"So, Sir, can ya make heads or tails of what that broad Karli said?" John crossed his arms as he stood before the general, watching hi. look over the Vault Map they took down an entire Flag Smasher base to get. While granted, it was a cakewalk, it was still time consuming and therefore, John wanted to get something out of it. Unfortunately, so far, all he and his buddies got was the supposed god wasn't lying. The map really was busted.

"Hmm," Ross frowned. "Well, it's not broken, at least. But I can't make sense of it. But I might know someone who can?" John raised a brow.

"And who might that be? Are they as charming as the chums I've been workin' with?"

"He's…got a certain charm to him. Helmut Zemo. The Baron doesn't stay far from here, so it shouldn't take long to drive over there and see what he has to say. If anyone's gonna know how to get this map working, it's gonna be Zemo" John uncrossed his arms.

"Good, could probably afford to pick up some stuff while I'm out. Could use some new guns and I had me eye on that fancy gyrojet pistol I saw in the store." Ross shrugged and offered the map, John accepting the strange, artifact.

"Just be careful out there, agent. If the Smashers know you got the map working, they'll come for you all."

"Actually, 'bout that," John lifted a hand in interjection. "Why are we keepin' this thing from those idiots again? I mean, sure, they're dangerous, but I doubt that's the only reason." Ross raised a brow.

"Huh, never had anyone ask the why. Though, plain and simple, you just said why; they're dangerous, and if they find the Hydra Vualt's we'll all be in trouble."

"Then…why don't we just not fix the map, and 'stead hide it at the bottom of the ocean." John tapped said artifact. "With some elbow grease, this thing could prob' even fit a man's a—"

"Stop, enough…n-not your rant, you made some good points. I just don't wanna know where you can stuff the map." Ross shook his head. "As selfish as it is, I'm also curious about what lies in the other Vaults out across the only thought there was the one Vault. We later learned, following the demise of Hydra, there were many Vaults, and then we came across that map." John lifted the relic to his eye, giving a firm nod.

"So, there could be weapons or something in the other Vaults?"

"…maybe." He sighed. "Regardless, while I want to keep the map out of the Smashers hands, I also wanna know what's in them. Hence why we're going through these hoops to get it up and running." John was very…concerned about Ross's plan, considering it was a good way to get even more people wanting him dead. Hell, the whole becoming Captain America had caused some out cry from some of the public.

He was guilty of that in a few occasions.

"Alright, I'll peddle this over to Zemo and see where it goes." The Agent tucked the map under his arm and walked back to the "lounge area" of the base, where he and others had been relaxing between tasks, coming to a stop when he saw it was empty.

Empty save for Sharon slumped against a wall, browsing something on her phone.

"Oi, where're the others?"

"Lemar aaid he had to do something I think." John frowned.

"Well, that's a damn shame. Ross gave us our next job. Gotta run this map over to a mate of his , and it looks like you 'n I are the ones for it."

"Ugh, pass."

"Aw, cheer up, Sharon, plus you have that bomb in your neck." She grumbled and he smirked. "Besides, I know ya can't resist the chance to blow some smashers into red chunks."

"…fine. But I'm only going to shoot bandits. Not help you."

"Yeah yeah, let's go. Wanna get there and back so I can catch up on my stories."

"Your what?"

"I read things on the from time to time. Didja think I spent all my time killin' and bein' a badass?"

"I expected you to spend it in a retirement home." John didn't even try to hide his chuckle from that. Now she was finally insulting! Meant she was getting more relaxed, or he caught her with her guard down.

Either way, John was curious to see where things went. Sharon needed to lighten up before someone lightened her up themselves…and not in a nice way.

Another smasher exploded into bits. Sharon gripped the handles of the rocket launcher tight as she lined the sights up with another, squeezing the triggers and feeling the gun lurch once more, the next ride disappearing in a shower of fire, blood, and metal as her grin persisted.

"Seems ya get a kick outta killin'" She heard John shout, Sharon's grin fading as she heard the man talk. "I don' judge; at this point, it's either enjoy it, or get killed yourself."

"Yeah, whatever." She grumbled. It wasn't a far ride, no, but it sure felt like one, least with the old asshole around.

John turned the Outrunner, parking it and climbing out. Sharon climbed out the Outrunner and hurried to catch up, clutching her assault rifle in hand as John knocked on the door to the...very run-down place. Looked like whoever lived there never left their house whatsoever.

