บท 18: Chapter 18: New Body

U-GIN Genetic Research Facility,

South Korea

The jet hovered above the building in camouflage mode, blending seamlessly with the night sky.

"Pietro, we're here," Wanda said softly.

Pietro slowly opened his eyes, still groggy from his brief rest. "I'm gonna stay here for now," he replied.

"I'll stay with you, then," Wanda offered, her tone concerned.

"Suit yourself," Ultron said indifferently before disembarking from the jet.

As Ultron left, Wanda turned to her brother. "Are you okay?"

Pietro nodded, rubbing his eyes. "Just tired. I haven't had enough rest."

Wanda sighed in relief, fearing something more serious had been bothering him.

Unbeknownst to Wanda, Pietro was training even while sitting. He had refined his vibration control to such a degree that even the naked eye or advanced cameras couldn't detect any subtle changes.

Once Wanda stepped out of the jet, Pietro quietly pulled out a cable and connected it to his phone. He typed a quick message: [Gaia, get ready to launch this jet in two days. When multiple people arrive, fly it away.]

On the screen, a response appeared: [Understood, my lord.]

Satisfied, Pietro disconnected the phone, tucked it away, and left the jet, donning a mask to conceal his identity from any surveillance cameras.

As he entered the building, he found Ultron in his usual form, flanked by two of his bots, holding scientists hostage. Pietro's eyes quickly scanned the room, noticing the lead scientist, Dr. Helen Cho, standing with a blank, hypnotized expression.

'Helen's been brainwashed,' Pietro thought, quickly assessing the situation. 'And there are more people in the building.'

Pietro discreetly pulled out his phone again and typed another command: [Turn on the alarm when I tap the phone three times.]

With the command sent, Pietro signaled Gaia, who remained on standby in the jet.

The two days dragged on, with Pietro continuing his training while Wanda grew increasingly curious about the mysterious body in the cradle. On the third day, Pietro felt his muscles hum with anticipation. His phone was ready in his hand, waiting for the right moment to act.

Ultron was connected to the Cradle, his mind poised to transfer into a new body forged from Vibranium and the Mind Stone.

"How long will it take?" Ultron asked, his voice carrying an edge of impatience.

"A few hours," Helen replied, her focus on the delicate task before her. "There's no shortcut to implementing the brain circuitry."

Wanda watched in amazement, her senses attuned to the energy emanating from the new body. "It's dreaming," she murmured, captivated by the flickering consciousness she could feel.

Helen shook her head slightly. "I wouldn't call it dreaming," she corrected.

As Wanda reached out to touch the body, a torrent of visions assaulted her mind. Future events, dark and chaotic, overwhelmed her senses. She screamed in pain, and Pietro quickly rushed to her side, holding her steady as he waited for the signal.

"How could you?" Wanda gasped, her voice trembling with the weight of what she had seen.

Ultron's expression darkened, confusion creeping into his synthetic features. "What are you talking about?"

"You said we would destroy the Avengers, make a better world," Wanda accused, her voice rising with emotion.

"We will," Ultron replied, his tone cold. "We'll make it better."

"When everyone is dead?" Wanda shot back, her voice laced with horror.

Ultron's demeanor shifted, a hint of amusement in his response. "Oh, you found out. So, what will you choose? Stay weak or evolve?"

Wanda's eyes narrowed with determination. She dispelled the spell controlling Helen, her power crackling around her. "Humanity," she declared, before using her abilities to hurl Ultron through the building, the force of the blow yanking the connection from the Cradle.

Pietro, seeing his moment, tapped three times on his phone, then swiftly grabbed Wanda and Helen, speeding them back to the jet. The rapid acceleration nearly made them both sick.

Without missing a beat, Pietro returned to the building, quickly gathering the remaining two scientists and delivering them to the jet as well. The intense speed caused them to pass out.

"Gaia, it's time," Pietro said, stepping away from the jet as it took off.

Back in the building, Pietro began evacuating others, moving them to safety one by one with blinding speed.

