Plan A
"Stark."
Tony slowed as he took in the diminutive form of the Scarlet Witch sitting at the table. She looked pensive, dressed simply in tight jeans, a simple sweater and a russet overcoat.
"Wanda." He gestured back towards the living areas. "Vision's just finishing saying goodbye to the bots."
She inclined her head, her long hair falling to one side, but her eyes never left him. "Thank you for providing us with transport." Her words were edged with the slight hint of her accent.
Tony shrugged away the gratitude. "You're looking…well."
"I feel well." Wanda said politely. "I had good teachers. They helped me realise how I can better control my powers and the responsibility which comes with what I can do."
"That's…good?" concluded Tony hesitantly as he helped himself to the coffee pot and poured a large cup of coffee.
"Very good." Wanda stood up and turned to face him fully. "I have apologised to the others for the visions I gave them due to their fears. I must also apologise to you for the harm I caused you."
Tony paused in drinking his coffee and lowered the cup. "I appreciate the apology." He gestured towards her. "I'm sorry too about the RAFT and the way you were treated. Nobody should have to experience that."
"It was not your doing." Wanda said, surprising Tony. She smiled a little at his evident shock. "I have learned that I have blamed you for things I should not." The smile fell away from her face as she reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. "I hope to do better going forward."
"Well, thank you." Tony said slowly. "I, uh, probably should apologise though for the lockdown here. I should have talked with you myself; explained things."
"I would not have listened." Wanda said bluntly. "Vision explained and I still did not listen. I allowed myself to be persuaded by Clint because I wanted to believe I was not a monster; that I could help without causing so many to die like in Lagos." She looked away for a long moment. "Yet I hurt Vision as though I was the monster. I should not have left."
Tony wondered at how much she had changed. Xavier seemed to have given her a sense of peace; it was a good look on her. "You're protecting him now. I know he appreciates it."
"He is my friend." Wanda said, looking back at him. Her eyes slid away to the entrance to the communal area from the residential wing and she smiled warmly as Vision appeared with Rogers – Steve.
"I am all packed." Vision said. "Captain Rogers will accompany us en route to his rendezvous with Natasha and Samuel."
Wanda nodded. "Thank you, Steve."
"Perhaps you could wait in the quinjet while I have a private word with Mister Stark?" Vision requested politely, his gaze landing briefly on Rogers before ending up pinned to Wanda.
"We can wait in the quinjet." Steve declared. He nodded at Tony and strode out without another word.
Tony hid his inner wince. Things were still really stiff and awkward between him and Steve. They managed to work together to plan for Thanos but that was as far as it went.
"It was good to see you again, Stark." Wanda glanced at him before turning back to Vision. "I will wait for you outside."
She left before Tony could reply.
Vision wandered a few steps further into the living area and paused. "I wished to speak with you but now the moment is here I find I am unable to express myself."
Tony smiled at him softly. "I'll miss you too."
"No, that was not what I…" Vision suddenly seemed to realise his gaffe and tried to backtrack hastily. "That is to say I will miss you but that was not…"
Tony laughed, genuinely amused. "Whatever you want to say, Vision, just say it."
"My relationship with Miss Maximoff…"
Tony hoped like hell Vision wasn't going to ask for The Talk.
"…I have seen you and Miss Potts achieve a successful romantic relationship and wished to understand how I can do the same." Vision said.
There was a hint of shyness in his tone; an embarrassed tilt to his head.
"Honestly?" said Tony keeping his tone serious, "the reason why we work is because we love each other and that's all that matters really. It isn't easy, but I don't think it's meant to be. It's hard work and sometimes it hurts – sometimes we hurt each other. But it's worth it."
Vision gave a nod of acknowledgement. "I believe I love Wanda."
"That's good because I think she's crazy about you." Tony confided softly.
Vision's demeanour brightened. He gave another nod and began to walk away. He paused and looked back. "We have never spoken of JARVIS; of how much of him is within me."
Tony straightened. "Vision…"
"I do not remember life as JARVIS but…" Vision held his gaze, "I know he gave me an overwhelming need to protect this world and he learned that from you."
Tony couldn't speak.
"It has been an honour, sir." Vision said.
Tony nodded. "Likewise." He said roughly.
Vision turned to leave again.
"Vision!"
Vision turned back.
"Don't forget protecting the world means protecting yourself; stay safe, OK?" Tony gestured. "And you know; go get the girl."
