Die, Fall, Rise

by wickedworrior

Niko Constantin's organization has fallen, now something is trying to take its place. Steve and Natasha handle the fallout and tensions rise between them and Ross. Bucky deals with his future, and has to make choices that could change him, more than he wants. Baron Zemo uses the advantage of Bucky's file to gain power to rebuild Hydra, but for his new order. (Sequel to Supremacy.)

1. Chapter 1

Author's Note: Here's the Prologue for the continuation, enjoy.

Baron Zemo

Hamburg, Germany…

The streets of Hamburg were busy bustling about. Zemo sat in the back of a very nice car. He stared out of the tinted windows as they passed people on the sidewalk. Look at them, so innocent to the plans I have.

Zemo looked away from the window in distaste and he looked at the file in his hands. He hadn't been able to put it down for weeks. He studied every sentence, every word. Memorizing it. The car took a right and Zemo felt the shift in his equilibrium as the car took the turn sharply. Could you drive to make me anymore uncomfortable? I need to deal with that driver later.

He looked away from the page he was re-reading and looked at the dark clouds that were rolling in. The edges slowly moving, like a huge boulder about to fall off the side of a cliff. He took a breath and looked back at the page. He stared at the picture of James Barnes. He was frozen and his face was blue as he was entombed in the cryo pod. Zemo smirked and slapped the file shut, he set it down next to him and he leaned forward slightly. His arm reaching down to grab his brief case that lay at his feet. His hand found the handle at the top and he pulled it up to his lap.

As he set it down the car took another sharp right. Zemo glanced up toward the driver, but, moved his attention back to the brief case. He unlocked it with the combination and the locks clicked open. He flipped it up and he grabbed the file. He slid it into the slot that would lie above the contents. He secured it and he brought the lid down with a light snap and he locked it back. He placed the brief case back down by his feet and the car took a left, a much better and smoother turn than the past two right one. I may have been a little hasty with my earlier thought, but…

He turned his attention back to himself, it was all he could do. He wasn't driving. So he took those thoughts of killing the driver and put them aside and he decided to think about the day's events. Otto should call me soon. Zemo looked down at himself, he was dressed quite nicely, which was by choice. He did have a party later that night. But his thoughts were more on the current situation. He saw the curb where the car was meant to stop. The driver took them in and slowed down and stopped next to the curb. Zemo grabbed his cane with the rounded tip and he pushed the door open. He grabbed his brief case as he got out of the car.

He felt the cool breeze as he shut the door and the driver drove away. He set the cane down and it clicked against the pavement. He looked at the building, his eyes followed the fine architecture up to the side of the roof. He smiled and walked forward. He noticed that the civilians got out of his way as he walked to the entrance. They know their place. Zemo got to the door and it opened for him. The doorman greeted him and for the boring conversation to end, he kept walking. Ignoring the man's remarks to take his coat. As he reached the main desk, he heard the man stop calling after him. Finally, I don't have to smell his foul breath.

Zemo walked right past the main desk, one of the receptionists gave him a nod as he passed. He made sure he head people everywhere, and he did. He was focused on continuing that growth, but first he had to do something. He walked down the red carpeted floor and he found the brass colored elevator doors. He pressed the up arrow and waited for the elevator. It didn't take long till the door have a soft ring and the doors came apart. Zemo walked in and he turned to see someone following him. It was just a dumb guest, but as soon as he looked at him. He stopped and let him have the elevator to himself. Zemo couldn't help but smile as the doors closed and the elevator began the ascent. He tightened his grip on his cane. He needed information, and he was going to get it. His phone began to ring and he quickly answered it. "Otto?" he said

"Yes, Sir. We have him."

"Very good, I'll be there shortly"

Zemo ended the call and the elevator came to a stop. The brass doors opened and he walked out. Four of his men were standing in the hall, their suits looked nice. He felt like the president for a moment when they all fell in and walked behind him. Zemo walked along with his cane hitting the floor as he walked. He saw the door that was broken into, the hinges were broken and barley hanging on. "You cleared the floor?" he asked

"Yes, no one but us" one of his men answered.

He smiled. Good, the more privacy the better.

