p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f07f56daa0e720884fdb05d6b874eb51"I sit next to Steve in the van, one hand on my ribcage and the other intertwined with Steve's./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ab5afe9542e11418c68c6c9206743056""It was him. He looked right at me and didn't even know me," Steve states in disbelief as he looks straight forward./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7407e3ddfd70681a8351c5f0996b4841"Sam looks over at us. "How's that even possible? It was like seventy years ago."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="da469625c43ae5760abac08054d4bc65""Zola. The 107th was captured in '43. Zola experimented on us. We were both on examination tables. Whatever he did, it helped Bucky survive the fall. They found him like they found me buried in the ice," I robotically answer. Steve's hand tightens, attempting to calm my accelerating heart./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5c5babad2e27a7bc2ebfd043a749690b""None of that's your fault, Steve, Avery," Nat speaks up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0f922679cf9a2fe8a13cbf04f169f016"Steve shakes his head. "Even when we had nothing, we had Bucky."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="eae0c8ea6271828189ba7929edb72f11""I knew," I whisper quietly. "I knew who he really was, Steve. I-I should've told you. I'm sorry."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5dc56b2e97a51f852656037f53d52828"He takes one look at me and pulls me into a hug. I'm surprised neither of the guards are doing anything about it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="767c03fdcbebfb999d327fa16f1122a7""Ow," I mumble as I feel a sharp pain in my ribs. Steve immediately pulls away to survey the damage./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5667dd1349faaf020bcfa7fa766a59d7"Sam notices Nat and I's injuries. "We need to get a doctor here. We don't put pressure on Natasha's wound, she's gonna bleed out here in the truck."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5892e02b41c8af573c66acb7e9f7bf16"All of a sudden, one of the guards pull out an electric rod. He or she neutralizes the other guard and knocks them out. The guard then turns to us and takes off his or her helmet./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9eebbe44b6bef9f48be7aea98476cd6c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Maria Hill/em./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="07ad9a280845690a687c3d2b10e9f136""That thing was squeezing my brain."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="55ad1363ab094cf91a87f131db4f3397""Nice of you to join us," I comment, a slight smile breaking out on my face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a03223ecc7d86ec15cac960e3cc4131c"Maria smiles back at me and then notices Sam. "Who's this guy?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="98110676fd04a9c9ccbf0abe47ecbb41"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b27a3c6156ec9c4f34e1d0e595197bc9"After escaping from the van, we went to the new SHIELD headquarters. Somewhere along the way, Steve started carrying me when I almost fell because of my wounds./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b9d1251469cdce06187bc90a930f8e51"As we walk down the hallway of the extremely smaller SHIELD HQ, a man runs up to us. Maria immediately starts speaking, referring to Nat. "GSW. She's lost at least a pint."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b3c999f283223d6543fa7b4b9c4dc550""Maybe two," Sam comments./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="75d1bc310968b0672dfd4c1dda59f647"Maria then turns to me, my face pressed against Steve's chest, trying to block out reality. "Broken ribs. Possible head injury."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f7145a1c92e163333abe44ef07f836e7""Let me take them!" the Doctor dude exclaims./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="eb88f63169b939975551706ace3fa1aa""They'll want to see him first," Maria states./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b8793e82400690e3941c9ffcc9a3c87f"With that, we start moving again. I take my face out of Steve's chest to ask, "Who is this 'him' you speak of?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="18a71dd3d0b1b2d4a02f8094f1328f96"Maria Hill smirks. "You'll see."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9443e5422f051421424da6737f123734"She leads us to a medical room. Nick Fury sits in the hospital bed, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"alive/em. My mouth falls open./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="48a2cb27afd1cc9b122dec82307837dd""About damn time," he comments as he looks at us./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="79b1d22901c4bcd9bb19bc065ea0e37a"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7b1cded170c806862772b2abcd5a8f3e""Ow!" I exclaim as the doctor wraps my ribs with gauze./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2bfe8e98871ff5e86093937862c51f68""Sorry," he mumbles./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f5f714361554fa375783ca322f0e32bc"I grumble something incoherent under my breath and start paying attention to the conversation going on./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="98c7232a4ebb6e47ada9a349adf2ee97""Lacerated spinal column, cracked sternum, shattered collarbone, perforated liver, one hell of a headache," Fury explains his injuries./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bb08449e1c71e13824c96c4dc1570dda"The doctor tending to my back speaks up, "Don't forget your collapsed lung."