrying implications that went far beyond simple hospitality.
"I'd be delighted," Richard replied, understanding perfectly what she was offering.
He drove around to the garage behind her house rather than parking in the street—a choice that communicated his intentions as clearly as words could have done.
As soon as they entered the living room from the garage, Betty turned and embraced him, initiating a passionate kiss that eliminated any remaining ambiguity about the evening's direction.
What followed was a natural progression that required no discussion or hesitation. Within minutes, they had moved to Betty's bedroom, where they spent the next hour exploring the physical dimension of their rapidly developing relationship.
Later That Evening
Betty lay curled against Richard's side, her face flushed with satisfaction and her eyes filled with an affection that went far beyond simple physical attraction.
For her, the experience had been intense and emotionally significant—a breakthrough that marked her first serious romantic connection since Banner's disappearance.
For Richard, while personally enjoyable, the encounter represented just another element in his larger strategic framework. With his enhanced physiology, he could have continued for hours without fatigue, but he recognized that moderation was more appropriate given Betty's human limitations.
As he absently traced patterns on Betty's bare skin with his fingertips, Richard's mind was already focused on the events that would unfold in three days' time.
Banner's return to New York would trigger a sequence of dramatic confrontations that would reshape multiple lives. Richard intended to be at the center of those events, orchestrating outcomes according to his own agenda while ensuring that all the major players performed their roles according to his carefully constructed script.