Jarvis and Dmitri spun around when hearing the approaching sound of rustling footsteps through the surrounding tall grass. Instantly, the Russian agent trained his gun on the CIA operative Smith. Professor Spencer had been right on Smith's heels and yipped when the lead CIA Agent suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Having fanned out, Smith's group of seven well-armed men glared at the duo, their index fingers poised on the trigger of their guns. Their leader quickly held up his hand, indicating for them not to fire. His grin was cocky, and Jarvis had a feeling that he knew something they didn't. Sure enough, it did not take long for Smith to gloat, "Boy, I sure do not envy your friends."

Hodge's grin was just as devious,

Jarvis' concern became one of anger, "Why?"

"Well, your employer and his girlfriend are in for a nasty surprise. Too bad you don't have the means to track them down," Smith almost sounded sorry.

"And you can?" Jarvis snapped at the infuriating man.

Smith held up a palm-sized device. "No, but this little baby could."

Not trusting the man, Jarvis asked, "How did you get a tracker on them?"

A coy Smith grinned, "Let's just say this wasn't the first time I have come across the 'Reign Cloud.'"

Cocking his gun, Dmitri demanded, "Hand it over."

Smith chortled gleefully, "No, no, not so fast, comrade. I thought communists believed in everything being equal. So, Quid Pro Quo, Agent Klaz."

"What do you want in return for it?"

Looking Dmitri dead in the eye, Smith said, "Where are we supposed to go next?"

Intrigued, Spencer pushed forward, and Dmitri aimed his gun at the tall, slender man, causing him to recoil.

Smith, though, was not impressed and chided, "Now, now, comrade, it is a simple trade. Besides, isn't it better that we get to the clue before Hydra?"

Dmitri exchanged a glance with Jarvis, who nodded. Letting out a loud exhale, Dmitri stated, "The next clue is located at the Hagia Sophia."

Spencer muttered, "I knew it. I told you that there was no need to deal with them."

Smith showed him his perfect white teeth, "Yes, Professor, but it never hurts to get confirmation." He then looked back at Jarvis and Dmitri, "Anything else to the clue? Come on, fess up."

This time Jarvis answered, "Said that the Goddess Diana will show you the way."

Smith beamed, "Thank you, my lanky friend."

When he turned to leave, Dmitri growled, "Aren't you forgetting something, agent?"

"Oh, yes, how silly of me." Smith tossed the palm-sized device to them.

Expertly snatching it from the air, Jarvis demanded, "How does it work."

A confident Smith did not even bother to turn around when he explained, "You get close enough to them, and the light will blink. The nearer you are, the faster it goes. Oh, and I advise you to hurry, or you will be out of range. Time is certainly not on either of your friend's side."

Jarvis growled, appalled at this man's arrogance, "Who from Hydra has them?"

"I am sorry, we never negotiated for additional information. Ta-ta, Mr. Jarvis." And Smith and his goons hurriedly marched back to their cars. Jarvis overheard them talking about heading to the national airport.

With the specialized scanner's monitor still clutched in Jarvis's other hand, it now felt extremely heavy. He glanced angrily from the hesitant Dmitri to the disappearing 'Reign Cloud.' "If you are going to desert me to head to Istanbul, you best do so now before the CIA gets too far ahead of you."

After a sigh, Dmitri admitted, "Sorry, it is difficult to go against my training." He then adamantly nodded to Jarvis, "And, of course, I will help you. I cannot abandon my Zdenka. Besides, Peggy saved my life, so it is only right."

Jarvis exhaled, relieved. "Good. Now on a map of this area, I saw a small airfield nearby. I suggest we borrow a plane before the CIA can."

Dmitri asked, surprised, "You can fly?"

As they hurried to the car, Jarvis curtly bobbed his head, "And rather well, for that matter."

Reaching the rental, Jarvis asked, "You think Hydra knows to go to Istanbul?"

