Avenging Justice 2:

Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday

Part XXXV

Earth, Tennessee, Chattanooga

"This is, Kim Chipfield, with WTVC News. We're bringing you a breaking story out of Sokovia," the professional and well manicured reporter began. "It seems an army of artificial beings have taken over the city of Novi Grad. Currently the Avengers are facing off with them, but we have reports of the city being lifted into the air. At this time, these are unsubstantiated reports, but stay tuned to WTVC News as we update the situation.

A little closer to home, the earthquakes in Kansas have stopped. We'll bring you more updates on this, but geologists are still asking what could have been causing the ground shaking there. The theories run from a newly active Faultline to a possible new villain with earth shaking powers."

Xander turned the television off, he had a very bad feeling. He couldn't place his finger on it, but he'd gotten used to following his gut feeling. Beside him, as if picking up on it, Mara put a comforting hand on his arm. He looked over at her, and both shared a knowing look. It was time to go to work.

Earth, Sokovia, Novi Grad

Ultron was raging. Not only had the Avengers shown up, but they had found the trigger. He should have stayed put, but he'd gone back to antagonize Hank Pym. When he found him gone, the artificial being felt hate rage up into him. It had caused him to make a mistake, something he thought the organic beings had the market share of. Then again, the creator was one. The first thing he'd do once he built his new body, get rid of any lingering imperfections like that.

As it stood, the body that was meant to be his, now floated before him. He spoke with the voice of Stark's accursed J.A.R.V.I.S. program. Of course, the Humans would turn his body into a slave, they needed it to take him out. He had the stone, the one that the Human's barely understood. Even Ultron knew little about it, but he had planned to master it. He'd take it back, and make a new body, then he'd continue till nothing left lived.

Through his drones, the mechanical mastermind knew that other heroes were here too. The one he feared the most, Superman, was here as well. However, he had planned for this contingency. Inside his core, a reserve power unit came online, green energy pulsing as it did.

It had taken some time, but Sokovia had a tiny, tiny supply of Kryptonite. Enough for what he needed, not enough for what he had truly wanted. If he got lucky, he'd kill the Kryptonian, if not, at least he'd stop him long enough to complete the mission. Not even Earth's champion would stop him. Some part of him relished when Superman would try.

Seth and Lara were in borrowed S.H.I.E.L.D. garb, complete with enclosed helmets. Director Fury had agreed to help them at least keep their identities secret for now. They couldn't stand and watch while these S.H.I.E.L.D. agents risked their safety to ferry people from the city to the helicarrier. So, they had volunteered, and Lara even thought she saw the faintest smile on Fury's face. It was gone quickly, but she knew it had been there.

Most of Ultron's drones were busy with the Avengers right now, which left these two to fly around the city with minimal resistance. Both were still getting used to their new abilities, but one that was coming in handy really well, was kind of an infrared vision. Seth could see heat signatures through walls and buildings, and was reporting back to the other agents. Those easily able to be reached, were collected by them. Those that were buried or harder to get to, he and Lara retrieved.

Punching through brick, concrete and steel was taking some getting used to. He had noticed that it didn't feel like before. The impacts felt more like cardboard or putty than brick or steel. After a good meal, it seemed that his body had gotten stronger. The more he was in the sunlight, and the further they moved up in the sky, strength flooded in. He made mental note nine and ten to ask the doctor about this, after they were done.

Just as he was musing about this, they found two small children, buried under rubble, and their heat signature fading fast. Lara already was on it, tossing the huge concrete slabs like one would the Styrofoam place holders on electronics. Much to her delight, two frightened, but very much alive children took in deep breaths. She took them both back to the helicarrier, while Seth continued searching.

Back at the trigger, the Avengers were taking on Ultron and his forces in an all out melee. Captain America and Thor sent several flying, as the Asgardian slammed his hammer down on Cap's shield. Black Widow, like a deadly ballerina, was smashing and stabbing with her two energy batons. Hawkeye was sending deadly missile after deadly missile from his bow, while Iron Man and Vision used their energy attacks to thin the herd. The Hulk, true to form, was smashing every robot in his sight.

The two Green Lanterns were wreaking havoc, while Star Sapphire was doing her own impersonation of a whirling dervish of damage. Hal had to give her credit, she was scrappy fighter, and John Stewart was very impressed. Between them, they alternated between fighting off the drones and aiding the rescue efforts. They could do this because of the other figure flying about, faster than a speeding bullet.

Superman had one whole front covered, while Wonder Woman covered another. They were hoping to keep things locked down, till Iron Man gave the signal. Through comms, they had come up with a plan. Once all the civilians were off the city, they'd reprogram the thrusters to take the city into an orbit high above Earth. There it would settle into a stable position and pose minimal threat to Earth. Eventually, they could even change it to where the city could be moved to an even safer location.

