"I'll be fine. The ringing in my ears stopped a few days ago."
"Yeah, well, we need to double-check everything, Matt," Sam Wilson said from beside the blind Avenger's bed, where he was currently being examined by a Jedi healer. "We all need to be at full strength if we're going to find Steve."
"Any news on his whereabouts yet?"
Sam grunted in frustration. "No."
It had been roughly two weeks since the Battle of Jabiim, and overall, the Avengers were essentially back to full combat readiness, with the exception of Matt.
Matt's recovery had taken the longest due to severe sensory trauma, so he remained confined to bed rest.
Peter had been the first injured Avenger to fully recover, his enhanced physiology rapidly healing his more serious injuries.
Hope had taken longer because she'd dislocated her shoulder during the Jabiim engagement. Fortunately, with this galaxy's medical technology, she'd been able to recover much faster than expected.
The rest of the team had sustained their share of injuries, but nothing that prevented them from being operational.
Even though they remained constantly worried about Steve, that didn't mean they'd simply sat idle.
Over the past two weeks, Avengers had been visible throughout Coruscant, assisting clones, Jedi, and civilians in cleaning up the devastated city-planet.
Against the urban skyline, people could spot Falcon or War Machine flying to wherever help was needed most.
Peter had joined the effort shortly after recovering from his injuries, and the young hero had been everywhere, pushing himself to his limits to help as many people as possible, far exceeding the efforts of most other Avengers.
The silver blur of Pietro Maximoff had also become a familiar sight, the Sokovian speedster delivering supplies or transporting people to medical care throughout the city.
Hope van Dyne had begun using her Pym technology to shrink debris for easier disposal, while Scott employed his giant-form abilities to lift heavy objects when Hope was occupied elsewhere.
Natasha and Black Panther had been coordinating these relief efforts, sometimes participating directly in the cleanup while directing other Avengers to where help was needed most urgently.
Matt remained bedridden and was extremely frustrated that he couldn't contribute to the reconstruction.
Additionally, the blind lawyer had learned that during the assault on Coruscant, Bo-Katan had escaped custody and hadn't been seen since. She'd likely fled the planet to rejoin Death Watch.
Though this concerned the former prosecutor, he'd decided not to dwell on it.
There were more pressing matters at hand.
"Any theories about where Steve might be?" Matt asked Sam, who crossed his arms thoughtfully.
Sam considered the question for a moment, trying to formulate an answer.
"Natasha was held captive by Ultron when he first emerged," Sam mused. "He told her... he wanted to show her his master plan. He wanted someone to witness his ultimate victory."
"That sounds remarkably egotistical," Matt observed.
"Not surprising, considering who he's based on," Sam said dryly, then shook his head.
Matt tilted his head, encouraging Sam to continue.
Sam spent a moment trying to find the right way to express what Natasha had shared with him.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but the way she described it..." Sam grimaced, as if he wasn't sure whether to believe what he was about to say. "It's like that metal bastard is... a showman."
"Theatrical?"
"Think about it, Ultron was modeled after guys like Bruce and Tony. Two people who were always set apart from everyone else."
"Sam, have you forgotten who we work with?"
Sam chuckled. "You know what I mean, Matt. Ultron's different because he's exactly like Tony. He craves attention and has multiple psychological complexes."
"Sounds like you're psychoanalyzing him," Matt said.
Wilson simply shrugged. "I work with a lot of veterans at the VA. Everyone carries baggage, but Ultron..."
"Not sure wanting to commit human extinction qualifies as baggage."
"Setting aside Ultron's 'logical conclusion'..."
Before Sam could elaborate further, the door behind him opened, and a Jedi with distinctive facial tattoos and long hair entered.
"I thought I heard a familiar voice."
Sam turned and smiled broadly.
"Vos," the pilot greeted, clasping hands with the Jedi Master, who returned the gesture with an equally warm smile.
"Good to see you, Sam," Quinlan Vos said. "And you must be... the blind lawyer, correct?"
"Matt Murdock."
"Quinlan Vos." The Jedi nodded respectfully.
"How do you know Sam?" Matt asked curiously.
"He and Steve assisted Kenobi and my team on a mission not long ago," Vos explained, patting Sam's shoulder appreciatively.
Sam turned to the Jedi. "So what brings you here, Vos?"
"Just stopping by to check on a friend," Quinlan said with his characteristic easy smile.
"Appreciated," Sam said, returning the shoulder pat. "But something tells me you're here for a reason."
Vos shook his head with an amused expression.
"Well, you're not wrong," he admitted. "But I'm not here to ask you to do something for me. I'm here to ask what I can do for you."
Sam and Matt exchanged glances as the Kiffu Jedi continued.
"You see, what I normally do for the Jedi and Republic involves working with special operations teams behind enemy lines," Vos explained. "From that work, I've developed an extensive intelligence network."
"That sounds useful," Sam said.
"It has its moments," Vos agreed. "But on that note, I have several contacts actively searching for leads on your missing captain. We haven't found much yet, but we're still looking."
"Really?" Sam said, genuinely surprised. "You're doing this for us?"
"The Avengers have done far more for us than we could have ever imagined," Quinlan revealed. "Many clones, Jedi, and civilians owe their lives to you. This is the least we can do to repay that debt."
Sam offered a sincere smile. "Thank you."
"Any promising leads?" Matt asked.
Quinlan sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "People claim they don't know where he's being held. Either that's accurate, or Ultron has completely locked down all channels and information sources, making it nearly impossible for us to track him."
"I suppose it won't be easy," Sam acknowledged.
"They know who to look for, though. Make no mistake about that."
"Definitely," Quinlan confirmed. "You Avengers are sometimes more recognizable than us Jedi. Then again, your colorful costumes and extraordinary abilities tend to make you memorable."
"You flatter us," Sam shot back.
Vos grinned again. "Don't worry though, my team and our contacts are working the problem. My best asset is currently pursuing any leads on Captain America, and she's never failed me before. I'm confident she won't start now, especially for someone I consider a friend."
"We're extremely grateful for that, Quinlan," Matt said.
Vos waved dismissively. "Don't mention it. It's time we returned the favor. Besides, we're friends, aren't we?"
The three men looked at each other and shared genuine smiles of camaraderie.
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