Mary and Steve had boarded a rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. jet at 0400. Based on the Intel gathered by the interrogation team, they were headed to a port city in Mexico, called Manzanillo. Steve expressed his dis-confidence about the lead, the location didn't fit the pattern of a brainwashed, rogue hydra agent; but this piece of information was all they had to go on and Steve wouldn't leaving any stone unturned. Mary sat at the opposite end of the jet from Steve, already resisting to help him find his friend. She had pledged herself to his cause before she knew the details; it was foolish and reckless of her, but she would honor her word, her honor and truth the most important thing to her in 2015. There is an air of awkwardness floating in the cab of the jet. The distance she created emotionally and now physically to Steve is apparent in a confined space. She can't help but feel she's keeping something important from him. What would he think if he found out S.H.I.E.L.D. knew about Sergeant Barnes for years? Or that she had been sent to capture him, at worst kill him? And even worse, what would go through the mind of America's hero if she told him she had failed that mission? The winter soldier had been a formidable opponent, an emotionless machine and she had been neither of these when she met him in Russia so many years ago. Mary feels the pressure of committing to a secret weighing on her, again questioning the 'what ifs' of keeping a piece of knowledge to herself.
A shadow drifts over her and she looks up to see Steve standing in front of her. "We're parachuting onto a private airstrip in ten minutes. Suits are in the back." She nods her head in affirmation, keeping her words limited, for fear they will betray the turmoil in her head; she walks to the back of the jet. Steve goes to confirm with the S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot and then she finds him joining her and opening the hatch of the quinjet.
"I'll take the lead jump and secure a position." he shouts over the wind. A surge of competitive instincts overwhelm her, she smiles and shouts back a NO, before taking a running jump out the plane. She feels the blast of air on her face, the whine of the wind in her ears and lets out a whoop as she free falls. She spins around in the air to see Steve jumping into the void behind her, he straightens his body, like an arrow, in an effort to catch the invisible target they are both racing towards. She turns back around, mimicking his body shape, gaining speed and distance before she needs to open her chute. She is jubilant with exhilarated adrenaline; the reminder that she is doing what sets her on fire. Her communicator beeps at her, warning she is getting too close to the ground fast, with a sharp pull she opens her parachute, feeling the familiar snap as the giant canvas slows her descent and her feet dangle toad the tarmac below. She sees the giant X, designed for parachuters to aim for and she starts pulling the straps that guide her to her mark. She hits it dead on and a few seconds later hears a thump as Steve lands a few feet beside her. He is smiling as he undoes the buckles and walks over to her. "I didn't realize we were racing."
"That's what people who lose a race say." she chortles back. Before anymore banter can continue between them, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent comes running up to them.
"Captain Rogers. Agent Townes. Welcome to Mexico. Follow me, there is some gear in the far hangar that had been sent a week before your arrival." Mary raises an eyebrow at Steve, questioning him with her facial expression How did our gear get here before us?, it asks.
Steve offers her a shrug, "Based on your file, I went on a hunch you would say yes." She nods her head to show she understands and quickens her pace behind the agent and to distance herself from Steve.
There is a collection of weapons for Mary to choose from and suits for different environments and situations. Steve choosing to go incognito, leaves his star spangled uniform behind, fits his vibranium shield into a specially made backpack and doesn't touch any of the guns.
There are two bikes waiting for them, now finally geared up Steve locks in the coordinates the Hydra agent supplied. They fire up the bikes, race out of the hangar, once again finding a competitive edge that pushes them both in a way they haven't experienced in a long time. Steve has experienced fighting alongside the Avengers, but Mary has never felt the camaraderie of an equal opponent and partner and she feels guilty when the feeling of joy once again pops up as they race through the streets of Manzanillo.
The location brings them to the outskirts of the city, a sort of shanty town of tents, tarps, huts and garbage. Mary and Steve look at each other, having no idea where to start looking, there aren't many people wandering around this area. Steve starts to say something to Mary, when the dust at her feet kicks up and they both hear a loud crack crack crack. Someone is shooting at them. Instincts fly in, they dive away from each other and scan the area for their shooter and for a spot to find cover. All at once, they see him, a man dressed all in black with a baseball hat covering his face, running down a little alley between some makeshift huts. Almost simultaneously Steve and Mary are back on their feet, running after the man in black. Steve follows close on his heels, Mary sees an opening up ahead and darts to the right. She hears Steve shout at her, but she pushes her legs harder, hoping this detour will pay off. She tunes into all her senses, darting around debris and people, listening for the thump of the foot chase happening nearby. She comes out into an open area and sees them running toward her before they do, she cuts off the man in black, taking him out at the legs. Then they are rolling around in the sand, throwing punches and the man is snarling like a wild animal. Mary finally pins him, it all feels too easy. Steve comes sliding in behind her, hardly panting and she pulls the hat off the mans face to reveal whose nightmare he is wearing…
To Be Continued.