Apparently, Ultron had caught on, though. Throwing Vision down, Ultron blasted at the synthetic being and blasted off towards the trigger. He was repelled as Iron Man and Hulk came at him. He dodged one, and parried the blow from the other. However, it was the lightning bolt from Thor, that infuriated him.

He launched up, and sent out a wave of energy, that knocked everyone back. Then taking aim, he fired his energy weapon at the red and blue clad Superman. The energy crackled with a green tint, and the blast sent the Kryptonian twisting around. Ultron saw his drones pour over the Man of Steel, and for a brief moment of satisfaction, knew victory. Then a golden beam sliced through his mechanical body.

Superman felt weak, and recognized what had hit him. Luthor had developed Kryptonite weapons in the past, and had used them in their fights. This felt very much the same, but perfected. Still, he'd gotten used to fighting against the weakness, and as the drones covered him, he fought. Throwing the drones back, he found Wonder Woman had come to his aid, still trying to hold her own front.

Most surprising were the drones that seemed to hit or be knocked back by invisible hands. As he focused, two small forms could be seen though. Ant-Man and the Wasp were fighting by his side, and he shook his head as he recognized them. Just another example of the promise of Humanity, and one he would continue to fight for.

"Cap, we have everyone on board," came Director Fury's words over Captain America's comm.

He answered back, "Acknowledged, Stark trigger the engines now! Everyone retreat back to the Quinjet."

"Can't, the drones dismantled it, we need a pickup," came Black Widow's serene voice. Steve could hear the edge in it below the surface.

Green Lantern Hal Jordan piped in, "I got you all. Thor and Iron Man, do you require pick up as well?"

"We got it, Mr. Power Ring Guy," Tony Stark flippantly said as he focused on overriding Ultron's programming. "Alright, Thor, bring the lightning, I've got the engines ready."

Above, at the trigger, Thor pointed his hammer to the heavens and dark clouds swirled around. Pulsing bolts of lightning danced from the clouds before leaping to this hammer, filling it with energy. Then once he had collected enough, brought he hammer down upon the trigger. Instead of destroying it, the extra energy was diverted straight into the engines and the city blasted off through the atmosphere.

Down on the ground, Ultron watched as the city disappeared into space, through the inferior eyes of a drone. This was a setback, he'd have to rebuild in secret, but his mission was still unfulfilled. Every war had its losses, but he'd had many victories as well. Once back at full strength, he'd take out the heroes, destroy all living things and bring balance to the universe. All just as Hank Pym had wanted, in that arrogant delusion to outdo Tony Stark.

"They have promise," Vision's voice came from behind him.

Ultron turned, wobbly on the drones nearly destroyed legs, "You became their slave. They will destroy themselves, it's in their nature."

"Possibly, but they are full of surprises," Vision countered. "I can't let you exterminate them, hurt them. Not when their destiny has yet to be written."

Ultron lunged, "Then you are a fool and will die with them."

"Not today," Vision sadly said as he blasted the drone to atoms. "If only you had listened to reason."

Earth, Kansas, Near Interstate 70

Jim Buchannan was going to visit some family in Illinois. He'd taken off some time from work, and was looking forward to getting some of his mother's fabulous home cooking. Most children thought their mothers were masters of kitchen crafts, but he knew she was. He'd been begging her to start her own restaurant, something she'd dreamed of since he was a little boy. She hadn't, but now that all his siblings were grown, maybe he'd convince her now was the time.

That was if he ever got through this blasted traffic. All had been going well, but suddenly everyone had just stopped, bringing traffic to a standstill. At first he had thought it might have been an accident, or maybe road construction. His brother in Tennessee was constantly complaining about their near constant state of roadway reconstruction. That quickly proved not to be the case, as nobody had moved, and several cars were frantically trying to back up.

Jim was about to throw out an expletive filled curse about his fellow drivers, when he let out a manic one. A hulking beast dressed in green, with one hand behind its back, smashed one car into another. Over and over again, it smashed the vehicle till it barely even resembled the automobile it had once been.

With nowhere to go, Jim did the only thing he could, he abandoned his car. Taking the bag in the passenger seat with him, he made his way away from the rampaging monster. Two more cars were demolished by this thing, even as sirens in the distance signaled the coming of the police. He was pretty sure that would only result in the death of the officers, because this thing was ripping metal like it was tissue paper.

He was right as the monster responded the sirens, but throwing another car like a javelin, at the coming state trooper cars. The sound of metal merging together, glass atomizing and the agonizing screams of state troopers, filled Jim's ears. He wanted to flee, run, but he also knew that unless someone got the word out, more would be hurt. So, he pulled out his phone and began to stream to his YouTube channel. Jim Buchannan was going to become famous overnight, and he would take it all back in an instant. One didn't want to become famous for showing the world a walking Armageddon, a Doomsday.