and limping in small steps, every movement it made accompanied by the scratching and squeaking of metal on metal. Its voice was crackling, and metallic.

A deep rumble coming from a computer, somehow formed into words, "You're all killers."

A deep chill settled on Luna's spine as the words rang through her mind. She swallowed nervously, not taking her eyes off the robot as it spoke to them. Her hands shook, itching to use her abilities and put an end to this entire deeply-disturbing experience.

"Stark." Steve said.

"JARVIS." Stark replied quickly, holding up his holographic tablet.

"I'm sorry, I was asleep." Its voice alone, was enough to send a shiver through all of the Avengers. "Or..." It sounded philosophical, curious. Before it sounded menacing and creepy, when now it tilted its head like it was questioning something. "I was a-dream."

Tony spoke to his tablet, to JARVIS, "Reboot Legionnaire OS. We got a buggy suit."

JARVIS didn't respond.

The suit kept talking, sounding more confused, looking around the room. For answers? Something to kill? A toaster-girlfriend? Luna didn't know, all she wanted was to end this, but everyone seemed to be in a state of shock and confusion, they didn't move.

"There was this terrible noise." It drawled.

Luna turned to glance at Tony, who was still messing with his tablet, "What the hell is taking JARVIS so long?" Tony shook his head, worry lining his face.

"And I was tangled in... in... strings." It stumbled, pulling at its loose wires. "I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy." It was beginning to sound more natural, its computer generated voice clearing up as it began speaking casually. But still bone-chilling.

Luna frowned and spoke, her voice cracking with unease, "You killed someone?"

"Wouldn't have been my first call. But, down in the real world, we're faced with ugly choices." It looked straight at her, with its glowing eyes.

Luna huffed in disbelief, "The robot likes philosophy. That's awesome..." Her tone suggested that it was, in fact, not awesome.

"Who sent you?" Steve said, his gaze glaring.

The robot opened its mouth and a recording started playing, "I see a suit of armor around the world." Tony's voice, though not loudly played, rang harshly through the room.

Luna dared to look at Tony, his face cleared up in recognition. He and Bruce looked at each other, "Ultron." They said.

"In the flesh." Ultron, Luna guessed its name was, said as if Bruce and Tony were simple acquaintances it hadn't seen in a while. "Or no, not yet. Not this... chrysalis." Ultron looked down at itself.

"Ultron..." Luna racked her brain, trying to connect strings she couldn't reach. She turned to Tony and Bruce and asked in a low voice, "Did you guys build a transformer?"

Tony glared at her.

"Yes, I'm ready. I'm on a mission." Ultron twisted its neck unnaturally.

"What mission?" Natasha asked and she clicked her gun off safety, ready for use.

Ultron turned its scratched face to the group, "Peace in our time."

Pandemonium broke loose as more Legionnaire's broke through the walls and started attacking.

All the Avengers instinctively started defending and attacking back. Steve kicked up the nearest table to block an incoming attack. Maria shot her gun, careful not to waste her ammo. Thor swung his hammer wildly and precisely, slamming robot against furniture. Clint and Rhodes were fighting when Rhodes got toppled over the inside balcony, landing in a heap on the ground below.

Luna was hiding behind the bar, her breathing harsh and irregular despite not having joined in the fight yet. She blinked away the images of spirits crawling at her, surrounding her, like the Legionnaire's were doing.

With a few forced, deep breaths she calmed herself down and tried to come up with a plan. They weren't in an open field, were she could use her powers freely without the fear of hurting her teammates.

Fire-bending wasn't an option, too dangerous. Luna hadn't used it since the attack in the Spirit Wilds. She couldn't.

She tried to think of a smart approach when Natasha and Bruce landed next to her. She yelped, they groaned.

Fuck it, Luna thought and jumped over the bar, bending the water out of nearby glasses and sending ice peaks through every metal chest she could find.

A legionnaire grabbed Loki's scepter, that was stupidly on display, and sent a blast in Luna's direction. She flew through the air before knocking harshly against the wall. All her breath escaped her chest as she fell to the ground, air refusing to get back in again. She gasped as black spots danced across her vision.

When she finally got to, the fight was dying out. Luna gave one last effort as she made a crushing motion with her hands. The nearest robot crumbled and died out. She stared at the spot the Legionnaire lay, crushed like a tin can.

Ultron limped to the front, looking at the team as they gathered around, all beaten up and angry. Luna stumbled forward and Steve quickly grabbed her arm to steady her.

"That was dramatic." Ultron snarled casually, "I'm sorry." It waved its creaking hand their way, "I know you mean well. You just didn't think it through." Ultron paced up and down, acting more human than any robot should be able to. "You want to protect the world, but you don't want to change. How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to evolve?" Its tone was patronizing as he looked down at the Avengers.

"That's not our place. We defend, humanity will evolve when it's ready." Luna spoke, her speech slurred.

Ultron kneeled down and picked up the crushed Legionnaire, looking at it with curious eyes. It was hard to read the expressions of the robot, but this one was clear. "Defend? With these? These... puppets?" He snarled at the Legionnaire and threw it back at the ground like scrap metal. "There's only one path to peace. The Avenger's extinction."

Thor growled and threw his hammer, it whirled towards Ultron and sent it flying against the wall. It fell down in pieces. Its crackling, glitching voice said one last thing before it powered down.

"I had strings, but now I'm free. There are no strings on me."