Chapter 9

Captain America felt tired. No, not just tired. Exhausted. The legendary soldier felt a bone-bending, mind-numbing exhaustion that ate away at his mind. He hadn't felt that way since before the serum. It was as if every muscle he had had been pushed to its limit and then some, though there was little pain, just a powerful ache.

With a massive effort, the Captain focused on the sounds around him. He could neither open his eyes nor move, but at least he could listen without giving the fact away that he was awake.

There was much beeping, with even more footsteps. Captain America heard voices and concentrated on those, trying to decipher the words. Thanks to his slightly enhanced hearing from the serum, could he pick out the words and fill in any gaps mentally.

"-oldier didn't return to his room."

"Well, find him! I don't want him walking loose in this base. Something might trigger his memories."

"We're searching for him now, sir, but we're having difficult locating him. It appears as if half the cameras in this base are still being repaired after our last failed experiment. That power surge knocked out most of the base and nearly brought us up on SHIELD's radar."

This is not a new location, Captain America thought with surprise. Even so, SHIELD probably won't be finding me any time soon. Looks like it's up to me. But . . .

He tried to move, but still couldn't do anything. His limbs were too heavy, the effort to great.

How many sedatives did they give to me?

Captain America thought about that for a moment. If he could have, he would have smiled.

Probably all of them.

He kept his breathing slow and steady, realizing that it was even slower than usual. If the drugs he'd been forced to take were affecting his breathing, then his escape would be slightly more difficult than he originally thought.

It's fine. I'll think of something.

The captain tried to be positive, but even he was having difficulty coming up with a plausible plan. He could feel that he was still in the chair, and the metal straps hadn't budged. No matter how strong Captain America was, he wasn't breaking solid metal. He'd need the Hulk for that. Or Thor. Or Iron Man.

I thought I was strong seventy years ago, but the heroes now are dwarfing my abilities.

With a mental jolt, Captain America realized that the scientists were still talking, although they had now switched topics. Quickly, he directed his hearing to the voices again.

"You don't get it, do you?" One of the scientists was growling. His voice was deep and somewhat guttural. "If we don't move soon, we will be discovered. I don't care how central this facility is, it's about to be compromised."

"But SHIELD was crippled by our last infiltration," the other scientist replied, his voice much lighter and somehow bright. "There's no way-"

"Listen here, recruit," Guttural hissed in a voice quiet enough to make it difficult for Captain America to hear, "I know you just got here, but you're going to quickly figure out that underestimating SHIELD will only lead to disaster."

"Yeah, right," Bright scoffed. "I may be new, but unlike you I have faith in HYDRA."

"Are you questioning my loyalty? I've been here for far longer than you. Just do as I ordered!"

"Fine." Bright didn't sound too happy, which suited Captain America just fine. A sulking soldier was less likely to pay attention to crucial details in a situation, so that was just another factor that the captain would take advantage of.

If I get out of here before they start their experiments.

Captain America had no doubt that he was going to be experimented on. HYDRA had said so themselves, that they were going to make him into another Winter Soldier.

I will never let that happen. And I'll save the first Winter Soldier while I'm at it. I won't lose Bucky again, not to HYDRA scum. I don't care if I have to drag him out of here or knock him out; I'll do it.

The room had gone quiet, as if everyone had left. The famous soldier did nothing, sensing that he was missing something. Sure enough, he picked up on someone else breathing. Judging from their labored inhales and exhales Captain America guessed that the person had some kind of problem with their lungs.

Whoever the person was, they were walking up to the captain. Their labored breathing sounded as if it was right on top of the man strapped in the chair, and when the man spoke Captain America realized it was the man he had subconsciously dubbed as "Guttural".

"The great Captain America," he wheezed. "How pathetic."

Do they have to lord it over me every time? It always ends badly for the bad guys. Actually, that means that I should just wait. Hopefully, something happens. No, something will happen, and at the last second, too. It always does.

