Broken - (Fem Reader X Multiple love interests)

Chapter 22 - Hydra Base

"Strucker captured me when I was 17....he did experiments on me and had the Winter Soldier beat me....I was meant to be at his side...fighting for Hydra. But Tony saved me." I stare down at Strucker in horror. "I'll feel better now that he's locked up." I nod as he's dragged away. "Next, The Winter Soldier."

"Y/N-"

"I'm okay Steve." I smile up at him. "It's okay." Steve looks away regretfully and nods as I leave.

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I was in the lab with Bruce, looking at the Scepter when Tony comes in. "How's he doing?" I ask about Clint.

"Oh, unfortunately, he's still Barton."

"That's terrible." Bruce smiles.

"He's fine. He's thirsty.... Alright. Look alive, Jarvis. It's play time. We've only got a couple days with this joystick so let's make the most of it. Update me on the structural and compositional analysis."

"The scepter is alien. There are elements I can't quantify." Jarvis says.

"So there's elements you can."

"The jewel appears to be a protective housing for something inside. Something powerful." Jarvis says.

"Like a reactor?" I ask.

"Like a computer. I believe I'm deciphering code."

Awhile later we join back in the lab, "What's the rumpus?" Bruce asks as he walks in.

"Well, the scepter. You see, we were wondering how Strucker got so inventive. So, I've been analyzing the gem inside-- You may recognize." Tony brings up a 3D image of Jarvis's consciousness.

"Jarvis." Bruce says.

"Doctor."

"Started out, Jarvis was just a natural language UI. Now he runs the Iron Legion. He runs more of the business than anyone besides Pepper." Tony nods.

"Oh?"

Tony nods, "Top of the line."

"Yes."

"I suspect not for long." Jarvis says.

"Meet the competition." I bring up another 3D image of what's inside the scepter.

"It's beautiful." Bruce steps forward.

"If you had to guess, what's it look like it's doing?" I ask.

"Like it's thinking. I mean this could be a... it's not a human mind, it..."

"Um-um." Tony nods.

"I mean, look at this! They're like neurons firing." Bruce points.

"Down in Strucker's lab I saw some fairly advanced robotics work. They deep-sixed the data, but... I gotta guess he was knocking on a very particular door." Tony says.

"Artificial intelligence."

"This could be it, Bruce. This could be the key to creating Ultron." I say.

Bruce looks up, "I thought Ultron was a fantasy."

"Yesterday it was. If we can harness this power, apply it to my Iron Legion protocol." I say.

"That's a mad-sized if."

"Our job is if. What if you were sipping margaritas on a sun-drenched beach turning brown instead of green? Not looking over your shoulder for Veronica." Tony says.

Bruce points, "Don't hate, I helped design Veronica."

"As a worst-case measure, right? How about a best-case? What if the world was safe? What if next time aliens roll up to the club, and they will, they couldn't get past the bouncer?" Tony asks.

"The only people threatening the planet would be people?" Bruce asks.

"We want to apply this to the Ultron program. But Jarvis can't download a data schematic this dense. We can only do it while we have the scepter here, that's three days, give us three days." I nod.

"So you're going for artificial intelligence and you don't want to tell the team."

"Right. That's right, you know why, because we don't have time for a city hall debate. I don't want to hear the man was not meant to meddle medley. I see a suit of armor around the world." Tony says.

"Sounds like a cold world, Tony." Bruce shakes his head.

"I've seen colder. This one, this very vulnerable blue one? It needs Ultron. Peace in our time. Imagine that."

The three of us spend then entire day working in the lab but find no systems that will work. "What did we miss?"

"I'll continue to run variations on the interface, but you both should probably prepare for your guests. I'll notify you if there are any developments." Jarvis says.

"Thanks, buddy." I smile as I walk out of the lab.