Sneering, Dmitri stated, "Since they chose to grab our friends at this very moment, probably not. But I am sure our unknown enemy will find the answer soon enough."

Having anticipated the ghastly possibility of torture, Jarvis bared his teeth and tossed the scanner's monitor onto the backseat. As he leaped onto the driver seat, Dmitri scrambled to the passenger side.

With both barely settled in the vehicle, Jarvis peeled out and then zoomed toward the local airport. All they left behind was a trail of dust and loose gravel.

Peggy groggily realized that she was somehow moving. Her drooping head rolled to either side, and the agent comprehended that she was propped up between the worried Howard and Zdenka. Looking back down, she saw that her feet were being dragged across a grated metal walkway.

Blurrily glancing ahead, she noticed that one of the female robots led them down a cramped corridor. When Peggy observed the automaton limping, she could not help but sneer in satisfaction.

Then from behind, she heard heavy boots clomping, and she wondered just how many more of these damn robots were left.

Surrounded by the stronger enemy, there seemed to be little hope of escape. So Peggy bided her time and used it to get her head cleared.

Beside her, Howard was one to never pass up on a chance to learn, so he took in their surroundings with a practiced scientific gaze. As he cataloged any displayed mechanisms, he became more and more impressed. Whoever had invented this flying fortress was a genius.

He felt Peggy shift, and he held her tighter, fearful of her need to be daring.

More awake, Peggy nodded her thanks to her friends that bracketed her. While she slowly got her feet shuffling under her, she tentatively rubbed her numb fingertips against her pant leg. Grimacing, she then gingerly ran a hand over her jaw. That jolt of electricity had made her teeth fillings feel as if they were on fire.

Glancing behind them, Peggy observed that the lone male robot was missing an arm, and she figured this had been the one that Dmitri had short-circuited back in Rhodes. Her belief was confirmed when she saw that it tended to twitch from time to time.

Smug, she was pleased that they had done so much damage to these mechanized menaces. Feeling emboldened, Peggy thought that she could handle these impaired creations after all.

Finally, strong enough to walk on her own, Peggy pulled away from her friends. Always stubborn, she flung herself forward and slammed into the female robot, hoping that a surprise attack would knock the hobbling automaton over.

Instead, the masked woman easily pivoted, and Peggy soon found herself in a choking headlock. Acquiescing with a frantic wave of her hand, Peggy was let go and then shoved back to Howard.

Steadying his friend's teetering body, Howard shook his head at her in silent admonishment.

"Well, I had to try," she whispered back harshly.

After a snort, he went back to mentally jotting down everything he saw.

Peggy recognized his keen appraising look, and she raised an eyebrow at him.

Quietly he admitted, "We should get one of these as a mobile headquarters, Peg. It would be a great way to get around undetected. But with propellers that keep us aloft, not with balloons. See," he pointed to a large open section that was between the metal supports, "they use multiple balloons of various sizes. True, using so many might reduce the risk of instant deflation should the canopy get pierced, but flying a balloon is harder to control and handle, especially during high winds. Not to mention if they were filled with combustible hydrogen gas and not helium."

Frowning, Peggy finally registered what he was talking about. The walls and ceiling of the section they were walking through were mostly covered in lumpy fabric. The slick, gray, bloated cloth bulged unevenly between the metal frames along the corridor. Peggy smirked. It did look just like they were inside a giant puffy cloud.

She had to admit that it was a clever disguise. One could easily see how Hydra moved about undetected.

While she took it all in, Howard addressed the silent masked male robot behind them, "Tell me, buddy, how much does this thing weigh? What does it lift? Maximum allowance and all that? And how do you add gas to compensate for any additional unexpected weight gain?"

Peggy grounded out, "Now is not the time, Howard."

Regardless, the male robot would not answer Howard's persistent questions.

They finally stopped at an ornate door, and the female robot knocked lightly against it. There was a masculine, if somewhat muffled, call to enter.

Opening the door, the three of them were pushed through, their mechanical guards staying right behind them.

