A/N Let me know what you think, I'd love the feedback.
2016, Romania
I can feel the life flowing back into me.
My body feels incredible stiff and sore. Twitching my fingers, I still only see darkness as I tried to make sense of reality. I know I'm sitting. I know that it's cold. Inhaling a sharp breath, the mask over my face a hissing noise as I breathed. The metal casing of the cryo tube had been raised and the white gas spilled from the machine to evaporate into the air as it crept along the concrete floor.
There's someone here.
I wondered if it was Krupin or Pavlov. I wondered if it might even be the Soldier. Lifting my head as I slouched in the chair, my eye opened to see the blurred figure standing in front of me. It's a man. He's standing at one of the control panels, dressed in unusual clothes. The more my vision began to focus, the more of him I could see. Who is he? Where did he come from?
Squinting from the beaming L.E.D lights above, I saw his eyebrows knit together with a cautious gaze. His hazel eyes analysed me from head to toe "Katya?" he spoke. How does he know my name? I've never met him before. He's not a doctor or a guard. Taking a few steps forward, the man paused "You've been asleep for a very long time"
I wanted to ask how long, but I can't speak with the mask on my face. Shrugging of a bag from his shoulder, he placed it onto the ground before holding up a red book. My eyes narrowed in on the weathered object and my muscles tingled at the site of it. Squirming in the chair, I wanted to escape. Stepping closer, the man flipped through the pages before glancing up at me.
"один" (One) he spoke clearly "красный" (Red)
I can feel the pain of that machine; the one that surged waves of electricity through every inch of my body. My teeth grinded against one another. Memories bombarded me from all around as the man continued to speak the words. Everything rolled over me in one intense rush; all the faces that I've destroyed, all the lives I've changed and all the men that've hurt me. I felt myself being chewed away once peace at a time. I can feel myself losing – disappearing.
"Святилище" (Sanctuary)
The world is gone. It's all faded in the background and I have nothing but a tunnel vision toward that aimed straight toward the man in front of me. Closing the red book, his boots scuffed against the concrete. His eyes are staring right at me as he reached to unhook the mask from my mouth and the restraints from my body.
"Katya?"
"Готов выполнить" (Ready to comply)
2016, Romania
Making their way to a remote location in Romania, Steve, Sam and Bucky all sat in a four-wheel drive as they drove through the dense woods. The man by the name of Zemo had collected all the information he needed to find the Facility, and he's now gotten a good head start since the incident back in Berlin headquarters.
"Are you sure you know where you're going?" asked Sam from the passenger seat.
The car rocked a little side to side from the uneven ground. Far away from civilisation, Bucky had led them to a faraway location where there's nothing but large mountains and uncharted terrain. Hydra certainly knows where to hide their operations, that's for sure.
"I'm positive" Bucky replied with a firm tone. Pointing from the back seat, he directed them to a small faint track that led through the trees. It was practically invisible to anyone who didn't know what they were looking for, but Bucky could remember "There, see that? Follow it. It goes straight to the Facility"
Steve turned the wheel and got onto the covered track "This girl that you're looking for, they've kept her frozen for sixty-three years?" Steve asked curiously "Why didn't they kill her? I didn't think Hydra's the type to hang on to things"
"It's complicated" replied Bucky "I'm not sure what really happened. I was just told the Program was terminated"
"Then how do you know for sure that she's alive?" asked Sam "That she's really here, of all places?"
Bucky looked down at his metal hand, the shiny digits flexing as he squeezed "Because I'm the one that put her there" he admitted with a guilty voice.
The rest of the ride was silent as they continued to follow the track. It took fifteen minutes to get rough the fallen branches and washed out pathway. Eventually arriving at the tunnel entrance of the mountain, Steve pulled up and they all climbed out "Lead the way" spoke Steve with a motion of his hand.
