Chapter 11: Enter Bruce Banner. -10
[Argentina: home of Bruce Banner]
Bruce had been through a lot in the last three years. Back then, he had a bright future as one of the brightest minds in all of the US, with multiple degrees under his belt.
He could have pursued any career he desired, with job offers lined up for years to come. No door was closed to him; the world was truly his oyster.
Now, he found himself struggling in the poorer parts of Latin America, taking whatever work he could find for meager pay. Even after toiling away, he couldn't afford anything better than the lowest of the low. Despite his efforts, he still couldn't sleep soundly at night, haunted by the fear of being found by Ross.
It was fair to say that his life had taken a turn for the worse, with no signs of improvement on the horizon. Unbeknownst to him, two sets of secret agents were currently surveilling him through the scopes of high-caliber guns, poised to shoot upon command.
One team, however, hesitated to take lethal action, opting instead to use a special bullet equipped with a tracker to monitor his movements.
Furthermore, Bruce was unaware that an influential figure was en route to meet with him, having received a message the day before. As he prepared a meager meal, little did he know that his life was about to take yet another unexpected turn.
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[Flashback Start]
[SITE-001]
[Ding! Congratulations to Host for the successful containment of SCP-1555! Rewards are being given out!]
[Ding! Host has been rewarded with Special SITE-006! SITE-006 comes equipped with all the personnel and equipment for the containment of SCP-006!]
[Ding! Host, please be advised that SCP-006 has been added to the world and is under containment by personnel of the Foundation!]
"Dismissed!" Alex called out loudly, abruptly ending the meeting he was attending. As he exited the room and headed straight for his bunker, his personal guards followed closely, on high alert due to his sudden actions.
The system message was something he had anticipated for the past three weeks since he had summoned SCP-1555 and had been informed about the discovery of another SCP two weeks ago. He had been somewhat amazed at how quickly the Foundation found the SCP, as he hadn't bothered to inform them about it, considering it relatively harmless.
What had Alex alarmed was the reward. The system provided no information about this Special SITE-006 other than reminding him that his main computer contained all Foundation information. Alex knew damn well what SCP-006 was, even without the system.
What he wanted to know wasn't information about the object itself, but rather how it was contained, as he couldn't allow a single drop of those waters to escape containment.
"Far too many dangerous people and beings out there that can't be allowed to have access to something like SCP-006. And that is just on Earth; something like SCP-006 will have the entire universe up in arms," he worried as he hurried along the hallways toward his quarters.
"Alright, let's see what this special SITE is all about and whether or not I need to add more protection to SCP-006," Alex whispered as he sat down and unlocked his system, diving into the information he needed.
Alex couldn't help but grow shocked as he read about the measures taken to ensure others didn't find or get close to SCP-006. That one SSITE had more weaponry than a class-4 and two class-3 combined! It had a military force more powerful than some smaller countries out there.
Just the number of weapons of mass destruction they had was more than enough to scare Russia into looking the other way about the Foundation's actions if they ever found out about them in the first place.
Other than being surprised at the manpower and equipment that had been deployed in secret, even from a large part of the Foundation, Alex was also shocked at the sheer cost of SCP-006's containment. For something that had no chance to escape, it sure did cost a lot of money to keep it within O5 control.
"Then again, I guess the original O5 council used this to stay alive, and keeping the leadership alive was indeed something of the highest priority in an organization like the Foundation. Thankfully, the system seems to have granted me an extended life already," Alex said in shock as he read page after page of highly confidential information.
The whole event had Alex on edge for the rest of the week as he kept a close eye on SCP-006 to see if any force noticed it. Thankfully, there was no sign of anyone trying to reach it, not even the ancient one or anyone else.
Still, he suddenly became aware that obtaining the SCPs that people might wish for could be no less dangerous than acquiring a powerful Keter.
With his phone set up to alert him of any and all out-of-the-ordinary events happening to the new SSITE, he kept glancing at it for a few days before a report of another project finally pulled his attention back into the game. Though there was no question in his mind now about the fact that rewards could be as dangerous if not more so than the monthly summon itself, thanks to his system.
Alex made a call to SITE-011 and spoke with the man in charge for information about SCP-1555.
"What can I do for you, sir?" the voice on the other end of the call asked.
Alex was just a little surprised that there were none of the usual pleasantries but quickly got onto the topic.
"The top has plans for SCP-1555, which is currently under your care. I'm ordering for a class-1 SITE to be established for the containment of the SCP, and I will provide a researcher from outside the Foundation to study the SCP."
"From outside the Foundation? Well, I guess SCP-1555 is one of the safer ones around to research as long as one doesn't enter the cave. What do you need of me, sir? Other than personnel for the SITE?" the voice asked.
"I need a new SCP file with everything but the most basic information removed from it. After all, it would hardly be interesting to study the SCP if you already have all the answers. Keep in the warning of the cave, though; someone from O5 wants this person in the Foundation, so losing him is bad, real bad."
"O5, you say? Well, I will make sure they are given plenty of warning and reasons not to doubt it. Anything else?"
"One last thing, the person is, in fact, an SCP object. I will send you the file. Make sure to share it with those that need it and ensure containment procedures are not broken," Alex said as he sent over the file he had written up for good old Dr. Banner.
