Author's Note:
Boy, this chapter is a doozy when it comes to plot. A lot of big revelations. TRIGGERS: Vague holocaust imagery but only very briefly near the end. Hinting at the darkness in Astrid's life. As always please review and let me know what you think.
Blood. For some it caused panic, adrenaline kicking in. Promoting a fight or flight response. But for Astrid, it had a calming effect. It had to in her line of work. Her heartbeat was steady. Breathing even as she sunk her blade deep in the neck of one of the Nazi bastards. Slashing at the throat of another who tried to save his comrade. Shamira's bullet taking out the third. She could feel his blood fly across her face. If she wanted to she could reach out and taste it with the tip of her tongue. And she didn't care.
Despite the battle that was raging around them Astrid felt at peace. She thought that after leaving the fight for so long it would be hard to come back. That was not the case at all. She fell back into it easily. Almost too easily. As if she never left.
'Well this has absolutely gone to Hell,' Shamira noted sending thoughts over. Standing at Astrid's side she had her eyes peeled for the approaching enemy. Communicating with thoughts alone. It was easier than screaming over the battlefield. Astrid nodded She was right. This was a disaster but night battles almost always were. If they made it out of this Astrid was going to kill the person who thought this attack was a good idea. Explosions were rocketing across the sky. Fires providing the only light. The sounds of men's screams covered over by the sounds of gunfire. Not for the first time she was grateful that Steve wasn't here. That he was safe back at home. Away from all this. That he would be able to live a life without experiencing war.
'What's the status of our guys?' Astrid asked Shamira. They had a slight lull in the battle. Astrid scanning the area. Seeing where she could help the most.
'I think there is a group of about 40 guys back that way.' Shamira pointed North. Away from the main battle. They were either smart or incredibly lucky. 'The rest of us are scattered to high heavens.' Not exactly what Astrid wanted to hear but there wasn't anything she could do about it. That was just how it was.
'Time to play round up then.' As Astrid was about to head into the main fighting force she caught a blue light out of the corner of her eye. Whirling around she saw a new group enter the fray. Firing what almost seemed like blue lasers at the Nazis. Literally dissolving them into nothing. Not even ash.
'Please tell me that's not who I think it is?'
'Hydra.' Astrid felt her blood turned cold. Even after their expanded mission, they hadn't run into Hydra. Seemed like their luck had finally run dry.
'They are more technologically advanced than we realized.' Shamira scoffed. 'Stark is going to have a field day.' The man was already on edge trying to keep up with Nazi Germany. Having to deal with this… it was a whole different playing field. And the Allies weren't even playing. Yet.
'We got to get these men out of here.' Astrid turned to face Shamira. She wasn't going to like what Astrid had to say next. 'I need you to head out North and get as many men out as possible.'
'What the hell are you talking about?! If you think I'm leaving." She shook her head. 'You must be out of your damned mind.'
Astrid sighed. She knew Shamira wasn't going to be happy. 'If we stay here we are most likely going to get captured by Hydra.' The number of blue lights that she saw in the darkness was growing. Rapidly. Astrid could already tell they were surrounded. 'If they managed to capture both of us…' She didn't have to tell Shamira what would happen.
'He will use us against each other.' Shamira all but snarled.
'If I'm captured, I'll be able to keep everyone alive,' Astrid shrugged. 'Hopefully.'
'Why risk it? We can run off now and-'
'Bucky is still out there.' There was a pause in the conversation. As they both processed what they were about to do. 'I will return to you.'
Shamira's mind stilled and she took a deep breath. Giving Astrid a hard look. 'You better. Otherwise, I'm going to have to go and find you. And I really don't want to do that.'
Astrid chuckled giving one last smile before taking off in the darkness. Navigating herself away from Hydra. She swore she saw Bucky, and Dugan run this direction earlier. But it was hard to tell. So she let her mind expand. Helping her pinpoint where everyone was. Carefully brushing over their minds. Until she finally settled on Bucky. He was farther south than she realized. Taking off like a shot she beelined her way towards him. Taking out anyone who stood in her way. Shielding herself from the explosions.
