(Hey everyone! how you guys been? You all having a great summer? Well guess what. I'm going to make it greater because not only have I completed one of my stories' chapters but another one as well! I cant wait to see what you all think. Do you like how this story is going? Please let me know if you do or don't I want to hear what you all thought and what you think might happen later in this and the next chapter.
Disclaimer I do not own anyone from the Marvel Cinema or Dragon Age They belong to their respective owners.
Cole appears out of nowhere as he told the readers: "And please don't forget to read and review.")
A great amount of time passed before the Howling Commandos under the command of Captain America began their missions. Though Cole had some time adjusting to the soldiers' world and their technology, he was fitting into the routine of following orders and engaging in hand to hand combat, well how to fight without his weapons, which proved less disastrous than trying to train him in using side arms. Stark was still amazed with how well the Vibranium had mixed with the unidentified metals found in Cole's daggers, making them not only stronger but more durable than the pure Vibranium in Roger's shield. When asked about what the metal in his daggers were, Cole just said that they were Silverite, a metal found in his world Thedas.
Thinking it was silver from his world, Stark did every test to prove it to be regular silver. However, the majority of the metal's composition and weight were different from what one would normally find in metal. So Stark had to concede to Cole's story of being from another world. He'd need to bring up the issue of Cole's dagger composition at the next meeting.
Because Cole was never officially apart of the military of any nation, he was given the honorary title of first lieutenant, well Colonel Philips did it just to have some control over the spirit-boy, IF he was what he claimed to be.
At the next meeting, Captain Rogers and, to the surprise of the other three prominent members, Cole was in attendance. Colonel Philips had projected an image of the supposed location of the first of the Hydra Bases on the map.
Cole approached the projection on the screen and looked at it in awe, "It looks like…a living painting."
Howard was smiling at the naivety of the young man, "Your analogy astounds me."
Cole was ignoring the scientist. A smile began to form on his withered face in amusement of what he saw, and, turning to the people in the SSR, he asked, "Is it magic?"
"No, not magic, science." Howard corrected. Cole moved to touch the screen as if it was a window into what was being seen, but couldn't. All he felt was the fabric of the screen instead of the wood that was shown in the picture.
"Science…That word reminds me of the mechanisms that the dwarves made back in Thedas." Cole commented as he continued to watch.
Getting annoyed by the childish display demonstrated by Cole, Colonel Philips cleared his throat and said, "Let's get this meeting underway."
While everyone was busy getting the meeting back on track, Cole was still standing, blocking view from everyone else. Peggy went to the young man with the large hat and tapped him lightly on the shoulder, "Cole, it's time for the meeting."
"Huh?" Cole asked looking back at her, and then at everyone at the meeting table before uttering a mesmerized, "Oh."
A second later, Cole disappeared. Peggy sighed, "Sir, he can't help but be fascinated by what he discovers about our world."
"You still actually believe that hogwash of a story of his?" the colonel asks her with a look.
"If you remembered, colonel, my science staff did every test that we know and, by all counts, we haven't found anything other than the fact that he appears like an ordinary young man. And his daggers are made from a metal that is similar to ours but whose composition is a variable different." Howard said in defense of Cole.
"What about any waste or urine samples?" The colonel asked, still trying to retain some sense of reality he believed the others had lost.
Howard shared a glance with Steve and Peggy, unsure how to answer that. The super soldier answered, "That's the thing sir…It really seems Cole doesn't eat…"
"Don't be silly Rogers, everyone has to eat." The colonel said.
"Actually nearly everyone in our unit saw Cole sit there only because Howard or I asked him to, but he never went to get anything to eat or drink. When I asked him why, he only said 'I don't eat.' Guess spirits don't need to eat our food." Steve said as he brought up the point.
"Terrific." Philips sighed as he leaned back, "But what about those abilities of his; is there any way for us to duplicate it into our boys?"
"Again we need DNA samples to even attempt a procedure and…"
"And because of how his blood does not have any evidence of DNA, there's no chance of creating an army of his kind of special abilities…" The colonel finished for Stark, annoyed.
"Sir, why are we even trying to figure out how Cole works when we have his full support?" Rogers asked. Actually, he believed Cole and was willing to give him a chance.
"We don't know that for certain, Rogers; we only have his word, and no one in real life is that altruistic." Colonel Philips answered. He was still having doubts about Cole even after everything the rogue did for them in the SSR's fight against Hydra.
