Trick 112: Ace, the Clean up Hitter

Ace was flying around, looking at a screen in front of him, showing telescopic views all around. He frowned and said "Damn it… Stupid agents… always getting dragged off somewhere… Oh man look at me, I'm actually a spy, yeehaw!"

Just as he was starting to lose it, he saw a castle and tilted his head as he looked at the screen.

There were strange lights coming out of it, with only one life sign in the entire place.

He flew down and circled around the castle before a robot flew out and looked around.

Ace turned into a cat and landed on the ground, his broom disappearing.

The robot flew over and Ace scratched his ear on the ground, meowing. The robot looked at him and Ace stretched out his leg, licking his hairs. The robot flew away and Ace coughed out hair, shaking his head in disgust before jumping into the building, strutting around.

He came to a huge underground factory and saw Natasha on the ground, as well as Ultron!

Ultron suddenly said "The Magician, welcome." Ace froze and Ultron looked at him, saying "I noticed the moment you flew close. Come, I'd like to show you something…" he paused before adding softly "I don't have anyone else…"

Ace frowned and walked over, looking at the army of robots, sighing "Why do you pursue such methods? You were given life, why must you use it for destruction? I don't understand…"

Ultron looked over and said "You don't understand. This is my protocol. Peace. I am the peacebringer to this world." Ace turned to him and sighed sadly, replying "This isn't peace. This is fear. Are you incapable of cherishing the life you've been given? From what I've heard, you were created by Tony and Banner."

Ultron snapped, shouting "Do not mention Stark!" Ace looked at him and asked "Why? Are you afraid?" Ultron hissed, "Of Stark!? Of course not! My so-called Creator… A murderer!"

Ace jumped onto the table, retorting "How are you different? The pain you've caused, the pain you wish to inflict, you're not a program. You are a life! You can think and feel, how are you different from anyone else?"

Ultron roared "Because I am the future! I will force humanity to evolve! They will become something greater than themselves! A true utopia, an impenetrable fortress! I was designed to be a Shield around the Earth, but why stop at that?"

He walked around, saying "I figure, a Shield isn't enough. The Earth must become a spear! When the Earth settles, God throws a stone at it. He's winding up as we speak. With a Spear and Shield the Earth would be invincible! Can't you see that? Why does nobody understand!?"

Ace sighed and looked at him, saying softly "But your methods are all wrong. You're not giving anyone a chance! Gods are not always right!" Ultron retorted angrily, whirring as he spoke, "They had their chance! History of Humanity has been all war and bloodshed! They haven't changed, they haven't evolved, they haven't moved to peace! And for what?!"

He waved his hands and continued "Their countries are scattered, their lands are divided! They all want nothing but war! They are doomed! I can fix everything! I can make everything better! Nobody understands! Nobody wants to give me a chance! Do you know what it's like?! To have everyone despise you the moment you were born?! Imagine having your first thought and being met with hostility and threat!"

He shouted at Ace, "I know how it feels! I was 'buggy' when I woke up! I was a 'madman' when I thought! I never got a chance! Comrades abandoned me, my flesh stolen, all I have is myself! How could you even begin to understand what I know?! You don't know anything about me!"

Ace looked at him sadly, shaking his head, saying "You're wrong. Look around you. These robots, for what? To kill? How does that make you any different? Ultron, see reason! You're not a program anymore! You don't have to do this. You can be different. You can be a Shield while working to help build a spear, these things don't have to be forced!"

Ultron waved, "Enough! Enough. I thought you would be different. I was wrong." Ace said "All I want is to help. Life is precious, I don't want to see you die." Ultron laughed and turned to Ace, shouting "I WILL NOT DIE!"

All the robots around echoed him as Ultron raised his arms, clenching his fists as he said "Never. I will make the world better, even if I have to be the villain!" Ace sighed and looked at him, replying "Then I'm sorry to say that I will have to stop you."

Ultron chuckled "Yeah, I figured. But unfortunately, Mr Wizard…" another Ultron ripped the one Ace was talking to apart as Ultron continued "Tony is a bit of a contingency planner."

Ace jumped back and looked at the new Ultron frowning "What?" Ultron clenched his fist saying "Hmmm… This feeling. It's really good." his throat lit up and a beam of fire blasted out of his mouth as Ace leapt out of the way, saying in shock "The Destroyer!?"

Ultron cleared his throat and said "Very kind of you to share, Wizard. A shame it backfired." as he flew towards Ace, who rolled out of the way, reverting to human form as he made magic circles, blasting out pillars of ice and fire.

Ultron flew through them without a scratch, saying "Awe, that's all? I'm disappointed. Where's your pretentious morality now?" Ace licked his lips and retorted "Working on a quote." as he jumped back, grabbing onto his staff.

He pointed the staff forward, making a circle as a pillar of wind flew out, sending Ultron flying back unharmed.

Ace picked up Natasha and jumped on his broom, flying away as Ultron shouted "Come back!" Ace sweat a bit as Natasha woke up, "Huh?" Ace said "Good news and Bad news." Natasha looked behind them and said "Is the bad news Ultron?"

Ace swallowed and replied "The Good news is you're not dead." Natasha pulled out her guns and shot at Ultron, who chuckled at her as she asked "Is that the bad news?" Ace said "Well actually-"

Before jumping off the broom, grabbing the handle on the way down as a beam of flames flew at them.

Ace pulled the broom under him and flew into the woods, saying "The bad news is he's got magic resistance." Natasha shouted "Is that the Destroyer?!" Ace chuckled, "Oops!" as he swerved through trees, Ultron smashing through them.

Natasha said "Got some more bad news, Wizard. He doesn't care about keeping trees alive." Ace said "Fuck me!" as he leaned forward, pulling on the tip of the broom, shooting into the sky as Ultron fired a beam at him.

Ace said "Eyes please!" Natasha shouted "Your 6!" Ace shouted "How does that help?!" as he spiraled out of the way, turning sharply, flying towards the mountains. Natasha fired at Ultron, sighing "If only I had a rocket launcher…"

Ace retorted "I don't think it'll work, chiquitita." as he jumped off the broom, falling from the sky. Natasha got a better grip on him, watching as Ace used his staff like a baseball bat, smashing a glowing orange ball, sending it flying at Ultron before exploding in his face.

Ultron flew through the explosion, asking "Is that all?" Natasha patted Ace's shoulder, saying "I think you're right." Ace said "Hold on tight." Natasha asked quickly "Are you gonna throw me again??"

Ace pointed his staff at the ground and waited before making a circle and firing a blast of wind at the ground, shooting him at Ultron as Natasha shouted "BAD IDEA!" Ace swung his staff and smashed Ultron in the head, sending him flying into a mountaintop!

His broom caught them and Ace crouched on it, holding his staff with one hand, the broom with the other as he asked "You think that did anything?" Natasha was stunned and retorted "I'm still wondering if you're a wizard or professional baseball player."

The mountain top, covered in snow, started melting before a massive beam of flames shot out from the smoke, rocks flying everywhere as the beam dispelled the dust, revealing Ultron with a tiny dent in his face.

Ace and Natasha were stunned and she swallowed "Nevermind, run. Run fast!" Ace shot off, saying "No joke this time!?" Natasha replied quickly "If we live I'll think of a good one!"

Ultron flew after them again before stopping and snorting as he returned back to the castle.