Kept Behind Enemy Lines

C H A P T E R N I N E T E E N

Percy's vision blurred as it tried to focus in the dull lighting. His head lolled to the side.

Have I been injected with something?

His tongue felt numb. Glints of metal gleamed in the corner of his eye. Percy weakly clenched his fists, tightening his wrists. Something held him down. He could tell he was sitting down despite the world spinning around him.

A faint throbbing at the back of his head told him exactly where he'd been hit on his plunge out the back of the Quinjet.

Plunging headfirst out of a Quinjet. Percy winced. That's not getting any stars on trip advisor. He thought deliriously.

"You're awake." A monotone voice stated.

"Obviously." Percy snorted. The sound of metal on hard concrete floor grew closer and closer until a silver head appeared in his vision. Percy flinched. Red eyes glared at him as if reading right into him.

"Perseus Jackson. A terrorist. A murderer." Ultron said. Percy cringed back. "You were kidnapped and had a supposed gun fight on the beach. You've blown up multiple schools. You're powerful." It wasn't a question. It was fact. Ultron was making a statement.

The two creatures of oddity stared at each other.

"Your point?"

"You aren't one of Strucker's experiments."

"So?" Short and to the point. Percy didn't care much for this conversation.

"Where do you get your magic. I've seen what you can do."

"None of your business." Percy's voice was bored, but inside panic was beginning to build. What could this robot do to him? Was the witchy girl here with him?

Ultron slammed his hands down on Percy's arms. He cried out in pain, adamantium metal grinding on bone.

"Where."

"My father." Percy gasped. Ultron moved his hands away.

"Your father. What is he?" When Percy made no move to respond, Ultron brought his hands up again, this time charged up and white hot.

"A god." He said quickly. Hadn't Percy had enough pain in his life?

"A demigod then." Ultron mused. "I could use one of those. Pity I used the gem on something else. Something, stolen. But they trust you don't they? You could get it back for me."

"No." There was no hesitance.

The Avengers may not have been the best people and riddled with flaws, but that's what made them human. Yes, they could be better. Yes, they could do more. Lots more. Percy added as an extra thought.

But they had saved him. They had removed Soldier and taken him from the HYDRA base. They had obliterated the main point of his torment. Soldier. It was a creature still lurking in his mind, locked in the abyss of his head.

He couldn't very well go and betray them now could he? What would that make him?

"Well now. I'll have to change that answer." Ultron pressed his palms into Percy's arms again. Smoke wafted back from his skin. He could feel it beginning to blister and bubble beneath Ultron's hands. Percy threw his head back and screamed. He was wide awake now.

Ultron removed his hands and waited expectantly, watching Percy pant, trying get his breath under control. Sweat dripped down his face in rivulets.