As a stunned Baron Zemo spat out a few teeth and stared at them forlornly, Peggy raced over. Just when she reached him, she dropped to her knees and slid to his side.
Before he could react, she slammed her elbow into his solar plexus. Curling inwards from the pain, Zemo cursed out a gasp and held his tender chest. With her hands bound behind her back, Peggy could yank his ceremonial dagger free from its sheath from this position.
Glaring down at him, she seethed through clenched teeth, "I am no one's bait."
Though ceremonial, the blade should still be sharp enough for what she needed. Peggy sawed through her binds and was quickly free.
Her internal clock told her that she didn't have much time left. Already the two guards behind her had staggered to their feet.
As the first guard slipped the bolt of his rifle back to ready it, he received the parting gift of the ornate dagger being hurled his way. Though it wasn't properly balanced for such a throw, Peggy still managed to lodge it into his shoulder (instead of her intended target, his throat).
He screamed as he pulled the trigger. Thankfully, the round went wide, but the loud, echoing bang would certainly alert any nearby Hydra personnel.
True to her luck, additional guards streamed into the lab in moments. There were suddenly far more present than Peggy had hoped would respond. With no other choice, Peggy dragged the gasping Baron Zemo to his feet. Though he was several inches taller than her, she wasn't deterred and simply held him bent over from behind. She made sure she did not make an easy target the whole time.
As she heard the cock of the weapons being trained on her, she pulled Zemo's pistol free from its holster. With one arm still around his throat, she placed the barrel of the German luger against the Baron's head. Her voice was unwavering when she demanded, "Tell them to drop their weapons and step back."
He motioned for them to do as she said, and all did so with sneers of defiance.
Drops of sweat mixed with the blood that still leaked from his broken mouth. But even with a gun pressed against his temple, the bastard sounded confident, "Fraulein, I am impressed, but how do you think you can escape so many?"
As she slowly angled them toward the exit, she kept him between her and the soldiers.
The guard's glared at her, ready to react at the first chance she relaxed her attention on them. Peggy hissed in Zemo's ear, "With you as my shield, I best be given full right of way, Herr Zemo. Now let's go free my friends."
Peggy licked her lips as the soldier's gaze followed her every move. Grimly, she stopped when more raced into the room. This really wasn't going as well as she had hoped, and internally she cursed her impetuousness.
Sensing her hesitancy, Zemo cooed, "Give up now, and I will spare you for attempting such foolishness."
Peggy could not believe the nerve of this man. She vowed to kill this high-ranking Hydra leader before his men could shoot her dead. Her sacrifice would be worth his death.
Before she could growl at him to stay quiet, there was a sudden loud booming explosion on the level directly above them. The blast was so violent that everyone was knocked off their feet.
Overhead, Peggy heard the horrible sound of cracking, and plaster fell away just before a large piece of the ceiling collapsed. The thick section of concrete took out a group of soldiers nearest to Peggy's location.
But before Peggy could stop him, Baron Zemo squirmed from her relaxed grip and ran off.
As more of the roof rained down, Peggy attempted to shoot the fleeing Baron, but the Hydra leader had escaped past his wall of remaining men.
Seeing her without an important hostage, the guards grabbed their weapons off the floor.
As they aimed their guns at her vulnerable position, Captain America suddenly dropped from the massive hole in the ceiling. Instantly by her side, he grinned down at her.
Hearing the priming of rifles, Steve crouched quickly. He then lifted his shield in time to deflect the multitude of gunfire. Peggy smiled at him as the bullets ricocheted off with a satisfying ping. Her grin widened when many of the soldiers were hit by their own shrapnel. Their screams of pain were music to her ears.
"Shall we finish this, Peggy?" Steve asked in a low voice, and she felt a thrill race through her from head to toe. Maybe Zemo was right about their 'friendship' being a liability, but she would not have it any other way.
With his shield at the ready, Steve stood. After he had helped Peggy to her feet, she cocked the Baron's luger and nodded to him.
Beaming to one another, Steve pivoted to the side, allowing her free access to those who were aiming to kill them. While she expertly shot down the armed soldiers in the back of the room, Captain America took care of any nearby. Easily, the pair of them defeated the multitude of remaining Hydra guards.
Afterward, they exchanged a few longing glances that held promises of yet to come. They hadn't had time to work on this burgeoning attraction they shared, but Peggy hoped they could soon act on it.
Hearing the clatter of boots racing their way down the hall brought her reluctantly back to reality. Begrudgingly she coughed, and her deft signal reminded Steve that they still had a job to finish.
