Disclaimer: Ultron belongs to Marvel Comics. Justice League belongs to DC Comics.
Justice League: Age of Ultron
Flashpoint part 2
After getting struck by a lightning and having third-degree burns on his whole body Ultron helps Batman to carry an unconscious Barry Allen back to the Batcave where he would receive proper medical care.
Or as proper a middle-aged former doctor can.
Ultron could attempt to cure him but the uncertainty of what will happen after Barry fixes the timeline makes him hesitate.
Not wanting to draw attention to himself Ultron grabs the most burned man alive bride style and follows Thomas to the Batcave.
"What now?" Asks Thomas looking over his shoulder to the A.I. "Does your analysis show anything.".
"Negative." Says Ultron looking at the man in his arms. "I revised the footage over 14.000.605 times and recreated the experiment virtually as many times as well.".
Hearing this Batman stops in his tracks and turns his body to face Ultron eye to eye. "In how many tests did the experiment succeed?".
"One," Ultron says with a dry tone, Thomas thinks it's because of his mechanical voice, the man who was now a machine thinks it was a simulation of negative emotion.
Batman turns back on his pace humming to himself. He thinks if the experiment works even one amongst fourteen million tries it was a chance he was really hoping to take if it means his son lives.
'I would gladly die 14.000.605 times if it means Bruce lives'. Thinks the cape crusader.
"Chemicals in your brain suggest thoughts about a specific subject." Says Ultron making Batman turn back to reality after hearing the metallic voice.
"If he fixes reality my son might live again," Thomas says with a neutral tone. "A machine could never understand what is love."
"Starting Analysis… Analysis complete…. Three possible answers." Says Ultron while stopping his observation of the burned man and focusing on the former doctor in front of him.
"Let me hear it then. What could a machine know what is love?". Asks Thomas with genuine curiosity.
"Answer One: Love is nothing but chemistry caused by the chemicals on biologicals brains and the mix of hormones and pheromones used by males and females to attract each other and reproduce." Says Ultron emotionless.
Even Mortimer Tonybee was a better option, I bet as Toad I would have more chance to get laid with Zatanna Zatara or Black Canary than as Ultron.
"Answer Two: Love is when two biological gets themselves on the illusion that both are one half of a whole and need each other to be complete and to be happy.".
They walk for a few seconds with Batman waiting for a third option that is never spoken, for a moment he considers keeping quiet but after another twelve seconds he gives in. "And what is the third option you have about what is love?".
Ultron doesn't respond, at least not with his voice. A piece of music that Thomas never heard before starts to play out of Ultron's mouth, no need to say, he thinks it's horrible.
"What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more.".
The music stops coming out of Ultron's mouth when they finally reach the Batcave, Ultron puts Barry on a table and notices he was groaning and finally awakening.
Thomas starts gathering some medical bandages while Ultron scans Barry's body looking for any infection. Before Batman could start to bandage Barry Ultron puts his hand in front of him.
"Are those sterilized?" Asks the mechanical voice that almost makes Thomas believe there was a tone of sympathy there.
"No. It's the only thing I have so we will have to make it do.".
Before Batman could proceed the A.I sprays Barry's body with some strange gas, and not long after it does the same with the bandages he was holding.
'Maybe there is something like a soul in there.'. Thomas thought before starting to cover the burned body with the bandages.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH".
Barry's scream makes Thomas stop looking at Ultron and pays attention back to his now awoken patient. He might not be a doctor anymore but still knows when someone shouldn't be walking.
"What the hell are you doing." Asks Thomas trying to calm Barry.
"Need to… I need to try again. I just need… A bigger bolt of lightning." Says Flash with a weak voice that might have been spoken with all the strength he could've mustered in this state.
"You're out of your mind. Lie down and let the morphine take effect.".
"N-no.".
"You have third-degree burns." Says Ultron with a holographic projection of Barry's body floating on the palm of his hand. "Data also shows deterioration of lungs and liver. Medical… Professional medical help required for body to regain full functionality.".
