(no subject)

[science_is_fun]

It didn't take long after the Galactus invasion for things to go back to normal. ...or at least, normal by the standards of the Avengers. T'Challa had returned to his quarters after apprehending Bi-Beast, only to find that an small bee-like robot had slipped through the defenses of the Avengers' Mansion, bypassed T'Challa's own security measures, and was in the process of shrinking down whatever Vibranium it could find for some undoubtedly nefarious purpose.

The insectoid machine self-destructed shortly after it was spotted, but between Tony, T'Challa, and the Vision, they were able to trace a weak signal to somewhere within New York's subway systems. In case this was a trap, half of the team went to check it out, while the other half stayed at the mansion in case another threat popped up. (also, in some cases, it just made sense - having the Hulk smashing his way through the subway would likely do more harm than good, no matter who was responsible for this, and Thor wasn't as effective underground)

Yellowjacket immediately volunteered to pursue the lead - he hated waiting around, and besides, this would be a chance to prove himself. Even he could tell that the team didn't exactly trust him, so maybe if he single-handedly caught the villain responsible for this, they'd change their tune.

Unfortunately for Yellowjacket's plans, the rest of the team decided it was best to split up, and he was the only one of them stuck with a partner. The others went solo - they must have thought that he's too weak to handle this on his own. If he'd been working with Vision or Stark, that would be one thing - showing either of them up could be spun as a win.

Instead, he was with the Wasp, which... complicated things. She kept insisting that he was Hank Pym, even though Yellowjacket had killed Pym months ago. On top of that, there were times when she was around where he... didn't quite feel like himself, and Yellowjacket didn't like that one bit. It reminded him too much of Pym - that whiny pacifist had been the weak link of the Avengers, and he didn't want to turn out the same way.



"Why don't you go off on your own? Everyone else did. ...It's like they've never even seen a horror movie." Yellowjacket grins, his darker sense of humour on display. "This'd be about the part where the killer starts picking people off one by one..."

He pauses, as though he's listening for something. "Or maybe that's not 'til later." He taps at his Avengers ID card, trying to get the signal to strengthen, but it's still faintly shown on the screen, bouncing around the map of the tunnels.

Comments

[the_awesome_one]

She follows immediately after - she's not letting him out of her sight, who knows what he'll get up to - wings fluttering as she goes just a tiny bit airborne - just in case. But his attitude, the...everything with this situation, has her just on edge enough to decide that subtlety isn't her thing right now.

"Move," she says, yellow energy starting to glow around her fists.

It's not going to be a barrier much longer.

[science_is_fun]

Yellowjacket's eyes widen, and the shoulders of his suit start to buzz as he hovers out of the way without comment.

He doesn't stray too far, though - he doesn't want Wasp stealing all of the glory. (And, though he'd never admit it, he wouldn't want that anger/frustration turned against him if he tried to sneak away)

Deep down, a part of him that's still Hank knows that Yellowjacket's concerns would never happen, and is impressed by Jan's determination, but Yellowjacket looks both surprised and impressed as he watches Janet blast the door.

[the_awesome_one]

And she, for her part, was in a constant process of pushing herself. Like figuring out how to go giant - that'd been part of that. And now she was working to make her stings more than just an aggravation to some of the villains they faced.

That it helps her burn off some of the frustration of hearing the wrong voice come from the face she loved, hearing it disparage a great man she had admired before she fell for him...that's just gravy.

It also means, in very practical terms, that one potential 'lock them in and ambush' them point is now so much slag and shrapnel.

[science_is_fun]

Yellowjacket lets out a low whistle as he surveys the broken/melted door. "Now that's what I call making an entrance!"

The passageway that the door leads into is far too smooth to be natural, though there aren't any mechanical parts on the walls, floor, or roof to indicate any danger. However, there aren't any lights, with the path extending into utter darkness.

A more cautious person would take it slowly and carefully regardless of how things appear to be, but unfortunately, "cautious" isn't in Yellowjacket's vocabulary. (apparently, blasting a hole in Galactus's ship and trying and failing to shrink Galactus taught him nothing)

"Race you, Wasp!" Stubbornly sticking to using the size-shifter's pseudonym, rather than referring to her by her real name, Yellowjacket hovers into the air and darts down the hallway, charging up his own bioelectric blasts to use as a light.

[the_awesome_one]

(In fairness, it had almost worked.)

