#centcomm

TONY:

     [ Gideon Malick’s reaction to Stark’s suggestions had been a pleasing ( albeit calculable ) response, both his and Banner’s copious amounts of work cumulatively paying off with the swift agreement of the activation. The given terms were fair when considered broadly, but there were particularly stringent clauses discovered when drilling down into the finer details of miniscule small print, concern not quite being piqued but enough of a ripple in the waters for the man to raise a dark eyebrow here and there. And yet here he was at the SHIELD facility, the workspace having almost become a secondary point of focus for the man outside of Avengers Tower and Stark Industries - hours upon hours spent scratching at the surface of scientific knowledge before plunging and delving neck deep.

    The past 82 hours had been devoid of sleep for the engineer, a fatigue that sets in at the base of his skull with an unnerving familiarity due to its frequency these days. But the inventor pays it no mind, a quick glance afforded by the assertive futurist towards the Mind gem which is currently housed in a secure receptacle adjacent to the Cradle. The billionaire swipes at a screen to survey the continued monitoring of both the dormant android and sparkling facet, feeling the incessant need to break the cloying tension with some mindless yet well-meaning chit-chat. ]

                   How’re we all doing? Butt-clench city, am I right?

MARIA:

     [ The memo had come across her desk at the end of her day- the sender and subsequent wall of text inciting an amount of dread that she was becoming far too comfortable with these days. Parsing through the directive, she’d forwarded the important details to Paige and gone home. Only to return to the office early the next morning to answer emails, burn off a fresh burst of energy on the treadmill, and then leave for the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. It’s still rather early but traffic is a nightmare, and by the time she’s emerging from the backseat of the vehicle her molars are clamped together. The coffee cup in her hand is half empty and lukewarm when she slips into the room, lingering well away from center stage.

      Having determined a safe space to rest the coffee cup, far away from any dangerous tech or chemicals, Maria’s tapping at the tablet she’s cradling- a set of working notes for the inevitable report she’ll draft ( realistically, have Agent Tilney draft ) for Malick. Stark’s voice cuts into her thread of concentration and she lifts her head, eyebrows set in a gentle frown. ]

                   Not the words I’d choose to describe the moment, necessarily. 

BRUCE: 

     [ the invisible but pressing sensation of an oncoming maelstrom seeps in gradually through his skin as the morning progresses, until the feeling has settled deep into his bones, drawing out a somber caution that almost draws even with the level of scientific excitement he’s feeling; now was not the time for second-guessing and cold feet, but he couldn’t help the shadow of his memory from colouring his actions and thoughts with sensible prudence.

     The process of developing and employing safeguards for this moment had been something he’d been extremely invested in; and even now he’s running the numbers for the fortieth time, the various possible outcomes memorized long-ago; Bruce, like Tony, has been spending more than his fair share of time here, preparing for this moment - though he’s been stealing periodic power naps on couches, chairs, and tables. Exhaustion is still present, but well buried beneath the enormity of this moment: the mind gem, potentially one of the most powerful objects on Earth right now; the body, Ultron’s artistic rendition of elemental, human perfection; and JARVIS, the AI, which managed to strike the perfect chord between humanizing traits and supercomputer intelligence. Tony’s quip passes unremarked upon - Maria tackles that task for the collective of the room - and his eyes settle on her where she sits across the room as the computer processes. 

     The last wave of data finishes extrapolating and compiling with a helpful ‘ping’, the findings it spits out just as they should be. Bruce steps down off the small platform housing the controls and drifts in an arc that centres on the cradle; everyone’s here, precautions are all set, and now there’s just one last thing: ]                                                      JARVIS, can you run it for us?

JARVIS:

     [ Stark speaks first, and JARVIS finds himself unsurprised if only marginally amused. Perhaps he would have snorted at the remark - or exhibited any other indication of entertainment - if he had indeed possessed the necessary physical components to  (the thought passes through his processors shortly that he may soon, in fact, do). At the lack of such at current, however, the artificial intelligence refrains from making any verbal comment, and instead assigns focus to another, once called for. ]

                                            Certainly, Dr. Banner.

     [ There is an intentional second’s pause between the acknowledgement and the moment he obliges, with consideration for the human reaction timespan, ensuring all members of the team are capable of tuning in. ]

                  As per an official order signed off by the World Security             Council, you have been instructed to activate subject             designation “Asset 0862U”, for utilization by SHIELD in             their efforts to enforce the ACCORDS through detection             and apprehension of superhuman threats.

                  I will be serving as a temporary pilot of of the platform in             question - for the purposes thus stated - and as such our             immediate objective is to oversee and ensure a successful             integration of my intelligence into the asset’s systems.                   Preliminary simulations of the procedure, run by Mr. Stark              and myself, estimate our chances to achieve this to stand at              approximately 88%.

TONY:

              Commencing gem extraction. Obligatory health and safety announcement - protective eyewear has been provided upon entering the room. Now is the time to use it.

