"So let me get try to get this straight."
Percy Jackson and Tony Stark together was quite a sight to see. After the heap of trouble in trying to bring down the Hulk, Percy made sure to help the citizens of Johannesburg get to safety. Tony met up with Percy in what was their first formal meeting and considering he had now integrated himself into this chaos, he demanded to know what happened.
Long story short, it wasn't good.
"The Avengers went to Sokovia to raid a HYDRA facility commanded by this Strucker guy who was using Loki's scepter, the same one he used in the New York invasion, to experiment on humans. You took the scepter but you see this vision, most likely courtesy of Wanda, of the world dying, and apparently it was your fault. You discover an AI named Ultron within the scepter and despite not knowing a damn thing about it, you decide that you want to use it to protect the world, like a shield. That went wrong completely wrong and now he's turned himself into a homicidal robot with a huge robot army who believes he must eradicate humanity in order for there to be peace. Am I getting it right?"
Tony pursed his lips. "Yeah ... that sounds about right."
"See, this is why they say it over and over again, Stark, you don't tamper with what you don't know!"
"It seemed like a good idea at the time," Tony justified.
"And Wanda and Pietro, they were Strucker's lab rats, right?"
"Essentially."
"Then why are they siding with Ultron?"
Tony sighed. "I hate to say it, but I think it's because of me. My weapons that I had manufactured from before were used to kill their parents, so they hold me responsible for that."
"That's 'cause ... you basically are."
"I'm inclined," Tony said. "That's why I shut down all manufacturing of weapons when I discovered my COO was basically selling them off to terrorists and they were being used by said terrorists."
"That's good. Bit late, but better late than never, right?
"Yeah," Tony agreed. "And what about you? What brought you to South Africa?"
"Well … to tell you the whole reason, I'd probably have to tell you my entire background, but let's just say I came for Klaue, because of this," Percy said, brandishing the slab of adamantium.
"Adamantium," Tony realized.
"Enchanted Adamantium," Percy corrected. "I was supposed to be just coming for this, and I ended up meeting the twins the hard way. I don't hold anything against them, though. The poor siblings are being manipulated by the maniacal AI."
"I know."
"I'm gonna see if I can find where they went," Percy said. "But there's something I have to do first. Meanwhile, you should probably find somewhere to hide. Locals will not take kindly to this."
Percy gestured towards the crumpled city.
"Yeah, you're probably right," Tony agreed. "But we'll definitely be keeping in touch."
"Um … are you sure about that?"
"Face it, kid," Tony said. "You're an Avenger now. We'll be keeping in touch."
Percy's eyebrows shot up as Iron Man's helmet closed down over his face and he flew off. Percy tapped his watch, calling Triton as his holographic image appeared over the device.
"You were right," Percy said. "The adamantium is in there."
"Okay, I'm gonna send a fleet to go requisition it," Triton said.
"I'll be waiting," Percy said.
…
SLAM!
The doors to the ship burst open as mercenaries rushed towards Percy and his squadron of Atlanteans. The skilled warriors disposed of the mercs easily.
"The adamantium is in that container," Percy said, pointing towards it. "You guys go on ahead, there is something I need to do while you guys make the requisition."
More of Klaue's mercenaries attacked Percy as he looked for the man himself, Percy twirling his trident in a spiral as he took down the few that remained, knocking them aside. Poor Ulysses Klaue had locked himself in the first aid room, licking his wounds.
"You come to humiliate me further?" Klaue demanded.
"Ultron do that to you?" Percy asked, pointing to his missing arm.
"Who else?"
Percy nodded and closed the door behind me. "My guys are taking back the adamantium you weren't supposed to take. But me, I'm just here to ask you one question."
"What is it?"
"I want to know where the twins are," Percy said. "See, I'm concerned about them. Their anger towards Tony Stark is being used against them. They're being manipulated by Ultron, and I'm not okay with that. So I want to know where Ultron would go."
"And what makes you think I know?"
"Because one thing I have is really great hearing," Percy said, tapping his right ear. "I know when someone's lying, their heartbeat tends to … change in pace. And that's only needed if the liar refuses to make eye contact … or fidgets."
Klaue showed no signs of the latter two, but Percy could definitely sense a change in heart rate. Percy got really close to his face, looking at him with a calmly menacing expression. "And if you don't tell me where they are, you'll lose more than just an arm."
"Fine," Klaue growled. "Ultron wants to make a body for himself using the vibranium I sold him. And there's only one place he can do that."
"Where?"
"U-GIN Genetics Research laboratory in Seoul, South Korea," he said. "They're probably halfway through crafting the body for him by now."
Percy nodded at him respectfully. "Thank you."
"Piss off."
Percy shrugged. "No hard feelings on my end."
Percy walked out and called out to his men, "Gentlemen! Are you all finished?"
"All done, sir," one of the soldiers told him.
"Alright, then. Go on ahead and take it all back to Atlantis."
"And what are you going to do?"
Percy gripped his trident. "I have other matters to attend to."