Steve smiled that pleased grin he only had for her, "Guess we should go free the others, Peggy."
Her voice was just as husky as his, "Yes, Steve, you are quite right."
For now, they would have to table their obvious desire for one another that they always seemed to flirt around.
Quickly they ran off to deal another blow against Hydra. It was the first time they had teamed up together, and she vowed that it would definitely not be their last.
With a sad exhale, Peggy came back to the present.
Zemo was still gloating, and Peggy wondered how long she had been reminiscing.
"Yes, and then with you joining in the hunt, it only seemed logical to have you continue to test them out for me. And you certainly revealed their inadequacies in your usual impeccable aplomb, Agent Carter. But I can assure you that my newest model will be even more efficient and better than those two previous ones."
Now more tired than she thought humanly possible, Peggy asked, "Just what do you want from us."
Zemo stepped away and stared out the sunlit windows, arms clasped behind his back in pensive thought. "I need your help," he confessed.
Peggy snorted, "You must be kidding."
She heard the mocking sneer in Zemo's voice, "Not your help, Fraulein. You have already done enough of that. No, it is the brilliant mind of Howard Stark that I need."
Howard frowned, eyeing the robots that guarded them, "Well, it would be interesting to open them up to see what makes them tick."
Affronted, Zemo snapped, "Please, I can handle that myself. No, I need your help getting this [damn] cowl off me!" The ordinarily calm sotto voice had suddenly become hysterical from frustration. The Baron's fingers clenched in front of his masked face as if to dig the cloth off, but instead, they clutched ineffectually in the air.
Peggy saw the millionaire inventor contemplating this request and hissed, "Don't do it, Howard."
Howard gave her his usual disarming smile, "Don't worry, Peg. The caustic solvents I'd have to use would dramatically burn his face."
Zemo turned, seething, "Herr Stark… with you, I sometimes wonder what is ego and what is intellect."
Smirking, Howard stated, "Pal, you need both if you are going to make it in this world."
Peggy swore all he needed was a cigar and a glass of cognac to finish the image of a cocky statesman.
"We shall see, Herr Stark, just what your limits are." He took a menacing step toward the stalwart inventor.
Fearful for Howard, Peggy placed herself between them and stated vehemently, "Just kill me now before I have to hear any more of your vapid drivel, Zemo."
The arrogant Hydra leader turned his attention back to Peggy and chuckled knowingly, "Ah, there is that British Superiority Complex. No, Fraulein, I assure you your death will not be so quick. We have some experiments that should be worthy of your rash nature. It only seems fair after all the trouble you have caused Hydra over the years." With a slight motion of his hand, the two Fem-droids grabbed Peggy's arms.
She gasped when one of the robots viciously twisted her arm behind her back. Now it was Howard's turn to be afraid for his friend, and he said quickly, "Wait, wait, I have an idea on how to get it off you pain-free."
"Howard—" Peggy cautioned.
"Sorry Peg, I just can't lose you, too." His baleful eyes said it all.
Before Peggy could assure him that everything would be alright, Zemo stated smugly, "Oh yes, Herr Stark, you will happily help me. But for now, you are going to watch your girlfriend suffer."
"We are not dating!" Peggy spat indignantly as she struggled in the robot's grasp.
Zemo ignored her outburst and nodded to his creations, "Take them both to the lab and prepare her. It is, as the Americans say, payback time."
Outraged, Peggy struggled, but to no avail. When the Man-droid grabbed Howard's arm, the inventor sputtered, trying to think of something to say. It did not matter, for the machine continued to ignore their noises, only intent on carrying out their orders.
As they were dragged from the room, they heard Zemo's evil laugh echo down the hall ominously behind them.
Miles away from the disguised dirigible, Jarvis pushed the small prop plane's engine as fast as possible. It almost sounded like a hoard of angry bees, and Jarvis grimaced determinedly as he tried to use the air currents for additional speed.
Seated in the open cockpit behind him, Dmitri huddled, hunched over, trying to stay warm. At first, he had tried to get the resolute butler to slow down, but either Jarvis could not hear over the racing engine, or because the man refused to listen, the Russian did not know.
Dmitri had even volunteered to hold onto the tracking device, but Jarvis would not hear of it, and the Russian bitterly wondered why he had bothered to come along.
They had been traveling for over an hour, and Dmitri thought they should have reached the camouflaged blimp by now. But unfortunately, there were now a lot of dark-looking clouds surrounding them.
