Steve Rogers led the pack, on a mission as he walked through the hallways of the Avengers Tower toward the lab, where he knew he would find Tony and the cradle. The twins brought up the rear, on just as much of a mission as Steve currently was.
Lottie stood beside her boyfriend, quiet as she walked. She so desperately didn't want to do this, she wanted the team to be on the same page and stop the fighting, but it was almost impossible because all Tony and Steve seemed to do was pick sides.
She wanted to trust Tony, but her patience was running thin.
The walked into the lab, where Tony and Bruce were working on the cradle. They looked up at the sound of the group's footsteps.
"I'm gonna say this once-"
"How about nonce-"
"Shut it down!"
"Not gonna happen-"
"Tony," Lottie cut in, a frown settled on her face as Tony looked over at her, mirroring her frown now. "You have to stop this, you need to just listen to us and stop. You don't know what you're dealing with-"
"And you do?" Bruce cut in, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Wanda. "How do we know she's not in your head?"
Wanda looked around uncomfortably, taking a step away from Bruce.
"I know you're angry-"
"Oh, we're way past that. I could choke the life out of you and never change a shade-"
"Bruce, enough!" Lottie called out, taking a protective stance in front of Wanda as Steve stepped forward toward them.
"Banner, after everything that's happened-"
"It's nothing compared to what is coming!" Tony retaliated.
Lottie kept her stance in front of Wanda as Bruce began to walk toward them. She narrowed her eyes at her friend, prepared to keep him as far away from the young girl as she could.
Pietro wasn't having any of the fighting, quickly running throughout the room and destroying the lab equipment. The action quickly shut the group up, pausing them in their tracks as they turned to look at him.
"Oh no, you were saying?"
The glass beneath Pietro's feet shattered as he dropped to the floor below, and Lottie was certain that it was Barton that did it.
Warning sirens began to sound from the cradle and the various machines as Tony went to reroute the system. Steve quickly threw his shield at the systems, knocking them out as the Iron Man suit encased Tony as he shot Steve back.
Bruce charged at Wanda and Lottie quickly threw her shield up, holding it out before her as her hand grabbed onto Wanda's, keeping her as close as possible as her eyes narrowed again at her friend.
"She's a kid, Bruce," Lottie argued, the pair glaring at one another. "You're not laying a hand on her."
Steve rushed at Tony again, the pair falling down and our of reach as Clint hopped up to the main floor, gun cocked and at the ready. Bruce charged again as Lottie shoved him back with her shield, the sound of the windows breaking. She quickly threw her shield up, protecting her and Wanda from the blast.
The team watched as Thor came through the broken window, landing on top of the cradle. They all could only watch with wide eyes as he summoned a lightning strike, his hammer colliding with the cradle and sending a power surge through it.
The cradle burst open, throwing Thor back onto the ground. The red, gold, and blue android body appeared from within, landing on the edge of the cradle as he looked around the room. Lottie tugged Wanda behind her again as she eyed the android and the shining gold gem that laid in his head.
The android dove to attack Thor, but the god was quicker, taking his body and throwing him through the glass and out into the living room.
The team was quick to rush into the living room, their weapons at the ready. The android floated in the air at the windows that showed the fantastic view of New York, just simply staring out into the city as the team prepared to take him down if needed.
Thor placed his hammer on the table as the android floated down to the ground beside him, looking around at the team.
" I'm sorry, that was...odd," he spoke, turning to look at Thor. "Thank you."
"Jarvis?" Lottie mumbled at the familiar voice in the Android. She watched as he replicated Thor's attire, a cape appearing on his back.
"Thor, you helped created this?" Steve questioned, taking a step toward Lottie who still positioned herself close to Wanda.
"I've had a vision. A whirlpool that sucks in all hope of life and at it's center is that," Thor pointed to the gem that laid in the android's head. "The Mind Stone. It's one of the six Infinity Stones, the greatest power in the universe, unparalleled in its destructive capabilities."
"Then why would you bring it to-"
"Because Stark is right,"
"Okay, yep. It's the end of the world," Lottie spoke aloud, not missing the eyeroll she got from Tony across the room.
