So I rewrote the beginning of the story because I wasn't very happy with it, it'll be a 2-3 chapter installment that I'll add in front of what's already there, enjoy!
'Sir, ... capsule ... active...', a weirdly accented voice rings through to my ears. I say rings, it truly does ring, you know that high pitched bell you have in your ears after you faint or when you experience low blood pressure? Yeah, the voice caused that. Stupid person, talking. Slowly I regain sensation on my skin, the pleasant numbness replaced by a biting cold, which spreads from my chest outwards. I try to move my fingers when it reaches them, the motion causing another sensation to spread from my extremities inwards, the sensation of pain. My veins ignite with each heartbeat, ice scratching the walls of my blood vessels. Trust me, it's everything but enjoyable. At this stage it's exhilarating for me, it means I can come out and I can play. Who doesn't want to play?
'Prepare for medical procedure', another voice replies as the cold becomes reasonably bearable. Now my entire body is shaking, finally the nerves woke up from their slumber and began firing the correct readings to my brain, its cold, begin warming. I feel all my muscles contracting and relaxing at a fast pace, sending my body into near convulsing shocks, limited by the sharp stinging of my restraints.
As my body stops convulsing, the lid of the capsule gets lifted and a waft of warm, moist air hits my face. Now I open my eyes, knowing that all my other senses are on full function, knowing I won't panic if I find them wrong.
'Good morning Fox' I hear my handler from above. I simply groan in response. Don't talk, unless you speak Russian, don't say a word and they won't hurt you. If there is one thing I trust this green eyed man with its how to behave. Because if I don't, the consequences are dire, trust me, I know them all too well. I look up at him, his face significantly older than last time, as with every time I wake up. He ages, I don't. Beer bottle green is what his eyes are described as on his file, but I believe them to be a brighter, almost grass green if he wasn't so lean.
'Morning', I reply in Russian, the word scratching my throat uncomfortably. 'Water' my request is gratified near instantly, a glass of clear liquid placed into my outstretched hand by a white lab coat. Of course there's someone underneath that coat, but frankly, I don't care who or what they are. It's not my problem, it's not my concern, it's not my mission.
'Mission report, December 17th 1991' the brown haired man requests from the balcony.
'Success' is all I reply, I've already reported this mission and it was in my files, why recite the events again?
'I do not care if you succeeded, I want the report. Now' his grass eyes lit up with anger.
'Mission 17th December 1991, reporting events.'
Rain. Thats the first thing I notice as I'm kicked out of the army car. The gentle pattering streaking down my hair and subsequently my face, my eyes adjusting to the dark outside faster than I expected. I'm still not used to being an 'enhanced', I've only really been out for a few days since the fateful experiment. The man behind the wheel turned on the headlights again and asked if I understood my mission, I nod slightly and turn around, hearing the comfortable rumble of warmth leave to my left. A path was stomped out ahead of me, the gravel road surrounded by woods and bush. They had cleared the car already, it had barely been a few hours prior that it had crashed here. Seems like they got better at handling accidents, or maybe it was because of the people inside the car that everything was done more promptly.
I contemplate my plan of action before I set out to find my target. Hearing some branches cracking to my left I do not turn my head, I simply focus on the sound. It's too loud and clumsy to be my target, so I ignore it and walk ahead. The wet ground squelches under my boots, something possibly inaudible to the human ear but god it's irritating me. Squelch, Squelch. It sounds both disgusting and arousing. It's been a while since I could hear my feet on the ground. The path becomes thinner and thinner as I proceed, grass covering the sandy and noisy surface. Though the grass is causing a slight crackle, this sound is much less annoying. I stop and check my surroundings when I get to a rock, placing my back pack onto the flat surface and looking through it. Torchlight, useless. Rope, meh, could come in handy. Tazer, yeah, keep that. A second set of uniform? How long do they think I'll be out here for? A blanket for the cold nights, yeah I'll sure as hell keep that! Screw the cold. After closing the backpack back up and burring the torch under some dead shrub I swing it back on and continue walking. If I was in the targets shoes, where would I go? Some abandoned place, maybe a holiday home, or a cave, anything dark and somewhat secure. Nothing big, harder to secure, but nothing tiny either, you need space to run and potentially fight.
My eyes wander on the horizon, conveniently blocked by a mass of trees, but I spot a small light far left, light bulb for sure, it's a yellow tint and doesn't flicker. I know the target isn't dumb enough to light a fire, at least I hope they aren't. Well, I say 'they', I wasn't told the gender, only that they are an asset to hydra and need to be captured and returned as quickly as possible. Great, a rescue mission basically. How I love those.