The door welcomed him as he walked into the room, he saw Otto. He gave him a nod as he passed. Then Zemo saw the man he came so far to talk to. He was sitting in a chair and his hands were tied to the sides, his legs tied to the chair's legs. He would have been in a three piece suit, but he was just in a white dress shirt. His hair was sticking to his sweaty forehead. Zemo wasn't too surprised by the fact that he put up a fight. There was a second chair that sat right in front of him.

Zemo held back a chuckle. Not a good time to laugh, I need information. No celebration yet.

He took his time to sit down, the party wasn't till late that night; he had plenty of time. Zemo set his brief case down next to the chair and he handed one of his men his cane. He tossed back his coat and one of his men caught it and held it in his arms. Zemo nodded "Thank you" he said and he inclined for his cane and his man handed it to him. He took it swiftly and he then clicked it on the wood floor twice and he took a seat. Zemo leaned back slightly "Any alcohol Otto?"

Otto was back after a minute "A bottle of rum"

Zemo cocked an eyebrow. Strong stuff, I didn't take him for a drinker. But exile could do that. He smiled "Pour a glass" he ordered and he turned his attention back to the man he wanted to talk to, leaving Otto to the task of finding a glass.

Zemo smirked and he cleared his throat slightly. The man looked up at him. "Hello, I see my men didn't handle you properly. This was meant to be a civilized meeting, but you changed the plans. I just wanted to let you know that it's your fault"

The man just stared at him, his mouth closed tightly, his lips thin with distaste. It only made Zemo want to laugh. Ego can only get you so far.

He saw Otto hand him the glass, he took it and quickly took a swig of the rum. He felt the burn and he hummed slightly. He took a breath as the rum went down. "Well, now that I have had a drink. I'll assume you know who I am"

The man just squinted at him, Zemo chuckled "I know, what, am I doing squabbling around in the mud? But actually I am watching above the pit." And you are in a very bad predicament.

"But I have a solution for you. You can join me and get along with the future. Or you can stay with your ego and then I'm just going to take what I want"

The man was silent for a long moment, his lips still as thin as ever. Zemo sat there patiently, he had time to wait, and silence never made him uncomfortable. "Well, I guess you don't want to join me" he said. The man tilted his head and Zemo sighed "You old men, never know when to talk or when to shut up. Right now it's time to talk"

The man was silent for another two minute and then opened his mouth to speak. Zemo punched him in the face before he could say anything. The man lurched to his right from the punch and he spit blood onto the floor along with a tooth. "You missed your chance" Zemo said. "You should have kept your mouth shut"

The man frowned at him, Zemo smiled, his eyes warm and charming. "So are you ready to talk?"

The man sat up slightly and spoke in a heavy German accent. "Hail, Hydra"

Zemo took a deep breath. I hate it when they say that.

He looked at his cane in his hand. He took a deep breath and he grabbed the very end and he turned the body of the cane and he pulled out a sword and he drove it into the man's chest. The man groaned and grimaced, his teeth bare, his face contorted in pain and Zemo got close to him. "Now, my sword is in your aorta, if I pull it out, you'll bleed to death. Or I can leave it in and you can talk to me, and I can have a doctor up here to save you when I do pull it out."

The man's eyes were wide as he stared at the sword as the tip was embedded into his flesh. He looked at Zemo. "We're not animals" Zemo said calmly.

The man nodded, Zemo smiled "There, now we can get on with it" he let go of his cane and it bobbed slightly. Zemo sat back in his chair. "Talk"

The man nodded, he took a moment; his eyes on the blade as it sat there in his chest cavity. "What do you want to know?" he said awkwardly.

"Where are the Hydra bases in Russia, Germany, and England?"

"That is a long list"

"I have time" Zemo said with a smile.

"Well you do know they are abandoned"

"Yes, but they're still important to me"

Zemo listened carefully as the man spoke and told him where the bases were and he even told him he had maps in the closet. I guess once a Nazi, always a Nazi.

Once the man had told him all he wanted to know, Zemo took a deep breath and he smiled. "Thank you for your cooperation"

The man nodded "The doctor?" he asked, his eyes glimmering with hope.