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fb4654c1193dd7fdf98fad4336afba2d""Oh, let's not forget that," Nick starts. "Otherwise, I'm good."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3437c35e2b999fe04ad212eca9d29e7f""They cut you open. Your heart stopped," Nat exclaims as a doctor treats her wounds./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f334de3132fcb6f5afb645c47e98fd9a""Tetrodotoxin B. Slows the pulse to one beat a minute. Banner developed it for stress. Didn't work so great for him, but we found a use for it," Fury explains./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="189103efb49ff938bcc491aaf11fc128"I wince as the doctor pulls the gauze tight again. Steve's face turns to one of concern as he looks at me from across the room. I turn to the doctor. "Okay, that's it, your done. I'll wrap this my damn self."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="de3578e2cc22ba3686855ad4e793e6e3"Steve's look of worry turns to one of amusement as he turns back to face Fury. "Why all the secrecy? Why not just tell us?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f8d7ab55338267baed3ff014195c1dca""Any attempt on the director's life had to look successful," Maria states./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fef411c0e0c4a453de85b6738cb868e7""Can't kill you if you're already dead. Besides, I wasn't sure who to trust," Fury answers./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="8d28de5e9a3a40354553d1099d2f5b21"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="1331e6ad8741b0c80a631bd9bd486dac"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"B/em/spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"UCKY BARNES/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d5fd095a815fa5ebc8a870ec6c81c911"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Sergeant Barnes," a man with glasses says as I open my eyes. The scene changes to me saluting a smaller version of the man from the bridge./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2492cf660815008cdb4bf662aa6c480d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Suddenly, the scene changes yet again to me about to fall off a freight car./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ecbe964fe2b98c68ab7cdf4ea08b633b"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Hang on! I'm coming, Buck!" the same beautiful woman from the bridge exclaims as she steps on a bar outside the train to help me./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="31a48d0194aacf854dd20782039a7cfa"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"She's almost reached me when the bar I'm hanging on starts to break. My eyes catch hers and I open my mouth, preparing myself to say something. "I love you."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="94bc98810f0cf8e3e33135f21f5770ed"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""No!" the woman exclaims and reaches out to me as I fall to my death./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8a487e0aa092e42eae9a8bb367fa8911"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The scene changes again to me on an experiment table with the same evil scientist man with glasses from before standing above me. "The procedure has already started."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c204ebe7b64f1d88a9bb73cb056ff48d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The people around me amputate my arm and replace it with a metal one. "You and Aftermath are to be the new fists of Hydra."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="26b14a31262ead08cdff7a09ed8e260e"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"My metal arm grabs him by the neck at the mention of Aftermath. Somehow, the people around me, who I'm assuming is Hydra agents, contain me./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d748eb486dfea0ae72bb153c03ad987d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Put him on ice!" the scientist man exclaims./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fba56d0910f3bc3456c00f3f6e5dc481"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The scene changes to me being frozen in a freezer like container./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1fef5187c7baa31a68f6350a6dbc3e28"I come back to the present, knocking over the man that was trying to fix my arm. The man points his gun at me to stop me from attacking any further./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b1a6cdd248ee9c0f105af178ed6d28cb"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I knew them./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="60aca1601d2da0b1d94ef43db9ea5a84"An older man that seems to have a lot of power walks into the room. "Sir, he's...he's unstable. Erratic."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8030e99a5eda13e6ac1ef593aabf228e"The man walks over to me. "Mission report."