Chaz POV
Bang! I jerked awake barely containing my shaking as my body betrayed me, showing my fear. I was gagged and strapped down to the experiment table. My mind was spinning. How could Will betray me? He would never do that unless. I felt my heart stop in terror as my mind supplied that the girls were in danger. I heard the door slam again with a bang and Will rushed to me.
"We don't have a lot of time. I dismantled the cameras but I need you to become Torment for me. Act like you're still brainwashed." - I nodded my head - "I need your permission to implant you with the chip." - I started to shake and hyperventilate. Frantically shaking my head no. - "Chaz, please I will only shock you once to show your father that I mean business." - I looked at him in shock. My dad was here. - "Chaz, implanting the chip means that Hydra will be appeased and I can take them down at the next meeting. I have bombs in place at every facility. The higher ups will be meeting with me. They won't see this coming; they will be destroyed in a week. Can you give me a week?" - I nodded - "The girls are in the forest, Hydra has assured me they know where they are so I can't go to them now. You can have your father get them out. So can I implant the chip?" I groaned and nodded. As I waited for the scientist to come in I replayed the conversation over again. Something wasn't sitting right with me but I couldn't put my finger on it.
The scientist came in with a smirk. He cut me open awake and made sure that I felt the most pain as he implanted the chip near my heart. He sewed me up and sent me where I was to meet Hemlock. I walked to the cell and internally cringed as this was the room with the chair. I stopped in front of Hemlock, he looked at me with so much guilt. He handed me three letters before saying.
"You will come in when I call for you." I gave him a brisk nod as I would have had I been Torment, a mindless soldier.
"Oh good you're awake." Will said.
"What do you want with me? Where is Wanda?" I heard my Dad demand.
"You should worry about yourself Soldat. You know I was always fascinated by you. Hydra thought you were special because you were a mindless machine. Made life hell for the rest of us but all men break so I guess I can't blame you. We were better than you. We had the serum and abilities yet they froze us longer and never let us out, but you, they used all the time." I nearly didn't bite back my groan because Will or in this case Hemlock was laying it on a little thick.
"I wish they had kept me frozen at least then I wouldn't have people's murders on my conscience. That still doesn't answer what you want?" I sighed Dad and I are so alike.
"I need you to help me find something."
"Like I would ever help you."
"Oh, but you will."
"So you are going to try to brainwash me again? Hate to break it to you but it took years last time. Now my pain tolerance is higher."
"Oh Soldat, we have better ways to force your loyalty. Подойди сюда." (Come here) and that was my cue. I pushed open the cell door. Dad was in his uniform strapped down to the chair. He was pale and I could see the effects of Hemlock's power on him. I stood behind Hemlock like I was trained to do and said the expected response.
"Готовы соответствовать" (Ready to comply) I could feel Dad watching me trying to figure out how I was reprogrammed after all the work Shuri did.
"Chaz? Chaz, look at me." I kept staring straight ahead because I knew that if I looked into his eyes that I would break character. Hemlock turned and caressed my face.
"У тебя все хорошо. Будь сильным, мой солдат." (You are doing so good. Be strong my Soldier.) he said and I leaned in to his touch to acknowledge the apology that he was trying to give. I saw out of the corner of my eye my Dad getting sick at the display thinking that I was brainwashed again.
"Let him go, you have me. You don't need him." Will released me and turned towards Dad.
"You will follow my orders and work with Torment to get what I want. If you don't, Torment here, will be punished." he brought a remote out of the pocket of his green suit. There were two buttons on it, his thumb going over the top button. "I press this button and your son is in a world of pain. I press the other button and he will be a pile of bones. Am I clear?"
"Your bluffing." Dad said, his eyes quickly looking at me with worry as he said it. I could feel myself panic a little at the thought of Will pushing the button. I knew he had to be in character, Hydra was watching but that doesn't mean that I enjoy being tortured. I tried to prepare myself for the pain but nothing could prepare me for the electricity surging near my heart. I dropped to the floor with a scream. I was in so much pain I barely heard someone yelling to stop. It felt like forever but it only had been a minute tops. I laid on the floor breathing heavily trying to catch my breath. My body was shaking without my consent and I knew I would need a minute to stand. I looked to my Dad trying to convey how much I loved him so that I didn't blame him. My heart warmed at him trying to protect me but I quickly slipped back into being emotionless and stood.
"I will do what you want." Dad said quickly trying to save me from more pain.