The room was rather cramped. This was mostly due to the large decorative chair that looked like a throne. A figure sat reposed on it, his identity masked by the room's lack of light.

Leave it to Hydra to never abandon their ostentatious behavior, Peggy thought while rolling her eyes. She then squinted, trying to make out the seated form.

Another female robot was at his side and tended to its master's every whim.

After the man clapped his gloved hands together, the robotic female sentry turned and pulled down a nearby lever. A clanking sound was heard, and the shiny metallic blinds that covered the large scenic windows behind the throne parted open. Natural sunlight spilled in, momentarily blinding the trio facing the regal chair.

It only took moments for her eyes to readjust, and Peggy gasped in recognition at the magenta-costumed man before her. She breathed out, "Baron Heinrich Zemo?"

Aghast, she studied the reddish-pink hood that covered his face and sneered. So this was the mastermind that was also looking for the treasure.

She wondered what this megalomaniac wanted with the promise of getting anything he wanted. Peggy grinned. It probably was to be able to remove that ridiculous hood he had to wear.

Nearly laughing out loud at this thought, she remembered what Steve Rogers had told her about how he stopped Zemo once again.

By the war's end, the Baron had threatened to use some sort of super-strong adhesive against the Allied Troops. But Captain America had made sure that it had backfired spectacularly against the villain. The end result was Zemo's ridiculous mask getting stuck permanently on. This caused the Baron to go into seclusion from embarrassment.

Though Zemo's schemes were ridiculous at times, that wasn't to say the Baron was some pushover. On the contrary, the Hydra Agent was very dangerous. And having fought against him in the past, Peggy knew firsthand never to underestimate this deadly foe.

During the war, Zemo proved to be a very sadistic and brilliant scientist who often tested his lethal inventions on prisoners and non-combatants. But when his vast ego misjudged his experimental death ray's effectiveness, many innocent German nationals were killed. This caused him to be kicked out of the Nazi party.

Because of this, he started wearing a hood to hide his identity from the Fuhrer so he could still work with the Nazis. But then, after the adhesive incident, he had no choice but to wear it forever as penance. Smirking, Peggy wondered just how bad it itched during the hot summer months.

Always arrogant, Zemo stood and strode over to them. His gloved hands were tucked behind the wide bright yellow belt he wore. Covered from head to toe, only Zemo's eyes could be seen from slits in his hood.

Peggy figured that explained why his robotic creations wore such masks as well. His ego demanded that his automatons emulate their master.

Studying his prey, Zemo ruffled the spotted fur collar that adorned his magenta outfit. To Peggy, his colorful attire made him resemble an overdressed peacock. Cockily, he straightened the simple gold crown he wore on his cowled head.

His voice was muffled, so he enunciated by talking louder, "Ah, Fraulein Carter, it is good to see you again. It has been too long since we last met."

He then stared at her friends appraisingly, "Professor Zdenka Ruzena, so nice to finally make your formal acquaintance. You can tell us much about those odd Cuneiform clues that I am sure you have already deciphered. And Herr Stark, as brilliant inventors, we have much in common." After he clicked his heels, he then stiffly bowed.

Peggy would say this about Hydra Nazis. They certainly were polite.

The Baron nodded to one of the mechanized females, "Why don't you escort the good Professor to her quarters and prepare her for questioning." As Zdenka was grabbed and yanked away, Zemo called out, "Fraulein Ruzena, we will have our much-needed chat shortly."

His beady eyes watched her every move, and then she was gone from the room.

Zemo turned his gaze back to his remaining guests, "So, how do you like my flying castle? Impressive, no?"

"Yeah, this is a nice ride and all," Howard admitted to the megalomaniac. He then cast a wary side-eye to the seething Peggy, "Um, how much weight can it hold."

"Really, Howard," Peggy said through gritted teeth.

Zemo seemed to find their banter rather amusing and chuckled.

Peggy sneered, "I take it you got this ridiculous contraption from a World War 1 auction."

