On the southern outskirts of Vale, a warehouse containing large amounts of dust, aircrafts, and weapon, was the hideout of the infamous criminal Roman Torchwick. However he wasn't alone in this warehouse; Many members of the terrorist organization, The White Fang, were gathered to load the cargos ships full of dust or train themselves for any heist or battles that were to come. Speaking of Torchwick, he was currently having a meeting with a couple of his associates. A woman by the name of Cinder Fall who he is working for, A young man with grey hair and gauntlet boots by the name of Mercury Black, a girl with emerald colored hair called Emerald Sustrai, and lastly a shorter young lady with a pink and brown mixed hair color carrying an umbrella. Her name was Neopolitan; Neo is what most everyone called her. Roman called them to the meeting room so they could discuss his plan Doctor Bruce Banner, who he got word was seen in the city of Vale.

"Roman, why exactly do you want to capture this scientist anyway? He doesn't seem to be of use to us and he'll just get in the way of my plans." Cinder wasn't on board with Roman's idea of getting Bruce, she had her own plans and the man would just be in the way.

"Cindy cindy cindy….I may be an infamous criminal, but I'm not an idiot. Getting Doctor Banner will be greatly beneficial for all of us and help make your plan 10x more effective and efficient." boasted Roman.

"What? By getting that Hulk monster to help us? That thing would kill us before it could help us crush the city to a pulp." stated Mercury who rested his feet on the table they were sitting at.

"On the contrary my boy, I have an ally that will give us a handsome reward of weapons and troops if we cooperate and help him capture Banner."

This got Cinder's attention as she leaned in with interested. "Do tell Roman? They will give us weaponry to get the job done easier?"

"More than that, advance weaponry that would put even Atlas Weaponry to shame. If we cooperate it'll look good in our favor."

Emerald was next to speak up, "So who is this person that apparently can give us the weaponry and troops to fight? I mean we already have the White Fang. I doubt they would be ok with us dropping them for some other group."

"Ah, but what I have, The White Fang would bow before me to give to them."

Cinder, Mercury, Emerald, and Neo turned to the door's entrance to see a man standing at the door. He walked further into the room and the four automatically took notice of his facial appearance, well more like his skull. His skull was completely red with bloodshot eyes. His nose was missing and his teeth were fully visible. He wore a war general's uniform with a small octopus like symbol on his shirt. Emerald and Neo were creeped out by his skull like appearance while Mercury was impressed by the creepy look.

"...and just who are you to interrupt our meeting sir?" asked Cinder.

"Why...I am Johann Shmidt. But you, my dear, can call me...The Red Skull."

Roman walked over to Skull to properly introduce him. "This is the person I was telling you about. He is the leader of an army called Hydra, and they can easily help you cinder. If you cooperate with us and help us capture Doctor Banner. With the help of Hydra, Vale, and the other kingdoms will be ours for the taking. What do you say Cindy? How about we take this one chance for true power?"

Cinder thought for a moment, would this strange man really help her plans go full steam ahead? She stood up and walked over to Red Skull.

"Tell me Skull, how powerful is the Hydra Army?"

This brought a devilish grin to the man's face as he walked out the room with Roman and Cinder following him. Red Skull already has about 40 troops stationed outside of the warehouse to demonstrate their power if needed to do so. Cinder was impressed by how organized the men and women looked.

"Allow me to show you the power of Hydra. We are an unstoppable force that shall not be trifled with. Allow one of my men to fight against one of these...animals you keep around."

Roman and Cinder looked at each other for a moment as Roman called over a White Fang Grunt. This one grunt walked over as Red Skull had one of his men step forward. Roman walked over to the White Fang grunt and asked, "What's your name son?"

"Umm...Ryan sir?

"Ryan aye...I knew a Ryan once...He had a hobby of putting animals in holes. Anyway, I want to see if you can beat this gentleman right here in a little fight. Just a little test, so don't worry about getting badly hurt during this kid." Roman pushed him over as the Hydra member took a fighting stance. Ryan sighed as he took a fighting stance and went to get in a quick attack, however the Hydra grunt was prepared and quickly grabbed Ryan's arm and threw him to the ground and hit him square in the chest which made Ryan lose his breath quickly and struggle to breath. He got up slowly only to take a dive kick to the face and go back on the ground knocked out.

Roman whistled and gave a standing ovation for what he just saw. "I must say Skull, that was the quickest I just saw one of these animals go down that wasn't by mine of one of my associates hands. I'm impressed."

"Of course, these are trained military men and women that are ready for any kind of combat. You have my word Roman, get me Bruce Banner, and my men and weapons will all be yours to use. What do you say? Do we have a deal?"

Roman looked back at Cinder and folded his arms. "Well, what do you say Cinder? We get the kids to capture Banner and we get an even stronger army?"

She looked to Roman and then to Skull thinking over the choice. On one hand, she would be getting herself involved with a man that could turn into a beast with devastating power. On the other, that power could be useful for taking down the kingdoms. A wide sinister grin grew on Cinder's face as she reached a hand out to Red Skull.

"You have a deal Red Skull. I'll have two of my associates go capture the doctor and bring him back alive."

Skull smiled and shook the woman's hand. "Excellent Choice Miss Fall. Believe me, you won't regret trusting me."

"Let's hope that I don't…"


After meeting with Red Skull, everyone went their separate ways, except for Roman and Cinder who took stayed behind to talk a little longer.

"Are you sure you can trust this man Roman? He's more bizarre than any Fanus or Criminal Mastermind I have met." She rested her hand on her hips as she sat on the meeting room table in front of the man. Roman pulled out a Cigar and lit it taking a long puff of it.

"Relax, I know what I am doing Cindy. Just put your faith in me for once."

"...Very well. You do know what will happen if you this all backfires on us." She got up walking away from him. He rolled his eyes at the comment; of course he knew she's burn him alive for his stupidity, he wasn't going to do something stupid to get himself killed.

"Oh and by the way Roman." He turned to her only for a fireball to go his direction and burn his cigar to ashes. He looked back at cinder whose hand was aflame.

"Don't ever call me Cindy again."