Winter Hostage Pt I & II

by ninja.armadillo

She's the Winter Soldier's next mission, her technology could alter the course of humanity and provide Hydra with a horrific power that could give rise to a mutant race ruled by a leader too powerful to overcome. But between the clashes of SHIELD and Hydra, college student Sophie Carson has an effect on her mysterious kidnapper, who begins to consider whose side he's really on.

2. Chapter 2: Completion

2. Completion

"Sophie! You're going to be late to your lecture again!" I hear Lucy yell from downstairs
"Coming, coming…" I mumble, dragging myself out of bed and towards my best friend's annoyed shouts.

I'd stayed up working on the genesis algorithm again. It was a longer process than I thought, trying to translate electrical impulses into a numerical code. Fury won't get off my case until I finish it. I just needed one more night.

"You look like shit." Lucy scowls as I manage to make it to the door
"Good morning to you too." I grab a piece of toast and my bag
"Why don't you take more care of yourself?! Dammit, you've got a target on your head and yet you're even more chilled out than you usually are."
"This algorithm's got me beat, Fury wants it done by next week so I've had to pull all-nighters okay."
"Why are you putting yourself through this?" Lucy pauses on the sidewalk
"Because this is going to help people, Lucy, I need to finish the RgX so…"
"So that the Avengers can use it? Then what's the difference between them and any other criminal?"
"No it's not like that, I- I don't know." I shrug, defeated
"Go back home and finish it off then." Lucy stops again
"What?"
"Go finish the algorithm, I'll take today's notes and send them to you. But you have to promise me that once you're finished that you'll take care of yourself again."
"Lucy…" I snap out of my tired stupor
"No questions. Go now." Lucy pulls my head to her chest and hugs me before running to the train station ahead leaving me on the sidewalk.

I walk back home in astonishment clutching the golden locket on my neck as I think. What had I ever done to deserve a friend like Lucy? She read me better than anyone else and exuded more sass than my mother. She was one of those people who only accepted gestures of gratitude in the form of action and change. So I had to finish this algorithm.

Well I did complete it. Even if it did take another twelve hours. I stare at the RgX, now programmed with the genesis algorithm. I'd tested it out several times and it seemed to work, much to my surprise. I call Lucy a few minutes later, who simply said: "Thank heavens, well done. Now get some god-damned sleep you crazy scientist" and I didn't object, I slump into my bed and fall asleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow.