And here's the new chapter of the new series. I just wanted to add, I won't be able to update for the next one, maybe two weeks - school is keeping me in study hell and I need to focus on that, sorry...
I hope you all kinda enjoy this arc - I've been trying to make it work for a while.
You know the drill - read, review and enjoy ^^
Chapter 15 First mission (New Command)
"Dernier, get the charges ready! We're going to blow this thing sky-high!" Steve ordered, blocking the rain of bullets that were aimed at the Frenchman.
"Oui! Right away!" Jacques nodded and made his way to a safer location, getting his things and preparing the said bomb. He was one of the few demolitionists who could make a bomb out of literally anything.
"Dugan, keep them at arm's length! They do not break this line!" Cap added, throwing the shield and knocking away three of the approaching enemies.
"As you say Cap!" Timothy answered, grinning as he released his hail of bullets.
"Good! We need to keep them here as long as we-!" he stopped mid-sentence when he heard calls from behind. There was no way to turn around fast enough, even from him, as there were three moving directly in front of him.
But before he could even properly comprehend what to do, the men from behind dropped, bullets in various places as they twisted in pain.
"Thanks Buck!" he called over his shoulder, not even looking at who shot them.
"Close Cap!" at the not-Bucky-voice, he turned, shocked to see Morita with a smirk on his face.
"Jim!" he called, looking for his best friend.
"He's not here! The Brigadier took him along further down!" the medic explained, shooting a few more of the enemy soldiers.
"…I see…" Rogers muttered, not really liking the idea, but didn't have any choice in the matter.
"All set here!" Dernier called, looking up from his cover.
"No go just yet! We got two more inside the base! We'll need to wait for them!"
"We lost their signal," Jones said, working around the transmitter.
"Then we better make sure no one gets in or out," Falsworth swallowed, looking at the entrance, wondering if the others are alright.
"Do you really think this was a good idea?" Gabe asked, looking up.
"…Brigadier Ronald is with the tactics division – I am sure he has though this plan through," the Brit couldn't deny the face he didn't like the idea of not being the man with the plan.
"Yeah well, he doesn't know us like you do…"
"Have some faith in them Jones. They can think on their feet."
"…Sir, what are we doing here?" Barnes asked, his whole body tense as they kept moving deeper and deeper into the base.
"We're looking for some place. It's supposed to hold the locations of other HYDRA bases near here," Edward explained, keeping his weapon steady as they walked.
"Why? Is something the matter Sargent Barnes?" only his eyes went over his shoulder.
Bucky licked his lips and swallowed. He was starting to panic again. Being a base like this, alone? And every time someone says 'Sargent Barnes' it just reminds him of Zola.
"I don't like tight spaces," he lied, tensing even more.
"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe. I promise," Ronald smiled before they arrived at a light source.
"…Why didn't we know we'd be looking for this?" he decided to continue the conversation.
"So the others could focus on their part. The less they know, the better," Ronald explained, stepping towards the light and slowly lowering his gun.
"…What is this…?" came from James as he followed the man, face filled with horror.
"Castle, have you seen the Commandos?" Cater asked, seeing the man walking around.
"I think they left on a mission a while ago. Had this new guy bossing them around. Why?" he looked at her with curiosity.
"Stark wants them in the lab for some new 'toys'," she lied, a smile on her face.
"Ah, that again… I just hope they don't blow anything up…" Leo sighed but laughed soon after.
"Yes well, I doubt they would change that up."
"…Have you been working out?" he only now noticed her fitter form.
"Oh, no not really. Just a few stretches," and by that she means she spars with Barnes every chance they had. Not only because they want to be better, but because they bond and in a way relax. Also, James always has some fun things to tell.
"Where are they?" Steve growled, getting annoyed by the waiting. It's been over half an hour since they entered the base and Bucky and Ronald went on their own.
"I'm sure they're fine," Jim tired assuring everyone, but he himself was worried.
"Well, we better look for them. We're not getting any further here!" Dugan yelled over the gunfire, ducking behind a wall.
"What about this?" Dernier motioned to the bomb, unsure what to do.
"…Save it! We're pulling back and going to look for them!" Cap ordered as they started heading back into the hall.
"Captain!" the soldiers froze in their steps, seeing Edward carry Barnes over his shoulder, panic and fear in his eyes.
"What happened?" Steve moved faster than the speed of light, already removing his best friend, breathes rapid as he feared the worst.
"I'm not sure, but he just collapsed!" Ronald explained, helping with moving the sniper.
"Jim!" before Rogers even had to yell, Morita was by their side, checking the fallen soldier.
"Out cold, but no wounds. Panic attack?" he looked towards the superior officer.
"Apparently. I am sorry, I had no idea-!" the man bit his lip.
"Cap, we better move! The enemy is closing in!" Dugan called over his shoulder.
"Right!" without hesitation, Captain America picked up James, one of his arms around his neck while he carried him in his arms.
"Take the shield!" he almost ordered, not really thinking, as Edward took hold of the object.
"Jacques, let it rip!" Morita nodded to the older man, who set up the bomb after everyone was far enough away and ran after them.