Vision smiled and walked away.
Tony watched until he was gone before he scrubbed a hand over his face. "FRIDAY?"
"Yes, Boss."
"If you ever need advice about a guy – or girl, tree, whatever – no judgement, just…you know, ask Pepper."
"Good call, Boss." FRIDAY said approvingly.
Plan Z
"We have enhanced on the field!"
Steve's calm announcement has Tony wincing as he dodges the artillery fire from the top of the castle. Thor bats another one away with his hammer and it lands on one of the enemy turrets in the forest below.
Tony grimaces. He figures he's stalled long enough to make his taking down the castle shield realistic and he announces the success of the energy field falling moments later.
"Natasha's hit." Clint almost sounds panicked. He's perched up high in the hillside around the castle.
"I have her." The gruff tone of Doctor Henry McCoy says immediately.
"I'm fine." Natasha confirms a second later. "Landed badly on my wrist."
Clint's breath of relief can be heard over the comms.
"She has a flesh wound." McCoy argues dryly, the sound of fire close by enough to be picked up by the comms. "If someone could take care of that bunker…"
The Hulk roars and Tony watches as he destroys the bunker with prejudice.
"Widow, Beast; fall back," Steve orders, "Doctor Grey, what's your status?"
"I can't pinpoint the twins," Grey says, "she's keeping them hidden."
"Understood." Steve responds. "Tony, we need you inside. Thor, watch his back."
"On my honour." Thor agrees.
Tony makes short work of the control room, disabling the men there with ease. Thor gives him an admiring look as Tony exits the armour and starts JARVIS downloading the files.
"I'm hit!" Cyclops bites out, his voice heavy with pain. "It was the guy – he has superspeed."
"The drone picked up something…" The Scottish burr gives away the identity of Fitz, one half of the scientist team Coulson had ordered onto the mission. It's immediately followed by the cut glass English tone of the other half.
"…there's a small visual disturbance. Light is bending around him." Simmons completes.
"I got it." Clint says calmly. A second later, he confirms the target is down and agents converge to take Pietro Maximoff into custody.
Tony frowns. Wanda is still at large and she'll be pissed about her brother. He focuses on finding the hidden door as he had before. Thor follows him, the suit piloted by JARVIS taking the rear. They walk into the room with the remains of the Chitauri whale-ship and Tony shudders almost overcome with déjà vu. The sceptre isn't where it was in the last timeline and Tony freezes with horror.
It has to be there.
It has to…
The hairs suddenly rise at the back of his neck and he knows, knows that Wanda is in the room with them.
Thor whirls around sensing something himself. He raises Mjölnir and frowns. "Show yourself!"
Wanda steps out of the shadows.
Tony swallows hard.
The sceptre is in her hand.
"You will pay for what you have done." Wanda says, red mist beginning to circle her hand, travelling down the sceptre…she raises and points it…
Thor raises the hammer, lightning crackling around it…
The sceptre sends out a stream of yellow and red…
Lightning zig-zigs and crosses the room to meet it in the middle sending tendrils of red, yellow and white across the room…
"We need back-up!" Tony dives to the side and the armour flies in to protect him…
And the yellow light leaps and catches the arc reactor in the armour…
Lightning strikes it a moment later…
"Sir!" JARVIS reports urgently in his ear. "Something is overwriting the armour's local OS. I cannot…it's…I am under attac…"
"Retreat protocol, JARVIS!" Tony orders, swearing under his breath from his place behind a table. He has nothing to help. In the centre of the room, Thor and Wanda are continuing to fight. "JARVIS?!"
There's no response and the armour freezes as though suspended…
Then…
The armour shakes its head and raises a hand as though fascinated by it. "Well, this is certainly an interesting vessel."
Ultron's smooth smarmy tone echoes out of the suit and Tony swallows hard. He has to believe JARVIS is OK. He won't lose him. Not this time.
The armour spins and shoots the repulsor at Thor, who, distracted by Wanda, takes the hit full in the chest and flies backwards over a table to land in a heap on the far side of the room.
Wanda holds the sceptre in front of her as the armour turns to her. "What are you?"
"I am…me." The armour states before gesturing at the sceptre she holds. "And that is mine."
"I think not." Wanda snarls and raises her hand which is surrounded by red.
"How fascinating," the armour says, "you really think you can hurt me?"
Wanda shoots at it with both her magic and the sceptre.
