Revenge

Tony Stark grabbed another metallic hand, joining it together with another carcass resembling that of a human. Even though his expression bore the always present confidence, he was extremely concentrated on the current project.

This prototype had to be the best one he had ever made, for it was to inhabit Ultron. The greatest invention that would ever be produced, and the future protector of the world.

"Mister Tony, do you really think this is such a great idea?" Bruce asked, standing on the opposite side of the lingering screen. "I mean, this artificial intelligence can very well be unstable. This scepter has been in Hydra for some time, after all."

"Bruce, we already had this talk." Tony didn't lose a bit of determination in his expression as he walked beside Bruce, putting a hand over his shoulder. "You see, Friend. Sometimes there are things that even avengers can't deal with and that's why we are creating this thing. Thousands of aliens? Not a problem. A crazily powerful mutant? Not a problem either. Remember, we are doing this for the sake of humanity."

"Is this really what we are trying to accomplish?" Bruce shrugged.

"Of course," Tony said, stalking away a few feet forth. "Just imagine a world where protection is guaranteed for everyone. You wouldn't even need to turn green anymore."

Bruce sighed. "I can't turn green anymore, even if I wanted to." After the battle against Nagato, Hulk didn't want to take control over his body anymore, frightened. For some time, Bruce thought of this as a blessing in disguise, yet the emptiness he felt after losing Natasha overwhelmed his spirits.

"Oh, right." Tony turned around, walking to yet another screen. That mutant left quite a turmoil after he disappeared. Thor was constantly training. Bruce couldn't turn into Hulk anymore, and Hawkeye kept looking for that man for retribution. Honestly, the existence of that mutant was also one reason he wanted the project to succeed so much.

'Still, we could have lost much fewer soldiers if Hawkeye and Hulk would have gone on the mission as well.' Tony thought, scratching the back of his head. This hole in the center of avengers was also quite a problem. Perhaps they needed new members.

"By the way, I wanted to throw a party after stealing the stone, but no one answered my invitation." Tony walked up to the bar and poured some alcohol into two cups. "Shall we celebrate by ourselves then?"

"I didn't even do anything." Bruce had some reluctance in his eyes, though he approached the bar as well.

"You are helping me now. That's plenty." Tony raised the cup into the air, preparing to take a sip. However, an explosion from the rear caused his natural reflexes to kick in as he ducked onto the ground.

Within the dust rising from the blast stood a person with a peculiar figure.

Wait... that's not a person.

A robot.

-

"Alexander, I don't understand. Why did we have to come rushing here at such a prompt pace? You know, we have some important projects going on right now as well." Daniel Whitehall asked loudly, taking a seat on the chair beside a few other members. As always, he wore an elegant suit, matched with square glasses.

All the other higher-ups, comprising four people, looked at Alexander in anticipation of an answer. Everyone has assembled, except one person. Baron Von Strucker.

'I guess he will not come.' Andrew thought, exhaling. Nagato would not like this violation of orders. As he scanned the room one more time, he stopped at Daniel's figure. Anger boiled within his veins immediately.

"As I informed all of you before, this meeting is of utmost importance." Andrew talked slowly, just like Alexander always did. The atmosphere in the air grew tense, everyone pricked their ears. "This can be a threat to the entire existence of Hydra."

"Unfortunately." Andrew placed his hands on two guns hidden underneath his suit, not a single glimmer of panic on his expression. "You won't hear it."

As soon as the words landed, Andrew aimed his guns at the men and released the bullets. No one could even show their shock before falling into the gnashes of death. Daniel was the only survivor.

"You... who are you?" Daniel also took the grip over his weapon, dragging it out, though confusion was clear in his eyes. Andrew didn't take the risk and shot Daniel in the hand. Then shot all his over limbs as well.

Screaming in pain, Daniel couldn't even induce enough willpower to reach out for a knife. Blood painted his suit in crimson red.

"You know, I have always imagined this scene multiple times in my head." Andrew ambled up to the trembling person, accidentally stepping onto his wound from above. As Daniel greeted his teeth and looked up, goosebumps spread throughout his skin.

Andrew's true face revealed itself from underneath the fake one, and Daniel's mouth opened wide. He wanted to mumble something, however, Andrew stepped onto his face.

"I don't even want to hear your voice, it's disgusting." Andrew aimed his weapon at Daniel's torso and shot twice. "How does it feel? Not that great, right? Well, I have suffered a much greater pain under your hands."

Andrew kept shooting Daniel in the least critical spots, not hindering his screams and suffering. This was nothing compared to what he has gone through.

"I wanted your suffering to last much longer, however, I understood one important thing." Andrew aimed his weapon at Daniel's head, who was too weak to settle his head forth. "Your entire afterlife will be simply suffering since all the people you have killed are going to hunt you for eternity."

With that, Andrew released one last bullet. The floor flowed with blood, yet Andrew just stood on the spot, unmoving, looking at Daniel's dead body in complete silence.

It felt as if he was empty... it felt as if there was no goal in his life anymore. Did he even have a life? Andrew released his weapon onto the ground, looking up slightly. And what now? What should he do now?

"Are you done?" Nagato opened the doors leading into the room and stepped inside. This terrible scene would look atrocious to normal civilians, however, Nagato thought nothing about it.

With color coming back to his cheeks, Andrew heaved a sparse smile. Suddenly, Nagato seemed like a bright sun in this eternal darkness, and Andrew simply wanted to follow this luster. Till the end of his days.

'I am not empty. I still have one goal in my life.' Andrew thought, placing his gun on the table. Nagato was the savior of his life and the first person to accept him. Therefore, Andrew would return the favor with his own life.

"I am. Unfortunately, Baron still didn't appear." Andrew answered, glancing past Nagato's figure where hundreds of bodies lay. While Andrew took his sweet time here, Nagato took care of the personal bodyguards.

Nagato nodded, strolling back out of the room again. "I will take care of him."

"And what should I do?"

"Complete my prior orders."