NOVEL NEXT I told you so
The Avengers had all made it to Tony's lab as Tony and Bruce went through the computer files. Banner spoke up after going through the pc once more, "all our work is gone. Ultron cleared out, used the internet as an escape hatch."
"Ultron", Steve repeated.
"He's been in everything. Files, surveillance. Probably knows more about us than we know about each other." Natasha pipped up as she turned away from her computer towards the others.
Rhodey at this point felt a bit of panic, "he's in your files, he's in the internet. What if he decides to access something a little more exciting?"
"Nuclear codes." Maria easily saw what Rhodey was hinting at. "Nuclear codes. Look, we need to make some calls, assuming we still can." Rhodey turned prepared to leave to make his calls.
"He can't access them" Batman's words drew all attention towards him. "There is a fail safe... was a fail safe in place that prevented Ultron from doing that. If by any chance that failed I have my own failsafe and it is in fact still active".
"You have a fail safe for Nuclear codes?" Steve asked with an alarmed expression one that was mimicked by everyone. "Yeah I'm with Steve on that what do you mean by you have a fail safe for Nuclear codes?" Rhodey questioned barely able to contain his anger and confusion from pouring out.
"We live in a world where a mad person pops up every week with thoughts of world domination or destruction. It was not long before one deemed Nukes their preferred choice of weaponry. I merely prepared a contingent."
The remaining Avengers continued to stare at Batman, his paranoia was not new to them but the extent he was willing to go was something they were not aware of, and frankly it terrified them.
"He also said he killed somebody." Clint spoke up turning their attention back to the matter at present, deciding they would have an in depth with Batman later.
Maria spoke up after thinking on Clint's words, "But there wasn't anyone else in the building."
"Yes there was." Tony finally spoke up as he brought up the now-destroyed 3D image of JARVIS' consciousness. The image caused Banner to walk closer with a look of pure confusion on his face "this is insane!"
Steve spoke up a sad look marred his face, "JARVIS was the first line of defense. He would've shut Ultron down, it makes sense." Bruce turns to Steve after those words, "No! Ultron could've assimilated Jarvis. This isn't strategy, this is...rage." the look on Bruce's face dissolves into one of horror once he realizes the implications of said actions.
Thor barged in at that moment in full armor ignoring everyone else as he moved towards Stark and lifted him by his throat, glaring into Tony's eyes as the man held on to his arm struggling to breath.
Clint made it to his feet and tried to calm the raging god, "Woah, woah, woah! It's going around." Tony on the other hand grasped for breath as he spoke to Thor "Come on... Use your words, buddy."
"I have more than enough words to describe you, Stark." Thor spoke as he tightened his grip on Tony's throat. "Thor! The Legionnaire" Steve called out causing Thor to let go of Tony who immediately took a deep greedy breath as he rubbed his throat.
Thor turned to the captain as he gave his response, "trail went cold about a hundred miles out but it's headed north, and it has the scepter. Now we have to retrieve it, again."
Natasha added on " the genie's out of that bottle. Clear and present is Ultron."
Dr. Helen Cho finally spoke up turning to Tony, "I don't understand. You built this program. Why is it trying to kill us?" The question caused Stark to start laughing, Banner subtly shook his head at him to get him to stop but Tony ignored him.
"You think this is funny?" Thor questioned.
"No. It's probably not, right? Is this very terrible? Is it so... is it so... it is. It's so terrible."
" This could've been avoided if you hadn't played with something you don't understand." Thor spoke one again his anger threatening to spill out.
Tony started to gain volume with each word he spoke, "no, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It is funny. It's a hoot that you don't get why we need this." "Tony, maybe this might not be the time to--" Banner began in an attempt to calm Tony down but was cut of by Stark.
"Really?! That's it? You just roll over, show your belly, every time somebody snarls."
"Only when I've created a murder bot." Bruce titled his head as he spoke those words.
"We didn't. We weren't even close. Were we close to an interface?"
Steve having heard enough spoke up at that moment. "Well, you did something right. And you did it right here. The Avengers were supposed to be different than SHIELD."
Tony asked in the tone that annoyed all who heard it "Anybody remember when I carried a nuke through a wormhole?"
"No, it's never come up." Rhodey was quick to give his sarcastic reply.
Tony questioned again, "Saved New York?"
Rhodey followed up with another sarcastic response, "Never heard that."
"Recall that? A hostile alien army came charging through a hole in space. We're standing three hundred feet below it. We're the Avengers. We can bust arms dealers all the live long day, but, that up there? That's... that's the end game. How were you guys planning on beating that?" Tony rants to the team his eyes focusing on Steve once he ended.
"Enough Tony", Bats words caused Tony to turn his attention to Batman. "I warned you. I told you so. Do you believe you are the only one to have glimpsed upon the horrors in the vast universe. You do not know just how many of them have our little planet in their sights. Unlike you however, I don't let my fear cloud my judgement. I move with purpose, I understand that without care I might create the very horrors I fear."
"You on the other hand, allowed your own fear to control you, to blind you. No matter how strongly you believe it, you are no god, you are merely a man and like all others are prone to folly."
With Bats down Cap decided to speak up on the current problem, "Thor's right. Ultron's calling us out. And I'd like to find him before he's ready for us. The world's a big place. Let's start making it smaller."
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