Before Zemo could answer, Howard interjected, "Hardly Peg, this is top of the line."

Nodding, Zemo once more sat. After he had confidently crossed his leg over the other, he said sarcastically, "Though I enjoy this witty repartee between the two of you, we are on a deadline. There is still much we need to do before we arrive in Istanbul."

"You know about Istanbul?" Peggy asked, surprised.

Nodding, Zemo said, "Yes, from this height, it is easy to determine what the Temple's foundation had revealed. Knowing multiple languages, I deduced that the Hagia Sophia was our next stop. We should be there shortly. I only snatched all of you because I need to know where all those Cuneiform clues said to go. In time I am confident that Fraulein Ruzena will reveal all to me. Or you can save her the embarrassment of torture and just tell me now."

Neither would answer him. Shrugging, Zemo lifted a glass to his lips and drank the opaque liquid through a straw. Finished, he smacked his lips.

He added nonchalantly, "I trust your scanner will come in handy at our next stop. I must say, Herr Stark, it is an amazing device. You have made it very easy to connect any monitor to it."

Howard preened while Peggy glared at Zemo. She spat out, "What is your game in all this, Zemo?"

"It's Baron to you, Fraulein, and it is no game. I have played you perfectly." He laughed and stared into her startled gaze. Gauging her reaction, he added, "You really don't know, do you? Who do you think it was that called in that anonymous tip to the SSR that started you on this whole adventure?"

Peggy sputtered, "That's ridiculous. Why would you do such a thing?"

He leaned forward and studied her, "What better way to orchestrate chaos than by controlling the information given? With the US President attending the Smithsonian's newest prized exhibit, I knew the museum would be more heavily guarded than usual. I needed a big distraction to draw everyone outside just at the right moment. By revealing the mercenary, all of you assumed that the main danger would be in the gardens and acted accordingly. Just like pawns on a chessboard."

Sneering, he added, "But then I should have known that you two would have stayed behind to thwart my plans. No matter, it all worked out. Besides, I even got to try my metals against the ever-resourceful Agent Margaret Carter."

"Your metals?" Howard asked, jutting his chin to indicate the silent man and woman.

Zemo nodded his head at the masked male robot, saying, "Yes. My first prototype machine was the Man-droids." He then indicated the female one standing next to Peggy, "And then I made the newer models which I call Fem-droids."

It was Howard's turn to chuckle, "That's what you call them?" His derision was obvious.

Taking offense, Zemo spat, "Well, every one of your inventions has the Stark name incorporated into the title."

Howard stopped snickering when the second Fem-droid strode back into the room to stand menacingly at her master's side. Howard couldn't help himself, and he deadpanned, "Fem-droids? Yeah, well, you know there is a cream for that, right?"

An uncontrollable bark of a laugh escaped Peggy's lips.

Zemo turned his glare on her, "Yes, laugh, but I have you to thank for their inspiration, Fraulein."

She exchanged a quizzical look with Howard, who shrugged.

Surprised, Zemo chuckled, "You can't tell who they are modeled after?"

Still not getting the reactions he craved, Zemo pulled the mask off the nearest female robot. He beckoned his human audience closer, "Come now, doesn't she look familiar?"

Howard rubbed his chin in thought, "Wow, it is uncanny."

Studying the unmasked female robot before her, Peggy scowled. She took in the smartly coifed synthetic brown hair, brown eyes, and the shape of the face. With his laughter growing, Zemo motioned for the second female automaton to remove her mask. This one was also brunette and nearly identical in the shape of the face to the other. Their brown eyes stared blankly at Peggy and Howard.

Peggy reared back, affronted, "You've got to be kidding me. You modeled them after me?"

"And you have not disappointed me with my choice either, Fraulein. You certainly badly damaged the other three and nearly all of the male ones. But not to worry, your actions have helped reveal all their deficiencies. And from that knowledge, I will use it to improve the newer third version of the model." He noticed Peggy's gaze darting between the women and the lone masked male robot.

