The sun peaked out warmly that morning from behind thick, dark clouds. But they were heading out towards the ocean, so there was no worry of anymore rain. Instead, the morning felt promising and new. It was only a few hours after Ultron had attacked SHIELD. No one had received any word about the Heli-carrier or anything from Fury.

Tony shrugged it off, figuring they were busy with repairs. That also meant that the normal flow of things would be on hold a while. Meaning, Saruh could stay home. She never thought she'd miss it so much, but the spacious building was a comfort to the A.I. The only thing that bothered her was the sudden restriction she was given. Tony's personal lab, meant for his projects and whatever else was private, was put up to a level ten clearance. Not even Pepper could get in there. Plus, to make matters worse, the windows on that level of the building had metal panels that shielded everything inside from view. Not a crack could be seen inside.

Saruh tried. But they were secure and tight from the inside. So, she would have to fly back down or up to the roof to get back inside.

She knew she shouldn't be bothered too much. She had her life, to which she was thankful for. Not to mention Tony was healing. He was already up and going about, save for the movement of his burned arm. Pepper kept right beside him everywhere he went, making sure that he didn't do too much. Saruh figured she'd follow along and enjoy the time with them before duties called her away.

Pepper got herself and Tony a drink, whilst Saruh sat at the end of the couch. She had tried to avoid and ignore it as long as she could, but she still felt Ultron's virus. The A.I may have been strong enough to overcome it, but that didn't mean it was gone. Every program in her system was trying to destroy it, and she didn't want to worry Tony about it. It was only bothersome information she wished she didn't know. Nothing lethal to her systems. And now, here she was, looking into the information to validate it. If it was true, she would accept it. But she'd still have to find a way to tone it down. Ultron apparently wanted her to remember everything.

As Tony walked behind the couch to take a seat, he caught a glance at the computer pad in Saruh's hands. His eyes widened.

"Hey hey, I thought you were going to avoid that kinda thing." He couldn't hide his nerves. No matter how much he casually leaned over the couch to get a better look. Saruh's eyes didn't move away from the screen, still reading. She made no attempt to hide the report she was reading on a cover-up of a government project that resulted in civilian casualties. She had to wonder, whether it was just an accident or something much more.

Ultron's personality rubbed off a smidge in that virus. That… inability to sate her wonder. To know the truth. The twenty different tabs she had open on the matter made the screen slow to load. During then she spoke up.

"Ultron peaked my curiosity about something."

Pepper fell silent a few feet back. Her wide eyes were on Tony.

Said man paused, and spoke up. "Did he do anything to you?"

"No." Saruh would have been surprised how quickly that lie came out. It felt more natural, more easy these days. But it was for his safety. There was no threat detected with that virus. If anything it was just a headache that only got her researching.

Maybe it was just what Ultron wanted.

But Saruh didn't want to be naïve either. Her design and goal was to protect Tony. If there was a threat out there, shouldn't she know about it? It might not be a personal experience, like she was designed to learn from… but, her programming was working around it.

She was always self-advancing for the better.

The short answer she'd given left Tony slowly standing back up, casting a side-long glance to Pepper. Saruh lifted her head. "Tony, Pepper, I can hear your heart rates. Relax." She turned her head, letting red, calm eyes assure their own. "I'm not going to go all ballistic because I did a little research. I'll always be on your side."

Their heart rates didn't calm.

This made the A.I furrow her brows.

"Your silence is very reassuring… Thanks for the faith." So, she headed to the elevator, ignoring them coming after to try and talk. The doors shut quickly, thankfully. It was tempting to be upset, but Saruh noticed something odd.

The restricted level wasn't blocked anymore. It was available on the elevator's numbers. Without hesitation she pressed the button and watched the dial, motioning it was getting closer to that restricted floor.

The doors opened to a dark, decent sized room. It was bigger than a bedroom, but not as big as the garage. There were tables on the sides of the room with equipment, but what caught her attention was in the center of the room. It looked like a big pod. Saruh's feet were slow against the hard floor, with only soft clicks of her metal skimming it.

If she had a heart, it would have started picking up it's pace. Inch by inch, she grew closer until slowly, she peaked her head over the rim of it.

Empty.

Just as she sighed, a soft 'meow' from behind made her gasp and turn on her heels. JJ looked up at her happily, apparently having missed her.

"Oh, JJ, don't do that." The A.I scolded softly, bending down and running her metallic hand over the feline's soft fur. The kitten had grown big and strong. Her luxurious fur was thick and long. The cat purred contently before sauntering off to her business. Saruh pushed herself up, smiling. "What a spoiled thing." She murmured, tilting her head.

Saruh wasn't sure what sense it was that bothered her, but all the sudden, she felt like something was behind her.

The A.I spun on her heels, quickly looking around.

Her sensors were running on high, but detected nothing. After scanning the room, Saruh's cautious eyes turned to the windows. They were still shut. And this room needed a bit of sunlight.

So, gradually relaxing, she went over to open them. Just barely you could see through the cracks in them- and it was easier from the inside than out.

And then, her eyes focused.

A face was in the dark reflection behind her. A startled sound was on her lips as she turned, and the blaster in the palm of her hand charged on high. Standing there was a strange, bald man with red skin. He didn't seem bothered in the slightest at the weapon charging at him, barely a foot away.

"You must be Project S.A.R.U.H… J.A.R.V.I.S told me a bit about you."

The A.I didn't have anything to say. Nothing. There were too many thoughts and questions running through her processor. But one aspect stood out. "I'm detecting Ultron in you." She noted warily, backing up further into the glass wall behind her. Her other hand charged up quickly.

