Sentimental Journey

02

The Avengers aircraft landed at the Avengers tower in New York where Clint and Anneliese were taken by Dr. Cho to have their wounds tended to.

Hill walked up to Tony and said, "Lab's all set up, boss."

Tony pointed to Steve. "Uh, actually, he's the boss. I just pay for everything, and design everything and make everyone look cooler."

"What's the word on Strucker?" Steve asked.

"NATO's got him," Hill replied.

"The two enhanced?"

"Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. Twins. Orphaned at ten when a shell collapsed their apartment building. Sokovia's had a rough history. It's nowhere special but it's on the way to everywhere special."

"Their abilities?"

"He's got increased metabolism and improved thermal homeostasis. Her thing is neural electric interfacing, telekinesis, mental manipulation." Steve looked at her oddly, and she rephrased the statement so he could understand. "He's fast and she's weird."

"Well, they're going to show up again."

"Agreed. File says they volunteered for Strucker's experiments. It's nuts."

"Right. What kind of monster would let a German scientist experiment on them to protect their country?"

"We're not at war, Captain."

"They are."

BANNER'S LAB

Bruce, referring to Clint and Anneliese, asked, "How're they doing?"

"Oh, unfortunately, he's still Barton," Tony replied. "She's still as quiet as ever."

"That's terrible."

"They're fine. He's thirsty, she's hungry." He walked over to the computers. "All right. Look alive, JARVIS. It's play time. We've only got a couple days with this joystick so let's make the most of it. Update me on the structural and compositional analysis."

"The scepter is alien," JARVIS informed. "There are elements I can't quantify."

"So there's elements you can."

"The jewel appears to be a protective housing for something inside. Something powerful."

"Like a reactor?"

"Like a computer. I believe I'm deciphering code."

Natasha asked Dr. Cho as she tended to Clint and Anneliese's wounds, "You sure they're going to be okay? Pretending to need this guy really brings the team together."

"There's no possibility of deterioration. The nano-molecular functionality is instantaneous. Their cells don't know they're bonding with simulacrum."

"She's creating tissue," Bruce explained.

"If you brought him to my lab, the regeneration Cradle could do this in twenty minutes."

"Oh, he's flatlining," Tony commented. "Call it. Time?"

"No, no, no," Clint argued. "I'm going to live forever. I'm gonna be made of plastic."

Tony handed Clint a drink. "Here's your beverage." He handed Anneliese a snack.

"You'll be made of you, Mr. Barton, Miss Schulz," Dr. Cho told him. "Your own girlfriend and boyfriend won't be able to tell the difference."

"Well, I don't have a girlfriend," Clint said.

Anneliese watched the signing Natasha was doing and smiled as the thought of Bucky crossed her mind. She missed him tremendously, but knew space was important while he tried to figure out who he was.