The flight back to New York was quick. They spent the trip in silence with Niobe watching the twins like a hawk. Niobe was the first off the ship after landing. She sped into the building following the sound of Tony's voice. The rest trailed behind her.
"This framework is not compatible," Tony said.
"The genetic coding tower's at ninety-seven percent. You have got to upload that schematic in the next three minutes," Bruce said.
Niobe stepped further into the lab, Steve and the twins followed.
"I'm gonna say this once," Steve said.
"How about "nonce"?" Tony said.
"Shut it down!" Steve said.
"Nope, not gonna happen," Tony said. "You apart of this Obe?"
Niobe stayed silent. She did not want to pick a side, but she was not about to support the twins. She moved closer to Tony's side.
"What happened to her?" Tony asked.
He pointed to Niobe's neck. The Jedi grimaced as Bruce's chest let out a low rumble. Tony looked to Steve for an explanation. The soldier remained silent.
"Ultron," Niobe said.
"Couldn't protect her?" Tony asked.
Steve ignored his question, biting back anger.
"You don't know what you're doing with that thing," Steve said. "Obe, get back here. Don't do this."
Niobe hesitated. Steve had good intentions, but she continued to glance back to the twins. Bruce walked over and pulled her close solidifying her choice.
"And you do? She's not in your head?" Bruce said.
"Obe," Steve said.
"I know you're angry," Wanda said.
"Oh, we're way past that. I could choke the life out of you and never change a shade," Bruce said.
"Your friend already did that," Wanda said.
Bruce stilled and looked at Niobe. His eyes held a mixture of pride and shock.
Niobe shrugged, while Tony high fived her.
"I will not hesitate to do it again," Niobe said.
Steve's head shook. He would not be able to bring Niobe back to their side for this argument.
"Banner, after everything that's happened..." Steve said.
"That's nothing compared to what's coming!" Tony said.
"You don't know what's in there!" Wanda said.
"This isn't a game..." Steve said.
"The creature...!" Wanda said.
Pietro used his speed to destroy the lab equipment. Niobe jumped in Bruce's grasp.
"No, no. Go on. You were saying?" Pietro said.
From below Barton shot a bullet causing the glass Pietro stood on, to smash and he fell through.
"Pietro!" Wanda said.
Niobe reached out and held Pietro in place with the force.
"What? You didn't see that coming?" Clint said.
Clint gave Niobe a thumbs up and headed to the top floor. The tension was rising in the room. Niobe could feel a fight ready to break out.
"Go ahead, piss me off," Bruce said.
Niobe smirked at the woman who now stepped back from Bruce in fear.
"Do you not want to mess with him now?" Niobe asked. "You were so eager to before. Maybe you would like to kill a few New Yorkers?"
Wanda stared back at Niobe. The Jedi glared, fighting the anger building up in her chest. Before Wanda could respond Thor broke through the ceiling, slamming his hammer onto the cradle with a trail of lightning following. From the cradle, the body inside flew out. In the chaos, Niobe released Pietro who sped to his sister's side.
"Wait!"
They all looked in shock at the body who had JARVIS' voice.
"I'm sorry, that was...odd," the man said. "Thank you."
Thor tipped his head.
"Thor, you helped create this?" Steve asked.
"I've had a vision. A whirlpool that sucks in all hope of life and at its center is that," Thor said.
Thor pointed to the gem inside Vision's head.
"What, the gem?" Bruce asked.
"It's the Mind Stone. It's one of the six Infinity Stones, the greatest power in the universe, unparalleled in its destructive capabilities," Thor said.
"Then why would you bring it to..." Steve asked.
"Because Stark is right," Thor said.
"Oh, it's definitely the end times," Bruce said.
Niobe hit Bruce's arm. The man gave her a look of fake innocence.
"The Avengers cannot defeat Ultron," Thor said.
"Not alone," The man said.
"Why does your "vision" sound like JARVIS?" Steve asked.
"We...we reconfigured JARVIS' matrix to create something new," Tony said.
"I think I've had my fill of new," Steve said.
"You think I'm a child of Ultron?" The man said.
"You're not?" Steve asked.
"I'm not Ultron. I'm not JARVIS. I am...I am" he said.
"I looked in your head and saw annihilation," Wanda said.
"Look again," the man said.
"Yeah. Her seal of approval means jack to me," Clint said.
"Their powers, the horrors in our heads, Ultron himself, they all came from the Mind Stone, and they're nothing compared to what it can unleash. But with it on our side..." Thor said.
"Is it? Are you? On our side?" Steve asked.
"I don't think it's that simple," the man said.
"Well it better get real simple real soon," Clint said.
"I am on the side of life. Ultron isn't, he will end it all," he said.
"What's he waiting for?" Tony asked.
"You," he said.
"Where?" Bruce asked.
"Sokovia. He's got Nat there too," Clint said.
"If we're wrong about you, if you're the monster that Ultron made you to be..." Bruce said.
"What will you do?" The man said. "I don't want to kill Ultron. He's unique, and he's in pain. But that pain will roll over the earth, so he must be destroyed. Every form he's built, every trace of his presence on the net, we have to act now. And not one of us can do it without the others. Maybe I am a monster. I don't think I'd know if I were one. I'm not what you are, and not what you intended. So there may be no way to make you trust me. But we need to go."
The man held up Thor's hammer and handed it to him, Vision walked off and everyone stares in shock.
"Right," Thor said.
Thor patted Tony on the shoulder.
"Well done," Thor said.
"Three minutes. Get what you need," Steve said.
Niobe followed after the stranger as the team rushed off to prepare.
"What do we call you?" Niobe asked.
The man paused.
"Vision," he said. "You are not from this world either."
"No," she said.
"We are similar," he said. "You have abilities."
"Yes," she said.
"I cannot see inside your mind," he said.
"I will take that as a good thing," she said.
Vision smiled. He held out a hand to her. Niobe took his hand into her own.
"I am glad to meet you," he said. "You will be a great help to our cause."
Niobe nodded to Vision and began walking towards the ship, letting Vision have a moment to himself. She snuck up behind Tony and surprised him with a hug. Tony laughed and looked at her over his shoulder. He patted her hands and turned back to Steve.
"I am sorry for leaving you, Steve," Niobe said.
The soldier shrugged.
"I understand," he said. "I know your feelings towards the twins. I hope those feelings won't cause issues with the fight."
"Never would," Niobe said.
They smiled at each other. She buried her face into Tony's back.
"No way we all get through this. If even one tin soldier is left standing, we've lost. It's gonna be blood on the floor." Tony said.
The man glanced down, eyes watering at the sight of Niobe's hands. He had hoped to save her, not lead her to her death.
"I got no plans tomorrow night," Steve said.
"Obe?" Tony said.
The Jedi released Tony and walked around to face the men.
"You might not be going home if you come with us," Tony said.
"I know," she said. "This is not the first time I have been in this position."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Steve frown. They didn't like knowing how often she risked her life.
"We have been at war for about 3 years now. Jedi were placed as leaders of clones, expected to be at the front. Risking my life with no assurance of coming home is nothing new," she said.
Niobe hugged Steve, giving him a reassuring squeeze.
"Thank you, Obe," he said.
Niobe pulled away. They were silent for a moment. The time was nearing for them to leave.
"I get first crack at the big guy. Iron Man's the one he's waiting for," Tony said.
Vision walked past the group.
"That's true, he hates you the most," Vision said.
OOOOOOOOO
A/N: Tony and Niobe's relationship makes my heart smile