"Ultron is right." Says Thomas trying to remember his lost knowledge of medicine while looking at the hologram. "You're lucky to be alive.".
"Doesn't… matter. I have to try again. I can't forget." Says Barry with his voice getting weakened by the second.
"Forget what?".
"Data indicates no failure of brain functionality." Says Ultron enlarging the hologram until only the brain is shown.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH" Barry screams while flashes of memory run through his mind, a news reporter introducing the world to Abin Sur of the green lantern corps. His mother making him a breakfast of waffles. A bridge that leads to nowhere with no one knowing or not remembering why.
"My memories keep ch-changing. Realigning with this new history the Reverse-Flash created by altering time." Says Barry trying his best to get up." If we don't this soon *kkkfff* I won't even realize it's wrong.".
Even with the burned flesh Ultron and Thomas could see the pleading in Barry's eyes. This was a man who was willing to certain death after barely escaping it just to make things right.
Starting to regret not reading the comics. I'm starting to like it.
"Just like Thawne made me forget the life I had before he went back in time and murdered my mother… I won't remember my wife… Or your son.".
Hearing these words Thomas' eyes widen in shock and fear with the fact that the only hope of his son to be alive again might be lost, both he and Barry were about to leave and proceed with the experiment again but are stopped by the robot.
"Is it worthy?" Asks the machine making both men look at him. "Risking your life every second, seeing people suffering, losing friends and loved ones. All of this just to do the right thing. Is it worthy?".
"Yes." Says Barry without hesitation.
"It's illogical." Says Ultron showing Barry the hologram of his own body. "Chances of surviving another attempt of the experiment are minimal. Why forfeit self-preservation for certain death?".
"Self-preservation isn't everything Ultron." Says Barry getting on his feet with Batman's help. "What good is being alive if you won't have anything left to savor in life?".
I wonder if I could ever convince him not to proceed.
Ultron knew he could change everything by just killing them.
'But what would this accomplish?' he asks himself.
"If the timeline is restored what will happen to this unit?" Asks Ultron, he didn't want to die but not even the old robot's personality was enough to convince the man inhabiting his body that living on a planet with no life was good.
"I don't know." Says Barry walking towards the rooftop with Batman's help. "Maybe you will be created again, maybe you won't. I really don't know.".
Guess I'll have to find out, what else do I have to lose?!
"This unit will help you." Says Ultron and he could see a glimpse of what could almost be a smile.
Back on the rooftop, the rain was looking even stronger than before, if this was the Marvel Universe Ultron would think Thor was angry, maybe because the ice giants stole his hammer and he would have to dress like a woman to trick them and get it back… Again.
With the help of Batman and Ultron Barry slowly walks back to the almost destroyed chair. Groans for both Barry and the sky are heard and Ultron doesn't wait another minute to start recording the new experiment.
"You really are crazy." Says Batman with narrowed eyes but showing some kind of respect towards the most barbecued man alive.
"Starting Analysis…".
"Here we go agai—".
KRA-KKOOOMM
If Thor was angry this lightning showed his rage, while Ultron wasn't moved or affected by it both Barry and Batman were, with the first falling to the left side of the Wayne manor's rooftop and the latter on the right side.
Feeling as if the lightning's electricity was part of his body, with it running throughout his nerves Barry opens his eyes in the middle of the free-falling feeling hole again and without wasting time he runs, and in less than a second he sees Thomas Wayne falling into the spears of Wayne manor's gate and don't wait for the worst to happen to go after him and save this world's Batman.
Now on safe ground with his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath, Barry looks at the widened eyes of Thomas Wayne and gives him an invisible amused smile.
"Told you." Says Barry taking a deep breath.
"Analysis complete… Experiment Successful.". Says Ultron appearing out of nowhere at their side making both men look at the AI which now had the knowledge of how to recreate the experiment.
Back in the Batcave, Thomas tries to examine Barry one more time.
