Swan Song ✧ STEVE ROGERS [✓]

42 - Making the World Smaller

RAEVANNA PACED BACK AND FORTH ANGRILY, HER JAW SET AND HER NOSTRILS FLARING. She couldn't believe that this had happened; that this thing called Ultron was now a threat to them. And it was Tony's doing. His experiment had led to the creation of this machine that now wanted every single one of them dead.

"All our work is gone," Bruce said as he checked the computer. "Ultron cleared out, used the internet as an escape hatch."

Steve shook his head in disbelief. "Ultron."

"He's been in everything," Natasha said. "Files, surveillance. Probably knows more about us than we know about each other."

"He's in your files, he's in the internet," Rhodey said. "What if he decides to access something a little more exciting?"

"Nuclear codes," Hill realized.

Rhodey nodded. "Nuclear codes. Look, we need to make some calls, assuming we still can."

"Nukes?" Blake repeated. "He said he wanted us dead."

"He didn't say dead," Steve reminded her. "He said extinct."

"He also said he killed somebody," Clint pointed out.

"But there wasn't anyone else in the building," Hill told him.

Tony, who had been quiet for most of their conversation, suddenly spoke. "Yes there was." Then he brought up the now destroyed 3D image of JARVIS's consciousness.

Raevanna froze, staring at the image in shock. "This is insane," she muttered.

"JARVIS was the first line of defense," Steve said. "He would've shut Ultron down, it makes sense."

Bruce, however, shook his head. "No, Ultron could've assimilated JARVIS. This isn't strategy, this is... rage."

Suddenly Thor, who had gone after Ultron and the Iron Legion to find the scepter, stormed into the room and grabbed hold of Tony by his throat, lifting him up into the air.

"Woah, woah, woah!" Clint said. "It's going around."

"Come on," Tony choked out to Thor. "Use your words, buddy."

"I have more than enough words to describe you, Stark," Thor snapped.

"Thor!" Steve shouted, getting the blonde man's attention. "The Legionnaire."

Thor was quiet for a moment before he let go of Tony, then walked over to the group. "Trail went cold about a hundred miles out but it's headed north, and it has the scepter. Now we have to retrieve it, again."

"The genie's out of that bottle," Natasha said. "Clear and present is Ultron."

"I don't understand," Helen Cho, a scientist who was a friend and associate of Bruce, said to the team. "You built this program. Why is it trying to kill us?"

Out of nowhere, Tony started laughing. The team looked at him in shock and confusion as Bruce subtly shook his head at Tony, trying to get him to stop.

"You think this is funny?" Thor asked.

Tony shook his head, continuing to laugh as he replied, "No. It's probably not, right? Is this very terrible? Is it so... is it so... it is. It's so terrible."