The inertia of time's river always pushed the wheel of fate back onto its original track. S.H.I.E.L.D. and Tony Stark had tried every possible method to trace Ultron's whereabouts, yet they never guessed that the artificial intelligence was hiding in Sokovia, a small Eastern European country that might not even be easy to locate on a world map.
In the original timeline, Ultron, jointly developed by Iron Man and Dr. Banner, had faced the Avengers in Sokovia for their final battle. That terrifying disaster had then brought forth Zemo, knocking over a domino that directly led to the civil war and split within the Superheroes' ranks.
Of course, in this new era where Superheroes had stepped off the stage, none of that would happen again.
In Sokovia's underground base, a sinister man wearing a monocle paced back and forth, conflict visible in his eyes.
Baron Strucker was now one of Hydra's last remaining high-ranking figures. Hidden away in the remote corner of Sokovia, he had quietly continued his cyborg project and had been extremely fortunate to escape S.H.I.E.L.D.'s purge.
Alexander Pierce had watched himself bring down Nick Fury and seize complete control of S.H.I.E.L.D., only to be unexpectedly shot dead and buried with great pomp under the honor of a patriot. Meanwhile, Viper had vanished in Tokyo, Japan. From then on, Hydra's upper ranks had suffered a massive carpet-style purge.
Having learned from those examples, Baron Strucker kept his head down and moved carefully, like a beast that had tucked away its claws and fangs. He did not dare leave even the slightest trace, afraid that S.H.I.E.L.D. would discover him and dispatch Super Soldiers to wipe him out.
Yet his peaceful days had not lasted long before Ultron came knocking. The underground base's defense system might as well have not