"Scans show regeneration of tissues." Says Ultron scanning Barry's body trying to compare his status to how he was after getting struck by lightning the first time. "Calculating full recovery… Calculation complete… Full recovery in 3 hours."
"His burns are healing slowly." Says Batman examining Barry's pupil with a small flashlight. "Can your scans tell how his body is doing it?".
"My speed heightens everything." Says Barry mostly cured trying to relax the most a man can after getting hit by a bolt of lightning. "Including my reparative functions, but it's going to be a while until I can shift into high gear.".
"Analysis doesn't show any complications."
"This proves he is the fastest man alive, but it doesn't prove his story." Says Batman looking at Ultron's hologram which was showing the low regeneration of Barry's body at the sub-molecular level.
"It has to count for something." Says Barry also looking at the hologram of his body.
Thomas stops looking at the hologram and walks towards a small table that was holding the Reverse-Flash costume to give it to Barry.
"Here," Batman says holding the yellow costume. "You need a suit, and I'm not going to lend you one of mine.".
Barry looks at Thomas with distaste, not by what he said but because of the thought of having to use the uniform of his most hated foe.
"What? It's friction proof, isn't it?"
"Forget it," Says Barry not taking his eyes off the Reverse-Flash costume. "Theoretically I could try to unweave it, break down the threads to near infinity and alter its colors. But with the chemicals and materials in the manor, it's easier to make a new one.".
In the span of a second Barry disappears from Thomas's sight, but not from Ultron's sensors who react fast enough to see what he does in this small timeframe before stopping on a specific spot of the cave ready to show both of them his finished work. Red costume with a white circle and yellow lightning in the middle of the chest area and yellow boots.
"That's better." Says Flash the fastest man alive with a cocky smile.
"That was a waste of time created by the thoughts of an organic clouded in negative emotions towards a simple bad fact of his life he can't get over it." Says Ultron but before the Flash could retort or frown his brow he is quicker. "Analysis also indicates that it also looks better in current state."
Flash smiles at the robot, a genuine smile.
"Alright, let's get to work." Says the fastest man alive.
In the library of the mansion, standing in front of a computer, which Ultron could swear was an apple 2 for how old it looked, the trio starts their research.
"Is this the only computer you have?" Says Flash with his arms crossed not too cheered about the old electronic dinosaur.
"Yes." Says Batman.
"Obsolete technology." Says Ultron ripping the computer off the plug and smashing it into the ground, before both heroes could complain it connects itself to the web with a direct link and shows a holographic screen with his eyes while his hands display a holographic keyboard. "Establishing Connection… Connection established…".
"Okay, that was… unexpected." Says Flash while looking at the holographic screen coming out of Ultron's red eyes which were showing all recorded history in the world so they could find what the Reverse-Flash has changed.
"If this Reverse-Flash has the same power as you, how is he able to alter history and you're not?". Asks Batman.
"Simple science. For every positive there is a negative.". Says Flash trying not to be distracted by the changes in the timeline shown by Ultron. "Not so simple science, Thawne is powered by negative speed force. One he creates by corrupting the speed force I generate.".
"Contradiction." Says Ultron emulation doubt. "How said individual could change uniform in the ring at super-speed if your person wasn't generating positive speed force for him to corrupt?".
"He can store the positive energy I produce. Force Speed is not like a car's fuel, it can last for a long time." Says Flash but with certain doubt of his words, Ultron's question does have merits. "The negative speed gives him a variety of abilities I don't have like; manipulate his own age, deteriorate objects with a touch… and he can change the past.".
"But so can you right?" Asks Thomas looking at Ultron's face screen.
"Normally, yes, but it will take some time until my powers are at full capacity.".
"Should timeline be restored wouldn't it be changed even so by the simple fact you venture into time to do it?" Says Ultron making another valid point.
"Can't deny that possibility. But I'm sure only a small and insignificant portion will change once restored." Says Barry not so sure since messing with time always gets… messy.
"What about the butterfly effect?" Asks Thomas.
