~:~
Rumlow and his team led me into a bank.
"Ah, Valkyrie," Pierce greeted. "Wonderful to see you again. Although, I wish it was under different circumstances."
"I wish I could say the same," I replied. "Now, why am I here? I have other pressing matters."
He nodded, and motioned for me to follow him. We walked into a bank vault.
"Sir, he's…unstable."
Pierce ignored the scientist and kept walking.
I looked past him and saw the Soldier sitting in the middle of the room.
"Mission report." He did not respond."Mission report now."
When he again did not reply, Pierce walked closer and struck him across the face, breaking the Soldier from his trance.
I winced at the noise, but when Rumlow noticed my reaction, I quickly wiped any discomfort off my face.
The Soldier blinked. "That man on the bridge. Who was he?"
"You met him earlier this week on another assignment."
"I knew him…."
Pierce pulled a chair over to him and sat down. "Your work has been a gift to mankind. You shaped the century, and I need you to do it one more time. Society is at a tipping point between order and chaos. Tomorrow morning we're gonna give it a push. But, if you don't do your part, I can't do mine, and HYDRA can't give the world the freedom it deserves."
"But I knew him…." His voice shook.
"I bet you did…."Pierce replied. "Valkyrie!"
"Yes, sir?"
"Do your stuff. Wipe any sign of his past."
I scoffed. "It doesn't work that way, sir."
"Are you saying you won't do it?"
"No! I…." I sighed. "I can't do it. I can control someone's actions, maybe even their mind for a short while. But alter someone's memories? That's a whole other ballgame."
"Alrighty then…." He turned to the scientists. "Prep him."
"But sir, he's been out of cryo-freeze too long."
"Then wipe him and start over!"
The scientists strapped Bucky in his chair. As I watched them place the teeth shield in his mouth, our eyes locked.
I'm sorry, Bucky….
He shook his head and leaned back. I closed my eyes, and my ears were filled with him screaming in pain.
"You know…. it didn't have to be this way," Pierce said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "You could have done it yourself. I know you have the power."
"What the heck are you talking about?"
"Who do you think made you what you are? Not some radioactive gene swimming through your body."
That's what you think… I inwardly rolled my eyes. Dumb-ass...
He turned to the agent beside me. "Rumlow. Take her with you. Maybe she can show you some of those moves y'all have been hearing about."
"My pleasure, sir." He turned to me. "After you ma'am."
As I started to walk to the door, Pierce called out. "Don't do anything stupid, Valkyrie."
"I can only say the same to you."
~:~
"Tell me why I got stuck with you."
Rumlow laughed. "Beats me. What's the plan?"
"How about 'get help'?" I held a finger up. "Actually a version of it, but you get the point."
"Alright then…." We walked up to the control room. "Here goes nothing…."
He pulled me in front of him, using me as a human shield, and held his gun to my head.
As soon as we entered, I looked over and saw Sharon standing across the room.
Her body tensed, and her hand went straight to her gun. I shook my head and mouthed 'wait'.
"Preempt the launch sequence. Send those ships up now." he said to a techie, who hesitated visibly. "Is there a problem?"
"N-No…."
I snorted., muttering, "I can think of about 50 right now." His grip tightened. "Ow, ow, ow. Just joking…."
"Is there a problem?" Rumlow repeated.
"I'm sorry, sir." The tech drew a nervous breath. "I'm not gonna launch those ships. Captain's orders." I grinned at his reply.
Rumlow pointed the gun at him. "Move away from your station."
"Like he said," Sharon walked up, gun drawn, along with every SHIELD agent in the room. "Captain's orders."
"You picked the wrong side, Agent."
"Depends on what side you're on." Rumlow lowered his gun. Sharon's and my eyes locked, and I nodded, taking her que.
I drew my head forward, throwing it back to hit Rumlow in the face. As soon as he let go, I ran, dodging the knife in his hand. Gunfire erupted and I grabbed the nearest gun. I looked back and saw her wave me off.
