strings of destiny → age of ultron

[4]

"All our work is gone."

The Avengers, Blossom, Cynthia, and Zoza all stood in Tony's lab. Steve has his arm around Blossom, and one fist was pressed on the table. Cynthia gripped her husband's hand, and Zoza stood close to Tony.

"Ultron cleared out. He used the internet as an escape hatch," Bruce continued, and Steve looked down.

"Ultron," he said, and Blossom looked over at her sister, who was picking glass out of her foot. She moved away from him and crouched by her sister's side., and the two women looked at each other.

"Look, we need to make some calls, assuming we still can," Rhodey said, holding his arm.

"Nukes? He said he wanted us dead," Natasha pointed out.

"He didn't say 'dead.' He said 'extinct.'" Steve looked over to the Hill sisters, eyes settling on his wife. He thought about their daughter, then shook his head slightly.

"He also said he killed somebody," Clint added.

"There wasn't anyone else in the building," Maria said, looking up from her bloody foot.

"Yes, there was." Tony walked over, Zoza trailing close behind. He waved his card, and a broken yellow mess appeared before everyone. Zoza gasped, and Tony reached for her hand. Blossom stood again and rejoined Steve, and he pulled her close once again. Bruce walked over to the destroyed matter, confused.

"What? This is insane," he muttered, looking at the remains of what could only be JARVIS.

"Jarvis was the first line of defense. He would have shut Ultron down. It makes sense," Steve murmured, but Bruce shook his head.

"No, Ultron could have assimilated Jarvis. This isn't strategy. This is rage," he said. Footsteps approached, and Zoza mentally prepared herself for more robots, the feeling of cold, metal fingertips still on her back. Instead, Thor entered the room, and was quick to grab Tony around the neck.

"Uncle Tony!" Zoza said.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Steve tried to step in, but Thor was already out of reach.

"It's going around," Clint added, looking at the two men. Zoza went to grab Thor, but Steve grabbed her shoulder, holding her back.

"Come on, use your words, buddy," Tony rasped, gripping Thor's arm tightly.

"I have more than enough words to describe you, Stark."

"Thor. The Legionnaire," Steve said, walking over to the two men. Thor dropped Tony, and Zoz was at his side, holding onto his arm.

"Trail went cold about 100 miles out, but it's headed north. And it has the scepter. Now we have to retrieve it, again." Thor gave his progress report, and Natasha jumped in.

"Genie's out of that bottle. Clear and present is Ultron."

"I don't understand. You built this program. Why is it trying to kill us?" Helen asked, and everyone looked at Tony. He started to laugh, and Zoza shared a look with Bruce, her eyes widening a bit.

"You think this is funny?" Thor asked, and Zoza shook her head.

"No. No, he doesn't," she tried, but he held up his hand to her.

"No. It's probably not, right? This is very terrible. Is it so... Is it so... It is. It's so terrible," he chuckled, and Zoza backed up. This wasn't like Tony. Why was he laughing?

"This could have been avoided if you hadn't played with something you don't understand," Thor said, and Tony looked at him, then walked to him.

"No. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It is funny. It's a hoot that you don't get why we need this."