Avengers: Age of Ultron | Saviours | War Is Upon Us
Avery stood in the doorway to one of the clothing rooms as she watched the twins finish getting themselves ready for the big fight. The one main thing occurred to her after talking to James and that was the fact that she hasn't really talked to the twins as of yet. Not really, anyway. She could understand that they were making a huge decision on changing sides because they hated Tony Stark and his weaponry – it's the reason why their parents are dead. It's the reason why Winter went and recruited them in the first place under Hydra's orders.
"You two ready?" She announced her presence to them, making them jump just a little in their skin. In her hand were two small earpieces; the instruments they use during missions to communicate to each other on the field. She already had hers in and ready to use but the twins still needed them - they were, of course, apart of the Avengers' now.
Wanda was the first to speak up, her voice hesitant, "Winter? Uh, I mean yeah, we- we're ready." Quickly putting on the red jacket Pietro had thrown at her earlier. It did look pretty nice and it suited her hair colour.
The moment the name 'Winter' was mentioned, Ava couldn't help but grimace although didn't react as badly as she used to. "Call me Ava." She told the pair, rather using that name. "But on the field, you can call me that if you wish."
Pietro couldn't help it, the question that's been buzzing around in his head for ages was now slipping out. "Why didn't you tell us your name was Avery Rogers?" He asked, remembering the hurt he felt and he was sure his sister felt the same the moment they found out the truth. Winter had been someone they could count on at that point in their life and one she just … vanished. It was like she never existed and no one even breathed her name again.
Ava bowed her head, sighing in the realization that they didn't know yet. Part of her thought Ultron would have told them after finding her with the Avengers' … obviously not. "Because I didn't know I was." She simply replied, looking back up at them, still leaning against the doorway. This was still a touchy subject for her, "Back when you met me; I really was just the 'Winter Solider' and I was simply Hydra's tool. They made me become one back in 1949 when I was presumed dead … they erased my memories and completely eradicated anything to do with who I was."
Wanda didn't understand but was listening intently, "Why would they do that?"
Avery just sent them a humorless smile, "Let's just say that I was the convenient choice." She was closer than anyone to the two American Heroes and the fact of who she was made it even sweeter for Hydra, she had been the best choice in so many ways. She let out a breath, ready to direct the conversation somewhere else, "Anyway…" She began, pushing herself off the doorway, "We'll be heading out any minute and you two need one of these." Holding out her hand to show the two ear buds.
"What are they?" Pietro inquired, but could quickly guess by the looks of them. Both he and his sister each grabbed one, looking down at them.
"They're earpieces," Ava replied, gesturing her own here to show them she had one in too. "It'll keep us connected with you and officially, the both of you are now Avengers' if you want to be." The others had no disagreements with it … maybe Banner but that's about all. He was still touchy about what Wanda made him do but he knew if any of them were to survive today, they'd need the twins help in order to do so.
He just made it clear that if Wanda decided to warp his mind again – he'd most probably snap her neck without a second thought.
"Come on," She gestured them to follow her, "We have to meet up with the others now." Walking out the door first before hearing them follow close behind, putting in the little earpieces she had handed over to them just a second ago.
…
Avery had been looking for a brother after getting the Maximoff's into the Helicarrier with the others and she finally found him standing outside, looking towards the city from above. She made her way over, standing beside to look out with him. There was a deep look of thought planted in his features, his arms crossed over his chest. Where they were right now; it was dark in the sky and despite the lights of the city beaming about the place, you could still see many stars, some brighter than the rest.
It was a moment but it was Steve who spoke first, "Do you remember the time after dad's death?" He asked, going a direction that both of them were pretty surprised about. Ava looked over at him, her own arms crossed now but she sent him a bewildered look, not understanding where this conversation might now be heading.
After a second, Ava started to nod, she remembered that very well along with other certain memories. Many of them were still quite a blur but others were as clear as day. "Why?"
"Did something else happen?" He said instead, looking over to her this time with question in his eyes. Those few weeks after their father's death was something that always came back to him clearly. Especially how his twin had acted for a long time after his passing. "I mean; it never really came to me fully at the time but … there was something you weren't telling me. I can still see it now and it's something I really don't get … what aren't you telling me?"
"Steve-" She tried to direct the conversation away but he was having none of it because his head shook defiantly.
"-No." He said, not letting the subject go this time. He turned his body around so he faced her. Her own still facing outwards towards the city. "If its about our dad … then I have the right to know." He insisted.
That got Ava silent and she brought a hand over her mouth, feeling water appearing in the corners of her eyes. Steve paused for a second, just looking at her and at this point, he was completely sure there was something being hidden – something about their father in particular. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, turning her around so she faced him and this time, she didn't fight him. "Please," He pleaded, wanting so badly to know. "Tell me. You don't have to keep this to yourself and I'm always going to be here for you, just as Bucky will be."
