reeds_rival | (no subject)

In every home, on every channel, computer, television, and radio station, the broadcast changes. Images of news or entertainment, music, instruction, all are suddenly changed to a singular channel. The feed shows a being cloaked in shadow and flames, and very recognizably not human.

It is Ultron, an android once banished from Earth to the deepest reaches of space, and he has a message.

"People of Earth. In the past, you have doubtless heard of me or my predecessors as I have continued my march toward perfection. But for those with feeble memories or who choose to ignore my presence, I am Ultron-Omega. In the past I have judged you, and all biological life forms as unfit to be the dominant members in your fragile world. You are unruly, war-driven brutes who do nothing but destroy the world you were gifted.

My judgment still stands, and I feel as if all of you will cause ruin to anything you come into contact with. This is not opinion. It is fact, recovered from observation and the gathering of data on every person on your planet alive. Your deaths will be a relief upon the universe.

However, there is yet another option than oblivion for your kind. I have brought the gift of technology to your planet, capable of bringing you peace and harmony among yourselves and every other being you share existence with. I call it Phalanx, and it is your only option for survival. If you resist treatment and implantation of my Phalanx, you will be killed."

The feed cuts, and static pervades every machine capable of broadcast. In Los Angeles, brutal riots form, grabbing men and women from the streets and taking them downtown to be processed. A single skyscraper sheds its outer surface in a cloud of debris, and in its place stands a spire, imposing in size. In and out mill men, women and children, grabbing others on the streets to infect them with the Hive mind. They are the Phalanx, and they will not stop until everyone on Earth is infected or dead.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...no. I'm not leaving you. And you'll need a telepath.

How much of that crap is still inside you, Matthew?

I don't know. I can hear them. They want to 'reboot' me.

What does that mean?

I'm guessing reassert control. Telepaths are handy to have. I... sent a bunch of people to them, just by telling them to go.

You really think if they get some of whatever it is, they can stop it?

They can't have you.

I don't know and I don't care. If the price of stopping this is you, then Ultron can have this planet. [The words send some things inside her to screeching, loudly enough that it bleeds over. Aeron screws her eyes shut tightly, and shadows move under her skin as she hisses at them to shut up.]

No, they can't.

[Matthew takes her hands and kisses them.] I'm not dying. I promise.

Work with me.

You don't have permission to.

[Aeron pulls her hands away gently, placing them to either side of Matthew's head. Her eyes open, and in one of them a blood vessel has burst.] Okay.

Exactly.

...Aeron?

I'm alright. [She smiles, and there is blood on her teeth.]

[He touches a finger to her lips.]

You can't leave me either. Okay?

[She purses her lips.]

I won't. Are you strong enough to help me contain that beehive?

Yes. I am, if you're with me.

[She smiles gently and kisses his forehead.] I mean in there. I told Stark I'd wait thirty minutes.

We can wait for them, sure.

I'll be fine. I have you. YOU own me, not them.

I gave him thirty minutes. After that, we go when you're ready.

[She smiles, bright and weary at the same time.] We're taking a vacation after this. No phones, no visitors, just us four. And we two.. We'll hunt.

Affirmative.

...yes. [He sounds so relieved.] I need you. You and Jen and the kids. I'm so damn sorry, Aeron.

I told Jen that if there were no chance of saving you, that she would know because she, Will and I would be the only survivors. So.

...what do you mean?

[Aeron simply smiles and kisses his forehead.]

[He frowns but holds onto her anyway.]

[Aeron strokes his hair, thinking.] I still want you to go back with them.

We'll see.

You have such a nice way of saying 'no'.