"Hard to say." Says Flash running throughout the library reading every book there is at high speed with only Ultron being able to keep up with it.
It's so strange seeing someone doing things at superspeed and you perceive it just as a normal speed.
"Trying to Alter anything in the past is like trying to swim a waterfall. The current of time fights against it. And rightly so." Says the quickest man alive finishing his reading of a book about a king who literally has Doom as a last name.
Thomas stops looking at the screen, humming while seeing Barry fast reading not noticing the sound caught his attention.
"That's the Batman humming when he wants to say something without saying something. Your son did it too… a lot." Says Barry appearing next to Batman.
"It sounds like you're holding back. Like you haven't tried."
"Analysis indicates that changing time without the precise knowledge are the actions of a mad person or an idiot." Says the A.I.
"Ultron is right. It's dangerous. You mentioned the butterfly effect. It exists but to change the story so much I don't think it was just one change that Thawne did but several across history." Says Flash while typing on the holographic keyboard at superspeed. "Without any other speedster, he knew I would try to assemble the Justice League. So he took them out of the equation or tried to.".
"Tell me the civil identities of all Justice League members." Says the A.I. "It will make it easier to find them all.
Flash is hesitant to let Ultron know a secret it wasn't his to share, but he also knows the A.I was too smart to not find out eventually, due to the lack of options he concedes.
"Clark Kent and Hal Jordan. Since Wonder Woman and Aquaman aren't allies anymore I doubt they would help, and I doubt that other members like J'onn or Oliver would be available in this new reality".
"Hacking government systems… Searching identities… Results for Clark Kent… Zero… Results for Hal Jordan… One.".
The man inside Ultron knew which Clark Kent and Hal Jordan he was looking for so finding them weren't that hard, the problem would be if Flash inquired him about how it knows which Clark and Hal he was looking for.
Luckily for the machine, Barry was too worried to question it and just look at the results it found on Hal.
Hal was a pilot of the US air force with a reputation that could be described as… controversial. According to Barry, this was also changed.
"The memories I have are still messed up, but I saw an image of Abin Sur as the green lantern." Says the speedster looking at the image on the screen trying to make sense of Hal's current situation. "If Abin Sur is still alive, it means he never passed his ring on to Hal.".
"Inquiry." Says Ultron moving his head to Flash. "What guarantee do we have that the ring would work on Hal? You didn't have your powers which means the possibility Hal couldn't have them even if he got the ring is there.".
Flash thinks of dismissing Ultron but then he sees on the screen that Hal was not even married to Carol, maybe his father would still be alive, too many variables that unfortunately give strength to the machine theory that the ring could not work on Hal and making the fastest man alive reluctantly agree with the A.I.
"So we move on to Superman. The man of tomorrow." Says Barry typing the keyboard hoping Superman wasn't 'unavailable' like Hal. "He's the most powerful being on earth.".
I wonder if he could beat Thor. I mean Superman is vulnerable to magic and Thor is a God whose power is connected to all kinds of the stuff.
"The rocket that brought him here would've landed around the same time Bruce was born.".
"A rocket struck metropolis when Martha was pregnant with Bruce." Says Thomas as if he just remembered what he was going to search on google. "It destroyed dozens of city blocks.".
"My God… how many people…".
"Thirty-five thousand.".
"No one ever took credit for the attack, but the government claimed it was from a terrorist cell in south America. That's why the U.S. invaded—".
"What happened to the Rocket?".
"I don't know. But I know someone who can find out.".
Ultron just watches the conversation between the two. He could easily hack the U.S computers without being discovered or traced and take everything to his databanks but refrain to do so. The reason is that he wanted to meet with Cyborg so he could download all his data and improve himself with the knowledge he has, and he wanted to go to the secret facility they were holding Superman so he could find anything that they deemed too dangerous to put on a hard disk so he can scan it or take it with him to later apply into his body.
Turning off the screen and keyboard Ultron follow the two men. The trio was about to meet their only contact who could take them into the secret facility, or the only one Batman and Flash think can.