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="672b636e37c91ec8a22e34e0f5a707d2"I don't respond. With a blank look on my face, I continue to look forward./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c6748aa8500016f62a135b2f93dcd3c5"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I knew him. I knew her./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7f07604ed2c8df85aede25207aa5fd7d""Mission report, now!" The man suddenly steps forward and slaps me across the face. My head bobs to the side, and I slowly move it back to face forward./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8364c93c0de0ad58ad33a627722d8769""That man and woman on the bridge," I start, my voice faltering. "Who were they?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ea6170096cd7100097224fb605a4247f""You met them both earlier this week on another assignment. The woman has actually been your partner on a few missions," the man explains. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"He's lying./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6c60b85597695b49c8e86997a00be478""I knew them," I state plainly as the man sits in front of me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="717b83a4b43b0608f291c4c4b6ebcf19""Your work has been a gift to mankind. You shaped this 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," the man claims./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e1f561c04f06ffac194d8c5f5034d53f"I look over at the man, a slight smile appearing on my face. "But I knew them. I loved her."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ef1e02d0cc31b7396761b47a2a26ebaa"The man turns to the scientists. "Prep him."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fb259c85b10114cbfba8e42d714b708d""I loved her," I mumble as the scientist says something./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8744587c3d172724abd27b18a076fc6b""Then wipe him and start over."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a6fb8cf9c901d0b855fb13d3ee730d9a"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"No./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="495924ed34ababae2d85924a5960fee6"The scientists strap me into a chair and place a mouth guard in my mouth./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7453a12e1733c74c39a3920791aa8132"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I loved her. I knew her and him. I loved her./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="90f33e2fd5862950b7354180809d9245"They put the machine on the sides of my head and turn it on. As I scream in pain, all I can think of is one thing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="159b7c8cdd92735c5b1c4dd5ca2b36ac"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I loved her./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="d57b68512357322a385c694a126c3158"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="88a1757799ccc2f8568403b9200ef5f0"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"A/em/spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"VERY EVANS/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d0aeafd19b579d01ed0bdc5cde0ae8e5"Later, Fury shows us a picture of Alexander Pierce. "This man declined the Nobel Piece Prize. He said, 'Peace wasn't an achievement, it was a responsibility.' See, it's stuff like this that gives me trust issues."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="32821dacf117bfe2deeffe1e6825277e""Sounds like a Hydra man to me," I state./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="faadf87b4c27ace625ae525e99484c41""We have to stop the launch," Nat speaks up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="df92e22f5ad9131ea2f87b805017cafe""I don't think the council is accepting my calls anymore," Fury says as he starts to open a case containing three computer chips./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="41c54484775cc798a66588ccb6547e1c"I tilt my head to the side in confusion. "What's that?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3350501fbbd36b26ee6946ee4e1369fc""Once the Helicarriers reach three thousand feet, they'll triangulate with Insight satellites becoming fully weaponized," Maria comments./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="40324c9f8f0ac7b984e2fcf44e4ec862""We need to breach those carriers and replace their targeting blades with our own," Fury explains./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="60fb88552d685139faa62f38384d93b6"Maria looks over at us before anyone can ask any questions. "One or two won't cut it. We need to link all three carriers for this to work, because if even one of those ships remain operational a whole lot of people are gonna die."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7c892b49599610d8f8ff3d412e4bdc45""We have to assume everyone aboard those carriers is Hydra. We need to get past them, insert the server blades, and maybe, just maybe, we can salvage what's left..." Fury plans./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="359e712ef524febbbe1f47f002a1b846"Steve shakes his head. "We're not salvaging anything. We're not just taking down the Helicarriers, Nick, we're taking down SHIELD."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="df97af24b3b68a5915c22ca101bcd3cb""SHIELD had nothing to do with it," Fury retorts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="520360017e14ad33ffb83301b686f6c1""Steve's right. SHIELD's been compromised. You said so yourself. Hydra was right under your nose and nobody noticed," I exclaim. "You gave us this mission, and this is how it ends."