Maya Stark

Chapter 2: Ultron Initiative

I wake up when the landing gear deploys. I throw my phone back in my bag, taking out my headphones as we land at the compound. As soon as the quinjet opens, Clint is being wheeled away, Nat right by his side. Bruce leaves soon after and Maria Hill walks in.

'Lab's all set up, boss,' she says to my dad.

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

I roll my eyes resisting the urge to smile as I throw my bag over my shoulder. I walk off the jet and quickly up to my room, wanting to get changed. My room is simple, but also not. It's a reasonable size, having one of the smallest rooms I could find. There are a couple of windows on the wall right across from the door and a desk right under one. To my right is my bed, as well as two other doors that lead to my closet and bathroom, one on each side of my bed. To my left is a bookcase full of different type of books and then also my reading corner. And I have pictures hanging up in different places around my room.

I throw my bag on the bed and go into the closet. I grab a sweatshirt and some leggings and then go to shower and change. I walk towards Bruce's lab where Dr. Cho was supposed to be fixing up Clint. I get there at the same time as my dad and as Bruce walks up to us.

'How is he?' Bruce asks.

'Unfortunately,' dad said, 'he's still Barton.'

'That's terrible,' I say walking up to them.

'He's fine,' dad said. 'He's thirsty. You,' he says pointing to me, 'follow.'

I nod, holding in a laugh and follow him to his lab. His was a lot bigger than Bruce's with a lot more happening inside and windows looking out into the rest of the compound.

'Alright,' he said. 'Look alive JARVIS. It's playtime. 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.' He walks towards the blender in the back of the room, and I sit on one of the tables.

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

'So, there are some you can,' I say.

'The jewel appears to be a protective housing for something inside,' JARVIS said. 'Something powerful.'

'Like a reactor?' dad asks.

'Like a computer,' said JARVIS. 'I believe I'm ciphering code.'

Me and my dad share a look. I could tell that the wheels in his brain were turning as he finishes pouring the smoothies. We would have to look into it more later. I hop of the table and help him carry the smoothies into the lab and to Clint.

'She's creating tissue,' Bruce was saying in awe.

'If you brought him to my lab the regeneration cradle could do this in twenty minutes,' Dr. Cho said.

'Oh, he's flatlining,' dad said as we enter the room. 'Call it. Time?'

'No, no, no. I'm going to live forever,' said Clint with a chuckle. 'I'm going to be made of plastic.'

Dad hands Clint his drink and says, 'Here's your beverage.'

'You'll be made of you, Mr. Barton,' Dr. Cho said. 'Your own girlfriend won't be able to tell the difference.'

'Well, I don't have a girlfriend,' Clint says.

'That I can't fix,' said Dr. Cho. 'This is the next thing, Tony. Your clunky metal suits are going to be left in the dust.'