Hello, all my loyal fans. Back with another chapter.
I'm not quite sure how much of Civil War this chapter will cover, but I'm hoping to get through the whole "Bucky goes crazy scene".
Let's get to it.
Chapter 21- The Winter Soldier Returns
Barry sits in the back of a police van, trying to ignore the soreness in his wrists from the handcuffs. He glances around the back of the van, and at the four officers who are all holding AR-15s. It amuses him slightly, that they think they could have any chance of actually stopping him. It amuses him more that they think this van could hold him in the first place.
Barry looks out the window at the back of the van, looking at the van that carries Steve, Sam, and T'Challa. Barry is still impressed by T'Challa and his skills, and suit. He's been pondering if the suit is made of Vibranium, the same metal in Steve's shield.
Barry feels a bit of a lurch as the van starts to slow down. They must be getting close.
It's just another minute before the van comes to a stop. The officers force Barry to his feet and gesture him out the back. He obediently gets out, finding himself in a vast room, with plenty of people walking around. A few yards away, Steve, Sam, and T'Challa are getting out of another van, while a massive cage that holds Bucky is unloaded from another vehicle.
One of the officers escorting Barry moved to unlock his cuffs. Barry just smiles before vibrating his arms fast enough to shatter the cuffs. The officer looks at him in shock. He just grins and says, "Could've done that at anytime, or escaped the van. Just wanted to show you I'm not a criminal."
Barry walks over to join Steve and Sam. Together, they approach Sharon, who is standing beside a man in a grey suit.
"What's gonna happen to him?" Steve asks, gesturing to Bucky.
"Same that ought to happen to you three. Psychiatric evaluation and extradition," says the man in the grey suit.
"Gentlemen, this is Everett Ross. Deputy Task Force Commander," Sharon says to introduce her boss. Barry's eyes narrow slightly at hearing his last name, wondering if he's related to the man who seems to have it in for Barry.
"What about a lawyer?" Steve asks. Barry nods, wishing he had Cecile or Earth-1's Laurel Lance right now for that problem.
"A lawyer. That's funny," Agent Ross says with a chuckle.
Barry's eyes widen, then narrow. They are denying them the right to a lawyer? Even if this isn't only an American effort, how is this legal?
"See that their weapons are placed in lockup. Oh, we'll write you a receipt," Ross says as a couple of officers carry Steve's shield and Sam's wings past them.
"I better not look out the window and see anyone flying around in that," Sam says, drawing a slight smile from Barry.
The three of them, and T'Challa, follow Ross down a walkway. Partway down, they see Natasha waiting for them.
"For the record, this is what making things worse looks like," Natasha says as they pass her and she starts walking with them.
As they exit the walkway, Barry can hear Tony up ahead saying, "No, Romania was definitely not Accords-sanctioned."
As they enter the room ahead, they can see Tony slowly walking towards them while talking on the phone. He raises his phone and says, "Consequences? You can bet there'll be consequences? Obviously you can quote me on that, cuz I just said it."
He lowers his phone as he steps towards them. "Consequences?" Steve asks for clarification.
"Secretary Ross wants you two prosecuted," Tony says, indicating Steve and Sam before gesturing to Barry and saying, "And he wants Allen returned to America and thrown in prison."
Barry feels outraged. Even after breaking the Accords, Steve and Sam are supposed to get a trial, but he just immediately gets sent to prison.
"Sorry. Had to promise him something," Tony says.
Barry glares at Tony. Tony just walks away with Natasha.
"I'm not getting that shield back am I?" Steve asks.
"Technically, it's the government's property. Wings too," Natasha says as she looks back at them.
"That's cold," Sam says.
"Warmer than jail," Tony says as he walks away.
"Which is apparently where I'm gonna end up," Barry says under his breath.
"Don't worry. I'm sure Tony's trying to reason with Ross. And no matter what, I'll do anything I can to make sure you get out of here," Steve says. Barry just nods as he follows Steve.
(20 minutes later)
Steve slowly picks up the fountain pen, thinking on all that Tony's just said. He glances out of the office and sees Sam and Barry talking, being watched by several armed officers.
He takes a few steps, then stops and turns back to Tony. "There would have to be safeguards," he says.
"Sure," Tony says quickly, "After you sign, and this settles down, these documents can be amended. Barnes gets transferred to an American psych facility instead of a Wakandan prison. I sign a motion to have you and Wanda reinstated..."
"Wanda? What about Wanda?" Steve asks.
"She's in lockdown at the facility. Vision's keeping her company," Tony says.
Steve groans as he says, "Oh, Tony. Every time I think you see things the right way, you do something like this. And I don't even want to mention what Barry's gonna do when he finds out about this..."
"He's not gonna be able to do anything," Tony says.
Steve narrows his eyes, then it comes to him. "You didn't even try to defend him from Ross did you?" Steve demands.
"Hey, Ross wants him in jail. I can't do much. Plus, he brought Savitar to our world, and he's powerful enough to do whatever he wants. He could take out any military force sent after him, and he could probably beat any of us, except maybe Vision. And he's already shown he doesn't support the Accords. He can't exactly be trusted," Tony says.
"Come on, Tony! He's the one member of the team who refuses to kill anybody. He's the least likely of any of us to turn criminal! He'd die before he intentionally endangered other people! And Wanda's no different. She hasn't done anything wrong and she's just a kid!" Steve says angrily.
