"Must have taken a car...", Steve said as he shook his head. "But certainly must have gotten into the country by a plane somehow.", with a frown. "Maybe we can reach them in time before they can escape, come on, Bucky, we need to hurry!", Peggy shouted.
Bucky flickered an ear, indicating that he heard Peggy, and howled as he ran faster, the scent of Susan mixing with the takeaway car scent, taking turns left and right, with the others following him, and under another 10 minutes, they made it to a rural airport, with Bucky stopping in confusion, sniffing around before giving out a snarl as he ran into a bunker, with a scream sounding out.
Steve and Peggy who flamed down, ran into the bunker, to see Bucky snarling and growling, pinning down a man, now in his werewolf form, "You are the driver! Don't deny it! Where's Skorzeny and my niece?!".
The man spoke nothing, glaring at him. Schmidt trained his spies well. Bucky pinned him harder on the ribs, "I know they left in a plane! You drove Skorzeny and my niece here where they left in a small plane!".
The man grunted in pain, spat out in German, 'I ain't telling you anything!', and Bucky growled, "Curse it all...I can't understand German.".
Peggy narrowed her eyes, "Then he will answer to me.", rightfully enraged and upset that their daughter is missing, stolen, kidnapped, taken away from her and Steve. Steve gulped, realizing that her bad side is coming out, and replied, "Buck, tie him up.".
"You got it.", Bucky nodded as he did just that. "Hey, they can't have gotten too far in a plane, maybe Peggy should fly and see...".
"I don't think that'll work.", Steve shook his head. "They could be flying in any direction to misdirect or throw us off the trail.".
Peggy exhaled deeply, "Leave us, boys.", glaring at the spy, and the men heard the furious, steel tone in her voice, nodding in submission, with Bucky gulping softly as they left the plane bunker, closing the doors behind them, "Steve, I gotta tell you...She's in alpha mama wolf mode...My wolf instincts are cowering before her...".
Steve sighed, "She knows her emotions, and she will get the guy to tell.", before hearing muffled screams and shouts, "Eventually...", not even pitying the spy in there. His emotions finally caught up to him as he slides down the wall, yelling and crying.
"Steve...", Bucky sighed as he sat down next to him. He knew he couldn't say that it was alright, Erskine was now dead, and Susan might be dead before they could reach her if they were too late. He just let his brother cry and let out his emotions.
Steve felt so drained yet determined as he's afraid for Susan, yet he needs to find her...He heard Peggy's grievances and emotions as she went all mama wolf on the spy, talking in German and English here and there...
Bucky sighed, "Your gal's really pissed off...I wonder how my gal would do if she was pissed off...". Steve glanced at him in surprise, "You found a gal?".
Bucky looked at him, and chuckled, "Well, yes and no...You know that other day I was in the showers? When you saw my tattoo of a wolf paw?". Steve nodded in confusion, "Yeah...What about it?", surprised at the change of topic yet slightly appreciated it while he's still wringed out about needing to find Susan soon.
"Well, it's not really a tattoo. It's a bit hard to explain but it's related to the Quantonium and all. Apparently, I met the love of my life through it, in my dreams, she's a soul that hasn't even been born. I know, I know, it's insane sounding but just hear me out, Steve.", Bucky said.
Steve looked at him and saw through his brother's eyes that he's absolutely serious, and nodded, "Go on.", and Bucky smiled, "She didn't have a name, so I gave her sort of a name to give her an identity. I called her T. Oh, Steve, she is somehow out of my league, yet she felt so right for me...Flawless pale skin, gorgeous teal eyes, and long dark brown hair which's sort of curly yet straight that goes down past her shoulders...She had a sort of high forehead through her bangs cover it sometimes, her nose is adorable, almost like a narrow button nose. Her lips, so dainty yet thick and soft... She has a dimple on her right side when she smiles at me, like almost how Peggy smiles at you.", leaning his head back on the wall, sighing dreamily, unknowing that Steve is drawing her to his descriptions, with his power off, and he then asked, "Is this what she looked like?".
Bucky looked down, and gasped out in awe, "Oh, god, yes, that's T! I know you can't put color in the sand like this, but that's her...", with a lovesick smile...Steve was amazed to see his brother literally smitten over this gal, "You got it bad...".
"Like you wouldn't believe...", Bucky sighed as he lowered his head. "But I have no idea how or where or when I might even meet her.", he shook his head. "And on top of everything else...".
"It's alright, Bucky, you'll find her someday, I'm sure. The same way we'll find Susan... one way or another.", Steve said.
Bucky gave him a grateful smile, nodding, and he squeezed his shoulder, "We will get her, Steve. We will bring her home back to you and Peggy.", before looking up to listen, hearing far less screams and shouts now from inside the bunker, and then footsteps were heard, getting closer, recognizing Peggy's voice as a door opened, cursing out loud.