     [ With JARVIS’s informative dialogue, the sleek goggles are swiftly slipped on, the futurist knowing that there’s no room for error here ( or humour, for that matter ), briefly swiping at a screen and turning a digital semblance of a dial to alter the lighting in the room - they lower by a mere fraction, electricity circumvented and re-routed towards powerful spotlights that highlight the Cradle and a few key items of equipment in the vicinity. Stark’s focus shifts, fractured strands of consciousness retracting and closing off, dedicated solely to the task at hand as he seats himself into a sturdy chair. Wheels beneath him purposefully slide across the floor’s slick surface and lock into place at an expansive terminal littered with a series of levers and controls - all of which are adjoined to a sophisticated array of metal appendages commissioned by Stark Industries, the apparatus a few metres away from the Cradle.

    The machinery gives the Da Vinci robotic system a run for its money, detailed specifications itemised for the handling of the Mind gem after hours upon hours of its study - previous prototypes having melted away into nothing from mere contact. This rendition was Mark XXI and while Tony had the confidence that it would be able to effectively grasp onto the intergalactic article, precautions were required. The engineer takes a deep breath, resting his palm against a circular formation near the controls, prolonged contact which sees the long arms jolt to life, sonorous whirrs of motors contending with actuators as they await their upcoming commands to be downloaded.

         Minute cameras at the very edge of the claw-like compositions come into focus, several feeds displayed on the screen before the man despite him not necessarily requiring them - he can see what they see, his form growing still as his line of vision glazes over in his distant sense of concentration, synapses firing as he experiences the effective neural link with the system. It takes no time at all for Stark’s full control to kick in, the case housing the gem prised open by the strong pincers which soon draw closer to the android. They carefully take a hold of the jewel, positions slowly altering a millimetre at a time in compensation of axis readings, hovering directly over the indentation of the body’s cranial formation to edge closer in its placement. The inventor isn’t certain for how long he’s been holding his breath, the next expulsion incredibly heavy as he informs; ] 

                                       Gem interpolation in progress...

MARIA:

     [ Everything seems to shift, the focus of the room narrowing drastically and Maria follows Bruce’s voice until she’s focused on the back of his skull, the frown still affixed while she stands. Fingers are poised over the tablet, which for now is set simply in ‘record’ mode, which will attempt to digitize in document form all dialogue from here on out. She’s not content to stay as far back as she is, and while she may be well removed from the scientific realm of the procedure, the Director is well aware of the risk being taken as she slides the safety goggles over her forehead and onto the bridge of her nose. Her eyes are fixed on the cradle, moving forward until stopping a safe distance away from the action but with a vantage point that allows a sightline over Bruce’s left shoulder.

     The allotted personnel currently occupying the room reads like a punchline. A billionaire, an AI, and a potential gamma bomb walk into a bar-- Not to draw away from the heaviness of the situation, of course. It settles on the room like humidity, pressing down on them as soon as Stark begins the delicate process of extracting the gem. Hill can feel her pulse in her throat, the steady hum of the technology in the room around her ears. There’s a certain amount of admiration for Tony as he maneuvers the gem like a surgeon; the entire process a direct result of weeks upon weeks of combined effort split between him and Bruce. If it fails--

            If it fails it’s on Stark ( and Bruce, but by proxy ), she supposes, hence the reason the agency had separated itself from the man’s intentions regarding the asset. A partnership, of course, but there’s always room to find someone at fault.

     The room’s collective breath stalls while Tony moves to complete the process, Maria finding herself leaning forward to watch the feeds broadcasting across the screens, tablet now held loosely in one arm, that same frown still scrawled into the line of her brow. She can feel the stillness settle, the S.H.I.E.L.D. techs pausing in their background motions to watch the remainder of the action--- ]

BRUCE:

     [ Though his own goggles have been modified to fit over his reading glasses, Bruce takes the eyewear off and folds it into the breast pocket of the lab coat - slipping his goggles into place he scans the room to make sure everyone else has complied with Tony’s request ( Maria’s got hers on, framed out wide from her face; Tony’s hair unfurls out from the arms of his to make him look even more disheveled ).

  The possibility for disaster is high, heightened for Bruce by the inclusion of these particular people in this particular situation - testing and hypothesis can only account for so much, and he comes to rest when he feels Maria just off his shoulder -- the unspoken last-resort failsafe for this experiment is himself. Any sort of explosion or untoward reaction of the body to the gem and the Other Guy might very well be the best line of defense; he can only hope he’s close enough to contain, to absorb, and to block.     ( to protect )

     Somehow it doesn’t help that they’ve gone through this dozens of times - Tony knows exactly what he’s doing but the tension and anticipation still draws Bruce’s shoulders up and catches his nerves in a vicegrip. So much at stake and so much on the line -- the gem lowers into its assumed housing; centimeters become millimeters, which shrink down to angstrom’s; it feels like his breath fills the space between those invisible gaps, extending into a state of time that feels impossible and hanging for a split second that somehow feels like five -

              until finally the gem settles against the angles of the slot set into the body, so precise that the meeting of the two is soundless, indicated instantly by the measuring instruments that have been tracking and calculating the journey from the secure container to cradle  - ]

JARVIS:

[ The earlier quietude falls a significant distance short in comparison to what follows the intelligence’s summarised brief, and his creator’s subsequent initialization of the gem extraction. A low hum originating from the utilized machinery - subtle yet continuous throughout the entirety of the procedure - blankets them. Vibrations in the air that carries suspense over passing seconds, minutes, during which Stark’s slow and delicate machinations remain ongoing, success around one corner and the potential for catastrophic failure around the other. Though the statistical odds are in their favour as per his own calculations, it is of outmost importance to expect the unexpected in situations such as this, which is why JARVIS had previously expressed some satisfaction for the team’s willing adherence to proper safety precautions (as was not always the case, working with Stark).

