This fire is growing
It's burning deep inside of me.
Focused
Driven
Certain
The way it's got to be
~ Determined – Mudvayne
-o-
Chapter 29: It All Began Again
It all began again the moment the news footage of the Avengers team against the alien reached international levels the first month since the battles had ended.
That much press coverage, that many people with devices that could capture video footage in that area, and the internet accessible to each and every one of them. The organization, one which hid under the front of the Brandt International Genetics & Pharmaceuticals Inc, had worked diligently around the clock under the guidance of one Jennifer Dupont and Sidonie Brandt to manage all sightings of the one now known as Cin. Unfortunately, they could not contain such a flow this time around. They tried their hardest, even with such advanced technology at their disposal. Some things were just meant to go unleashed.
The moment Sido had taken her daughter to Midtown to find her mate, and to help the Avengers, they had known they were taking a big risk. However, with an ally like Stark Industries on their side, and the potential of the Avengers team with SHIELD backing, they had something they hadn't had before. A legitimate way of defending themselves and protecting Ana.
Now, all Sido and Jenn could do were to keep an eye out for the signs of the LIFE Foundation to make their move. And they would too. They weren't ones to give up easily.
-o-
"There! Pause it there!"
The computer monitor was showing news footage of the attack on Manhattan by the alien army three months before. The man behind the monitor, who was dressed in a pristine white lab coat and looking particularly nervous, tapped on the keyboard, pausing the shaky footage of what belonged to a smart phone. On display was an unfocused shot of a tall, lithe red-veined creature in the large arms of an even bigger, green skinned monstrosity. They had been fighting off the horde of aliens in Midtown and the footage had been paused right as the green one had been about to throw the female. Even to the untrained eye, one could see that the two monsters were behaving in a very familiar manner.
The large hulking thing was very protective of the female.
"That's it! That's her!" exclaimed another man, who was standing behind the man sitting behind the computer. He started laughing in exuberant way, one that made the man at the desk fidget in an uncomfortable manner. "After all this time, they've finally let something slip." He leaned over the man's shoulder, his glasses reflecting the light of the monitor. "Just look at her... After all of these years, she's grown magnificently. All that rage... That power..."
The man in the glasses paused as he focused his gaze on the green monster and frowned lightly. "But that thing... What is that with her?"
The man in the white coat swallowed nervously as he moved the cursor of the mouse to another window and pulled up a file, one showing a fight between that of it and another monstrosity in the middle of Harlem a year prior. "Th-that is the Hulk. He's a monster carried by one Dr. Bruce Banner. You could say he is like project 01. He is only brought about if provoked into a rage. He disappeared after that fight with the... Abomination. That is what the U.S. Government calls the other creature."
"The Hulk..." The man in the glasses studied the unfocused shot with extreme interest. "Now, how did such a large specimen come across our darling little fireball..."
The man in the white coat could only swallow nervously. The man in glasses was apparently making him very uncomfortable. "I'm... not sure sir. They were fighting with several others against the alien army that attacked. I've searched what I could and found SHIELD has all their fingers wrapped tightly around them. They have all their current info on these people under tight security. I can't hack into their system without setting something off."
"Of course not, we wouldn't want to bring attention to ourselves now." The man in glasses didn't even look upset. "But, I'm sure if we keep sniffing around we can dig something else up." He continued to study the still frame before he ordered the other man to play the video again. It started up, this time with a female news anchor's voice coming through the speakers, commenting on the raging monsters. They split to another shot of the Harlem fight from the year before and back to the current footage. It was at that moment that the Hulk was seen nuzzling the neck of the red-veined female before hurling her at one of the large, floating monstrosities. This time subtitles appeared at the bottom of the screen.
Mrs. Hulk?
Green monster from Harlem appears again with female by its side. Alien hordes decimated.
Monsters or Heroes?
"Pause it!" The man in glasses cried out, pointing to the moment the Hulk had nuzzled the female's neck. The man in the white coat did as he said and the unfocused frame was better than before despite quality. "Do you see it, Parsons? Do you see it!" He reached out to shake the man's shoulder in an excited grip. "There! Look at her face!"
