UNKNOWN GUEST

#56 Taming The Beast

The next day, we were right back at it—the relentless search for the scepter. Another Hydra base, another fruitless search. We turned the place upside down, hoping for any link, but came up empty-handed again. And, once more, Mom managed to calm the Hulk, which still left me baffled. I mean, she's outsmarted Loki before, so I guess it shouldn't be too surprising that she has a trick or two up her sleeve. But it's still impressive.

Our next target was yet another Hydra base, but this one was different. We needed to rely on stealth, not brute force. No smashing this time, just sneaky skills. Uncle Clint, Dad, Mom, and I geared up for the task. We couldn't detect any weapon heat signals, so it seemed like a quiet entry was our best bet.

We took cover behind the entrance door, pressing ourselves against the wall. Dad gave the signal, then kicked the door open with a swift, powerful move. We moved in quickly, Uncle Clint and Mom taking the lead. Their shots were precise, taking down two guards before they even knew what hit them.

I slipped in behind them, moving quietly through the shadows. I got close to another guard, twisting his neck in a quick, controlled motion, knocking him out cold. Meanwhile, Dad's shield was a blur, hurling through the air and taking out two more Hydra operatives before it returned to his hand.

As we descended into the base's basement, the scene shifted. It was a mess—scattered items, discarded guns, pieces of clothing, broken glass. It looked like someone had made a run for it in a hurry, grabbing whatever they could on the way out. My eyes caught sight of two cells in the far corner. I walked up to one and peered through the bars. Inside, I found ropes and tape, remnants of what must've been a hasty escape.

"They were here," I said, turning to the rest of the team. Everyone gathered around the cell, their expressions grim as they took in the scene. We were close—so close, but still a step behind.

Suddenly, the air was shattered by the sound of gunfire. Bullets rained down on us, forcing us to react in an instant. Dad moved first, covering Mom with his shield as the bullets ricocheted off the vibranium. Uncle Clint and I dove out of the line of fire, rolling to the side until we reached the safety of the wall.

I knelt down, my heart pounding, but my hands steady as I took aim. Three quick shots, three clean hits. The Hydra agents dropped to the ground, and we breathed a collective sigh of relief. But the relief was short-lived.

A roar echoed through the base, shaking the walls and sending a chill down my spine. Uncle Clint glanced back at me, his eyes wide with recognition. "Banner?"

Mom and Dad shared a look, the kind that said they were thinking the same thing, and it wasn't good. We all bolted out of the basement, panic fueling our steps. If the Hulk was about to make an appearance, we needed to be ready—or, better yet, out of the way.

As we burst out of the base, the scene was pure chaos. Hulk was on a rampage, chasing after Thor and Iron Man, and we had no clue what had set him off. Thor took the brunt of it first—Hulk swatted him like he was nothing, sending him flying through the air. Thor crashed into a line of trees, snapping them like twigs on his way down.

Mom didn't hesitate. She stepped forward, but Dad grabbed her wrist, his voice edged with concern. "Nat, it's dangerous."

She just rolled her eyes, pulling her hand free. "I've managed to calm him before."

Without waiting, she called out to Hulk, her voice firm but calm. "Hey, big guy! Calm down."

Hulk whipped around to face her, breathing heavily, his massive chest rising and falling. He looked furious, like a beast cornered. But Mom didn't flinch. She stepped closer, confidence in every move as she raised her hand. What was she thinking? I watched, heart pounding, as she called out again, "Calm down, big guy. It's not needed."