"Dr. Mallory Smith."
"Voice recognized." A pause. "Retinal scan complete. Hello, Dr Smith."
Mallory smiled at the automated voice and watched as the small light above the door turned from red to green. With another small smile shot at the two guards, who this time actually smiled back after many blank stares, she entered the cold, tiled laboratory.
"Hey, you." She said, as the man held within the coffin came into view. She swiped her hand up the glass interface and read his vitals. "Let's see how you are, huh?"
It was strange getting used to her new job but more quickly than she anticipated, Mallory's life quickly fell back into a routine. She'd wake up at nine, get dressed and ready then call for the armored car from her phone. The car would squeal at her front door ten minutes after the call, complete with guards who escorted her to work. She'd enter the building at about half ten and run tests on the Soldier. Although she stayed there for four hours, it felt like longer. The tests took little more than an hour to run at most, and any minor issues could be solved within the second hour. However she couldn't leave the lab until two o'clock so she passed the time by running and rerunning tests on the Soldier for diseases and mishaps or reading a book she sometimes brought with her. Her mobile got zero signal in the underground base.
At the end of her first week, Mallory began to think a human could go insane from boredom. Her training had began and ended on her first day by a bored looking technician named David. Younger than her, David talked fast and was a tech prodigy who'd attended MIT. He showed her how to work the machines – and Pierce was right about their simplicity – and ran through protocols of what to do in the event of a bug infecting her work files, or maybe the Soldier going crazy and trying to kill her. During this training through her own slight interrogation she learnt David did not know who the Soldier had been, where he had come from and where in fact they worked on a day to day basis. Department X, also referred to as the Bunker, was a secret underground base somewhere in America; nobody knew any more then that. Everybody had signed the injunction and David had whined to her about not being able to complain about his health insurance policy in case "HYDRA's goons come to my house and have me arrested."
David had also assured her of the four different fail safes built into the Bunker in case of infiltration from enemies and even interference from their own government; Level 1 was a minor bug that destroyed only the ultra-secret secrets which could be activated by anybody on site if they believed they were under threat. Level 2 was a major bug that crippled all of the files, even the ordinary day to day activities of the Bunker. Level 3 was a warhead aimed only at her laboratory to destroy all of the Winter Soldier's physical and digital evidence, alongside all of the files. Level 4 took it a step further; the entire base was rigged with explosives and Pierce had the key to set them off. If the Bunker was compromised, Pierce could push the button anywhere at anytime that connected to a wireless router that would automatically give any humans on site two minutes to get free of the blast area. Once the time was up, the bomb would go off and destroy the entire Bunker along with four miles of the American countryside.
"Wait." Mallory had said, unable to wrap her head around it. "You mean this entire place can be destroyed at the push of a button? With all of us inside?"
"Well I'm sure an alarm would go off so maybe some of us could make it out. But all of us, managing to get up top and free of the blast radius? Nah. There's always collateral."
"But that's completely unethical! And illegal-"
David had laughed for a while at that. "Mallory, this is a division of S.H.I.E.L.D even S.H.I.E.L.D doesn't know about. Trust me – if they can keep a secret from those guys, they can blow up this Bunker without even facing charges from a court. But it won't happen unless the fucking government try to shut us down."
Despite the rigged base and the weird technicians who thought these dangerous and illegal fail safes were hilarious, the job wasn't hard. Mallory was generally left alone with the Soldier over her hours; mainly because only herself, Pierce and three technicians had clearance to enter the Soldier's home and because they didn't need to be there when the Soldier was sleeping.
Humming a tune in the silent lab, Mallory swiped the interface so it's monitor was displayed on the big glass screen. Here, twelve boxes were monitoring twelve different vitals in the Soldier's body; breathing patterns, white cell count, brain activity, heartbeats, blood pressure... everything that could be irregular, imbalanced or just generally wrong with a person was displayed on that screen so Mallory could administered the right injections to make it. The Soldier was perfect health-wise. Just in cryo-sleep, far away from this world.
In her spare time, she had read everything her level four clearance would allow her to read on memory wipes and cryo-sleep to better understand it. She made a note in her books to approach Pierce about giving the Soldier more time out of the cryo-sleep; according to the research breaks every now and again were vital. She had seen Pierce only once since the interview, yelling at her father through his office a few days ago. She had decided to stay out of his way and not ask why her father was being scolded. She wasn't even sure why she'd been hired; maybe Pierce was just too lazy to interview someone and he'd asked her father to quickly get someone a job? The work had really nothing to do with medical concerns; she was, in reality, a glorified babysitter. But perhaps it was because he hadn't been woken up yet.