When he and Jarvis earlier conferred, they figured Hydra would head to Istanbul, intent on finishing this part of the treasure hunt. Silently, they hoped this information was gained from the stolen scanner images and not from horrific means.
The Russian was about to suggest that they work their way back in case they had overshot it but then heard Jarvis exclaim and point at a massive cloud ahead.
At first, Dmitri wasn't sure, but the closer they got, the more the truth was revealed.
Though the sides were well disguised as a puffy cloud, the area on top was flatter than any cloud should be. But it was not long enough to land on. Dmitri wondered if another plank would extend outwards to make the runway the proper length.
Nobody was proficient enough to land on such a small strip regardless of how good of a pilot Jarvis was. They really should have thought this out better. He wondered if comrade Peggy's impulsiveness was contagious.
Finally, Jarvis twisted around and looked at the Russian. He admitted, "I was afraid of this. We will have to try landing with a hook on the end of a rope. It should snag onto something before we go over the side."
Aghast at the man's suicidal tendencies, Dmitri insisted, "No, too dangerous. Instead, lower the rope, and I will slide down it. Make another pass, Mr. Jarvis."
Realizing the danger, Jarvis suggested, "Or you can try the parachute."
Dmitri quickly shook his head, "And be blown off by any unpredictable crosswinds. No, I would rather take my chances by dropping on top of it."
Jarvis stuttered his head with a nervous nod and then swung the plane around for another pass.
"Don't be concerned. I have jumped onto moving trains in a similar fashion."
Still, Jarvis was anxious, but there wasn't much they could do about their perilous situation now.
Grabbing the rope at his feet, Dmitri tied it off and swung his leg over the side of the plane. He yelled over the gusts of wind to Jarvis, "How soon until we reach Istanbul?"
Double-checking the gauges and the map he held, Jarvis replied, "It's not much farther. We should be there in about a half hour. Why?"
Dmitri hollered, "Because this plane cannot hold the five of us. Since there is only a short amount of time left, we could just ride on top of the blimp until we got there."
"My, we did not think this all the way through very well," Jarvis admitted, stating the obvious. "Alright, I will continue flying overhead if you need a quick escape."
Dmitri nodded and slid down the rope just as Jarvis flew them once more over the top of the dirigible. He tried to get as safely close as possible to the flat surface of the airship.
Reaching the end of the short rope, the Russian agent let go and dropped, aiming for the middle of the blimp. Luckily it was not much of a fall. Regardless, he truly hoped it would be a soft landing, but not so much that he bounced off into oblivion.
Only one of the robots had stayed behind in the lab. Peggy refused to stare at the muscular machine's face that resembled someone she had loved with all her heart. It no longer wore the camouflage mask as it stared down at her, and Peggy knew this was Zemo's way of being petty.
Outraged at the audacity, she struggled against the strong bonds that held her down, but she could not budge them. The robots had secured her to an upraised table that gave her a perfect view of the small cabin.
It was a futile effort as she continued to pull against the straps. Alas, her wrists, ankles, and middle stayed held down firmly. As Peggy fought to get free, she glared at the locking mechanism that kept each wrist strap secured. If only she could somehow unlock one of them, the agent knew she could get free of the rest.
As more time passed, she wondered when their host would deem to visit them. Her internal clock warned her that she had to do something and soon.
Next to her sat Howard, tied to a chair. It seemed that Zemo did not want him to miss whatever was about to happen to her.
Stopping a moment from her exhaustive efforts, Peggy looked about the room. She ignored the giant life-like anatomy picture on the wall facing her and focused on the nearby table that had an impressive chemistry set upon it. Warily eyeing the glass beakers, test tubes, and vials, Peggy imagined that this was Zemo's makeshift lab.
Peggy's attention was quickly diverted, and she hissed involuntarily when robot Steve inserted an IV needle into her arm. The other end of the transparent rubber tube was then shoved into a bottle with clear liquid. Methodically, the one-handed Man-droid hooked it to the metal stand that was next to her head.
Though the drip had yet to be released, Peggy fought frantically against her bonds, but her arms stayed pinned to her side. She had no idea what was in that bottle and did not wish to find out firsthand.
At least metal Steve hadn't taped the IV against her skin. A plan soon formed of pulling the needle out and then using the sharp tip to pick the lock on the straps that held her down.
While she was picturing her escape, Howard had been closely studying the Man-droid. He realized that since they were a much simpler mechanism than the Fem-droids, they would have many more weaknesses to be taken advantage of.