Unbeknownst to them, Cole was still standing there, listening to what they were saying, invisible to them. Not wanting to hear anymore, Cole left. He walked over to where the other of Captain America's Howling Commandos were gathered, and stood alone, looking outside, unseen by the patrons in the bar.
Bucky must have been able to see him since he went over and asked, "Cole. You okay?"
Cole was stunned by this, but he lowered his head and muttered, "Pidder padder, can't be certain of his word, can't be certain of his mind, he goes to and from, no sense of control or loyalty. Need to discipline him. Need to be assured that they're loyal to us."
Bucky, learning how to translate Cole's way of reciting thoughts and emotions asked, "This about the colonel?"
"He believes that there's no guarantee of loyalty unless there's some control by the government, that it would make everyone safe. He needs to trust people's intentions by how they act instead of the words they say." Cole answered. Sitting on the counter of the bar, he rocks back and forth, his leg kicking in a repeating rhythm on the wall.
Bucky sighed, "I can somewhat guess how the colonel may feel; but after you risked your life to save mine and the others at that prison as well as while we're on missions… But sometimes the affinity of people can only get you so far, and you need to prove yourself on the field and keep going until you can't move no-more."
Bucky went back to the bar to have a drink, leaving Cole alone with his thoughts.
After the outfits for Rogers and Cole were completed, the Howling Commandoes began their offensive on every Hydra base in Europe. They had the most difficult and impossible looking of all missions because they were a small unit; but they always pulled through, thanks, in a great part, to the actions of Captain America and Cole.
Cole was able to be just as helpful and then some as he had said he'd be on the battlefield as well as out of it. His ability to sense emotions and intentions of others helped them find more spies of Hydra, even in the SSR. Unfortunately, every one of the Hydra spies had committed suicide by ingesting a secret cyanide pill before anyone, even Cole, could stop them.
While in the field, Cole's powers also proved useful. He was successful at sneaking into other Hydra prison camps, free the inmates and was able to minimize the risk involved in their escapes. He also proved invaluable as he was able to detect an ambush or an assassin while working with the commandoes. Whenever the camera man or any new personnel tried to talk to him, Cole made himself invisible. When asked why he behaved this way, he said he didn't like being near them. The Commandoes didn't push it any further. Each of the unit's members became more confident, believing in Cole, and looked to him as one of their own. Thanks to the efforts of every one of the Howling Commandoes, the Hydra bases were taken out one by one, sometimes two when the situation called for it. Their mission took then entire year of 1944 to complete as the next year be the year that changes everything.
"You are failing!" Schmidt roared, outraged. He was standing with Dr. Zola at that last of his facilities, which was destroyed and turned into a rubble with no surviving Hydra agent alive. It was now 1945 and Schmidt was furious that they have been delayed for an entire year.
"We are close to an offensive that will shake the planet; yet we are continuously delayed, because you are incapable of outwitting not only a simpleton with a shield, but also a stray with a pair of daggers!" Schmidt shouted, making his disappointment and anger evident at the loss of their facilities.
"This is hardly my area of expertise. I merely developed the weapons. I cannot fire them." Dr. Zola explained to his leader.
The Red Skull glared as he leaned his face at the doctor as he growled, "Finish your mission doctor before the American finishes his."
"Sir!"
A Hydra soldier shouted, as he pulled a sole survivor before Schmidt and Zola. The Red Skull's anger was at its boiling point, when the survivor shouted, "I'm sorry, Herr Schmidt! We fought to the last man."
This report made Schmidt even more rage filled. He drew his own personal pistol and aimed it at the survivor. When he saw this, Dr. Zola turned away; even he knew that this would make Schmidt feel even more hatred. He heard his as his leader spat, "Evidently not."
He fired, causing the survivor's body to dissolve into atoms. With that nuisance out of the way, the Red Skull turned to the minute scientist and growled, "You must move everything that is needed for our project back to our main base. And if you are able, find a means to rid us of those two thorns from our sides."
"Y-y-yess… Herr Schmidt… Hail, Hydra!" Zola answered, fearful for his life now more than ever. He hurried to a transport to return to his laboratory as soon as possible.
Schmidt scowled and tightened his fist, 'Curse them. Curse that captain and his friends. I will make my goals real, as it is my destiny. Nothing will stop me.'
