"You guys get in building and get to her as fast as you can. I don't trust this Stahl. If she has changed persona or whatever the stupid file said they have done to her, she might not want to come with you. If you have to, you'll need to use the shock to knock her out. Just get close enough to make contact. The device will take care of the shock and monitor vital signs. If it comes to that just get her out here as soon as possible. It's a university so if they blow the whistle on us and it will make front page news. Their division is in the basement lower level C. You go through the side door labeled 4 just like we discussed." Said Tony.
Bucky nodded silently. He was nervous. Tony looked to Steve, "If they start shouting words at him you know what to do."
Steve nodded. Tony had given Bucky an cochlear device similar to a hearing aid. When triggered, it would block any external noise so if they tried to reset him with the verbal cues Steve could activate it but they had to be together.
"Think we have it all covered, boys. If you need me, signal me and I'll fly in." said Tony. He patted Bucky's arm. "You owe me two now."
Bucky shook his head as Steve gave Tony a big smile. Steve was glad Tony seemed to be warming up to Bucky.
Ella was left alone in a room. The sedation had worn off. There was no one around her. She easily broke her restraints. Hopping down from the table she was laying on, she peered out the door. She saw no one in the hall outside. She decided to find the soldiers that Stahl had decided to experiment on. She found a stairwell that only led down next to the room she was in. She made her way down. She found a room. She looked inside and saw several men. They seemed to be fine. She tried to open the door but it was locked. She found a small office with a computer. She found the device Tony had given her to activate the fail‐safe for Bucky. She put it on her wrist. She logged on to the computer. They had not removed her from their system probably because they expected her still upstairs unconscious. She found a system that seemed to control the doors. She also found the files from her research. The research she and Stahl had just completed along with the video footage of the soldier Stahl had played for her. She quickly gained access and sent the data off to Stark's underground email. It was an email he used that was untraceable with IP tracking. Next, she opened the doors to the soldiers. She met them as the door opened.
"You need to get out of here." She said.
"Dr. Stahl is helping us." Said the one soldier.
"Just trust me. Something I can't explain and you are better off knowing right now. You need to get out of here now. Find Tony Stark, he will help you." She said.
"But you're his assistant." Said the Solider.
"As I said, it's hard to explain. Just go." She pleaded. She led them to a door. She hit the device on her wrist.
"Ella?" came Tony's voice from the device.
"Tony. Listen. I'm at the university." She said.
"I know. We're here. Bucky & Steve heading to the building now." He said.
"No, stop them. I'm sending some soldiers out the south maintenance tunnel. They will be coming out by the vacant lot." She said. "I also sent you a file to the secure email. It has all the research that was used on these men and what I created with Stahl. You have to help them." She pleaded.
"Ok, you come with them." He said.
"I can't. I need to retrieve some other files from Stahl's office." She said.
"El, now is no time for suicide missions. Where are you?" he asked.
"Get these men and Bucky and Steve out of here now!" she said.
"That kind of spoils the rescue." He said.
"I made my choice." She said.
"We disagree with your choice cause it's stupid." Said Tony. "Bucky's already on his way in. Steve has the guys and is directing them to our location." said Tony.
"No! Stop him!" she said.
"Too late." said Bucky appearing in the tunnel she had just sent the men through. She hurried to the panel next to the door to seal it. He ran at her and grabbed her wrist before she could. She cringed in pain. He released it looking at her.
"What happened?" he asked cradling her wrist.
She looked at him wanting to say so much and knowing there was no time. "Please leave." she pleaded.
"Sure." he said grabbing her other arm and pulling her along.
"No." she said pulling against him. "Bucky, I'm not coming."
"Right, that choice for my freedom in exchange for yours." he said stepping towards her. "They don't get to decide that. Or better yet, this is the result." he said pulling her along again.
"Bucky, stop!" she exclaimed. "Just go! Forget me, alright. You took a chance on me to help you and guess what, this is how it ends."
"I don't think so. And we promised to protect you. So guess what, I am. I'll kill everyone in here because I'm not leaving your side." he said.
"You're not a killer." she said.
"I'll be what I have to if it means saving you. Ella, I've been chasing down who I am for years. I write down anything I remember to try to forget what they made me. I know it sounds cheesy, but when I'm with you, I don't need to write it down. I know who I am with you."
Ella looked in his eyes. The sincerity and genuineness tore at her. She threw her arms around him hugging him tightly. He held her as close as he could without overpowering her. She let go and stood before him. He extended his hand. She knew now what she had to do. She took his hand. They walked through the doorway. He crossed through first. Steve called out to them at the end of the tunnel. Bucky looked at his friend and called back. Ella used the distraction to pull her hand from his and run to the door pad. She hit the switch to close the doors and seal them. Bucky ran back to the door pounding on it. "Ella!" he shouted.
She looked at him with tears streaming down her face and turned to walk back down the hall. Bucky tried to pry at the doors to no avail. Steve ran to his friend as Bucky saw through the glass as Stahl grabbed Ella placing a gun to her temple as he walked her into an elevator. A shot rang out as Bucky saw Ella fall from the elevator into the hall. He pounded screaming at the door. Steve and Bucky tried to pry the door open. Rumlow picked up Ella and disappeared with Stahl into the elevator.
"You guys need out of there now. A shooting has been called in by the university. SWAT will be there in 5 minutes. Since Winter Soldiers been cleared let's not push it. If he's found there I'm not sure I've got legal to touch that." said Tony over their earpieces. "Get Ella and go, now!"
Steve grabbed his friend's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Buck, we have to go." said Steve in shock.
Bucky turned to his friend with tears in his eyes but anger clearly overriding. "Not until I get Ella and kill every one of them." he said continuing to pound the doors. Steve saw his hands becoming raw and bloodied. He knew there was only one option. He hit the switch activating Bucky's fail safe.