Avery stayed silent for a few more seconds before finally speaking, "I think he did this to me." Her voice a little weak but there was an undeniable crack in it.
Steve's brow furrowed, not fully understanding, "What?"
"Dad." She told him, her voice stronger this time. Getting something off her chest that, like the pregnancy issue, has been on her chest for a very long time, even if her memories HAD been gone for most of the duration. "I think … he's the reason I am the way I am today. The reason I have this metal arm … and the reason why Hydra chose me specifically."
Steve just wasn't understanding why she'd think that – she was the daddy's girl, why the hell would their father even think about doing something like that? "Why the hell would you think something like that?" He asked, concerned. Their father couldn't possibly have been sided with Hydra? Right?
"His last words to me were 'Don't let them change you – follow your own path'. And at first, I really didn't understand but … it wasn't until Zola got me the second time that it all made sense." She paused, gathering herself, now wasn't the time to be falling apart when they had the world to save. "He … Dad was an inventor, Steve. We were never actually told what he invented and it wasn't until Zola told me that it all fit into place. The solution that runs through my veins and the one that screwed with my brain was dad's invention."
Steve never really did know their father as well as Ava did because she was the 'daddy's girl' while he was the 'mommy's boy'. But, all he could hear in her voice was the truth and his heart broke. Not only because he never realized that their father might have been apart of Hydra but the fact that he hadn't been able to protect his sister from them. If what she was saying was correct, she had been doomed the moment she was born and that angered him to the core.
Without another word, he just brought her into his chest, crushing her into a brotherly hug. Her head rested against his chest and accepted it, needing this kind of interaction right now after spouting out what she had just said. And again, it felt like another weight had been lifted off her chest, however, she knew that Steve would now have a different opinion against their father and that … she wasn't sure was a good or bad thing.
…
About ten minutes later, in the Quinjet, everyone was ready and waiting as they flew over several cities and much more. The Avengers' were sitting around, Steve and Bucky standing in front of them and Ava was close by Wanda and Pietro with her arms crossed over her chest, leaning against the wall. The Quinjet was being flown by one of Tony's AI's and because Jarvis was now installed in the Vision, he was now having to use Friday – his second most precious AI.
"Ultron knows we're coming." Steve was saying, looking to his team like a leader, much like Bucky was. Being Captain America and Lieutenant America gave them a lot of experience in making good speeches. "Odds are … we'll be riding into heavy fire, but that's what we signed up for."
Bucky nodded along, before continuing for his best friend, "But the people of Sokovia didn't." His eyes flickered over to the twins briefly, noticing the two holding hands and comforting each other in a way only twins knew. He's seen the same looks form on both Ava and Steve once upon a time too, back before all of the evil came into play. "Our priority, first and foremost, is getting as many people of there."
…
Pietro walked into Sokovia's only and local Police station with his lightning speed. Tthe officer's that noticed the way he came in, didn't react to it. They all figured they were seeing things, because really, it's been happening a lot lately. Nothing seemed to surprise them too much anymore.
"We're under attack!" Pietro was shouting to everyone, looking around as he gained everyone's attention. Their heads perked up but they didn't seem to take him seriously, "Clear the city! Now!" Once he had finished talking, he vanished into thin air again. After blinking several times, the officers returned to their work and ignored the plea. One of the men even went back to playing a game of Spider Cards on his computer.
Pietro must have known they wouldn't take him seriously, but what he did next, made them. He zoomed back in with a large machine gun in hand – he shot several rounds into the ceiling to once again gain everyones FULL attention. They all gasped, some of them in fright, "Get off you asses!" He snapped with order in his voice, his accent coming out strong.
…
"…All they want is to live their lives in peace..."
Wanda was successfully using her powers to get into the minds of the town's people; using her skill to change everyone's actions and started making them head out of town in a peaceful manner. Unfortunately, her power wasn't as strong as can be because she couldn't get into everyone's head. Someone would need to be extremely powerful in order to do something like that.
You could see the red flakes fluttering around the citizens, they were all clearly under Wanda's controlled control.
"…and that's not going to happen today… but, we can do our best to protect them and get the job done…"
…
Thor smashed his way through tunnels and earth in order to reach the core of the city underground; he was tasked in finding out what Ultron's ultimate plan was and what he's about to find was the key to everything.
"…We'll find out what Ultron's been building…"
Bruce walked in from the hole Thor made; he was tasked with finding Natasha and he planned on getting her out of the line of fire. He knew she was down here somewhere – Ultron would have kept her close, and this is where Clint said the signal was coming from, according to the codes that were shared.
