Natasha Romanoff had just returned from dismantling an arms ring when she was called into Director Fury's office.
"Director," she asked with a frown, "you want me to bring in the Hulk?"
Fury shook his head. "Not the Hulk, Natasha. Dr. Banner. This time, we don't need a green wrecking ball—we need a mind. Banner's the only man alive who understands gamma radiation at this level, and right now we need him to help us find the Tesseract."
As they walked, Fury laid out the situation in clipped, deliberate words.
A few days ago, Dr. Erik Selvig had detected strange surges from the Tesseract. Every four hours, it released a pulse of energy. Before S.H.I.E.L.D. could act, the Cube tore open a gate—and someone stepped through.
The intruder stole the Tesseract, struck down Selvig and Barton, and left the entire base in ruins. The resulting energy surge buried half the complex underground. Hill had nearly been crushed alive, saved only by quick intervention.
Fury's one good eye hardened. "The Cube's energy signature is high enough to destabilize the planet. We need it back before it tears the Earth apart. Banner can track the gamma emissions—it's his field."
Natasha crossed her arms. "With respect, Director… you know better than anyone how unstable Banner is. If he turns, no one on this planet can restrain him. Not me. Not anyone—except maybe Lock."
"The Bureau's already considered that," Fury said smoothly. "Your job is to avoid provoking him. If he does transform, we've prepared a… failsafe."
Her eyes narrowed. "A failsafe? What kind of weapon are we talking about?"
For the first time in the conversation, Fury's lips twitched into something almost like a smirk. He handed her a sealed envelope and a recorder.
"This is the result of years of study by our psychological operations unit. If Banner turns, you deploy this."
Natasha opened the envelope. She blinked once. Then again. Her brows knit together, and a dry laugh escaped her throat.
"…Director, you cannot be serious."
"I'm deadly serious." Fury leaned forward, voice low. "This is war. I don't joke about survival. Based on Hulk's psychological profile, this method has a ninety percent success rate of calming him down."
Ninety percent. For a spy who lived daily on margins far slimmer than that, it was a number worth respecting.
In the original reports, Natasha remembered, she had managed to talk the Hulk down using subtle changes in tone, body language, and carefully chosen words—a razor's edge skill that could never be replicated by just anyone.
But Fury was telling her she could accomplish the same effect by… doing this?
She shook her head, half in disbelief. But the longer she looked at the so-called weapon, the more she thought—ridiculous or not—it just might work.
Fury straightened. "I've assigned you the Ninth Elite Unit. They're waiting in the armory. Hand out the failsafes."
The Ninth Unit was giants—over a dozen men built like tanks, armored head to toe. When Natasha entered, they immediately stood at attention.
"Ma'am!"
"At ease," she ordered. "You all know the mission: we're contacting Dr. Banner. Not capturing the Hulk. Do not antagonize him."
One of the soldiers spoke up, voice grim. "With all due respect, ma'am… nobody can guarantee he won't transform. We've seen what happens."
A shadow of memory passed over several faces. Many of them had hunted the Hulk in years past. They knew exactly how unstoppable the green monster was.
Natasha's tone hardened. "The Bureau anticipated this. That's why you've each been issued a failsafe."
She handed out the sealed packets.
The men opened them. Silence filled the room. Then—collective disbelief. A dozen pairs of eyes darted around. Some mouths opened, half ready to curse, but discipline held them back.
Finally, one unlucky man was shoved forward by his comrades—lthe oser of an impromptu bet. He was massive, nearly seven feet tall and weighing well over four hundred pounds. Yet the expression on his face was that of a condemned man.
"Uh… boss?" he muttered. "This… this is the weapon? You're not pulling our leg?"
Natasha's stare could have frozen steel. "It's alert level seven. This is war. Do I look like I'm joking?"
The man swallowed hard. "But… this secret weapon—"
"—is your best chance at living through this," she cut him off. "Use it or don't. But if you don't, your family can start preparing the pension paperwork."
She didn't let them see her own doubt. Soldiers didn't need their commander's misgivings—they needed certainty.
"Move out."
Calcutta, India.
The slums were sweltering, alive with the buzz of disease and desperation. Here, Dr. Bruce Banner quietly offered what aid he could. He wasn't a physician, but his mind was sharp enough to diagnose and treat basic illnesses.
When a little girl appeared at his door begging for help, he followed without hesitation—only to find himself led into a deserted building on the outskirts of the city.
The girl slipped away. And Natasha Romanoff stepped from the shadows.
Banner's lips tightened. "Clever. Out here, no civilians get hurt. Let me guess—place is already surrounded."
"I just want to talk," Natasha said, keeping her posture loose, unthreatening. "We need your help."
"Your name?"
"Natasha."
"Nice name," Banner murmured. "But what if I say no?"
"This isn't about us. It's about global security. Once you know the situation, you'll agree."
His eyes darkened. "And if the other guy says no?"
She gave a wry smile. "Then I'll convince him, too."
Banner slammed his palms on the table, shouting: "Lie! You want to cage me! When you can't catch me, you try to trick me!"
Instinctively, Natasha retreated, rolling backward through the window. She didn't even reach for the pistol hidden beneath the table. What good were bullets against the Hulk?
Banner froze, startled. He hadn't meant to push that far. His heartbeat eased—then spiked. His breathing grew ragged. His skin began to turn green.
"No, no, no…"
The change was unstoppable.
"RRRROOOOAAARRR!"
The Hulk burst forth. His roar shook the slums, though the weary residents barely looked up. For them, catastrophe was nothing new.
Natasha's voice rang out through the comms. "Prepare the failsafes!"
The elite soldiers snapped open their packets, pulled out the Bureau's "weapon"—and strapped it over their faces.
Every single one of them now wore a mask printed with the same image.
Lock's grinning face stared back at the Hulk from a dozen directions.
---
New Fanfic Is Out: "Naruto: Reborn as Konoha's Invisible Assassin." Please Show Your Support for It
A/N: Mass Chapter Release On Patreon
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San