Hey, Phoenix here! I'm just letting you know that this will be updated every Saturday. Also, I'm sorry if this chapter seems rushed or that the resolution is also quick and rushed. However, there might be a chapter posted on the Fourth Of July, but if I post that it'll be short. Anyways, onto the story!
She was taken out to the extraction point, near Fury's apartment in Washington DC. Her handlers reminded her of her mission and she nodded, the black muzzle on her mouth preventing her from replying to them.
She quickly scaled the building before entering his apartment through an open window. 'This is too easy.' She thought, and was on high alert. He must know something was going to go wrong.
Pulling out a gun she creeped around the apartment, having memorized the floorplan before she had gotten there. Finding his room was easy, and there was a prickling of fear. Fear. She hadn't felt fear, but she knew it. She had seen it in her victims eyes and now she was sure that she looked the same as they had. His door was open and the Director was asleep. She silently walked into the room, gun at the ready. She was just about to fire when he bolted awake and pulled out his own gun. She was a fool. A fool for believing that he would be killed. There it was again, the fear. The fear of being caught. She had never been caught, and when she was her victims never stayed alive long enough to do anything about it.
"Well, it's been awhile since HYDRA has come after me."
She froze, how did the Director know she was from HYDRA? Her outfit gave nothing away about her organization, so how could he figure out. Had he seen the Soldier before. She didn't have long to think as her instincts kicked in.
The trigger on the gun was pulled back, but to her dismay it barley grazed his shoulder. "And I thought HYDRA sent their best dogs to do their dirty work."
Even though she didn't let it show, it cut her down. He was right. She was just a lapdog, sent to kill for them.
She wanted to pull the trigger again, but she couldn't. Did her programming wear out again? All she could do was stand, stand there and even though the man couldn't see it through her muzzle, her mouth was open in shock.
"Tell you what. I'm feeling generous. Why don't I take you to the Triskelion and interrogate you?" She nodded, feeling that it was the best option. The Director's apartment was a short drive to the Triskelion, but he kept her at gunpoint the entire time.
Even though it was early in the morning, the Triskelion was still active, SHIELD employees walking around.
He led her through the twisting hallways, passing various agents who looked wary of her. They reached an interrogation room and the two agents standing outside of it made her put all of her weapons in a large plastic bag.
She put four guns, two knives, and other various weapons in the bag until it was bursting. She stepped through a metal detector and she was clear to enter the room.
The Director sat in a chair and she sat in the one across from him, staring at the glass wall that had a view of the hallway.
With delicate fingers she took off the muzzle and set it on the table, staring past the Director.
"Answer these questions truthfully, and I might turn your life around." She nodded, still not used to speaking. "Who do you work for?" He already knew, but she answered anyways, her voice hoarse. "HYDRA, but I used to work for the Red Room and the KGB." It was strange for her, saying so many words at once, but Fury accepted it. "What was your mission?" "To kill you." "How long have you been with HYDRA?" "Sixty-eight years." He stared at her, his one eye looking doubtful. "I was experimented on and they messed with my head. I can barely remember anything." She stated, her hands shaking. He seemed to take this into consideration and gave a slight nod. "And how do you feel about HYDRA?" "I – I hate them. They've made me kill, and I can't change that. I want to get away. Help me get away." For the first time in almost sixty years her mask slipped. It slipped and shattered. Tears welled in her eyes, but she did not let them fall. "And what is your name?" She racked her head, trying to find some memory to tell her any sort of name she had ever gotten.
Suddenly, her mind pinpointed on a random memory, from years ago.
Fourteen girls were in the training room of the old building that served as the Red Room's base of operations. They were working on the punching bags, the Soldier observing them. Most of the girls were whispering amongst themselves. The oldest one was eleven while the youngest girl was seven. The oldest ones were all together in their group, whispering about the other girls in the program. "What about that freak without the name?" One of them said loudly, turning to look at the girl at the end of the line of punching bags, being silent. "I have the perfect name for her!" Another one said, smirking. "Let's call her Blank!" It was not the most creative insult, but most of the girls in the program called her that. It was a shame that they all died.
"I don't really have a name." "Didn't they call you anything?" He was getting annoyed with her now, and she knew not to test his patience. "The girls in the program called me Blank. When I went to HYDRA they called me the Angel." "What program?" She stared at him for a moment before speaking. "The Black Widow Program."
He pinched the bridge of his nose and she remained still.
"Now, you know of the Avengers?" He asked and she nodded, hearing the officials speak about the super heroes. "Here at SHIELD we like to expand our horizons, and the horizons of the world. I'm only asking you this because I think you are capable enough. Will you join the Avengers?" The question hit her hard and it took her a moment to consider what he was saying. She could have a mind of her own. She could finally have thoughts, and she could finally start to remember. The damage that HYDRA had done was irreversible, but she could get one shred of something to clear all of the blanks in her mind.
"You want me to join a team of superheroes when I tried to kill you?"
He chuckled and she managed a small smile.
"I rarely believe in second chances, but you have potential to become a better person. I'll only ask one more time. Will you join?"
With determination in her eyes, she stared at the Director.
"Yes."