"…we find Romanoff and clear the field … we keep the fight between us…"
…
Back in the Quinjet, Steve looked down, "Ultron thinks we're monsters." He repeated the words of the bot they were trying to take down. "That we're what's wrong with the world." Behind him, Bruce bowed his head in shame, because he knew that's exactly what he was, the green man inside of him was a monster just waiting to be free again.
Ava did something similar; she looked away for a second because she knew that even if most of her 'Avery-side' was back – there was still that nagging portion of the monster that kept her alive all these years.
"This isn't just about beating him," Steve continued, having seen his sister look away the moment he said his last words, "It's about whether he's right." Even he and Bucky weren't too sure anymore about what they were. Whether they were truly good and stand up for the right reasons or were they slowly and discreetly being shifted to the side they promised each other they'd never fight for? During their time at Shield, they were basically tricked into helping Hydra reach its near full potential. Maybe they were monsters too?
Everyone in this room had a monster within them – it's just the matter of whose is bigger, and who will cave into it eventually.
…
People were running, cars were honking and the Avengers' were trying all in their power to make sure everything stayed in order without chaos. They dotted themselves around enough to evacuate all the people Wanda wasn't able to reach with her powers and so far; there were a lot more people than originally thought. For such a small town compared to places like New York City, there were still a vast amount of people.
Clint, Ava, Bucky and Steve were the only ones trying to move the mass along the best they could – the others were obviously doing their part of the plan.
…
Tony was flying up in the air; heading towards a certain part of town the moment Friday said, "Your man's in the church, boss." Friday had almost a female Irish accent to her voice. "I think he's waiting for you." According to the Vision; Ultron hated him the most, almost full-on hatred. Well, that's obviously what he gets for trying to make the world a better place.
Tony's feet touched down in the church Friday directed him to, his heavy metal feet clinking against the stone floor. Ultron stood there behind without saying anything for a moment – inside his mind, he knew his plan was working out to the 'T'. "Come to confess your sins?" His grave voice asked in his usual robotic yet human voice.
"I don't know." Tony played along when Ultron's voice was heard from behind. He was tasked in stalling Ultron as long as possible while the others got the civilians out of town. "How much time you got?"
The sound of very heavy metal feet sounded, the noise echoing through the church dome. Tony spun round in surprise and his head had to turn upwards when he got a full sight at what Ultron looked like now. He was double, almost triple the size of what he used to be – in other words, he looked like a robotic giant.
"Uhh…" Tony murmured uneasily, actually taking a few steps back when Ultron moved closer to him. "Have you been juicing? A little Vibranium cocktail?" He questioned in a distracting way – he figured he'd be fighting the Ultron they've seen before. The one that was about the same size of him, maybe just a touch bigger. "You're looking … I don't want to say 'puffy'-" Ultron finally stopped him.
"-You're stalling to protect the people." The bot already knew what they had planned to a degree. The Avengers' decisions can be very foreseeable.
Tony couldn't disagree, "Well, that is the mission. Did you forget?"
"I've moved beyond your mission." Ultron replied, "I'm free."
Suddenly, the ground started shaking and within a second – something smashed its way up to the surface from beneath the church, right in the centre of it. Tony stumbled back but didn't fall when he was almost knocked off balance – he stared at the machine that now pinned itself to the surface and he realised something in that moment – Ultron had been stalling him too. The notion was confirmed by what the bot said next.
"What?" Ultron almost had a mocking tone to his voice as he tilted his head, "You think you were the only one stalling?"
The machine had three flaps that secured itself to the ground and a main console stationed in the middle, at the height of a small table. The design looked very complicating, but Tony was only worried about what it would do. Friday quickly examined the device from what Tony could see and her report came immediately after, "There's the rest of the Vibranium." She informed him. Inside Tony's helmet, he could see the schematic of how far the machine went down beneath the surface, and it was VERY far down. It was past the two-thousand metre marker, "Function, still unclear."
"This is how you end, Tony." Ultron continued, breaking Tony out of his examining mode. "THIS is peace in my time."
…
On the surface of Sokovia, hundreds, probably thousands of Ultron bots started breaking out of the ground, dragging themselves out of rivers, climbing up the side of the city and a lot of them were just simply flying into the city. People started screaming, running away from them as explosions burst from many places around them.
At this point, the Avengers were now fighting, yelling at all the civilians to run towards the opposite direction of the fights. The Vision, however, was about to complete his main part of the plan.
"Ultron." Vision's voice appeared above the robotic man, he was flying down slowly with his feet underneath him. Upon hearing this new being hovering down, Ultron slowly flew up to meet him in the air, both now suspended in the middle of the old church ruins.
