When the flow of memories slowed, Mager spoke again. "Soldat?" (Soldier)

"Gotovy soblyudat." (Ready to comply) I replied, awaiting instruction. I saw a man to the side smile, but kept my attention focused on the commander.

"Decrypt Zola's algorithm and transfer it to Project Insight. Establish the algorithm to work on command when launched." I nodded, turning to the computers behind me.

During my physical training with Commander Mager, I also had educational lessons. He taught me Zola's Algorithm, which had been encrypted so anyone that wasn't part of HYDRA wouldn't understand it. With my extensive knowledge of encryption, it only took me two training sessions to decrypt the entire text. Mager had me memorize the entire decryption.

With the technology I had in front of me, it would take me less than two hours to decrypt the entire algorithm.

I turned my focus to the computer in front of me, my fingers flying over the keys below. I heard Mager and the other man talking in hushed voices, but I couldn't spare the time to pay attention to them.

An hour and thirty-six minutes later, I had finished decrypting the code. I used the program on the computer to transfer the decrypted algorithm to Project Insight, initiating a command for when they wanted to launch it.

The program was half way transferred when a voice interrupted my focus. "Attention, all SHIELD agents. This is Steve Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days, some of you were even ordered to hunt me down." I surveyed the room as the voice played. The second man had left the control room, only the commander was left.

He seemed frozen in his spot when he heard the man speaking over the intercom. "But I think it's time you know the truth. SHIELD is not what we thought it was, it's been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce is their leader." I looked at Mager with question in my eyes. I had never heard of SHIELD before.

"The STRIKE and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want: absolute control. They shot the Nick Fury, they kidnapped Tony Stark's little sister to do their dirty work, and it won't end there." The man's voice was giving me a headache. It felt as though there was a pressure on my brain.

"If you launch those Helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way, unless we stop them. I know I'm asking a lot, but the price of freedom is high, it always has been, and it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not."

I thought that was was the end of the man's speech, so I turned back to the computer, checking the program transfer's progress. It was almost done. But then, I heard the man's voice again. "And Phoebe Miller, if you're here, we could use a hand."

My head surged with pain and it was like the floodgates had opened. All of my memories came back to me, the theories, algorithms, and training of Onyx rushed from my mind and I had to hold my head in my hands because I was becoming so dizzy. I heard Commander Mager move behind me, but I stood quickly, swinging my fist at his gut and kicking my leg up to knock him down. I kept my boot on his chest after he landed. He looked up to me with fear in his eyes.

"I'm not your fucking puppet anymore." I spat down to him, but he shook his head, looking to the monitors that I had abandoned. The program had already been transferred and Project Insight was almost ready to launch.

I swore to myself, landing another kick in the man's ribs before running from the room, finding my way back to the main floor. I was in the Triskelion. I recognized the layout from my last few years of working here.

When I reached the main floor, there were three STRIKE agents waiting for me. I reached for the one closest to me, grabbing him by the collar and swinging my knee up to connect with his nose. I took the gun from his hands and aimed it at the other two, who also had theirs aimed at me.

"Put it down!" One yelled, reaching for the trigger with his finger. I pulled mine first, aiming at the other man and shooting him as well. I kept the gun at my side, taking the stairs to where I knew Pierce would be meeting with the World Security Council, if they were still alive.

When I rounded the corner, I saw Natasha standing with her gun pointed at Peirce. "I'm sorry. Did I step on your moment?" She asked, a sinister smile plastered on her face.

Pierce looked over her shoulder as he spotted me entering the conference room, and a smirk found its way to his face. I couldn't help but smirk back. He thought I was still fighting for his side; he didn't know that I had been compromised.

"I wouldn't look so happy if I were you, Pierce." I laughed, "I've got my own mind, now." I pointed my gun at him as well, and Natasha glanced at me.

I must have looked worse for the wear because she had a concerned look in her eye. "What the hell did they do to you?" She asked, turning her glare back to Alexander.

I shrugged lightly, "We'll talk about it later." I replied, ending the conversation. She quickly tossed her gun to Councilman Singh, who aimed it back at Pierce, before approaching the computer at the center of the room, pulling up several different screens. I kept my eyes locked firmly on Pierce's, who still seemed confused that I was no longer working for him.

It was only a few moments before the silence was broken by Councilman Rockwell. He was watching Natasha intently. "What are you doing?" He asked. Natasha didn't get a chance to answer.

Pierce walked around the table toward her but I stayed put, my gun locked on him just in case. "She's disabling security protocols and dumping all the secrets onto the internet." He informed them.

"Including HYDRA's." She added, not looking up from the computer. Alexander didn't miss a beat before responding.

"And SHIELD's. If you do this, none of your past is gonna remain hidden." He seemed to think this would deter her, but she just kept typing. "Are you sure you're ready for the world to see you as you really are?" He asked before turning to me, "Are you sure you're ready for Tony to see who you really are?" I shrugged but Natasha was the only one to reply.

"Are you?" Even I had to give her credit for that one. I circled the table to stand next to Natasha, watching her work. She had nearly passed all of the protocols, but the files were still encrypted.

"Disabling the encryption is an executive order." He said, a smug look in his eyes. "It takes two Alpha Level members."

Natasha stayed straight faced as she replied. "Don't worry, company's coming." Pierce turned as a helicopter landed on the stretch just opposite the conference room, a look of disbelief on his face. I turned to Natasha, her words finally registering in my mind, and she gave me a small smile and a nod.


Alright here's chapter 12! There's only 15 chapters, so we're getting there! Again, I had to skip my post on Wednesday because of school and all that crazy stuff. I'm also very excited about the next story, it's coming along really well! I've had a lot of comments asking for longer chapters. Basically, what I did with this story was, I just wrote it. It was all one huge, 21,000 word story. Then, I went through and divided it into chapters. Some are longer, some are shorter, but I wanted to get the right area to cut the chapter off, so it wasn't a huge cliffhanger at the end. Let me know what you guys think, I love hearing your opinions!