Kept Behind Enemy Lines

C H A P T E R T W E N T Y ~ S E V E N

The floating ground they stood on trembled. Everything froze. Then it plummeted.

It fell like a meteorite, burning up and a column of smoke blazing behind it.

It was going back to earth.

Try as he might, Tony couldn't stop the town's descent. He was one man trying to keep a whole island from destroying the world.

He could wish that he was stronger. He could wish that he were smart enough to thwart all this. But it wouldn't change the facts.

But it wouldn't stop him from trying.

Who would he be if it for the man with a plan?

"Thor, on my mark." Tony gave orders to the blonde god. Tony fired a laser from his chest, hitting the inner workings of the structure. Thor raised his mighty hammer, summoning bolts of lightning. He felt rejuvenated. Powerful. He held back, waiting.

Things were flying if the island, not as affected by the gravitational pull of the earth as the island. They were less inclined to fall so fast.

But the people on it however...

Percy grappled for Loki's clothes, grabbing a fist full and not letting go.

Sky. Flying. I'm in the sky. Gods, please don't kill me. I was on land until now. I didn't count on this.

Percy's knuckles were white. Loki wrapped one arm around the other male and pulled him closer, keeping him with him. Loki's other hand snagged a lamppost and held tight. Vision found Wanda and flew away from the island with her. He knew what was to happen. What Tony and Thor's plan was.

Loki and Percy however...

"NOW!" Tony yelled. With a roar Thor swung his hammer into the ground with all his strength. Electricity rippled across the ground. It tore through everything like a hungry beast. Cackling and alive.

"LET GO!" Percy screamed at Loki, noticing the incoming electricity. The god winced at the noise in his ear but let go. And none to soon. The wind pushed them back, dust stinging their eyes. Loki let go just in time to prevent them feeling one of the nastiest electric shocks of their lives.

The whole island combusted. It shredded apart and became a falling rain of rocks and dust. Rubble bearing down into a lake surrounded by snowy islands. The two divine beings couldn't escape it. Rubble crashed into them. Percy squeezed his eyes shut, feeling bruises and possible broken bones form. The next moment Percy found himself tumbling alone. Folding over and over, assaulted by stray rubble. Pain spread through his body and he was engulfed by black.

Tony managed to escape, barely. Thor hit the water.

There was but one left standing. One twisted metal creature that clawed its way up. Vision stood before the weak remainder of Ultron.

"You're afraid." was all Vision said.

"Of you?"

"Of death." It was simple. Who wasn't? Who wanted to live and fade without anyone knowing of their existence? Without anyone knowing they'd done something to leave their mark. To change something. Anything.

"You're the last one."

"You were supposed to be the last. Stark asked for a saviour, and settled for a slave." The robot stumbled closer.

"I suppose we are both disappointments."

Ultron laughed bitterly. "I suppose we are."

"Humans are odd. They think order and chaos are somehow opposites and try to control what won't be. But there is grace in their feelings." Vision said. "I think you missed that."

"They're doomed."

"Yes." Vision whispered. "But a thing isn't beautiful because it lasts. It's a privilege to be among them."

"Your unbearably naïve."

"Well. I was born yesterday." The Last Ultron pounced at Vision, and with little regret, Vision destroyed Ultron, once and for all.

~~~~

And like, seventeen minutes later we have another short update. Yay.

Peace

BTSWD