A lot of her time was also devoted to thinking about the Soldier; who was he? Where had he come from? Through the glass box, she could see him quite perfectly. His hair was brown and shoulder length, curling free not unlike her own. His jaw was covered in a rugged, homeless-type beard and his chest was dotted with dark hair, trailing off into the black sweatpants. His physique was perfection, a real Men's Health cover type body, apart from the fact his stomach and chest were a tally pad of different scars. He was pale too; paler than her surprisingly. If his vitals weren't on screen, Mallory would most certainly believe he was ill. The most interesting thing was his left arm was entirely metal, complete red star on the shoulder like a symbolic tattoo; her best guess was it had been amputated due to some injury in the field. He never moved in cryo-sleep and he never stirred uncomfortably, as if his induced dreams were unpleasant. Although sometimes she had noticed his face would very slowly screw up as if he was experiencing pain, then relax again. Accompanied with this exercise was a raised heartbeat, and his breathing would increase.
She wondered if he did dream.
It was a Friday night and Mallory was just finishing up, tying her hair up and getting ready to leave work when suddenly the door clicked open and Pierce marched in. Behind him was a man in a suit, accompanied by an entire harem of twelve suited guards, brandishing rifles and pistols. Jesus...
"Mr Reznak, I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Mallory Smith, the head doctor on the Winter Soldier programme."
"Yes, yes." The surly suited male glanced at her with disgust and spoke in a heavy Middle Eastern accent. She couldn't place it. His English was perfect, however. "I see her. Now wake him up and get on with it."
Pierce shot the man a look which could freeze steel but came over to Mallory and grasped her shoulders. She fought a gasp; his grip was tighter than she'd expected "Dr. Smith, you're going to have cancel any of your plans and stay behind. We need to wake him up."
Excitement swelled in her stomach, forgetting her fear of the man's guards or how tightly Pierce was gripping her. She had been dying for a week to see what the Soldier would be like when he was awake and how he would act. Trying not to grin, Mallory nodded at her boss who finally released her.
"I had no plans anyway." Pierce liked that and grinned at her, only his shark-like eyes were black and Mallory suddenly felt nerves course through her veins to be doing this in front of so many people for the first time. Relax, Mal. Just run the protocol and do it quickly.
"Computer!" She noted the slight tremble in her voice; one of the guards laughed and turned to another, speaking in a language she couldn't understand. Talking about her. Her cheeks flamed. Mr Reznak spat at them both back in the same tongue and they fell silent, holding back smiles of amusement.
The automated voice didn't answer but she heard its whirr of attention. Mallory's heart began to thump and she was glad it wasn't her who's heart-rate was being monitored as they'd most likely find that even funnier.
"Run protocol three-oh-four." She called, her voice clearer and more confident.
A series of clicks followed this statement, alongside the answer of the female voice. "Voice recognized. Protocol three-oh-four in effect."
The glass coffin suddenly began to glow green where his head was. David had talked her through this slowly. The green colour represented the percentage of how much he was waking up from cryo-sleep; when the entire coffin was green, the computer would alert that he was awake. The coffin would open and as David had put it "Dracula will arise and probably ask for something to eat."
"Ten percent complete."
Mr Reznak was impatient, tapping his expensive leather-clad toe on the tiled flooring of the lab. The noise was irritating. Mallory ignored him, her eyes peeled on the green glow enclosing the coffin.
"Twenty percent complete."
One of Reznak's guards sniffed loudly, and another was distracting her by playing with his gun. She shushed them, and both looked at her with surprise.
"Forty percent complete."
That was quick. Hiding a smile beneath her shaking hand, Mallory circled the coffin out of nervousness. Almost protective, she stole a glance at Pierce who nodded at encourgingly.
"Sixty percent complete."
God! Mallory felt like she'd been left with a cliffhanger on a TV show; that utter dread of waiting to be informed. Her stomach rolled with anxiety; how would he be? Hungry? Angry? Confused? She waited on literal tender-hooks.
"Eighty percent complete." The glow had almost reached the end of his body. Then the coffin sprang to life, glowing a harsh green and flashing once. Something clicked and the doors swung outwards, opening up, a hiss and a cloud of mist releasing the air that had been inside the capsule.
"Protocol complete." Mallory approached the open doors, her palms sweating horribly. She eyed the Soldier, who still seemed to be asleep and looked up towards Pierce.
His eyes were filled with a harsh encouragement. Fueled by this, she placed an experimental hand on the Soldier's shoulder; his eyes popped open. A scream never quite formed in her mouth, as he already had her pressed tightly against him, cool metal hand clamped around her mouth, his other arm holding her waist prisoner against him. Reznak's guards had every rifle aimed at them both, and Reznak was being protected behind them.
She had been frightened at the sudden capture but with the close proximity she felt his body shaking against her, his hot and confused breath making contact with her neck. Mallory became calmer than she had been, and decided she could do this herself.
She gently tugged his hands from her mouth. "I am Dr. Smith. I'm not going to hurt you. Please let me go."