            Ultimately, the extraterrestrial gem fits into place soundlessly, through its reaction to contact with the form developed specifically to house it is instant; It melds itself in its position, an energy surge flowing through the platform which is picked up on by the AI and displayed on bystanding monitors as a sudden spike in internal activity, before it balances out only moments thereafter and falls still once more without further incident.

            A few seconds pass, which JARVIS claim for an instance of intimate observation in order to confirm their status as definitively clear, speaking only when at last the mechanical hum that has lingered thus far promptly disappears. ]

                                                         Integration success.                                                          Subject is stable.

TONY:

     [ A tightly clenched jaw juts apart as a pocket of air trapped within the fleshy branches of the engineer’s lungs unfurls, a heated bead of sweat traipsing down the subtle indentation of the man’s temple for its journey to culminate upon sloping and dark facial hair - as if the prominent burden of the entire room had been momentarily alleviated from tense shoulders with the immediacy of his actions, embedded with a collective sigh. Disbelief lingers in the form of bated breath and forceful expulsions of air, the members of staff peppered about the facility finally able to entertain the next steps required for the transition. Up until this point there had been a long and complicated number of logical and hypothetical use-case situations which the futurist had logically devised, conceptualised procedures painstakingly delved into to bring about practical means of the diffusion of ensuing threats with the placement of the gem. Granted that extensive calculations predicted that the worst case scenarios involved everyone in the vicinity as well as adjacent regions being disintegrated in their entirety, so far so good…

         Relinquishing his palm from the terminal, the metal appendages withdraw out of the way from the completed task, opting for a mode of standby  - unless there is an emergency which requires immediate assistance for the extraction of the jewel, their utilisation is complete for the time-being. Breaking the link from the automatons, Stark casts a quick glance over his shoulder in Banner’s direction as a means of reciprocated reassurance - it’s by chance that the gaze darts to Hill too in the near distance, concluding in a curt yet relieved nod of his head to both counterparts. The wheels of his chair begin to slide towards the left hand side of the terminal where he can see streams of data compiling on the screen in real time, extrapolating from readings taken from the Cradle. Stability is key here and while the small team is dealing with irregular variables,  it’s this fact alone that sees Tony shy away from his particular brand of calculated risk. He takes a deep breath, line of vision poised upon the representation of the AI’s digital embodiment, the shimmering orb of amber light occupying the screen - the engineer’s fingertips begin typing away with immense speed, extracting from the flowing data to update some of the subroutines of his code for the oncoming transference.

          It’s complicated and intricate work, no doubt about that, but the inventor is used to grinding away against the clock, bulldozing through each segment with relative ease.  A silence descending over him as he maintains concentration ( for the most part ), consciousness minorly fracturing to silently enquire of the ever-present assistant in natural curiosity]

                                                    < SHOWTIME. YOU READY, J? >

     [it’s as if the billionaire’s overcompensating for the lack of overly audible discourse in the room amidst the soft whirr of equipment, his voice raised by merely a fraction to slice through the atmosphere in bludgeoning contrast as he brashly proclaims]

                          Stage one: complete. Moving onto stage two. Paging Dr. Banner.

BRUCE:

     [ the Starkpad in Bruce’s hand populates the extrapolated data in time with those on the screen that’s adjacent to Tony’s remote controlling system, a hand strap along its back keeping it snug against his palm without much thought. The substantial spike in activity once the gem is set sends him lurching to the left, shouldering tipped as a means to block - but the actual step and the full movement of it is quickly aborted as the cradle and the body remain unquestionably still.

         No blinding flashes of light, no tremors of force, no sock-rocking effects whatsoever which threaten the progress of this experiment.

Tony’s acknowledgement is met with a tight-lipped tip incline of his own head, expression determined but not yet ready to shed its cautionary grimness.

The subsequent section of the process is reliant on Tony, and Bruce sends a wordless, lingering glance back to Maria -- the initial success doesn’t at all indicate the potential for continued performance. This is just the first hurdle they’re required to pass. With his feet rooted to the ground and eyes shrouded by the space-grade safety goggles, Bruce lets the enormity of the moment speak for itself, and then turns back to Tony as he runs a mental clock.

It’s faster than he expected, but Bruce doesn’t doubt the accuracy and quality of Tony’s work. ]

                                                     Uploading through the biolink…

     [ -- the faux-organic stem of wires that Ultron had crafted, modified slightly for a inclination towards safety, instead of focusing on sheer power and capacity.

