Stained (N.R)

Chapter 18

We all stood, surrounding the door, on our guard as a dark figure stumbled its way down to us.

A metallic humanoid robot staggered into the room, looking more drunk than any of us. It was missing the crown of its head, its metal almour partially broken, showing off wires and other whirring mechanical parts.

"Killers, an assembly of you. All of you in here.... Killers."

"Stark?" Steve did not look even slightly amused, passing it as a ill-timed joke.

Tony frowned, pulling out a holographic screen to check on it. "Jarvis?"

"I am sorry I was asleep." It made a chuckling, gurgling noise in its throat. "Or, I was a dream."

The robot's head twisted in all angles, swinging mechanically.

"Reboot. Iron legionnaire 06 got a buggy suit." Tony furrowed his brows, typing into his screen.

"Terrible noise...."

Tony lifted his head in surprise when the command did nothing. The robot raise a hand to its head. "And I was tangled in.... in strings... Had to kill the other guy.... He was a good guy...."

"You killed someone?" Steve raised an eyebrow.

"Wouldn't have been my first call." The robot answered regretfully. "However....down in the real world we're faced with ugly choices."

"Who sent you?" Thor glared at the robot.

The robot chuckled, and Tony's voice spewed from its mouth. "I see a suit of armour around the world."

Heads whipped round to stare at Tony, who turned slightly pale

Bruce stared at the thing in amazement, then back at Tony again. "Ultron... "

"In the flesh." The robot chuckled, looking itself up and down. "Or not, not yet. Not this...chrysalis..."

"You've created a moth Tony." I smirked at the robot. "A brain in a shell."

"But I am ready.... I am on a mission.... Peace in our time."

Tony swore and Thor hefted his hammer. One look at Helen and I decided that this was not her place to be. I picked her up bridal style, a slight gasp escaping her lips as I sprinted across the room, stuffing her in a relatively safe corner at the far side, leaving behind Pluto to guard her.

He wagged his tail happily, remembering her from all the tests and experiments she conducted on him.

Just as I stuffed her in, the wall behind Ultron shattered. The rest of the iron Legion spewed out of the walls, charging at us from various angles.

"Try not to get killed." I warned. "That thing does not sound friendly."

Helen nodded, her face pale as she trembled. I raced back towards the fight, scanning the scene around me. 

Thor was doing quite well whilst the rest scrambled for cover as the robots rained down bullet showers. I was just in time to be tugged under the bar counter by Natalia, who was tugging at Bruce with her other hand. 

I fell on her chest face first as Bruce tumbled off my back. My face and ears felt like they had just been set on fire. 

"Don't do anything stupid." Ilya looked at me worriedly. "I still need to talk with you after this."

"Yeah...." I sighed out, barely breathing because of her proximity. "Yeah, we need to talk."

I pulled her up as her longknife appeared in her hand. "I'll distract them."