Whisper

Catholic Rabbit

Nick stared at the Jedi. His mind was trying to comprehend everything Niobe had shown him. 

"Wh-where was that?" Nick asked. 

"Coruscant," she said. "Obi-wan and I were leaving to find a system that was deleted from the archives."

"He looks...just like me," Nick said. 

"Indeed," she said. "He is a good man to share a likeness with."

"You call him master," Nick said. 

"He is on the Jedi council," she said. "He holds a position of honor. Mace is a great fighter and has a talented mind for settling conflicts. He achieved status by passing the trials. He may now take on a padawan if he chooses to."

"Where you his padawan?" Nick asked.

"No," she said. "Yoda was my master, but due to the speed in which I passed through the training, I was sort of a padawan to all the masters. Everything I am taught sticks to my mind. They thought the best course would be to allow me to learn as much as possible from each Jedi master on the council."

"Thank you for sharing that," Nick said. "I have many questions."

They laughed. She was sure he did. The technology on Coruscant was drastically different. 

"I cannot wait to answer them," she said. 

She waved to a seat nearby at the kitchen table.

OOOOOOOOO

As Niobe and Nick talked, discussing the galaxy she had come from and the challenges they now faced, people began to crowd around the table. They welcomed him to the home and Laura began setting out dinner. Niobe's stomach ached from laughter by the time the evening had settled down.

"Ultron took you folks out of play to buy himself time. My contacts all say he's building something. The amount of Vibranium he made off with, I don't think it's just one thing," Nick said

"What about Ultron himself?" Steve asked.

"Ah. He's easy to track, he's everywhere. Guy's multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit. Still doesn't help us get an angle on any of his plans though," Nick said.

"He still going after launch codes?" Tony asked.

"Yes, he is, but he's not making any headway," Nick said.

"I cracked the Pentagon's firewall in high school on a dare," Tony said.

"Yeah, well, I contacted our friends at the NEXUS about that," Nick said.

"NEXUS?" Steve asked.

"It's the world internet hub in Oslo, every byte of data flows through there, fastest access on earth," Bruce said.

Niobe grabbed onto his hand. She was proud of him.

"So what'd they say?" Clint asked.

"He's fixated on the missiles, but the codes are constantly being changed," Nick said.

"By whom?" Tony asked.

"Parties unknown," Nick said.

"Do we have an ally?" Natasha asked. 

"Ultron's got an enemy, that's not the same thing. Still, I'd pay folding money to know who it is," Nick said.

"I might need to visit Oslo, find our unknown," Tony said.

"Well, this is good times, boss, but I was kind of hoping when I saw you, you'd have more than that," Natasha said.

"I do, I have you," Nick said. "Back in the day, I had eyes everywhere, ears everywhere else. Here we all are, back on earth, with nothing but our wit, and our will to save the world. So stand. Outwit the platinum bastard."

Niobe grinned. She was glad to be apart of a team this strong.

"Steve doesn't like that kind of talk," Natasha said.

"You know what, Romanoff?" Steve said.

Natasha smiled mischievously at him.

"So what does he want?" Nick asked.

"To become better. Better than us. He keeps building bodies." Steve said.

"Person bodies. The human form is inefficient, biologically speaking, we're outmoded. But he keeps coming back to it," Tony said.

"When you two programmed him to protect the human race, you amazingly failed," Natasha said.

"They don't need to be protected, they need to evolve. Ultron's going to evolve," Bruce said.

"How?" Nick said.

"Has anyone been in contact with Helen Cho?" Bruce asked.

Niobe's heart plummeted. The team looked to the Jedi with sympathy.

"I'll take Natasha, Clint, and Obe," Steve said.

Bruce wound his hand around Niobe's. She could sense his slight panic at the idea of separating.

"Alright, strictly recon. I'll hit the NEXUS, I'll join you as soon as I can," Tony said.

"If Ultron is really building a body..." Steve said.

"He'll be more powerful than any of us. Maybe all of us. An android designed by a robot," Tony said.

"You know I really miss the days when the weirdest thing science ever created was me," Steve said.

Niobe bit back a laugh.

"You should see the things we come up with," Niobe said.

"I'll drop Banner off at the tower. Do you mind if I borrow Ms. Hill?" Nick asked.

"She's all yours, apparently. What are you gonna do?" Tony said.

"I don't know. Something dramatic, I hope," Nick said.

The team dispersed, preparing for a new fight. Bruce stayed beside Niobe. They were both ready for what was to come.

"I will be back Bruce," she said.

"I know," Bruce said. "Rationally, I know. Hulk, however, worries."

"Hulk?" She asked.

"Ever since you did that mind thing I've been able to communicate with him," Bruce said. "He is more attached to you than anything."

"Well," Niobe said. "He should feel reassured in knowing I was trained by the best. I am not foolish. I will act responsibly."

Bruce smiled at Niobe, bringing her into a hug.

"You're family now. I don't know what I would do if we lost you," Bruce said. 

Niobe gripped onto him tighter. She understood that fear more than anyone.

"Do not worry. This is just a little fight," she said. "Nothing to fret over.