𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ Steve Rogers

Recovered Memories ~ 40

Evangeline trails behind Ultron's towering form into a room cluttered with discarded technology and outdated computers. Desks are strewn about, and maps cover the walls. As she surveys the scene, she realizes this must be some sort of bunker. "So, what exactly do we have to do?" she asks, breaking the tense silence. Her curiosity piqued, she crosses her arms and watches him intently.

Ultron partially turns, casting a glance back at her while still preoccupied with his search. "Why are you so eager to assist now, Evangeline?" he mutters, his attention divided and his eyes scanning the room for something.

Eva frowns but turns away, deciding to busy herself. She picks up outdated and unreadable documents scattered haphazardly across a nearby desk. "What choice do I have?" she mutters, sighing lightly as she tosses the papers back onto the desk. "If I don't, you'll make me anyway. So, what is it? Who do you need me to control?" Her tone is bitter as she cuts through the pretence, her eyes drifting to the maps on the wall. She moves closer for a better look.

Ultron smiles at her words, stepping over to another desk, still searching for something. "And that's why I like you, Evangeline," he says, raising a finger to emphasize his point. "You're smart. You always end up making the right choice."

Eva lets out a derisive laugh, her eyes tracing the dust-laden maps and the frayed strings marking long-forgotten destinations. "Je ne le fais vraiment pas," she mutters under her breath, admitting she rarely makes the right choices.

Ultron either doesn't hear her or chooses to ignore her, his attention still fixated on his search. Realizing his distraction, Eva's curiosity intensifies. "Where are we?" she inquires, her voice slicing through the silence as her gaze returns to the enigmatic AI.

"Does it matter?" Ultron retorts almost instantly, his movements growing more frenzied as he sifts through a desk cluttered with documents. "Ah!" he exclaims triumphantly, seizing Eva's attention once more. She turns to witness him clutching a remote that appears diminutive in his colossal hand.

"You were looking for that?" she queries, arching an eyebrow, her curiosity tinged with a hint of disdain.

Ignoring her deliberately this time, Ultron strides purposefully toward the expansive glass wall at the room's far end. Eva's view is obstructed by the pitch-black void beyond. Despite herself, she trails after Ultron, captivated by his enigmatic actions and the mysteries concealed behind the opaque glass.

"How many can you influence at once, Evangeline?" Ultron's next question catches her off guard, and she hesitates, taking a step back, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"I don't know... Why?" Eva responds cautiously, her gaze wary as she watches Ultron closely.

"Yes, you do," he retorts, his expression tinged with impatience, prompting Eva to clench her jaw in frustration at his dismissive tone.

"No... I do not," Eva counters firmly, her eyes narrowing with determination. The tension between them is palpable as Ultron stiffens slightly at her defiance, before relenting with a sigh and rolling his mechanical eyes.

"Okay, let me rephrase the question..." he exhales, his frustration evident. "What is the extent of your powers' reach?"

Evangeline blinks in confusion, her head tilting to one side as she tries to process the abrupt change in conversation. "For someone who's lived inside my mind, wouldn't you already know?" she challenges, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"Well, if I had that information, Evangeline, why would I be asking?" he retorts, a hint of matching her tone to his voice, causing Eva to slowly fold her arms across her chest.