Greetings folks! Thanks for stopping by. I've had this idea floating around in my head for a while and I can't work on anything else til I get it out of my head. The time line is somewhere in Captain America between Cap rescuing Bucky to Bucky's fall from the train. Just so you all know, until the movies came out, I hated Captain America. I thought he was nothing more than some star spangled propaganda. But the movies have made me like him. The reason why I'm telling you guys this is so that you understand that I do not know much about the Capitan America/Howling Commandos story arcs and all the information I am using is coming from the cinematic universe; so please be kind when it comes to reviews. As always, I own nothing except my own characters and some of the story line. Enjoy!

oOo

The woods seemed unnaturally quite. It was as if the whole world was asleep. Not a creature stirred from its nest, not a soul was around to watch the small group of men as they crept silently through the woods. Well…as silently as they could. To a few of them, every step that they took was ten times louder than it normally would have been. Senses on high alert, they scanned their surroundings, keeping a keen eye out for the enemy. This was a dangerous mission, but these men were used to dangerous missions, they were the Howling Commandos lead by Captain America himself. They made their living by going into places that no other unit dared. But then again, they were fighting an enemy that was like no other. HYDRA.

A week ago, Colonel Philips and Peggy Carter had informed the elite team about a newly discovered HYDRA research facility deep in the woods along the France and Germany boarder. While their intelligence couldn't tell them what HYDRA was up to, their spies did manage to snap a few pictures of a strange circular machine. The Commandos mission was to invade the research facility, find out what HYDRA was up to, and then destroy the facility, saving a few scientists for questioning. So far, the mission had gone off without a hitch, but now that they were within spitting distance from the facility, anything could go wrong and it was even more crucial that nothing did.

Just as the perimeter of the facility came into view, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, called for a halt. "Ok men", he said softly. "We're close enough. Bucky, I want you to go to the high ground. Be our eyes." Bucky gave his long time friend a short nod, indicating that he understood. "Jones and Dum Dum, I want you two to take the western entrance. Dernier, I want you to go with them, cause as much trouble as you can." The three men smiled like the wicked children they were. "Jim and Monty will be with me. We'll head for the center of the base and try to find the machine, destroy it and find whatever documentation they have." The Captain looked each of his men in the eye, giving them a small nod. Each man returned it before breaking off from the group to head to their respective targets.

Steve, Monty, and Jim made inside the facility without too much trouble, but they were unnerved by how empty the place was. Normally a facility like this would be swarming with troops and scientists, but they walked through the corridors without seeing another soul.

"I don't like this Cap," Jim said, holding his rifle tighter. "Something is off."

"It feels like a trap", Monty said, shifting uncomfortably.

"I agree," Steve replied. "See if the others are running into the same thing."

However, before Jim could reach for his radio, the lights began to flicker and the air seemed to hum with electrical energy. Steve was about to call for a tactical retreat when hundreds of HYRDRA soldiers came pouring out of the wood work. Steve leapt into action, punching the closest enemy in the face before he jumped in front of his men with his shield up. Shots rang out, but not a single one found its target. Most of the rounds ended up lodged into the surrounding wall after they bounced off Captain America's shield. There was a brief pause as the soldiers used up their magazines and it was in that moment that Captain American went on the offensive.

With a mighty yell, Captain America launched himself into the fray, taking out HYRDA agents with a swing of his fist and his shield. In a matter of seconds he had created a pathway for his friends and comrades. The men pushed forward, chased by enemy soldiers and the sounds of gun fire. The three men didn't stop, didn't bother to look back except to return fire. They had to reach the main building of the facility. They had to complete their mission. They had to stop HYDRA at every turn.

A massive explosion knocked everyone to the ground. This explosion was soon followed by a second, and then a third, and soon the whole western portion of the base was up in flames.

"It's about time", Jim gasped as he picked himself up from the ground.

More HYRDA agents began to run around the base, but they were more concerned with containing the fire than with the three men who were making their way towards the heart of the base. The three man team was soon joined by their other comrades, who all looked extremely pleased with themselves.

"I hope you guys didn't blow up the trucks", Monty said as he scowled at Dernier.

"Don't get your panties in a wad," Jones laughed. "Dum Dum is waiting for us at the extraction point with a nice truck just for you."

The men shared a small laugh before turning their attention towards the central building of the facility. From the windows a bright bluish light could be seen that caused a few of the men to gulp nervously.

"Let's go men," Captain America said without a hint of fear. "The sooner we get in there, the sooner we get to go home." This seemed to rally his mean, because their faces hardened, showing that they were ready to face whatever horror HYRDA had waiting for them.

With the bombs and the fires, it was easy for the Commandos to sneak into the central building and what they saw, took their breath away. The pictures they had looked at did not truly convey how large the circular machine was. It took of the whole building, nearly touching the top of the building. Blue lightning flashed all around causing windows to shatter and metal to glow red hot when struck.

"Blood hell," gasped Monty.

"No kidding", Captain America agreed.

With extreme caution the men made their way towards the command console, where a small group of men were frantically shuffling about, attempting to not be struck by the lighting. Using hand signals, Captain America gave his men directions, which they followed after acknowledging the commands. Together they crept closer to the command console, dodging lighting themselves. When they had reached the pre-assigned stopping point, the Commandos prepared themselves for a fight. Unfortunately, that isn't what happened.

"Isn't she beautiful Captain", one of the scientist said without turning around. The Commandos looked at each other confused. "Oh if you only knew how long I worked on her," the scientists continued. He turned and looked right at Captain America, not with anger but with the crazed look of someone who has completely been taken over by a project.

