Fighting A New War (Book Seven of The Bad Wolf Chronicles)

Chapter Two

So, I've decided that each time I update this, I'll update two chapters at a time. That way, I can get through this faster. Otherwise, I'll probably get through two books in each series before this is done.

Anyway . . . the science bros attempt to create Ultron, and there's a party going on in the tower! What happens when Ultron crashes it?

***

Bruce stared at Tony. "I thought Ultron was a fantasy!"

"Yesterday, it was," Tony nodded. "If we can harness this power, apply it to my Iron Legion protocol – "

"That's a mad-sized if."

"Our job is if," Tony retorted. "What if you were sipping margaritas on a sun-drenched beach turning brown instead of green? Not looking over your shoulder for VERONICA."

"Don't hate," Bruce narrowed his eyes. "I helped design VERONICA."

"As a worst-case measure, right? How about a best-case? What if the world was safe? What if next time aliens roll up to the club – and they will – they couldn't get past the bouncer?"

"The only people threatening the planet would be people?"

"I want to apply this to the Ultron program, but JARVIS can't download a data schematic this dense," Tony waved at the program. "We can only do it while we have the scepter here. That's three days. Give me three days."

Bruce fidgeted. "Shouldn't we ask the Doctor?"

"I'll give it to Jessie, she found a good man, but no," Tony shook his head. "We can do this by ourselves."

"So you're going for artificial intelligence, and you don't want to tell the team?"

"Right. That's right. You know why. Because we don't have time for a city hall debate. I don't want to hear 'the man was not meant to meddle' medley. I see a suit of armor around the world."

Bruce sighed. "Sounds like a cold world, Tony."

"I've seen colder. This one, this very vulnerable blue one? It needs Ultron. Peace in our time. Imagine that."

***

Days later, and they were still nowhere in figuring out Ultron. "What did we miss?" Tony sighed, scratching his head, alone in the lab.

"I'll continue to run variations on the interface, but you should probably prepare for your guests," JARVIS said. "I'll notify you if there are any developments."

"Thanks, buddy," Tony patted a computer surface.

"Enjoy yourself, sir."

"I always do."

***

"What did we do to deserve this?" the Doctor sighed as he looked out over Tony's party.

"We helped them get Loki's scepter," Jessie shook her head, smiling in amusement at the Doctor's worry. "It won't hurt. Just don't start doing your drunk giraffe."

"Well, you know, the suit can take the weight, right?" Colonel James Rhodes was saying as the Time Lords approached the group in the corner. "So I take the tank, fly it right up to the General's palace, drop it at his feet, I'm like, 'Boom! You looking for this?'" Tony and Thor just stared at Rhodey in confusion, Jessie snickering. "'Boom! Are you looking . . . '" Rhodey trailed off, then huffed. "Why do I even talk to you guys? Everyone else, that story kills."

"That's the whole story?" Thor asked.

"Yeah, it's a War Machine story," Rhodey nodded.

"It's decent," the Doctor nodded. "Granted, no aliens, but good story."