Zemo stood up and he nodded "Yes, Otto call the doctor to help save our new friend"

Otto stood completely still and didn't do anything. The man frowned as Zemo looked back at him with his warm eyes. "Ah I forgot, I killed the doctor" he said and he pulled his sword out and the man gasped and started to bleed to death and was soon dead from the massive blood loss. Zemo looked at the red blood on the three inches of the blade and he grabbed a table cloth. He wiped the blood away. "Clean up this mess Otto" he said

Zemo was to the door when Otto asked "Scene?"

He looked back and smiled as he had one of his men help him with his coat. "Scene"

Zemo left the room at that and was soon back in the elevator. The four men now with him. He exhaled, well at least I gained more information. Should I have killed him, ah he was an old man, he only talked when he would have died. I don't want a man like that. I need better men, and I will have them soon.

The elevator doors opened and he walked out. The four men followed him closely. They went passed the receptionist. The place had the same demeanor as before, none the wiser that a dead man was in one of their rooms. Zemo was very pleased on how smoothly that went. He held his breath as he walked past the door man. The sidewalk was full of people. Good, the more witnesses the better.

He made passed the mass of people and the car came around. It stopped and he opened the door and climbed in. The door clapped shut and he lowered the window. "Get the important documents out, but leave enough so they know what he was"

The men nodded and Zemo heard people scream and he looked as the man came flying down and smacked into the ground still in the chair. Zemo heard all the loud chatter and he smiled as the window closed. "Get us moving" he said to the driver.

The car took off down the street and took a right. Zemo sat back slightly and he closed his eyes. He fell asleep with a smirk on his lips.

The drive didn't last long, so that also meant that his brief moment of sleep was over like he blinked. He was in his hotel room, he was staring out the window, a glass of vodka in his hand. Zemo took a swig and he stared at the motions below, all the cars and people. Like insects beneath his feet. He rather enjoyed watching the everyday problems of traffic. The whole world could be on fire, and someone would still complain about some driver being an asshole. I guess they don't care that much about anything but themselves. And that's how I'll get them.

There was a knock at the door that brought him out of his thoughts. Zemo looked back at the door and he sighed. He looked at the remaining vodka in his glass and he drank the rest of it with a big gulp and he set the glass down. The floor was comfortable as he walked across the room. Sadly he would be leaving soon. But it was necessary to be able to move forward. He glanced at the TV as the news was on, the sound was low but all he had to do was read the headline: Man murdered and thrown out of a window, linked to Nazis.

Zemo smirked at it. A Nazi in Germany, how ironic. He reached the door and opened it. Otto was standing behind the door, three other men were with him, each holding a box of what he assumed as files. Zemo welcomed them in and he closed the door behind Otto. "I see our work is on the news" Otto said

Zemo rounded the couch that looked on to the TV. "Yes, well done."

"I still don't see how this will help us"

"Well, Germany is now focused on the fact that someone killed a Nazi and threw him out a window. They'll be stuck on that for days."

"So it's a distraction?" Otto said

"Yes, in a way. Also because that man betrayed my father"

"Revenge?"

"Retribution. Now the files that you've brought" Zemo said walking over to pour himself more vodka. Let's move onto more important matters than why I killed someone. Otto followed him slightly, his head inclined toward the bedroom, Zemo's cane was sitting next to a chair. Zemo noticed what he was looking at. "It was a gift from my Grandfather to my father, then to me"

Otto nodded "Very nice"

"It actually used to be a sword with a hilt and everything. I had the blade moved to the cane, much more usable that way."

"Who gave it to your Grandfather?"

Zemo took a long sip from his glass. He breathed and walked over and grabbed the cane. It was heavy in his hand when he first used it, but now it felt like a feather. "My Grandfather said it came from a country in Africa." He said and he pulled the blade out of the cane again. The blade was thick and strong. "When I first used it, I thought the blade was what was heavy, but it was the material of the cane's handle. The blade is made out of Adamantium"

Otto widened his eyes slightly. Zemo nodded "I knew a man who was a specialist in it, William Striker, he died." He looked at the blade fondly "I could slice Tony Stark in half if I swung hard enough. At least cut through his armor. Titanium alloy, such an advanced metal, but nothing like Adamantium."

