Chapter 4:

"Herr Strucker, we are finished." List called over to Strucker, finishing typing some keyline commands into a computer that was connected to a wire, which, horribly enough, led to Steve's chest. Steve was sitting upright, looking straight ahead with a blank expression, though his nerves were glowing. A deep purple glow, the same as when the Chitauri mind device had entered his chest.

"I hope so, Doctor. The Avengers also seem to be about finished with recovering from their first fight. Thor was discharged today from Seoul, Stark was already patching himself up, Romanoff also got treatment for her shin from Doctor Cho." Strucker counted off of his fingers each of the Avengers' conditions. "To round up the roster, Clint Barton is also ready to fight."

"No need to worry, Strucker, Herr Rogers here is more than ready to take down all of them." List looked at Strucker, clapping his hands together, then unplugging the wires that were connected Steve's chest.

"You underestimate them, Doctor. That Asgardian Thor is basically a god. I do believe that Rogers here will need some help."

List looked at Strucker with a puzzled expression. "And who exactly will you send to assist him? All of our troops were destroyed by him before he became ours."

"Doctor, doctor, you forget the work we have done for the past few years. You cannot forget the twins." Strucker's response was met by a hollow chuckle from List.

"You really think the twins will return to us now? After they were freed by these scum?"

"Oh, I do." Strucker smiled smugly, then pressed a few buttons on the control panel he was standing on. After a bleep from a computer, a radio communication device lit up, and Wanda's voice came out of it.

"Hello, Strucker." She sounded quite relaxed, much more than the last time Strucker had been with her. Clearly, she had found a place to live in their absence.

"Greetings Wanda. And to Pietro. I know you are listening as well."

"What do you want, Strucker?" Pietro growled into his earpiece. He did not seem as easy as Wanda on the conversation.

"I need you. For a mission. Your first assignment, to test the strength of your powers."

There was a pause from the twins. And then, the line cut. The radio was silent. Then suddenly, there was a whoosh, and a loud bang. Strucker turned around, and saw List on the floor, with two people that hadn't been there a second ago.

"Well, well, well. I never expected you to go at that speed." Strucker chuckled at the two twins, Pietro and Wanda, who were standing right in front of him. Pietro was breathing heavily, and Wanda was patting his back.

"What do you mean? Running across an ocean in a couple of seconds should have been nothing." Pietro was wheezing heavily in the ground, clutching his chest. "Incidentally, how did you manage to come to the Yanks from Sokovia?" He coughed into his fist, then stood up, though he was still wobbly.

"Fret not, Pietro. I was just about to tell Doctor List here just how much we have underestimated you. To answer your question, I… have my ways." Wanda threw Strucker a puzzled look, but Pietro looked expectantly at him. "Eager to begin, I presume?" Strucker looked slightly bemused, though he walked over to Steve (who had been in the background staring nonchalantly at the twins).

"This is, as you may well be aware by now, Steve Rogers. Known, of course, as-"

"Captain America." Pietro looked at Steve with awe, and walked around to face him. "You know, Captain, I was a huge fan." Wanda narrowed her eyes at this, but then spared a glance at Pietro's face. What she saw, she was pleased with. Pietro's eyes were glinting with malice, a dark leer had formed itself on the boy's face. "Then your buddy Stark went and blew my family up. Not so keen on the superhero business now. Not at all."

Without warning, Pietro had cocked his fist back, and at a speed that caused his arms to go blurry, he punched Steve, right in the jaw. Over and over and over again, until Strucker yelled out "STOP!", and Wanda screamed "Pietro!"

Pietro stopped, breathing heavily, yet again, glaring at Steve, who had somehow not moved at all. Suddenly, he jumped up, higher than all of their heads, and pushed off of the ceiling with his feet, landing right on Pietro, tackling him to the ground. He then held up his arm pressing a button on his glove, and his shield flew up from where it had been on the floor, unnoticed by anyone before. He grabbed the shield, and made to thrust it downwards into Pietro's face.

