...

While Dís worked on cracking the G-Tech computers, the rest of the Company spread out around Erebor Tower and went about their business. As usual, though they all had bedrooms of their own, most everyone scattered around the main room, sprawling out over the plaid couches and chairs, carving out spaces at one of the smaller tables, and settling in with mugs of tea and bowls of snacks for the long wait they were expecting to have.

...

Nori sat at one of the tables, shuffling a deck of cards and shooting worried glances at the door his brothers left through. Neither Dori nor Ori had rejoined the group and he found himself unsure whether to check on them or stand watch. Bofur sat across the room and watched Nori, finally shaking his head and moving to join his friend. "Okay, thief. Deal me in."

"You wanna play?" Nori blinked and tilted his head. "You always loose when we play cards."

"That's because yeh stack the deck," Bofur said with a wide-dimpled smile. "Deal me in."

"Wait a sec... Every time we play I cheat and you lose. Why d'you keep offering to play cards with me?"

Bofur rubbed the back of his neck and blushed. "Maybe I just like yer company."

Nori stared at him silently for a moment before handing over the deck of cards. "Okay. You deal."

Grinning brightly, Bofur shuffled the deck and began to deal out the cards. "All right, thief. Let's see if yeh can beat me honestly."

"Bring it on, birdbrain!" He contemplated his cards. "Do you have any sevens?"

"Go fish!"

…

"How are you feeling, Bifur?" Bombur asked his cousin.

Bifur replied with a so-so gesture of his hand. He reclined on the couch, back pressed into the softness of one of the cushions, with one leg propped up on the coffee table.

"His hip aches a bit, but he'll be fine," Loni supplied, leaning back against one of her husband's arms.

"That's good. We were really lucky you didn't get hurt worse."

Nodding, Bifur absently traced a finger over one of the scarred patches of new skin on his arm. His face was a little too thoughtful, dark in the way it had been just after his head injury.

Bombur decided it was time to change the subject. "What about you two? Have you found a safe place for yer son to stay?"

"Yes, actually," Gloín said. "It's going to sound strange, but the White Council offered to take Gimli under their protection. Thranduil has a son his age and both boys are being kept out of danger."

"The White Council? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"The protections on their headquarters are just as strong as ours and they're staying out of the fight. They won't draw nearly as much attention to themselves as we are."

Loni agreed, "Plus, Gimli hasn't showed any signs of developing powers yet. S.M.A.U.G. has no reason to attack him. We just wanted him somewhere safe, somewhere out of the crossfire if things go badly."

Bombur chewed on his lip thoughtfully. "That's smart thinking. As much as I hate to say it, I have a feeling things here are far from over."

Bifur made a rude gesture and pointed at the skyline.

"You're right, Bifur. Damn dragon."

…

"So, you can mimic any fighting style? Anything at all?" Bilbo asked, regarding the weapons rack skeptically.

Fíli grinned. "Yup. Anything at all."

"Axes?"

"Regular and throwing."

"Swords?"

"One handers, two handers, dual-wield..."

"Guns?"

"Near perfect aim with anything. Never use them though."

"Martial arts?"

"Any and every kind I've come across. Learned a lot by watching videos on youtube."

"Crowbar?"

"Like I said, any fighting style, any weapon."

"Bow and arrows."

"No."

Bilbo blinked. "No? I thought you said you can mimic any combat style? So, couldn't you master archery too?"

"I've never tried. That's Kíli's specialty."

"But you could master it if you wanted to."

"No." Fíli stood up, effectively ending the conversation.

Bilbo found himself both surprised and impressed that Fíli would be so careful not to take away his brother's limelight. He opened his mouth to say as much, but suddenly a hand clamped down hard on his shoulder. Bilbo let out a panicked squeak and disappeared.

Kíli laughed so hard his hand fell from Bilbo's shoulder and he clutched his sides to keep from tipping over. "That was awesome!"

Fíli joined in with his own laughter, which grew even louder as Bilbo reappeared with a mortified look.

"It's really not very polite for you two to poke fun at me, you know!" He tried to act stern, but found it difficult as the two boys dissolved into uncontrollable giggles, clinging to each other in their mirth.

"Sorry, Bilbo," Kíli managed between gasping breaths. "I couldn't help it..."

Bilbo rolled his eyes as Fíli corralled his brother and drug him over to join Nori and Bofur at their card game. After a moment of awkwardness he shrugged to himself and went to join them.