Continuing on foot, they shined their torched into the darkness as they descended the never ending staircase that went even further down into the mountain. The air smelt stale and filled with dust. Sam shivered and rubbed his hands together "Damn it's cold"
With Bucky at the front to guide them, flashes of memory began to flicker into the Soldiers mind as he walked the narrow and straight hallway. It's nothing how it used to be. He remembered bright lights to lighten up the placed, and an array of scientist and guards. Now it's nothing but abandoned and silent. A tomb.
Stopping at the large metal door, they could all see that it'd already been opened. As suspected, Zemo had already been here. Still being cautious, Sam drew his gun as they entered single filed into the room. Flickering the lights back on, Bucky's eyes landed on the now empty cryo tube "She's gone"
2016, Germany
The massive place is grounded with swarms of people. They all rushed to get their flight terminals or make their way of the building. I've never seen so many, and all in one place. Things are much different now. The world is bigger and advanced than what it was. It was hard to believe at first. The man who'd taken me from the Facility had introduced himself as Zemo, nothing else. In a few minutes he'll be boarding a plane in order to get to Siberia.
"Take this" he said while holding out a card and key "Fifth Avenue, room twenty-one. Everything you need will be there" taking the things from his hands, I nodded my head and Zemo picked up his luggage "When you're done, you know where to find me" he gave me one final look before a voice called out the boarding off his plane.
Watching him leave, I waited long enough to make sure he'd gotten on the plane before turning and finding my way out of the airport. Stepping outside, the air is cold and fingers rubbed against one enough another in the pockets of my jacket. Proceeding to the location Zemo instructed it was a small and old hotel.
Jogging up the flight of stairs, I walked the corridors before finding the number I needed and unlocking the door with the key. Inside is untouched. The bed is made nice and neat with no other mess. It smelt of lavender. Shuffling through the apartment, I checked the draws and crouched to look under the bed.
Reaching out my hand, I felt the material of a bag. Pulling it toward me, it was black and heavy. Zipping it open, I sifted through to see Zemo had left behind a black tactical suit and a few weapons. At the very bottom are some separate manila files and basic blue prints. It must be wear I'm heading. After Zemo broke me from my prison beneath the mountain, he'd instructed me with a new mission – to kill Sergeant James Barnes.
Pulling out the manila folders, I sat down at the nearby wooden desk and studied the content. There's several profiles; members that work with the organisation S.H.I.E.L.D. My head began to throb as a memory tried to force its way back in. That name sounds familiar, it's resting on the tip of my tongue but I can't quite figure it out. It's frustrating but not important. My focus is the mission at hand, not on things I don't remember.
Keeping myself hidden inside of room twenty-one of the small hotel, a woman came everyday with my meals. I didn't let her see me, but she'd often try to talk to me. I didn't like conversation. It's not something I feel comfortable with. I feel as if I open my mouth, I don't know what might spill out. It's better if I just don't say anything.
Two long days passed since Zemo left for Siberia. It's finally time that I made my way to Leipzig Airport. The target and the others will be going there to board the Quinjet. It's the fastest way to get to Zemo in Siberia, and it's the perfect opportunity to intercept them.
Standing at the highest level of the airport building, I looked down through the large tinted glass windows. They'd had the place evacuated. It's dead silent with not a single person apart for the divided team of the Avengers and a few others. Watching below, Steve Rogers jogged out onto the tarmac but he didn't get too far as he was intercepted by two men in metal suits; James Rhodes and Tony Stark.
Looking down, I glanced at the small scanner on my wrist. There's three dots in the centre tarmac and two on the other side of the building; high level. Zooming out, I found another two signals fast approaching toward my direction. I don't know who they are, but there running fast. I briefly thought that they might have found me, but I thought differently of it. There trying to go around.
Leipzig Airport
"Who the hell is that?" mumbled Tony as he found an extra body count on his scanner "Do you know?" asked Stark to his friend beside him. Shaking his head, Rhodes shrugged "Friday, find out who that is would you?"
Standing in a western stand-off, Rhodes, Stark and Rogers all waited in a poised position as Friday responded "I'm sorry sir, but her facial records don't match with any database" humming to himself, Tony looked at the scanner again and watched as the figure stood waiting in the lobby behind him. The same one Barnes and Wilson are supposedly in.