Zemo sheathed the sword and he locked the top of the cane in place so the word wouldn't fly out. He set it back down and looked at Otto. "Now, the files"

Otto nodded "There are maps of the locations of the Hydra bases, the man was telling the truth"

"I figured as much" he said. "Now, I assume you have a question?" he asked. Otto always had a question. I'm still not sure if he's just stupid, or if he just wants to have all the facts. I can't say I blame him, I would want the same thing if I was in his position. So I'll tell him.

"Yes, Baron. Why are you so interested in old abandoned Hydra bases that haven't been used since the time of Red Skull?"

"Yes, Schmidt. The man that started Hydra, a moron."

"Well he was a scientist Sir, not entirely a moron"

"His plan was idiotic, no vision."

"What is your vision Sir?"

Zemo turned to look at him "To see Hydra back at the top. My Grandfather and my father were both part of Hydra, I stayed out of it."

"This I know Sir"

"Yes, and Armin Zola re-created Hydra within S.H.I.E.L.D. A very ambitious plan that paid off. Till they got lazy and let Steve Rogers catch onto their plan."

"What if Steve Rogers catches onto yours?"

Zemo smirked "He won't. He's too busy being the leader of the Avengers and now he is at odds with Secretary Ross. Hydra will rise up from the ashes that Rogers made. And this time, he won't be able to stop it"

"You sound over confidant Sir"

"No, it's just something I know. Hydra, hail Hydra. What a stupid sentiment" I have Ross right where I want him, and he doesn't even know it.

Otto frowned slightly. Zemo looked at his face and chuckled "Does that bother you?"

"Just… different"

Zemo nodded. And we'll be better for it. "My Grandfather and father both sprouted the saying and the famous 'cut off one head and two will take its place'"

"It is what the Hydra does in mythological lore"

"Yes, and with the more heads, the more dangerous it becomes. Yet the more stupid is also grows. Red Skull took control of Germany, Armin Zola took control of S.H.I.E.L.D. I…I will take control of the one thing no one would ever dream of doing"

"And what is that Baron?" Otto asked

He took another sip of vodka and swallowed. "In due time. I want the car ready in a few hours. We have a party to attend"

Otto sighed slightly and nodded "Yes Sir"

Zemo heard, him, and the men leave the room and closed his eyes. I will control everyone, but first I need more men, and the arms and equipment in those Hydra bases. My Hydra will reign supreme, and Captain America won't be able to stop it.

He obtained another hour of sleep and took a shower. He was buttoning his shirt when Otto came again. He had the car ready and whenever he was ready to leave they would Zemo nodded and Otto left him alone again. Zemo looked out over Hamburg, the city was bright with the night lights. A storm was rolling in, they would be at the party before it hit though. He grabbed his cane and walked toward the door, looking back at the city lights. He took a breath and left the room.

The descent was uneventful, Zemo felt like sleeping in the car, but he needed to have his wits about him. He couldn't be half asleep when he turned up at this party. They were leaving Hamburg and there was a large building on the outskirts. The party was already started, bit he wasn't here for the wine and women. He had no time for women, they were nothing but a distraction, and since his wife died. He didn't really think about his sex life, and he really didn't care. The car drove up the long gravel driveway and they pulled up to the front of the large palace like structure.

Zemo pushed the door open and he climbed out of the car. His cane touched the gravel and he looked back as Otto followed him. Otto closed the door as he ordered the man to leave. Zemo began the walk up the steps that had a red carpet adorned down them. He sighed at the fanciness. He preferred his own house. But he wasn't here for enjoyment, all of this was just a means to an end. And I need to sneak into this place anyway. I am able to party, but the meeting that I know is going down, I wouldn't want to be invited to. They are my competition anyway.

Zemo showed his face to the man with the list and he gave him a nod. He wasn't on the list, but they knew who he was, he was one of the honored guests. Giving money to charity usually does that. The man smiled at him "Welcome Mr. Evanier"

"Good to be here" Zemo said

He got passed them and he walked into the building and was instantly met with waiters with oeuvres. He did take a glass of champagne. The entryway was full of smiling people, they had no idea what was about to happen under their feet. He was soon cornered by a heavy set man with a woman on his arm that he didn't have to guess he paid to be there. "Mark" he said, Champagne in one hand, whore in the other.