"My vision." Ultron murmured, looking completely crushed within but did not full let it show. The thing in front of him was the exact vision he had been dreaming of making since his own birth into this world and now … it was gone. Something he could never get back because of those wretched Avengers. "They really did take everything from me."
The Vision wanted to get down to business because like he said back at the tower – he didn't want to destroy Ultron, but if he didn't stop what was happening, thousands or more people will die because of it. "You set the terms." He said, hoping to change Ultron's mind about what he's planning. "You can change them."
At this point, anger was now set in. "All right." Ultron replied but only a second later, his metal hands were tightly wrapped around the Vision's neck, intent on destroying what was once his creation. The one thing he didn't expect was what came after and that was Vision's fingers connecting with his head. A strange sensation quickly covered his entire body. Something inside of him was changing – something he didn't want to happen. The Vision was ripping him away from something he dearly needed if things should go south.
The Vision was killing every cell in his make-up that was connected to the internet – the thing that brought him into what he is today. Ultron tried in earnest to get the being off him but didn't succeed, he was too deeply connected and the process was almost over by that point.
The moment Vision let go of Ultron, he passed out and the bot recoiled while holding his head. "You shut me out." He growled, glaring at the Vision's falling body. He grabbed the being around the neck again before slamming him into the ground with a little too much force than necessary. "You think I care?" At that moment, he decided what to do next. "You take away my world; I'll take away yours." Were the last words spoken out of his mouth before he flew over to the device in the middle of the church – he twisted a dial, and thus, revealing his true plan for the city of Sokovia.
…
All around the city, the ground rumbled and shook, almost knocking many people over. Some would think it was just an earthquake but the magnitude just didn't feel right. The fact that other circumstances didn't fit the situation was also another factor. At the edges of Sokovia, a circle around the city began to form and spread apart, a long river of pavement and roads starting falling through the ground and down to the deep below. Anyone still left in the city was being cut off from freedom – there was no way off or out of the city now.
Each of the Avengers were each near the edges of these falling parts to the city and they could do nothing but watch in horror as many of the civilians become victims of the rubble. And suddenly, the part of the city they were on started to rise into the air, the other half of the city they were cut off from being left behind on the ground. It's like they were on a hovercraft and by the looks of it, the city was going for a ride.
"Can you see…" An echoed voice appeared around the city – it was Ultron's voice coming out of his lackey bots that were trying to destroy the city from within. "…the beauty of it?" The real Ultron was hovering high up in the sky, watching as his creation did exactly what he expected. "The inevitability … you rise, only to fall … and you, Avengers, you are my meteor…"
As the city rose higher into the sky, several thousand meters above where the city had originally been stationed, houses and buildings began crumbling at the sides along with any wildlife and people around them.
"My swift and terrible sword … and the earth will crack with the weight of your failure. You purge me from your computers, turn my own flesh against me … it means nothing and when the dust settles, the only thing living in this world ... will be metal."
…
Ava grunted when the back of her head smacked into a pane of glass, her body having been thrown back into the side of a car. Without a care about what might injuries she might have gained, she quickly got up before the bot had a chance to finish what it started. She grabbed a large sliver of metal that was probably part of some remains of the metal army they've been fighting. When the bot came flying back to her, she threw it with exact precision and it sliced the metal being in half, severing its power connection from the rest of it's body.
Tony's voice suddenly appeared in her ear, "Cap, Lieutenant, Winter – you've got incoming."
Bucky threw his shield into one of his own while several dozens more bots started appearing around the three. "You think?" He muttered sarcastically.
Steve had also been thrown into something, a truck. "Incoming already came in." He groaned, the hit to his stomach giving him after-grief.
People around them were still screaming but this is because they literally had no where to go and these bots were now everywhere. They had nowhere to hide but pray that they don't get killed.
Ava didn't really care about the fact that he called her Winter this time, she's gotten over it at this point. Besides, now really wasn't the time to dance around the subject. People's lives were at stake. "Stark, just find a way to bring this city down safely, we'll deal with the rest."
Steve and Bucky agreed, "The rest of us have one job and that's tear these things apart." Steve said, knowing that everyone could hear him through the channel. "You get hurt, hurt them back. And if you get killed … walk it off."
…
"All right … we're all clear here." Clint's voice appeared in the earpiece the moment Steve threw his shield into several metal beings one by one – sort of like a ping pong machine, each of them crumbling to the ground the moment they get hit.
"We are not clear!" Bucky yelled back, there were dozens around the three of them right now and they just kept on coming. They were like cockroaches; you kill one but more just come back to bite you in the arse. "We are VERY not clear." Ava caught the shield Bucky threw to her and crushed her next incoming machine with it successfully before throwing it back. She had already used up all her rounds so now all she had were little electricity batons and anything around her. The electrifying batons were similar to the ones Natasha was using on her side of the city with the green guy right nor.