…

"What do you think, Balin? Do we stand a chance?" Thorin looked across the scared tabletop at his friend.

"We'll do what we have to do." He shrugged, having no real answer or comfort to give. "Whether or not we'll succeed, I don't know."

"I think it depends on what that sister of yours finds out," Oín pointed out. He toyed with the brim of his teacup and glanced towards the computer wall.

Balin agreed, "If anyone can find a way to stop S.M.A.U.G. it will be Dís. Don't loose hope, lad."

"I'm trying not to, but we don't have a lot going for us. So few in number..."

"But we're fighters, all of us, and we'll keep fighting until the breath is gone from our bodies."

Thorin gave a despondent sigh. "That's what I'm afraid of."

…

Ori returned to the main room and sat himself on one of the couches, away from the others, with his arm cradled close to his chest. He looked tired and pale, but the panic was gone from his face.

"Mind if I sit?" Dwalin asked hesitantly, walking over to the boy and gesturing awkwardly at the couch.

"Please." Ori managed a small, genuine smile.

Dwalin sat down gingerly, their knees brushing lightly against one another. "How are ya doing?"

"I'll be fine, it's just a sprain."

"Yer sure? I know ya won't let Oín see it, but if it's broken the bones need to be set to heal right." He reached out and gently took hold of Ori's injured arm, feeling at the bones through the knitted gloves.

"I don't think it's broken..." He stared at Dwalin's face, blushing fiercely.

Dwalin looked up, his fingers rubbing carefully at Ori's wrist. "I don't think it is either..." He leaned forward and kissed Ori softly, sweetly.

Ori pressed into the kiss, sliding his good arm around Dwalin's neck to pull him closer. Dwalin's hands moved without thought, one sliding around the boy's waist while the other traced under the wrist of his hoodie.

"Stop!" Dori screeched from the door to the hallway. He raced across the room, waving his arms in a frantic attempt to draw their attention. "Get your hands off him!"

Dwalin and Ori jumped apart, both looking equal parts pleased and guilty.

Dori grabbed his brother's good arm and pulled him up. "Ori, you can't do this. You know what could happen. He may mean well, but his power is incredibly strong. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Hurt!?" Dwalin growled, jumping to his feet. "I would never hurt him!"

"I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Ori."

"But ya were talkin' about me! He's an adult, he can make his own choices!"

"You're right. He can," Dori agreed with some degree of malice. "But that doesn't mean I can't remind him what's at stake."

"Yer practically telling him that I'm a monster!" Dwalin fumed, his knuckle-dusters extending through the skin on his hands. "I know how to control my damn powers! I ain't an animal!"

Dori clenched his fists and moved into Dwalin's personal space. "Don't push me. This is between me and Ori."

Across the room, the rest of the Company watched the scene with a varying level of interest and a good deal on concern. The card game had come to a screeching halt when Dori began yelling and Nori chewed on his lip as he watched his oldest brother flail his arms.

"If they come to blows, who d'ya think would win?" Kíli whispered, none too quietly.

"Well, Dori is just about the strongest Super there is," Fíli replied, a bit softer than his brother. "He could do some serious damage."

"Aye, but Dwalin can regenerate. It would take a lot t' knock him out." Bofur chuckled. "What do yeh think, Nori?"

"My money is on Dori. He's fighting for something important."

Bofur waggled an eyebrow. "T' protect yer little brother's honor?"

"Something like that," Nori muttered with a sigh.

"Dwalin is fighting for something too," Bilbo pointed out. "He's quite smitten with Ori. Anyone can see that..."

Ori had been watching the fight quietly, with wide eyes and a clenched jaw. He finally seemed to come to a decision and stepped between the two arguing men. "Stop it! Both of you! Stop fighting!"

Both men grew silent and looked mildly ashamed. Dori unclenched his fists, while Dwalin retracted his knuckle-dusters.

"Dori, listen. I appreciate your warning, but know what I'm risking. I know I could end up getting hurt." Ori glanced down and tugged at the glove on his injured hand. His voice softened. "But I want this, Dori. I want a chance to be happy, even for just a little while. I'm not going to rush off and do anything stupid. But I want to be with him. He's worth it."

The room was eerily silent as everyone watched the drama unfold. Dwalin blushed at Ori's words and looked fiercely proud.