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9dba47a774ecf7afb6fd4bd391d7b4f8""Why do you think we're meeting in this cave? I noticed," Fury states./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4a11b2aec097323d341d49559e9a5fa9""And how many paid the price before you did?" I ask furiously./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="36d4caa467801b32409fbf69b1867dc4"Fury looks at the ground before looking back at me. "Look, I didn't know about Barnes."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fc89296878581bf1aef03258586a46d6""You didn't have to, I already knew," I say venomously./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="58c292d9a3e8e6165aa016a5c3ce0dca""Even if you had, would you have told us? Or would you have compartmentalized that too?" Steve exclaims./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="16f4838341942ea05a2b17ddf0691351""SHIELD, Hydra, it all goes. Because if both don't, it will bite us in the butt in the future," I state./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f5d02e88af8b9ff7a22b1430a8bc6e39""They're right," Maria agrees./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ada2a7a3f969efe5c2adf44c0aa6adbe"Fury looks at Natasha and then at Sam./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f96eafd6880a11b41eb0c5135540e860"Sam shakes his head. "Don't look at me. I do what they do, just slower."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8a6f4ab347a600576b218229f2a57a68""Well, looks like you two are giving the orders now, Captains," Fury tells Steve and I./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="9a0b824b94d7f2b199d846b88bdfe884"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d721fb53ed6edea21473604860e2d918"I stand beside Steve on a bridge, thinking of one memory I have of Bucky that sticks out to me the most./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e23a3d5a9cb7007bc8af9f06802774b2"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""So, Aves, how was your nap?" Bucky's voice drawls from above me. I groan and roll over to face him. His y'all figure stands over me, looking down with an amused expression on his face./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ad9f8436524b4d53288bc02f7d01ece7"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Horrible," I mutter. "You know I hate naps."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ea734a6ad104740b8b82c1ca0b7e3029"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"He chuckles. "Yes, but you needed sleep."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="116a54aa6065c8575a39f67e1c52f728"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I sit up, rubbing my eyes in the process. "How long was I asleep?"/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0579de5302bb352e7fc9d19fe2367c06"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""About three hours," he answers. I roll my legs over the side of the bed, ready to get up./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="46e6336d62c8e06fa367725cbf598763"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Slowly," Bucky reminds me, placing a hand on the small of my back. I look up at him in question./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2d2b340373840bf350f624f3ce50e176"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Shoulder. Gun. Pew, pew," Bucky makes a gun with his hand and pretends to shoot it. I roll my eyes./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="90c343e4e118184afc460bc500de49ac"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I'm injured, not handicapped," I retort, continuing to get up. Bucky sighs in defeat./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="096cbb37ae10230ba69679d5fb3fc198"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""If I had my way, I'd put you in a wheelchair and push you everywhere," Bucky says./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fd5772886e878e8fa587b77174bc9798"My memory is interrupted by Sam joining us on the bridge. "He's gonna be there, you know?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0c7d149f0a8d91924d199e833ca154db""We know," I say quietly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c54edbee27fa01fb99ad60492bc338cb""Look, whoever he used to be, the guy he is now, I don't think he's the kind you save," Sam starts. "He's the kind you stop."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1c822ef6c09a4cfb148799120515a647""So was I," I state as I look forward at the water that stretches for miles./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8d06f1fb37026a53621909843eb025d6"Steve shakes his head. "I don't think we could do that."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f9a50dd4f1b5798dad79a3d6834a97b6""Well, he might not even give you two a choice. He doesn't know you," Sam retorts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5d3ed38aa07e4514165b4ed5d39ac930""He will," Steve and I say as we turn to face him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ef1b9d73695e8835c1b109cfb946ee01"As we start walking away from Sam, Steve says, "Gear up. It's time."