"I lIkE tHe TaStE oF yOuR HaTrEd. IT'S DELICOUS!" A garbled, growl of a deep voice sounded from everywhere around Schmidt. Behind him there was a bubbling pool of what could be described as lava oozing its way to the surface.
"Do YoU hAtE tHaT cApTiAn? HaTe ThAt ThInG?" the voice asked again as the pool of lava grew wider.
"Yes. I hate zem. I hate zem both. They get in the way of my goal of conquest!" Schmidt answered, his fists tightening.
The voice laughed, heartlessly. It continued barking like before and answered, "ExCeLlEnT AnSwEr. YoU aRe InDeEd LiKe HiM, lIkE tHe ElDeR oNe. I'lL SeRvE yOu As LoNg As YoU kEeP fEeDiNg Me ThIs DeLiCoUs HaTrEd!"
"What is your name? How can I know of your intentions?" Schmidt asked, looking around for the source of the voice when he heard a bubble pop. Turning behind him, he saw the pool of lava appearing to grow larger as the maniacal laugh emerged from the lava pool. The next thing that the Red Skull saw were two thin, inhuman (No pun intended) hands, two fingers and one thumb push the pool of lava open as a large bulky mass stood up as tall as him. From the part of the mass closest to him, shot out a bird shape mass of lava with two yellow burning eyes like sockets, with no pupils or irises. The bottom half of this creature was thin and seemed to expand at the bottom of the large mass and the section of it that touched the ground.
Schmidt let out a cry of shock and fell backwards. Two of his soldiers came running, hearing their leader's cry, and aimed their weapons at the lava like monster. However, before they could shoot, the monster let out an enraged roar and sent a powerful jet of super-hot fire at them, causing their energy weapons to explode, vaporizing their already charring bodies.
The creature then 'slid' over to Schmidt. Leaning its head closer to him, without moving its mouth, it called out, "CaLl Me RaGe, My LoRd!"
Rage then lowered his body in a bow like manner. Schmidt suddenly found himself smiling at this new, powerful, and obedient servant.
Captain America and his commandos were waiting on a snow covered mountain top where James Morten Wardsworth and Cole were on surveillance. The British officer peered through binoculars, whereas Cole was sensing with his powers.
While sensing for the small man's emotions, Cole heard Bucky ask, "Remember when I made you ride the cyclone on Coney Island?"
"Yeah, and I threw up?" Steve asked, remembering that particular event.
"This isn't payback, is it?" Bucky asked, slightly nervous about how high they were above the surrounding terrain.
Steve looked over at the line that He, Gabe, Bucky, and Cole would use to zip line onto the Train when it arrived. Steve then answered, "Now why would I do that?"
"We're right, Dr. Zola's on that train. Hydra dispatcher gave him permission to open up the throttle. Wherever he's going they must need him bad." Gabe reported. He had used one of the captured Hydra communications devices to eavesdrop on the Hydra messages. Cole was still amazed by these advances in messaging.
He suddenly turned his head 20 degrees to the right, indicating he was sensing the person that their unit was looking for. Wardsworth noticed the train some seconds after Cole did. Wardsworth then said, "Let's get going, because they're moving like the devil."
Cap put his pulley on the line, instructing his away team, "We've only got about a ten minute window. Miss that window and we're bugs on a windshield."
"Mind the gap." Wardsworth advised, jokingly. Cole however politely declined the use of a pulley, but he drew his daggers and waited.
"Better get moving, bugs!" Dugan called out. Deep down Cole could sense that Dugan was hoping that the others would come back alive from this mission.
The Frenchman in the group, Jacque, signaled the right time for each of the away team to begin zip lining down to the train. Cole, however, appeared behind Gabe on the train as all four of the away team went along to a good secured entry point inside the train. Cole nodded to Gabe who nodded back and held his rifle in hand. He and Cole were supposed to move along on top of the train while Bucky and Steven went through it.
The moment the two went inside, Cole stopped suddenly; his expression was that of shock. Concerned, Gabe went to the spirit, shouting over the wind, "Cole! What is it?!"
"'We've got him, the American will die here, Schmidt mustn't fail! Need to kill him before Schmidt kills me!'" Cole said, before explaining, "It's a trap!"
Cole disappeared, leaving Gabe to go on ahead, outside. He prayed that the captain and Bucky were safe.
