Steel Hearts

- 16 -

Collectively we had all created a barrier around the core. Hundreds of robots rushed in our direction; climbing the walls outside of the chapel, desperately looking for a weakness in our defenses. Unconsciously we had all split into thirds in our circle: Nat and Barton, Thor and Wanda, along with Steve and me. Pietro used his speed to take out robots along the perimeter of the church while Tony and Vision covered the air since the rest of us couldn't fly. Hulk smashed as many as possible before they could gain distance in their advancement.

Using many of the same tactics and techniques I had prior; I was throwing out purple energy blasts and using my force fields to launch robots up into the air for Tony to blast apart, throwing the shrapnel at the continuous flow of incoming metal to slow them down slightly. Using my force fields, I was able to throw many up to bounce Steve's shield around and take many robots out at once.

Covering my hand in a force field, I slam my fist into a robot that had gotten too close before slamming my forearm cuffs together and creating a sonic boom to clear some space in front of me. Catching sight of Wanda, she was using a tactic similar to mine with her scarlet energy: using her scarlet energy wisps to break apart the robots from within. The two of us work on blasting robots that have gotten too close to the core away with our violet and scarlet energy. I swallow the core in a force field, leaving her to turn back to fighting.

"After this, no more building murder bots!" I yell to Tony, throwing another robot up for him to blast out of the air. Ultron had decided to take action, flying into the church to attack Vision. Upon his entrance, he was sent backward by the mind stone, lightning, and a repulser blast. Without thinking or really knowing what I was doing, a violet blast of energy from my free hand had joined them in attacking Ultron.

"You know, with a little bit of hindsight-" Ultron started once all four blasts had retreated back to their owners. Only to be launched violently into the sky by Hulk.

"They'll try to leave the city!" Thor let Tony know as the remaining robots fled to the sky.

"We can't let them, not even one. Rhodey."

Tony took to the sky along with Vision to take out the fleeing robots. The rest of us ripped the remainder that were still attacking.

"Ella, wh- your eyes," Steve's face screwed up with confusion once the lat robot was cleared.

"What about them?" I question, looking around to see that the team was alright.

"They're purple," Nat answers, pointing back at me.

I catch a glint in the silver ring of Steve's shield and sure enough, my eyes were glowing a purple color before fading back to my normal hazel. I nod briefly; not knowing exactly how to process that information. So I run my hands through my messy hair before dropping them to my sides, sighing heavily as I wheeze, "Is it just me or is the air really thin?"

"She's right," Steve's breathing was heavier than normal, solidifying the answer to my question, "You guys get to the boats. I'll sweep for stragglers. Be right behind you."

"What about the core?" Barton asked.

"I'll protect it," Wanda announced, standing a few steps higher than the rest of us as she nodded to Barton, "It's my job."

Ignoring Steve's plan, I follow him instead of Nat and Barton who had stolen a car outside of the church in order to get across the city faster to where the pods were being loaded with civilians.

"What are you doing?" Steve tugged my arm, stopping me in my tracks to spin me around so I was facing him; kicking up gravel as he did so.

"I'm not leaving you alone," I tell him, taking his free hand in mine.