The armour clutches at its arc reactor as its bathed in red and yellow light. "Oh no, that really…" it straightens and raises its hand, "tickles." He shoots the replusor at Wanda who flies back and hits the wall.
The armour flies over slowly to retrieve the sceptre but Tony knows it cannot allow it to leave the room. He stands up.
"That's far enough."
The armour leaves the sceptre on the ground, turns around swiftly and cocks its head. "Anthony Stark, creator of this vessel." It preens a little, arching the back. "I find it acceptable but I can do better."
"You're not keeping it." Tony says.
"I have destroyed the entity within and you are defenceless." The armour states. "Who else would be able to stop me?"
The shield comes flying through the air and slaps hard against the armour's head, disorientating the AI; it barely settles before a barrage of arrows send it flying upward, only to slap into one of Falcon's wings. The armour dodges and jerks awkwardly mid-air to avoid another throw of the shield, another flurry of arrows and…Thor rises up and throws Mjölnir…
The armour takes the hit and slams into the wall but it shakes its head and laughs. "Is that all you've got?"
It turns and dives for the sceptre but then the armour stops in mid-air as Jean Grey sails in through the door, Wolverine following her his claws already extended.
"Sorry, I'm late." She's remarkably unflappable.
"You can't think you can hold me." The armour taunts them.
Tony smiles sharply. "Ultron."
The arc reactor immediately powers down and the armour's lights flicker and go out. It falls to a heap on the floor. Tony immediately crosses over and takes out the reactor.
The suit is dead.
"Ultron?" asks Steve.
"Safe-word." Tony says tersely, unable to turn his answer into a joke, innuendo to lighten the mood. He has something he needs to check…he taps his communicator urgently.
"JARVIS?"
There's silence.
A lump shoots into Tony's throat. He can't lose JARVIS, not again.
Clint walks over and stands beside him; Steve joins Thor hovering close by.
"JARVIS?" Tony checks again.
Clint puts his hand on Tony's shoulder as the silence stretches.
Tony closes his eyes. He's planned for this. He just needs to recover JARVIS from his backup and…he won't lose JARVIS. He won't.
"I'm sorry, Tony." Steve says softly.
"He died with honour." Thor states.
Tony shakes his head and turns away, his hand clutching the reactor. "JARVIS isn't dead…there's backups, he'll be fine." He looks for something else to focus on…anything else… "Doctor Grey?"
The telepath is bent over Wanda giving her first aid with Sam beside her assisting. There's a bloody streak on the wall from the impact of Wanda's head against it and she's clearly out for the count.
"She needs medical attention." Jean notes. "Her head has sustained an injury. She has a skull fracture."
Tony slumps against the table as Steve gingerly picks up the sceptre.
"What took over the armour?" asks Clint, leaning back against the table.
"Some kind of entity emerged from the sceptre during my battle with the witch." Thor replies.
The armour suddenly moves, lashing out a leg and sending Steve tumbling. It grabs the sceptre from him, turns and in one fluid move knocks the sceptre up against Jean's heart. Her eyes turn electric blue.
Clint shoots an arrow but the armour flicks it away with a hand. Wolverine growls and leaps but Jean immediately holds him suspended in mid-jump. She rises slowly into the air and halts Thor mid-attack, Steve mid-throw.
Tony shifts and feels Jean's power wrap around him; he can barely breathe.
The armour makes its own jerky journey upwards to join Jean; it's not using the repulsors instead there is a sickly yellow light glow where the reactor had once lived.
"No strings on me!" cackled the armour. "Ultron? I like that. Ultron." He gestures at Jean. "Come, my dear. We have work to do."
They fly out of the room.
Tony staggers as they are released from Jean's telekinetic hold almost immediately and Steve gives chase, already barking warnings to the rest of the team and the agents outside. Thor follows after him, Wolverine hot on his heels. Clint slumps against the table and Tony places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"OK?" asks Tony, taking in Clint's quick breaths and white face.
"Just…" Clint shakes his head unable to give voice to his fear of becoming controlled again but Tony knows anyway. He squeezes Clint's shoulder and dimly tracks the voices in the comm confirming Thor has gone after Ultron, the only one able to fly after them.
Tony rubs a hand over his face and tries not to panic. For all his foreknowledge and planning, he hasn't been able to stop Ultron. And if he can't stop Ultron, what hope does he have of stopping Thanos?