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="879127f5e344e596c676de7b941f7237""You gonna wear that?" Sam asks as he looks us up and down./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d676f367f9178f5947f5805ee4402eda""No. If you're gonna fight a war..." Steve starts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="628ae94fbc40a8e00355c7a378101252""You gotta wear a uniform," I finish as I look up at Steve with a smile forming on my face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ab5afe9542e11418c68c6c9206743056""It was him. He looked right at me and didn't even know me," Steve states in disbelief as he looks straight forward./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7407e3ddfd70681a8351c5f0996b4841"Sam looks over at us. "How's that even possible? It was like seventy years ago."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="da469625c43ae5760abac08054d4bc65""Zola. The 107th was captured in '43. Zola experimented on us. We were both on examination tables. Whatever he did, it helped Bucky survive the fall. They found him like they found me buried in the ice," I robotically answer. Steve's hand tightens, attempting to calm my accelerating heart./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5c5babad2e27a7bc2ebfd043a749690b""None of that's your fault, Steve, Avery," Nat speaks up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0f922679cf9a2fe8a13cbf04f169f016"Steve shakes his head. "Even when we had nothing, we had Bucky."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="eae0c8ea6271828189ba7929edb72f11""I knew," I whisper quietly. "I knew who he really was, Steve. I-I should've told you. I'm sorry."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5dc56b2e97a51f852656037f53d52828"He takes one look at me and pulls me into a hug. I'm surprised neither of the guards are doing anything about it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="767c03fdcbebfb999d327fa16f1122a7""Ow," I mumble as I feel a sharp pain in my ribs. Steve immediately pulls away to survey the damage./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5667dd1349faaf020bcfa7fa766a59d7"Sam notices Nat and I's injuries. "We need to get a doctor here. We don't put pressure on Natasha's wound, she's gonna bleed out here in the truck."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5892e02b41c8af573c66acb7e9f7bf16"All of a sudden, one of the guards pull out an electric rod. He or she neutralizes the other guard and knocks them out. The guard then turns to us and takes off his or her helmet./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9eebbe44b6bef9f48be7aea98476cd6c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Maria Hill/em./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="07ad9a280845690a687c3d2b10e9f136""That thing was squeezing my brain."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="55ad1363ab094cf91a87f131db4f3397""Nice of you to join us," I comment, a slight smile breaking out on my face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a03223ecc7d86ec15cac960e3cc4131c"Maria smiles back at me and then notices Sam. "Who's this guy?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="98110676fd04a9c9ccbf0abe47ecbb41"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b27a3c6156ec9c4f34e1d0e595197bc9"After escaping from the van, we went to the new SHIELD headquarters. Somewhere along the way, Steve started carrying me when I almost fell because of my wounds./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b9d1251469cdce06187bc90a930f8e51"As we walk down the hallway of the extremely smaller SHIELD HQ, a man runs up to us. Maria immediately starts speaking, referring to Nat. "GSW. She's lost at least a pint."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b3c999f283223d6543fa7b4b9c4dc550""Maybe two," Sam comments./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="75d1bc310968b0672dfd4c1dda59f647"Maria then turns to me, my face pressed against Steve's chest, trying to block out reality. "Broken ribs. Possible head injury."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f7145a1c92e163333abe44ef07f836e7""Let me take them!" the Doctor dude exclaims./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="eb88f63169b939975551706ace3fa1aa""They'll want to see him first," Maria states./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b8793e82400690e3941c9ffcc9a3c87f"With that, we start moving again. I take my face out of Steve's chest to ask, "Who is this 'him' you speak of?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="18a71dd3d0b1b2d4a02f8094f1328f96"Maria Hill smirks. "You'll see."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9443e5422f051421424da6737f123734"She leads us to a medical room. Nick Fury sits in the hospital bed, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"alive/em. My mouth falls open./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="48a2cb27afd1cc9b122dec82307837dd""About damn time," he comments as he looks at us./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="79b1d22901c4bcd9bb19bc065ea0e37a"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7b1cded170c806862772b2abcd5a8f3e""Ow!" I exclaim as the doctor wraps my ribs with gauze./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2bfe8e98871ff5e86093937862c51f68""Sorry," he mumbles./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f5f714361554fa375783ca322f0e32bc"I grumble something incoherent under my breath and start paying attention to the conversation going on./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="98c7232a4ebb6e47ada9a349adf2ee97""Lacerated spinal column, cracked sternum, shattered collarbone, perforated liver, one hell of a headache," Fury explains his injuries./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bb08449e1c71e13824c96c4dc1570dda"The doctor tending to my back speaks up, "Don't forget your collapsed lung."