[SCP-10104 - Hulk]
[Object Class: Euclid]
[Special Containment Procedures: The object's heart rate must be kept under 200 BPM at all times unless in approved testing scenarios or with permission from at least three Class-4 security clearance researchers. Furthermore, the object should be kept away from dangerous situations, as endangering the SCP object's life will trigger its dangerous state. The object should be housed in a stress-free environment with quick access to a concrete and steel bunker with a large and sturdy lid. The bunker should be filled with inexpensive items to be destroyed, allowing the object to vent and transform back.]
[Description: SCP-10104, also known by the name Bruce Banner, is a white human male aged 39. The object was formerly an average human male and one of the most intelligent individuals of the current human generation. After a military experiment gone wrong, the object acquired its anomalous properties. Some argue that these properties are not anomalous since they result from human-made science. However, SCP-10104 has been classified as anomalous due to the effects experienced, which surpass what can be explained solely by the experiment itself. It is assumed that some anomalous interference occurred.
The object typically appears as Bruce Banner and exhibits no anomalous properties during this time. However, should the object's heart rate reach 200 BPM or higher, or if it feels that its life is in danger, the object will transform into a large green giant displaying unstoppable rage. The object's strength increases proportionally with its anger, with no known limit.]
"Any questions?" Alex inquired, allowing the individual some time to read and consider.
"Do the O5 members want this individual to serve in the Foundation?" the voice responded shortly after.
"Yes, although they are divided on whether the object should be neutralized or not. The object itself desires this, but O5-10 wishes for the object to join Task Force ALPHA-9. However, it is not for us to judge," Alex explained, ensuring that those present continued to believe that the entire O5 council was involved.
Fortunately, the identities of all members, including himself, were unknown to anyone outside of ALPHA-1, so there was no one present to refute his claims.
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[Flashback end]
[Near Banner's home]
One by one, the three SHIELD agents keeping an eye on Bruce Banner lost their lives without anyone being the wiser, as their bodies were all taken away by Foundation personnel. Throughout this crime-infested slum, people were going missing as an extensive cleanup operation was underway.
After all, it would hardly be appropriate to welcome a VIP with possible hostiles around, right? Not to mention, it would allow the Ricci family to fill the void in the coming days.
For Bruce Banner, today had been no worse or better than any other day. He toiled away, doing hard work for little pay while trying his very best to stay calm under all circumstances. With time, it was getting more manageable, and he could remain in one place longer than he used to without risking hulking out.
Still, Bruce was already making plans to leave his current home, fearing that if he stayed in one place too long, the military might find him. All he wanted now was to eat his dinner in peace before going straight to bed. He expected today to end just like the many days before it.
He was truly not expecting the polite knocking on his door he heard as he was about to bring the first spoonful of his heated canned food to his mouth. The knocking continued, just as polite as it had started, and Bruce found himself unable to ignore it any longer.
Getting up, he went over and looked through the peephole, seeing a young man in a nice blue suit that really didn't look like he belonged in this slum. Nor did he look like a military, so with a nervous heart, Bruce opened the door slightly.
"Yes?" he asked cautiously, making sure the door couldn't open more than he allowed.
"I hope I am not interrupting anything, Doctor Banner?" the young man said in a polite voice. Despite his pleasant demeanor, the mere fact that he knew who he was made Bruce panic, and the heart rate monitor on his wrist started to beep loudly.
"Please try to remain calm, Dr. Banner," the man quickly interjected, seeing Bruce's distress. "I assure you, I am in no way connected with the US military or General Ross. I am here for the mind of Dr. Banner, not anything else."
The agent's words were intended to soothe Bruce's nerves. He was an agent of the Foundation and had read the SCP file on Object 10104; he didn't want Bruce to lose control any more than Banner himself did.
"Who are you… and what do you want with me?" Bruce said, his nerves still on edge but somewhat calmer than before.
"I am no one important, Dr. Banner, just a messenger with a message for you," the young man replied. "I am a member of an organization that has quite a lot of skilled and talented researchers and scientists in it.
My superiors want you to join us as a researcher, working in any field you might want. Though I believe the first task listed would be studying a new mouse species, sort of a trial if you will."
"Would I have heard of you before?" Bruce asked, intrigued by the prospect of doing meaningful research rather than lifting crates all day for pennies on the dollar.
"I very much doubt that, we try to keep under the radar as to keep ourselves free of any government in the world. This is why we are not afraid of offering you a job with us. General Ross would have "No power to tell us anything," the man patiently explained from the other side of the door.
"Is that the message you came with?" Bruce asked, sensing the shady nature of the organization.
"I also came with an invitation, Dr. Banner. One of my superiors would like to meet you. He would also be able to answer far more questions than I could possibly do if you were willing to meet with him, that is," the man answered smoothly.
"When would this meeting take place?" Bruce asked after thinking it over for a minute.
The man then looked at his watch. "My superior is already en route, so quite soon. We were thinking of meeting in the open area behind the old car factory. Though if you have a better place in mind, that can be arranged."
"So soon? But no, I know the place. It's alright," Bruce said after considering it. The area was pretty isolated, so even if this were a trap, he wouldn't endanger any innocent bystanders if he… changed.
"I have been asked to remind you that the boss will have armed guards at his side. Just so you can be prepared and not have an… episode," the man said with a light smile.
"Just give me a minute to change… I'm not dressed to meet someone important right now," Bruce said as he closed the door and found the cleanest clothes he had. It really wasn't much, but at least he would look like an average person and not a homeless bum for this meeting.
'Well, I was planning on moving somewhere else soon anyway, so I might as well see what this is about, given that I have been found,' Bruce thought to himself as he opened the door and followed the man toward the meeting location.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone