Chapter 3 – Untouchable Mind
Once Bucky and I were strapped in two different chairs, I was told to go into Bucky's mind and imprint some words that would control him.
"What?" I asked, I felt Bucky's fear –or maybe it was my own- it didn't matter.
"We need to be able to control our new asset" Zola told me.
"You can't take away his free-will, I won't let you" I yelled, my hands were in fists as I began to fight the restraints.
"Then we won't give you a choice" Zola smiled. It was then that I noticed the machine that was behind my head and a replica was behind Bucky. "We will wipe you both." I screamed as electricity pulsed through my head and when it stopped, I realised Bucky hadn't been put through it yet.
"Soldier?" Zola asked, referring to me. Should I pretend? Should I fight? "Who is this man?" I looked to Bucky and felt his love.
"James Buchanan Barnes, born March 10 1917" I said then looked to Zola. Bucky smiled in relief. "I'll never forget him" I told them and Zola frowned.
"You're immune, that's a problem" Zola mumbled and I held my breath, waiting for his next move. "That makes you a liability, we will have to wipe Barnes ourselves."
"No, they're what make him who he is" I yelled.
"If you don't wipe him, then we will."
"I don't know how" I admitted and Zola walked towards Bucky. "Wait! Stop! I'll try" I said and Zola turned back to me. Bucky was looking at me in shock, I understood why; I was offering to aid the people hurting us in taking his memories from him. Zola backed away from me and I realised I'd pushed my fear on him.
"You're already getting stronger" Zola noted.
"Lanie, I love you" Bucky said and I felt his acceptance. I wasn't ready to do this, I couldn't lose him again. Maybe I could pretend to wipe his memories and just tell him what I was planning. Could my powers do that? Could I force a thought to him? I had to try.
'I believe in you Lanie-bug' he thought with a smile.
"I love you too Bucky-bear" I said aloud with tears forming in my eyes. What would happen if I went through his mind? Could I alter his memories? Was I really prepared to take away memories of him with Steve? Or him with his sister? His parents? Me? I took a deep breath and focussed on Bucky's mind. Flashes began of Bucky playing catch with his Dad, a family dinner, then him holding his sister when she'd been bullied, him protecting Steve from a bully outside the theatre, and Bucky and I kissing after our double-date. I snapped back from his mind and refocussed my eyes to reality.
"Did it work?" A guard asked.
'Pretend' I tried to send to Bucky. I prayed it worked.
"Soldier?" Zola asked.
"Yes" Bucky said.
"What is your name?" Bucky looked at me, then at Zola.
"Sergeant James Barnes" he smiled. "She won't take my memories."
"If she won't, then we will" Zola said and nodded to the doctor. Bucky and I were both afraid as the machine came to life and Bucky screamed. I felt the pain as if it were me in the machine again, then he stilled and the machine stopped.
"Soldier?" Zola asked. My eyes stayed on Bucky as his eyes opened again and he looked to the mad scientist.
"Ready to comply." It felt like my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I reached out mentally but there was no thoughts, no emotions, just nothingness. Bucky was gone.
"No" I cried out, fighting my restraints. "Zola, I will kill you for this" I screamed. The man once known as Bucky Barnes just stared at me as I cried and yelled my threats at the man who took Bucky from me.
"Shut her up" Zola ordered Bucky as his restraints were taken off. Bucky walked towards me and then did something he never would have done. He punched my jaw, knocking me unconscious.