"Gentlemen."
General General Thaddeus Ross stood before the shattered glass entrance of the Osborn Group building, surrounded by uniformed soldiers and armored vehicles.
Cameras flashed nonstop.
Microphones stretched toward him like spears.
"We are not taking over a company," Ross declared loudly. "We are containing a crisis source that threatens all of New York City."
His voice was steady, authoritative.
"The illegal human experiments conducted under Norman Osborn produced dangerous aberrations. First, the creature known as Squid Man. Then, the monster referred to as the Green Goblin."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"We have credible intelligence that unfinished biological projects inside this building could escalate into catastrophic threats. I will not allow another disaster to occur."
He paused deliberately.
"I will prevent it before it manifests."
His eyes hardened.
"And anyone who obstructs this mission is endangering public safety."
A slight emphasis entered his tone.
"Just like the individual calling himself Batman, who attempted to breach military control earlier and was repelled by my soldiers."
The reporters erupted.
Questions collided in the air.
But Ross raised a hand for silence.
"Effective immediately, the Osborn Building and its surrounding perimeter are designated a military exclusion zone."
Gasps.
"Anyone who refuses to retreat after warning will be treated as a hostile threat."
He had mastered this narrative long ago while pursuing the Hulk.
Frame yourself as prevention.
Frame your opponent as danger.
Become the shield.
---
"But Osborn researchers may enter freely after verification," Ross continued smoothly. "Scientific work will not be interrupted."
He gestured suddenly.
"Just like this gentleman."
The reporters turned.
A bespectacled man carrying pizza boxes walked toward the entrance.
Clark.
Ross narrowed his eyes slightly.
Something about him was familiar.
He motioned subtly to nearby soldiers.
They stopped Clark.
"I recall seeing you in Professor Connors' lab," Ross said quietly. "When did you leave? And why return?"
Clark lifted the boxes.
"Lunch, General."
The soldiers opened each box.
Turned the pizzas.
Inspected the cardboard.
Nothing suspicious.
Ross allowed a faint smile.
"Let him pass."
Clark nodded gratefully and hurried inside.
Behind him, cameras kept flashing.
---
A reporter shouted:
"General Ross, Osborn stock prices have collapsed! Wall Street is pressuring the White House. How will these losses be addressed?"
Another voice:
"Harry Osborn has filed a federal lawsuit against you!"
Another:
"Was this operation authorized by the President?"
"Are Osborn scientists free to leave? Or are they effectively detained?"
The tone sharpened.
Accusations began to surface.
Ross' jaw tightened.
Harry Osborn had followed Batman's strategy perfectly.
Capital pressure.
Legal escalation.
The battlefield had shifted to courts and markets.
Ross maintained composure, but the redness in his face betrayed irritation.
The press conference was no longer controlled.
And that meant—
Batman's plan was working.
---
Twenty floors above, in Professor Curt Connors' laboratory, the real crisis unfolded.
"Peter," Connors said quietly, handing over a hard drive with his only left hand. "All core data has been transferred."
Exhaustion lined his face.
Batman wrapped the drive carefully in laboratory cling film and slid it inside a pizza box.
"What about you?" Batman asked.
Connors turned slightly.
"I have work to finish."
Batman's eyes sharpened.
"Professor, Ross wants weapons. You must suspend all experimental activity."
Connors shook his head slowly.
"This isn't weapons research."
He pulled out a stack of documents.
"These are related to organ failure therapy. A Temporary Regeneration Stabilizer."
Batman scanned quickly.
Seven patients at Metropolitan Hospital.
Critical condition.
Dependent on continuous stabilizer dosage.
Without it—
Death.
Connors' voice trembled slightly.
"They need at least two to four weeks' supply. Without it, their organs will shut down."
Batman fell silent.
The decision was simple on paper.
Leave now — ensure safety of Connors and the data.
Stay — risk exposure, but save lives.
Connors looked at him steadily.
"We cannot stand by and watch people die."
There was no anger in his voice.
Only responsibility.
"New York has no better facility for this production. If I leave, those patients lose their only chance."
Batman studied him carefully.
He had seen this before.
Not ambition.
Not ego.
Duty.
After several seconds, Batman nodded.
"Understood."
Connors blinked, slightly surprised at the lack of argument.
"I anticipated this scenario," Batman continued calmly. "I prepared for it."
---
Far from New York—
Inside the Cube Prison—
Dr. Bruce Banner sat restrained.
The gamma levels in his extracted blood had dropped to zero.
Scientists were confused.
General Ross received the report.
The sample was worthless.
Which meant—
Banner himself was required.
Transport authorization was prepared.
But another force was already moving.
In the desert, Natasha Romanoff drove swiftly.
Hawkeye lay restrained in the back seat.
Banner's blood had served its purpose.
It had confirmed instability.
Now the plan accelerated.
A secure line connected.
A voice spoke.
"Hail HYDRA."
Natasha answered calmly.
"Hail HYDRA."
---
Back in Connors' lab, Batman outlined his plan.
"Ross will increase surveillance. He will monitor your research logs. He will expect progress in areas that benefit him."
Connors nodded.
"So we redirect him."
Batman walked to the terminal.
"We allow certain controlled research pathways to appear active. Non-weaponizable, but scientifically legitimate."
Connors understood immediately.
"You mean… distract him with harmless advancements."
"Exactly."
"Meanwhile," Batman continued, "you prioritize stabilizer production. Quietly."
"And if Ross pushes for demonstration?"
Batman's gaze hardened slightly.
"Then he will receive one."
Connors raised an eyebrow.
"What kind?"
"A demonstration of why forcing unstable bio-experiments leads to disaster."
Connors studied him carefully.
"You intend to expose him publicly."
"Yes."
Ross thrived on hero narratives.
Batman would dismantle that narrative.
Piece by piece.
---
Downstairs, Ross concluded his press event.
But his internal focus shifted.
Banner's blood had failed.
Connors' lab activity was still under observation.
HYDRA assets were reportedly in motion.
Though he didn't know it yet, he was no longer the only strategist at play.
---
Inside the lab, Connors resumed work.
He began preparing stabilizer compounds.
Precise measurements.
Controlled synthesis.
He worked carefully, despite fatigue.
Batman watched briefly.
Seven lives.
No headlines.
No recognition.
Just silent medical necessity.
He turned to leave.
At the door, he paused.
"Professor."
Connors looked up.
"If military pressure increases, I will intervene."
Connors nodded.
"I know."
Batman stepped into the hallway as Clark once more.
Calm.
Unnoticed.
Invisible.
But in truth—
War lines were being drawn.
Ross wanted an army of Hulks.
HYDRA wanted control of Banner.
Connors wanted to save patients.
And Batman—
Batman refused to let people die because powerful men chased ambition.
Not helping someone in danger was not an option.
And soon—
Every faction would realize that the true danger was not inside Osborn Tower.
It was already spreading through the system.
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