"The Avengers alone can not defeat Ultron," Thor told them once again as Lottie caught his eye.
"You configured Jarvis's matrix into the body," Lottie concluded, looking over at Tony as she pieced the puzzle together. "Ultron didn't destroy Jarvis. He was our ally in Oslo, protecting the nuclear codes."
"I'm not Ultron. I'm not JARVIS. I am...I am," the 'vision' spoke to them. Wanda walked out from behind Lottie and Steve, stepping up to the android.
"I looked in your head, I saw annihilation-"
"Look again,"
"Their powers, the horrors in our heads, Ultron himself, they all came from the Mind Stone, and they're nothing compared to what it can unleash," Thor explained to the team, cutting off the arguing that was sure to ensue. "But with it on our side-"
"Are you?" Lottie questioned the machine, catching it's attention. "Are you on our side?"
"I am on the side of life. Ultron isn't, he will end it all," the vision looked around at them all. "he's waiting for you."
"Where?"
"Sokovia," Clint told the team. "I tracked Nat, she's there too."
"If we're wrong about you-"
"What will you do?" the vision spoke again, turning away from Bruce as he walked toward the table. "I don't want to kill Ultron. He's unique, and he's in pain. But that pain will roll over the earth, so he must be destroyed. Every form he's built, every trace of his presence on the net, we have to act now. And not one of us can do it without the others. Maybe I am a monster. I don't think I'd know if I were one. I'm not what you are, and not what you intended. So there may be no way to make you trust me. But we need to go."
The Avengers stood silently as Vision held Mjolnir in his hand, holding it out to Thor. The god took it from him, watching with wide eyes as the android walked away from all of them.
"I think that settles it," Lottie spoke for the team, looking over at Tony with a nod. "Good job."
"Three minutes," Steve called out to the team, looking around at them. "Get what you need."
Wanda and Pietro stood awkwardly as the team moved to get their gear. Lottie turned to them with a grin, nodding toward the double doors on the left.
"There's a gym through there, got some extra clothes and shoes if you want to change," Pietro nodded in thanks, kissing his sister on the head before leaving. Lottie turned to Wanda. "There's a bathroom through there as well if you'd like to freshen up."
Lottie turned to walk away, to follow Steve and Tony to the jet, when Wanda's voice cut her off.
"Why have you been so kind to me? Why have you protected me?"
"Because you're just a kid," Lottie spoke truthfully, shrugging her shoulders. "I read your file. You're mad at Tony because it was his weapons that killed your family. You did what you believed was right, even though it wasn't. But you realized it was wrong, and you acted on it. You and your brother, you aren't bad people, Wanda. All you need to guidance."
Charlotte Watson left the Maximoff girl standing there in the living room. She turned down the corridors, entering the jet were Steve, Tony, and Bruce stood together. They looked up at the sound of Lottie's footsteps.
"Here," Tony said, handing her the familiar mask she always wore. "I updated the AI since ours is kind of in a giant robot right now. Her name is Friday."
"Thanks," she whispered, tucking it into the back pocket of her suit as the team looked around at one another.
"No way we all get through this. If even one tin soldier is left standing, we've lost. It's gonna be blood on the floor,"
"We don't have any plans tomorrow night," Steve joked, his hand finding Lottie's as they shared a sad smile. They knew the odds of coming out of this were slim.
"I get first crack at the big guy. Iron Man's the one he's waiting for," Tony told them as the vision walked past.
"It's true, he hates you the most,"
The team entered the jet, standing together. Tony looked up at Steve and Lottie, and the woman looked to Steve. He nodded his head, before facing the team.
"Ultron knows we're coming. Odds are we'll be riding into heavy fire, and that's what we signed up for. But the people of Sokovia, they didn't. So our priority is getting them out,"
The team took their places for the jet ride. Lottie locked eyes with Wanda, seeing her standing there determined. They shared a smile, before preparing themselves for the fight.
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Can you guys believe that Part Four is almost over? Guys, we've almost finished the Age of Ultron storyline, which means you know what comes next...Civil War. You are NOT ready.