Zemo smiled "Frederick." Frederick let go of the whore to shake his hand. Zemo glanced at the whore and she smiled. At least she's trying to enjoy the party, if I was her. I'd start drinking immediately.

Frederick oblivious to the fact that Zemo wasn't paying any attention to him. "Well, it is nice to see one of our biggest donors"

"My wife was a big supporter of yours. So am I."

"Well your thoughts and donation are greatly appreciated. Listen Mark, I have a question for you"

Zemo glanced back at Otto, who was staying a safe distance away, not drawing any attention. I guess I have to deal with Frederick before I can join the meeting. I have time. He smiled "Anything"

Frederick smiled, his cheeks growing red, maybe more from the lack of oxygen than joyfulness, yet maybe it was both. "Ah good, I thought I'd have to convince you"

"Well I'm sure I'd say yes, but Fred, what is it?" Just tell me what I need to do you fat bastard. I'm only here for the meeting and I only donate to your charity in honor of my wife's memory.

Frederick still oblivious to Zemo's silent distain for him. "I was hoping you could give a speech on our behalf, you are our biggest donor"

Zemo took a breath. Damn. He smiled "I'd be honored"

Frederick laughed a big hearty laugh, Zemo hoped he started choking, but he didn't. "Thank you, now it'll be quite soon, I don't want to stop the party for very long."

"Nor should you" Zemo said, gripping the cane tightly. I could cut your head off right now, that'd be something no one would forget, but I have more important matters than your fat ass.

Zemo was then directed toward the ballroom. He was almost being dragged along like the whore. He suddenly felt sympathy for her, she was the one who had to suck his cock later. Frederick led them through the mass of guests and the music was loud and Zemo liked hearing it more than his labored breathing as he walked through the crowd. Frederick then left them standing side by side as he went to get a mike for the speech that would happen in the next half hour. Zemo glanced at the whore. Her eyes glanced at him, then at the door.

He smiled "If you're thinking about leaving, now would be the time" he said

She looked at him, caught off guard. "What, no. Just looking at everyone" she said, her eyes glanced back toward the exit. Zemo didn't miss a thing. "How much is he paying you?"

"I'm not an escort" she said

"I know, you're a whore" Zemo said with a soft smile. She frowned at him, he noted that she didn't hit him. "How much?" he asked again. I sure hope it's a lot.

She was silent for another long moment, long enough for the music to stop for a few seconds. "200,000" she said

"You're quite an expensive whore"

"I'm not a whore"

"Okay, not an escort, and not a whore. Slut." Zemo said bluntly "Although I'm sure sluts don't get paid"

She rolled her eyes "Escort" she said

"I figured, Frederick could never get a woman with your beauty by himself, the incompetent prick."

She giggled slightly, Zemo glanced over at Frederick; he seemed to be struggling with the mike. He held back a laugh. "I would either start drinking, or get him very drunk so he passes out and you don't have to experience a very uneventful evening."

"He does want me to sleep with him"

"If he could find his cock" Zemo said

She smirked and held back a laugh. "You seem to not like him very much"

"I'm only here because of my wife"

"Is she here tonight?" she asked, her eyes wandering around the room.

"She died"

She lowered her head slightly "Oh"

"It was a long time ago, anyway I think he's finally figured the mike out"

Zemo heard Frederick's voice fill the room as he spoke into the mike. He started with a joke, that to his credit was quite funny, and then he went on about the charity. Zemo didn't really listen, then his name came to his ears. Then a very loud round of applause. Zemo walked forward and smiled at everyone. He walked onto the small stage that Frederick stood on with the mike in his direction. He smiled and took Frederick's hand and shook it again and took the mike.

"Love the joke Fred." he said

Frederick patted him on the shoulder. How I want to break those fat sausage fingers.

"Now, thank you for the applause, but really. Its Fred we should applaud, his charity does good work throughout the entire world. My late wife believed in this very strongly, and so do I."