On top of the Wayne casino, under a rain that would probably give Ultron rust if his body wasn't made of adamantium but will definitely give Batman and Flash a cold, the trio stand face to face with Victor Stone also known as Cyborg, the peak of evolution in human technology on this planet. Ultron starts to wonder why Cyborg's canon was activated but is interrupted when he starts to speak.
"I have to admit, I didn't expect your call." Says Cyborg with a frown and his human hand on his hip.
"Vic? You look different. Have you been juicing?" Asks Flash half joking half curious.
"Have we met?".
"My name is Barry Allen but…".
"You've never met him, he's new to Gotham. Super-speed goes by the name of Flash. just like our other companion, super-intelligence, a face too hard to hit, goes by Ultron." Says Thomas pointing to Barry and then Ultron.
"A pleasure." Says Victor giving his hand for Ultron to shake but the robot just looks at it.
"Your systems are outdated. Your firewalls are flawed.". Says Ultron after hacking all Cyborg's data without him realizing it in less than 5 minutes after meeting him, putting them on his databanks after being copied, and putting a virus on his motherboard as a precaution in case he stood in Ultron's way.
"Okaaaay. Thanks for the warning." Says Cyborg after receiving a message on his red eye telling him the obvious flaws on his firewall and how to better counter them not realizing Ultron's plan in helping him.
If he develops in the way I want him to. It will be easier to deal with him in the future.
The former man had doubts before but this action and the guiltless feeling are enough proof to him that there was a little of Ultron's personality left, he just didn't know if it would be good or bad for him, but he knew it would definitely be bad for the others around him.
"Alert. Risks of this conversation being recorded by newcomer increased by 42.9%." Says Ultron to Batman. "Risk of newcomer giving recordings to his superiors 67.1%".
"Thanks for the warning Ultron, but it's a risk we will have to take." Says Flash with confidence knowing he could trust the man in front of him because of the memories he had from the other timeline.
"I have to say, you are keeping interesting company." Says Cyborg with a relaxed smile looking between Barry and Ultron. "So, what did you want to talk about?".
"I'm in." Says Batman. "You wanted me as the strategist on your team. I'm in.
"Really?" Asks Cyborg a little surprised by the change of heart shown by Batman.
"But we build the army my way. With soldiers of my choosing. Starting with Flash and Ultron. The next person on my list came out of the rocket that destroyed Metropolis.".
"What are you talking about?".
"Data showed that U.F.O was responsible for incident on Metropolis." Says Ultron making Victor turn back at him. "Given results of analysis and your government's past actions throughout history, they violated the human rights they created in case sentient life form was inside said rocket for tests, probably cloning or weaponizing.".
"Classified information. I could've asked Ultron to do it alone." Says Batman with his cold voice. "But you are the only one that can do it with the lesser chance of repercussion.".
"Me?".
"Correct." Says Ultron displaying a hologram map of Metropolis with a red dot flashing on it. "Data indicated facility is on current area marked on map. Said mark is using energy and infrastructure not found on any record indicating whatever is there is illegal or classified.".
Cyborg turns his back to the three, he looks at the ground and sees the people walking on the streets with no worries except how they are going to pay their bills or what they will have for dinner and makes a sad expression knowing that these people might not have that chance anymore in the near future.
Victor sighs and turns back to the two men and the machine with a serious expression all over his face. "I have done many things. But hacking my own government was not one of them.".
"Irrelevant." Says Ultron with indifference. "Should war between Aquaman and Wonder Woman continue humanity won't survive. Stealing from government to save the world is the logical course of action.".
"If I'm going along with this." Victor gives a pause but maintains his serious face and voice. "I want to know what made you change your mind."
"Irrelevant. Motivation doesn't change importance of final objective.".
"He's right." Says Batman with narrowed eyes.
"I'll see what I can do.".
While Cyclops enters the network to get the information they would need, Ultron tasks his sub-routines to spy on him so he would obtain any information Cyborg has that it didn't obtain while he was hacking him. At the same time Flash addresses him and Batman not too happy with the way they used to get what they needed.