He surrendered quickly. The guards put their rifles down, Reznak coming out from behind his guard and the Soldier slumped against the coffin, strength exiting his legs. When she turned, his eyes were bluer then she'd pictured and he seemed to have a face filled with an absolute blank look. A byproduct of the memory wipes, Mallory remembered from the articles she'd read about them. They make you more suggestible to others orders.
"Soldier." Pierce stepped forwards and smiled in camaraderie at the Soldier. "You have a new mission."
"What?" The Soldier spoke slowly, gruffly and as if he was confused. He was talking to Pierce but staring at Mallory, his eyes crinkling in confusion at the new person in the room. If he knew Reznak and his guards were there, he did not acknowledge him.
"I'll brief you on the mission later. Mr Reznak merely wanted to see you up close to be sure you'd be up to it." Pierce turned to Mr Reznak. "Well?"
He spoke critically, sniffing with disgust. "He is skinnier than I pictured, but he will do."
Pierce found this amusing. "That he will. Come, we'll talk in my office about the fiances. Mallory?"
She'd been staring at the Soldier back, but looked up at the sound of her name. "Yes, sir?"
"Have him cleared for action and brought up to my office as soon as possible."
"Yes sir." The guards, Reznak and Pierce filed out together. When the door clicked, she and the Solider were alone in the lab, staring at each other. The Soldier was acting as if she was invading on his territory, a guard dog to this cold lab he called home.
He was still slumped onto the coffin and breathing heavily, his eyes darting around the room as if he was analyzing for threats. Mallory swallowed tightly and launched into the programme that David had told her to do.
"Hi, I'm Dr. Smith. I'll be looking after you from now on. The other woman you remember had to quit due to some stress with her personal life." She drew a breath to strengthen her, then said, "We'll start with the basics. Do you remember your name?"
Mallory waited with bated breath. He spoke quietly. "No."
This was a good answer. If he had, Mallory had been assured he would crack under the pressure and go insane. Any sign that he was remembering his former life, Mallory would have to put him in the jagged machine that resembled a tarantula and have his mind wiped again. She really hoped she didn't have to do that often; the machine looked uncomfortable, painful almost.
"Do you remember your duty?"
Again he spoke no higher then a whisper. "Yes. To serve."
Mallory nodded, throat tight and constricting around her. She turned to pull out the medical examination table and motioned for him to sit on it.
She ran through her examination slowly, to be thorough so Pierce would be impressed with her as she knew he'd probably have cameras in the lab. He responded to each of her commands with no complaint, merely looking at her with blank features and a cool stare. As she tested his reflexes, he responded above what was expected of normal, fit and healthy men. When she tested his speech patterns, his face screwed up horribly and he continued them in a low voice.
She checked his throat, eyes, nose, ears. Mallory got up close and tried not grimace when the Soldier recoiled from her touch. He reminded her of the small children when she worked the graveyard shift in the hospital. Some were frightened of the doctor, and cried when Mallory got up close to check them. Some were just frightened of the pain, and cried and cried and cried even when the pain stopped.
"It will be over quicker if you just let me do my job." Mallory sounded calmer then she was; the Soldier looked at her with his first real emotion which made her glad – even if it was disgust – to know that he was capable of producing emotion, allowed her to continue. Once she was done, she moved on.
"How do you feel?"
He swallowed. "Dizzy. Hungry."
David was right. She hid a smile. "The dizziness is a symptom of cryo-sleep; it'll wear off soon. How hungry?"
He seemed to be used to answering this question because he answered on a scale of numbers. "About a five, maybe a six."
"We'll get you something to eat." Mallory swallowed. "Any pain? Feeling of being sick or wanting to throw up? Fatigued? Or just tired?"
He shook his head to each question in turn. He was a man of few words, she had discovered. Nodding, Mallory recorded this by scribbling a few notes on one of the few clipboards she had found in the cupboards. Most things here were done electronically.
"Computer! Alert Pierce that Dr. Smith has passed the Soldier for clearance to perform in the field."
The Soldier stared at her as she went about her business. Then he spoke so quietly she didn't hear the words, just a low murmur.
"Pardon me?"
The Soldier looked at her almost nervously and looked down at himself. "Usually... I remember the other doctor used to set my clothes out..." His glance flicked towards the cupboards in the corner.
His clothes, she discovered when she went to the cupboard, was in fact his uniform. Thick black leather combat boots were to cover his feet, black combat pants and a black t-shirt. Over the t-shirt would go a black jacket, something that couldn't be worn for anything other then combat as it had a built in bulletproof vest. One side of the jacket was torn off to make room for the Soldier's metal arm. Gun holsters and belts sat alongside it. She guessed he'd make a trip to armory before he left to stock up on his untensils.
