Seoul, Dr. Helen Cho's Laboratory.
Dr. Helen Cho had just returned to her lab when Ultron seized control.
"If you dare scream, I'll kill everyone here."
Helen froze at the doorway. She saw Ultron looming in the shadows, heard his threat, yet neither spoke nor screamed.
"You're a very intelligent woman. I like people like you," Ultron said as he stepped from the shadows toward her.
Helen glanced at him and replied,"Thank you, but I don't really like you."
"Oh! Come now, you know why," Ultron countered.
Helen's eyes flicked toward Ultron, then toward the regeneration cradle in front of him."Cradle?"
"Yes. I want to create the next generation of me."
Ultron bent down and touched the cradle."You know what to do."
"The regeneration cradle can print tissue, but it can't produce living flesh…"
Before she could finish, Ultron interrupted,"It can. You can, too—you just lack the materials."
Helen watched as another robot walked in through a side door, carrying a glass jar filled with unknown metals.
"You're brilliant, but everyone can improve," Ultron said.
He lightly touched Helen with his scepter. Her eyes changed; the brown of her Asian heritage shifted to a piercing blue.
Once Helen was under his control, a robot pushed forward a metal box.
Inside was a pale-skinned, bald head.
Ultron pointed his scepter at the figure. The previously unconscious man opened his eyes, which now shimmered with blue ripples.
"Where am I?" the bald man asked.
Ultron looked at him."Mr. Dahr Klaus, it's time for you to show your skills."
"So you want to defeat Superman too," Dahr said with a smile, walking toward the lab equipment.
After leaving Barton's place, the group returned to Stark Tower.
They discussed task assignments.
After a night of deliberation:
Tony and Banner stayed in New York.
Steve, Natasha, and Barton headed to Seoul.
As for Karl and Di Wan, there was no immediate need for them here.
They only needed to be on standby—Karl could appear anywhere on Earth within a second whenever needed.
Once all personnel were in position, operations began.
Tony went to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York branch to decrypt the nuclear launch codes and change them again.
"You'll be sleeping on the couch tonight," he told himself.
Karl and Di Wan returned to their rooms unharmed.
Karl had just showered and was about to sleep when Di Wan shoved him off the bed.
Her gaze was fierce."You're becoming too rebellious. I can't sleep with you anymore. Separate rooms."
Karl sat on the floor, looking at Di Wan."Then why don't you sleep on the couch?"
"Break!"
A pillow flew at Karl's face. Di Wan stared incredulously."Mom… have you ever… let your girlfriend sleep on the couch?"
She removed the pillow from her face."I've seen it…"
"Break!"
The last pillow bounced onto Karl's face."Oh, Mom… I'm really going to be mad at you! Break up!! I don't care, I'm breaking up with you!! Go vent on someone else—our waters won't mix again!!"
Di Wan gasped and slammed her hands onto the bed, eyes closed.
Karl looked at her messy hair and uneven breathing."You looked scary just now," he said with a smile.
Swoosh!
Di Wan squinted at Karl, glaring, biting her lip, but said nothing.
Karl ignored her, placed two pillows by the bed, lay down, and covered himself.
Di Wan stared at him. Karl's breathing grew heavier on the bed. She couldn't fight him, couldn't even be mad—she felt suffocated, sitting there, lost in her own thoughts.
"Sleep, it's dark now," Karl said softly.
But Di Wan felt mocked by her own helplessness.
She threw off the blanket, straddled Karl, and wildly pounded him.
She needed to vent; she couldn't hold it in. She was afraid of hiding her emotions.
Karl didn't move, just smiled, holding her waist to prevent her from falling.
"Can't you give me just one chance?" she demanded.
"You used to let me," Karl said calmly."Why are you so angry at me now?"
"I hit you when you didn't react," she said, frustrated."Can't I bully you just once?"
Karl shook his head."I don't know how to have you."
Di Wan's angry hands froze, unsure if she'd heard him correctly.
"You're very important to me. I don't dare hurt you. I don't know how to truly have you…" Karl continued.
"Break!!"
Di Wan slapped Karl's chest, cutting him off.
She glared, fixing her hair."It's late now—consider my mood before speaking."
"Break!!"
Another sudden strike, though this time Karl's anger had faded.
He rolled over, pinning Di Wan beneath him.
Their eyes met, noses touching.
Di Wan didn't move.
Karl slowly leaned closer.
Her eyes were dazed; she didn't resist, but neither did she look at him.
Finally…
"Break!"
Di Wan slapped Karl.
"What are you doing?" she asked, cheeks flushed."It was just a light swat on your face—no force."
Karl stared, unsure what to do.
"I'll kiss you!" Karl declared.
"No! Don't kiss me—I might take advantage when I'm angry!"
Karl paused, then leaned closer again.
"You're letting me go…"
Di Wan blocked his face with her hands, giving no chance.
Karl's strength was equal to hers, but Di Wan couldn't hold back, covering her face, leaving him no opening.
Karl smiled, letting his hands wander on her.
"Hahaha! Don't… tickle…"
Di Wan had no choice but to grab his hands—she was too ticklish.
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