"I see them!" Monty called, before opening his eyes wide. "Barnes!" rushing to the Captain's side, he helped him move the sniper as the others rushed outside and the base blew up.
"Got you!" Ronald moved with the shield still raised and protected the nearest soldiers from the rubble and mass of earth as it fell from the sky.
"Bucky? Bucky!" Steve didn't care, just wanted his friend to wake up.
"What happened?" Jones was already calling for extraction as Falsworth asked, kneeling down.
"I don't know!" Rogers was frustrated – understandably so.
"He said he didn't like tight spaces – we arrived at a laboratory and then he passed out," the Brigadier explained, standing above them.
"Well, like I said – can't tell any wounds so he likely had a panic attack," the medic checked again and was relived to find nothing.
"Laboratory? Why were you there?" the Super Soldier had fire in his eyes. All the Howlers knew better than to drag Barnes into any kind of lab – especially a HYDRA one!
"Captain!" Falsworth grabbed him by the shoulder, trying to calm him.
"It's alright. I admit, this one is on me. I am sorry," Edward lowered his head, eyes falling on Barnes.
"I was under second orders – retrieve information from the laboratory," he explained, all eyes on him, silently betrayed and shocked.
"You should have told us," Dum Dum frowned, hands crossed over his chest.
"Did you at least get what you wanted to know?" Gabe looked from the sniper to the superior.
"Sadly no. The equipment broke down before I had a chance to do so," a look of shame came over his face as he closed his eyes.
"…Sir," Rogers still had clenched teeth as he spoke, but seemed a bit more calm.
"If you are going to lead this team, especially in field mission, you need to understand the members. That's how it works – on trust, knowledge and faith," he turned to the superior, not at all afraid of what might happen.
"Understood Captain," Edward nodded, before his head went to the left. "I hear our extraction," and right he was, as within the next minutes, Jason Keel arrived, tuck already at the ready.
"You called? Everything alright?" he asked as he saw the soldiers pick up an unconscious man and set him in the back, before boarding themselves.
"We're not sure yet…" Gabe answered, letting out a sigh as they started to ride away. It was all silent as everyone thought about what happened not twenty minutes ago. Things were about to change it seemed, and none of them were used to it.
Barnes was carried back to the barrack and set on his bed. The best thing for him right now, was rest. And he wasn't he only one. Everyone was tired from what happened.
"Today was interesting…" Jacques shook his head, washing his face.
"It was awful," Steve sat on the bed next to where Bucky was, apparently waiting for him to wake up.
"We did destroy a HYDRA base," Jones added, covering his mouth as he yawned.
"But at what price? Jimmy's out cold!" Dugan frowned, drowning a glass of whiskey.
"It was a first time mission with a new commanding officer. Things are partly expected to go off plan," Falsworth tried to keep everyone calm.
"Yeah, but still, I should have gone with them to the lab," Morita sighed, rubbing his face.
"I don't like it… we were too scattered…" Cap said more to himself than to the others.
"…Give him a shot Steve. We're not exactly the easiest team to work with," Monty set a hand on his shoulder, looking over at Bucky.
"You should get some rest," he added, holding his hand there a bit longer, before moving away and setting himself up for some sleep.
"Right sleep…" Steve was tired, but he didn't want to say that. He blamed himself for what happened, for not explaining things to their superior before, for not taking charge…
"C'mon Cap, he'll still be there when you wake up," Timothy called, already under the covers. He and Falsworth were the only ones still awake, besides Rogers.
"Yeah, you're right," with a heavy sign, Steve stood up and got changed, before going to bed himself. And although it took him a bit before he actually fell asleep, he found it welcoming.
"Hmm…" Peggy was looking over some files she managed to get her hands on. Since the boys were gone on the mission, she couldn't really tag along. And now they were sleeping. The best she could do, was try and get some more information on… well everything.
"Edward Ronald…" she whispered, looking over his file, and there wasn't anything of particular interest. At least, not until the end.
"Captured on May 12th 1941 in Germany during a HYDRA ambush… only survivor, found wandering outside the facility…" her brow furrowed in confusion. Why hasn't she or anyone else for that matter, ever heard of anything like this?
"Agent Carter?" at the sound of a man's voice, she quickly closed the flies and looked up.
"…Sir?" she didn't recognize the man as he looked a bit confused.
"Brigadier Ronald of the Howling Commandos. I heard you were an 'official member?'" he introduced himself, a small smile on his lips.
"Yes well, the men declared me that. I wouldn't really call it official," she smiled weakly back, recalling the memory and how ridiculous it was.
"Ah, good, that makes it all the easier to ask you to not go along on these mission," he sighed in relief and saw the woman blink in confusion.
"I'm not Phillips and I don't approve of untrained soldiers on high-risk mission. Hope you can understand. Have a good night," and without another word, the man turned, leaving the stunned Carter to take in what was just said.
CUT! Was that a bad time to end? I'm never sure anymore...
But yeah, things are changing for them, for better or worse. What do you think?
Anyway, I do hope you enjoyed and if you did, feel free to review!
Till next time~