Captain America tried to be confident in his own mind, but even so the idea of having to wait for something to happen that he could use was nerve wracking. The Captain liked to be able to rely on himself in desperate situations, not forces outside of his control.

"You thought you could ruin our plot with SHIELD and not pay the price?" The scientist continued, sounding uncomfortably close.

Well, no, but if the price is listening to you vent your frustrations at me, I can deal with it.

The captain couldn't help the sarcastic thought that popped into his mind. He'd been spending too much time around Falcon and Black Widow, though mostly the former.

"I'm going to find out what makes your self-righteous mind tick, Captain," Guttural continued, "and I'm going to scoop it out and make you a weapon for HYDRA. You're going to join your friend. What was his name? Jim? John?"

James.

"Well, whatever his name was," the scientist said, oblivious to Captain America's rising anger, "you're going to be friends again."

No. Not while in HYDRA.

"May as well start the procedure," Guttural muttered. "I wish you could hear me, Captain America, to know your own demise."

You wish you were the one to be the end of me, but that will never happen. I can guarantee it.

Captain America felt the flame of defiance grow within him. No matter what happened, he would never fight for HYDRA, procedure or no procedure.

Guttural hummed a small tune that Captain America didn't recognize as various other sounds emanated from the machines surrounding the all-American hero.

There was a faint whirring from right next to Captain America's right ear. He could feel movement next to his ear as what was probably a kind of drill inched closer to his head.

Any second now . . .

The drill got closer, enough for the small wind it generated to stir Captain America's hair.

Come on . . .

His nerves stood on end as he felt the drill touch his skin. Instantly, a painful, burning sensation emanated from the drill, but it suddenly stopped.

Painkillers, Captain America realized. However, they wouldn't last long, especially since HYDRA was quite literally drilling into his brain. Sure enough, the pain rapidly escalated.

Whoever is coming, hurry it up!

On cue, a door slammed open. Immediately, the drill pulled out, leaving Captain America somewhat breathless. The sedatives were still making it difficult for him to breathe, even when he was under stress.

I knew it.

"What are you doing here?" Guttural yelled, but he was abruptly cut off by a familiar-sounding thunk.

I recognize that sound. Is that . . . my shield?

The captain had used that defensive device as a throwing weapon more than enough times to have the noise it made when impacting a person ingrained in his memory, and that noise matched what he remembered.

There was a different sound that Captain America identified as Guttural falling to the floor, and then he heard someone walk up to him. For a few tense moments, there was nothing but two people breathing.

Suddenly, Captain America felt something metal brush against his skin by his restraints, and then one by one the bands were ripped off.

Iron Man . . .?

Steve was hoisted up into a sitting position and nearly fell back down, but someone was supporting him.

"Wake up," a rough voice ordered. A very familiar sounding voice . . .

Captain America quickly focused his thoughts. Whoever this was had just saved him, and the least he could do was fight against the sedatives coursing through his system. Distantly, he was aware of a warm trickle of blood coming from his head, but the injury was nothing too serious.

The captain concentrated and slowly forced his eyes to open. Once they were open it became much easier to keep them open, and Captain America squinted against the bright lights as his eyes adjusted. There was a blurry silhouette standing over him, one arm reflecting the light as if it were metal.

I don't believe it.

"Bucky?" Captain America's mouth didn't seem to work right, but the man managed to get the name out while he stared at the other man in front of him.

"Time to go," the Winter Soldier said as a way of replying, completely ignoring what Captain America had said.

I don't believe it . . .

Well, Bucky is back. Kind of. Mostly. Captain America isn't going to die (I may have poked fun at superhero films that always have the hero rescued at the last minute in this chapter), and the Winter Soldier decided that he doesn't like HYDRA much. I wonder how SHIELD is going to take that . . .?

Please please please please please review! I can see that at least 100 people look at each of my chapters (hi, by the way, how's your day going? I hope it's great), yet only one or two take the time to review. If just a few more could make that effort, it would really be appreciated!

-RoR