"Good and don't get any funny ideas. There is a tracker in the device. I will know where he is at all times. The signal is infinite. I can kill him anywhere any time. I would hate to destroy a good asset. Follow my orders and Torment here will be safe. Well, as safe as anyone can be in Hydra." Will stalked out of the cell, the door closing with a loud bang. I slowly removed his restraints and started to walk out of the cell. I never looked back and he quickly followed after me. I led him to the weapons room. We geared up and got in the jet, thankfully Will thought of everything and had the coordinates locked in ready to go. After flying silently for hours I couldn't take the worried looks from him anymore so I broke the silence.
"Находим Демона и Шепота и идем домой." (We find Demon and Whisper and we go home.) I said making him jerk from the unexpected dialogue. I know as an asset we are not supposed to talk.
"Who are Demon and Whisper?"he asked intrigued, I shook my head sighing. I wanted to bang my head against a brick wall. This plan was so stupid.
"Секретный" (Classified) I quickly looked out the window trying to look busy flying the plane. He sighed. Well aren't we just pathetic. Me going along on this stupid plan and him for believing that they brainwashed me that easily. I looked at my Dad again hoping that he would get the hint that I wasn't brain washed. I couldn't tell if he suspected or not but I was sure that he would make the right choice and get the girls out. I nodded and turned back to look out the window.
We arrived at the location, in the middle of a forest. The hanger opened and I looked outside warrily and took a cautious step forward. I placed my foot down and my girlfriend and our friend stepped out of the trees. I let Joanna see everything that Will planned. I knew she relayed it to Andie. They both looked murderous, I could almost see the anger radiating off of them.
"Cad a rinne sé duit?" (What did he do to you?) Jo asked. I knew she was wanting to rip Will apart for hurting me, even though I consented to it.
"Ná cuir an milleán air. Rinne sé a raibh le déanamh aige, chun muid a chosaint. Tá sé chun Hydra a scriosadh. Chuir sé chugam tú a fháil toisc go bhfuiltear ag faire air." (Do not blame him. He did what he had to, to protect us. He is going to destroy Hydra. He sent me to get you because he is being watched.) I reminded her trying to calm her anger down. She stormed forward.
"Cosúil is fearr thú leis an sliseanna sin i do bhrollach. Ba chóir dom é a mharú as ligean dóibh caitheamh leat mar ainmhí arís." (Like you are any better with that chip in your chest. I should kill him for allowing them to treat you like an animal again.) She touched my cheek and I leaded in. I love her so much.
"Ba é mo rogha é. D'inis sé a phlean dom agus ghlac mé leis. Chun an bheirt agaibh a choinneáil slán dhéanfaimis aon rud. Tá Hydra á scriosadh i gceann seachtaine ní mór dúinn fanacht chomh fada sin." (It was my choice. He told me his plan and I accepted. To keep you both safe we would do anything. Hydra is being destroyed in a week. We have that long to wait.)
"Who is he?" she asked in my head. I looked at Dad.
"Chaz, please fight it." he begged.
"He is my father, he will get you out if he truly believes that I am with Hydra. He will protect you." I hardened my heart as I did what I was programmed to do if someone said my true name out loud. I made him feel the pain of the chair. He screamed as his knees buckled as the pain of being in the chair again racked his body.
"меня зовут Мучение" (My name is Torment.) I said to him, the girls had rushed forward trying to stop me. I glared at them.
"I have to convince him that I can't be saved or he won't leave me behind. Get in the jet and he will be there shortly." I motioned for the girls to get on the jet.
"What about you?"
"I have to remove the chip before I join you." They complied, giving Dad looks of pity. I turned my back on him, hoping he would take the chance that I was giving him. I felt the blow and blacked out.
When I awoke the jet was long gone, but there were provisions and water. I collected the food and water and quickly started in the opposite direction of where Dad would be taking the girls. After I was far enough away I made camp. After I found a sufficient tree branch I got to work on the chip in my chest. I started a fire and set one of my knives in it, heating the blade to cauterize the wound to help it heal faster. I removed my jacket and shirt and took my other knife out, turned it towards my chest and slowly inserted it into my chest. I screamed in pain, but still continued on until I removed the chip from my chest. I grabbed the hot knife quickly and cauterized the wound. I laid down on the forest floor just catching my breath. I groaned because I knew I needed to get up in the tree but I didn't want to move. I pushed myself into a sitting position and grabbed my shirt and put it on. I climbed into the tree and went to sleep.
"Tor, watch that left side. You gave me three openings this last time." Hem said as we walked to our shared cell.
"Then why didn't you use them?" I was annoyed that he had let me slide through training. If our handlers had shown up we would have both been punished for shoddy fighting. We entered our cell.
"Because for once I didn't want to hurt you." he whispered as the door slammed shut on us. His white hair hangs to cover his bright green eyes.
