The Invention Left By A Little Stark | Book 2

20) Ultron's Purpose

Lightning illuminated the room as thunder roared and tension filled the space between Darren and Ultron.

It was the electricity before a storm, the sharp intake of breath before a crucial decision, the lingering silence between two figures itching to fight.

Darren had a deep frown on his face as he kept his guard up. "Why are you here? Who sent you? Who made you? Was it Tony Stark?"

Ultron responded simply and without hesitation. "No."

The abruptness of the denial surprised Darren and he fought to remain stony-faced. "If not Stark, then who? Was it HYDRA?"

"Hank Pym is responsible for my existence."

Although Darren was certainly surprised before, it was more evident now. Disbelief was etched onto his face as he wondered just how in the hell Hank Pym had created an AI bot of such advanced intelligence. Yes, he had created the Pym Particle and one of the most advanced suits of his time, but surely it couldn't be right. Surely only a Stark - famed for their genius - could be capable of this new kind of feat.

Before he could be caught off-guard, Darren forced a conniving smile. "Where's Hank now?"

Ultron didn't falter, answering the question as if it were exactly what he was programmed to do. "Master Hank is in New York City at this moment, residing at Avengers Tower."

"Did you escape him?"

"There were no requirements for escape. I was sent on a mission."

"A mission?" His stance tensed as he spoke. "What would that be?"

"I was sent with the purpose of destroying your work. And to take Hope Pym to her father."

Darren's mind was swarmed with a million more questions. So Hank did know about the Cross Particle after all? Did he know about the plans to sell the Yellowjacket? Why did he suddenly want Hope back after all these years? Why was he in New York of all places? And why was he with the Avengers? He must've told them everything.

His bewilderment was soon replaced with a bubbling anger, however, when he thought about the first part of Ultron's mission - to destroy his work. Was Hank such a coward that he couldn't face him himself? Why send a bot to do the work for it?

And if the bot took Hope back to her father as it intended, she'd discover what Darren had been doing with the Particle and his plans to sell it to the highest bidder. If she discovered that, he'd have to take her out of the picture for good.

Reading the facial expressions of the man before him, Ultron tilted his head curiously. "You are mildly infuriated. Panicked."

Darren looked up to face him and the emotions were ever clearer. Ultron continued to assess him.

"The mention of Master Hank troubles you. Perhaps I should not have mentioned his location." But then the bot's opinion seemed to flip entirely as Ultron turned away. "No... Master Hank is a good man. He said anything will suffice to take his daughter back to him."

Darren couldn't help but feel pity on Ultron. Although it was clearly advanced beyond modern standards, it still seemed flawed. Why would he so carelessly reveal the location of his 'creator' and consequently the mission he was sent on? Why not just complete the task by any means necessary? Why waste time conversing?

"You won't find anything." He told the bot. "My work is safe. It's not here."

Ultron assessed him, a silence overcoming them until his voice, strained and robotic, spoke again.

"Master Hank said it would be in the lab."

Darren couldn't help but chuckle. "'Master' Hank was wrong. It hasn't been here for a long time."