Howard made some weird throat-clearing noise that cut through Peggy's thoughts. For a moment, she did not know if he was trying to distract her or the machine.
Noticing that he had gotten her attention, he dipped his head to indicate the metal Steve, "Yeah, these older models certainly have quite a few defects. No wonder Zemo built a better robot. Why I bet that you could twist the head off this badly damaged one as easily as opening a jar full of pickles. Just a few quick turns counter-clockwise should do it."
Peggy was about to reply with a sarcastic remark but realized that Howard had just imparted some useful information.
Howard caught her gaze, and Peggy subtly nodded that she understood.
With Peggy at the ready, Howard started coughing loudly, which drew the machine's attention to him. Howard choked out between the overwrought hacking coughs, "I don't suppose I could trouble you for some water, preferably with a touch of scotch in it? Or, better yet, hold the water, and I'll take the scotch neat."
If the robot's painted features could display emotions, a quizzical look would have been on this one. Instead, it stood hovering nearby, unsure of what it should do.
Howard registered its indecision and decided to help it along, "Hey buddy, maybe instead relax these ropes around my middle. Remember, I am the one that shouldn't be hurt, and these things chafe like the blazes. Now, normally I wouldn't mind, but this wasn't one of those occasions."
While Howard demonstrated rope abrasion problems, Peggy glanced at the needle going into her vein. Straining, her long fingers barely brushed the top of the rubber tube. Grimacing from the sting, she slowly tugged it downwards and finally pulled out the needle. She just barely grabbed the hypodermic before it dropped past her restricted reach. Bending her wrist, she quickly jabbed it into the lock that encircled her wrist.
After a small sounding 'ping,' her wrist was free.
Though the robot had bent over to check Howard's bonds, it must have had good hearing to be alerted by the minuscule noise of the lock being sprung. Suddenly only the machine's head swiveled around, and it stared down at her.
In horrified fascination, Peggy stared up at Steve's doppelganger. She watched as it began to stomp around awkwardly as it tried to line its body up with its head. Just before it clumsily finished turning, Howard shoved it from behind with his foot. Off-balance, it crashed down next to Peggy.
With the robot kneeling by her side, Peggy could grab the top of its head. The hair felt fake, and Peggy hid her sneer as she quickly twisted the head in the direction Howard had instructed. After a few hurried counter-clockwise turns, the head came off with a sickening pop. The headless Man-droid twitched one last time and then collapsed onto the floor, unmoving.
After Peggy had dropped the head, she seized the hypodermic needle that she had been using. The agent then jammed it into the lock that bound her other wrist, and the mechanism sprung open. Then, with both hands free, she wretched the strap across her chest off.
When Peggy sat up and began to loosen the last fastening that held her legs down, Howard stated smugly, "Told you."
She had just gotten free when the two Fem-droids rushed in and once more restrained her to the table. A smug Baron Zemo sauntered into the room behind them.
As Peggy struggled, Zemo leered at her, "I have learned never to underestimate you, Fraulein."
He pointed to the large anatomy picture across from them. "Do you like my artwork? It is actually a specialized film image that is mounted on glass. The picture has thousands of tiny holes perforating it. This way, I have a perfect view from my side of the glass without the subject realizing it. I find that I can learn a lot if they think no one can see them."
He glanced down at the headless Man-droid at his feet and sneered, "And my last male one, too. Congratulations, Herr Stark. It seems that you have found another problem with my machines."
Howard frantically tugged against his bonds, "Buddy, give me a few more minutes, and I can take them all down."
Only half listening, Zemo answered with a nod of his head. Staring at Peggy, he ordered one of the Fem-droids, "Why don't we start with the white liquid."
As one of the robots reinserted the needle into Peggy's arm, Zemo recounted, "Funny story, Fraulein. I started developing these serums after your Captain America was created. I never got close to figuring out Professor Erskine's formula, but it was certainly enjoyable trying."
The other Fem-droid went to a refrigerator and removed a small glass vial filled with an opaque white liquid. Next to it were two additional vials. One was filled with blue liquid, while the other contained red fluid. It was so very patriotic of him, Peggy thought derisively.
Watching the robot remove the white vial from the refrigerator, Peggy licked her lips. Once more, it was time to stall. She smiled overly bright, "I prefer the blue one. It's my favorite color."
Zemo thought about it for a moment and then shook his head, "Ah, but that formula would painfully freeze all your bodily fluids. No, that will be the last one I use on you. How about a compromise, and we'll try the red serum first? It will make that fiery blood of yours all the more consuming."