Despite the chaos, Astrid thought she heard someone call out her name. Jumping into the ditch she found herself staring at Bucky and Dugan. All looking slightly worse for the wear. Eyes wide.
"Any of you hurt?" she shouted.
"We're good!" Dugan responded. "You know how lucky you are? We really need to get you a gun."
Astrid rolled her eyes. "You know how much I hate guns." She absolutely refused to use one. Having her mother and later many others shot in front of her didn't exactly warm her to them.
"Where's Shamira?" Bucky asked looking around for her.
"Getting out of here. As we should be." An explosion nearby interrupted the conversation. Dirt and debris raining down on them.
"There's gotta be at least five mortar companies out there," Dugan called out.
"Radio B Company!" Bucky ordered. "Tell them we need cover."
Jones rolled into the ditch. Joining them with a radio. Gabe Jones was a member of the 92nd infantry who they joined up with for this assault. Not that it helped anything. They were hopelessly outgunned. If to prove Astrid's point the radio had smoke pouring out of it. "That might be tough," Jones answered. So they were basically surrounded with no ability to communicate with the other companies. Could be worse.
"Bucky behind you!" Dugan called out. Bucky whirled around firing at the men coming towards them. It turned into a firefight. Astrid doing what she could. Causing guns to jam. Implanting suggestions in the enemy's mind. A little friendly fire was possible without too much effort. Another nearby explosion causing Astrid's bones to rattle. Sending Dugan's hat flying. Another man jumped into their ditch. Joining the now-massive firefight. What Astrid hadn't seen yet was Hydra though. They might still have a chance to get out of here.
"Here they come!" Bucky shouted.
"I hate these guys," Dugan muttered.
"Join the bloody club," Astrid snarked as more men joined them in their ditch. Some of them injured. Astrid doing what she could. Until her eyes caught the sight of blue. Whipping around she saw what the others did. A whole group of Nazis dissolving in front of their eyes. The sounds of gunfire quieting down. They all glanced at each other. Wondering what to do next.
"What the hell was that?" Jones asked. Bucky, Dugan, and the others stepping out of cover.
"Hydra," Astrid answered standing up as well. "We have to get out of here." She watched as more blue shoots fired at the Nazis. "Now! Before they notice us!"
"I think it's too late for that Doc," Dugan answered. "That looks new." Astrid felt her heart stop as a tank rolled in. Bigger than anything the Germans or Americans had ever produced. It was a beast of a machine. Its lights shining directly at them. The turret following. Turning so that it was pointing directly at them.
"Down!" Bucky shouted but Astrid moved before any of them could. Holding out her hand straight in front of her. Creating a shield of purple light that blocked the shot. Absorbed directly by the shield.
"What was that?!" Jones asked.
"Talk later. Run now!" Astrid ordered as the tank aimed another shot. Astrid blocked that one as well but they soon found themselves surrounded by Hydra soldiers. Guns pointing at the back of their heads. One of the soldiers yelling at them in German.
"What is he saying?" Dugan asked.
"Put your hands up. We got you surrounded," Astrid answered doing as they ordered. "You are coming with us." The others brought up their hands as well. One of the other soldiers taking their guns away and throwing them off. When one of them tried to reach for Astrid's kit she hissed at him in German to stay away. With a little mind control, it was enough to deter him.
They were forcibly marched out of the battlefield. Rounded up with all the other soldiers that were captured. Judging by the headcount it looks like they captured most of their force. Trying to keep track of who was here helped Astrid stay calm. And not remember another forced march that she was a part of so many years ago. The fact that she didn't see or feel Shamira's presence gave her some relief as well. At least she managed to escape from this disaster. She couldn't imagine the other possibility.
Forced into a large group they marched for what felt like hours. Astrid wasn't entirely sure how long it was but she had a fair idea of where they were going. She cursed herself. She had hoped that they were far enough away that they wouldn't run into Hydra. Seemed like they couldn't be that lucky.