"Okay then." Dori leveled a worried look at his brother, but nodded slowly. "You're an adult, you can make your own choices. I just hope you know what you're doing."

"I do," Ori said, the quaver in his voice betraying his emotions. "Thank you, Dori."

"Good luck, little one." Dori pulled his brother into a quick hug, then went to join Thorin across the room.

Ori turned and smiled shyly up at Dwalin. "I hope I wasn't being too presumptuous..."

"About wantin' us to be together?" He smiled and gently cupped the younger man's face with his hand. "I want that too."

This time it was Ori who initiated the kiss, grabbing hold of Dwalin's beard with his good hand and pulling him down until their lips met. Dwalin smiled into the kiss and slid his hand around the small of Ori's back, pulling him close.

At the table, Bofur toyed with his cards and then turned to Nori curiously. "Why's it seem like Dori is worried about something other than Dwalin dating yer brother?"

"'Cause it's never been about Dwalin."

...

Later that night Dís glared at the computer monitor and stood up. She rolled her shoulders, wincing slightly as the joint popped in irritation, and sulked over to the table where Thorin, Bilbo, and Bifur were sitting. The rest of the Company were strewn about the room in various states of consciousness. Fíli and Kíli were passed out like puppies in one corner, Oín and Dori napped in armchairs near the window, and Dwalin snored softly with Ori tucked safely under his arm. Gloín and Loni were nowhere to be seen, probably taking advantage of the lull in action to have a little alone time in their room. Bofur and Nori were still at their card game, neither willing to admit defeat even though both were exhausted. Balin and Bombur watched the card game during the rare moments they were awake enough to focus.

"I don't know why we bothered furnishing bedrooms when every time there's a potentially dangerous situation they all sleep out here."

Thorin smiled tiredly. "Because, dear sister, we want to believe that things will be good enough one day to warrant bedrooms."

"Today is not that day." She sat down at the table and gave Bifur a warm smile when he handed her a fresh cup of coffee. "I've been through everything we leached from the G-Techs systems and all I've gotten is a headache."

"There's nothing at all about S.M.A.U.G.?"

"Oh, there's plenty. And it's damn interesting too. I'm just not sure how useful any of it is. I was hoping to find the code that took down the fail-safes."

Thorin cursed under his breath. "Well, let's hear what you did find. Maybe there will be something of import."

Dís drummed her fingers on the tabletop as she collected her thoughts. "Okay. The only slightly useful thing I learned is that S.M.A.U.G. operates on a flywheel power storage system. That's its power source."

"Flywheel? In English, please?" Thorin said irritably.

"A flywheel system is a type of uninterpretable power supply. It works by accelerating a rotor to an extremely high speed and then harassing that rotational energy. There is an insane amount of power conservation built in, which allows the robot to go into hibernation mode when all its systems aren't in use."

"I thought I asked for that in English. I don't see anything useful in that tech gibberish you just spouted out."

"There is one sure-fire way to stop a flywheel system." Dís said, rubbing a hand over her eyes tiredly. "Just like any other electronic system, if you overload it with enough power you can short out the system."

"You mean we could electrocute S.M.A.U.G.?" Thorin asked, leaning forward in his chair.

"In theory? Yes."

"What's the catch?" He asked skeptically. "I can already tell that there's a catch."

"I can't think of anything we have access to that would be able to harness enough power to take down S.M.A.U.G.. Short of god striking it down with a lightening bolt, I have no clue how to use that information." Dís gave a dejected sigh. Bifur reached over and patted her hand reassuringly.

"Wait," Bilbo said, snapping out of his half-asleep daze. "I almost forgot..." He got up and rooted around the room, finally unearthing Ori's satchel from under the boy's feet. "I found something else in the server room at G-Tech..."

"What is it?" Thorin rumbled, looking put out. "And why didn't you tell us earlier, burglar? You teleported, then you keep this from us, is there anything else we should know?"

"I have no idea how I teleported! And as for this file, I forgot, what with getting attacked by superpowered villains and all." Pulling out the file, he handed it to Dís. "I don't know what's in here, but the lead programers were working on it, and it was labeled S.M.A.U.G.."

Dís flipped through the pages in the folder with widening eyes, then stood up and hurried back to the computers without saying a word. The men followed her, peering over her shoulder as she began to type strings of code into the prompt box on her monitor.

"Dís?" Thorin prodded his sister in the shoulder. "You look slightly manic... Is there something useful in that folder?"

