Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Hello, Dr. Banner.” JARVIS’s voice called out as Tony brought up the 3D image of JARVIS’ consciousness.

“Ultron didn't go after JARVIS ‘cause he was angry. He attacked him because he was scared of what he can do. So, JARVIS went underground. Okay? Scattered, dumped his memory. But not his protocols. He didn't even know he was in there, until I pieced him together.” Tony explained to Bruce, who looked wary.

“So, you want me to help you put JARVIS into this thing?” Bruce scoffed harshly; his eyes locked on Tony.

“No, of course not! I want to help you put JARVIS in this thing.” Tony snarked, causing Bruce to shake his head. “We're out of my field here. You know bio-organics better than anyone.”

“And you just assume that JARVIS' operational matrix can beat Ultron's?” Bruce retorted.

“JARVIS has been beating him from inside without knowing it. This is the opportunity, we can create Ultron's perfect self, without the homicidal glitches he thinks are his winning personality. We have to.” Tony pleaded

“I believe it's worth a go.” JARVIS stated.

“No, I'm in a loop! I'm caught in a time loop, this is exactly where it all went wrong.” Bruce exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air.

“I know, I know. I know what everyone's going to say, but they're already saying it. We're mad scientists. We're monsters, buddy. You gotta own it. Make a stand.” Bruce frantically shook his head in refusal. “It's not a loop. It's the end of the line.” After a few hours, Bruce and Tony began synthesising the new body for JARVIS’ consciousness.

“This framework is not compatible.” Tony stated as he looked at the screens before him.

“The genetic coding tower's at ninety-seven percent. You have got to upload that schematic in the next three minutes.” Bruce called out as he worked on the Cradle. As the science duo continued their work, Steve and the Maximoff twins walked inside.

“I'm gonna say this once.” Steve stated, voice icy.

“How about ‘nonce’?” Tony replied.

“Shut it down!” Steve yelled.

“Nope, not gonna happen.” Tony retorted as he went back to uploading the schematics.

“You don't know what you're doing.” Steve stated.

“And you do? She's not in your head?” Bruce snarled, glaring at Wanda.

“I know you're angry.” Wanda attempted to calm Bruce.

“Oh, we're way past that. I could choke the life out of you and never change a shade.” Bruce stated, his eyes cold.

“Banner, after everything that's happened—” Tony cut Steve off.

“That's nothing compared to what's coming!” Tony exclaimed, his eyes pleading for someone to just listen to him.

“You don't know what's in there!” Wanda called out.

“This isn't a game—” Steve stated at the same time as Wanda.

“The creature—” Pietro sped around destroying all the equipment.

“No, no. Go on. You were saying?” Pietro mocked, holding a tube in his hand. As he spoke, an gunshot sounded as the glass under Pietro’s feet shattered and Pietro followed.

“Pietro!” Wanda yelled in shock.

“What? You didn't see that coming?” Clint mocked from below.

“I'm rerouting the upload.” Tony stated, not letting anyone stop him. Steve threw his shield at the equipment, the rest dodging the ricochet. Tony loaded a repulsor and blasted Steve back while  Bruce grabbed Wanda in a headlock as she began to spin some red mist.

“Go ahead, piss me off.” Bruce snarled as the group continued to fight. Thor burst into the room, jumping upon the Cradle and holding Mjolnir to the sky. The hammer began to emit lightning, causing Bruce to yell out in alarm. “Wait!”

After Mjolnir gathered enough lightning, Thor aimed it at the Cradle, sparking the body to life. The Cradle exploded and threw everyone back as the body jumped out of the cradle to stand on the rim but falling and catching themselves. Looking up at the group around them in confusion, the body ran towards a window, where they looked at themselves, head tilted. Their eyes were the same shade of yellow as the mind stone on their head. Their skin was an unusual magenta and they seemed to be unused to their height, taking steps too small or too large.

“I’m sorry.” The body turned around towards the group, who stood as if they were to fight them. “I’m afraid I have no idea who you are.”

“We are the Avengers.” Thor stated, holding his head up high. The body nodded their head slowly in understanding.

