Disclaimer: I don't own Hulk.

AN: This chapter is a little shorter than the other have been but when I got to the end it just felt like the right place to stop. It was going to be longer but like I said this felt right. Anyway hope you enjoy. Not much left to this story.

Chapter 8: Chains

Hellicarrier in the Pacific

Time: 2205 h

The agents in the helm where running frantic as Fury entered the room. "Where did that transmission come from?" he yelled.

"Working on it sir," said one of the technicians.

"New Mexico," another began.

That was all Fury needed to know. He turned and ran toward the training room. In a couple of minutes he was looking at Agent Barton as he shot different targets. "Barton," Fury called.

"Sir?" Hawkeye responded without even missing a beat in his rhythm.

"Was there any form of communication left to the Hulks when they were dropped off in the desert?"

"Just a radio for them to contact us when they had finished training."

"Good."

"Did you need to contact them sir?"

"No. I just needed to make sure that no one else could as well."

Hawkeye said nothing as he watched the Director leave the room. Barton waited a few minutes before he walked out of the training room and to his private quarters. When he arrived he turned on the TV and immediately saw why Fury had asked about the Hulks' means of communications. But he couldn't help the feeling that Hulk needed to know.

If he told Banner he would no doubt have to deal with Fury's anger when he returned. On the other hand he knew that not telling Bruce could make him anger and Barton knew he couldn't deal with a mad Hulk. It wouldn't be the first time he had decided not to follow the director's orders.

Gamma Base

Office of Leader

Time: 2300 h

"Leader do you really expect SHIELD to have left Banner and his friends a TV?"

"No, Blonsky I don't think so. But when Banner finds out that they have hidden this information from him…"

"He will take no SHIELD for us," Sampson interjected.

"Quite," Leader said calmly.

"But would it not be better to take the Hulk now?" Titania asked.

"No. To contain the Hulk extreme measures must be taken. A simple collar like was placed on Blonsky will not work on the Hulk. His healing factor will burn the sedative from his body before it can take effect. The only thing that con contain him is the adamantium prison cell that he will be lured into."

"But how will Banner find out?" Blonsky asked.

"I am sending a copy of our recording to him. He will find out leave it up to me," Leader ended the conversation.

"And what about the Devil Hulk? How do you plan on controlling him?" asked Titania.

"I don't need to control him I just have to unleash him."

Death Valley

Days since last incident: 0

Time: 2300 h

Jen and Rick where still asleep. Bruce's dream had disturbed him. The idea that the Hulk just wanted to protect the ones that he cared about was a little difficult to comprehend. It would have been simpler if he had been that Hulk just like to smash things. But the more he help Rick and Jen the more he began to realize that the Hulks aren't as simple as he had always thought.

Bruce lay on his back looking up at the stars. He thought about his mother. She had been a kind woman. She was probable the nicest person Bruce had ever known. How she ended up with someone like his father was hard to imagine. She had told him once that when they first met he was kind. It was after she became pregnant with Bruce that he had turned violent.

The monster gene. Was it true? Was there some gene that he possessed that helped create the Hulk. He had never thought to test his blood before the experiment. It would however explain why every monster had been made had come from his blood. He decided then that when he got done with the raining he would take a closer look at what his genome looked like.

As he lay looking at the stars he saw one go out. Supernova, Bruce thought. Then it was back. He furrowed his brow in confusion. Another star flicked. He knew they weren't satellites but he couldn't figure out what was going one. He began to make out a shape. It looked like a small parachute with something rectangular hanging from it. As it got closer he realized that was exactly what it was.

Bruce jumped to his feet just in time to catch the object. It was a tablet. As he examined it the screen came to life and a video began to play. The screen showed the face of Samuel Stern, only different. His head was longer and green. "Hello Bruce," Stern said. The volume was just high enough for only him to hear.

"I sent you a message but evidently SHIELD didn't see fit to tell you. If they had you would have been her an hour ago," Stern paused as he smiled wickedly. The camera turned to show Betty, tied to a chair. Bruce's heart stopped. "That's right Bruce," Sterns voice continued. "We have her. Now I want you to come here, to Gamma Base. Face us," the camera turned back to show Sterns joined by Blonsky, Titania, and Leonard Sampson. "That is if you don't want her to become a Hulk as well."

