The Force -Marvel-

Chapter 4

The second the robots broke through the wall, Lydia threw her hands up to block anything from hitting her. Unfortunately, she was knocked back before her abilities could protect her. She always hesitated to use her abilities. It had been a long time since she had needed them. 

Lydia slid into a railing. Tony flew above her and through a glass window. The shards rained down on her.

"Lydia," Natasha screamed across the room. The white-haired girl looked frantically around for her. Around the corner of the bar, Lydia could scarcely make out Natasha's form. Moments later, Natasha peeked out and did precisely the same, searching for any sign of the other.

The fear that had once filled her heart when she was a prisoner of Hydra was back. Lydia had not seen any action in person or been in a fight since Hydra. Even then, all she did was hide.

Lydia was immersed back in the present quickly. There were three robots within ten feet of the girl, and staying out in the open was the worst thing she could do. Swiftly, she flipped onto her stomach and sprung to her feet but still remained somewhat crouched down.

She caught sight of one of the robots turning toward her and raising an arm. The only thing Lydia could do was dive. Her body dove forward and rolled to the side. She felt the heat of the blast overhead. It burned slightly, but not enough to hurt. Lydia skidded against the black tile and roughly hit the wall. "Ow," she groaned, forcing herself up. Everyone around her was fighting the robots while she ran in fear.

Lydia wasn't a fighter. She never had to fight before. She wasn't sure she could. 

Another robot landed in front of her. Rolling to the side, she grabbed the edge of Tony's bookshelf and forced it forward. The shelf fell, crushing the robot but not killing it. Lydia grabbed the closest item, a metal lamp, and bashed the end into the head of the robot, ending its rampage.

"Nice," Clint said, suddenly by her side. He came to help but was no longer needed.

Above the two, Tony was hanging onto the back of a robot. Trying to stab it with an item in his hand. Clint grabbed the distracted girl's hand and dragged her toward a safer area. He only let go to grab Steve's shield and throw it across the room; Steve easily caught it. Lydia then watched him leap into the air and hit the robot with it, sending it to the ground to break into a million pieces.

"That was dramatic," the last robot said, walking around the room. "I'm sorry. I know you mean well. You just didn't think it through. You want to protect the world, but at the same time, you don't want it to change." Lydia stared at the robot, hands already up in case it charged at someone unexpectedly. "How is humanity getting saved if it's not evolving?" It picked up the last robot Steve killed. "Stupid puppet." It crushed the robot's head in his hand. "There is only one thing needed to obtain peace, the Avenger's extinction." 

Lydia recoiled as Thor threw his hammer at the robot, causing it to shatter. Natasha materialized by Lydia's side, her white dress stained with different liquids. The fear coursing through her vanished as she leaned onto Natasha's shoulder.

"I'm calling this meeting," Fury stood with Maria at the head of the table. "Because things just went to shit. Ultron just wiped out Sokovia, and the world is asking questions." It had been less than a day since the others had returned home.

"What do you want from us," Steve asked on the other side of the room. "What can we do?"

"For starters," Fury put his hand on the chair. "You can not make a mess of things for once." Steve went to say something, but Fury lifted his hand. "Stark, you said you were setting up a press conference? How is that going?"

Lydia glanced at Tony, who swallowed thickly. "Soon. The world is asking a lot of questions." It wasn't just Sokovia anymore. When Ultron got into SHIELD's database, he got access to all sorts of things. Things that included Lydia.

Ultron had unleashed files to the media about an ex-Hydra soldier living in the Stark Tower. The information SHIELD had on Lydia in their database was incredibly limited, almost non-existent. However, it was enough to get people talking. 

"We'll figure out a game plan after we've had a little more time-"

"You don't have time," Fury snapped, frustrated. "Do you know how many reporters are outside your building right now?"

"A hundred," Tony questioned, unsure.

"Exactly." Fury stepped back. Natasha sucked in a harsh breath, knowing where the conversation was headed. "It's unsafe here for her here."

"What are you saying?" Natasha's voice wavered. "Nick?"

Fury stared at her for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Arrangements are being made to bring Lydia back to SHIELD headquarters. From there, she will be transferred to a private facility to keep her safe."

It was like the world had stopped moving. Lydia heard the words, but she didn't understand them. Leaving? Back to SHIELD headquarters? It didn't make sense. This was her home. It was all she knew. "What?" It was all Lydia could say. She didn't want to leave.

"You can't just take her," Natasha argued. She'd been assigned to Lydia for five years now. That was a long time. She loved Lydia. It wasn't an assignment anymore. It was a choice.

"Actually," Fury began, "I can."

"Nick-"

Fury interrupted Steve. "This is an unsafe environment for her, Rogers. She's compromised." Fury looked back at Natasha, speaking directly to her. "It's for Lydia's protection."

"Protection, my ass," Sam muttered under his breath. Lydia heard him and glanced up. "We can protect her just fine."

"Yet she was left here alone while many of you went across the world to battle Ultron," Fury argued. Everyone went silent. "It's best that Lydia stays at SHIELD." Lydia's shoulders dropped, knowing Fury had made up his mind. She would have to leave. Natasha pursed her lips and grabbed Lydia's hand, trying to comfort her.

Across the table, Tony watched the interaction. "No," he spoke up.

"Excuse me, Stark?"

"No," Tony responded with a sly smile like he had all answers. "She's not compromised." Fury raised an eyebrow at him. "I have another place upstate." The group leaned forward at his words. "It's in the process of being finished. Its location is unknown to anyone and off the grid, outside the city. It's safe. Lydia can be moved there."

"You have a place upstate," Steve questioned.

"Yes," Tony said. "I also own several houses, if that's of any interest to you, Gramps. Lord knows you need a vacation."

"Is it safe?" Natasha ignored their bickering. "Will she be safe?" To her, that was all that mattered.

"Of course," Tony assured her. "And you're all moving there anyway. It was just a matter of when." Lydia started to feel hopeful. If Tony had a safe location, she wanted to go there.

"Nick," Natasha began, gripping Lydia's hand tighter. "Lydia is a part of this team, and we need her."

"She's right." Steve agreed. "We need her."

Fury glanced at Lydia, who sat up straighter. "I don't want to be locked away in a facility with strangers again. I'd like to be around the people I know and trust best. I'd like to go where they go."

Fury sighed before he spoke. "Transfer her by the end of the week, or I'll be back to bring her to SHIELD myself."