паучонок - spiderling
The next day was a lot more standing around and talking than Sam had expected. But when everyone had logged on and uploaded into their rooms in Avengers Compound and no clear challenge was presented to them, they had to speculate what was to be done next.
Although many of the Avengers, Sam included, believed that Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch were AI programs of the game, Iron Man insisted they were not. Iron Man, apparently, actually was a technological genius in the real world. Sam seriously doubted it but the game prohibited giving out personal information while in-game and would lock players out for noncompliance to the rules. Iron Man promised that he would one day prove his expertise to Sam in real-world.
Sam wasn't willing to test the rules of the game, seeing as he was looking at a portion of five thousand dollars due to their win the day before. Granted, split seven ways, he was only going to receive about seven hundred dollars, but he had not expected to earn any real-world money while playing The World. His acceptance into the Avengers' alliance would allow him to take part in larger battles that players outside of alliances did not have access too. These large scale fights came with real-world rewards as well as in-world rewards. It was one reason that the game was so popular even among adults.
While there were many alliances, available and/or offered positions were few and far between for those with high winning records. The Avengers were in the top most-desired alliances, along with HYDRA, the Flag Smashers, the Guardians, Lethal Legion, the Sons of Serpents, and others.
"We don't even know who was keeping them or if whoever had them is who exposed them to the stone."
"The bigger problem," Doc, screen name HULK, began, "Is that we don't know where the stone is now."
"We're not taking on the Infinity Challenge, no ones ever made it close." Iron Man says.
"That's not what I was suggesting. I am, however, suggesting that whoever has the stone likely should not, and that is a challenge we could accomplish."
"What, stealing the stone?" War Machine says, incredulous. "Then what?"
Thor shrugs like it doesn't matter much, likely it doesn't. If finding the stone and removing it from its current owner is the next challenge then the game will point them in the right direction from there.
"Which brings us back to 'we don't know who was keeping them' and we have no way of figuring that out."
"Couldn't we just ask them?" Sam offers.
"They've been through hell, Falcon, they're just kids." Cap says. Sam almost points out that, if they're not artificial intelligence then they have been logging out of the game each night just as the rest of the Avengers have been.
"Besides, obviously I've already tried that, bird brain." Iron Man explains, "They don't know. Though we do think they've gotten their abilities from the Mind Stone."
Hawkeye raises his hands, attention focused on Natasha Romanoff as he makes large gestures. "No," she responds aloud, hands moving as she speaks, "it's too risky too soon. But I may know a way to get answers at least about who held the twins in-world."
Sign language, Sam realizes belatedly. Do Natasha Romanoff and Hawkeye know each other in real life or do they simply both understand sign?
"How?" War Machine asks.
"I have a contact," she seems to think about what she is willing to reveal, "Most of the intelligence community in The World doesn't believe he exists, those who do believe he is an AI program designed to stop anyone that gets too close to complete it the final challenge."
The search for Natasha Romanoff's contact takes them to a place called Madripoor. An underground bar, workers are all AI and obviously so. Players in attendance take part mostly in poker games, betting in-world money or avatar upgrades. Places like this, Sam thinks, are like side quests for side quests, a quick way to level up when you current abilities can't do all that you need them to.
Natasha says something in another language to the door man who lets them pass without a word. She must know her destination, because she finds the door to the stairs rather quickly, leading them down the winding halls to a fancy lounge area. As they turn the corner, the introductory banner of a players screen name, ZEMO, appears.
"Bucky," Natasha calls, ignoring the man.
"Excuse me, Miss Romanoff is it? I do believe you are in the wrong room."
Natasha just raises her gun, shooting the man directly between the eyes. Sam knows that the man is truly unharmed and will likely re-spawn at his last challenge checkpoint within the hour, but its still a surreal sight.
"Bucky, it's Nat." She steps away from the group, hands up in surrender, eyes on full alert. "I'm sorry to do this but I need your help."
She turns in slow circles as she speaks, finally stopping as she faces the rest of the Avengers that had joined her, the red dot of a sniper riffle visible on her chest. "How did you find me?" The voice is deep and rough.
"I didn't, I found ZEMO. I knew you wouldn't be far behind, you've been waiting for you moment to kill him for far too long. I'm sorry I took that from you but there will be other chances," Sam has never seen the woman show any type of real emotion before, "Bucky... bubba, it's me, it's Nat, I need you to trust me. We have a girl who's been exposed to the Mind Stone, it's not looking good-"
She cuts off when a thump sounds from behind Sam and the rest of the group. The man walks slowly around them, never allowing anyone at his back, until he's pressed against the furthest wall. His gun is in hand but lowered, eyes flickering between each of the Avengers.
"паучонок" It's not English but it causes the tension to bleed out of Natasha's body.
"Yes, it's me,"
"I don't do rescue missions anymore, паучонок," The man is in full black, the straps on his tactical gear similar to that of Hawkeye's outfit, but more involved. The bottom half of his face is covered in what appears to be a hard-shell mask, vented on the sides. Long dark hair falls into his eyes. His left arm, holding onto his rifle, is uncovered black metal.
His screen name appears, it reads 'Winter Soldier'.
"I'm not asking you to, not out-world." Natasha promises.
Sam concludes that she must know this man in the real world. He's not sure but it certainly seems that way.
"I don't do them in-world either, паучонок. You don't want me too, it won't be good for anyone involved."
Sam only just realizes that they had been discussing out-world rescue missions, that the man had expected an out-world issue. He'd have to remember to ask about that later.
Natasha's head turns sharply to the group, eyes locking on Iron Man, "Come here," its a forceful demand.
She gestures to the man in the large iron suit, "Bubba, our last rescue was not a failure. You remember T,"
"So he survived, they won't all be so lucky. I cannot help you,"
"We just need to know who was holding them in-world, T can track from there. It's shadow work, Bucky, you are the only one with the to get in behind the scenes."
"You have the skills. You do not need me."
"And if there are more? You truly think that the two we have found are the only human experiments taking place? You can live knowing they're out there-"
"Enough, паучонок,” the Winter Soldier cuts in, “Show me what you have on your survivors. I will do what I can in world. Out-world I truly cannot be an asset to your cause.”