Marvel crosses Star Wars, and everyone attacks the galaxy

"But how can he control such an army, not to mention those relatively harmless-looking robots?" Plo Koon asked.

"You clearly do not have the proper protection against his unique programming," Black Widow said.

"His programming?" Anakin asked.

"Ultron is an AI," Peter said. "I wasn't there when he was made, but if he's like most AIs, then he's based on one person or a group of people blended into one. Their template is sentient, not data or programming.

"Some very unique and very dangerous things were used in the creation of Ultron," Steve said.

"What would that be?" Palpatine asked.

"We don't know," Natasha said quickly. "This is something we don't understand either, because we weren't there. Only two of our members knew the process. One was on our planet, and the other was... God knows where.

"I see... That's quite unfortunate. Palpatine said, frowning.

"One way or another, this Ultron must answer for his crimes," declared Mas Almeda.

"Good luck getting him down," Rhodes scoffed. "You can't expect him to show up again any time soon after what he just did."

"Well, under no circumstances can we just sit here and wait for his next move," Palpatine chided. "Every minute that passes is one more minute that horrible droid has to plan his next attack."

"Most of our convoys are on standby," Mace Windu spoke now.

"Yes, I have sent out additional notices and orders to several valuable Republic worlds that were not attacked to be on standby for the upcoming attack," Wilhuff Tarkin said professionally.

"General..." one of the clone officers began, a little unsure.

They turned around and saw it was Captain Rex.

"Rex?" Anakin said, his tone suggesting he speak his mind.

Rex nodded, took off his helmet, and took a moment to think about his words.

“I’m sure there are things we haven’t really discussed yet,” Rex said.

"what exactly is it?"

“When…when he entered the Jedi Temple…he said some questionable things.

Some raised questioning eyebrows as Rex quickly continued.

"I don't know what he meant by that, but..."

"Go on, Captain," Palpatine urged. "What did he say?"

Rex frowned visibly. "I…I've been thinking about it, and I can't deny that it bothers me more and more when I think about it.

"Rex, don't be so mysterious." Anakin said, now a little impatient. "I was there, remember? What did he say that bothered you?

Rex's mood dropped.

"Characters... and puppets... we have been deceived," the Captain said. "The Republic will fall, the clones will betray it. With a simple order, it will be defeated against the Republic and our generals."

The rest of the group largely took offense to this statement, but a few were receptive to something else entirely.

From the corner of her eye, although it was barely noticeable to some people, Natasha noticed a flash of panic in Chancellor Palpatine's eyes.

Through Matt's enhanced hearing, he strangely picked up Palpatine's accelerated heartbeat.

The last two people to notice something strange are Master Yoda and Peter.

The old Jedi hummed slightly, feeling a sudden reverberation of the Force, from... he couldn't be sure where it came from. But he was sure it was released by that side of the Force.

The dark side of the force.

It seems Ultron isn't just making enemies outside of the Republic.

As for Peter, he was now visibly hesitant, one hand reaching toward his head as his sixth sense gave him a warning.

"Peter?"

Peter blinked and turned to see Barriss and Ahsoka behind her, looking at him with concern.

Obi-Wan also noticed that Anakin, Matt, and Steve turned toward him momentarily.

"Are you OK?"

"I... I don't know. I just had a splitting headache all of a sudden," said the human boy.

Palpatine rapped his hand on the table, again drawing everyone's attention.

"Though I wish we could discuss this matter more, I think it would be better for us to disperse now and continue to carry out our duties," Palpatine announced. "Colonel Tarkin, in light of Yularen's passing, I very much desire to perform a ceremony to temporarily promote you to Vice Admiral. Begin coordinating the reorganization of Coruscant's defense fleet."

The newly promoted Vice Admiral simply nodded firmly to the Supreme Chancellor.

Palpatine then turned to the Jedi.

"Master Yoda..."

"We are ready. We are ready," the Jedi Master said simply. "We will take action at a moment's notice."

Palpatine nodded in satisfaction, then spoke about the Avengers.

"I know you've done a lot for us, and it looks like you've found another wayward comrade," the Speaker said, nodding toward the Black Panther. "I'd love to meet you—"

"Chancellor, this is our fight as well," Steve Roger interrupted. "Ultron was meant to be destroyed and gone, but he's still here, and since he's here now, we're going to do everything we can to help him go away permanently.

Palpatine leaned back in his chair and exhaled loudly. "Then you have given an old man of mine a measure of comfort, knowing that all of us here will do our part to defeat this new threat."

After saying this, the group left the Speaker's office and dispersed.

This large group has been divided into several smaller groups, each heading towards its own goal.

Most of the Jedi Knights and their clone officers had already left the temple or their regiments, awaiting further orders.

Numerous officers did the same, heading towards their designated ships while Tarkin began giving orders.

Arguably, in the massive group dynamic, only the Avengers remain with a few Jedi, clones, and Senators.

"We must prepare accordingly," Obi-Wan said immediately. "From what you've told us about Ultron, he's a cunning man."

"He can't look at it in a traditional way," War Machine said.

"How did you guys beat him the first time? You really left that part out.

"More or less a combined attack from Tony, Vision, and Thor. It was badly damaged before Wanda crushed his real body, and then Vision destroyed the last stragglers that were holding his, what's it called? His digital existence? Yeah," Quicksilver revealed. "But before that, Vision had to lock him away in his own body."

"That's clearly not good enough, I'm afraid," Obi-Wan said seriously.

"Locked him in his own body?" Anakin asked confused. "What does that mean?"

“Ultron is constantly jumping between any and all drones he’s connected to.” Black Widow said. “Every time we destroy a body; he just transfers his consciousness into another body in a split second. No matter how many we destroy, Ultron will rebuild another one for himself.”

"Great," Anakin said dryly. "Sounds like we're going to have a lot of fun with him."

"But this is what I don't understand." Scott spoke for the first time since they had all gathered. "Captain, Natasha, didn't you say that Vision sealed him in his body and the drones were destroyed?"

"Perhaps your fellow Avengers missed something." Luminara Unduli commented. "From your description, Ultron seems to be quite powerful."

“No…” Steve shook his head. “That’s not the case. Vision’s method of defeating Ultron was permanent, so to speak. Vision did something to his inner consciousness at the time that prevented Ultron from jumping into a new body.

"Then why is he back?" Ahsoka asked.

The Avengers remain silent for now until...

Scott gasped loudly. "Hydra."

The others watched him, Scott now holding his fingers to his temples, as if massaging his brain to recall.

"They collected all of Ultron's stuff, remember? To make a giant version of him. One of these things must have had some residual consciousness from Ultron.

Others were stunned.

“That’s…that’s actually a possibility,” Steve speculated.