There was a round of applause and he smirked "Well when I walked in here, Fred here damn near ran me over to get me to speak, I'm not much of a public speaker, but I want to congratulate him and all of you for contributing to the cause. This charity really is great and I look forward to the years ahead and the more that we can do"

There was a very loud and long applause after that. Zemo saw Otto at the back and he inclined his head. He nodded "Now I don't want to keep you, this is your night, enjoy it. We start work again tomorrow"

Zemo walked off the stage and he quickly made his way away from Frederick and the whore, and everyone else that he really couldn't give a damn if they all died. He was soon next to Otto. "Good speech" he said

"Well, nothing like appealing to the masses"

"The meeting is almost ready to start"

"Then let's get down there"

Otto nodded and they both went to the west wing and were soon by themselves. Zemo looked to the right and he noticed a woman. Her long black hair was down to her mid-back. Her dress was long as well. And he could have sworn he recognized her. Then she glanced back and he knew who it was. That's one of Fury's old Agents. What is she doing here? Fury is out of the game.

He frowned and Otto glanced at him "What?"

"Nothing" he said

Zemo kept the fact that he knew her to himself as they came to a door. Zemo saw that it recently closed. Him and Otto soon entered and were met with two men that stopped them. "Identification" one said

Zemo smiled "Rick, George"

They both widened their eyes "Baron?" Rick asked

"Yes" he said

"Go on in"

Zemo nodded and he and Otto made it through. Otto sighed "You really have friends everywhere don't you?"

"You can never have enough friends, my father taught me that"

"Well, it's paying off" Otto said as they walked down a wide flight of stairs with white rock long the wall. They were in and now Zemo was going to pay attention to every word.

The hidden chamber underneath the large palace was like a palace on its own. Fully furbished and it even had rooms for guests. Zemo knew that they used this to conduct their meetings and as a base of operations for a short window of time. They had no control on what got reserved up above, but the chamber was so far down that it didn't matter. It felt like a whole other world. Otto was keeping a close eye on everyone they passed. "Relax Otto, if they wanted us dead, we'd be dead"

"Yes Baron" Otto said, yet he still kept his eyes on everyone. Zemo just ignored it and let him carry on. They both joined the large mass of people who were moving up the two large staircases that had a dark burgundy carpet over the white marble steps. Otto keeping an eye out, while Zemo kept his straight ahead. They got to the top of the stairs and were directed with the others to the main chamber. Zemo entered through the large doorway that had large curtains as doors. He came to seats, everyone was sitting down in their seats. Zemo glanced back at Otto, he was staring at the size of the chamber. He's never seen it before. Zemo saw two seats toward the front and he had Otto follow him and they quickly sat down. Zemo looked down over the balcony and a large table was in the center of the chamber. Long and rectangular, chairs were set up every few feet. Each for one of the heads. But there were three on the east side of the table and only one on the west side. Zemo knew that the three were for the real heads, and the one at the other end was for the one who would lead them. I'm surprised I still remember all this, it has been years since I've been to one of these.

Zemo kept quiet as he waited for the meeting to commence. Everyone on the balconies on the north and south face were seated and the heads were seated. Only four chairs were empty. Down below at the table, the three and the one at the other end. The leaders always make an entrance, as usual.

The chamber became very quiet, you could hear if someone was breathing too loud. Zemo looked at the other balcony and he spotted the woman that was part of S.H.I.E.L.D. She might be here for Fury, keeping an eye on things. But I don't remember her joining back up.

He turned his attention back to the main table as the doors to the chamber opened. Everyone turned their heads to see the three as they entered. Zemo noted that the three were different than his last time there. They walked toward their chairs, their shoes barely clicking against the stone floor. They took their seats and then a long moment of silence was followed by another door opening. Zemo darted his eyes to the other side of the chamber. In came a man with tall stature, and broad shoulders. He clad in back and his face was hidden behind a mask, his reddish hair cut very short. He also took a seat. They have a new one.

The meeting started with one of the many seated around the table talking about their meeting. Then another spoke. "Are we not here to speak about what has happened recently?"

Another spoke "The recent attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. do, give many of us concern"

One of the three raised their hand slightly and everyone stopped talking. Everyone seemed to be waiting on the voice of the man and then the one in the center spoke. "I called this meeting, because of what happened two months ago" his voice was heavy and Zemo deduced that he was slightly Middle Eastern, but he hid it very well. "We are all interested in what Niko Constantin did"

"What he did was cause every government to become even more watchful of secret activities" one of the many seated at the table said.