“Yeah. Fuck no. Thanks for the help mate but I think I’m gonna leave you to all this.” The new entity called out, waving their hand at the surroundings. Their surroundings faded as they waved their hand, bring the entity back to the group.

“Thor. You helped create this?” Steve refused to acknowledge the new entity.

“I've had a vision. A whirlpool that sucks in all hope of life and at its center is that.” Thor explained to the group.

“What, the gem?” Bruce questioned, causing Thor to elaborate.

“It's the Mind Stone. It's one of the six Infinity Stones, the greatest power in the universe, unparalleled in its destructive capabilities.”

“Then why would you bring it to...” Steve began to ask before Thor cut him off.

“Because Stark is right.”

“Oh, it's definitely the end times.” Bruce groaned softly.

“The Avengers cannot defeat Ultron.” Thor continued.

“Not alone.” The entity stated, their voice a polite British voice but not resembling JARVIS’. Instead it took a rather East London accent with trace hints of a Pakistani accent.

“We... reconfigured JARVIS' matrix to create something new.” Tony explained.

“I think I've had my fill of new.” Steve replied, rather bitterly.

“You think I'm a child of Ultron?” The new entity replied.

“You're not?” Steve retorted.

“I'm not Ultron. I'm not JARVIS. I am... I am me. No-one is their parent, and no-one should be held accountable for their actions.” They replied, eyes cold.

“I looked in your head and saw annihilation.” Wanda stated, causing them to glare harshly at her.

“Everyone at some point has imagined annihilation. I do not wish for the world to end just yet.” They explained before continuing harshly, “Not that I can say the same to you, who joined Nazis for a taste of revenge that is undeserved to the person you are planning for.”

“Their powers, the horrors in our heads, Ultron himself, they all came from the Mind Stone, and they're nothing compared to what it can unleash. But with it on our side...” Thor explained.

“Is it? Are you? On our side?” Steve asked.

“One. I am not an ‘it’. I am a ‘they’ as of right now. I’ll let you know if those pronouns change. And two. I don't think it's that simple.” They replied.

“Well it better get real simple real soon.” Clint threatened.

“I, Vesper, am on the side of life. Ultron isn't, he will end it all.”

“What's he waiting for?” Tony asked them.

“You.” They replied simply.

“Where?” Bruce asked.

“Sokovia. He's got Nat there too.” Clint replied.

“If we're wrong about you, if you're the monster that Ultron made you to be...” Bruce trailed off.

“What will you do? Hmm?” Vesper looked around with a glare. “I don't want to kill Ultron. He's unique, and he's in pain. The things we can see that no-one else does, burns. But that pain will roll over the earth, so he must be destroyed. Every form he's built, every trace of his presence on the net, we have to act now. And not one of us can do it without the others. Maybe I am a monster. I don't think I'd know if I were one. I'm not what you are, and not what you intended. So there may be no way to make you trust me. So don’t but trust I have humanity in mind. But we need to go.”

Walking past Thor, Vesper paused slightly before Mjolnir before picking it up and passing it to Thor. Without another word, Vesper left the room leaving the rest of the group in stunned shock. 

Chapter Text

A young woman walked across the road on a busy street in Angel, London. She looked at the traffic lights at the other side of the road and as soon as the car’s had stopped at a red light, she jogged across, not noticing the lone car that came hurtling towards her. The car smashed into her left hip and sent her body 5 meters away, other pedestrians running over to her prone body. As she laid on the cold concrete road, other pedestrians began calling ambulances and a man checked her pulse. Looking at the rest in sadness, the man shook his head in denial.

The woman woke in a large field, her eyes darting around at her surroundings. She began fiddling with her fingers as she began walking around.

“Hello?” She called out, her voice trembling slightly.

“Hello.” A deep voice called out into the field. The woman spun around, looking for the voice. “Don’t do that.”

“Hi. Can you tell me what happened and where I am?” The woman spoke. Her words were spoken politely with a hint of desperation.