The video ended. Anger flashed through Bruce like a hot knife. The next thing he knew the tablet was on the ground and he was the Hulk. There was no division between them now. They were united in their anger at the man who thought he could take on Hulk. He would pay for taking Betty.

Hulk didn't wake the other. This fight was personal. He was the strongest he would take on all of them and he would win. Hulk began to run in the direction he knew would lead him to Gamma Base.

When the base finally appeared a half hour later Hulk let out a roar that shook he earth. They would know he was coming but he didn't care. A figure came running to meet him. It was Abomination. The two monsters collided with such force the ground beneath them cracked open. They flew through the air toward the base as Hulk pummeled every inch of the Abomination. They crashed down about two hundred feet from the outer wall of the base.

Another figure came barreling around the corner. It looked like a grey hairless orangutan with flames dancing over its body. The monster slammed the Hulk with one of it long arms. Hulk roared and grabbed the ape by it arm and use it like a bat to knock back Abomination. Abomination was sent through five brick walls as Hulk began to smash his fist into the other monsters skull.

More flame appeared as a third figure jumped down from the roof to join the attack on the Hulk. Hulk knocked Titania aside like a rag doll and continued to demolish the ape. Suddenly he felt a blow on the back of his head. Hulk turned to face Sampson. His anger only grew at the man's betrayal. But before he could act he found himself in a headlock. Hulk roared and began to attempt to dislodge the Abomination.

Titania was there quickly and began to same her fists into the Hulk's face. Hulk grabbed her by her leg and though her away. Sampson was on him in a flash and through a massive upper cut. The ape seemed content to attack anything that move. Hulk managed to gain footing and did a summer salt landing on Abomination. It wasn't enough to hurt him but it broke his grip and Hulk was free. The ape bit into Hulk's leg and the monster let out a roar.

Reaching down Hulk grabbed the ape by the lower jaw and ripped it from his leg. Titania and Sampson were back. With one quick left hook he sent Sampson flying onto the roof. With his right hand that still held the ape by its jaw he decked Titania and sent her flying through the outer wall. Abomination was there to take her place. Hulk through a right hook that knocked Abomination to the ground. Hulk was on top of him in a second as the ape continue to trash at the Hulk. Hulk ignored it and began to smash Abomination into the ground.

The ape suddenly bit down on Hulk's fist. Hulk didn't miss a beat. He raise one of his massive fists into the air and brought it down on the ape's skull. There was a tremendous crunching sound and the beast went limp. Hulk through it aside and resumed his attack on the Abomination. Leader was yet to be seen.

Abomination and Hulk suddenly froze when they heard the sound of something massive breaking its way through walls as it approached them. Abomination smiled and chuckled. Just then a twenty-foot tall Devil Hulk smashed onto the scene. Hulk stared in shock at the beast. Looking around it found Hulk and smiled. "Daddy's home," it growled.

Devil Hulk took a step toward his son. Like lightning he began to give Hulk the same treatment Abomination just received. Every blow from the giant was stronger than anything Hulk had ever felt. Then everything went black.

Hulk opened his eye to find himself kneeling in a bright silver room. He was dizzy and felt his body ache. Pain wasn't something the Hulk was accustomed to. He tried to stand and felt something grow tight around his neck and arms. He tried to move his legs but found the same tension. Looking down he found that he was chained. One chain led from each arm to the metal floor. Four chains led from his neck to the ground. He couldn't see how many were on his feet. Hulk smiled. No chain could hold him.

Hulk pulled the chain on his right arm taught. He pulled and pulled on the chain expecting it to break but nothing happened. Finally the manacle began to cut into his skin and green blood dripped onto the ground. Hulk began to thrash and struggle but the chains held no matter how hard he yanked on them.

"Even you can't break free from those chains," Sterns voice called. Hulk turned his head and found the man. "This entire room is made of adimantium. Strong though you may be this metal is stronger."

"Hulk kill you," Hulk growled. "Hulk get free and kill you."

Sterns laughed. "You will not be free anytime soon my dear friend."

"STUPID HUMAN," Hulk bellowed.

"I AM NOT STUPID!" Sterns screamed, "I am Leader. Enjoy imprisonment Banner."

Hulk roared and continued to struggle. He was to mad to change back to Bruce and slip free of his bond. Hulk was trapped.