"Go on. I know your innate curiosity demands that you check," Zemo mocked.

With shaking fingers, Peggy tugged off the male robot's mask. Once its face was revealed, she recoiled as if she had touched something hot.

It was just as she feared. That Hydra bastard had stolen Steve Roger's likeness for the first robot prototype. Peggy had never hated anyone more than she did right now. And she vowed that Zemo would pay for this effrontery.

Unaware of how close he had come to being pummeled to death by her quaking fists, Zemo grinned at Peggy's visible torment. Gloating, he stated, "Yes, I have based my metal men on your Captain Rogers. You do have excellent taste when it comes to superior specimens, Fraulein." He looked appraisingly from his Man-droid to Howard, but Peggy was too outraged to correct him regarding her relationship status.

Peggy seethed. How dare this silly man in the ridiculous costume sully Steve's image?

Reveling in her anger, Zemo continued to goad her, "It is because of our last meeting all those years ago that I decided to design the second version's model after a woman. They would not be like the male prototype machines that were built primarily for strength and fortitude, much like your Rodgers. Now certainly these female robots would be strong, but above all else, adaptive to any situation thrown at them, just as yourself, Fraulein."

Howard walked around one of the Fem-droids, reviewing the lines. Raising one of the robot's slender arms, he studied the bend of the wrist where an exit hole was and smirked, "Well, the whips are a nice touch."

"Howard," Peggy warned dangerously.

In his own little world, Zemo ignored them and boasted, "Yes, they have the traits of all women, fearless, courageous … relentless. You should feel honored that my ideal woman was based on you, Agent Carter. You certainly left quite an impression on me the last time we met."

'And on your face too, if I recall correctly,' she wanted to growl back but wisely fumed to herself. Instead, she found herself remembering their past meeting all those years ago.

During the war, Peggy had started helping Captain America and the Howling Commandos root out Hydra bases. Before she joined the team, Steve and the others had been largely successful in this endeavor, but they suddenly hit a snag.

For weeks they had been trying to find Baron Zemo's secret base in Hungary, but the Hydra leader had burrowed deep into his hidden underground bunker. Due to her expertise in decrypting difficult codes, the Colonel had ordered Peggy to join the Commandos.

Once there, she studied Hydra's intercepted coded messages and deciphered that the base's location was in the Carpathian Mountains near Budapest. There was enough information that Peggy was sure that they would have no problem finding the base within hours.

Alas, by nightfall, the bunker's entrance had still remained elusive. So they had set up camp in the surrounding forest, and in the morning, they planned on continuing their search. Not being one to sleep much, Steve was already out scouting further along the ridge.

As the 107th was just readying for sleep, a specialized concussive grenade suddenly went off in the middle of their camp, knocking all of them out.

The next thing Peggy knew, she had been split off from the Howlers and was being dragged down a corridor, wrists bound behind her back. Realizing that this was the Baron's hidden bunker, Peggy memorized the route for any possible exits.

The Hydra soldiers marched her into a well-equipped underground laboratory. Zemo often experimented with prisoners, and Peggy swallowed her fear that she might be his latest test subject.

Baron Zemo looked up from his Erlenmeyer flask and smiled cordially at her. She recognized his handsome face from the recent surveillance photos circulating among her group. As he straightened, she took stock that he was armed with the typical German luger and the prized ceremonial dagger he always carried sheathed to his belt.

Briefly gazing upon the ornate dagger, Peggy sneered in outrage. According to Zemo's file, Adolf Hitler himself had given it to him as a gift for winning him Poland.

Removing his lab coat, Zemo strode toward her, and Peggy knew she was in for a lot of gloating. Like all Hydra leaders, he seemed to relish in using the typical banal monologue that had become prevalent among such villainous types.

"Ah, there you are. When I was told that you were nearby, I just had to greet you personally." He waved a dismissive hand, and all but the two guards that held her arms marched out of the room.

