AJ Watson: Codename - Shadow

Going For A Ride

"Anything on Nat?" Bruce asked after Clint and Yelena delivered the Cradle back to the tower.

"Haven't heard. But she's alive, or Ultron would be rubbing our faces in it."

"I can't imagine what Becks is going through right now." Clint commented.

"She probably threatened both Cap and AJ." Yelena replied. "She's probably just as worried as I was when AJ lost his arm last year."

"We're going to need to access the program, break it down from within." Bruce said pointing a pen at the Cradle.

"Hm. Any chance Natasha might leave you two a message? Outside the internet, you know, old school spy stuff?" Tony asked looking at Yelena and Clint.

"There's some nets we can cast. Yeah, alright. We'll find her." Clint said before he and Yelena walked off to locate Nat.

"I can work on tissue degeneration, if you can fry whatever operational system Cho implanted." Bruce started as he was walking around the Cradle.

"Yeah... About that."

"No."

"You have to trust me."

"Definitely don't."

"Our ally? The guy protecting the military's nuclear codes? I found him." Tony said as he brought up a 3D image of Jarvis's consciousness.

"Hello, Dr. Banner." Jarvis greeted.

"Oh you've got to be shitting me." Bruce said under his breath.

"Ultron didn't go after JARVIS because he was angry. He attached him because he was scared of what he can do. So, JARVIS went underground. Okay? Scattered, dumped his memory. But not his protocols. He didn't even know he was in there, until I pieced him together." Tony explained.

"So, what you're say is..." Bruce started. "You want me to help you put JARVIS into whatever this thing is?" Bruce asked.

"No, of course not!" Tony exclaimed. "I want to help you put JARVIS into this thing. We're out of my field here. You know bio-organics better than anyone."

"And you're just assuming that JARVIS' operational matrix can beat Ultron's?"

"JARVIS has been beating him from inside without knowing it. This is the opportunity, we can create Ultron's perfect self, without the homicidal glitches he thinks are his winning personality. We have to."

"I believe it's worth a go." Jarvis said, adding his two cents.

"No, I'm in a loop!" Bruce exclaimed as he started pacing around the lab. "I'm caught in a time loop, this is exactly where it all went wrong." Bruce muttered.

"I know, I know. I know everyone's going to say, but they're already saying it." Tony held Bruce's shoulders. "We're mad scientists. We're monsters, buddy. You gotta own it. Make a stand. It's not a loop. It's the end of the line."

.  .  .

The quinjet that picked up the super soldiers and the twins closed in on their destination of Avengers Tower. The three were in the back as Becca was pacing while Steve and AJ watched her. All three of them had their faces now exposed since they were no  longer in the public eye.

"Becks?" AJ asked as he had his arms crossed and leaning against the table in the middle of the jet next to Steve.

"Don't, AJ." Becca snapped glaring at the young man as she continued her pacing. "What if he killed her? I can't... I can't lose her." Becca let a few tears fall from her eyes as AJ and Steve glanced at one another.