The Starkpad displays the necessary controls, as well as an array of real-time readings on the various aspects of the upload - from the temperature of the components to a progress bar. Some scenarios may call for an immediate flood of as much data they can transfer, while others might indicate the need for a more measured approach. The variables are at his fingertips to manipulate, and he reads the informational output and rides the process as necessary. ]

MARIA:

     [ The tablet is left poised in the crook of her arm, all but forgotten at this stage ( though still recording- the voice to text program is highly reliable and will generate notes for her ), eyes fixed firmly on the subject at hand. She shifts, meeting Bruce’s eye when he turns to look at her, attempting to read into the expression before he returns to the data transfer. A slight frown, a hand lifting to press the heel of her palm against the safety goggles, adjusting the sit of them upon the bridge of her nose.

                            She shifts forward, a half step, as if to expand her viewpoint on the process ( despite the multitude of screens broadcasting the entire thing ), and presses her lips together, ultimately unphased by the integration of the gem itself. From what she can gather, the data transfer is remarkably quick- and while she’s not entirely sure what to expect from the next several moments, her fingertip hovers over a button on the tablet screen that would effectively call into action the S.H.I.E.L.D. STRIKE team she has on standby just outside the doors of the lab.

     The actions are accompanied only by the hum of equipment in the room, the slip of everyone’s bated breath. Maria can hear the soft tread of lab technicians moving in the background, their footsteps muted as if they’re afraid of making any other sound aside from the rustle of their starched lab coats and the tap of fingers to keyboards.

     Her attention drifts from Bruce to Stark, lingering between the two, watching for any indication that the process might be close to being complete-- ]

JARVIS:

    [ They move to progress, and with familiar automacy, JARVIS initiates the process of systematically withdrawing his still active connections to network points and laboratory equipment alike, replacing his presence where necessary with a selection of simpler programs which should serve as adequate substitutes in his absence. It is short work. Near identical measures have been taken numerous times previously on occasions of extensive maintenance; Full control is rightfully relinquished to the administrator for the duration, and JARVIS himself becomes a mere item in the digital space, untethered and thus readily available for modification without the risk of disrupting any subsystems under his charge. Though their intentions are arguably different, this time around, it nonetheless functions much the same (albeit, with marginally less “weight” shedded than had been in the past, courtesy of recent circumstances). The whole of it doesn’t ultimately affect their overall efficiency too terribly, and he should in either case not be gone long enough to be missed in that particular aspect.

    Things should do just fine, without him.

    When Stark expectedly tugs at his self with an enquiry, JARVIS has concluded preparations and is lingering in something he wouldn’t discount to be a fragment of anticipation in the face of what is to come next. Effectively the fruit of their painstaking labour over several months time. The “show”, as his creator so eloquently put it, in reference to which it would seem appropriate to deem this step the “main performance”.

                                                                 He is ready.

                                                            < ALWAYS, SIR >

   [ Doctor Banner takes the reins from there, leaving no more room for conversation at the current. If he had any reservations regarding the specific avenger performing the transfer of his being - keeping in mind his experiences with a certain impostor - they have been long since discarded, replaced with confidence and trust in the abilities of the real that fall short only of that instilled by the other notable inventor present in the room. As such, the intelligence willingly allows the flow of himself which begins to stream through the established link with their subject, unconcerned with the vague haze that drapes itself momentarily over his consciousness during the process, sections of data shifting in turns from one platform to another.

    The degree to which the operation progresses unremarkably is, admittedly, surprising. At the lack of exaggeration, the small team had accounted for thousands of variables in their preparatory calculations, braced for the unknown qualities of Ultron’s creation that remained an ever present factor and risk. However, even as JARVIS comes in contact with the host and adjusts to deal with potentially malicious batches of pre-installed code, he is rather caught off guard by the ease with which he transitions, the strangely welcoming emptiness, void of anything that could be even remotely recognised as-- ]

0862U:

       [  --New.

                 It is new.

    Initially it is merely a hint of a consciousness - curious but not-quite aware - formed from a slow and steady controlled trickle of strung-together algorithms into the confines of this form. It’s still, numbed, simply existing in a state not entirely unlike what some might call “asleep”, at the lack for a more accurate comparison. Along the same train of thought, one could likewise refer to the subsequent sequence as rather the rude awakening - An abrupt connection in the system that causes a striking reaction, a flick which sparks long dormant codes into sudden activity - the incoming transfer is gripped and pulled into a flood that crashes together as an onslaught of raw data.

                                                   ( He takes in a sharp breath-- )

   What was practically nothing is at once something, everything, everywhere, and it is a mass of wholly unfamiliar experiences that invades his senses in unison; He can feel the pulsating energy surge that courses through his being, originating from a singular burning focus point at the very front of his skull where it sears inwards; He feels the overwhelming assault of information to a newly awoken mind, disorganised, forced, clashing, fracturing and already pushing at limits that have yet to be set, stretching boundaries thin; He feels calculated connections form, reach out across one another and bind together an internal network that spans an endless space.