"Niko Constantin was not a good man, but he used to sit at this very table" another said

"Yes, his seat is now filled"

The middle of the three spoke again "His organization was a supporter of ours"

One of the many seated laughed harshly "He didn't support us, he threatened us all with death. He asserted his authority as the leader of Red Room, his power was infinite."

"Which he rightfully obtained if you have forgotten. After the Soviet Union fell in 1991, that January Niko was the only remaining member of Red Room"

"You have forgotten the Black Widow"

"Natalia Romanova stopped being in Red Room when she defected"

"Winter Soldier" another said

"Winter Soldier was never fully tied to Red Room, he was loaned by Hydra"

"And yet he is no longer part of Hydra, Alexander Peirce lost control of his assassin, and now his seat is also empty but filled. Hydra is no longer part of these meetings, if anything Hydra should just be put out of its misery already, they have scratched by"

Zemo smirked. Not for long. The bickering continued and then the one of the three stood and everyone shut their mouths. At least they know who has the authority. The man spoke, his voice was soft, but firm. "We are not here to bicker and whine, we are here for what Niko Constantin did."

The one in the center looked at him and he closed his mouth and took his seat. The one in the center rubbed his eyes. "Niko Constantin did what many of us would never do, and because he did it. The world governments will start to prepare for something like it again, but…Niko's organization was destroyed. This has left a very large gap of no control."

They're going to go for a power grab, well, let the best organization win. Zemo thought as the man continued. "It has been years since we could gain any more power than we already have"

"We have enough" one interjected

The man looked at the man who said it "We cannot allow this to go to waste. All of the power we could obtain, we'd be mad not to."

"Many of us rely on this organization, like the Hand" one said in Mandarin.

"This is a risky move, but we have a new Ronin."

"Our last one wasn't great"

"Well this one is"

They all turned their heads at the man who was sitting at the other end of the table. He looked at them all and spoke, his voice deepened by the mask. "With our new found power, we could bring something about that we'd been planning for years"

"And what would that be, many of our plans are nothing but thoughts, never going anywhere."

Ronin looked at the man and stood to his feet. He walked around the table and toward the man. Everyone seemed to shrink as he walked toward them. Zemo looked on with interest. Ronin approached the man and looked down at him "Your last Ronin was weak, yes. But I am not"

The man got to his own feet and looked at into Ronin's eyes and it took him a moment to gather his words. "What is it that you plan?"

"A war" Ronin said

"Between who?"

"Russia and Japan"

The entire table erupted into loud voices. Zemo held back a smiled as he watched from above. The man who looked Ronin in the face turned his loud voice onto Ronin. "We control things from behind the scenes, we're not war starters; we're war profiteers"

Ronin cocked an eyebrow "This will happen, with or without you" he said loudly. This caused everyone to stop talking and look at him. Ronin looked at everyone "It is time for the Dark Ocean Society to rise to the top. Red Room, Hydra, Department X, A.I.M. All gone, but we're still here. The power is there and all we have to do is reach out and take it"

"This will reveal us to the world" the man said

"No it won't, the governments of the world had no idea of Niko Constantin's organization, not until he told them himself and it was only Nick Fury, who is gone. We won't have another chance like this"

"I won't be part of this" the man said

Ronin gave him a long stare and he nodded and put his hand on the man's shoulder "That is your choice"

The man frowned, but nodded. Ronin squinted and he brought the man in and he drove a knife into his chest. The man exclaimed in pain as blood poured down his suit. Ronin put his head next to his " There, you're not part of it"

The man tried breathed, but each breath hurt. Ronin pulled the knife out and set the man back down into his chair. Everyone watched as Ronin shushed the man and patted his shoulder as he started to bleed to death. Ronin put his knife back and looked at the others "Who all agree to gain the power that we deserve?"

There was no movement for a long time, then the first hand rose. Then another and another. Soon the others gained courage to raise their hands as well. Zemo sat back slightly and he looked at the table as each hand was up in the air. He made a small sound of approval. He glanced at Otto, he was reserved and his eyes drifted to Ronin. What an interesting man. He looked at the other balcony and he noticed that the woman was getting up and walked away as the rest remained seated. Zemo squinted with interest. Where are you going?