The Baron eyed her as she struggled against her bonds. The two guards tightened their grip, causing Zemo to reassure her, "Do not fear, Fraulein. We are only using you as bait."

So that was what this was all about, she thought, exasperated. If only Zemo would get closer, she would show him a thing or two about wrong assumptions.

"Captain America will come for his men before me," Peggy replied stubbornly.

Zemo shook his head, his face a rictus of glee, "No, I know he will come for you first. It is so convenient that Captain America's girlfriend practically falls right into my lap. And with you now in my power, he will willingly work for me or else."

Peggy denied adamantly, "I don't know what you are talking about."

He snorted in mirth, "Come now, Fraulein, I saw the classified film about your boyfriend's exploits. I know that he always carries your picture in his compass."

Blast, she thought, mortified. Colonel Phillips had warned the two of them that this could be an issue if the enemy ever saw that film. But honestly, she couldn't be upset. She had always been secretly pleased that Steve took her with him everywhere he went.

"You're wrong," her chin stuck out obstinately.

He tilted his head in thought, "No, I distinctly recall—"

Her voice was a low guttural threat of vengeance, "No, you are wrong. I am not bait but the harbinger of your fate. And you will pay, and by my own hands too, Zemo."

Enraged, he stalked menacingly closer and raised his gloved hand to strike her. He seethed, "Such insolence from a mere woman. My name is Baron Heinrich Zemo, Fraulein, and you best learn it. Besides, I hardly think—"

Peggy's smile was cutting, almost gloating, "Good. That predictable habit of yours was just what I was counting on."

He paused before he struck, surprised by her bravado.

Having studied his file, Peggy had expected that his smug arrogance would have him reacting in such a manner. Now he was close enough for her to reach him.

Using the two guards' tight hold as support, she suddenly swung her heavy combat boots up. The soldier's unintentional leverage enabled her to fiercely kick the Baron's jaw with her steel-encased toes. The brutal hit sent him reeling backward.

Moaning, he stumbled and then fell to his knees. Blood gushed from his mouth, and he pressed his hands over it in an attempt to stop the flow. Through his fingers, he mumbled, horrified about his beautiful smile being ruined.

Her guards were just as stunned by her sudden actions, so Peggy used that same element of surprise and turned it on them. As her feet came down, she used a midair crunch to add power to her stomp. She slammed her hard-treaded heels onto the two guard's insteps.

Yelping, they bent over to grab their wounded arches. This relaxed their grip on her arms, and Peggy could wrench herself free of their hold.

Before they could seize her again, Peggy kicked the first hunched-over guard in his gut. He staggered away, gasping out of breath and in pain.

Peggy then turned her attention to the second guard, who glared at her. When he growled his fury, she pounced before he had finished his first expletive. Slamming her forehead into his, he grunted and stumbled back a step.

Shaking his head to clear it, rage instantly overcame him. Grateful that he had not called out for help, Peggy waited for him to charge, which he then predictably did so.

Just before he could reach her, she spun to the right, and he ran past her. When he turned to try it again, she was instantly in front of him and kneed him in the balls. He made a strangled noise, crumpled to the floor, and rolled around in agony.

Hearing the angry huffing of the first guard alerted her just before he attacked from behind.

She turned as he swung a meaty fist toward her face. With her hands still tied behind her back, she could not block it, so instead pivoted at the last moment. When his momentum had him stumbling past her, she tripped him up.

He sprawled onto the floor. As he rose up on all fours, she kicked him again in the stomach.

Wind knocked out, he collapsed, and joined the other guard on the ground. Both wheezed for air as they tried to remember how to breathe.

With them down and no alarms going off, Peggy turned to face her final foe, Baron Heinrich Zemo.

She was going to enjoy this.

END NOTE: So years ago, when I was first fleshing this out, I only knew Baron Zemo from the comics. I imagine that the one from The Falcon and Winter Soldier would be the great grandson of the one from WWII.

And yes, according to the comics, Zemo really did accidently glue his mask to his head!