Ultron returned to the room, visibly dissatisfied, landing with a heavy thud. "So this is what it feels like to be betrayed. I hate this feeling," he muttered, his voice seething with anger.

Two of his bots pushed the Cradle away, retreating from the building.

Just as Pietro finished relocating the last person, he noticed a truck speeding away from the building. Ultron's voice crackled through the comms in a menacing tone. "[Pietro, you will pay for this.]"

"Yeah, fuck you," Pietro replied coolly, tossing the comms away before it exploded.

He stayed in the building, waiting for Captain America's arrival.

Meanwhile, the jet landed in a secluded area, and Gaia's voice echoed through the cabin. "The two scientists may leave. Helen and Wanda, stay."

The two scientists nodded gratefully, exiting the jet.

"Why me?" Helen asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"You still have work to do," Gaia responded as the jet prepared for takeoff once more.

A few minutes later, Captain America arrived, jumping out of the Quinjet as it flew off to search for Ultron.

"Are you here to fight?" Captain America asked, his shield at the ready.

"No," Pietro replied calmly. "I'm here to tell you that Ultron has left the perimeter. Search for a truck—it's carrying the Cradle. Get it to Stark, but don't destroy it. That thing has the power to level the city."

"Why should I believe you?" Captain America asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"You don't have to," Pietro said as he picked up Captain America, speeding him toward the truck. It took only minutes before they arrived. Pietro tossed Captain America onto the truck's roof before dashing off.

Captain America landed with a thud, muttering, "This is weird."

Pietro waited in a safe spot, pulling out his phone and switching it to speaker mode.

"Gaia, locate Steve Rogers. I give you permission to use the internet," Pietro commanded.

Gaia's voice crackled through the phone. "He's still on the truck, fighting, my lord."

"Let me know when he's on the train," Pietro said, settling in to wait for the next move.

Meanwhile, Captain America was locked in a fierce battle with Ultron. He hurled the villain into a nearby pillar, shattering it, but Ultron quickly regained his composure, launching himself back at Captain America and slamming him into the side of a speeding train entering it.

The impact nearly tipped the train over, but Captain America swiftly recovered. With his shield firmly in hand, he delivered a powerful punch to Ultron, followed by a back kick aimed at driving him back. However, Ultron caught his leg mid-air and flung Captain America across the train car, rushing in to finish him off.

Captain America barely had time to raise his shield before Ultron unleashed two vicious liver punches, driving the breath from his lungs. Groaning in pain, Captain America braced for another blow when, suddenly, Pietro appeared, a blur of motion. He knocked Ultron off his feet, then launched a rapid barrage of hook punches, each one cracking through Ultron's metallic frame.

Ultron, now visibly frustrated, tried to counter, but Pietro was too fast, slipping through his attacks with ease. However, as the fight continued, Ultron caught sight of the Cradle being taken away. Desperate, he delivered a powerful kick that sent Pietro crashing into the train wall, buying himself enough time to blast open the door behind him. The force of the explosion sent the train careening off course, but Ultron didn't look back—he flew out in pursuit of the Cradle.

As Ultron vanished into the distance, Pietro struggled to his feet, feeling the toll of the battle. 'Just a few more hits before I can move on my own,' he thought, trying to steady himself.

Captain America, noticing the train veering dangerously, turned to assess the situation. Before he could issue a command, Pietro, still on the ground, spoke up, "I'm already on it."

Pietro's body began vibrating at an incredible speed, creating a ripple effect that extended through the entire train. Captain America watched in amazement as the train, vibrating in sync with Pietro, phased through the obstacles and people in its path before finally coming to a halt, safely back on the tracks.

Sweating and visibly drained, Pietro stood up, his breath ragged. 'That's the hardest thing I've ever done,' he thought, wiping his brow.

"Follow me," Pietro said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion.

Captain America, still processing what he had just witnessed, followed Pietro as they exited the train. He watched as Pietro pulled out his phone, tapping a few commands. "Get us out of here," Pietro said, waiting for the extraction.