"Hem, my friend and brother, they are the ones that hurt me not you. When I hurt you do you blame me?"
"Never." his head snapping up, his eyes narrowed. "It is their fault. One day I will destroy Hydra."
"We will destroy them together." We clasped hands and then went to bed.
We were jolted awake by the door banging open. In walked my handler.
"It seems like our Assets are too comfortable." he said with a sneer as guards filled the cell. "Bring Torment, he needs to be wiped, maybe that will make him less soft?" he smirked. Hem and I both looked at each other scared. The chair had been a threat over our heads for years but they hadn't stuck me in it since I became an asset and had trained harder. We fought but they were able to subdue us since they were immune to our powers. They pulled me along the corridors and shoved me into the chair. Locking me into place and activating it.
The boy in front of me stood defiantly. His arms were chained together, white hair framed his face. His green eyes held such fury. My handler came in and nodded. I walked slowly towards the boy like I was trained to do. I saw sadness and acceptance in his eyes.
"When you remember me. I don't blame you. Never you." he said before I made him scream.
I jolted awake from my memories of my fourth trigger word рост (rising). I rose through the ranks quickly after that. I guess they knew I was going to be one of their best mindless soldiers. Swoom! I heard something fly by over the trees. Looking up hoping to see what it was.
"Chaz!" I heard my name. I jumped from the branch landing with a roll and popping back to my feet.
"Uncle Steve!" I yelled as I ran towards his voice. It took a minute but I finally saw him running towards me in his suit.
"Guys I found him." We hugged quickly and he looked me over, his eyes widened at the blood on my shirt from my hands after removing the chip. "How bad are you hurt?" he asked, taking my shirt off, almost ripping it in his need to make sure that the wound wasn't life threatening. I started laughing, he blinked at me. I finally got myself under control by the time the rest of the team showed up.
"I have never had anyone try to get my shirt off so fast." He blushed at my comment, making me laugh again. "So not that I am not happy to see you guys but what are you doing here?"
"Manchurian Candidate called us from Wakanda and said you needed some help." Tony said as he walked closer to look at my burn. He raised his eyebrows at me. "Did you remove the chip yourself?"
"Well I didn't expect anyone for a while and I needed to make sure the old ticker stays working. Hydra loves to jump the gun when it comes to following through with threats." they all nodded with understanding.
"Are we heading to Wakanda to meet with everyone?" They all shared looks with each other. "What is it? What has happened?"
"Chaz, the Hydra bases all exploded four hours ago." Uncle Steve said carefully. I smiled.
"Well then Will's plan was ahead of schedule. Why aren't you all happy?"
"Little Koala Bear, Hemlock was at the meeting when it exploded."
"I know he planned that he was a distraction and then he was going to set the bombs off." I nodded my head as I thought back to what he said of the plan. Then I remembered the letters he gave me. I quickly pulled them out of my pocket, finding mine and opening it.
Well Chaz if you are reading this then my week is up and you know that something is wrong. That means I am dead because Hopper wasn't able to save me. Hopper or Derek Writer has teleportation powers and he is part of Shield. He was the one who helped me with this plan. It was very time sensitive and if I blew the bomb early it was to make sure Hydra is gone for good. So don't go blaming him if he is alive and I am not. I wanted to tell you that I am proud of you brother. You got out of Hydra and aren't brainwashed anymore. You survived and not many people would have. Don't blame yourself for the past. It was not your fault it was Hydra's. Take care of the girls for me. Well I know you don't have to be told to take care of them. Look out for Andie for me, she is the love of my life. Forgive me for not explaining the plan better and asking you to get the chip. Take care of yourself.
Love your friend and brother,
William
I nearly crumpled the paper in my rage at him being so careless about his life. I quickly calmed when I realized I would have done the same.
"Is he in Wakanda?" they all shook their heads sadly at me. "Give me your phone Uncle Steve." he handed me his phone. I quickly dialed my Dad's number
"Hello"
"Dad"
"Chaz you are okay."
"Yeah, is William there?"
"No, the girls are here. You want to explain why I am just finding out you have a girlfriend?" I chuckled nervously.
"Well I-" Pop! William and I was assuming the tall dark haired man was Derek just appeared out of nowhere. "Uh Dad, tell the girls that William is with me and we are on our way to Wakanda." I hung up the phone before he could protest. I quickly wrapped William in a hug.
"I am glad you are alright." I pulled back. Looking at the man holding my hand out for a hand shake. "You must be Derek. Thank you for helping William get out alive."
"You're welcome. Now I believe your family is anxious to see you."