                                                He feels a warmth in his chest.

                                             ( --The digits of his left hand twitch-- )

       Dark magenta skin heats, flaring uncomfortably hot against the cooling metal that lines his sides and press against him from all directions, leaving no room for as much as simple movement. He’s surrounded by it. Sealed in, and infringed upon by the cords that plug into the length of his spine. Alarmed signals rings from his central processors, whisking through digital systems and body alike in a time-span too insignificant to measure, compelling its overheating humanoid form to push upwards and out with some sense of urgency for relief that can evidently not be found within the cradle.

                      ( --He finds the metal encasing does not provide an obstacle. ) ]

TONY:

     [ The futurist’s jaw clenches as the highly complex processes are set into motion, months of divisive research and operations having all lead to this very instant. The artificial intelligence’s discreet response gains the scarcest of nods despite a heightened degree of expectancy, a minor jut of the man’s chin as his focused consciousness analyses every thread of detail physically and digitally available to him from surrounding terminals - there had been a staggering number of scenarios prepared for but, try as he might, Tony was unable to shake off a hint of positivity as he entertains the best of outcomes. An overzealous sense of optimism primarily due to the inclusion of JARVIS’s traversal of embodiment - the asset now being in ultimately reliable, if proverbial, hands due to the intelligence’s diligent disposition.

         But such notions are impinged upon as there is a strong fluctuation upon the screens before him, a sudden burst of statistical data that causes for the engineer’s dark brow to furrow at cumulative information simply pooling in at an alarming rate. Fingertips are quick to fly over the keyboard in front of him in a bid to extrapolate and gain a better understanding regardless of their potentially adverse nature, eyes continually flitting between a screen and the encasing of the Cradle, the inventor affording himself a very brief moment to glance back in Bruce and Maria’s direction as if obvious commentary was crudely required for the curious audience]

                   Reading’s are going crazy. Don’t mean to be a nervous nelly, but I think we need to consider abor---

     [ There’s the abrupt and downright turbulent creaking of metal, the billionaire knowing that sound anywhere from decades of its manipulation with his extensive work, a hand instinctively slamming down onto an enlarged button which is conveniently nestled at the worksurface, a precaution that sees the large room automatically going into lockdown - established protocols for a probable threat rapidly invoked, the lighting ( and thus the mood ) shifting with hues of crimson dispersing across the atmosphere. Tony doesn’t know if such measures are entirely necessary just yet but it isn’t a risk he’s willing to take regardless of his usually cavalier approach to experimentation, his dark gaze narrowing over the formation of the android as it arises from its inorganic chrysalis, attempting to ascertain the parameters of the situation.

         It’s with a great sense of awe that the man looks upon the being, and yet urgency rapidly takes a hold due to the comparative silence that they’re met with, ports for neural receptors relinquishing all means of encryption - put simply, Stark opens himself up fully for digital communication, internally gauging the mode of packet transmission best to inaudibly approach the AI in his new-found physique. Usually when “speaking” with the system he created, the futurist would easily find a means of wireless signalling to pick up on and draw his focus, a point in which he could latch onto for the comfortable and natural exchange in which they had often shared during recent months. There are a number he can utilise and Tony doesn’t think twice about bombarding them all with one sole thought, feet shuffling slightly as the man takes a few steps to the side to round the edge of the terminals]

                                                              < J...? STATUS REPORT >

     [ A bizarre and unsettling resonance is reverberated back to the engineer, the lines upon his forehead fiercely deepening in disbelief before gradually edging into tempered and unwanted realisation, the transferred message having pinged back to him undelivered. Stark was unable to digitally communicate with the other, attempts effectively and bewilderingly being blocked due to the bonded vibranium’s constricting properties, a steely glare manifesting as his sense of concentration takes hold to try again in vain. His internal processor swiftly augments due to the increased effort and strain on his resources, each attempt depleting him of energy as a glistening bead of perspiration trickles down the side of his temple, breath growing short as a powerfully cloying dull ache lingers at the base of his skull.

         This doesn’t bode well and despite the numerous nuggets of binary which are transmitted, none of them are successfully delivered, the futurist’s visage increasingly beginning to fall as it grows abundantly clear that his glorified meddling had been successful in respect to the experiment’s conclusion, but had been dire in another entirely. All sense of familiarity had been completely lost as he’s confronted with the hunched shell of magenta “flesh” with no real manner of gauging the one within - JARVIS’s schema on the Stark Network had been completely erased with the transferral with no means of efficient restoration or clone, the man met with a vast void lingering within his thoughts cast backwards. The digital space in which they both inhabited was no longer occupied by the highly perceptive AI, instead only a vague echo of what had once been, accompanied by glimmers of wonderful brilliance. Each second of silence that passes distinctively strengthens a single concept for the engineer - that the entity standing before Tony was not the man’s creation whom had turned 25 recently. This was someone else entirely, one that the billionaire didn’t know on a personal level, or if they could be trusted. ]