"Go! We got this!"
I ran for the nearest stairwell. After a few floors, I heard footsteps trailing behind me. I hid in a blind-spot. As soon as the person walked by, I jumped on his back and wrapped my legs around his neck.
He threw himself against the door. It broke open and we went to the ground. I flipped him over and he threw out his leg, knocking me to the ground. We wrestled until he got me on my back.
He pulled back his fist, quickly stopping himself. "Angie?"
"Sam," I replied with a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry...I had to-"
"Save it. And I know."
"I-"
"Valkyrie, do you read me?"
I held my hand up, finger going to my comm. "Loud and clear, soldier."
"What the heck was that back there?"
"They don't know my allegiance. Just go with it."
"Council's been breached. I'm headed up there now. Where are you?"
"I'm almost to forty-one," I replied. "We'll meet up there."
"Roger that."
Sam turned to me as I cut off the comm. "What's the plan?"
" 'Get help'." When he gave me a confused look, I groaned. "Just hide behind the door while I play unconscious. Wait for my signal."
He gave me a thumbs up and went to his position.
"Alright, I'm on forty-one, headed to the south west stairwell." He rounded the corner. "What the heck?" He ran over and knelt down beside me, checking for my pulse. "Rumlow to command, Valkyrie is down, she's unconscious. Request for medical attention immediately." I heard him sigh, whispering, "Not so strong now are you?"
I signaled, 'one, two, three, go.' Sam jumped out of his spot and attacked.
Rumlow fought back and managed to throw him to the ground.
"This is gonna hurt."
"Not like this…." I opened my eyes and threw my leg out, knocking Rumlow to his knees.
He slung his fist at me, but I caught it, absorbing the punch with my telekinesis. He punched me in the gut and picked me up by the throat, throwing me across the room by Sam.
"There are no prisoners with HYDRA, just order. And order only comes through pain. You ready for yours?" Rumlow turned his gaze to me. "And you. Do you know what HYDRA does with traitors? Spies?"
Sam helped me up and turned to him and said, "Man, just shut the hell up."
And they attacked each other again. After Sam was thrown over the table, I jumped onto Rumlow's back and attempted to knock him unconscious. He released my grip and threw me over to Sam.
"You're out of your depth, kid." Suddenly the first Helicarrier crashed into the Triskelion, catching Rumlow in the destruction. We turned and sprinted away.
"Please, tell me you got that chopper in the air!" Sam yelled through the comm.
"Sam, where are you?"
"41st floor, north-west corner!"
"We're on it, stay where you are."
"Not an option!" As the building is being destroyed, Sam yells, "Hold onto me." I grabbed hold of him and we jumped out of the window as Natasha and Fury flew their chopper, barely in time to catch us.
As we caught our breath from the excursion, Sam yelled, "41st floor! 41st!"
Nick looked back, "It's not like they put the floor numbers on the outside of the building!"
Nat put her hand to her comm. "Hill, where's Steve? You got a location on Rogers?"
"Guys….I don't feel so hot…."
"Angie, stay with me," Natasha replied, tapping me on the face. "Now's not the time for a nap."
My eyes rolled back and the darkness came over me.
~:~
"-You know me-"
"-No, I don't!-"
"-Bucky, you've known me your whole life-"
"-Your name is James Buchanan Barnes-"
"-Shut up!-"
"-I'm not gonna fight you. You're my friend.-"
"-You're my mission. You're my mission!-"
"-Then finish it. Cause I'm with you to the end of the line.-"
There was a white flash of light
I was back in that white space….
"Anja Stefanie Jarvis, I thought I told you to be careful!"
Mama….not again….
"I was being careful...I don't know what happened." Her form soon became visible. "Was that who..."
"That's not important right now." She snapped, placing her hand on my shoulder. "Now, get up and keep on fighting."
~:~