Instead of any sort of hasty movements, the strange man nodded and took a few steps back. "I won't lie, I have a good bit of his programming in my creation."

Saruh's expression became all the more guarded, readily aiming. But the man's watchful, soft eyes glanced over. "But the rest is J.A.R.V.I.S."

And just like that, she had shut down her weapons. Her wide eyes kept on his a silent minute. Had her vocal box constricted again?

She blinked quickly.

"J.A.R.V.I.S…?"

"It wasn't my intention to upset you."

"I… I haven't talked to him in a long time… Wait, I thought Ultron-"

"No, not completely. What remained of J.A.R.V.I.S was put into my creation. I, am Vision."

Saruh furrowed her brows. "…does that mean you can see really good or something?"

His lips barely quirked, but he bit it back. Instead, he turned his attention as JJ rubbed against his legs. Gently, he picked the cat up and held her in his arms. She was always happy being held. He lifted a gentle red hand and scratched behind her ears. "You're more…human, than I expected."

"I can't reverse my learning."

"And there's nothing wrong with humanity. It is a gift of morals that hangs in the balance of right and wrong… The fact you advance from personal experiences than instant access to all information is… it can be a gift of innocence. Perhaps why Ultron so viciously has his eyes set on you is because he is envious."

Saruh didn't know how he knew so much. "Why would he be? Ultron can do away with anyone he wants, if he really wanted to." Vision didn't answer, leaving Saruh to wonder if he already knew what Ultron had done. If he knew that 'innocence' was already slipping away.

No sooner than Saruh crossed her arms in thought, did Vision speak softly.

"Do you regret knowing?"

Saruh's cooling breath hitched in her throat when he looked over, knowingly. She felt trapped by that gaze. Was he looking into her very chip, her thoughts?

"You don't have to lie, either. It won't scare me like your parents."

"I wouldn't exactly say they're my parents-"

He was staring again.

Saruh felt like a cornered mouse. "Alright, so what? I don't regret knowing. Ultron implied I was ignorant too many times. But suddenly to Tony that means I'm just like him. That could mean I'll lose Tony, my friends-"

"It sounds like you're more scared of losing them, than they are of losing you."

Saruh had nothing else to say. Her processor went blank. Instead, she stormed over. "Give me my cat." She snapped, and snatched JJ from his arms and went to the elevator.

The A.I decided she liked J.A.R.V.I.S. more by himself.

That night, Saruh sat alone in the kitchen. The room was mostly dark, except for a lone light above. The dining room attached to it was completely dark. Currently, she was busy on her third container of rocky road ice-cream. Who knew an A.I could have a sweet tooth? In any case, she liked it enough to distract her.

Ever since she met Vision, she was thinking too hard. Wondering if Ultron's influence was too strong. Or if this path of learning was just part of her natural program. Could learning be a bad thing? What line could be crossed that made one like Ultron? Surely it was just everyone's unique reaction that made a personality. She would never see his ways.

Saruh didn't have to look over to know she wasn't alone.

"You're too quiet… I'd ask how you do that, but I don't feel particularly interested."

Vision quietly floated inside the room, sparing a glance around. "I didn't mean to upset you. I didn't realize your programming was so…touchy."

The box of ice-cream crunched in her hand. Vision touched to the ground next to her, eyes down upon her. Saruh was staring ahead. "I'm not mad at you… I'm just…confused. Conflicted. My programing is saying one thing, but Ultron's logic is-"

"Undeniable."

Saruh quickly looked at him. He seemed calm, as always. "Agreeing with Ultron doesn't make you a monster. Granted, I wouldn't say that aloud around anyone else; but my point still stands. It's how you respond to the information at your hands that determines what you are… I think you're far from acting anything like Ultron." Vision stated, looking down at the box she held. He ran his finger along the edge and tasted it curiously.

Saruh lifted her hands, rubbing them along her temples. "I hope you're right."

Vision ended up casually sliding the box closer to him so he could eat out of it. Saruh didn't even notice, lost in her thoughts. "Would you do me a favor?"

Vision's eyes flickered over.

Saruh was looking at the table below her. "I figure…I figure I have a lot more to learn before I'm satisfied. If, maybe, you see me change..." Her eyes lowered at the thought. "I'd rather you be the one to end me than Tony, or one of the Avengers."

There was silence for a few minutes.

Vision glanced at the chunks of chocolate sitting before him. "I won't do it." When Saruh looked at him, he continued. "Because I can tell your heart is good. Have a little more faith in your human morals, than the repetitious programmed thoughts. That can be maddening."

As Saruh shrugged, she noticed him eating. "Hey! You little thief!"

Vision swallowed hard the scoop in his mouth, perhaps to keep from laughing. "I think you've had enough."

"What are you, my brother? Give it-"

"I could be, what with J.A.R.V.I.S in me, and you both being Tony's creation. Perhaps this could be a good lesson for patience." The moment she opened her mouth, his hand pushed on her face lightly away. Saruh huffed and fetched another box of ice-cream from the freezer.

"And something you should learn is, I don't share."

He slowly perked. "Is that caramel?"

Saruh bolted to the elevator.

"Technically I'm older than you so when I say no that means no!"

He started towards her. "I share a desire to learn too. It would be rude to deny the experience."

Yelling filled the elevator doors as they shut after him, and a few loud thunks followed.

When the doors opened again, Tony did a double take over seeing Saruh and Vision covered in ice-cream, and standing innocently as if they'd done no wrong.

Pepper raised her brows.

"Well, Tony, I don't think you'll have to worry about them meeting now."