"What are you both doing?" Asks Flash with anger.
"Getting the information we need." Says Batman with indifference.
"Making emotions don't overrule logic." Says Ultron with no emotion at all.
"You are manipulating him. We should tell him the truth. He would trust us more if—".
"Negative." Says Ultron. "Trust doesn't matter on current assignment. Once He finds out about captured specimen distrust will return even without holding vital information.".
"He is right." Says Batman trying to get an edge over the fastest man alive. "In the end, nothing will matter. The alien. The war. Besides, Ultron could already do it for us. The only reason Cyborg is coming at this point is as an extra arm. So why bother when in the end nothing will matter?".
"Did it ever matter to you?".
A moment of silence hangs in the air with only the drops of water from the rain being heard by the two and Ultron's core after finalizing his sub-routine of spying on Cyborg who turned back to them.
"According to the government files the rocket was taken and transferred to a secret underground facility, located on the same place Ultron showed with that map, called: Project Superman." Says Cyborg with open arms as if this was a knowledge he should've always possessed. "And there is a report, mostly destroyed, that they found something inside the rocket. They called it subject 1. How the hell did you know about this?".
Batman and Ultron look at Flash before the latter and Batman turns to Ultron who wasn't interested in it, what he was interested in was what Cyborg didn't care to look at while hacking the files. The power source of the rocket's core, and its schematics were familiar and strange at the same time to the android who emulated the feeling of curiosity and put the assignment of finding this power source as its priority.
"That also doesn't matter." Says Batman in his cape crusader tone with closed fists on his hips now that their mission was really starting. "Are you going to tell us how to get into the project: superman or not?".
"One step better, Batman…". Says Victor with a cocky grin on his lips. "I'm coming with you.".
New Metropolis
Ultron didn't feel real emotion but was somehow glad that adamantium doesn't rust, walking on the sewer right behind Cyborg, Batman, and Flash the robot starts hacking into the computers of the secret facility they are about to invade. He doesn't tell his companions yet trying to figure out a plan so he could be separated from them and look for the power source himself.
Unlike Cyborg who just downloaded the schematics, Ultron was able to hack the entire facility with easy without being discovered and he was the reason Victor hasn't been found yet by the base firewalls, he needed to get all of them deep enough before he could enact his already formed plan to get separated them so he just stays quiet as a background character watching the exchange of the three heroes in front of him.
"Which way?" Asks Batman trying to ignore the soaking socks and the stink.
"Just follow me. I've downloaded the schematics of project: superman." Says Victor projecting a hologram map like Ultron did showing the plan of the building.
"What kind of security are we talking about?" Asks Flash trying to not be left out of the conversation.
"The kind we want to avoid." Says Cyborg tearing off a rusted door of an elevator shaft.
The three humans grab the ropes of the elevator and slide down while Ultron uses his flight abilities to float down with them at the same speed they are going, with Flash mumbling; show off. Or at least is what his audio recordings got from the speedster.
"Ahh". Groans Batman in pain.
"You all right?".
"Just old.".
After reaching the bottom Cyborg inputs himself into the monitor on the wall, while Flash and Batman wait Ultron starts to hack into the security cameras, they would show 10 hours loop of last night's recordings and when the time is right Ultron would activate the alarms.
"I'm in." Says Cyborg pulling his hand out of the monitor. "I've cycled their motion sensors and security cameras, but the loop won't go unnoticed for long.".
I made sure of that.
After they enter Ultron's plan gets in motion. The facility was like a labyrinth but since both Ultron and Cyborg have the schematics finding their way around was easy enough.
"There's a skeleton crew working this late at night. So we should be able to move freely." Says Cyborg. "Batman, I don't know what changed your mind or why… but thank you. With you on board, everyone else will be too. We can save the world from war. And I'll finally make my dad proud.".
Running ahead Victor doesn't see the look Flash gives at Batman and Ultron while Batman doesn't seem moved Ultron is, but not by Flash's glare but by what he sees inside the test chambers of this facility through the glasses.