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fb4654c1193dd7fdf98fad4336afba2d""Oh, let's not forget that," Nick starts. "Otherwise, I'm good."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3437c35e2b999fe04ad212eca9d29e7f""They cut you open. Your heart stopped," Nat exclaims as a doctor treats her wounds./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f334de3132fcb6f5afb645c47e98fd9a""Tetrodotoxin B. Slows the pulse to one beat a minute. Banner developed it for stress. Didn't work so great for him, but we found a use for it," Fury explains./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="189103efb49ff938bcc491aaf11fc128"I wince as the doctor pulls the gauze tight again. Steve's face turns to one of concern as he looks at me from across the room. I turn to the doctor. "Okay, that's it, your done. I'll wrap this my damn self."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="de3578e2cc22ba3686855ad4e793e6e3"Steve's look of worry turns to one of amusement as he turns back to face Fury. "Why all the secrecy? Why not just tell us?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f8d7ab55338267baed3ff014195c1dca""Any attempt on the director's life had to look successful," Maria states./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fef411c0e0c4a453de85b6738cb868e7""Can't kill you if you're already dead. Besides, I wasn't sure who to trust," Fury answers./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="8d28de5e9a3a40354553d1099d2f5b21"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="1331e6ad8741b0c80a631bd9bd486dac"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"B/em/spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"UCKY BARNES/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d5fd095a815fa5ebc8a870ec6c81c911"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Sergeant Barnes," a man with glasses says as I open my eyes. The scene changes to me saluting a smaller version of the man from the bridge./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2492cf660815008cdb4bf662aa6c480d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Suddenly, the scene changes yet again to me about to fall off a freight car./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ecbe964fe2b98c68ab7cdf4ea08b633b"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Hang on! I'm coming, Buck!" the same beautiful woman from the bridge exclaims as she steps on a bar outside the train to help me./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="31a48d0194aacf854dd20782039a7cfa"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"She's almost reached me when the bar I'm hanging on starts to break. My eyes catch hers and I open my mouth, preparing myself to say something. "I love you."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="94bc98810f0cf8e3e33135f21f5770ed"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""No!" the woman exclaims and reaches out to me as I fall to my death./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8a487e0aa092e42eae9a8bb367fa8911"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The scene changes again to me on an experiment table with the same evil scientist man with glasses from before standing above me. "The procedure has already started."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c204ebe7b64f1d88a9bb73cb056ff48d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The people around me amputate my arm and replace it with a metal one. "You and Aftermath are to be the new fists of Hydra."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="26b14a31262ead08cdff7a09ed8e260e"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"My metal arm grabs him by the neck at the mention of Aftermath. Somehow, the people around me, who I'm assuming is Hydra agents, contain me./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d748eb486dfea0ae72bb153c03ad987d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Put him on ice!" the scientist man exclaims./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fba56d0910f3bc3456c00f3f6e5dc481"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The scene changes to me being frozen in a freezer like container./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1fef5187c7baa31a68f6350a6dbc3e28"I come back to the present, knocking over the man that was trying to fix my arm. The man points his gun at me to stop me from attacking any further./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b1a6cdd248ee9c0f105af178ed6d28cb"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I knew them./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="60aca1601d2da0b1d94ef43db9ea5a84"An older man that seems to have a lot of power walks into the room. "Sir, he's...he's unstable. Erratic."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8030e99a5eda13e6ac1ef593aabf228e"The man walks over to me. "Mission report."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="672b636e37c91ec8a22e34e0f5a707d2"I don't respond. With a blank look on my face, I continue to look forward./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c6748aa8500016f62a135b2f93dcd3c5"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I knew him. I knew her./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7f07604ed2c8df85aede25207aa5fd7d""Mission report, now!" The man suddenly steps forward and slaps me across the face. My head bobs to the side, and I slowly move it back to face forward./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8364c93c0de0ad58ad33a627722d8769""That man and woman on the bridge," I start, my voice faltering. "Who were they?