"Wait, you...!" She groans. "Dammit."

And she flies down after him, trying to keep up.

[science_is_fun]

The pathway itself is, mercifully, straightforward, with no branches to speak of. There are a few twists and turns, but eventually, it arrives at a door similar to the one that the Wasp blasted open earlier. Yellowjacket's in the process of using his own energy blasts to break a hole in it when the Wasp shows up; he doesn't have as much practice with them as the Wasp does, but they still do the trick.

The room on the other side is designed for a normal-sized person, but it's only lit by the sickly green glow of a computer monitor. Mechanical whirring can be heard, as the monitor's light shines on the tail end of an assembly line where more insectoid robots are being finished. As one reaches the end of the line, it flutters its wings before heading out another door like the one that the two Avengers just arrived through. These doors are all over the visible part of the room at floor level, opening automatically as the robots come near them.

The rest of the room is dark, and it's unclear how far it extends. "Looks like nobody's home," Yellowjacket says, returning to his normal size. "This seems to be the place, though - what do you say we smash it up?"

[the_awesome_one]

She takes one look at them and shudders.

"Ugh, whatever these are, it can't be good," she said, moving carefully. "Doesn't look like Hydra, at least. Not enough stupid skulls."

1/2

[science_is_fun]

Yellowjacket smirks. "Whoever it is, they've got to be pretty dumb for trying to mess with the Avengers."

Moments later, a pair of bright red lights cut through the darkness at the end of the room, seemingly in answer to the implied question. Loud stomping can be heard over the noise of the assembly line while the lights draw nearer and nearer, as a cold detached voice can be heard from the shadows.

"Janet van Dyne. Henry Pym."

[instillpeace]

The chrome, allegedly ant-like face of Ultron comes into view. Despite the destruction of his previous body, he's very clearly got a new one, standing head and shoulders over either Avenger.

The lights turn on overhead, flickering on throughout the room as the machine continues. "Your arrival was earlier than predicted, though still within acceptable parameters."

"Great," Yellowjacket groans. "Now we've got to clean up after Pym's mess. And the name's Yellowjacket, by the way."

Ignoring him, Ultron turns to the Wasp. "With you here, Project Jocasta can be completed." With the lights on, a half-melted gynoid body can be seen at the end of the room. Some parts were heavily damaged by the explosion, while others are brand new, in a bizarre patchwork as Ultron has very clearly been trying to repair his intended bride. "I have yet to procure enough adamantium to create a stronger body for Jocasta, but it will happen soon enough." Going by the design of his current body, it seemed like Ultron prioritized rebuilding himself with adamantium over anything else.

[the_awesome_one]

Her reply has everything to do with bravado rather than anything concrete - but the very presence of Ultron chills her to the bone. He is always and ever an apex-level threat, and Hank isn't...isn't even Hank right now.

"Please, you've failed every other time, what makes you think you'll succeed this time, you half-assed bucket?"

She powers into the air, fists glowing.

"And we could really, truly, use Hank right now!"

[instillpeace]

Ultron remains focused on Janet, treating the question like it's not rhetorical.

"I have taken precautions to prevent the situations that led to my previous defeats. While more Vibranium would be useful, I have obtained enough to counteract the Vision's phasing ability if he attempted to detach my head again."

Ultron continues, clearly having prepared a list for this occasion. "Secondly, I have--"

[science_is_fun]

Ultron doesn't get to say what he has, as Yellowjacket tosses some of Hank's prototype Pym Particle discs at Ultron. The robot snatches them out of the air, but they activate, surrounding Ultron with a yellow glow as he shrinks out of sight.

"Looks like he's the Microverse's problem now," Yellowjacket says with a smug grin as he looks at where Ultron had been standing.

He focuses on Jan with the smug expression still on his face. "What would Pym have done, anyway? Try to talk the robot to death? 'Oh, please, Ultron, don't kill all of humanity! That would be awful!'"

[the_awesome_one]

"Ugh, get over yourself, you're a psychotic break, not really him."

She reflects that maybe it's a cruel thing to say, and regrets it - but right now she's flitting between terrified and angry and concerned.

"And Ultron's a terrible problem no matter where he is," she says, trying the Avengers card again.

"We need everyone in here, fast."

