The theft at Stark Industries was just the beginning.
Soon, Nolan received more troubling news from Tony Stark: Captain Steve Rogers had been injured, and the injuries were serious.
"Why do all these terrible things keep happening lately?" Nolan muttered, exasperated.
The recent events left him uneasy.
Neither the theft at Stark Industries nor Steve Rogers' injury was part of the "script" he knew.
In other words, these incidents were completely out of his control.
For the events he was familiar with, whether he participated or not, he always knew the outcome.
But these recent developments were entirely unfamiliar, and that uncertainty gnawed at him.
Still, there was nothing he could do for now.
Hopefully, it was just an illusion, Nolan sighed.
Since these events were outside the storyline he knew, they likely wouldn't have a major impact on the world.
He didn't need to intervene.
With that in mind, he decided to set it aside for now and focus on upgrading the Thor Armor's propulsion system.
It was no simple task.
As he immersed himself in his work, he remained unaware that events beyond his control continued to unfold one by one.
At S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury was struggling to keep up with the chaos.
"So the intelligence you're talking about… is that the Samuel Sterns who was supposedly killed by Nolan Locke?" Fury asked, skeptical, suspecting Phil Coulson might be bluffing.
But Coulson had proof.
A monster created from Hulk's cells had caught his attention when he confirmed the body, and he had personally verified it.
"Yes, Director," Coulson said with a wry smile.
He knew the claim sounded absurd, but it was the conclusion reached by hundreds of tireless S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
Fury did not immediately dismiss it. Instead, he examined the records Coulson presented.
Based on them, it seemed possible it was indeed Samuel Sterns.
But the problem was clear: Samuel Sterns was supposed to be dead.
Unless… there was a second Samuel Sterns.
But how could that be possible?
"Keep investigating. Whether this Sterns is alive or some ghost, I need proof," Fury said firmly.
Coulson nodded. Before leaving, he spoke almost instinctively:
"Director, isn't S.H.I.E.L.D.'s job always dealing with the impossible?"
Fury paused, considering the words. It did make a certain sense.
Still, proof was needed. More proof.
That very night, as Fury was about to sleep, he received a call that sent him rushing to his office.
Waiting for him was Deputy Director Maria Hill.
"The genetic database has been breached. Are you sure?"
Fury's face was harder to read than ever. Even his usually calm eye was wide with shock, disbelief, and anger.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. genetic database sounded innocuous.
In reality, it was one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most critical facilities.
Everyone knew the value of genetics.
And Fury certainly understood.
As the department handling anomalous events, S.H.I.E.L.D. had long collected samples from extraordinary species, even fragments of the Leviathan's genes.
For S.H.I.E.L.D., this was invaluable.
"So? How do you explain this?" Fury demanded, locking eyes with Hill.
Hill forced a bitter smile.
"Sorry, Director. There's nothing we could do," she admitted, producing a USB drive.
"It contains the full record of the incident."
Fury took it and inserted it into the computer.
The surveillance footage began normally.
The genetic database, hidden deep within S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secret base, should have been untraceable.
Yet soon, a shadow darted across the video feed.
"What is that?" Fury asked.
"Unknown," Hill admitted.
"We only know it's an extremely fast creature. Within three seconds, it eliminated all outer guards."
"All of them?" Fury asked, astonished. He knew just how elite S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were.
"Yes, all of them," Hill replied firmly.
"And that's just the beginning. After killing the guards, these 'creatures' tried to infiltrate the base. They failed. Our defenses exceeded their expectations."
"Then how was the genetic material stolen?" Fury asked, though he soon realized the answer.
On the feed appeared a towering, humanoid monster, muscles rippling with raw power.
The camera switched to another angle at the base's main gate.
The massive gate was the most effective safeguard, which is why the creatures had failed to penetrate the base earlier.
But when the Abomination-like creature reached the gate, it roared to the sky.
Then, it swung a fist at the steel barrier.
There was no sound on the footage, but Fury could almost hear the impact.
The steel door buckled.
This was impossible!
Fury's face twisted in horror.
"What kind of creature has this kind of strength? Even the Hulk couldn't generate power like this!"
Hill said nothing. The monster's assault continued.
Each punch battered the gate as if it were plastic.
Every strike caused severe structural damage.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s exposed weapons fired at it, yet it appeared unfazed, feeling no pain at all.
Moreover, shadows flitted across the footage, and the weapons were destroyed one by one.
"This can't be…" Fury whispered to himself.
He now understood why the genetic database had been breached.
No one could stop this army of monsters not even fully armed S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
Sure enough, the feed showed agents in exoskeletons being torn apart effortlessly.
The mighty S.H.I.E.L.D. defense system was utterly useless.
Those Abomination-like monsters…
Fury recalled Coulson's report.
Samuel Sterns… was alive!