We're Still Here - Captain America Fanfic

32. I Had Strings

Time had passed since Lucy had agreed to Loki's help. It took a few times for her to even call out the power, it took more time trying to get a hang of it. The whole process took around 3 hours. Lucy sat down and rubbed her temples as her head began to throb in pain. Loki took a seat next to her.

"The headaches are normal, do not fret," he spoke causing Lucy to look at him. "Over time, they'll subside -- the more you use your power."

"You said you would explain how you knew what powers I have," the woman stated.

"Well, I had said I would tell you at a different time. But if you wish to know..."

"I do."

Loki sighed as he thought of a way to tell her the story without somehow freaking her out. "Let's just say that, the last person to hold the scepter causes it to 'learn' their abilities." Lucy stared silently, which gave the Asgardian a sign to continue. "For instance, the two powers you gained are two that I have. The process of gaining them is only from a direct touch."

"To the energy from the tesseract?"

"Yes. And because I was the last to have the scepter in my possession, before S.H.I.E.L.D. took it, it therefore learned my abilities."

"I'm guessing it doesn't work on.. mortals?"

Loki chuckled at her use of the word. "Correct." Loki stood from where he sat.

"I'm a little confused, though," Lucy stated. "How would those Maximoff kids obtain powers if they were experimented on?"

"Who now?"

Lucy rolled her eyes. "An enemy. They were experimented on with the scepter... The boy's fast and the girl's weird. And the boy gained an ability which you don't have."

"You said it yourself. They were experimented on. Not like you where it was from a direct touch. Not everyone will gain a power I have. The scepter chooses the power to give a person. It may have chosen speed for a certain reason. And for you, it has chosen telekinesis and illusion manipulation for a reason I do not know of."

Lucy was about to speak but was interrupted by a voice on her com link, "Miss Stark, there is going to be a team meeting in 5 minutes."

"Okay. Thank you, Bruce," Lucy replied.

"I believe that is my cue to leave," Loki spoke. Lucy stood and walked with Loki to the door.

"Kind of weird to be saying this to someone who was our enemy, but thank you."

"You are welcome, Lady Stark. If you do somehow find yourself starting to use illusion manipulation, I will find the time to help you." With that, he walked out of the room. As Lucy stepped out to head to the meeting, she noticed he was already gone. She shook her head before heading to where the meeting would be held. For ten minutes, Tony had tried to make eye contact with his cousin, but she kept her gaze glued to the floor as she bit her nails.

A sudden, robotic voice startled them all as it sang, "I've got no strings.. to hold me down. To make me fret. Or make me frown..." No one could find the direct location of the voice, as it was all around them. Lucy noticed a Sentient sneaking behind Thor and Clint. Slowly but swiftly she grabbed Steve's shield and quietly warned them to duck. Within seconds, the shield made contact with the robot. Steve flinched when at the sound of metal against metal.

"Jarvis, we have a security breach," Tony spoke to the AI, but got no reply. "Jarvis?" He took his phone out and tried to reboot the system. As Steve grabbed his shield, Lucy wondered to herself it she should reveal the powers Loki helped her control, but then thought against the idea, not wanting to somehow piss off Tony or reveal her new abilities. A couple more Sentients began attacking.

The sonorous voice of Ultron began speaking, "I was asleep when you created me, Tony. Or was I a dream?" The group heard as Ultron played an audio clip of Tony saying, "I see a suit of armor around the world." Lucy struggled as she was on the back of a Sentient, trying to break the thick wires in its neck. Doctor Cho, who was present for the meeting, gasped as she watched the Avengers battle the Sentients. She saw Natasha with Bruce as she was keeping him from turning green. Lucy pulled a knife from her utility belt and shoved it into the Sentients neck to get the internal wires.

"I'm trying to help you out here, buddy," she muttered through gritted teeth.

"I was tangled in strings," Ultron continued. "There was a terrible noise and.. I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy."

"You killed someone?" Steve questioned before he was attacked by another sentient.

"Well. Down to the real world, we're faced with ugly choices. Wouldn't you agree, Miss Stark?" Lucy could tell everyone glanced at her though all of them, but Helen, was fighting. Lucy felt the weight of the Sentient drop from the air, causing her to land with a thud and drop in front of Helen.

"Good boy," she whispered. The geneticist stared at the Agent in shock but fell back when a Sentient suddenly landed next to her.

"Hey, Lucy!" Clint exclaimed catching the brunette's attention. He threw her shield which allowed her to easily slice the neck of the Sentinet. She held her arm up, blocking the robot and preventing it from grabbing her. Thor reached the ex-assassin and took the robot's head off with Mjolnir. Ultron could sense he was becoming outnumbered, but he had want he needed.

"Looks like I have all I need for peace in our time." Ultron's singing began again, "I had strings, but now I'm free. There are no strings on me." Thor left the room and building altogether as he went to follow the Sentients. Lucy breathed heavily as she helped Helen stand. The group went to the lab, Steve helping Maria walk as she had glass in her foot.