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Chapter Forty-Three: Curiosity Killed the Cat

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Hours passed as Nat and I shared everything that had happened in the last two years since we'd been separated. Reluctantly, I told her about the Aether. About Frigga, my powers. And about Loki. And to my surprise, she didn't seem disgusted at me for falling back under his spell again. Or at least, if she was disgusted, she hid it well.

Nat told me about what had happened to S.H.I.E.L.D. and about the Winter Soldier, apparently a long-dead friend of Steve's. And, she told me about Bruce. And about her feelings for him. There was significant teasing about that, which was interrupted by a voice shouting from downstairs.

"Nat, Alivia, soup's on!" Clint's wife, Laura, called up to us.

I pushed myself up and followed Nat downstairs. I hadn't even realized how late it had gotten, but the sun was down and the sky was dark.

"Smells great," I smiled at her, as Nat and I seated ourselves.

"Alivia Byrd," a voice came from behind me, and I turned to see Fury lounging against the counter, "Good to have you on the team."

"Someone's gotta clean up after Tony," I jested. I surveyed the room, looking over each of their faces. "So, what do we do from here?"

No one answered.

"Ultron took you folks out of play to buy himself time," Nick finally said, "My contacts all say he's building something. The amount of vibranium he made off with, I don't think it's just one thing."

"What about Ultron himself?" Steve asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Oh, he's easy to track," Nick answered. So much for he could be anywhere. "He's everywhere," he continued, "The guy's multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit. Still doesn't help us get an angle on any of his plans, though."

"Is he still going after launch codes?" Tony asked, as he threw darts across the room.

"Yes he is," Nick answered, "But he's not making any headway."

"I cracked the Pentagon's firewall in high school on a dare," Tony said, and I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I contacted our friends at the Nexus about that."

"Nexus?" Steve asked.

"It's the world internet hub in Oslo," Bruce put in, "Every bite of data flows through there. Fastest access on earth."

"So, what did they say?" Clint asked.

"He's fixated on the missiles." Fury's response was blunt, and my chest tightened. I didn't want to be spending my night plotting how to take down an A.I. who's managed to get his hands on missiles. "But the codes are constantly being changed."

"By whom?" Tony tilted his head, just as a dart, thrown by Clint, whizzed past his head and planted itself in the middle of the dart board.

"Parties unknown," Nick responded.

"Do we have an ally?" Nat asked.

"Ultron's got an enemy." Nick raised his brows, "That's not the same thing. Still, I'd pay folding money to know who it is."

"I might need to visit Oslo," Tony said, "Find our unknown."

"Well, this is good times, boss, but I was kinda hoping that when I saw you, you'd have more than that." Nat leaned back in her seat, and met my gaze.

I felt frozen in my seat. With fear. But that fear wasn't just because of Ultron. It was also because of the idea that was slowly starting to take root in my mind.