Her stalling tactic might not have worked on CIA Agent Smith, but she bet it would with this villain's ego. "Baron, since I am going to die, why not tell me what you hope to achieve in this quest."
All the happier to gloat some more, Zemo said enthusiastically, "Of course!"
Pride goeth before the fall, Peggy thought, hiding her smug smile.
He chuckled at her perceived ignorance, "So, you do not know what you are after?"
"No," Peggy admitted and forced a smile.
Zemo laughed, "So like a woman to pursue something you do not truly comprehend."
She bristled at the comment, and if she could, she would have punched him in the throat. Instead, she licked her lips and quickly stated, "Yes, that's me, impulsive."
The Baron nodded and replied, "Alright, Fraulein, I will tell you."
Dramatically he rested his foot on a nearby stool and stared pensively at the anatomy wall, already down the road of recollection. "Many years back, I had heard about the link between the Ancient Wonders and a treasure so amazing that it was worth anything to obtain. This was revealed when I was interrogating a very stubborn prisoner. It had taken some convincing, but the odd-looking man finally told me what he knew about this prize. But, alas, it wasn't much."
Disappointed, Peggy's head fell back against the table, "So you don't know."
He shrugged noncommittally, "I know enough that its discovery will lead to my ruling the planet, and thus—"
His curiosity rampant, Howard cut off the tyrant's usual hyperbolic boasting, "Rule the planet? How? Time travel, weapons, knowledge—"
Howard finally shut up when Zemo hissed a warning at him, "It is my story to tell."
"Yes, please, do go on," Peggy practically purred to him.
Preening, Zemo continued, "When I finally reach the end of this journey, I will get the ultimate weapon of destruction, and with that, I will conquer the world. Granted, most will perish, but that will be a boon in itself. And this marvelous circumstance will lead to the purest form of the human race, and I will be their master. This has been my personal quest for many years, now all the more important after how the last war had ended."
Pieces of this mysterious puzzle were being confirmed, and Peggy muttered, "And that was why you attacked Malta all those years ago. You were following up on a clue?"
"Yes, it had taken me a while to figure out that the old Malta docks held some answers. But before I could discover the clue, an angry sea beast awoke."
"That and I am sure that the allies fighting against your invasion force ruined your plans," Peggy could not keep the pride from her voice.
He admitted angrily, "Yes, Fraulein. Also, I could never figure out the sequence in which the Wonders should be discovered."
Frowning, Peggy mumbled, "So this sequence will lead to this final treasure?"
The Baron nodded, pleased, "Yes, and now thanks to you and Professor Ruzena, this is the closest I have ever gotten. I should have known that your tenacious personality would achieve what I could not, Fraulein Carter."
A radio on the wall chimed, interrupting his reveling. Zemo answered it frustrated, "Yes?"
"Baron, that bi-plane dropped off a passenger." It was a human-sounding voice, and Peggy wondered who was still alive from the upper echelon of Hydra to still work for Zemo.
An angry Zemo eyed Peggy and Howard, "I had a feeling this might happen." He barked into the radio, "Send out the mechanics to deal with this intruder."
"Yes, father," the male voice sounded so young.
Peggy started at the fact that Zemo had a child.
Zemo rebuked, "What did I tell you about titles? Now, how soon until we reach Istanbul, Helmut?"
"Around thirty more minutes, Baron," the young voice became a strong cadence of confidence.
"Good," Zemo replied, and he hung up the receiver.
He turned to his guests, "Ah, it is just as well we were interrupted. I was getting off tangent." His beady eyes focused again on Peggy, "And I am afraid I have been a bad host."
Zemo motioned to the Fem-droid, who then added the contents of the red vial into the saline bottle that was hooked to the metal stand above Peggy's head.
The emotionless robot turned a knob, and the solution began the drip. Slowly it made its way to the needle in Peggy's arm.
Though the liquid had been diluted, the color still resembled blood as it dripped. Horrified, Peggy struggled uselessly against the bonds as she watched it slowly traverse down the rubber tube and into her arm.
"I will get you for this, Zemo," she growled through clenched teeth. She had one last moment to glare at the maniacal villain before the agonizing pain of fire spread outwards through her veins.
At one time, she had believed that being shot twice in her shoulder had been the most torturous pain in her life. That instance was nothing compared to the fiery searing ache that she now felt coursing within her body.
As her senses were quickly overwhelmed, Peggy tried to hold back her screams, but she could not. She screamed and screamed, but still, the unbearable agony would not stop.
