Chapter 31- Freedom and Program Launched

Yelizaveta and Steve followed Maria Hill and Sam up out of a ravine. Yelizaveta had thought her father's uniform might be too big, but Steve had been right when he told her to tuck the legs in a pair of combat boots and the hem of her father's old jacket didn't hamper her movements. Yelizaveta stopped when Hill and Sam stopped to give her and Steve a glimpse of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Potomac.

"Are you ready, Liz?" Steve asked softly.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Yelizaveta said, wishing she had her sword about now. Steve had given her one of her father's old sniper rifles that he used on missions and Hill had handed both her, Sam, and Natasha Glocks. But it wasn't the same as holding her sword in her hands. Hopefully, she could get her sword back from Rumlow. Of course, seeing Bucky again was rather nerve-wracking. The last thing she wanted was for her father to be mad at her for running away from him. If he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pressed her face into his broad chest, that would be enough to convince her that he wasn't angry at her. Of course if he held her like that, she wasn't sure if she would ever let him go again.

Pierce met the Security Council as they came into S.H.I.E.L.D. Right now he had to do appearances. The Council couldn't know that Project Insight would kill and that Captain America and Markova, the Winter Soldier, could stop it. When the Asset told him that the girl had escaped, he had been furious, but the reasonable part of him had realized that it wasn't the Asset's fault. The only sensible thing to do would be to wipe the Asset and his wife where the both of them forgot that Markova was their daughter. "And how was your flight?" Pierce asked solicitously.

"Lovely. The ride from the airport, less so," Councilwoman Hawley said in her precise manner.

"Sadly, S.H.I.E.L.D. can't control everything," Pierce said.

"Including Captain America and the Winter Soldier," Councilman Rockwell said, confirming that they all knew that Steve Rogers and Yelizaveta Markova went rogue. Pierce didn't quite know what he could say about that as they went to a man holding specialized pins. Pierce took the case in his hands.

"This facility is biometrically controlled. And these will give you unrestricted access," Pierce said as they pinned them to their suitcoats.

Yelizaveta licked her lips as she, Sam, and Steve made their way, undetected, into S.H.I. . What made or broke their mission, other than replacing the blades, would be if they were able to broadcast to every agent. Of course, if they ran into the S.T.R.I.K.E team or Bucky, the mission could end sooner than planned and everyone who mattered would die. Yelizaveta raised her father's gun with one hand and the Glock she carried with the other as they came to the door that led to the broadcast room. The door opened and Sam, Hill, and Yelizaveta pointed their guns at the technician.

"Excuse us," Steve said. The man raised his hands and moved out of the way. The other technicians stepped away from the console, raising their hands as well.

"Wise choice, guys. Now just stand over there and no one will get hurt," Yelizaveta said as Sam and Hill started to press buttons so Steve and Yelizaveta could broadcast to every S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.

"You and the Winter Soldier are on, Cap," Sam said and Steve and Yelizaveta stood in front of the microphones on the console.

"Attention all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, this is Steve Rogers and Elizabeth Barnes, the Winter Soldier," Steve said.

"You've heard a lot about us over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt us down. But we think it's time you know the truth. S.H.I.E.L.D. is not what we thought it was. It's been taken over by HYDRA, the rogue Nazi science division from the second world war that Steve and my father, James Buchanan Barnes fought against and what I tried so hard to break free from. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The S.T.R.I.K.E. and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. We don't know how many more, but we know they are in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want. Absolute control. They shot Nick Fury. And it won't end there. If you launch those helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way. Unless we stop them. I know me and Steve are asking a lot. But the price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price me and Steve are both willing to pay. And if we're the only ones, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet we're not if the history of America is anything to go by as your country doesn't respond well to terrorists. I have read enough of your history to know that what I am saying is true," Yelizaveta said with determination.

"Did you write that down first, kid, or was it off the top of your head?" Sam asked as he stood next to her and Steve.

"I didn't write that and it's true about your history. When I first came here from Russia when I was eight I spent a great deal of time reading your history to become a naturalized citizen. I read plenty of your history from the time before America was a country up to what happened on 9/11," Yelizaveta said as Steve opened. the door.

"Come on, Sam, Liz. We have helicarriers to shut down," Steve said as they all left the communication area and leaving Hill behind.

"You smug-" Councilman Rockwell started to say as the S.T.R.I.K.E. team entered Pierce's office. Pierce was inwardly seething Captain America and the Winter Soldier had thwarted him with their broadcast and it sounded as if they had gotten through to the Security Council. (A/N: Considering this is a spot in the movie where Rockwell curses, I can find ways around not actually saying any curse words. If you are reading this and expect it to come up in any of my parts, it won't. This is PG-13, but for violence, not language.)

"Arrest him" Councilman Singh ordered Rollins, the head of the S.T.R.I.K.E. team. Rollins pulled out a gun and pointed it at Councilman Singh.

"I guess I've got the floor," Pierce said.

Rumlow walked through the room as Agent Carter looked at the com tech. The man looked nervous as Rumlow stood behind him. "Preempt the launch sequence. Send those ships up now," Rumlow ordered. "Is there a problem?" Rumlow asked as the tech looked up at him and all around with fear in his eyes.

"Um-" the man croaked out, his voice failing him.

"Is there a problem?" Rumlow asked, pulling out a sword. Carter's blood nearly froze at the sight of the Winter Soldier's weapon of choice. She had seen the girl carry that sword, so she clearly recognized it.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I'm not gonna launch those ships. The Winter Soldier and the Captain's orders," the tech said. Carter's heart nearly went into her throat as Rumlow pointed the sword at the tech's neck.

"Move away from your station," Rumlow ordered. Carter then raised her gun.

"Like he said-" Carter started to say as she cocked her gun.

"Hold it right there!" A man ordered.

"Put the gun down!" Another man said as they aimed their guns with her at Rumlow.

"The Winter Soldier and the Captain's orders," Carter said, aiming her gun at him.

"You picked the wrong side, Agent," Rumlow said venomously as he pressed the sword harder to the tech's neck.

"Depends on where you're standing," Carter said evenly. Rumlow dropped the sword and the tech gave a sigh of relief. Rumlow reached down to his boot and pulled out a knife, slashing Carter across the arm. She screamed in pain. A firefight ensued and when the tech ducked out of his chair Rumlow punched in the launch sequence. He ran out of the room as the program launched and it was too late to shut down.