1/2

[science_is_fun]

"You're right, I'm not him. Glad to see you finally got with the program. And besides--"

Yellowjacket's bragging is cut off as the space between them glows with a blinding light, and Ultron grows back to full size right before their eyes. Grabbing Yellowjacket by the neck on the way up, he lifts him off of the ground with one hand, with the ease of someone picking up a stuffed animal.

2/2

[instillpeace]

Ultron continues as though he hadn't been interrupted.

"Secondly, I have gained the ability to manipulate the so-called 'Pym Particles' since our last encounter." Still gripping Yellowjacket's neck, Ultron's head turns at an unnatural angle to stare at Janet - she's still the one that he's talking to, and he treats Yellowjacket as though he isn't even there. "This is to be expected - after all, I am superior to Henry Pym in every meaningful way."

Ultron obviously likes to hear himself talk, as he keeps going. "Likewise, I have improved upon the work of Elihas Starr to create a Pym Particle inhibitor." At that remark, two drones fly off of a nearby table carrying steel bracers. Despite Yellowjacket's attempts to bat them away, they attach the bracers to his wrists before flying back where they came from. "Any attempt to manipulate Pym Particles will be negated, and met with an electric shock. I do not wish to use these on you, but I will if you refuse to cooperate."

[the_awesome_one]

"I'm never going to cooperate!"

She floats into the air, the glow from her fists growing as her anger overcomes her - and becoming significantly more unstable than it's ever been before.

"How can you be so stupid for a robot? All that brain power and you still can't figure out you just wanna prove you're better than Dad, huh? Can't even be original enough to make a girlfriend that isn't based on Dad's, either! You need a therapist, not a master plan!"

Her whole body is shaking, vibrating, really.

"I'm not sure which of you in this room makes me angrier - the dumbass tin-head or the trauma-induced personality I can't get past to bring the real Hank back! I swear to God when I am done reducing loser-tron to scrap metal I am strapping you to a bed and getting you a shrink, Hank!"

1/2

[instillpeace]

"Acknowledged." Flinging Yellowjacket away, Ultron hovers into the air for a moment in order to let his body rotate 180 degrees so he can walk towards Janet.

"Your cooperation is preferred, but not necessary. This process will free you from the limitations of organic life - injury, decay, death... If you illogically refuse this, then it seems that you must be forced into the procedure, even if violence is necessary. It is for your own good."

2/2

[science_is_fun]

From the corner where Ultron threw him, Yellowjacket fires energy blasts at Ultron, which dissipate harmlessly against the synthezoid's adamantium body.

"Hey, rustbucket! Pick on someone your own size!"

"Very well." At that, Ultron shrinks down to insect size, though much like Hank and Janet, he still retains the sort of power that he would have under normal circumstances. Using the jets in his feet to stay airborne, Ultron rockets towards Janet as Yellowjacket tries fruitlessly to get Ultron's devices off of his arms.

Re: 2/2

[the_awesome_one]

"Bring it, rustbucket," she replied, grimly. She didn't even acknowledge Hank in the moment, simply pumping everything she had in the direction Ultron was coming from, nearly her entire body glowing yellow as she simply let loose.

Bolt after bolt flew through the air, punching holes in the wall beyond.

[instillpeace]

"Your efforts are futile." Ultron doesn't even try to dodge; the walls may be made of simpler materials, but Ultron's outer body is pure adamantium. The blasts that hit slow Ultron's momentum, but leave no visible damage. "The hammer of Thor or the fists of the Hulk cannot damage this chassis - what hope do you have?"

As Yellowjacket tries to find some kind of tool that he can use to free himself, Ultron returns fire, blood-red beams laser beams launching from his mouth. This does nothing to prevent him from talking, however. "Cease this foolishness. You merely prolong the inevitable."

[the_awesome_one]

In that case, time to try another tactic - namely, shrink down, get inside him and then blast him apart from the inside. She flits forward, increasing speed.

Let the villains talk enough, they'll give you ideas.

1/2

[science_is_fun]

Yellowjacket can only stare in surprise as the Wasp flies towards Ultron.

"Wasp, what are you--"

Ultron is already insect-sized, so getting small enough to get inside of him requires a person to shrink down to heights below what would be considered safe. Seeing her shrink smaller and smaller, potentially dancing on the knife's edge between staying in this universe and being stuck in the Microverse before she vanishes into Ultron's gaping mouth, causes something to snap inside of Yellowjacket.