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ea6170096cd7100097224fb605a4247f""You met them both earlier this week on another assignment. The woman has actually been your partner on a few missions," the man explains. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"He's lying./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6c60b85597695b49c8e86997a00be478""I knew them," I state plainly as the man sits in front of me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="717b83a4b43b0608f291c4c4b6ebcf19""Your work has been a gift to mankind. You shaped this 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," the man claims./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e1f561c04f06ffac194d8c5f5034d53f"I look over at the man, a slight smile appearing on my face. "But I knew them. I loved her."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ef1e02d0cc31b7396761b47a2a26ebaa"The man turns to the scientists. "Prep him."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fb259c85b10114cbfba8e42d714b708d""I loved her," I mumble as the scientist says something./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8744587c3d172724abd27b18a076fc6b""Then wipe him and start over."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a6fb8cf9c901d0b855fb13d3ee730d9a"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"No./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="495924ed34ababae2d85924a5960fee6"The scientists strap me into a chair and place a mouth guard in my mouth./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7453a12e1733c74c39a3920791aa8132"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I loved her. I knew her and him. I loved her./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="90f33e2fd5862950b7354180809d9245"They put the machine on the sides of my head and turn it on. As I scream in pain, all I can think of is one thing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="159b7c8cdd92735c5b1c4dd5ca2b36ac"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I loved her./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="d57b68512357322a385c694a126c3158"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="88a1757799ccc2f8568403b9200ef5f0"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"A/em/spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"VERY EVANS/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d0aeafd19b579d01ed0bdc5cde0ae8e5"Later, Fury shows us a picture of Alexander Pierce. "This man declined the Nobel Piece Prize. He said, 'Peace wasn't an achievement, it was a responsibility.' See, it's stuff like this that gives me trust issues."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="32821dacf117bfe2deeffe1e6825277e""Sounds like a Hydra man to me," I state./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="faadf87b4c27ace625ae525e99484c41""We have to stop the launch," Nat speaks up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="df92e22f5ad9131ea2f87b805017cafe""I don't think the council is accepting my calls anymore," Fury says as he starts to open a case containing three computer chips./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="41c54484775cc798a66588ccb6547e1c"I tilt my head to the side in confusion. "What's that?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3350501fbbd36b26ee6946ee4e1369fc""Once the Helicarriers reach three thousand feet, they'll triangulate with Insight satellites becoming fully weaponized," Maria comments./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="40324c9f8f0ac7b984e2fcf44e4ec862""We need to breach those carriers and replace their targeting blades with our own," Fury explains./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="60fb88552d685139faa62f38384d93b6"Maria looks over at us before anyone can ask any questions. "One or two won't cut it. We need to link all three carriers for this to work, because if even one of those ships remain operational a whole lot of people are gonna die."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7c892b49599610d8f8ff3d412e4bdc45""We have to assume everyone aboard those carriers is Hydra. We need to get past them, insert the server blades, and maybe, just maybe, we can salvage what's left..." Fury plans./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="359e712ef524febbbe1f47f002a1b846"Steve shakes his head. "We're not salvaging anything. We're not just taking down the Helicarriers, Nick, we're taking down SHIELD."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="df97af24b3b68a5915c22ca101bcd3cb""SHIELD had nothing to do with it," Fury retorts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="520360017e14ad33ffb83301b686f6c1""Steve's right. SHIELD's been compromised. You said so yourself. Hydra was right under your nose and nobody noticed," I exclaim. "You gave us this mission, and this is how it ends."