"We're getting close." Says Cyborg.
"Subject 2…" Flash says trying to see what took Ultron's interest and is shocked by what's on the other side of the glass. "Oh my god.".
"It looks like a canine skeleton.". Says Batman sparing a glance while keeping running.
"Scanning… Scanning complete, canine DNA found, species not identified." Says Ultron but for other reasons than just giving an answer if the skeleton belonged to a dog or not, what he really wanted was the Kryptonian DNA it possessed and now he had all Krypto's lineage DNA on his databanks.
They arrived at the main lab of the facility and see two guards watching a giant vault with a diamond-shaped shield on it and a giant S in the middle.
"Night Watch." Says Cyborg.
"Coated in etomidate. General anesthetic." Says Batman pulling two batrangs out of his belt. "Doctor's choice.".
The batrangs knocked both guards instantly and Flash grabs them before they hit the floor and make any noise that could reveal their presence, at the same time Victor starts connecting himself to the monitor of the giant vault and doesn't take long for it to open.
When the door is fully open it reveals something only Ultron knew what to expect, a skinny man with a real need for a sandwich whose face shows fear towards the four newcomers.
"This is the most powerful being on the planet?" Says Batman with a scowl gritting his teeth in anger while Barry expresses shock, Victor tries to understand and Ultron activates the alarm of the facility while they are all distracted.
"Intruder alert. Intruder Alert. Protect Subject 1."
"Cover your ears." Says Cyborg charging his cannon arm.
The glass protecting superman shatters like… glass and Batman with the help of Flash go towards the Kryptonian whose ears were having a small bleeding. Ultron doesn't wait to take advantage of the free sample and goes with them.
"That subsonic blast hurt him Flash." Says Batman. "I thought you said…".
"His skin is so pale…" Says Flash in worry for his friend. "I don't think he's ever seen the sun.".
"He's acting like he has never seen a human.".
While both are distracted helping Superman getting on his feet, Ultron picks up the small drops of blood and stores them on a small metallic vial he produces from his finger and guards it inside his body where its subroutine starts analyzing the DNA as he did with Krypto, now that it had a sample instead of just scanning of the body, Ultron's possibilities with Kryptonian DNA were bigger.
"HEY." Screams Cyborg turning around to look at their visitors. "We've got company.".
"Is that Cyborg?" One of the guards says.
"What's he doing…". Says another guard before him and all his unit is blasted away by Cyborg sonic ray.
"Are you sure about this Allen?" Says Batman watching three more guards approaching. "What if he was locked for a reason?".
"I know him, Dr. Wayne." Says Flash covering the Kryptonian. "And I can say with all confidence that no matter where he was raised, he's a good person.".
"Unlikely." Says Ultron blasting the three guards with his optics ray knocking them unconscious. "Every sentient individual's personality, morals, and opinions are always based and developed by the way they were raised and groomed.".
"We're here to help you, Superman. Not hurt you. We're your friends." Says Flash putting his hands on the Kryptonian's shoulders. "We're going to get you out of here, okay?".
Looking at the floor with an empty stare the Kryptonian move his head and look Flash in the eyes and says his first words to him. "Okay.".
"Change of plans." Says Ultron getting the attention of everyone. "Reinforcements in coming. This unit's body was made to take on heavy hits. Will drive attention away while you escape.".
"Fine by me." Says Batman.
"Me too." Agrees Victor.
"How are you going to get out Ultron?". Asks Flash actually worried for the robot.
"Starting Analysis… Analysis complete." Says Ultron. "This unit will initiate facility's self-destruct and set enough time for every organic to leave.".
Ultron's motivations were also to destroy any files this facility has about the DNA they had on Superman, when he hacked the facility's computers, he discovered that this project had just enough red tape from the government to never allow what happens here get out or copied so after its destruction Ultron would be the only one left with the knowledge on how to use the DNA and its properties.