"All right, coming to you." Clint said before the radio went silent once again.
…
Way over to the side of the rising city, Tony was still struggling as he tried to figure out a susceptible way of getting Sokovia back down safely with no loss of life. And so far, he's the definition of nothing at this point.
"The anti-gravs are rigged to flipped." Friday's voice replied to his previous inquiry on a plan. Tony missed his Jarvis but Friday was also great at her job. "If you touch them, they'll just go full-reverse thrust." Tony cursed under his breath, another hypothetical plan destroyed, "The city's not coming down slow."
His mind was reeling, "The spire is Vibranium, so maybe if I can get Thor to hit it…" But Friday put a stop to that one too.
"It'll crack." She told him. "That's not enough and the impact would still be devastating."
Tony was now flying beneath the city, watching the waves of blue fire and exhausts underneath, the very things that were propelling Sokovia further upwards. "Maybe we can cap the other end and keep the atomic action doubling back?"
"But that could vaporize the city ... and everyone on it."
…
Soon later, the first round of bots was all but extinct, however, sure enough there could be a lot more on their way. Many people had stopped screaming, mostly because of sore throats and right now there wasn't much to scream about … unless you count how high they've risen in the sky. Dust and smoke was covered around the buildings and all the places explosions had occurred. Mostly everyone was finding shelter within the best standing buildings that were left. The Avengers', however, were still outside, trying to figure out what their next move will be.
They couldn't keep fighting these things forever and the city may begin falling any second – it really depends on what mood Ultron's in at that point.
"The next wave's gonna hit any minute." Bucky said, his and he was sure everyone's body would be panting with exhaustion by this time. "Stark, what have you got?" Ava and Steve were next to him, making sure everyone was running into the buildings for shelter. They looked strong enough that it won't collapse in and right now, the civilians needed extreme cover if another round was going to be coming in again.
There was a moments paused before Tony's voice finally came through, "Well, it's nothing great." He said with a sad and disappointed tone. "Maybe a way to blow up the city … that'll keep it from impacting the surface if you guys can get clear."
"No way." Ava countered back, shaking her head clearly. There was no way in hell that she was jumping off this rock and leaving all these people to die. There was already so much death under her that it was unbearable to begin with – if this rock was going to be blown out of the sky, then she'd stay instead of running away like a wimp. "There's no way in hell that we can leave these people on this rock just to save ourselves." They'd become Hydra if that plan went through.
Steve agreed, "Buck asked for a solution, not an escape plan."
"The impact radius is getting bigger and bigger every second." Tony was at a loss for what to do. As of right now, he couldn't think of any other plan that might have a possibility of working where everyone survived. Both them and whoever's left in the rising part of Sokovia. "We're gonna have to make a choice."
Natasha walked up to them from the side after having gotten everyone into the building. The four of them were now near the edge of the city, watching the clouds pass as the city continued to rise. "Guys, these people aren't going nowhere." There was a look of acceptance on her face, "If Stark finds a way to blow this rock…" Her words drained out.
"Not until everyone's safe." Bucky said in a hard tone – they shouldn't call themselves the Avengers if they were going to leave hundreds, maybe thousands to die.
"Everyone up here versus everyone down there?" Natasha countered, knowing which logic she'd choose but did agree with the three of them on one point. She wouldn't leave this rock to save herself either – she's had a good enough life, maybe its time to finally go out swinging? "There's no math there."
Ava shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest, "I'm not leaving this rock with one person left on it." She stated, acceptance and power in her voice. She looked between the three, "After everything I've done since becoming Winter … not after that, I couldn't live with myself if I even thought of going along with that absurd plan."
Natasha smiled slightly, looking saddened at what she was about to say next, "I never said we should leave and besides, there's worse ways to die." And she shrugged, seeing confused looks on their faces. Realizing what she had said also. All four of them were on the same page about something. Natasha turned to Ava full on, "You know, Ava, you were the one who taught me everything I know today, especially how much someone can change. And … even though I thought you left me back then, I understand, I really do."
There was a moment of silence, mostly because the boys had absolutely no idea what Natasha was talking about but Ava, on the other hand, just sent a grateful look towards the redhead. There was an understanding between them – they were teammates and friends. But the bond between them was more than that – Natasha had grown up looking up to Winter as a form of a little sister, one that Ava would now do anything to protect. The two of them went through something that no one else would be able to understand and that's what kept them as equals.
"And besides…" Natasha continued, looking towards the sky, this time, seeing the beautiful blue sky with a dozen or so pearly white clouds. "Where else am I gonna get a view like this?"
