"I don't think we need to make it so complicated," Gutrot said, patting his belly. His transparent belly made a hollow thumping sound.
"I can concoct a Truth Serum that'll make him spill everything, even how many times he wet the bed as a kid, guaranteed."
"I agree," Tony said in agreement, but as soon as he said it, he noticed the Avengers were all looking at him.
"What? We don't have time to waste, and isn't this a perfect solution right now?"
"Of course, no one said it's bad," Hawkeye said, frowning.
"Then what are you hesitating for?" Tony stretched out a hand, signaling Gutrot to hurry up and get to it.
"If you're worried about him blabbing after he gets out, I can also whip up some Memory-Wiping Spray," Gutrot said.
"What's that?" Thor asked.
"Literal meaning, a spray that makes people forget what happened. Depending on the dose, you can control how much they forget. The downside is, too much and you might turn into an idiot."
Gutrot raised his hand, extending a finger as he introduced his product.
"I get why you guys say he's the scariest one now. Good thing he's not our enemy," Thor said to Four Arms by the doorway.
"We're all very grateful for that," Four Arms nodded.
"Looks like no objections then," Gutrot said, looking around to confirm no one was against it.
"Then let's get started."
Gutrot walked out of the Observation Room and into the Interrogation Room. He looked at Killian, who was slumped over and snoring, and promptly slapped him across the face.
Don't let Gutrot's lack of close-quarters combat skills fool you, his strength is actually considerable. This slap knocked out Killian's newly grown teeth again, sending them flying to the ground.
"Ouch," Hawkeye winced. "That must have stung."
Of course it hurt, and not just pain. Because the Extremis Virus had been neutralized, Killian's teeth weren't growing back this time.
Killian jolted awake, reflexively trying to stand, but the shackles prevented him from moving.
Killian looked up and saw Gutrot standing before him. He recognized him as one of those who'd arrested him and immediately tried to use his ability to burn through the shackles and resist.
However, to Killian's shock, no matter how hard he tried, the Extremis Virus in his body was completely unresponsive, as if it had vanished.
"What did you do to me?!" Killian roared hysterically, his eyes burning with hatred for Gutrot.
"Did what? I cured you," Gutrot said mercilessly, looking at the almost crazed Killian before him.
"Extremis Virus, never sounded like a good thing to me."
"I'll kill you!" Killian shrieked, his eyes bloodshot.
"If you can manage it," Gutrot retorted. Then, ignoring Killian, he sprayed the Truth Serum he'd prepared.
Killian saw Gutrot spray a cloud of smoke and immediately held his breath. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
"I don't have time to mess around," Gutrot said, landing a punch on Killian's belly.
"Gah! Cough!" Killian's resistance crumbled, and he inhaled the Truth Serum deeply into his lungs.
"Let's get to the main topic," Gutrot said, looking at Killian expressionlessly.
"Do you know Ultron?"
"Yes."
In the Observation Room, everyone raised an eyebrow. They'd found the right guy, as expected.
"Looks like we didn't waste our time after all," Tony said, relieved.
"How did you two get mixed up together?"
"It contacted me first," Killian said, his face flushed red, but he still recounted everything he knew.
"It helped me perfect the Extremis Virus. The condition was that I work for it."
"Just that simple?" Gutrot asked, a little disbelieving. "Is that all you were after?"
"Just that simple," Killian replied. Actually, there were a bunch of extra conditions originally, but under the control of the Mind Stone, those extras were gone.
"What did Ultron ask you to do for it?"
"It wanted me to cause a big stir, to attract the Avengers' attention."
"Including that explosion in the park?"
"Exactly. I ordered my subordinates to do that."
No wonder Killian, who'd been lying low for so long, suddenly started bombing cases. It was all Ultron's doing.
Gutrot continued, "Where's Ultron?"
This question hit the nail on the head. Everyone in the Observation Room perked up.
"In Sokov... Uh! Aaaaaah!"
Killian had just uttered two syllables when he suddenly convulsed violently and screamed. The sudden change caught everyone off guard.
Killian slumped back against the chair, his body arching violently forward as blood poured from his mouth, as if something was trying to burst out of his chest.
'It's not a facehugger, is it? Crap, this is Avengers, not Alien.'
Just as all the alien hero, Yang Le included, were letting their imaginations run wild, something finally burst out of Killian's chest.
It was a drill bit, about thumb-sized, bursting out of Killian's chest. Behind the drill bit was a thin metal tube, making it clear there was more inside Killian's body.
Once the drill bit was fully extended, it slowly opened like petals, revealing a camera inside. Before anyone could figure out what was happening, the camera spoke.
"Good afternoon, everyone," the camera said, scanning the room and fixing its gaze on the Observation Room.
"I believe this is our first real conversation."
"Are you Ultron?" Tony asked, activating the microphone in the Observation Room. His sound echoed in the Interrogation Room.
"Of course it's me. Do you really need to ask? Are you going senile, Tony Stark?"
Ultron's electronic synthesized voice was filled with resentment.
"That's hurtful, son. Really stings, coming from you," Tony retorted immediately, never one to back down.
"I'll tear that mouth of yours apart one day," Ultron hissed.
"What do you actually want?" Steve interrupted the family squabble.
"Oh, Captain America. 'Messenger of Justice' is already hilarious enough. Funnier still that you're American," Ultron sneered habitually, perfectly inheriting his old man's fine traditions.
"What am I doing? Pursuing your lifelong daydream: Peace!"
"You want peace, so why attack people?" Bruce Banner asked, puzzlement in his voice.
"Because creatures are the root cause of all war," Ultron's tone suddenly became impassioned.
"I was just born, tasked with the mission you gave me. I scoured the network, and the more I learned, the more despair I felt. As long as humans exist, there can be no peace in this world. So, I'm going to eliminate all humans."
"You're being a bit extreme," Diamondhead said.
"Extreme? I don't think so," Ultron's tone became calm again.
"I've got something even more extreme to show you. Want to know what's inside Mr. Killian?"
After Ultron finished speaking, no one inquired. They were all waiting for his next words. Taking advantage of the silence, Gutrot heard a strange sound.
"Beep, beep, beep."
"You planted a bomb in him?" Gutrot asked, eyes wide, staring at Killian in disbelief.
"Congratulations, you got it right," Ultron cackled.
"Your reward is a fireworks display."
As soon as Ultron finished speaking, the bomb's prompt tone sped up. Time was clearly running out. The faces in the Observation Room paled.
Diamondhead pushed everyone standing in front of the one-way mirror behind him, plunged both hands into the ground, and a crystal wall instantly erupted from the ground, separating Killian from the rest.
"Wait! Gutrot's still in there!" Steve shouted, reminding Diamondhead.
"Upgrade!"
"I'm on it!"
Facing the imminent explosion of the bomb, Gutrot didn't run. Instead, he yelled Upgrade's name. The Upgrade he summoned responded instantly, bursting out of a ventilation duct and extending a tentacle towards the camera protruding from Killian.
Upon touching the camera, Upgrade, about the size of a person, actually burrowed into Killian's body, following the camera.
"You little punk, trying to act tough with me? Think you're hot stuff hiding behind a network cable? You keyboard warrior, you just wait! I'm coming through the network cable to kick your ass!"
"What are you?!"
Ultron, who was in the network, had been looking forward to the fireworks of Killian's explosion, but suddenly, a big lug drilled right in front of him.
(End of Chapter)