The man in the white coat, named Parsons, cleared his throat and looked at the still shot. He really couldn't make out what he was expecting to see. His silence must have been telling because the man in glasses shook his shoulder again. "Look at her face! She's mated to this thing..." He started laughing again, this time a triumphant laugh. "I cannot believe it! They had allowed her to become mated! Can you imagine Parsons? The offspring that could come from the union of these two creatures... All that rage and power combined into one being! The potential of harnessing an entire army of such beings!"
"Um... Dr. Dunns," said Parsons to the man in the glasses. "How exactly would you think such a thing would be possible? They're both powerful creatures running free... We couldn't take them alone."
"No, that is true," said Dunns as he released the other man's shoulder. "However, I'm sure we are not the only ones who are interested in having such power." He stood up straight, the manic look now gone from his eyes. "This Hulk creature has to have its own interested parties. I say we track them down and work up a partnership. Don't you?"
Dr. Anthony Parsons didn't say anything to this. He simply swallowed and nodded. Not for the first time in the last twenty years of his employment with the LIFE Foundation, he was beginning to question the true motives of his employers. Protecting an underground fall out shelter with their super soldier army was understandable enough. But to go after the female again after she had decimated their forces the last time they had tried to acquire her...
Now, she wasn't alone and Dr. Parsons had a hunch that the man who was Dr. Bruce Banner was not one to mess with. He wouldn't be alone either.
Parsons swallowed and wondered just how badly this was all going to turn out for all of them in the end.
-o-
Elizabeth "Betty" Ross was nervous.
She could admit that.
She stood at the front doors of the expansive Stark Tower in Midtown Manhattan, watching the comings and goings of construction workers and various employees. She was a beautiful woman, with long dark brown hair that hung to the middle of her back. Her blue eyes were large and filled with anxiety. The moment she had seen the news footage a few months ago of the alien attack, and she had seen Bruce, her whole world had stopped. She hadn't seen him or heard from him going on almost a year. The last time had been when he had sent her mother's necklace back to her in the mail. The one she had pawned to finance their trip to New York.
Had it been a year since then?
Goodness, it felt like another life.
It had taken her plenty of blackmailing and favors to get the time off from her job at Culver University to come here to Manhattan. After two months, she finally got the paid time off and couldn't believe she was finally here. Bruce was in there somewhere, she was sure of it. She had no idea why she needed to see him again. It was obvious he had wanted to break ties with her because of the Hulk. He didn't want to hurt her. That was probably it though. The fact that he loved her enough to let her go, to keep her safe...
She took in a breath as she adjusted the strap to her purse and into the lobby of the tower. She had to maneuver her way around the bustle of construction workers but she made it to the reception desk in one piece.
"Yes, can help you?" greeted a very pretty and very bubbly woman behind the desk, her dyed honey blonde hair hung in neat curls around her face.
"Uh, yes," said Betty, adjusting her strap again as the nervousness kicked in. "I'm here to see Dr. Bruce Banner."
The smile had frozen for just a split second on the receptionist's face but Betty had caught it. The woman shook her head as she turned back to her computer and typed away at the keyboard. "I'm sorry ma'am but we do not have an employee by that name here. Was there anything else I can help you with today?"
Betty frowned at the receptionist. "No, thank you," she said before she turned and left the lobby. Once outside on the busy street, she glanced up at the tall tower before looking around on the sidewalk. She caught sight of construction workers making their way in and out of an alleyway. Resolve overtook her nervousness and she walked toward the alley, her steps quick and purposeful...
(A/n) Sorry the chapter is short. I'm working on several ideas on this and they all want to run away with me. Thanks for the feedback as always my lovelies. Also, an interesting thought from Guest Tara: "It seems like its impossible for Bruce and Ana to make love as they seem to transform into Cin and Hulk. During their first time, didn't Ana mention that the more often they do...it, the more they are in control, thus do not necessarily have to transform." Yes, good point! I'm sorry for not telling it properly. When they take things slowly and carefully, they can be intimate without triggering their other selves. However, emotions play a big part for them so after the scenes with the Helicarrier, when both had thought the other had perished, finding each other again alive and well had set off some very strong emotions. They try to be careful but sometimes can't help themselves. I'll do my best to tell the story better. I'm work in progress. Thanks for the great review!
