The course of events had exceeded Sean's expectations...
To put it simply, Samuel Sterns had unexpectedly subdued Banner, derailing the scenario Sean had originally envisioned.
This rather unremarkable cell biology professor had actually managed to trap Banner, the man who harbored the Hulk within him, through a carefully planned trap. Having frequently communicated with Banner online, Samuel knew everything about 'Mr. Green'.
Thus, he meticulously prepared a snare, waiting for his prey to walk right in. And Banner, desperate to cure his condition, fell for it effortlessly.
Even Sean who had been monitoring everything through Skynet couldn't help but marvel. The Hulk hadn't even had the chance to face off against the Abomination before being taken down by a man who could barely restrain a chicken...
...
~Rewind to two days earlier~
Banner, wearing a baseball cap, slipped into Grayburn College and met Mr. Blue (Samuel Sterns) at a prearranged secluded location...
The cell biology professor, who had been offering enthusiastic help online, matched the image Banner had conjured in his mind: unkempt, eccentric, slightly neurotic, and seemingly difficult to get along with.
Samuel appeared overjoyed at his arrival, his enthusiasm making Banner somewhat uneasy... especially the way his burning gaze made Banner feel like a lab rat under scrutiny.
"I've always wondered if you were real..." Samuel said excitedly, as if he were one step closer to the Nobel Prize.
He truly hadn't expected that someone with such immense power within him could appear so ordinary. It was hard to believe this unremarkable body could withstand massive gamma radiation and survive.
It was nothing short of a miracle!
Banner gave a shy smile, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping before whispering, "How do you plan to cure the gamma radiation in my body?"
He treated the Hulk as nothing more than a stubborn disease, something he was desperate to be rid of.
"This isn't as simple as a picnic in the park," Samuel said, deliberately hedging, "Even if everything goes smoothly and we calculate the exact dosage for the inhibitor serum, we still can't be sure whether you'll be fully cured or just temporarily stabilized."
He made a coin-tossing gesture, "It's all uncertain. And if we inject even slightly too much, the toxicity could kill you."
"Or if the dose is insufficient, I might still be in danger," Banner added.
Samuel wasn't concerned. He was confident in his preparations and was certain no accidents would occur. Besides, his true goal wasn't really to help Banner.
"Curiosity has always outweighed caution for me, and I never make mistakes. So, do you want to proceed?"
Banner nodded firmly. He had waited far too long for this day. Even if it wasn't about winning Betty back, he just wanted a normal life, not to be seen as a monster.
A faint smile flickered across Samuel's face as he led Banner into his lab. At the center of the equipment stood an operating table. He instructed Banner to lie down, then secured him tightly with restraints.
During their encrypted communications, Samuel had discovered a special plant whose extracted solution could reduce the radiation concentration of the gamma rays in Banner's body.
After attaching electrodes to Banner's temples, an exhilarated Dr. Sterns fed the pre-prepared solution into the machine as he explained how it worked: "The hemodialysis machine will infuse the antidote into your bloodstream, but it'll only take full effect after complete reaction. Let's begin!"
Once the machine started, Samuel used an electric shock device to inflict pain on Banner. Strapped tightly to the table, Banner's veins bulged, his face twisting grotesquely as a furious roar echoed in his mind.
Banner bit down hard on a mouthguard, his body convulsing violently as the solution permeated every cell. His eyes glowed a vivid green, and veins spiderwebbed across his skin like dark threads.
Samuel observed the phenomenon with awe...
Who would have thought this seemingly frail body contained such terrifying power?
Banner thrashed wildly, his muscles swelling as a savage green visage emerged... a monstrous beast threatening to burst free. Agonized screams filled the room.
The tremendous force snapped the sturdy restraints. The operating table groaned under the increasing weight, slowly buckling. Samuel trembled, his mind a storm of fear and ecstasy as he stared at the colossal green giant.
With a forceful kick, he ramped the machine to maximum dosage.
The solution flooded Banner's system. Just as the Hulk was about to break the last restraint, his movements suddenly stilled. His expanding body shrank rapidly back to normal as the bulging veins faded beneath his skin.
After a brief unconsciousness, Banner awoke with his mind clear for the first time in a while... untouched by the Hulk's rage.
Whenever the monster emerged, it felt like a liter of acid had been poured into his skull. He would see only fragmented images, while his ears filled with deafening noise...
His consciousness might still exist, but the Hulk's power overwhelmed him, rendering control impossible.
Sweat seeped from his pores as the pale-faced Banner smiled weakly. He had finally rid himself of the nightmare that had haunted him.
"Thank you, Dr. Sterns."
He expressed his gratitude sincerely, but Samuel only responded with a cryptic grin, "No, it's I who should thank you, Bruce Banner. Your body is a treasure trove. You'll contribute greatly to science, Dr. Banner. Your serum holds limitless potential. The applications of gamma technology are vast... I could develop cures for hundreds of diseases, freeing humanity from suffering."
"Dr. Sterns, believe me, this is dangerous. It's uncontrollable!" Banner struggled violently, trying to rise from the table, but without the Hulk's strength, he was powerless.
"I understand its dangers far better than you." Samuel's eyes burned with fanaticism as he wheeled out a massive iron cage from a hidden room.
Inside was a monstrous white rat with pupils that glowed green, and bulging veins pulsed beneath its fur.
"This is just the first prototype. I can apply it to humans and create powerful soldiers... You'd be surprised how much someone would pay for this. I'll be wealth beyond imagination!"
A needle pierced Banner's skin, "This is enough sedative to knock out an elephant," Samuel said coldly, "That big guy inside you won't be coming out anytime soon, so don't bother struggling."
Banner's eyelids grew heavy as he fought to stay conscious. He saw Samuel pick up the phone, speaking to what sounded like a buyer.
Fragmented words like "Sitwell" and "SHIELD" reached his ears. Then, darkness took him...