Preparations
Rhodey ended the call with a heavy sight.
Ultron.,..the dam bastard was back. He was the one that killed Pepper.
And according to Tony, he was stronger than before. And he knew of the Infinity Stones and She-Ra.
The source wasn’t the most reliable. But Adora trust her. He is willing to trust the most powerful warrior in the universe.
They have to get ready. Ultron saw that making the Avengers go extinct, there is no doubt that he is gonna get back at it.
To make matters a bit more complicated, Tony is staying on Etheria. He doesn’t fault him. Etheria is the universe’s powerhouse. They are the key place for this fight. If Tony can help them. It would be the best for the universe.
It’s also better for his friend. Earth was too painful for him, in Etheria he also had more peace. And thanks to his goddaughter, Rhodey knows that Glimmer has become an emotional support for Tony. And the same happened the other way. He’s not gonna get that from him.
They have geniuses like Bruce, Hope, Shuri, And the Iron Protegies. They are well protected with Tony away.
He called a meeting to see all of the team and check on them.
Tell them the dire news.
Everyone came in and got on their seats.
Somehow thus reminded Rhodey of the times that Rogers was still in charge. The times he talked about no secrets when he was keeping that, and when he had his authority unquestioned.
But the bastard is gone. He will spend the next 46 years off his life on prison. The system and the team were better.
But would they be enough.
“Rhodey.” Sam asked. He had been a wonderful Captain America. “What’s wrong ?”
“Seat down everyone, this is important.”
He took a seat and looked at everyone.
“What I’m about to say is hard, and will come as a shock. So still yourselves. We have received confirmation on who attacked the Starks and killed Pepper.”
“You know who our new enemy is ?”
“Yes Carol. Except for some of us, he’s not a new enemy. It’s Ultron. The one that did it was him. Ultron has returned.”
Surprised yells and gasps filled the room.
“You....you can’t be serious.” Bruce mumbled.
“Trust me l would never joke about this.”
“But how did....Ultron manage to return ?” Vision asked. He looked so confused. “I confirmed he had been completely deleted.”
“Once again, the source the Etherians got is not 100% trustful. There is not a clear answer, but from what we know it seems the Quantum Realm was involved. The same say Scott went missing.”
Hope sighted and placed her head in her hands.
“Do we have any leads on him ?” Stephen asked.
“Not at the moment. But we already have all systems looking for him. The sorcerers must be on guard.”
“I’ll tell Wong right away.”
“Vis, you stay with someone at all times. If Ultron is after the stones and has gotten stronger,
“I understand Colonel.”
“What about Mr. Stark ?” Peter asked.
Rhodey sighted. “He’s staying in Etheria. Whether we like it or not. Etheria is the deciding planet on this, Not Earth. With Entrapta also missing, they need Tony to help make their defenses stronger. Besides on Earth, he would be compromised. He’s better there.”
“Agreed. If he’s after the Stones. She-Ra is definitely a key factor.”
“So what do we do now ?”
“We prepare as best we can. Don’t expect him to be as last time. We won’t know what he can do.”
Rhodey though things like this were over after Thanos. He didn’t want a new universal threat like that. And specially not an old enemy. One that brought so much pain with him.
The game changes since Adora showed up, and Ultron is evolving with it.
They are gonna have to evolve too, but what will it take ?
How many more will they loose to him ?
“Ugh. Are you serious right now Glimmer ?”
“I am deadly serious Mermista, why would I lie about this !”
“Just asking. Isn’t Ultron gone ? That’s what Vision said.”
“I don’t know how it happened. But how would I lie about this. A dear friend of mine is a widower thanks to him.”
“Hey, I believe you. Chill. It’s just annoying that Thanos wasn’t the end of it.”
Glimmer sighted and press her head on her hands. Her father pressed her shoulder.
“Listen. I don’t trust Mara but we have to take all precautions. Ultron is very dangerous and....”
“Wait. I thought Tony was Catra’s dear friend.” Scorpia said.
“We...we have gotten close during the past years. He and Catra are still close.”
“Talking about that. Where are those two ? Or Adora ?”
“They have other tasks and must complete them. Now Mermista, is the Soul Stone,..”
“Still safe. Sea Hawk is checking out that now ?”
“You Trust him with that ?” Netossa asked.
“Ever since he became a father he’s grown more responsable for our daughter. Heh. I can’t wait until she has her first partner.”
“Ugh focus. We must check on the Space, Reality and Power Stones. The Avengers will take care of the other two. We have to be prepared for the moment Ultron strikes !”
“God I can’t believe I actually miss Entrapta. Her and Tony would find him in a snap.”