Pietro held up his hands in front of his face, blocking the shield. Strangely, Steve didn't apply any pressure on the shield. Pietro looked up at Strucker and Wanda, bewildered, then saw List in the background. List was typing furiously on a keyboard into a control panel, muttering under his breath. Pietro only caught some broken words from him.

"Override… defence… protocol disabling… involuntary reflex disabled." List took a deep breath, looking up from his keyboard, and let off a sigh of relief as Steve stood up and moved back from where Pietro was lying down. Strucker gave List an inquisitive look, one which List answered verbally. "That was involuntary defence. I deliberately put that command into his mainframe. Need to work on the reaction speed." At once, List shook his head, then bent back down and started typing again, with a purple glow on Steve's chest reappearing. He stood to the side, staring straight ahead as Pietro stood up, brushing dust off of his arms.

"As you can see, due to the work of Wanda here, we have full control over Captain Rogers. Due to an unfortunate accident, which included a software glitch," At this, Strucker threw List an unreadable glance, "he blew his cover within the Avengers. Now, his mission is to invade the headquarters, and get as many resources that have Stark Tech emblazoned on them. Using that technology, we can combine the convenience of the Chitauri weapons along with the functionality of Stark's, and that will make our troops indendable!" He finished his speech with a triumphant and oily exclamation, one that even Wanda gave a rare smile. Pietro, however, gave a scowl.

"And what exactly do we do?" His question was in a scathing manner, directed straight at Strucker.

"You will accompany Rogers to his next mission, which" He look at his wrist watch at this, "should commence in a few minutes. Doctor List here will elaborate." He beckoned to List, who stepped forward and gave a tiny cough, clearing his throat.

"Mission Report, Captain H.Y.D.R.A assistance reconnaissance mission log 1." A computer beeped at this, signalling a recording. "Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, H.Y.D.R.A enhanced individual twins. Female, age 19, telekinesis ability. Male, age 20, improve homeostasis and endurance. Assisting Steve Rogers, Male, age 98, improved strength and durability. Mission Goal, invade Avengers Tower and acquire Stark Tech assets. End log." List took a breath, then nodded towards Strucker. Strucker, taking the cue, gazed at the twins and Steve.

"You know your mission. You know the goal. Assist Captain Hydra in avenging the Avengers." The corners of his mouth tilted upwards, and he nearly spat out the next few words. "Go on. Now."

Wanda looked at Strucker for a second, then suddenly, there was a blue flash, and Wanda, Steve and Pietro had vanished, leaving dust in their wake.

"They do seem confident." List sounded slightly nervous, and Strucker, strangely, gave a chuckle.

"They will win, Doctor. I know they will."

"All of a sudden you place your trust in them? You told me in Sokovia that they are not ready." At this, Strucker narrowed his eyes, and it looked like he had regretted saying anything.

"Master at turning my words against me, I see. Don't worry. I needn't rephrase anything." Strucker had walked over to a rack, with strange looking guns and other weapons. He picked up a random one, smiling all the time. List saw this, and immediately regretted saying anything in the first place. He knew Strucker did not care for any humans, and would not be deterred in the slightest if anyone close to him died. Like him.

"Uh… see here… Herr Strucker…" List sputtered, backing into a wall. "Y-you need… need me.. Please, I meant no disrespect…"

Strucker smiled, amused. "It is not respect I require, Doctor. It is anonymity. And of all of my team, I know that you would be the only one to give up information with only some prodding around." He held up the launcher, a Chitauri launcher from the Battle of New York, and gave a seemingly genuine apologetic smile to List. "Farewell Doctor. I have learnt enough to strive on my own." And he pulled the trigger, with a purple beam issuing from the barrel. List gave a strangled gasp, and fell over with a thump. He lay unmoving as Strucker put the launcher back and sat down.

I'll move him later.