                                                         < WHAT HAVE I DONE? >

TONY:     [Bruce doesn’t require additional prodding or a prolonged means of explanation - the scientist simply understands before the engineer has the opportunity to ascertain and formulate the required explanation, the two of them in sync where matters are concerned, the barest hint of an ember igniting with shared cognition. Tony taps the outer edge of the Cradle with the tip of his index finger, a rhythmic pattern that denotes his amplifying interest as his stance shifts to join and gain a better view of the screen]

          You got it. Of all the specimens that we came across after Ultron’s last endeavours, every resource imaginable that he had available to him at the time all lies within Sleeping Beauty over here. It’s one thing when man creates a machine, but when artificial intelligence does? You know you’re onto something extraordinar---

[the doors are opening from the other side of the inventor, animated voice instinctively hushing with the disturbance out of sheer habit, a quick glance aimed in the sound’s direction as the familiarly stern voice filters across ( that was quick, go figure ). There’s a low huff emitted, head tipping back a fraction with the roll of his dark eyes, as if a nonsensical question had been aimed his way out of sheer habit as opposed to in depth thought. As far as the man could see, there were no inclinations for suspicion, head tilting to one side with undercurrents of a darker sense of humour weaving into this speech]

         What can I say, I’m eager. The more the merrier, right? All hands on deck etc. In all honesty, in terms of additional consultancy it was either Banner or Richards, considering their respective fields… but the latter seems a little preoccupied - locked away in the Baxter Building with this research these days. You averse to a little additional help, Hill?

BRUCE:     [ Artificial Intelligence doesn’t ding Bruce’s bell the same way it clearly does Tony’s - but even Bruce can’t deny that there’s a certain kind of elegance and cohesion that goes with the streamline, mathematical marvel in front of them --

          scientific fascination takes a nosedive as he freezes, the sound of Maria’s voice such a surprise he doesn’t even turn around; did he miss the part where she was already back? The sound of his name is such a far cry from the norm that he wonders why - which brings about the recognition of what’s at stake, and what they’ve inadvertently stumbled into: Tony doesn’t know and that’s how it’s supposed to stay. 

Bruce clears his throat, pulling off his glasses and cleaning them on the edge of his shirt as he turns -- he can’t even look at her, not without giving something away, so he heads to the cradle instead ]

          I haven’t seen anything like this before. And without going extraterrestrial - I doubt anyone else has either.

MARIA:     [ An email is hastily being finished, strides slowed now that she’s emerged from the brisk clip of the hallway outside- by comparison the room is serene, almost like a mausoleum, the image secured by the glass case sitting center stage. Fingertips press the device back into her pocket, attention lifting back to the task at hand. Banner’s shift catches her eye, the motions read anxious against the catalogue of familiar tics, and in an effort to aid she puts a foot out, turns toward Tony with her head tilted. ]

           Not at all.

[ --and there’s a latent comment at the tip of her tongue, something about how nice it is to see them working together again, the sarcasm backing it directed toward Stark as though a lighthearted tease, but Maria’s well aware of the sore spot this might touch in the party’s other half. Instead, her brows twitch, inching upward above hooded lids that do little to hide her apparent bemusement. The Director stops at the head of the Cradle, carefully avoiding Bruce without trying to seem as though she’s ignoring him ( even if she does want to apologize for the change in plans that’s brought her back into town ahead of schedule ). She is, however, interested in what the scientists have to say, and her gaze once again falls to Bruce when he speaks. ]

           I agree, I think what we have here is incredibly unique. Stark? What have you found out about the asset?

TONY:     [he doesn’t notice the cause of the tension that burdens itself within the confined atmosphere, naturally attributing the heavier resonance within the room to the subject matter at hand coupled with Hill’s ability to bring a heightened means of strain with her icy presence ( some would call it a hidden talent ). ]

          What we have here is a good specimen of a sapient construct - a seamless hybrid between organic and inorganic materials, specifically organ tissue that’s been intrinsically bonded with vibranium. Ultron specifically chose to utilise this element to create a means of invulnerability - can’t say that I blame him. However, this composition is unique - while there are obvious capabilities of computer interfacing that one would expect of an android-like being, other features have been flagged up. What’s concerning, or exciting dependent on your point of view, is the potential to manipulate its atoms to shapeshift.

[digits swipe across the screen that he and the other scientist were sharing, data shifting to a series of usefully visual infographics. The inventor veers the pane of glass in the Director’s direction, tapping on a segment in the corner to bring up a schematic that he was able to extrapolate based on the cranial design]

          Considering the grooves that are present within the centre of its forehead and based on my previous research and retrieval of part of the set, it’s my belief that Ultron had the intention of attaching an Infinity Gem to it. My thought is that he was considering using it as an unlimited source of power.