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9dba47a774ecf7afb6fd4bd391d7b4f8""Why do you think we're meeting in this cave? I noticed," Fury states./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4a11b2aec097323d341d49559e9a5fa9""And how many paid the price before you did?" I ask furiously./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="36d4caa467801b32409fbf69b1867dc4"Fury looks at the ground before looking back at me. "Look, I didn't know about Barnes."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fc89296878581bf1aef03258586a46d6""You didn't have to, I already knew," I say venomously./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="58c292d9a3e8e6165aa016a5c3ce0dca""Even if you had, would you have told us? Or would you have compartmentalized that too?" Steve exclaims./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="16f4838341942ea05a2b17ddf0691351""SHIELD, Hydra, it all goes. Because if both don't, it will bite us in the butt in the future," I state./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f5d02e88af8b9ff7a22b1430a8bc6e39""They're right," Maria agrees./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ada2a7a3f969efe5c2adf44c0aa6adbe"Fury looks at Natasha and then at Sam./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f96eafd6880a11b41eb0c5135540e860"Sam shakes his head. "Don't look at me. I do what they do, just slower."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8a6f4ab347a600576b218229f2a57a68""Well, looks like you two are giving the orders now, Captains," Fury tells Steve and I./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="9a0b824b94d7f2b199d846b88bdfe884"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d721fb53ed6edea21473604860e2d918"I stand beside Steve on a bridge, thinking of one memory I have of Bucky that sticks out to me the most./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e23a3d5a9cb7007bc8af9f06802774b2"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""So, Aves, how was your nap?" Bucky's voice drawls from above me. I groan and roll over to face him. His y'all figure stands over me, looking down with an amused expression on his face./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ad9f8436524b4d53288bc02f7d01ece7"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Horrible," I mutter. "You know I hate naps."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ea734a6ad104740b8b82c1ca0b7e3029"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"He chuckles. "Yes, but you needed sleep."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="116a54aa6065c8575a39f67e1c52f728"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I sit up, rubbing my eyes in the process. "How long was I asleep?"/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0579de5302bb352e7fc9d19fe2367c06"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""About three hours," he answers. I roll my legs over the side of the bed, ready to get up./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="46e6336d62c8e06fa367725cbf598763"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Slowly," Bucky reminds me, placing a hand on the small of my back. I look up at him in question./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2d2b340373840bf350f624f3ce50e176"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Shoulder. Gun. Pew, pew," Bucky makes a gun with his hand and pretends to shoot it. I roll my eyes./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="90c343e4e118184afc460bc500de49ac"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I'm injured, not handicapped," I retort, continuing to get up. Bucky sighs in defeat./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="096cbb37ae10230ba69679d5fb3fc198"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""If I had my way, I'd put you in a wheelchair and push you everywhere," Bucky says./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fd5772886e878e8fa587b77174bc9798"My memory is interrupted by Sam joining us on the bridge. "He's gonna be there, you know?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0c7d149f0a8d91924d199e833ca154db""We know," I say quietly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c54edbee27fa01fb99ad60492bc338cb""Look, whoever he used to be, the guy he is now, I don't think he's the kind you save," Sam starts. "He's the kind you stop."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1c822ef6c09a4cfb148799120515a647""So was I," I state as I look forward at the water that stretches for miles./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8d06f1fb37026a53621909843eb025d6"Steve shakes his head. "I don't think we could do that."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f9a50dd4f1b5798dad79a3d6834a97b6""Well, he might not even give you two a choice. He doesn't know you," Sam retorts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5d3ed38aa07e4514165b4ed5d39ac930""He will," Steve and I say as we turn to face him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ef1b9d73695e8835c1b109cfb946ee01"As we start walking away from Sam, Steve says, "Gear up. It's time."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="879127f5e344e596c676de7b941f7237""You gonna wear that?" Sam asks as he looks us up and down./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d676f367f9178f5947f5805ee4402eda""No. If you're gonna fight a war..." Steve starts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="628ae94fbc40a8e00355c7a378101252""You gotta wear a uniform," I finish as I look up at Steve with a smile forming on my face./p