Steve stood up quickly, walking over the drawing, getting to her, "Peggy?", and Peggy looked at him with tears swelling in her eyes, "They're taking her to deep German territory...In the Alps...East of Lichstein...But it's 400 ft deep underground and secretly camouflaged...", a sob breaking out as she desperately collapsed in his arms.
Bucky cursed, "It's October, and it's already freezing over there!", getting up, joining them, and Steve narrowed his eyes, "Then we need all the help we can get.", rubbing Peggy's back, kissing her forehead.
Bucky nodded, "You're right...They can see you two coming if you were in your giant forms...We need subtle infiltration.", and Peggy breathed out, "We need to talk to Phillips...".
"Guess we're finally going deep into Germany then.", Steve sighed. "No way we can wait for the front line to get there since the closest troops would be the ones in Italy and they're not going to Innsbruck.", with a sigh. "Yeah, more than likely, we'd have to drop via plane.", Bucky sighed with a nod.
Peggy looked up at her boys, her intended-to-be husband, and her future brother-in-law, "Then let's not waste any more time.", pulling back from Steve's arms, and flamed on, turning into giant size, picking up Steve and Bucky, flying back to Paris, heading straight for the fort-camp where Phillips is.
In record time, after hearing the news of his granddaughter's kidnapping, the murder of Erskine, the report of the whereabouts of Schimdt and Susan, Phillips was more than furious, he was steaming mad and determined, ready to give the trio what they needed, within radio code calls and such, a long-term fueled plane was ready to go.
Many soldiers volunteered to come along, for they have fallen in love with the daughter of the captains, having seen her in mess hall and such, with Howard Stark visiting, he decided to come as well for he was smitten with the cuteness and incredible powers of Susan, and so, Phillips wished them luck.
Operation Mobius, the mission was being called. It was an 'thrown together, sort of rushed' plan for sure, but it was possible for victory and certainly to get many of the troops participating back to friendly lines. Peggy, Steve and Bucky would be the opening attack as they would land where the OSS believed Schmidt's base was as well as the collaborative information from the spy. The trio would take a nearby airfield and allow the rest of the attacking force to land as well as have their escape route back into Italy.
With the notion of being careful, the plane trip took slower as it was usually an hour and 15 minutes which is agonizing for the parents as they can't keep from thinking about what Susan is feeling right now, what she is seeing.
During the trip with the mean men on the small plane, the Quantonium slowly wore the numbing liquid off, and just as Susan thought she could escape, Skorzeny was too fast and too observant, nicking her again just as they landed, throwing her into a Quantonium-proof cage, free of the bag and handkerchief. She tried to make herself small as possible, seeing the sneers, hearing the jeers, feeling scared, confused, upset, while trying to be brave like her parents, like her god daddy, her grappa, and her uncle, glaring back at the sneering faces, closing her ears from the jeers, getting shaken from side to side with the cage moving, wishing that she had her wolf stuffy, her parents, her powers right now.
Finally, far down underground, with Susan shivering, her cage was brought into a big room of huge stuff she couldn't name, seeing people in lab coats like her god daddy and that Stark guy she met a couple of times, and in the center is a weird object that reminds her of a mirror, but she somehow can feel something emanating from it far inside, something that's strangely calling to her.
"Ah, Otto, you have gotten me a gift!", a cool, harsh voice replied as it got closer, and Susan looked up, seeing a scary red face in a skull, recoiling as she cried out in fear and shock, wishing to push him away with a force field, but all the same, she kicked at him, rattling the bars.
"As ordered...", Skorzeny cracked his neck a bit. "Wasn't easy, trying to sneak into Paris, especially after what I just did with Horthy.", with a scoff. "The Fatherland appreciates your service. You will be well remembered when the Reich triumphs.", Schmidt said.
"If you think so, command feels otherwise though few are saying it, especially to the Fuhrer. The Soviets are now on the Vistula... Romania, Bulgaria, Finland all switching sides. Losing Greece, Yugoslavia, we've got the Western Allies now within miles of Vienna as well as breaching the Rhine... Forgive me if I'm not as confident with victory.", Skorzeny snorted.
Schmidt smiled slyly, "Oh, don't worry, Otto. This specimen, when used correctly, will bring forth a champion, someone who will crush the pathetic and foolish giant captains to dust, and there, when everything's settled, oh, my, there shall be a new world order, and nobody will be there to stop it!", chuckling deviously with a cold stare at Susan who heard about her parents described like that, and spat at him with a glare.
"I think it might take even more than that to save the Fatherland.", Otto admitted as Schmidt waved his hand, "Do not worry about that, for now, continue to follow your orders. The tide will turn back for us very soon, I promise you that."
Otto nodded, "Alright, Schmidt. Where do you want me to put the brat?", and Schmidt smiled wryly, "Put it in the container, and oh, did you put it under stasis?".
Otto smirked, "Wore off during the plane trip, nicked it again when we landed, and it's a stronger dose this time.", and Schidmt nodded, "Good. Go on, put it in the container.".
