Chapter Nine
Battles were never pretty. They involved the calculated taking of life, the release of our darker nature, and the hope that that darker nature didn't stain the soul forever. In essence, they started as choreographed violence and ended in blood chaos. Steve knew this better than most. In some ways, he thrived in the chaos of battle. His skills were suited for the pandemonium of fighting and the confusion of combat, and his belief in his righteousness of cause kept that stain away.
He had chosen Collins and Hallestrom to climb the Chablais Alps with him to the keep, leaving Allegra in charge of the team. They managed to get into the keep easily to find that they were expected. There had to be a mole in SHIELD. Hundreds of Hydra troops and five Destroyers were waiting for them along with the Re Skull looking down from a high vantage point.
"You banished me to worlds and realms I never dreamed existed. I was treated like a slave until I proved that I was more than a mere pawn but that I was not a normal human," Johann Schmidt called down to Steve and his two comrades. "Once I proved myself I learned, Captain, I learned much. Through Loki, I learned the secret of making these Destroyers and powering them with the souls of men. Now I can finally do what I have dreamed of and that is banish you… to hell. Die, Captain America!"
It was right after America died on his lips that the battle began. Steve had his shield and his skills. He had Collins call in the backup knowing that they would be more than likely dead by the time it got there. Once that was done, he went into action and became a non-stop weapon. Using his agility and acrobatics to avoid the Destroyers, he took out Hydra soldiers by the dozen, while Collins and Hallestrom tried to survive.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hallestrom go down first. He was crushed by the foot of a Destroyer. Collins followed quickly behind Hallestrom, a victim of energy directed weapons and overwhelming numbers. Yet, Captain America still managed to fight on.
He felt several wounds to his body, they were unavoidable, but he didn't stop. Steve kept fighting. When the blast doors of the keep were blown up and his team and the special ops agents entered the keep joining the battle, he saw the Red Skull a grimace of hate take over the Red Skull's ugly, red skull face. He then watched as the Red Skull left his perch and retreated.
Steve wanted to pursue him but there were just too many Hydra soldiers to fight and the Destroyers to take out. His fight with the Red Skull would have to wait. Steve needed to remain to lead and fight. But, there would be a reckoning for the Red Skull and whoever had betrayed them.
"Get the ED cannons ready," he called to Allegra.
She nodded and communicated with one of the quinjets. Steve knew that more men would be lost in this battle and he swore vengeance for each and every one of them, especially Collins and Hallestrom.
Avengers
Tony, Bruce, Hank, Janet, Thor, Clint, and Natasha waited in the penthouse's large living area. Director Fury and Agent Hill were on their way up in the elevator. He contacted Stark and told him that he needed to speak to the Avengers. The elevator doors opened and Fury, dressed all in black with a billowing leather trench coat looking almost like a cape, and Hill strode off the elevator and into the living area. Everyone seemed calm and unfazed, which annoyed Fury. Of course, they didn't know what had happened to Steve's mission.
"Thank you for seeing us," said Fury.
"You called and said it was important," said Tony, as he sat on the large semicircular sofa where most of the Avengers sat, except for Natasha, who sat by herself, and Thor, who stood.
"SHIELD has a mole and I need your help to ferret him or her out," said Fury.
Clint was shocked to hear of a mole. He looked over at Natasha, whose own shock didn't appear on her face. Moles cost lives.
"Who's dead?" asked Clint.
"Hallestrom, Collins, Mika, Chang, Donnelly, Lavin, Holland, and Simms," Fury answered. "I have another six agents in the hospital recovering from serious injuries and one in a coma. Plus, I have one injured and highly pissed Captain America wanting to find the Rex Skull and the mole. Trust me you do not want to deal with a pissed off Captain America."
Clint looked over at Natasha he thought he saw her mask drop for a moment with the mention of Cap. Unfortunately, her mask went right back up.
"What happened to the Captain?" asked Thor.
"Hill, tell them," ordered Fury, as he was still too angry to talk about it.
"We had intel on where the Red Skull had set up a keep and lab to turn out more Destroyers. With his team and special ops agents waiting as back up, Captain Rogers along with Hallestrom and Collins entered the keep to gather quick intel before calling in the back ups. The Red Skull, five Destroyers, and roughly 150 Hydra soldiers lying in wait for them. Our guess is that a mole had informed the Red Skull Captain Rogers was coming," Hill explained.
"I surprised there were more dead," said Tony.
"That's what a pissed Captain America can do for you," Fury smiled.
"What about the Destroyers?" asked Tony.
"Your energy directed cannons worked well enough on them to keep the casualties down," said Fury.
"How is Steve?" asked Bruce.
"He took a lot of wounds, but he's almost healed up. By the time we get back to our DC office, he should be tearing up the training room," said Fury. "The man is tough on equipment."
"So what is your proposal, Fury?" Tony asked.