They were led into a large front gate connected to a thick fence. Inside was a massive compound. Filled with military technology the Axis and Allies could only dream about. Phillips was right. Hydra was a real danger. Proven even more true when they were all led to a large manufacturing floor. Men already toiling away doing God knows what.
The group was forced to come to a stop in the middle. The other workers shuffled into the mix as well. Astrid wasn't sure what was going on but she somehow managed to find herself near the front with Bucky. Dugan and Jones got lost in the mix awhile back.
There was some shouting and fighting back but it was all inevitable. Ordered to look up Astrid's heart sunk completely when she saw who was up there. Two men were standing up. Both of whom Astrid recognized and wished that she would have never seen again. The chief scientist and his master. The man who formed Hydra. Her moving to New York now was pointless. She only ended up in their hands again.
"This Zola character is not good news," Bucky grunted softly. She looked at him. At least someone was paying attention to what they were saying. Astrid didn't hear a word of it. Too focused on the fact that she failed. "They are basically having us work to death." Astrid closed her eyes and bowed her head. A part of her still had hope. That maybe just maybe that he wouldn't turn into an absolute monster. That he wouldn't become the same people who tortured her for so long. But this… this was the final straw. He was no longer the man that she knew. He was truly dead and gone. Replaced by something she never wanted to see. She felt a single tear slip down her cheek. Taking that brief moment to mourn all that she had lost. Before she had to do what was needed.
'Bucky, I'm sorry,' she thought sending it over to his mind.
'For what?' he asked. "It's not your fault that we got captured.'
'No. For not telling you sooner.' She broke off the connection. If she was going to have a chance at saving these people, she was going to have to let her presence known.
"HOW DARE YOU!" she screamed in English grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. She saw his eyes go wide as he recognized her voice. She felt one of the soldiers grab her and pull her to the front. Meanwhile, she continued talking. So quiet you could hear a pin drop. Even the machinery was turned off for the moment. "I knew that it would be bad. But this… this." She was brought to the front standing underneath him. Staring directly into his eyes. "This is monstrous. You are no better than the Nazis with this." One of the soldiers whacked her in the back of the head with a gun. Sending her on her knees. She felt her world spin slightly but she quickly recovered. Not even letting out a grunt of pain. It was nothing that she hadn't had to deal with before.
"TOUCH HER AGAIN AND THERE WILL BE A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH WAITING FOR YOU!" the man standing beside Zola shouted. "Let her go!" The soldiers backed away from her and she stood up. Glaring up at him. Unclipping one of her blades from her bag she stabbed him. Cutting directly through the armor. She unfurled her other one and jabbed it into his heart. Slashing down his body deeply. Letting the blood flow down. She withdrew her blades and the man gargled. Clinging to his chest as he fell to his knees. He was dead within seconds.
"As I was saying," Astrid turned continuing to look up at their captor. "This is horrendous. How could you?! I thought you would be better than this. Instead, you created this…this prison camp. Do you want us to collect gold fillings out of people's teeth? Sort through people's belongings? Or do you have some ovens for me to clean?"
That hurt him. Astrid could see him flinch. Good. She was aiming for that. Wanting to know what he was actually doing here. Because now that she was here there was no way she was going to leave without learning something. Otherwise, it would all be for nothing.
"You don't understand," he spoke. Astrid ignoring how that voice used to make her feel. "I'm trying to enact a glorious purpose. For superior men."
"By working these people to death?!" She gestured to the crowd behind her. "This… this is what I was fighting against. To find this…" She looked at him. Straight in the eyes. "You should be one on your knees begging these people for forgiveness."
Astrid knew it was a lost cause. As she watched the man, she once cared for chuckle at her. He may be wearing his disguise but Astrid knew who he really was. Red Skull. The man who turned the organization he originally formed to fight Nazis into the evil organization it was now. Or perhaps it was always like this and Astrid was willingly blind to it. She wasn't sure what was worse.
"Now, now," he spoke. Astrid swallowed the lump in her throat. Even now his voice chilled her to the bone. "Is that really the way that you should be speaking to your own father?"