Steve and Bucky continued walking through the strange compartment on the train, Steve crossed the coupling first before entering the next car. As soon as he, did the doors between the two Brooklyn friends shut, separating Bucky and Steve. Steve was worried as Hydra soldiers came in and forced Bucky into a fire fight, having the sergeant take cover behind the crates for protection from the enemy gunfire.
A whirling humming sound went off behind Steve. He turned around to see a heavily armored Hydra soldier with a contraption that had barrels connected to his arm by metal rings that had triggers.
Wanting to get this done quickly so that he could go on to help Bucky, Steve fired his pistol at the heavily armored soldier. Whether the bullets missed him or not, the Soldier kept his two arm cannons on the captain and fired twice, forcing Steve to hide behind some of the crates.
"Stop him! Fire again!" A voice, belonging to none other than Steve's target, Dr. Armin Zola, said from the train's PA system.
The soldier obeyed and he fired, causing Steve to hide behind his Vibranium shield. The soldier shot at Steve for a second time, sending the captain's shield across the hall. Just as it looked like Hydra would've won, Cole appeared, using his daggers to absorb the shot. To their surprise, the daggers were able to absorb the energy of the blast effortlessly, even making them stronger. Cole then ran up and slashed at the Hydra soldier with his daggers, giving Steve time to retrieve his shield. The soldier used the metal rings on his arms to block the attacks, but the weight of the device on him made him too slow to evade. One spin kick forced the soldier away. Before he could fire, he noticed the young man with the large rim hat smiling before disappearing. Steve jumped onto and rode a crane of sorts that was attached to the top of the compartment. The shield absorbed the shot and he kicked the soldier down and slammed his shield carrying fist into his face, knocking the soldier out, with a broken nose and some serious fractures. Cole was seen standing across from Steve, at the unconscious man's right. The spirit said, "Hurry!"
Steve picked up the unconscious soldier's arm and used the cannon like weapon to blast the door open. Picking up his shield, Steve hurried, with Cole, to help Bucky. Steve looked through the compartment's window to see Bucky behind crates, down to his side arm, which was empty. Cole wanted to use his power to appear behind the Hydra Soldier and finish him off, but Steve had another idea. Signaling for Cole to wait and hide behind the other side of the door's wall, Steve pulled out his own pistol and, pressing his back to the wall, slammed his fist to the button that opened the door.
Bucky looked up to see Steve gesturing that he was going to give his friend his own pistol, Bucky nodded and waited. It was done, perfectly. Cole watched as Steve tossed Bucky his gun; Bucky dropped his own, catching Steve's. The super soldier then ran at the rack, slamming his shield into a crate, sending it flying towards the Hydra soldier who got out of the way, only to find Bucky standing there waiting for him.
Seeing the Hydra soldier come out of his hiding spot, Bucky took quick aim and fired, killing the soldier. Cole approached as did Bucky, walking to Steve as the brunette said to his best friend, "I had him on the ropes."
"We know you did." Steve said, acknowledging his friend's silent thanks.
The soldier with the double cannon stood right back up, even though he was injured enough to be out for a month. They watched as the soldier began to become ignited in an unnatural display of fire, making his appearance seem less human and more monstrous. The soldier moved like a puppet, raised its arms, and a combination of energy and flames shot out. Steve, noticing this, sped over to protect his two friends, "GET DOWN!"
The blast from the burning soldier was powerful enough to cause Steve to fall backwards. Cole was forced away from him, hitting a wall, while Bucky was slammed into the opposite wall.
"NoW tO bUrN tHe CaPtAiN aNd ThAt ThInG fOr My MaStEr." The soldier said, his voice more distorted and angry than anyone had ever heard before.
Dr. Zola, who had been watching all this, commented, "What is zat?"
He saw the creature that Schmidt had called a "Demon"; but being a man of science, Zola didn't believe that the lava looking creature was indeed a demon until he witnessed what was happening to the heavy armored soldier.
"Fire again! Kill him, Now!" Zola ordered from somewhere on the train, conveying his orders through the PA system.
The Soldier roared, "I dOn'T tAkE oRdErS fRoM cOwArDs LiKe YoU, hUmAn!"
Cole got up and sensed what was in the soldier, "Fires burning, aching, everything must burn. It's so hot, want to burn everything. Kill the Captain. Kill the thing. They're thorns in my master's side, will burn everything."
"Huh?" Bucky asked, noticing the soldier ready to fire again.
