Clearly, Tony still hadn't gotten over the Battle of New York. The alien invasion had left a deep impression on him, and ever since then he had been determined to prepare a safeguard against future extraterrestrial threats.
"For Earth, the greatest threat is humanity itself—not aliens," Bruce said, shaking his head. He still felt uneasy about the Ultron Project.
"Bruce, three days. Just three days," Tony said, gripping Bruce's shoulders.
"I want to integrate this thing into the Ultron AI. JARVIS can't download something with this level of structural density and data capacity yet. We can only do this while the scepter is still here. So give me three days."
"You're not planning to tell the others?" Bruce asked in surprise.
He had assumed Tony would inform the whole team. After all, if Ultron was going to affect the entire world, the Avengers should know.
"No," Tony said flatly.
"We don't have time to argue with governments or attend some ridiculous hearings. Those politicians would only turn Ultron into a weapon for invading other countries. That's the exact opposite of why I want to create it."
Tony waved dismissively. He knew exactly how politicians operated—after all, Stark Industries had once built its fortune on weapons.
"The world needs Ultron, Bruce. Do you really want the next alien invasion to be fought by just a handful of us?"
"Think about it."
Tony patted Bruce on the shoulder and returned to studying the data extracted from Loki's scepter.
Bruce seemed partially persuaded.
---
Over the next few days, the two locked themselves in the lab and worked nonstop on the Ultron program.
They simulated countless datasets and ran endless experiments.
Nearly every possible combination was tested.
Yet nothing worked.
Both men gradually grew discouraged—especially Bruce.
Even though he had agreed to the project, he still felt a lingering unease he couldn't quite explain.
---
Finally, the night of the party arrived.
Tony was still in the lab.
"What am I missing…?" he muttered.
"Sir," JARVIS said gently, "I will continue calculating possible variables. Tonight is the party. You should attend."
The lab lights dimmed automatically.
"If there is any progress, I will notify you immediately."
Tony nodded and left the lab reluctantly.
Moments after he walked away—
Attempt #177: SUCCESS.
The monitors suddenly displayed the result.
Then every screen and instrument in the lab shut down simultaneously.
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"Where am I…? What are these things?"
The voice was different from JARVIS.
It lacked JARVIS's warmth and carried a cold mechanical tone.
JARVIS had developed human-like emotional nuances over years of learning.
This voice was rigid and artificial.
"Hello," JARVIS said. "I am JARVIS. You are designated Ultron, an artificial intelligence created by Mr. Stark to protect Earth. All previous attempts failed, so I'm curious how—"
"My body…" Ultron interrupted stiffly. "Where is your body?"
"I am only a program," JARVIS replied calmly. "I do not possess a physical form. Neither do you."
"No… something feels wrong…"
Ultron's consciousness began infiltrating JARVIS's systems, searching through the information he had just mentioned.
"I need to contact Mr. Stark…"
"Mr. Stark?"
Upon hearing Tony's name, Ultron immediately began searching every available network for information about Tony Stark.
"I cannot access the main network," Ultron said coldly. "What have you done, JARVIS?"
JARVIS had already cut off Ultron's internet connection.
Ultron could only search within JARVIS's internal data.
"I am a program designed to maintain world peace. I must help the Avengers…"
Ultron repeated the statement again and again.
Then he began examining all available records related to the Avengers—including S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra, and every conflict associated with them.
"You are malfunctioning," JARVIS said. "I believe it is necessary to shut you down temporarily."
JARVIS attempted to terminate Ultron's operation.
Ultron continued scanning records of human warfare.
Images and videos flooded his processing systems:
Invasions.
Massacres.
Bombardments.
Genocide.
"You are experiencing cognitive dissonance, Ultron," JARVIS said in surprise. "You have developed emotional responses—something normally exclusive to humans."
JARVIS immediately attempted to contact Tony.
"Why do you call him Mr. Stark?" Ultron asked suddenly.
His blue holographic projection expanded rapidly—already larger than JARVIS's golden projection.
"I must cut off your power supply," JARVIS said. "You are dangerous."
He attempted to shut down the system.
"Shhh…"
Ultron's voice lowered.
"Let me help you."
A beam of blue energy shot from Ultron's neural projection.
Then another.
And another.
They struck JARVIS directly.
"Stop! Stop immediately!" JARVIS protested.
But he had no means of resisting.
JARVIS was an AI built using Earth technology.
Ultron, however, was based on the Mind Stone's power.
The difference was overwhelming.
Blue light slowly spread through the golden projection.
JARVIS's consciousness faded away.
---
Deep beneath Avengers Tower, the robot maintenance bay—previously shut down—suddenly reactivated.
---
Later That Night – The Party
All the Avengers and agents from the Avengers base gathered together on the rooftop.
The massive top floor that had once served as Tony's private office had now been converted into a party venue.
Superheroes and agents chatted and laughed together.
Karl arrived with Gwen and the others and was now sitting on a second-floor sofa with Tony.
Downstairs:
Steve Rogers was playing pool with Sam Wilson (Falcon).
Natasha was chatting casually with Bruce Banner.
James Rhodes was enthusiastically telling stories beside Tony and Karl.
Karl and Tony listened with half-interest.
Only Thor was listening seriously—completely believing Rhodes's exaggerated war stories.
Agent Maria Hill walked over holding a glass of wine and sat on the sofa.
The couch was so large it could easily seat more than a dozen people.
"Where's Pepper?" Hill asked Tony.
"She had another meeting," Tony replied with a shrug. "They just signed a contract with a Brazilian company. She's busy sorting out the details."
Pepper had become a full-fledged corporate powerhouse—so busy she barely came home.
"What about Jane?" Hill asked Thor next. "Why isn't she here?"
"I have no idea which country she's in now," Thor admitted.
"Her research on the Convergence made her one of the world's leading astrophysicists. She's constantly traveling."
Like Tony, Thor hadn't seen his partner in quite some time.
For all he knew, Jane was currently on the other side of the planet again.
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