Suddenly there was a crackle in the earpieces and a familiar voice appeared in them, one neither of the Avengers' have heard in a long while. "Glad you like the view, Romanoff." Nick Fury. "It's about to get better."
Not even a second later, something massive appeared in front of them but was rising faster than the city was. And it was very familiar too, something of the past some would say for everyone but Ava and the Maximoff's. Appearing before them was the Helicarrier that was used during the battle of New York a few years ago, the one that was shut down during the take down of both Shield and Hydra.
Everyone in the buildings ran to the windows and looked out with awe and hope, seeing the familiar thing that appeared on TV many years ago. They knew deep down that they were saved now – they were going to get out of this alive.
"Nice, right?" You could almost hear the smirk in Fury's proud voice. "Pulled her out of mothballs with a couple of old friends. She'd dusty, but she'll do." This was the reason why he left – a part of him knew he'd need to get this bird flying again if something big were to happen, and it's a good thing he did just that.
A chuckle left Steve's lips, "Fury, you son of a bitch." This reaction caused the three beside him to chuckle also, but it was mostly because of the unexpected language he just used.
"Ooh!" Fury exclaimed, pleasantly surprised, "You kiss your mother with that mouth?" He was just like Stark in that department, no matter how much either of them hated each other's guts. At this point, Pietro had sped over to them, stopping just beside Ava and looking out - just as hovers transports started making their way towards the city. They were transport pods for people; every civilian was getting off this rock and not one was going to be left behind.
Pietro was looking at the sight with amazement, "This is S.H.I.E.L.D?"
Ava glanced over to him with a smile, "This is what S.H.I.E.L.D is supposed to be." Not having a problem with it if they were saving people like right now. When the massive amount of guns come in – then, she'd have a problem.
He smiled, looking actually excited because he knew he was an Avenger now. "This is not so bad." Any kind of hatred or loathing he had for Stark or anything else that's happened has pretty much been wiped away after today. Because, if it wasn't for him and Wanda, Ultron wouldn't have gotten as far as he did. And, this battle right now was pretty much all their fault on some level.
But no more – he wanted to save people and he wanted to use this power of his for good, just as the others were doing.
…
As soon as the hover pods touched down on the ground, people started rushing out of the buildings in order to get into one. The town's officers started to help get everyone on board, putting the people first instead of their own safety like they should do.
Back in the church; Ultron had Thor in his grasp, the metal hand gripped tightly around the God's neck much like he had done to the Vision earlier on, "You think your saving anyone?" Ultron questioned him, the man struggling in his hold, "I turn that key and drop this rock a little early and its still billions dead." The dial was slowly turning like a ticking clock, a reminder to what's really happening. "Even YOU can't stop that."
Thor grunted, trying to struggle out of the hold but it wasn't doing any good, it was just making the grip tighter. "I am Thor, son of Odin…" He spoke, and Ultron didn't realise but he was actually being stalled. There was a small plan in all this. "…and as long as there is life in my breast…" His mind went blank and he mentally groaned, although, the thing he had been waiting for just appeared behind the main bot of the operation. "…I am running out of things to say! Are you ready?"
Before Ultron could even be able to fully comprehend what Thor meant, he felt something smash into his face so hard that his body went flying back at a very fast speed, smashing through various buildings and away from the church. The Vision had used Thor's hammer in order to achieve this – saving Thor in the process of being strangled.
Thor coughed while regaining his breath, heaving himself up before calling the Mjolnir back into his hand. There were many bruises and cuts on the skin of his body, especially his face but all the Avengers' looked like hell at this point.
"It's terribly well-balanced." The Vision commented, referring to the hammer he had just used to save the God.
Thor panted a little, more than slightly exhausted, "Well, if there's too much weight, you lose power on the swing, so…" His words drowned out as he made a small example of a swing.
…
While Tony was firing out at bots that had appeared in the air, trying to take down the Helicarrier, the right plan formed in his head. "I got it!" He cried, knowing exactly what they could do. "Create a heat seal. I could-" He narrowly dodged a bot trying to ram into him, "-I could supercharge the spire from below."
Friday seemed to think it was a viable plan, "Running numbers!" It was almost like an excited tone she used. While she was calculating everything to see if the plan would work, Tony had to save one of the falling transporters one of the bots was able to blow a thruster out of. "A heat seal could work with enough power." She finally revealed.
Tony grunted, the transporter was very heavy, especially while holding it thousands of feet in the air, "Thor," He called loudly, knowing the earpiece would work, "I got a plan."
"We're out of time." Thor replied, sounding grim, "They are coming for the core."
"Damn it." Tony swore under his breath before turning his attention to somewhere else, "Rhodey, get the rest of the people on board that carrier." He made sure to get the transporter vehicle from his back and into the Helicarrier.