"Don't you want to know what my lovely can do?" the scientists asked with a wave of his hand. In a flash, fresh soldiers flooded in, guns drawn. Captain America motioned for his team to stand down. They could easily take the soldiers out, but if the scientists was going to tell them the information they needed, then they would play along for a little while.

"Throughout history, mankind has sought out only two things; to create the best human specimen and to break free from the chains of time. While the serum that flows through your body is impressive," the scientist gave Captain America a small nod, "time travel is a worthier pursuit and today we have finally reached it! This machine will be able to pull anyone from anywhere in space and time. It will also allow anyone to travel anywhere they will. Just imagine being able to have tea with the most brilliant minds of all time or to stop a mighty enemy before he ever had a chance." The scientist lovingly stroked the console. "Just you watch, Captain America. Just you watch, as we take over not only the world, but time itself!"

The scientist flipped a large switch and the lighting began to increase. Even more disturbing, the space inside the circular machine began to glow with a brilliant white light. There was no more time to waste, Captain America and his team sprung into action. The space was soon filling with the sounds of gunfire and men crying out in pain. As the battle raged on, the scientists stood in front of his creation laughing manically, until a stray bullet ended his life. Those who were locked into the fight, were not even aware of the scientists death, nor were they aware that something was going wrong with the machine. That is until an explosion knocked them all to the ground.

"What's happening!" shouted Captain America over the noise from the machine.

"It is destabilizing!" shouted one of the other scientists. "Run while you still can!"

The Commandos didn't have to be told twice. They turned heal and followed the HYDRA agents as they fled the building, which had started to come down around them. "RETREAT! RETREAT!" Jim shouted into his radio, hoping that the others would hear.

When Cap and the others reached the rendezvous point, they were greeted with the sight of a running truck. Without a word they leapt into the back of the five ton, shouting for Dum Dum to floor it. They drove wildly through the woods, crushing small trees and bushes in their path. Even in the vehicle, they could feel the ground tremble and the white light from the machine had turned the forest night into day.

Then came a terrible quiet, the type of quiet that only comes before a massive explosion. The light retreated back towards it source, nearly going out, before it lashed out against the night. When the light reached the truck, it was tossed into the air like it was nothing more than a child's toy. Trees were uprooted and hundreds of forest animals were cooked alive. Nothing of the facility remained, only a large crater remained.

With aching bodies, the Howling Commandos made their way back towards the facility. They had to see with their own eyes, the destruction that remained. They had to look for survivors or whatever else they could take with them.

Bucky whistled as they picked their way towards the edge of the crater. "That's one big hole", he said, shouldering his rifle. "I don't think we're going to get anything from the remains, Steve."

"You're probably right, Buck," Steve said sadly. "But we have to look."

Bucky rolled his eyes, but continued to pick through the rubble. They had just reached the crater, when Steve had called for a break. Wearily, the men sat down and began to dig through their pack for their rations. Bucky sighed as he looked at his military rations. He was suddenly filled with a longing for his mom's home cooked meals. He missed his family terribly. He wanted this war to be over so he could go home. Sure he could have already gone home, seeing how he had been tortured and experimented on by HYDRA, but Steve was still fighting the good fight, and he was going to be by his friend's side until the end to line. He was just about to dig into his depressing meal, when he heard something strange behind him. He turned slightly, straining his ears. He heard it again, only this time he was able to recognize it. It was a sound that he was all too familiar with. It was the sound of someone moaning in pain. Slowly, he stood up, reaching for his rifle as he did. The other members of his team saw him and reached for their weapons. Carefully they made their way towards the very edge of the crater. They peered over the edge.

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," one of the Commandos muttered. There was nothing left of the machine in the crater. Nothing left of the building that once housed it. But there in the very bottom, nearly a half a mile down, laid a woman.

When Steve saw this, he leapt straight down, landing hard beside the woman. "She's still alive but unhurt!" he shouted back, amazed. The other Commandos sprung into action. They made a field gurney, and then lowered it down into the hole with extra ropes, so Steve could fasten the woman to it. After several agonizing moments, the woman was brought up to the surface where she was quickly assessed.

"There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her," Jim said after a while. He sat back and scratched his head. The woman had no wounds, no signs of blunt force trauma, in fact, she was completely clean; there wasn't a trace of dirt on her.

"Perhaps we should cover her," Bucky said, undoing his jacket. The air was chilly and her clothes barely covered her body. She was wearing a sleeveless shirt that clung to every curve and her bottoms could have been painted on for all they knew. Over all, Bucky felt like she should be covered up, to spare her the glares that the men, himself included, were given her. "What do ya think Cap?" Bucky asked when he was done.

"I think that for now we should get her back to base," Steve said. "We can question her when she wakes up." Everyone nodded. It was a good idea, the only idea really. Now they had to figure out how to do it.

Fortunately, their original getaway vehicle was still operational. Once they flipped it back onto four wheels, they were able to load the woman into the back and start the long trip back. They whole trip Bucky couldn't keep his eyes off the strange woman. Her amber hair reminded him of whiskey and he thought that the freckles that dusted her nose made her look young, but there was no way of telling her age until she woke up. He found her attractive, but he pushed those thoughts aside. She could very well be a HYRDRA agent sent to infiltrate them, preying on their male instincts to protect women. Only time would tell.

Well there's the first chapter. I do hope you enjoyed it and as always please don't forget to review.