Steve and Niobe stood on the U-Gin Genetic Research Lab roof. Over the comms, he warned the team.
"Two minutes. Stay close," Steve said.
The pair rushed into the lab to find Helen lying against a wall holding her side. A first gripped Niobe's heart. She dropped next to Helen, examining the damage.
"Helen!" Niobe said.
Niobe's eyes burned. She had not been there to protect Helen.
"He's uploading himself into the body," Helen said.
Niobe ran her hand along Helen's cheek, fighting back tears.
"Where?" Steve asked.
"The real power is inside the Cradle. The gem, its power is uncontainable. You can't just blow it up. You have to get the Cradle to Stark," Helen said.
"First we have to find it," Steve said.
"Go," Helen said.
Steve stood. Niobe held onto Helen.
"Go," Helen said. "I will be fine. My team is on the way."
Down the hall, they heard footsteps.
"Go, I will be fine."
"Did you guys copy that?"
"We did," Clint said.
"I got a private jet taking off, across town, no manifest. That could be him," Natasha said.
"There. It's the truck from the lab. Right above you, Cap. On the loop by the bridge. It's them. I got three with the Cradle, one in the cab. I could take out the driver," Clint said.
Niobe clung to Steve's back as he prepared himself.
"Negative! If that truck crashes, the gem could level the city. We need to draw out Ultron," Steve said.
Steve jumped onto the roof of the truck. Niobe pushed off standing behind him.
"No, no, no, no, no. Leave me alone!" Ultron said.
"I'll go ahead and try to get in. Stay here for when he comes out," Steve said.
Niobe nodded, crouching down on the roof. Steve jumped down to the door, pulling the doors open. Ultron blasted the truck door as leaving Steve hanging on as the door swung open.
"Well, he's definitely unhappy! I'm gonna try and keep him that way," Steve said.
"This does not seem like the wisest approach," Niobe said.
"I agree," Clint said. "You're not a match for him, Cap."
"Thanks, Barton," Steve said.
Ultron released a blast of energy onto Steve as he tried to enter the truck. Instead of flying off again, Steve returned to Niobe's side.
"Give up?" Niobe asked.
Steve rolled his eyes. Ultron rose up from the back of the truck to stand in front of them.
"You know what's in that Cradle? The power to make real change, and that terrifies you," Ultron said.
"I wouldn't call it a comfort," Steve said.
Steve took the first swing. Ultron went on the defense, and Niobe brought out her lightsaber. When Steve stepped back, Niobe hit. They were making progress breaking through Ultron's armor.
"Stop it!" Ultron said.
Ultron threw Steve's shield aside and blasted him back. Niobe stepped in for Steve, her blade meeting Ultron's arm.
"You are becoming increasingly annoying," Ultron said.
He grabbed Niobe mid-air and threw her off the truck.
"Obe!"
Before she hit the road, she used the force to push herself back to the truck. She landed behind Ultron.
"Come on!" Ultron said.
Steve nodded to the side, they needed to get Ultron off the truck that was becoming unstable as they fought. Niobe shoved Ultron towards Steve who tackled him into a train.
"I'm going in, Cap, Obe, can you keep him occupied?" Natasha asked.
Steve hit Ultron into a row of plastic seats. Niobe force jumped through the hole to join Steve and Ultron.
"What do you think we've been doing?" Steve asked.
Niobe cut into Ultron's side. The metal body was tough but breaking down from the heat of her blade. Turning towards his attacker, Ultron grabbed Niobe by the throat before she could remove the lightsaber to defend herself. He began to squeeze causing Niobe to drop her lightsaber and claw at his metal hand.
As Steve went to distract Ultron, a wave of red energy shot both Ultron and Niobe back into a wall. Wanda and Pietro had arrived.
"Please. Don't do this," Ultron said.
"What choice do we have?" Wanda asked.
Ultron released the Jedi, leaving her in the crushed wall.
"I lost him! He's headed your way," Steve said into the comms.
"Nat, we gotta go," Clint said.
Steve helped Niobe stand, checking on her now bruising neck. The injury was nasty, but she would live.
"Nat! Cap, you see Nat?" Clint asked.
Niobe looked at Steve with concern. She could see him working the scenarios out in his mind.
"If you have the package, get it to Stark! Go!" Steve said.
"Do you have eyes on Nat?" Clint asked.
"Go!" Steve said.
Steve turned to the twins.
"Civilians in our path," he said.
Pietro sped off attempting to grab as many civilians as he could. Steve then turned to look between Wanda and Niobe.
"Can you two stop this thing?" He asked.
Niobe glared at the woman but nodded. She grappled with the force. Niobe created a force wall to ease the train to a stop, while Wanda used her energy to halt the wheels. Niobe groaned in pain as their powers worked together. She was exhausted and this was draining her more. The metal of the train dug into the road. Around them, Niobe could hear the screams of civilians. Pietro dashed in front moving them out of the way. Annoyed by the length of time this was taking, Niobe expanded and thickened the force wall. She let out a scream and the train came to a stop. Niobe gasped for air, Steve brought her into a hug.
"Thank you," he said. "Both of you."
He glanced to Wanda who nodded, staring at Niobe in slight fear. As Steve released Niobe, Wanda ran out to her brother. He was stumbling, trying to catch his breath.
"I'm fine. I just need to take a minute," Pietro said.
Niobe marched over to the twins, ignoring the ache in her throat. With what little energy she had left, Niobe used the force to grab Wanda by the throat and began choking her. Before Pietro could defend Wanda, Niobe held him still.
"You are a monster," Niobe side. "You killed so many innocent people playing your childish games."
Wanda grabbed at her throat. Steve stepped closer to the Jedi. Niobe, in a split second, lessened her hold on Pietro to shove Steve back before returning her hold with a harsh grip.
"Obe!" Steve said. "This is not the way."
"I don't care anymore!" Niobe said. "She does not deserve forgiveness."
"Remember your training!" Steve said.
Niobe hesitated, releasing Wanda just enough to let her breathe.
"You said that hate and anger is the way to the dark side. Don't let those emotions control you!" Steve said. "Remember what you told Anakin! Remember Obi-wan!"
Niobe felt a swell of sadness build up in her. The Jedi had scolded Anakin for his anger and she was using the force to kill someone. She looked at the twins. They were terrified of her. Niobe took a step back, letting everyone go. Wanda fell to her knees gasping. Pietro knelt beside her comforting her.
"What are you talking about?" Wanda asked.
"When you messed with Bruce's mind," Niobe said, "you set off the Hulk. He did not know what he was doing. You caused so much suffering and death! And here you stand, asking for our help."
The twins were silent. Steve came up to Niobe.
"Listen," Steve said. "You have the chance to do something to make up for those deaths.
"The Cradle, did you get it?" Wanda asked.
"Stark will take care of it," Steve said.
"No, he won't," Wanda said.
"You do not have the right to speak of him!" Niobe said.
Wanda jumped at Niobe's tone. Steve waved the Jedi back. In Niobe's mind, she could still see herself killing Wanda. She wanted to. She would have, if not for Steve.
"You don't know what you're talking about, Stark's not crazy," Steve said.
Niobe gave a sharp nod. She reached her hand out towards the remains of the train, calling her lightsaber to her. The hilt hit her palm with a thwack. The twins tensed.
"He will do anything to make things right," Wanda said.
"Stark, come in. Stark. Anyone on comms?" Steve said.
"You can't be serious?" Niobe said.
She looked at Steve. How could he trust Wanda over Tony?
"Ultron can't tell the difference between saving the world and destroying it. Where do you think he gets that?" Wanda asked.