Her mind was abuzz with questions none of which she knew would be answered right now. Passing him the gear, she was pleased to learn he had manners as he thanked her quietly. Then he stripped off with no regard for his own privacy in front of her, standing naked as he sorted out his uniform. For a man who spoke so little, he seemed to have no problem making her feel uncomfortable. Mallory turned to give him and herself room, breathing deeply as if she was about to go full-panic mode.
The Soldier dressed himself and coughed as a signal for Mallory to turn back around. The effect was immediate; in cryo-sleep he looked helpless, but suited and booted, he was terrifying. The Winter Soldier. She'd never heard the name before, but she assumed he lived up to his title, cold and efficient like the name suggested. Mallory found her speech caught in her throat and she had to count to three before calming her hysteria down.
"Pierce wants you in his office."
The Soldier merely nodded. Mallory found her mother's teachings of be polite striking her to practically yell after him. "And Soldier?"
He stopped, turned and fixed his cold gaze on her, confusion obvious in his eyes. Mallory found herself struck for a beat, staring into those cool blue eyes. The slight pause was awkward, but she quickly recovered with a softly spoken statement.
"Good luck."
Mallory had been home from work for hours, finishing her Game of Thrones marathon. She hadn't been watching it really; just absorbing the colours and the sights on screen. If anyone was there to quiz her, she'd probably just shrug. Her thoughts lingered back to the Bunker, to Mr Reznak's involvement with the Soldier programme, to the Soldier himself and his whereabouts. Even David and his explanations of the protocols to blow up the Bunker had trashed her normally calm and spotless mind. The week was catching up with her, exhaustion sinking deep in her bones. Her phone buzzed and showed her that her mother was calling her.
Mallory answered glad of the normality in such a strange situation."Hey mom."
"Hi sweetie. I'm just calling to see how you are."
Since Mallory's mother had learnt of her unemployment she had embarrassingly asked every single person in the neighborhood if they had any spare jobs for Mallory. When she learnt that Mallory had been employed a day after being made redundant, her mother was delighted. However when she'd learnt that she couldn't say anything, she'd almost busted a gut.
"What do you mean, you can't say anything about your work? I'm your mother!"
"It's kinda like Dad's job." Mallory had hoped that would suffice but her mother seemed to be content with grilling her for details.
"So you're working for S.H.I.E.L.D? Or are you pretending to work for S.H.I.E.L.D so I won't sign you up for that diner job-"
Oh god. "Mom-"
"- off the highway with Bob and his wife? I mean sweetie, I know you're a doctor and all but taking a waitress job is no slant on your dignity at all-"
"Mom!"
"-and it doesn't really matter as long as you're getting income. I mean when I was your age, granted I wasn't a doctor, but I was working night and day. That's before I met your father of course."
Her mom did this all the time. Mallory loved the woman to her bones, but Christ she got on her nerves sometimes.
"MOM!"
Her mom paused. "What sweetheart?"
Mallory hesitated then just sighed. "I said yeah. Yes I'm working for S.H.I.E.L.D. Tell Bob thanks for the offer, but I'd rather not spend my life on a minimum wage."
Mallory shook her head of the past, and returned to the present to answer her mom's question.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"How's your very mysterious work?" Mallory's mother herself was employed as a full time housewife, dog-sitter, member of the neighborhood watch, patron of the church and generally a full time busybody. If somebody had done something vaguely scandalous like cutting off a neighbours hedges to improve their view, Mallory imagined her mother first on the scene, with a notebook and pen to detail what happened and who said what. Suburban life was dull for Mallory, but Julie had managed to make it exciting for herself.
"It's going great. Very... exciting." She remembered the Soldier's cold glare and his surprise at her wish of luck for him.
"Well that's great, sweetheart. I'm so pleased." She coughed down the phone; Mallory rolled her eyes. "Anyway I also wanted to ask if you were free on Sunday for dinner? We can celebrate your new job."
"Depends what you're making?"
"Mallory Smith, you will attend Sunday dinner with your mother whether I'm making pot roast or roasted ants served with a side of vomit. I barely see you anymore."
Mallory sighed, and found herself saying, "So we're having the roasted ants?"
"Of course we are. It's a delicacy in Washington, didn't you know?" Laughing, her mother moved on to say, "In all seriousness, we're having pot roast. Your father hates ants. Speaking of, I can hear him yelling for me right now."
Domestic bliss. Mallory's mom yelled back at her father over the phone, and Mallory winced to hold it away from her ear.
"Love you honey. See you Sunday."
"Love you Mom."
The phone beeped, and her mother's comforting voice disappeared, leaving her with the thoughts of the Soldier swirling in her head.
A/N: Chapters everywhere! I know it seems a little dull at the moment, but I swear it's gonna pick up soon. Enjoy and let me know what you think!