"I want to announce that you are now the primary team on tracking and capturing the Red Skull…," Fury started to tell them.
"That won't make your fair haired, star spangled boy happy," said Tony.
"I'll make sure he has something to do," said Fury.
"The Captain could work with us again," said Thor.
Fury took a deep breath then attempted one more time to give his proposal.
"You'll be the primary Red Skull team, but you will also be given complete access to SHIELD's security system and personnel files, as well as whatever else you need, in order to find the mole," he proposed.
"Why us?" asked Bruce.
"Because I know you aren't the moles and you have two of my best agents working with you," he said. "I've lost enough agents on this one. I want the mole found."
Fury leveled his one good eye at Tony, who smirked.
"We have free access and you don't interfere," Tony said.
"I'll give you free access and you will have Agent Hill here assisting you to make sure no current ops or missions are interfered with, as well as top secret information compromised," Fury offered.
"I vote yes," Tony said then raised his hand. "Everyone who wants is in favor raise your hands."
Clint and Natasha raised their hands followed by Thor, Janet, and then Bruce. Hank being the odd man out finally raised his hand.
"It looks like the Avengers will be helping you," said Tony.
He stood up and walked over to his computer workstation. Grabbing a hyper-drive, he tossed it to Agent Hill. She caught it and stood there glaring at him.
"Fill that up for me with some good stuff for us to start working on. You know secrets and stuff," Tony smiled.
Natasha stood up. She looked at Fury. Her face showed no emotion, but Clint could tell she was seething.
"I'll start an internal investigation Black Widow style," she said.
"Agent Romanov, we want the mole alive," said Fury.
"Yes, sir," she smirked.
Avengers
In grey sweat pants, a white tee shirt, and a pair of black converse sneakers, Steve stood in the gym training to punch a hole in the punching bag. SHIELD agents tried not to stare at Steve as he worked out his anger on the punching bag. Cap was a legend and how often did you get to watch a legend work out. Right, left, right, left; the punches kept coming like a jackhammer. The chain holding the punching bag finally broke and Steve sent the flying and agents scattering to get out of its way.
The bodies of the deceased agents were being shipped to their homes and families. Steve wanted to go to the funerals of Hallestrom and Collins, as well as several others, but Fury told him that all he'd bring was attention and the families didn't need that. Instead of pay his respects, he was breaking punching bags.
"If you need to work off that much frustration and energy, I have a suggestion for something that is far more fun," Allegra said to him, as she came up behind him.
"Agent de Fontaine," Steve said turning around, "is there anything I can help you with?"
A seductive smile made her already attractive face even more tempting. Agent de Fontaine invaded Steve's personal space. It was then that he noticed she was wearing yoga pants and a tight tee shirt. Steve felt his body starting to react but he had too much discipline to give into it, especially since she wasn't Natasha.
"Captain, it was a difficult mission and you seem as if you are holding too much inside. That isn't good for you. I am offering you a release, some physical exercise that allows you to get lost in passion and forget about your troubles," Allegra said.
"That sounds swell but I'm not that kind of man," he told her.
Allegra laughed. It was the laugh Steve heard when he was ninety pounds, sickly, and refusing to yield to a bully, but an almost lyrical laugh, that placed her offer back on the table. He inhaled and exhaled slowly.
"Captain, you are so old fashion. I find that very sexy," she purred then softly placed her right hand on his chest. "You are so provincial, too. No one will doubt your honor, Captain, if you occasionally allow some pleasure in your life."
Steve gently removed her hand from his chest.
"Agent de Fontaine, this is who I am," he said.
"Change occurs even to the best of us," she smiled.
"I'll keep that in mind," Steve said then he moved passed her and headed for the door.
Avengers
Iron Man, Thor, Henry Pym, and Janet flew off to the keep in Chablais Alps. They were going to check the computers left behind by Hydra for intel, and Tony especially wanted to get a look at the machine that made the Destroyers and transferred souls into them to power them. Meanwhile, Bruce was going to work with JARVIS to hack into the SHIELD system and start checking for irregularities and hidden communications. For his part, Clint was headed to the helicarrier to investigating personnel there and Natasha was headed to DC to start checking there.
Natasha used the Stark private jet in order to get from New York to DC. Clint insisted she take the DC investigation. Her job was to interview the agents who survived the Chablais Alps mission, which included his leader Captain American. He said she was better at investigations. She sat on the plane reviewing personnel files. Natasha already knew some of them, but there was one in particular she was looking forward to interview – Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. She smiled at the thought of interviewing the Contessa.
Putting down the file, she took a deep breath as a wave of anxiety washed through her. As much as she relished interviewing Agent de Fontaine, she dreaded having to interview Steve. She had been avoiding him and avoiding her feelings for him and now she was going to have to confront him. Maybe she would him her first stop when she got to DC just to get it over dealing with him.
"First stop, Captain America," she sighed.