Steve felt the plane take off as he put his hand on the wall of the plane to keep from falling over as it ascended. He scanned the room and noticed that no more guards were heading toward them at least for now. He started to move when the plane leveled off and started looking around the cargo hold that they were in. "Well at least most of the attack has been stopped for sure", said Bucky starting to head off toward the door to get to the Red Skull.
Steve stopped and looked at some of the large containers "Wait" he said forcing Bucky to turn and look at him. He pulled off the cover and discovered that the containers were for fuel. The room was filled to the brim with the containers "If these all have fuel in them the Red Skull could fly around in this thing indefinitely meaning that he can go until he runs out of ordinance" realized Steve looking at Bucky with determination. "If we don't stop him right now. He can still complete at least most of his attack."
The Red Skull put the plane on its auto pilot function that Zola had created for the plane and moved around the large cock pit of the plane. It was originally meant to be manned by a dozen Hydra troops but could be operated by one if necessary. The pilot's chair in the front with consoles and walkways throughout the room that all could basically run by itself. He stood dead center awaiting the arrival of Captain America. There would be no more games and no more waiting, it was time to end him.
Steve and Bucky moved quickly coming to a large opening in the center of the plane "What's in here?" said Bucky aloud. Steve looked down and could see the bombs stacked on top of each other just waiting to be dropped to the ground below.
"It's where the bombs are supposed to drop from" said Steve looking around for some kind of way to damage the doors.
Bucky grabbed Steve's shoulder "Go get the Red Skull, stop him and we don't have to worry about the bomb bay doors opening. I'll stay here and see if I can keep them from opening just in case he tries something."
Steve sighed, splitting up gave them the best chance to keep the attack from happening. Steve nodded and put his hand on Bucky's shoulder "See if you can find any parachutes I don't know if we can land this thing so we might have to put the plane in the water and parachutes would be a huge help for us."
Bucky nodded "Make sure he pays for what he's done."
Steve turned and continued his way to the bridge where he knew the Red Skull would be waiting for him. The plane was long full of dark corridors, the walls lined with the energy weapons. The plane was clearly meant for more than just an attack, the fuel and weapons was leading Steve to think the plane was going to be some kind headquarters for Hydra. He looked forward and could see a metal door, this was going to be where the Red skull would be waiting for him. He pulled his shield from his back and took a deep breath.
He opened the door and entered slowly scanning the room for the Red Skull, it didn't take long with him standing in plain sight near a console. "Took you long enough to get here" Red Skull remarked hitting a few buttons on the console before turning to face Steve.
"Sorry to keep you waiting" replied Steve prompting a small grin from the Red Skull. The two approached each other slowly neither wanting to make the first move, "It's over Skull. Your plan has failed and Hydra is finished."
"Oh Captain, haven't you heard? Cut off one head and two more shall take its place. Hydra will always be here Captain, but that is irrelevant because I'm not going anywhere. My plan will still work, I'll kill you and still begin the attack on the rest of the planet." Red Skull lunged forward throwing a punch that just missed Steve's head. Steve moved quickly, delivering a few shots to Red Skull's ribs. The strikes didn't keep the Red Skull from continuing to attack him, Steve was getting rocked by the Red Skull's strikes. He started using his shield to block the Red Skulls attacks but tripped when he ended up going down a set of stairs as he backed up dropping his shield. As he fell, he rolled on his back and was able to get himself back up in time as Skull launched himself at him. Steve was just able to avoid him and deliver a right hook right to the Red Skull's chin.
Bucky searched all over the cargo hold for parachutes but saw nothing, Hydra was clearly not planning on escaping if the plane started to go down. He managed to jam some piping into the gears that would open the bomb bay doors but no go on any possible escape meaning they were going to have to land the plane somehow when it came to it.
Steve kept moving as the Red Skull threw punches waiting for his chance to counter him, the Red Skull swung high which Steve ducked and then flipped him over his back. The Red Skull rolled away from Steve towards the door and stood up. "You move pretty well despite the leather outfit" remarked Steve putting his fists up.
"You can't win Captain. You can't do what it takes to win this fight. That is why you are weak and why Hydra will always win" Red Skull said as he backed up just in front of the door. Steve charged and found himself in the Red Skull's grasp. The Skull then brought Steve forward and pulled him back quickly driving Steve and himself through the door into the hall that had the weapons and equipment in it.
Steve got up quickly but not before the Red Skull was already kicking him towards the bomb bay. Steve managed to brush off the next few strikes but the Red Skull was fast, delivering blow after blow to Steve's midsection. Steve kicked at the Skull's right knee causing him to fall to one knee allowing Steve to bring his own knee up and catch Red Skull on the chin causing him to fall back. Steve moved to continue the assault but was met with a gun but to his face causing him to fall backwards through the door into the bomb bay. The Red Skull looked at the rifle he had used to hit him with and saw that the gun had broken when he hit Steve. He threw the gun to the floor and grabbed a pistol from the wall and followed Steve into the bomb bay.
Steve stood quickly enough to see the gun and kicked the gun out of the Red Skull's hand, the Red Skull threw himself into Steve sending him over the rail of the catwalk causing him to fall in between the bombs. The Red Skull laughed and picked up the pistol from the floor. "Don't you see Captain? Hydra always wins." The Red Skull hit the button to manually open the bomb bay doors only to have the pipe that Bucky stuck in the gears, the Red Skull sighed in frustration and climbed down to clear the gears. Red Skull reached for the pipe only to have Steve come from behind and kick the Skull into the wall, Steve then followed up with a fist to the Red Skull's temple. The Skull drove his elbow into Steve's stomach and then head-butted him causing Steve to groggily lean backwards. The Red Skull then reached for pipe, pulled it free and brought it back to catch Steve on the side of his head.
The bomb bay doors opened and a siren blared throughout the plane, Bucky turned to look at the lights "That's not good" he said running towards the door. While Steve attempted to recover the Red Skull climbed up the bombs and got back to the catwalk and turned back to look back at Steve.
"Hydra will live forever" he said raising his gun at Steve.
Steve pulled himself to a standing position and looked at the Red Skull in the eyes "And I'll always be here to stop them."
The Red Skull grinned "Farewell Captain America."
Before Bucky knew what was happening he was charging at the Red Skull, tackling him, and then he felt air and metal as he and the Skull bounced off of the bombs and were falling through the air. He opened his eyes in time to see the water below and then nothing.
Steve was in shock, Bucky was gone. His breathing quickened, his heart felt like it was going to stop right then and there. The sirens soon brought him back to reality, there wasn't any time to mourn Bucky, he needed to stop the plane and he needed to do it right now. He climbed back up and closed the bomb bay doors and headed back to the bridge. He picked up his shield sticking it on his back and then climbed into the pilot seat. He looked around noting that all of the buttons were in German. He scanned the horizon and realized that no land was in sight yet and since he couldn't read German it only left him one option. He sighed, his mind flashed to Peggy and the others, his heart already in shambles after Bucky broke a little bit more. Steve closed his eyes and breathed deeply a few times before opening his eyes with determination. He piloted the plane down towards the freezing waters below taking one last breath before hit the surface.