"Give me a break!" Tony shouts. He and Steve stare at each other for a moment before Tony says, "I'm doing what needs to be done to stave off something worse."
"You keep telling yourself that," Steve says angrily before slamming the pen down on the table and storming out.
A few minutes later, Steve, Sam, and Barry are all sitting in another office. Steve looks at Barry and says, "Barry, I was wrong about Tony. He's not trying to protect you from Ross at all. He actually thinks Ross is slightly justified in wanting to send you to prison."
Barry looks furious, so Steve decides not to mention Wanda quite yet.
Sharon walks in a moment later. "The receipt for your gear," she says, handing a slip of paper to Sam.
Sam takes one look at it and says incredulously, "Bird costume?"
"I didn't write it," Sharon says as she looks at Steve, who is by now watching Bucky's meeting with the psychiatrist summoned to evaluate him on a monitor.
Barry looks at the monitor. Something just isn't right about this.
A moment later, the video is suddenly unmuted, and they hear the doctor say, "I can't help you if you don't talk to me, James."
"My name is Bucky," Bucky responds.
Barry just watches as the interrogation continues. Something just isn't adding up.
After a few moments, Barry glances over and sees Steve holding the picture taken of Bucky outside the UN.
"Why would the task force release this photo?" Steve asks.
"Get the word out. Have as many eyes looking for the Winter Soldier as we can," Sharon responds.
"Yeah. But why now. Why, after two years in hiding, does he suddenly come out of nowhere to bomb the UN? And why let himself get caught on camera? The guy in this photo isn't even trying to hide. He wanted to be seen," Barry says.
"But Why? You think he was trying to flush Barnes out of hiding?" Sharon asks.
"It's the only explanation that makes sense," Barry says.
"But, that wouldn't guarantee he'd get to him. It means that we would," Sharon says.
"Maybe that's the point. On my Earth, we had a guy who called himself the Pied Piper. He let us capture him so that he could attack our base from within and get information he would need to kill me. He almost succeeded," Barry says.
"But we know Bucky didn't want to be caught. He doesn't want to hurt anybody," Steve says.
"But that doesn't mean that someone else doesn't want him to," Barry says in a low voice.
Barry can almost see the lightbulb go off over Steve's head as Steve turns back to the monitor. "Yeah," he whispers.
A few seconds later, all of the lights suddenly go off. Barry looks right at Steve, who turns to Sharon.
"Sub level five, east wing," Sharon says, knowing what Steve wants to know. Steve and Sam race off.
Sharon turns to Barry. "Why didn't you go with them?" she asks, her voice tinged with worry.
"I've done enough. I'll just make my situation worse. If it gets to a point where people are gonna die, I'll move in. Until then, no," Barry says.
Sharon nods. She waits with Barry. But, after a few minutes, alarms start to sound.
Sharon leaps to her feet. She tosses an earpiece to Barry, saying, "Keep that. I'll let you know if we need you."
Sharon races off, bringing Natasha and Tony behind her. Barry remains in the office, putting the earpiece in his ear.
He sits there, anxious, for a minute. Then, his earpiece comes to life, and he hears Sharon gasp over the earpiece, "Allen, we need you. He beat me, Tony, and Natasha. T'Challa tried to stop him, but he's getting away, and I don't know where Steve is."
Barry stands up. "Alright. On my way," he says, and he races off.
He races off in the direction he knows Sharon went. He quickly finds where Bucky beat her, Tony, and Natasha. He then races off again, following the trail of broken stuff.
The trail leads him up onto a helipad on the top of the building. Racing up the stairway, he sees Bucky walking towards the helicopter parked there.
He races out in front of Bucky, blocking his path to the helicopter. He instantly notices the look on Bucky's face, and knows it's not Bucky he's facing. It's the Winter Soldier.
"Stand down, Soldier," Barry orders. Bucky responds by growling slightly and running at Barry.
Barry easily races out of the way and dodges around Bucky, trying to wear him out as Bucky tries to strike Barry. But Barry underestimates Bucky's speed and reflexes, and is surprised when Bucky manages to catch him in the chest with a punch from his metal arm, knocking Barry back several feet.
But Barry's efforts had delayed Bucky, long enough for Steve to reach the helipad. Steve bursts out of the stairway and rushes Bucky. The two exchange blows for several moments before Bucky manages to grab Steve by the throat with his metal arm.
Barry has regained his bearings by now, and can hear shouts coming from the stairwell. Knowing they only have a short amount of time, Barry looks over at Steve and Bucky as they struggle, and whispers, "Sorry, guys." He then races over, grabs them, and runs them off the side of the helipad. And together, the three of them plunge down into the river below.
And, I'll end there.
How did I do with this chapter? I hope I did alright.
I think Tony not really defending Barry at this point makes sense given what we saw of him in Civil War, and knowing that he knows how much Ross hates Barry.
I sidelined Barry until the very end because otherwise it would end way too quickly. I also hope you like the little Pied Piper reference there. I figure since Barry experienced that, he would make the connection.
Next chapter will not be the airport battle. It'll be about the scene where Steve and Sam learn of the other Winter Soldiers. It may also be a dual-Earth chapter, with part of it taking place on Earth-99, and part on Earth-1. Not sure yet.
Well, until next time, keep those reviews coming. And please, give me your opinions on updates for the Iron Flash suit.