Steve tapped his inter-com on his left ear "Buck, Sam. Be cautious up ahead"
"Copy that" spoke Wilson as he looked at Barnes as they ran together down the empty lobby "We got company" he announced. Slowing down, the pair came to a stop as they saw a figure clad in black. They stood still and faced toward them, as if they knew they were coming "Who the hell is that?"
Eyeing the figure, Bucky found it to be a young woman on close inspection. He knew who it was the moment he saw her face. The way she stood. The way she looked. It all started coming back to him "That's her"
It's him.
Taking out my gun, I fired a round and the Soldier dodged it with his metal arm; the bullet bouncing off with a small spark. Firing a few more, I watched as metal wings emerged from Falcons suit and he flew to kick me in the stomach. Knocking me back, I landed on the floor with my gun raised as I fired my weapon. The man soared through the air, dodging my assault.
"Don't hurt her" called the Soldier as he looked to Falcon.
"It's kinda hard when she's shooting at me" he defended with a sarcastic tone. Getting up from the ground, Falcon descended from the air to land on his feet; metal wings folding up as he did. My attention turned back to my target, the person that mattered the most.
Taking a few steps toward him, the Soldier didn't move as neared closer. Throwing away the useless gun I raised my leg and kicked him in the ribs, he winced. Throwing an array of punches, the Soldier started to react and defend himself. What did he expect? Stepping to kick him again, he grabbed my foot and yanked me toward him.
Clutching the sides of my face with his cold hands, I used the leverage I had to push my body up to sit on the Soldiers left shoulder. Grabbing the cable from my back pocket, I wrapped it around his necked but he quickly moved his right hand up to keep it from chocking him. I could hear him taking in a sharp breath.
"Katya" he muttered.
When I didn't respond, the Soldier reached up to try and throw me off of him. Pulling the wire tighter, his hand pressed into his throat. Small beads of blood began to weep from the palm of his hand as the wire dug into his flesh. I could feel the Soldiers body struggling beneath me, and then a wave of pain flushed over me.
Feeling my muscles seize as an electrical jolt ran through me, I looked to see Falcon with his arm held up. Using my moment of weakness, the Soldier bent over and flung me to the ground. Landing on the floor with a thud, my body laid limp and splayed out. I watched with tremors as the pair of men began to run from me; the Soldier giving me one last look.
It took several minutes for the pain to disperse enough for me to move again. Sitting up, I used my hands as support as my legs slowly came back to life. Standing up with a shaky breath, I stumbled over to the glass window and watched the fight that was being conducted below. It was a complete battle arena with explosion and crashes sounding everywhere.
Collecting myself, I ran as fast as I could push myself. I need to hurry up or I'll miss him. Whizzing down the corridors, I made it to ground level. They'll be trying to head to the Quinjet soon. Sneaking past the field of debris, I headed toward the large shed that housed the aircraft. Keeping hidden, I waited and watched from behind a large crate.
The whole building seemed to shake as a loud explosion went off, the front half of the shed was caving in until a red mist encompassed the falling entrance. Holding it enough for the two super Soldiers to enter, the background soon came crashing down behind them. I looked to see Natasha Romanoff reveal herself.
It's not time yet. Patience.
Listening from behind the crate, the Black Widow continued to converse with the two men "You're not really giving up, are you?" asked the red head with a solemn tone in her voice.
No one answered and I heard a heavy body fall to the ground. The agent had chosen a side; to let Steve and Bucky go. Moving out from my cover from behind the crate, I was quick to land a kick in the back of the agents leg "Natasha!" called Steve as I knocked the Russian unconscious. She should have seen that coming.
Grabbing the woman's gun, my gaze landed on the crumpled over form of the man in the Black Panther suit. He won't be waking up anytime soon "Katya" spoke the Soldier as he held up his flesh hand.
"This is her?" questioned Steve. He didn't make a move to lower his shield. I pondered for a moment how far he's willing to go to save the man beside him – his friend.