“Unfortunately the search for Entrapta has gone knowhere. Even with Hordak’s help it’s impossible to know where they are in the Quantum Realm.”
Scorpia looked down. Entrapta was one of her closest friends after all.
“I really miss her. Catra and I both do.” Perfuma placed her hand on her hip.
“I understand. Trust me....I do.”
She gripped her hands, remembering that archer she once planed a future with.
Even after 4 years, she misses him. So dam much.
“Just he ready ok. I’ll let you know the moment I know something ok.”
They all nodded and ended the call.
“Glimmer. Are you ok ?”
“I’m fine dad.”
“Are you sure ? You know I can help you.”
“It’s just....I see them all with their partners. I see Adora and Catra and I.....I had that, I don’t want to be alone.”
“You won’t be. I know outhere there is someone ready for you. Someone for you to have what the other have. Bow said he wanted you to move on. Don’t forget his final wish.”
Glimmer teared a bit, and then nodded.
“Well. I better go now. I promised I’d take Morgan on a trip around the planet.”
“Heh. You are really helping the kiddo.”
“I know what she feels. I don’t want her to have the bad reaction I did. Besides she’s adorable.”
Tony waited until the bifrost showed up.
“My friend !” Thor greeted him with a big hug.
“Hey Thor, So....you know don’t you,”
“Yes. FRIDAY informed me on my way here. I can’t believe Ultron has returned, and that he committed such atrocities. He will pay for what he did !”
“Yeah revenge is something that sounds so sweet at the moment. But...there is someone else that made a return.”
Thor looked at him. He had a bit of....hope.
“Are you talking about....Loki ?”
“I wish bud, but I’m afraid....that’s not the sibling I’m talking about.”
“Wait....are you saying that...”
“Seems That Not being dead comes with the family.”
“Hela....did you see her.”
“No, but she sent a messenger. And she just send a message, she wants to meet. And she wants you there.”
He showed him the screen the message was sent.
“The messenger that told us about it left it.”
“So.....she’s alive. She’s the Goddess of Death, I guess I should not be surprised. When is this meeting ?”
“Two days, Glimmer has a room ready for you.”
“Good, because there are a lot of questions I have for her.”
Scott walked around the place. It was an old base. But he has never seen something like this. Not even Wakanda was this....advanced.
“What is this place.....”
“I do no.” Entrapta said. “But this seems....familiar.”
She pressed her hair on her cheek and thought.
“Hmmm. Where was this place....OOOOOOH !”
“What. Do you know this place ?”
“Yes. This is where Catra Met Melog back when we were on war with Prime. She, Scorpia, and I came back to do some research two years ago. I think it’s name was a Crytus. And knowing the First Ones, I won’t be surprised they opened a portal to the Quantum Realm.”
“The First Ones ?”
“The most advanced people the universe has ever met. Adora is the last one of their species. Well we don’t know if her daughter has any of it, but she and Catra won’t allow me to do tests until she at least open her eyes. And based on what is known on maticat biology, which Catra is the last grown individual and Shadow Weaver isn’t the most trustful source. So it’s likely for her to take sometime and...”
“Hey, I love a good story. I really do. But....there is a way out of here, right ?”
“Not without a ship. We are in a different planet.”
Scott grew pale at that.
“I’m in another planet. Oh no what am I gonna do ! It was my turn to watch Cassie this weekend. I still have to run the final details of our company with Luis ! And is there food in here, water ? What are we gonna do ! How did we end here ?”
“Calm down Scotty. I have sent a emergency signal to Wrong Hordak and Darla, so we should get a ship in...some days. That means I can explore more of this !”
Entrapta got a labtob out.
“Let’s look it here....Wait, something is wrong.”
“What is it ?”
“It’s like...all of the signals I had on this place have been changed. Like it’s been.....hacked.”
“Hacked....who hacked a whole planet !”
“First ones.....very interesting.”
Ultron finished transferring to his new body.
It was bigger, faster, stronger. Perfect.
“They certainly make more of an example than what vibramium did. Evolution, it is now more possible than ever, thanks to the knowledge I have gotten.”
Ultron opened chamber, and inside...was the Power Stone.
After Thanos’ defeat, the Guardians of the Galaxy handled the Power Stone to the rebuilding Nova. The Kree saw this as their chance to destroy their mortal enemy.
Ultron used the chance to destroy both empires at one go.
“With this tec. I should not process the same trouble that Thanos did when he handled the Stone.”
Ultron placed the stone on a whole on his chest.
He felt....nothing. No drawback, no pain.
“Ah....yes. It works. I can already feel the power. It’s....fascinating.”
Ultron looked at this screens.
“With this, I think it’s time for me to introduce my self to She-Ra. This is gonna be fun.”