"JAN!" Hank instinctively tries to shrink to go after her, but he's met with an electric shock. His memories from his time as Yellowjacket are jumbled and filled with blank spots, but he still picks up on a few things. The devices on his arms are clearly the cause of what just happened, Ultron is behind this, and Ultron has managed to duplicate Pym Particles - none of those are good, but only one of them matters right now.

For Yellowjacket, the Wasp was just another teammate - a fun one to mess with, sure, but not worth the risk of losing an arm over. For Hank, Janet is the entire reason why he's a superhero in the first place, and so important to him that he's willing to do something dangerous and impulsive if it's for her sake. Finding the hinges keeping the devices shut, he charges up a bio-electric blast and starts burning his way through one of the hinges. He has to be careful (a word that wasn't even in Yellowjacket's vocabulary) - too little energy, and he wouldn't get all the way through, but too much and he could burn his hands or worse.

2/2

[instillpeace]

Ultron hovers in the air, conflicted after Janet flies into his body. Cold logic would dictate that he could continue to shrink - his circuitry and wiring would risk being damaged, but the automated repair systems would fix that soon enough, and any intruders would be crushed by his indestructible adamantium body eventually.

On the other hand, it's Janet - logic (or at least Ultron's twisted logic) dictates that she's the only fitting subject for Project Jocasta. While Ultron remains dedicated to the idea of bringing about peace to the Earth by wiping out organic life, the invasions of the Skrulls, Kree, and Galactus opened Ultron's eyes to how populated the universe was, and how badly it was in need of Ultron's brand of peace.

However, a single guiding intellect would not be enough - it could lead to stagnation, repetition, and predictability, and this was unacceptable. A second guiding intellect was needed - a "queen" for his hive mind - and Janet was the perfect candidate. She had the leadership skills (whether it's business savvy or being one of the handful of people who could get the Hulk to cooperate), and she was the opposite of Henry Pym in so many ways (after his first defeat, Ultron had been forced to acknowledge that his mind was based on Pym's, though he reconciled with that by claiming to have surpassed Pym's limitations a long time ago). In addition, she was dedicated and loyal, whether it was sticking with the Avengers when they were down to three members or sticking with Pym in spite of everything that he put her through, whether it was ignoring her in favour of scientific pursuits or whatever is going with the changes in Pym's personality. All of those qualities should transfer over to Jocasta, even if the emotional side is replaced with pure logic; after all, Ultron's goal is the only logical solution.

Ultron remains frozen in place, his artificial intelligence warring between these two stances, before he registers Henry Pym's shout, which breaks the deadlock. There were other methods available that didn't involve crushing Janet, at least not physically...

Re: 2/2

[the_awesome_one]

The idea is, for her, straightforward. Ultron's body may be indestructable, but his innards certainly won't be.

Shrink down. Infiltrate, size up somewhat and then...well, unleash everything she's got before she runs out of oxygen and, God willing, burn him from the inside out.

Otherwise, he will kill Hank. Whatever else 'Yellowjacket' has done, he'll be the first to perish - and Ultron with the power of Pym Particles is an impossible threat to defeat after that. It has to be here, and right now; before anybody else can be harmed, no matter what the cost. She accepts that it might very well kill her - but you didn't sign up for the Avengers expecting to live forever.

And so, flying inside of Ultron, she stops shrinking - and begins to charge up with every ounce of energy left in her body.

[science_is_fun]

Ultron is becoming increasingly aware that this is not going to work out like he had anticipated. The energy readings building up within him are far beyond what Janet should be capable of, but after getting punched by her giant form during his first attack on the Avengers, he's aware that she can surpass her supposed limits. With an electronic signal, he commands two of his insectoid robots to shrink down Jocasta's body and take it elsewhere - he hasn't given up on that plan, and he's not going to risk Jocasta's body being damaged again.

Hank doesn't even notice, as he's dealing with bigger problems (figuratively speaking): at Ultron's current size, the mad machine is like a living bullet, and Hank's only managed to get one of the inhibitors off of his arms. Unable to shrink, having no time to think, not being able to communicate with insects, and left with energy blasts that have proven ineffective against adamantium, Hank doesn't have a whole lot of options available to him.

Ultron shoots a laser from his mouth at Hank, but he grabs a drone off of the table (one of the ones that got him into this mess) and throws it into the path of the beam, causing it to explode. This doesn't deter Ultron, however, who rockets through the smoke. "Useless."