-Caught again-
James had so many questions. Last, he had remembered was the facility in Siberia being the facility that had the biggest hand in his creation. However, he was wrong. The facility that they where now on their way to was much closer than he had imagined.
While digging through files and the red notebook with the star on the front he had managed to figure out that the facility they needed to go to first at least was in Austria. Less than a 10 hour drive he had contacted Oeznik asking his faithful family butler to bring them a good travel vehicle that would be discreet. James had insisted that they could do the drive themselves and manage the trip alone.
He had ultimately agreed so long as they stayed overnight somewhere as the search of and for the facility would likely take a toll on the both of them. Mentally for James and physically for himself.
James spent most of the rest of that day mentally preparing himself and had gone off into the woods again for yet another long walk. All the while he prepared documentation they would need. Packed a bag and then had a nap. They were set to leave late over night to arrive early the next morning as to get the best start.
He gave James a clearly marked map of the route as he insisted, he do the driving. He would not back down on the fact he needed much less sleep than Zemo did and that was fair and probably true.
It was the next morning when the car came to a stop in a small dirt parking lot. James was quickly out of the car, and into the trunk grabbing equipment as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He knew they had made good time because the sun was barley just on the horizon now. Still in the earliest part of the morning when you could still see the faintest stars. It was one thing he loved most about this country was always being able to see the stars. In America and big cities he certainly enjoyed the finer things in life and the luxuries, but nothing could beat a clear night and the simplicity of nature.
"You ready Zemo? this is probably a long ass hike"
James had come round to his side of the car, opened the door for him and had a hiking pack held out to him.
"You probably don't remember the way do you James?"
"Not likely considering the only 2 times I've been here where both having been against my will. One being captured with the 107th and the other after what I thought was plummeting to my death from a train. So, no… I don't think I'd remember either of those times."
"Fair enough, I have a general idea and satellite imaging Shuri found us should put us right at their doorstep"
"Gods bless Shuri" James mumbled as they set off into the woods.
James took one look at the coordinates Shuri had provided and then a map he pulled from Zemo's bag, plotted a course, and started stalking through the woods.
He watched and followed, letting his apparent tracking dog take the lead. He knew with his time at EKO scorpion he most certainly could have plotted a similar if not same course and probably also lead the hike through the woods, but this was James's mission. He was the brains on this one and he did not want to step on his toes.
The Sun was cresting above their heads when he spotted something in the distance. Lots of rubble and what looked like a caved in wall. James had noticed it too and took off in a sprint forward.
"JAMES! Stop!" he yelled and chased after the super soldier. There was no hope in hell he would catch up to him. he feared that area may be boobytrapped.
He watched as the man before him skid to a halt at the brick wall and then slowly bring a hand up to it. The area they entered cleared of all forest and trees although lots of seedling and overgrowth was encroaching on the area.
"It hasn't changed since I last remember Steve dragging my ass out of here in 1943." He side stepped the rubble wit him and proceeded cautiously forward. "I remember the red skull blowing up this place… but Zola came back, brought me back here, didn't he?"
"Yes James. They rebuilt it quickly, leaving the outside alone and developed underground to hide the lab Zola was working out of. Radar imaging at that time and fly by's with planes would show the rubble and nothing more. Your captain America had no idea you where right where he had found you the first time"
They resumed on in silence after that. James picked away rubble from one of the doors with ease and they made their way inside.
They paused for a moment to catch their bearings and he pulled out the red book. Flipping through it to a marked page he had he pointed something out to James and handed him his own code book. His hands shook with the slightest hesitation before taking it from him. it was the subtle things Zemo noticed about James that made his heart swell. He must know the book could not hurt him or influence him anymore… but still the slightest hesitations where there.
His stomached growled loudly as they descended slowly but surely into large room that had to have been the lab.
James paused before the room "I remembered this place… not much of it, but being here, it… well I have a gut feeling about this place I do not like."
"Stop!" he reached out and grabbed the bag on the soldiers back. Just catching him and pulling him back from taking another step. "LOOK!"
Just bellow where James was about to step was a rather small footprint in the dust.
"That is rather recent. Look at the rest of this place, it's covered in debris and layers and layers of dust. But that" he crouched down to look at it closer "now that doesn't match the rest of this place"
He took out a cell phone and snapped a quick picture.
"Be careful, look for anything else that has been disturbed" he mentioned while getting up and proceeding through the next part of the lab, slowly following the faint footprints in the disturbed dust.
The tracks led back and forth through the facility, sometimes shuffling back and forth around a filling cabinet, other times seemingly drifting back and forth.
"Find anything James?" he called over and waited for a response. But nothing came from his counterpart. "James?" he called again, but still no reply.
He poked his head up from where he had been looking and scanned the lab quickly looking for his friend and finally landed on his figure.
He had sunk to the floor. Almost as if straddling it, knees to the ground and feet splayed behind him with his hands on his hips all the while his head hung almost as if in defeat.
"James…." He called softly as he approached where he had sunk the floor.
As he got closer, he released what he had found. There in front of sergeant Barnes was a crude metal chair. It had been dusted off recently too by the looks of it. Above the chair was a big ring looking contraption that raised and lowered.
He wasn't sure whether or not to try and comfort the soldier before him or make him snap out of it. He had already experienced the force of being thrown by James once before and was not overly interested in repeating that experience.
"James" he tried one more time softly from beside the man now but still nothing.
Okay that was it.
"Soldat, on your feet" he commanded in a tone much like he had used not that long ago in the bar before meeting Selby in Madripoor.
The reaction was instantaneous. His head snapped up, shoulders muscles tensed and rolled back, he nearly jumped to his feet and his facial features schooled themselves to point blank death stare.
He wanted to reach out a hand and put it on his shoulder. But paused in his actions. Still uncertain of how he would react.
He watched James for a few more minutes apprehensively waiting for his demeanor to change. But it did not.
"Soldat report status" he decided to try and pry him back to reality
"готов для"
"NO soldat English"
James's head snapped to look at him and as their eyes met James seemed to snap out of what ever he had been locked into. His shoulders slumped and his posture changed drastically.
He went to move forward and put a hand on his chest when he heard something above them. They look at each other quickly and Zemo pulls out his phone. There are 10 missed calls and several texts.
- Get out they know where you are
- They are coming for you both
- Baron why did you go there
- ZEMO!
- Answer your fucking phone for bast sake
Oh no… he hadn't herd or felt his phone vibrating or ringing. He had been so focused on James, on making sure he was okay.
"James we have to go now. We don't have time"
"To late" a female voice rises before either of them can turn around "hands above your head, both of you. Turn around slowly, don't make this any harder on yourselves"
He recognized the voice from Madripoor.
"Ah Sharon, so glad you could join us"
"Zemo don't" James bites at him between his teeth while they both turn to face her.
Behind her is Sam, dressed as captain America in his new suit, shield still on his back.
"Bucky, come on man" the tone in his voice tells Zemo all he needs to know. Its over. If Sam and Sharon are both here… well its game over. No chance in getting away from them. They probably have troops all around this place. After what Barnes had done and they had run. Not even Shuri could help them now.