"Look at me" ordered the Soldier "I'm the one you want"
I didn't want to hear his voice. Raising the gun, I fired at the Soldier but the bullet jammed in the chamber. It have Steve enough time to throw his shield and I tumbled to the ground. They both ran toward me. Quickly getting up, I swung a knife at the Soldier. He ducked and I stuck again, the metal of the blade grating over his metal arm.
My head pounded again as another memory tried to surface. It was stronger this time and I lost concentration. The knife fell from my hands as I clutched my head. The men stopped to look at each other with a face of confusion. Flashing in my mind, all I could focus on are the images that began to click in the back of my mind. It's all so familiar. A phantom like pain in my thigh and ribs. I reached down to clutch the places, trying to figure out if it might be real.
The last thing I remembered is Steve raising his shield before bringing it down on my head, rendering me unconscious. From there, I continued to drift through an empty space of darkness. A void. I felt weightless as I floated, but there's a heaviness in my chest that I can't seem to ignore. It's hard to breath. I feel as if I'm being crushed by some invisible force, before the trauma of my body woke me up.
My eyes fluttered open and I turned my head to see that I'm inside of an empty Quinjet. We're not moving, so I could only assume that we're at whatever destination they've taken me to. Reaching a hand to the cut in my forehead, I felt dry blood. My mind is a little hazy, but I know that I need to get moving. I've lost time and I still haven't eliminated the target.
Finding the strength to sit up on the bench I'd been laying down on, I watched as a scratchy blue blanket fall from my body to crumple down onto the floor. Getting up on my two legs, I stepped over to the front of the vessel to look out the windscreen. There's snow, and lots of it. I know where we are – were in Siberia. The place I needed to be.
Sifting around the aircraft, I figured my way around and pressed a button to open up a gun rack. Grabbing a few things that I might need, I lowered the ramp of the Quinjet and headed outside. Following the boot tracks, there's a large metal door that heads inside of an underground complex; the entrance is already jarred open.
Heading into the structure, I followed the snow tracks that had turned into little puddled of water. Navigating my way through, I followed the signs that had been painted in Russian. I could hear the voices of Tony and Steve as I turned the corner. Stepping into the large open room with my gun in hand, I saw Zemo standing behind a protective window in a separate room.
"There she is" he addressed my presence and the others turned, including the Soldier "Just in time"
"Katya" spoke the Soldier.
I aimed my gun toward his direction "Stop" I demanded firmly. I can't handle it. Every time he says my name, it's filled with nothing but guilt. The sound is starting to grind on my nerves. I know what the Soldier did to me. I know that I hadn't forgiven him for one second, and I never will.
Stark stepped forward and gestured to me with his finger "That was you I presume, back in the airport" his helmet had been lowered so I could see his bruised face "Seriously" Stark squinted at me before turning to look at Zemo "She has to be what, sixteen? Seventeen? She's only a child"
"Don't be fooled Stark. Appearances aren't everything" replied Zemo in a calm and collect tone "Isn't that right, Soldat?"
The Soldier didn't answer and instead, he held my gaze "Fight it. I know you can" putting down his gun, he walked toward me until he was but a step away; the end of my gun so close to his chest.
"Bucky, what are you doing?" asked Steve with a hesitant voice.
"It's okay Steve" peering into the Soldiers eyes, I found those familiar steel orbs "Remember" he said and my brain began to pound.
"I remember everything" I retorted. It might not have been all of it, but it was enough "There all dead now. You're the only one left" my muscles tensed as my stance straighten. I was going to do it and end it all "You're my mission"
Grabbing the end of my gun, I pulled the trigger but it'd shot off into the air above. The Soldier knocked my weapon up into my face and I stumbled back. Gasping, I felt the phantom pain in my ribs again. Only this time it's different – it was real. Pulling me into his chest, I gripped the Soldier close as I felt the blade move inside me. My vision began to blur and my legs gave way from under me before I fell to the ground.