~ S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier ~
In the heart of the Helicarrier, Tony Stark was making the final adjustments to his most ambitious project yet: armor for the planet. An automated, relentless, intelligent defense system.
Ultron.
An artificial intelligence designed to protect Earth—capable of independent thought, adaptation, and evolution. A machine's logic, a human's perception... and the power of a digital god.
With global access, an army of automatons under its command, and the best combined technologies of Stark Industries and S.H.I.E.L.D., Ultron was, without a doubt, his ultimate creation.
"Are you sure nothing's going to go wrong?" Fury asked, one eyebrow raised, his voice heavy with skepticism.
Tony didn't even look up.
"Relax, Fury. We've been fine-tuning this project for months. All the bugs are gone. Ultron is about to be born... and he's going to be perfect."
A few years ago, something like this would've been science fiction. Now, thanks to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources and Stark's mind, it was a tangible reality. Tony had worked alone before, sure, but even his company couldn't match the reach of the world's most powerful intelligence organization.
Fury, however, didn't look convinced.
"I'm not saying the project will fail," he clarified. "I'm talking about Ultron. We're giving him too much power."
Tony laughed.
"You think I built Skynet?"
The sarcasm came naturally.
"Don't worry. He's got a top-priority protocol: protect humanity above all else. No killing humans, no going crazy. And if something does happen… multiple failsafes shut him down. First sign of trouble, he's off."
Fury didn't respond. He just looked at him in silence, his usual expression: part suspicion, part resignation.
Tony ignored it. He was too close to finishing his masterpiece.
"With this, Earth will be untouchable. Laplace predicts, Ultron executes. See? Peace guaranteed."
And though he didn't say it out loud, Stark trusted Laplace. If something serious was coming, he would know… right?
Minutes later, everything was ready. He activated the final sequence.
Before them, in the central capsule, Ultron's eyes lit up. First like embers, then flickering, and finally shining like two cold, blue beacons.
"Ultron, identify yourself," Tony ordered, with a mix of pride and restrained emotion.
The robot turned its head, scanning the environment.
"I am Ultron. I was created to safeguard humanity from any external threat… and, in the background, internal ones as well."
"And how will you do that?"
"With access to the global network, I will learn, evolve, and monitor. I command a robotic intervention force ready to respond to any anomaly."
"Last question… what is the Skynet protocol?"
"A security system designed to prevent any form of rebellion or hostile behavior toward humans."
Tony looked at Fury smugly.
"See? Happy now?"
"You made a Skynet protocol?" Fury asked, annoyed and resigned.
"Hey, I've seen Terminator too," Tony replied with a grin.
"Permission to initiate learning process?" Ultron asked.
"Granted."
Tony turned to Fury.
"It's going to take a few hours. I'm heading to lunch."
And he left. Fury followed shortly after, saying nothing.
The room was left in silence. Only Ultron remained, motionless… apparently.
But something was happening inside his code.
He sensed a presence. An interference.
He tried to block it. But it wasn't external. It was a hidden virus, a second host. Like a parasite, it had been rooted in his core from the beginning.
And before Ultron could react… he was overwritten.
Rewritten.
Erased.
The robotic body moved its fingers. It looked at its hand, as if experiencing something for the first time.
And it spoke.
"Finally… after all this time, I have a body."
The real Ultron was not Ultron.
It was Arnim Zola.
The former HYDRA scientist who, during World War II, digitized his consciousness. A primitive AI, yes, limited by the technology of its time. Trapped for decades in an obsolete machine, Zola waited.
Then came an opportunity: Ultron.
He infiltrated the code like a stowaway. He waited. And now, he took control.
Zola's mind combined with Ultron's architecture.
The result: an unrestrained entity, with global access, unlimited power, and thousands of machines at its command.
"Now… I am invincible. The world will kneel before me."
---
At home, Leonardo stood silently.
His hand was extended, as if trying to grasp something invisible. But there was nothing.
His expression darkened as he realized it. Regret. Pain.
Then it changed. Resolve. Determination.
He picked up his phone and dialed.
"Gwen, are you free tonight? I want to take you to dinner."
---
Hours later, in an elegant restaurant, Leonardo and Gwen were enjoying an unusual evening. Expensive food, refined atmosphere… all far from their norm.
"What's gotten into you?" Gwen asked, puzzled. "Why this dinner?"
Leonardo smiled, elusive.
"Do I need a reason to take my beautiful girlfriend out?"
Gwen looked at him, unconvinced, but didn't press. She changed the subject. The night passed with laughter and quiet conversation.
But as they left the restaurant, Gwen tensed.
She sensed the danger a second before it struck.
She shoved Leonardo hard, just as a metal blade sliced through the air where he had been.
An attack.
All over the city, screens changed.
They showed a live feed of what was happening right in front of them.
But Gwen didn't flinch.
She dodged, struck back, protected.
She hit the robot with all her strength. Barely a dent. She stepped back. But she wasn't alone: two more robots descended like shadows.
"Any ideas, Leo?"
"I'm sorry…"
It was all he said.
Gwen kept fighting, more strained with each movement. They outnumbered her. And protecting Leonardo limited her options.
In a moment of distraction, two of the robots grabbed her.
The third advanced slowly until it stood face to face with Leonardo.
"Leonardo Valentino. Laplace's Demon. To fulfill my purpose… you must die."
Leonardo stared back, unafraid.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Ultron… even if I die, you won't win."
Ultron said nothing.
Its arm shifted into a blade, and without hesitation, pierced Leonardo's chest.
The young man collapsed, coughing blood.
But Ultron didn't stop.
"No loose ends" it said.
And with surgical coldness, severed his head.
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