"On it."
Tony started flying towards the church where Thor was, doubling his speed to get their faster, "Avengers … it's time to work for a living."
…
In soon enough time; all the Avengers' were gathered in the church, protecting the machine that decided whether or not the city will start crashing towards the Earth, obliterating billions. There was only one person missing, Natasha, something of which Tony noticed. The big guy was also non-existent within the church too.
"Romanoff…" Tony's voice came out as partially teasing, "You and Banner better not be playing 'Hide the Zucchini'." He would tease Bruce too but as the man is most likely the big guy right still - it was safe to just not to.
"Relax, shellhead." She replied back through the earpiece, and on the other side of the line she just happened to be rolling her eyes at the question. It was very typical of Tony to say something like that. "Not all of us can fly." About a second after saying this, she appeared before them, driving towards the church in a massive truck, hitting as many bots in the process.
The other Avengers' were finishing up the last of the machines coming at them as she ran over, killing another herself. Natasha looked around, "What's the drill?"
Tony pointed towards the metal machine in the middle of the church, "This is the drill." He said, "If Ultron gets a hand on the core, we lose." A humongous smash sounded from outside – the big guy had arrived for the party and still looked to be itching for some more action.
Everyone turned to look outside one of the church's arch when Ultron could be seen from afar; slowly bringing himself down to the ground in a hover. There were a few bots around him, waiting, but none others could be seen. Thor took this the wrong way – thinking there wasn't many left after all the ones they've destroyed. "Is that the best you can do?!" He yelled out, looking completely fearless but most of all, stupid.
They didn't see it but Ultron smirked and the moment his arm rose – hundreds of his disciples came running towards him - like he was the master calling upon his servants to come to him. Everyone's eyes widened at the church at the mass of them heading their way.
Ava let out a breath in an annoyed manner, "Seriously?" She gave Thor a look as to which he had the decency to shrug apologetically with a sheepish look, "You just HAD to say that?" He basically just jinxed the entire thing. Others around him were also sending a similar look but stayed silent as the crowd of bots started to stop, waiting for their next orders.
"This-" Ultron gestured to all his little minions, "Is the best I can do." Answering Thor's previous yet stupid question. "This is exactly what I wanted … all of you … against all of me." He paused, "How can you possibly hope to stop me?"
"Well, like the elders said…" Gesturing over to Steve, Bucky, and Ava who frowned with narrowed eyes at the term he had just used for them. "…together."
At the moment the big guy let out a massive roar – Ultron's lackeys started bolting towards them, ready to fight. It was less than a few seconds before the things were crawling around the church ruins, trying to get in from every angle and entrance way they could. But the more that came – the more the Avengers' destroyed each with weapons and their bare hands.
They worked in union … as a team and one by one, bots was smashed to smithereens.
No matter how hard the bots tried, one of the Avengers' always seemed to catch them in time before reaching the machine in the middle. They didn't have a chance and the Avengers' seemed to be doing quite well so far – no matter how much damage had been done to them before this final showdown.
When Ultron noticed that all his efforts weren't enough and that none of his creations were getting anywhere; he decided to take matters into his own hands. But it didn't work out too well; the Vision was able to get him, throwing him over to the side of the building while the others continued to destroy the bots. The Vision created some kind of beam that came out of the amber jewel in his head and it hit Ultron with full force – making Ultron crash into the wall again the moment he tried to get up. And at one point; another ripple caused him to fly through the wall this time and fly out of the building.
Thor joined the Vision outside, using electricity that flowed through the Mjolnir to hit Ultron. Now two power sources were counteracting with the metal man's current body, and not too soon after, Tony joined in with both his hands sending out power beams. Now there were four sources taking him down.
Slowly but surely, Ultron's body began melting under the pressure and heated cracks started to appear. At the point that each Avenger knew enough damage had been done, they stopped. Ultron groaned from where he was lying down on the ground and his body slowly heaved up with several uneasy grunts. "You know," He voice crackled like part of his voice was damaged, "With the benefit of hindsight…" He started but could no longer talk because suddenly he felt himself fly through the sky.
The big guy, aka, Bruce Banner, punched him square in the face with so much force that Ultron's body will probably end up landing at the edge of this rock with a dented metal skull. The big guy growled and turned, and upon seeing a line of bots that were still left, he growled again and bolted towards them. They tried running away from the big guy but it did no use – they were ripped to pieces within seconds.
Many of the surviving bots began trying to fly away in order to save themselves for their master. This was something Thor noticed right away. "They'll try to leave the city."
"We can't let them, not even one." Tony said, knowing how disastrous that could end up becoming. It could easily become a second Sokovia event in the near future if something like that should happen. There can't be any surviving bots left … no matter what. "Rhodey." He prompted through the earpiece, communicating with his fellow friend and War Machine.