"That's not the Hydra soldier anymore. It's a demon!" Cole cried out as he grabbed his daggers and rushed to engage the demon. But the power of both the energy and flames made it impossible for Cole to get too close; he had to teleport next to Steve, covering him by blocking with his daggers.
Bucky picked himself up and, holding on to Steve's shield, began firing his remaining bullets at the burning soldier. They seemed to have absolutely no effect on him at all. The soldier however howled, enraged, and snarled, "YoU iNsEcT! I'lL bUrN tHe MaRrOw FrOm YoUr BoNeS!"
A shot from the demon-possessed soldier bounced off the shield. This sent Bucky flying out of the hole in the train cart they were in, but he managed to hold on to one of the railings of the blown open wall for dear life.
Thinking quickly, Cole and the Captain, got up. While Steve threw his shield at the Abomination, Cole appeared behind it and ran his daggers through the creature's back. A second before each attack landed, the fires stopped and the body went limp for some reason.
After seeing that the soldier was down for good this time, both Steve and Cole hurried to the hole in the side of the Train. Steve cried out, "Bucky!"
"Hang on!" Steve told his friend and went to climb after him.
Cole looked towards Steve and Bucky, knowing that the railing Bucky was hanging on to was going to break. Cole said to the captain, "Catch me."
He then appeared between them. Steve grabbed onto Cole's hand as the spirit reached for Bucky. However, to both of their horror, they saw Bucky lose his grip and fall to the cold icy depths below.
"No!" Steve cried, saddened at being unable to save his friend. Cole too was saddened by his inability to save Bucky; but he could sense that Bucky's thoughts were on his dear best friend.
Both were filled with remorse at not being able to save one of their own. Gabe, however, was successful in getting to Zola and arrested him.
Steve and Cole stood over the corpse of the Hydra soldier that had attacked them. Steve, his voice still cracked, uttered, "I-is it dead?"
"No… the demon escaped before we could kill it." Cole said looking back at Steve Rogers.
"I'm sorry that I was unable to catch Bucky in time… but he was thinking of keeping you safe all the while. How he's always with you at the End of the Line." Cole said and placed a comforting hand on Steve's shoulder.
"Thanks Cole…" Steve said. Even though Cole's words helped, the super soldier continued to blame and hold himself responsible.
Cole, however, was concerned; demons and spirits never left a host on their own accord. Could this world have something that allowed the Rage demon to exit before the host was killed or could it be that Hydra had experimented with this particular demon before it attacked them? If so what could it be?
Back at Hydra's secret base, the Rage demon appeared and growled, "WhY dId YoU cAlL mE bAcK?! I hAd ThEm!"
"I called you back, Rage, because I want a report on Dr. Zola. Has he been captured?" The Red Skull asked, glaring at the demon as it calmed down enough to remember its place. Since they first met, Schmidt had learned everything about the demon, including the world it came from, especially its weapons and other kinds of demons similar to it.
"YeS…" The Demon replied, "BuT I WaS aBlE tO gEt RiD oF aT lEaSt ONE oF tHe CaPtIaN's FrIeNdS."
"Not what I expected from a creature from the same world as the American's puppy, but it's a start." Schmidt said. Anger burnt inside him at the thought that the Captain and the young man named Cole were still alive. Even though the insult of Schmidt's words stung the demon, it was able to feed on more of the Red Skull's unusually powerful rage.
"WhAt ArE yOu GoInG tO dO aBoUt ZoLa? He KnOwS aBoUt ThE pLaN! He'Ll BeTrAy YoU!" The Demon asked, following his master out of his office and down the corridor. The Hydra soldiers that weren't used to the demon's presence stared, but quickly looked away, as they did not want to incur the wrath of their leader's ally.
"I've known Dr. Zola for some time." Schmidt said, "He knows that anything that happens now will not change the outcome of the plan. And if he does talk, it just means that I will need to remove him when I initiate the plan."
Before the demon could speak up, he sensed how angry it would be for Zola to talk. However, he realized that he had focus on completing the final stages of his plans. The demon bowed and slid away somewhere, waiting, waiting for its prey to return. Even though the demon hated waiting, what it hated more was when its prey escaped.
(So what did you think? Did anyone actually think I wasn't going to add a Demon from Cole's world in this? Does anyone like how I had the demon's speech looked in novalized format. Just what do you think is Schmidt's plan? What fate awaits Zola after what happened to Bucky? Find out in the thrilling conclusion of this adventure in the Final Assault: beginning anew.)
