Chapter 24 - The Arm

A new film reel begins dated April 1948.

The Asset is strapped down in the reinforced chair surrounded by machines. Heavy metal clamps are secured over its right wrist and upper arm, along with both ankles, both thighs, over its neck, and two long sections that lock into place across its chest. Steve and Tony notice that the permanent cuff has been removed from his wrist. It's an indication that he has started complying with Hydra's orders.

All of the halogen and fluorescent lights are on. The Asset stares straight ahead as a cart is wheeled over, the case it carries contains the arm that Zola has created.

"Beautiful," Karpov announces as he peers at the cybernetic arm.

"Zola, you have outdone yourself."

"Yes, it is a stunning feat of biomechanical engineering, if I do say so myself."

As the Asset looks over and sees the arm in the case, two scientists attach electrodes to its chest and skull.

"Do not move," Zola instructs. He does not move.

"Doctor, we are ready to begin. The program is running," a woman calls. "Attachment may commence when you are ready." She places a rubber bit into the Asset's mouth, teeth gripping tightly before a leather strap is positioned around its head and over its mouth.

Two orderlies remove the arm from the case and carry it over to the Soldat. They place it on the armrest - angled up towards his shoulder as if it were already a part of him.

Bucky screams as Zola digs into his shoulder socket and pulls out a conglomeration of wires. It's like he just pulled out a bunch of nerve endings... they're attached after all.

"Jesus H. Christ," Tony gasps. "It really is hard-wired into your nervous system, huh?"

"All the way to my brain, Tin Man," Bucky slurs.

"How much did it weigh?"

"That one ... that one was the heavy ... heaviest," Bucky hiccups. "It weighed about 85? 90 pounds? This one," he looks down at his arm and hisses as the choke collar tightens and the anal hook catches his prostate. "Fuuuuuck. Uhhhh. Ohhhh. Shit. What ... what was your question?"

"You doing ok there, Buck?" Tony asks.

"Yeah, the drugs are gooood. It's all good," he slurs. "But, it's not work ... working right. I can't ... can't get off."

Tony looks at Steve and smiles. At least Bucky isn't suffering right now.

"Yeah, Buck, we know. Just try to enjoy the ride for now, while you can. How much did your last arm weigh?"

"Oh, uh, this one weighed about 75 pounds, I think? It was like, the third one, maybe?" He looks down at where his arm used to be and hisses as the choke collar tightens and the anal hook catches his prostate again. "Fuuuuuck. Uhhhh. Ohhhh. Shit," he swears again. "Enjoy the ride, enjoy the ride."

"It's too heavy. That's why your flesh on your shoulder is always sore and inflamed," Tony's talking to himself, thinking out loud.

"It itches, too," Bucky interjects.

"Yeah, it's always pulling so hard, because it's so heavy. It's tearing away from your skin where it's grafted. It definitely needs to be lighter but just as strong. I've noticed your shoulder doesn't look as bad since the arm isn't pulling on it."

"Yep," Bucky announces. "People think I don't … don't like the arm … that I'm self-con… self-conscious of it - and to some degree I am," he hiccups. "But, it's not really the arm. It's the scar … scarring … it's ugly. The arm is fucking awesome … It's power … power..."

"Powerful" Tony provides.

"Right-O. It's strong. Without the arm, I'd just be missing … missing an … arm?" Bucky giggles a little.

He looks down at where his arm used to be and hisses as the choke collar tightens and the anal hook catches his prostate again. "Fuuuuuck. Ohhhh. Shit," he swears again. "Enjoy the ride, enjoy the ride," he whispers to no one in particular.

Tony drops his eyes and smirks. Even Steve smiles a little. It's not funny that Hydra is sexually abusing Bucky right there in front of them, but they've all been through so much worse recently. The drugs actually seem to be taking the edge off of the situation. It's a small victory if you can call it that, but they'll take it.

Meanwhile, the film rolls on and Zola proceeds to attach the wires in the mechanical arm to the wires coming out of Bucky. Every time Zola touches another wire in Bucky's shoulder, he screams in agony.

Finally, when all of the wires have been connected, the orderlies lift the arm near the open socket, and the internal sensors in the shoulder joint slide into the casing's socket hole. The cybernetic sensors at the tips help guide it into position. There is no pain, only pressure as the interior catches lock the arm into place.

The orderlies carefully move the arm off of the armrest and let it hang down at his side. It's deadweight. It pulls painfully at his body's chest and spine, but the metal ribs, scapula, clavicle, and reinforced vertebrae seem to be able to support the weight. The orderlies again lift the arm onto the armrest.

"Initiate the program sequence," Zola instructs the nurse at the computer console. Suddenly, an electrical surge runs through the Soldat's body. A blue light glows from within the arm as it comes online. Electricity courses through Bucky's nerves, radiating from the cybernetic arm outwards through his body and into his brain. He screams in agony through the rubber bit as tears slide down his face - he desperately strains against his restraints.

One of the doctors steps forward to watch the arm activate and take notes. As the program runs, the servos whirs, and the metal plates calibrate into position. The fingers on the metal hand each move independently and then together - curling into a fist.

Next, the elbow bends so that the arm is now at a 90-degree perpendicular angle to the armrest. The wrist then flexes and rotates, and the arm lifts itself off of the armrest as the shoulder rotates so the arm is now pointing straight up to the ceiling. Finally, the appendage comes back down to rest on the arm of the chair, and the metal plates again recalibrate as the servos whirs.

Another doctor approaches Bucky, reaching out to touch the cybernetic arm, but suddenly, Bucky growls and lashes out in fear and rage. He grabs the doctor and squeezes his throat, breaking his neck with astounding ease.

As Bucky drops the doctor's corpse, another man in a lab coat lunges forward, stabbing Bucky with a hypodermic needle. Bucky's limbs immediately go slack as he loses consciousness.

"I recommend at least a week without activity so that the shoulder can heal. Then you can begin training again," Zola advises Karpov and Lukin as he exits the medical lab, and the film fades to black.

"Killed one of those SOBs! Good job. Damn, that arm is really something." Tony whistles.

"Yep, they don't ... don't make 'em like that anymore," Bucky giggles and slurs. "That was just the... the first one. This one was smoother, quiet ... quieter, and light ... lighter in weight."

He looks down at where his arm used to be and hisses as the choke collar tightens and the anal hook catches his prostate - yet again. "Fuuuuuck. Ohhhh. Shit," he swears. "Enjoy the ride, enjoy the ride, enjoy the ride," he chants quietly to himself as Tony smiles at him.