"I'm on it." Rhodey replied in an affirmative tone.
…
As the last bot was destroyed within the vicinity; Steve turned to everyone left in the church and just like he thought, they all survived the attack. "All right, we gotta move out." He said, breathing a little deeper than he usually would and he could tell the others were too. It could just be the exhaustion but it wasn't just that – they were getting to the point in the sky where air would soon become non-existent if the city didn't stop rising. "Even I can tell the air is getting thin."
Bucky turned to Natasha and Clint, "You two get to the boats and we'll sweep for stragglers." Referring to him, Steve and Ava. The three of them were basically built to get through anything and they could get through with little air. Natasha and Clint however, well, they were simply human no matter how good their battle talents were. "We'll be right behind you."
Clint frowned, not liking the idea of leaving the three to do the rest of the work, "What about the core?"
Wanda quickly made the snap decision, but she knew it was the right one, "I'll protect it." She told them, refusing them to take that job away from her. She had a lot to make up for and this was a good start towards that redemption she needed. She noticed Clint sending her a concerned look, but she sent him a reassuring one back, "It's my job."
Clint sighed but nodded anyway, "Nat." He said, getting his best friend's attention, "This way." He gestured through a hole in the wall, letting her know which way they needed to go.
As Bucky and Steve started to go the other way, Ava turned to the Maximoff's with a stern look, "You two be careful." She told them, not wanting anything to happen to either of them. The twins gave a nod of promise before Pietro stood beside his sister, ready to help her protect the machine for as long as it takes.
…
Tony was flying towards the bottom of the city, about to initiate the plan in his head. "Boss," Friday interrupted his thoughts, "Power levels are way below-" He interrupted her.
"Reroute everything." He told her, "We only have one shot at this." He was more than determined to end this once and for all and get everyone out of here safely.
Including them.
…
About ten minutes later, every civilian was on a boat and Steve, Thor, and Ava were together. Bucky was making a quick second round in the area just to be completely sure everyone was out of Sokovia. "Is this the last of them?" Thor questioned the Roger's twins the moment the last few people made it onto the hover transporter.
"Yeah." Steve nodded, breathing deeper. "Everyone's else is on the carrier."
Tony's voice came through again, "You know, if this works, we maybe don't walk away."
"Maybe not." Thor agreed, their chances were slim as it was.
Ava was looking around as they spoke and she couldn't see James anywhere. He must still be looking around and with that thought, she looked between the boys, "I'm gonna go find James." She told them, starting to walk back. She turned to her brother for a second, "And Steve-" Directing her voice to her brother this time, "-get your ass on the boat."
…
"Help me!" Bucky heard a small voice from the side which caught his heightened hearing. He had been on his way back towards the hover transporters when he stopped, walking towards the voice he was sure he heard. And as he thought; he noticed a small boy over to the side with a gash on the side of his head, his skin covered in dirt. He was stuck in a hole, one that was probably caused by an explosion and then the kid just fell in at some point.
"Hey," Bucky immediately went over to the kid and bent down in order to get him out. He was able to pull the boy up and the moment he did, there was a small body clutching onto his upper body. Bucky held him in his arms tightly; the kid was under seven years old by the looks of it.
After getting a good enough grip on him, he turned around and was ready to head towards the hovers … but something made him stop dead in his tracks. There was a glider flying in the sky, continuously shooting out and it was heading towards their direction. The thought suddenly occurred to him; he forgot to pick up his shield and it was probably still by the hovers where he left it. He had no barrier and he only had a second to react, he didn't have enough time to duck for cover because there was none.
So, with a split decision, he made his choice – he turned around quickly in order to protect the boy from getting hurt and clenched his eyes shut in anticipation.
He waited for the impact to hit.
Except … nothing came. And the only thing he heard was a loud shift and a startling gasp coming from a woman's mouth.
When his mind processed the fact that no bullet had gone through him … he looked up. And when he did, his whole body shook with horror at the sight before him. There was a scrunched up car on its side behind him and the boy like it was used as a shield – but that wasn't what ripped his heart out. Barely standing there was Avery to the side of the car shield and … there were several bloody bullet holes through her entire body, but one, in particular, went right through her chest.
No words came out of either of their mouths until Ava's last words spoke, her breath a little breathy but slowly died as they arrived, "James Buchanan Barnes ... I love you." Uttering the three words she hasn't spoken since the day she 'died'.
And, as those final words were spoken, her eyes rolled back and her body fell forwards to the ground.
Her last breath releasing into the thin air.
Oh, dear … a cliff-hanger.
Don't worry – it's not the end. Two or three more chapters left.
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