Trees pass by on my sides as I make my way to the house. The light becomes brighter and brighter, however the rain became heavier again so I had to seek shelter under a large birch. They smell amazing when wet, in my opinion anyhow. I can hear the scurrying of animals trying to outrun the rain, some succeed, some fail, as is the norm in nature. As I wait I can hear footsteps not too far away, maybe 30 meters, something like that. This new hearing has thrown my distances off pretty bad. Now my choices are follow the footsteps or go to the light. Are they the targets footsteps? Or just a random passer-by. A passer-by at this hour of night (or morning, whichever way you swing) is pretty suspicious alright. So I let my step fall in to the same rhythm as the person in front of me and make my way over. The rhythm has me puzzled though, it's as if they are carrying something heavy, maybe a body? Maybe it's just a wood chopper? (Again, at 3am?) Well whatever they are, they're heavy, but their footsteps are very light. Trained maybe. Just as I was close enough to make visual contact with the person, a twig snapped below my shoe. Fucking great. The walking stopped abruptly and I attempted to hide behind a thick tree, knowing that whoever they are, they're definitely on alert now. Stealth was never really my forte. The person starts walking again, quietly, I can barely make out their steps, but still I hear the gentle thud's approach my tree. Shit. My right hand is at the ready at my waist strap, the metal handle of my blade a soothing presence as my breath quickens. Whether its fear or excitement, I honestly can't tell you. A bit of both maybe? It'd have to be. I can feel his presence behind me. My senses overridden by the massive human being behind me, back to the tree, leather clad. He towers over me, and I have to crane my neck to see the back of his head. Seemingly black hair covers his neck, his right hand grasping a knife eerily similar to my own.
He's hydra.
Oh shit.
Too quickly it dawns on me just who I was sent to retrieve. Well this just went from fun to fucking amazing! I've always wanted to fight the well known 'asset' of hydra, the winter soldier, the poor American bastard.
'You're with them aren't you' I hear his gruff voice behind me, the poor ol' tree a barrier to us both.
'Yes' I hear him shift, his muscles taut, he's running on fight or flight. Either way he will lose.
'Run away, you know who they really are' Yes, I do know, they are my creators, my handlers, my family, my friends, and my killers.
'No can do Soldier' His deep breath hitches, his entire body stills. Must have hit a nerve.
'Why?' he asks carefully, my knife is still in my hand, a second one slipped into my left hand, a smaller make, useful for throwing.
'I have nowhere left to go' I hiss as I spin around the tree, left hand raised to force a block. A loud clang resonates through the forest, as soon as it does I strike with my right arm, aiming for just above the stomach. Another clang, sparks fly, my mouth hangs open in a gasp as I realised just what happened. Composure. I jump back again, the soldier hot on my heels now, his eyes burning into mine as he attempts to predict my next move. I toss the small knife at him, to no avail as he simply blocks it with his left arm, another clang. Wait, a clang? What the he...?
My thought is cut short when he launches himself at me, desperation in his eyes now, he just wants to get away. Something in him changes, his eyes become distant, he falters. This is my chance, I slip between his legs, low on my own, no rapid movements while he's in the trance. Blade at his neck, my other arm folding his left one behind his back, he finally snaps back when I press the knife into his throat a little. Well this was easy. He doesn't struggle against me as I lead him towards the house, obedient like a little child. Interesting. I don't think much of it as I push him to sit on the ground, holding both his hands behind his back with my right hand as I reach behind me for the cuffs. Seems like he had other plans, he yanks his metal hand from my grasp and swiftly turns, the hand flying to my throat, pinning my back against the wall painfully. That's gonna leave a bruise.
'Ow' I yelp as his grasp tightens, his eyes hollow with murderous intent, however no matter how much he squeezes I don't wheeze, I don't choke. His hand is struggling to press further, something is blocking his mechanism, the arm now shaking from overexertion.
'What are you?' he whispers, eyes wide as he puts more power into the arm. A click makes him look away, the door of the house opening and my handler walking in, green eyes flashing amused at what he walked in on. Had there been less clothes involved it might have been a slightly compromising position, considering I wrapped my legs around the soldiers waist while he was distracted.
'I see you have met your partner, Asset, Fox, and I believe further introductions are needless' his American accent bounced around the house, the yellow light making his eyes positively venomous green.
'Partner?' both of us gasp, different tones of excitement in our voices. I was positively shaking with excitement, partnered with the already famous Winter Soldier? How awesome is that!? He didn't sound nearly as excited, it was almost like it was a negative thing to have me as his partner. Idiot.
'Yes, and if the asset would be so kind as to release our little fox here I would be grateful', my handler almost growled at the dark haired assassin.
I am partnered with an assassin.
I am partnered with the assassin.
That's almost as awesome as being trained in the Red Room.
Yep, I loved that training session, 1 year worth of Red Room changes anyone from a soldier to an infiltrator. Especially when paired with the best of the best. God she taught me so much. I wonder how she is now.