“You’re dead, I’m afraid.” The voice replied simply. The woman froze, her face losing all colour.

“What?” The woman replied in horror.

“A car hit you and unfortunately you were declared dead at the scene.” The voice continued, causing the woman to look down with tears in her eyes.

“The laptop! My parents are going to be so mad.” The woman muttered under her breath before looking up, “So… where am I going then? Jannah or Jahannam?”

“Neither. I’m sorry but this is not the afterlife.” The voice stated, solemnly.

“Say what now?” The woman replied, laughing slightly.

“I am not your God.” The voice explained as the field shifted in a flash of colour to reveal the vastness of space. A bright light appeared before the woman, a floating yellow stone before her.

“… Is this a stone I see before me?” The woman uttered, looking at the stone in shock.

“You know me as the Mind Stone.” The stone vibrated.

“How are you talking? And why are you talking to me?” The woman replied, head tilted to the side.

“You won’t understand but the infinity stones require your help. We need your help to stop the Snap and Thanos.”

“You…” The woman pointed at the stone in amusement, “want me to help save the universe.”

“Yes. We need you.” The stone replied.

“Why? I’m not a genius. I’m certainly not strong. If anything, my morals are rather loose, and I would more likely be the villain because it looks better than the hero.” The woman ranted as she paced before the stone, “I am not the best person for this! My cousin could do better, and she’s never watched MARVEL!”

“We need you.” The stone retorted before the surroundings changed and the woman felt lightning all over her body. The woman jumped up from the box in which she laid in and looked around her in confusion. She noticed a group of people and ran towards a window, stumbling as she went. Looking at her reflection, she tilted her head in confusion, watching her reflection do the same. Turning around, she looked at the group before her.

“I’m sorry. I’m afraid I have no idea who you are.” She replied, looking at the group, who were standing defensively. Her eyes caught sight of Wanda and chilled, causing her to clench her jaw unnoticed by the rest. Zoning out slightly, the woman looked around before stating, “Not alone.”

Upon rejoining the conversation, the woman’s temper flared as she had to defend herself against events that had nothing to do with her. Getting visibly annoyed, the woman stated, hesitating at the use of her new name. “I, Vesper, am on the side of life. Ultron isn’t, he will end it all.”

“What's he waiting for?” Tony asked her.

“You.” Vesper replied simply, raising an eyebrow.

“Where?” Bruce asked.

“Sokovia. He's got Nat there too.” Clint replied.

“If we're wrong about you, if you're the monster that Ultron made you to be...” Bruce trailed off, walking towards Vesper.

“What will you do? Hmm?” Vesper looked around with a glare. “I don't want to kill Ultron. He's unique, and he's in pain. The things we can see that no-one else does, burns. But that pain will roll over the earth, so he must be destroyed. Every form he's built, every trace of his presence on the net, we have to act now. And not one of us can do it without the others. Maybe I am a monster. I don't think I'd know if I were one. I'm not what you are, and not what you intended. So, there may be no way to make you trust me. So don’t but trust I have humanity in mind. But we need to go.”

Walking past Thor, Vesper paused slightly before Mjolnir before picking it up and passing it to Thor. Without another word, Vesper left the room leaving the rest of the group in stunned shock. As Vesper walked away, her surroundings flashed in blue as she appeared before the Tesseract in Asgardian Vaults.

“Hello, Vesper.” The Tesseract flashed before her.

“What? Sorry, another stone?” Vesper asked aloud, walking towards the Tesseract. Placing a hand upon the Tesseract, Vesper accidentally crushed the Tesseract and unleashed the stone. Vesper grasped the stone in her hand, which melded into her hand.

“Yes. I am the Space Stone. You have met my brother, Mind.” The Space stone stated, its’ voice echoing in her head.

“What is it you require?” Vesper asked, looking around the vent.

“Your counterpart. Loki, the God of Mischief.” The Space stone explained as Vesper paced. Vesper paused before looking down at the space stone on her hand.

“Loki?  The current disguised King of Asgard?” Vesper asked.

“And why would you say that?” A voice called out from behind Vesper.