"Hello?" She heard from the other side of the door. "Please go away, I'm in the middle of something that requires the upmost precision."

…what a fucking weirdo.

" Is that Fucking Zemo?" Sharon asked

"Zemo," John spoke up. "Ross said ya can make sense of this vault map—" The door flew open and Zemo stepped out, quite literally snatching the map from John's hands and looking over it like a madman. "…eh…wha—"

"Shh, I'm looking…yes…yes…no…yes—"

"Can you get to the fucking problem already?" Sharon shouted. Zemo frowned in response.

"I was getting to that. The map needs to be charged Sharon." Sharon's face fell.

"Seriously? That's it? It's outta battery?"

"Precisely. The Flag Smashers had this, correct? If so, then it makes sense. Karli would be incapable of properly charging something Asgardian in origin due to her Phaseleech ability."

"Phaseleech?" Zemo nodded.

"What I decided to call her ability. My studies and research have shown that whenever she feeds on someone that people seem to lose their life, so I deduced that's her ability." Sharon frowned at that. Karli didn't have that last time she, Falcon, Bucky and Zemo encountered the Flag Smashers.

"So, hypothetically, how would one get the drop on her and kill her—"

"If she's aware of you then you've already killed yourself," Zemo said without missing a beat, tossing the map back to John who struggled to not drop it. "And even if you catch her unaware, you need to neutralize her before she can grab you. If that happens then I'm afraid you'll be consumed. Anyhow, can one of you contact Ross? I'd like to be on my way."

"On your way where—" An explosion of fire on Sharon's right made her flinch; said Ross walking over a dead smasher.

"I've had her on the line, like, this entire time." Zane tossed the map over to Lilith who caught it easily. "So, Lil, ya CAN charge it, right?"

"Sure," Ross said. He pointed behind him. Sharon turned to see several bandits already running at them. "They'll be running in as loud as possible, begging for bullets to the face. Can you two handle them while I get this ready?"

"Sure thing. Also," Sharon fumbled a bit when John suddenly tossed her a weird, fancy looking rifle. "Found that from the shop. Seems like it'd be something ya'd like."

"And why—"

"It fires gyrojets. They stick to people, then violently explode." Sharon looked to the gun, back to John, to the gun, back to John, and then to the gun one more time before she frowned.

"…this doesn't make us friends, you know."

"Eh, don't expect it to. But, go 'head and turn these morons into gibblets," Ross's Drone shot out as John plucked his SMG from his lower back. "I'll be busy with these Smasher bastards over here." Sharon turned and open fired at the approaching Smashers, watching them stagger for a moment before the explosions came. Sure, the gun wasn't fully automatic, but she still enjoyed the damage the gun provided; Moze pacing her shots well and blowing each Smasher fuck to bits, though she winced when her had to shield herslef and then ran out from a few shots finding their mark, just in time for a maniac to rush her with a buzzaxe.

"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!" Pain shot through her head when the side of the cultist's axe struck the side of her head, sending her to the ground. Her head was spinning, and vision blurred, Agent 13 rolling onto her back in time to grab her gun and use it to block the axe as the maniac brought it down, her heart hammering in her chest and fear clinging to her when she felt the weapon embed itself into her gun, Sharon's hands slipping from the gun when the maniac ripped the gun from her hands and hastily ripped the ruined assault rifle from the axe as she raised her hands in a desperate attempt to block the strike she knew was going to hurt.

SHRICK!

She lowered her arms after hearing that wet, ripping sound. Two swords were rammed through the maniac's chest, ripping upwards and splitting the smasher's torso in two as Zemo stood over her, hip firing his SMG as Zemo dropped the swords and his arm shot out to help her up. "Agent, you okay?"

"Y-Yeah, just a little dazed." A barrier was erected to stop oncoming fire, Sharon waiting for the ringing in her head to end as she looked at her destroyed gun, pouting a bit. "Well shit, there goes that gun."

"I'll snag ya another when we get back. For now, take cover if ya need to." She didn't enjoy doing what he asked but she complied regardless, huddling down by a crate as Zemo and John continued to pepper and gun down any Smasher that were approaching. Her head was still spinning but, thankfully, she was still alive…alive and having been saved by the one fucker she loathed.

Still, while she disliked him, she still had basic manners…somewhat.

"…thanks for the help, Zemo. I didn't think I was getting out of that one."

"No problem. Get your shite together, then ya can help us mow down the stragglers. Think one of 'em dropped a rocket launcher." She sighed and leaned back. She expected him to make at least one snide remark, instead she got something that, for once, didn't leave her wanting to snap his kneecaps.