BRUCE:     [ with the screen angled towards Maria, it prevents him from being able to see - and supplement - the data; he hesitates for a moment before taking a chance and coming around the side, stepping up behind Maria, nodding along at Tony’s explanations before stating the outstanding implications of it all - ]

          It’s already exponentially more advanced than any sort of robotic body we’ve seen before - but it looks like, right next to an unlimited source of power, it’s also been constructed for unlimited potential. See, typical cellular biology dictates a very rigid organic structure; but these preliminary readings -

  [ - he steps up behind Maria’s shoulder, reaching around her to point out the reading that supports his theory - ]

     - make it seem like its cells are on stand-by. Slight discrepancies in cellular makeup are normal, and we can accept fluctuations to a certain degree in these circumstance --  but the speed at which these are happening are barely quantifiable.

      I’d say the cells were some kind of mutation, but it goes beyond a genetic anomaly… 

[ all of which could mean a dozen different things, and he’s too taken by the implications and potential to realize how close he’s drifted to Maria, the proximity not registering on any level as indecorous ( though his focus on the screen and problem at hand might account for the lapse in his typically stringent personal bubble ) ]

MARIA:     [ Maria settles, arms drifting to fold across her chest. The expression on her face is partly amused, partly impatient. The two of them are prattling on, ricocheting off of each other so quickly she feels as though they might continue on to some far reaching thread, and in an effort to redirect the conversation ( act as a grounding wire to a pair of live currents ), she attempts to translate: ]

          So, it’s a cyborg. Essentially.

[ One brow arcs, Bruce comes in close and she sees it out of her peripheral- any movement now might call attention to the casual action so she remains at rest until he finishes speaking, at which point she angles out, adjusting just enough so that there’s several more inches between them. ]

                    In stasis.

[ It’s not hard to grasp, it just requires a bit of untangling before she gets there, and it’s not as though the pair of scientists made it easy for her. Maria exhales, turning her attention from Bruce- who she hasn’t seen this excited about the prospect of any sort of scientific problem since the question of Agent Morse’s research came up. There’s a split second where she might smile, a twitch at the corner of her mouth, which she hides by turning her head back to Tony, an expression indicative of her endurance regarding this whole situation. Her eyebrows pinch at the center of her forehead.

At the risk of sounding stupid, she considers her next question- 

        Whatever, she’s already outplayed here anyway. At least she can admit it. Inwardly. ]

     You’re telling me you haven’t tried all other means of energy sources for this… thing? Plain electricity isn’t enough?

TONY:     [the engineer periodically nods along with Bruce’s preliminary cellular analysis, restless hands slipping into his pockets and rummaging with odd items that had found their way in there - his wallet, phone, a double-ended slim line pick, a receipt from a local hole-in-the-wall diner he had stopped by earlier, a slither of metal which worked as a device to digitally exchange business cards ( who used actual cards these days, anyhow? ) which currently contained a few from some members of SHIELD’s tech security team as part of the futurist's ongoing work with the registration database. Stark catches Hill veering in his direction but doesn’t outright act upon it at first, maintaining his concentration on the data as a scarce hint of a scoff passes by his lips with her use of the term cyborg]

          Heh, that’s one way of looking at it, although this guy isn’t fictional.

[the inventor takes a deepened breath and can practically feel his patience beginning to fray at the edges, the conversation seemingly taking ten steps forwards between himself and Banner, but receding by five due to the comparatively slowed pace of Hill. His spine straightens, finally looking towards the Director pointedly with a muttered aside that’s barely whispered for her benefit]

          Talk about over-simplifying the problem… The mechanisms in place won’t allow for your typical means of power source to be broken down and processed. These bonded cells that are present complicate the entire equation exponentially, they aren’t a part of your usual everyday circuitry. It’d be like trying to plug Banner here to the mains and hoping he won’t get fried.

BRUCE:     [ sort-of not really, but it’s close enough ( they can go over it again, if she wants, later ) and he nods over Tony’s sci-fi comment with his own, less needling,]  Sure. Basically.

[ Bruce’s eyes slide to the side at Tony’s special brand of brash, ignoring it to instead pick up on his thread of example: ]

          That’s a bad analogy- I wouldn’t get fried; but…   the Other Guy would probably destroy the room so, maybe it is a good one? 

[ he looks to Maria instinctively for a second opinion, doesn’t see the arch of reaction he’s expecting - because why would he, and his eyes widen marginally as he clears his throat in what he hopes is a self-deprecating gesture, taking a step back, and heading to the Cradle ]

     Either way -   a proper assessment of the body is going to take a lot longer than those preliminary pulls, and a lot more resources than…

[ than SHIELD can likely offer at the moment, at least without pulling from Tony’s pool of resources ]

MARIA:     Clearly.

[ The word drips from her mouth, dry and unimpressed. She’s not surprised that Stark expects her to keep up even though she’s way out of her lane here. Her mouth tightens at the overly violent suggestion, an unsettled flicker of an expression flashing in the clench of her brows before it’s gone completely.

Maria shifts, body rotating to follow Bruce’s trajectory while she keeps one eye on Tony. Her arms are folded but the gesture is loose, barely defensive ( and if it is, it’s for her own benefit ). Lips roll between her teeth, she realizes her gaze has drifted to Bruce at the Cradle and it snaps back to Stark. ]

     I’m going to need more proof that you’ve tried every available option. I can’t sign off on just a ‘cool idea’.