"Heard you first time.", Otto backtalked, and walked to the container that's like very thick black glass and steel, with tiny air holes, opening the door, and with a vicious shake of the cage, Susan was dropped into the container, barely saving herself from hitting the floor as Otto closed the door and locked it up tight.
She can see what's outside, but they cannot see inside on the fact that Schimdt doesn't want any of his followers having a sudden conscious if they saw a toddler-like baby in a container, a prisoner. It's one thing with adult people as prisoners, but well, with toddler-babies, it would be as another thing.
She looked around, and it's barely the size of her crib-bed, but far more stifling and colder, and she can see things coming from the back in sort of black hollow ropes, trailing across the floor, linked to the strange mirror. She is starting to have a really bad feeling now as she cowered against the wall, hugging her arms and knees close to her body to conserve body warmth, even if she's covered in autumn weather clothes, and tears fell, sniffling as she wondered about her family...
Said family now was getting ready for one of the riskiest missions they had ever done. If successful, not only would Susan be saved but one of the most dangerous secret threats within the Third Re-ich would be eliminated.
"At least we're getting quite the fighter escort...", Bucky admitted as they started to get ready on the airfield near Nancy.
"We'll be flying with a bomber formation as they're on their way to Nuremberg and the Luftwaffe is more or less not able to stop all the raids; we should only have to worry about isolated flak batteries.", Peggy explained.
Bucky nodded, "Ah, that's really good odds. Don't worry, Peggy, we will get Susan back in your arms. She may be a daddy's girl, but she literally goes for you most of the time.".
Peggy smiled softly, "Thanks, Bucky...I really want her back...I won't even care if everybody sees me feeding her out of necessity. She would be really cold and hungry...", with a sharp nod. Bucky chuckled, "I think everybody wouldn't care about noticing when we win this mission.", with a smirk.
"Indeed.", Peggy chuckled as they got to their plane, with Steve on the ramp, talking to Howard Stark before noticing the duo, "Peggy, my queen, you ready to save our daughter? Our plane's all fueled up and ready to go.".
Howard piped up behind Steve, "And I'm driving!", walking up the ramp to the cockpit. Peggy kissed Steve on the lips with a determined smile, "Let's go save our Susan, Steve.", and Steve nodded as Bucky squeezed his shoulder, passing him by, and so the couple walked up the ramp, following Bucky in, with the ramp closing up.
"Hope those Screaming Eagles are ready for a fight.", Bucky said as he saw the members of the 101st Airborne that were getting on their planes; ready to land and disembark at the airfield the moment it was all clear.
"At least they're bringing some better equipment this time. Those new M18 Recoilless Rifles are good tank killer if it comes to that.", Stark said as he is warming up the engines.
"Don't worry about a drop zone, Stark. Peggy will easily fly us in for that.", Bucky patted him on the shoulder as the transport plane started to lift off the ground.
Stark nodded, "Right.", as he worked the controls, checking them twice before flying off into the air, "And we're clear.", heading east for Germany.
Peggy bit her lip, and Steve squeezed her hand, whispering to her, "I'm always with you, my queen. We can do this.", and Peggy looked at him, "I know that already, but that's not what I'm worried about... She's in the hands of Schimdt...What does he want to do with her for fuck's sake?".
Steve exhaled, "If I had to guess, he's going to take some of the Quantonium and Super Soldier Serum from her...I don't know how...But if he wants another giant again, it's the most possible theory I can think of...".
Peggy gasped, "But the Quantonium is alive, and being born of us, Susan's body is 100% natural of Quantonium and Super Soldier Serum next to human standards...If he does it by force...he'll kill her!".
"We'll get her before he can do anything of the sort.", Steve squeezed her hand. "I promise you... we'll find a way.", kissing her on the temple. "I hope you're right, Steve... I feel so sick right now...", Peggy closed her eyes in angst and fear and hope.
Soon, within an hour, they made it to the airport, and after seeing that the airport's clear, Peggy went to be 30 ft high, not quite her giant size, but not Amazonian size, with Bucky clenching into her shoulder with his wolf claws, she lifted up Steve and Howard, and flamed on, flying low, getting closer and closer.
Upon a patrol motorcycle, Bucky leaped off her shoulder, attacking the rider, and he then rode it with Peggy dropping Howard into the sidecar, as she landed into a sprint, flaming down, with Steve landing besides her, sprinting as well.
Bucky smelled the air, and growled, "I got a whiff of Susan, that way.", turning right on the path, and the parents followed him, sprinting faster, glad that their super stamina and speed is helping out, with Howard speaking out loud, "I signed up for science, not adventures!".
Peggy spoke, "Come on, Stark, there might be science down there! After all, my daughter's a prisoner, and if science brought us all of this, science would force it away from her! Do you want that on your conscience?!".
Stark shook his head, "As a matter of fact, no. How are we doing this anyway?", and Steve smirked, "We knock on the front door, but with flair and maybe lots of explosions.".