"Yes! This is the data file that took down S.M.A.U.G.'s fail-safes! I can see how they got in now... It's really an ingenious bit of vampire code. The hacker didn't need to leave himself a backdoor, he pretty much set a package on the doorstep and waited to be taken in! As soon as the G-Tech programmers installed the upgrade, the virus was invited into S.M.A.U.G.'s binary and promptly took out the fail-safes. The programmers didn't catch it, because it was literally one tiny line of code amongst thousands. It looks so innocuous unless you really read at where it falls in the program. Whoever did this is a genius. And that's me saying that."

"Well, that's discouraging," Bilbo said with a irritated huff. "A genius level hacker who released a sentient robot on us."

"But to what end?" Thorin asked suddenly. "If the whole purpose was for S.M.A.U.G. to become self-aware and kill Supers... what good would that do?"

Bifur made a rushed series of signs and pounded his fist on the table. When no one immediately caught on he repeated the motions slower, forming the signs for the letters N and P, as well as a series of bastardized gestures.

"What if the hacker doesn't have powers?" Bilbo suggested hesitantly, hoping he got the gist of the signs. Bifur nodded fervently. "If he's trying to take over the city or the world or whatever, the Supers are always going to stop him. If there are no Supers left..."

"He could potentially have free reign," Thorin finished. "That actually makes a terrifying amount of sense."

"I may have some good news," Dís interjected, her fingers still clicking away at the keyboard. "I don't see any reason that S.M.A.U.G. would have closed up the pathway the code came in through. I might be able to devise a virus of my own to shut down the core functions."

Thorin leaned forward eagerly. "Will that work?"

"Honestly? That remains to be seen. It's a 50/50 chance at best and we'd have to physically install the code into one of S.M.A.U.G.'s ports. But I can't think of anything else to try."

"Then you'd better get some sleep. Tomorrow you need to write that code, and we'll have to figure out how to infect S.M.A.U.G. with your virus."

…

It took Dís most of the day to create a virus that had any chance of taking out S.M.A.U.G.. She codenamed her creation Dragon-Sickness, because it latched onto the central components of the positronic brain and forced the AI to shut itself off. In theory. In actuality, she had no idea if it would work.

"According to the blueprints from the G-Tech computers, S.M.A.U.G. should have a USB port just below its left wing. One of the metal scales should swivel to reveal an access panel. All it would take to install is plugging one of my modified flash drives into the port and giving it a good 30 seconds to upload into the system."

"The trick is going to be getting someone up to S.M.A.U.G. to install the virus. We've already determined it's not likely that we can get the robot to land." Thorin regarded the Company with a level gaze. "We're going to send Green Team in, because the two NPs might be our best bet. S.M.A.U.G. is less likely to attack them, and they might throw it off its guard."

"I'm going to have to be here to monitor the transfer," Dís said. "So we need someone else who knows computers."

"I should be the one to do it," Dwalin rumbled. "I might be able to regen fast enough to survive a few bouts of dragon fire."

Ori made a small sound in the back of his throat, like an animal dying.

"No way. You don't know anything about computers." Nori glanced from his brother to Dwalin, then shrugged. "I can infect the bastard so long as I can get up to it."

"Nori, no," Ori whispered brokenly.

"Don't worry, little bro. I'm a NP, not a Super. S.M.A.U.G. ain't even gonna notice I'm there."

Bofur took a deep breath before speaking. "I can get yeh up there."

"You've got powers, birdbrain. I don't wanna be responsible for you getting fried."

"S.M.A.U.G. would have t' catch me first." Bofur gave his friend a cheeky smile, then tugged at the ear flaps of his aviator hat. "An' I'd like t' see him try."

Thorin looked around the room, his eyes lingering on his nephews, then he nodded. "Then it's settled. Green Team will be responsible for infecting S.M.A.U.G. with the virus. Everyone else will be on support duty. We need all hands on deck for this one. We'll head out at first light."

...

...

A/N: There have been some really good attempts to name all the superheroes the Company are based off of, but so far no one has gotten them all correct. Keep guessing! Remember- first person to name all the MARVEL characters whose powers the Company's are based off of will get a drabble of their choice from this 'verse.

Stay tuned Wednesday for Kili's origin chapter. Then, on Friday, the Company goes to confront S.M.A.U.G. in what is one of my personal favorite chapters. See you then!