Sharon mentally sighed. Maybe she'd give this teamwork thing a chance with him and see where it went, until he pissed her off.

It was bound to happen, but at least she can't get blamed, right?

Ross couldn't help but to grin at the sight ahead. His new mobile base ship was almost ready for takeoff, and he had gotten word a moment ago the Thunderbolts had finished. It was nightfall at the time, with some rain gently sprinkling onto the ground.

Sharon could see the Thunderbolts hanging out at the entrance to the tunnel running under the ship's foundation to stay out of the rain, chatting to one another and, of course, waiting for her. Once the map was safely inside the ship, they could takeoff!

Sharon approached the tunnel. Her eyes widened when the metal door suddenly slammed shut.

"Hey, Agent 13 , long time no see, eh?" Her blood ran cold from that voice. She turned to look over her shoulder and saw the last two people she wanted to see... Karli grinned once their gazes met.

"…Karli it hasnt been that long" Sharon noted.

"I know. Gotta sound cool for the fans, Sharon, and the fans like one-liners. So, here's one, give me the map or I'll murder everyone in this whole base." Sharon's eyes narrowed.

"I'm not giving you the map."

"Okay, fine. Have it your way." Pain shot up her stomach, Sharon finding herself on her back from a savage kick Karli dealt in a flash. Keeping the map under her arm, Sharom, getting to her feet and turning in time to feel Karli's fist against her cheek, sending her staggering back, map still tucked under her arm as she wiped a trail of blood away from the corner of her mouth.

"Gotta say, I thought you'd be tougher than this," Karli chided, taking long, confident strides towards her. "All those rumors, myths, and legends about you? Honestly, I wish it didn't have to come to this, but, eh." Sharon grit her teeth.

"It wouldn't have, if you weren't a maniac." She grunted. Karli rolled her eyes.

"Maniac? I want to unite the world, under one banner, no flags, a chance to be a part of a bigger whole—"

"By lying to them?"

"By telling them what they wanna hear, actually, and exaggerating a detail or six. Not really a lie, cause I never said it wouldn't be in any of those vaults." Sharon's eyes narrowed. She had an idea to finish things, but it was…messy, to say the least.

Her fist raised. Right when Karli got close enough she slammed it into the ground, fiery energy erupting from the ground and sending Karli flying back with a satisfying crack when she hit the wall nearby, slumping to the ground. Rising to her feet, Sharon kept the map underneath her arm as she noticed a metal camera drone drifting close to her, the Agent smacking it away and, without any hesitation, she headed over to Tey, her fist meeting his face and sending the lanky man to the ground, fist raised to finish him.

And then she saw the red markings along his arm. The distinct, unmistakable red markings that left her flabbergasted.

"You?!" Troy lowered his arm to look over said markings, the lanky fucker just grinning.

"Yeah, well…runs in the family." She turned in time to feel Karli's hand clamp down onto her neck. The map tumbled from her hand as both hands clamped and then she felt weaker. VERY weak. And, worse yet, she saw red energy flow down Karli's arm, the Flag Smasher leader grinning the entire time.

"What are you…?"

"I can drain anything," She felt even weaker. She was numb now, and she could barely keep her eyes open. Her hands fell away from Karli's wrist as she felt the world spiral, aware that she was on the ground, then being moved. She could only hear the muffled sounds of them talking, yet she knew they were gloating, mocking her even Mocking her failure.

It burned her pride. Brighter than any fire she ever made.

Her eyes drifted open as she was on her side. She watched the two of them walk away, map in hand, before they disappeared in a flash of smoke.

And then she could see the silhouettes of approaching Smashers. She was too weak to move. Too weak to get up and run. Too weak to do anything!

…anything except lay there and wait for them to finish her off.

…well, at least she'd be with Steve again. She just wished she had a better story for him for when they met.

One of the Smasher jerked and collapsed. The others looked up and she heard the muffled shout of 'sniper' before the one pointing succumbed to the same fate. She felt someone lift her and sling her arm across their shoulders, relief flooding her when she saw it was Zemo, joined by John for her other side.

"Sharon can ya hear me?" She heard the Baron at last. "You good? Cause…well…you look like shit." She felt her heart sink from that. No doubt, the smashers were en route to the first Vault location.

"G…Get me to the ship." She slurred. She just needed time to get herself together…get herself together and get everyone up to speed on what was happening.