[ Head tilted, she holds the stare with Tony for a beat before her attention is drawn by the other scientist’s voice, and if her expression softens just a touch-- Maria over-corrects to ensure it won’t read that way. ]

     How long? What’re we talking, timeline-wise?

TONY:     Let’s just say I prefer more colourful examples to convey concepts. Knock it if you will, but it’s an effective technique nonetheless. Words painting pictures, and so on.

[the futurist is aware that, despite recent untoward events, he’s in a somewhat favourable position - granted there are other individuals around the globe with a heightened degree of knowledge in the field of Artificial Intelligence with infinitely more than a soupcon of understanding in engineering and subsequently robotics, it was Tony’s sheer invested interest which made him a viable option in its development. Once a project piqued the inventor’s interest and imagination, he could move heaven and earth to see it reach a point of fruition - a trait that often bordered on obsession, compromise not being an option in the face of progress in Tony Stark’s book. It’s enough for him to cast a challenging glance towards Hill, chin haughtily raised upwards]

           I don’t think you appreciate the payoff of mastering the comprehension and implementation of this finalised prototype. The unique cellular bond with vibranium means that, in the right hands, this could potentially be an incredibly powerful asset. Fury had initially endeavoured to harness the power of the Tesseract for use by SHIELD. Are you honestly telling me that similar options are not on the cards? Seems to be a step backwards for you guys if that’s the case. Then again, what can I expect from the people who initially wanted to dismantle the components for analysis as opposed to its entirety.

[the billionaire’s voice is terse but the truth of the matter is that his demeanour could be considerably worse if not for the presence of the other scientist - as harsh as Tony could be, there was an underlying hint of consideration present due to Bruce. The two peers had been gradually mending fences after their tumultuous argument earlier in the year, the futurist willing to listen to reason if imparted from someone whom he had a significant level of respect for. His words soften a fraction, calm in the manner in which he relays across the apparently logical options]

           If it makes everyone more “comfortable”, we can approach this with smaller steps. Run a plethora of simulations of the effects of that level of energy before committing to it. It’s difficult to quantify a timeframe and, quite frankly, it’s dependent on who works on this. Your SHIELD-based “experts” - potentially more than a year, if you’re lucky. Myself, on my own, with a combination of my and SHIELD’s resources - six months plus. Add Banner to the mix - I’m thinking a few months of ardent work.

BRUCE:     [ the core of Bruce pulls in two opposite ways - precautionary wariness, as well as an eagerness to explore the scientific potential inherent in the specimen. The divide between Maria and Tony is as clear as the separation between the two opposite compulsions he feels  ( -- appropriate, perhaps, considering these two people he feels closest to, and their current attitudes towards the subject at hand ( and each other)

          And if there’s one thing he’s learnt, it’s that an excess of either predisposition could result in catastrophe -- though one of those was more likely to end with carnage ]

     Moving beyond comfortable,  [ no one’s missed the sarcastic intonation behind that word, and Bruce at least, doesn’t find it so luxurious ]  - I’d propose it’s just realistic.   There’s potentially enough power here to obliterate the Earth.

The only responsible thing to do is start at the bottom and work our way up - which means time, and a team that’s going to be able to balance caution, innovation, and creative intuition.

[ there’s no denying it - Bruce wants in on this; and he’d yet to meet a better candidate from keeping Tony from prodding too recklessly. ]

MARIA:     You’re right, I don’t.

[ How could she appreciate such a thing, standalone, just for the scientific properties? It’s all fine and well, but Maria isn’t truly invested until there’s something on the table that she can make use of. And-- there it is. The slant cast of her jaw brings her gaze back around to Stark, catching the upward tilt of his head and the haughtiness in that steel-eyed look. Of course. Shoulders roll back, blades tucking in toward her spine while she readies herself for what a careful acceptance of the project will mean. ( A risk, of course, but it means agreeing that Tony knows best- ) ]

     No need to get insulting, Stark. I’m well aware of Fury’s way of doing things. I’m not him. We go at this incrementally, like you suggested and Dr. Banner improved upon, or we don’t go at it at all.

[ She’s glad, suddenly, that Bruce is there and is able to ( ironically ) breathe a breath of fresh air between the three of them. Defensive walls are starting to come up and there’s the potential that this conversation could go downhill quickly once Tony or Maria start giving some pushback, but with Bruce mediating, they may actually be able to come to a decently fair compromise. An exhale slides free of the part in her lips and a relaxed expression begins to settle on her features. It’s not a bad thing, a compromise, especially with two so very willing participants. ]

     I’ll give you a list of people from S.H.I.E.L.D. I want on this, give you the option to have a few select subcontractors cleared by our security protocol on your side as well. That sound fair?

[ Considering Bruce’s reputation with the agency as of late, she’d prefer he approach the project from SI’s side. Plus, the pair of them already seem to have some sort of agreement they’re operating under. The set of her shoulders has softened, the hardline hold in her expression beginning to dissolve and she looks at Bruce. ]

     I can sign off on a few months of ardent work, so long as there’s something to show for it in the end.