When more guards approach, Ultron blasts them with his optics rays while Barry and the others use this window to escape. After all of them get out of sight Ultron changes his optics to kill and blast each of the soldiers on the floor to make sure they would never wake up, the person who once was a man feels guilty for killing men just doing their jobs, but the logical part says that while they were never directed related to the experiments the fact that they stood by and let a sentient being be subjected to experiments like a mindless animal made them just as guilty.
Looking at the schematics Ultron analysis the fastest way to reach the power core of Superman's rocket they were also keeping in the facility, the robot spots guards on every corner and always let them shot first with their useless weapons on his adamantium body, which still didn't have a single scratch, to justify killing them as self-defense.
After lots of turnings and lots of killings, Ultron finally reaches his destination and his sensors showed once more the familiar yet strange energy source coming from out of the room. It tears the 2 meters steel door like paper and once Ultron gets inside and sees the power source Superman's rocket used his always opened mouth speaks for itself.
The red egg-shaped core and the power it emanates could make Ultron's scanners and sensors go ballistic with the tremendous energy, but what shocked Ultron the most wasn't the power the core possessed, but what the power core really is.
No, no, this doesn't belong here, it should never be here.
The former man knew what this is, he read the comics, watched the cartoons, saw the movies, and here it was, one of the six.
"What is an infinity stone doing in a DC Comics reality?" Asks Ultron to himself before more noise behind him is made making his head turn 160º degrees and kill more guards that approached him.
Red… If it's like the comics, this is the power stone. If it's like the movies it's the reality stone… I hope it's the reality stone, When Flash resets the timeline it will be my ticket to not be erased once this reality ceases to exist.
Ultron takes the stone with his left hand and opens his chest chassis, with his right hand he tears off his power core and puts the infinity stone to replace it, now he would have unlimited energy, and should this be the power stone and not the reality stone he would be able to replicate any energy-based creation there is, be it Darseid's omega beans or the green lanterns ring's energy.
"Scanning for companions… Scanning complete.".
Time to see how powerful my attacks are when I have one infinity stone for a power core.
On the sewers escaping from minimal resistance Flash and the others run for their lives to make sure Superman reaches the surface and is powered by the yellow sun.
"Do you think Ultron will make it?" Asks Cyborg turning around to shoot their pursuers with a stunt blast.
"He's a tough sunnavabitch." Says Batman feeling a phantom pain in his hand.
"I don't know how tough the metal Ultron's made off is. But from what I see, it could give Wonder Woman's bracelets a run for its money." Says Flash carrying Superman with him.
After a quick run, they finally reach the end of the sewer, blocked by a rust grid which is kicked out of the way by Cyborg's foot. On the outside, the four watch as the sun rises, and Superman is shocked after seeing such natural beauty for the first time.
"Beautiful." He says.
His body starts to get off the ground catching all of them by surprise.
"My God," Cyborg says shocked by what he is seeing. "He's flying.".
"General Lane wants subject 1 alive, the others… Shot to kill." Says one of the guards after finally catching up with them.
Superman looks at the guard who said that and his eyes glow red, before the guard could react a red beam comes out of Superman's eyes and puts his gun and his arm on fire, making him scream in pain.
"What are you waiting for." Screams Batman enraged. "Get them.".
But Superman doesn't respond he just takes off flying at superspeed leaving Flash and the others behind.
"There goes your savior." Says Batman with a tone that was either sarcasm or mockery. "So what now?".
When the three look behind them they see that the soldiers were all pointing their guns toward them, and if the former orders were still in effect they were going to shoot to kill.
It was what they intended to do, but before any of them could pull the trigger their bodies fall to the ground full of burned holes caused by a red laser beam that came from one place to come out of another, and when all the guards have fallen dead on the ground a robot, Ultron, comes behind them and gets out of sewer tunnel and look at the three men he just saved.
"All targets eliminated.". Ultron says emotionless.
Author's note: Just wanted to say that Thor in a dress joke was written before the newest Thor issue was released.
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English is not my first language.