Chapter 27:
[Spartan POV]
[Berlin, Germany]
[Car.] As I observed T'Challa, I couldn't help but be intrigued by his distinctive catsuit. Sam, always one to voice his thoughts, asked the question in both of our minds. "So you like cats?" he asked, his suspicion evident in his gaze. Cap, however, interjected firmly, reprimanding Sam for his line of questioning. Undeterred, Sam argued back, pointing out the irony of T'Challa's feline attire and its advanced technology. Feeling the same curiosity, I chimed in, acknowledging the exceptional quality of T'Challa's Vibranium suit and the apparent contradiction it posed, considering Wakanda's portrayal as a developing nation.
T'Challa's eyes narrowed, and he glanced at me, then shifted his gaze towards Cap. With a regal air, he explained, "The Black Panther has served as the guardian of Wakanda for countless generations. It is a mantle passed down from warrior to warrior." Pausing momentarily, he directed his question to Cap and me, assuming his roles as a warrior and king. "So, I ask you, how long do you think you can protect your friend from me?"
Cap remained silent, unable to provide an answer. Sensing the tension in the air, I decided to voice what was evidently on all our minds. "Okay, that's a not-so-subtle way of saying you have some sort of issue with Barnes," I stated. "So, what did he do to you?" I asked, hoping to unearth the cause behind T'Challa's animosity. And then, T'Challa revealed the truth, his stoic expression concealing a tempest of emotions. "He murdered my father when I was just a boy," he disclosed, the pain and anger flickering in his eyes. The weight of his revelation hung heavily in the air, rendering us all speechless.
[Drake POV]
[Rooftop.] From the vantage point of the rooftop, I discreetly tap my comlink, my eyes fixed on the approaching convoy as it enters the heavily guarded JSOC facility. As the team leader, it's my responsibility to coordinate the next phase of our operation. However, there's a crucial factor to consider: the presence of the formidable AVENGERS on-site.
Relaying the information to my fellow operative, Skeith, I speak into the comlink, my voice calm and composed. "We need to proceed with the next part of the operation. Just be aware that the AVENGERS have arrived at the scene." There's a brief pause before Skeith responds, her voice filled with determination. "Not a problem. This actually works in our favor. We'll be able to eliminate two targets at once," she states confidently, her words laced with a hint of anticipation.
Meanwhile, I glance at my team, positioned strategically and ready to execute their assigned roles. They await the signal, eager to proceed. Skeith's next transmission comes through, confirming their readiness. "My troops and I are in position. We're awaiting the green light to initiate our part of the operation," she informs me.
Acknowledging her message, I affirm our understanding of the plan. "Copy that. I'm preparing to make my move," I respond. With the confirmation from Skeith and the readiness of my team, it's time to put our carefully crafted strategy into action. Taking a final moment to survey the surroundings, I ensure that all variables are accounted for. Then, with a swift and calculated motion, I begin to make entry.
[Spartan POV]
[JSOC HQ, Berlin]
[Lobby.] Walking through the bustling lobby of JSOC headquarters, our group is met by a familiar face—a blonde woman accompanied by Everett Ross. Cap's surprise is evident as he addresses her, "Kate?" However, she corrects him with a small smile, revealing her true identity. "It's Sharon, actually. Kate was just my cover name. Sorry about that, by the way. I was simply doing my job." Cap dismisses her apology, understanding the circumstances. "No need to apologize. I understand. Besides, that's all in the past now. There's no point in dwelling on it." Sharon visibly appreciates Cap's forgiving nature, giving the impression that she has more to say but remains silent. The shorter man beside Sharon coughs, diverting everyone's attention toward him. It's Everett Ross. "You guys certainly know how to put on a show," he remarks, a hint of frustration in his voice. "The Secretary of State has been blowing up my phone for the past hour."
Cap expresses his distaste for the man in question. "I never liked him. Since day one, Thaddeus Ross has harbored a grudge against the AVENGERS." I interject with a roll of my eyes, adding my own commentary. "More like he has a vendetta against all SUPERS in general." The tensions between the government and enhanced individuals have escalated ever since the revelation of aliens and the emergence of SUPERS. It's not making things any easier with the increasing number of people developing superhuman abilities every day. Wanda chimes in, her voice laced with bitterness. "And let's not forget about that woman, Ellen Nadeer." The animosity towards SUPERS seems to be shared by certain individuals in positions of power.
Curious about Bucky's fate, Cap turns to Everett and inquires, his gaze fixed on Bucky being transported in a containment unit. "What's going to happen to him?" Everett responds, providing insight into the situation. "He'll undergo a psychological evaluation and then face extradition. If all goes well, Barnes will be transferred to an American psychiatric facility instead of a supermax prison." The outcome hinges on a positive evaluation and the hope of a more rehabilitative approach rather than one purely focused on punishment.
[Steve Rogers POV]
[Mission-room] I enter the mission-room to find Tony and Nat present. "Hey, Cap," Tony greets me, and I shake his hand. "Good to see you, Tony," I reply. He fills me in, "Nat and I were called in as soon as we heard about the attack. Coulson thought you might need some backup on this op. But it looks like you and the others have everything under control here." I nod appreciatively, "Yeah, but it never hurts to have some backup, just in case." Nat walks over, handing me a tablet. "The mercenaries who targeted Barnes are local hires, ex-German Special Forces. They were hired anonymously through the dark web. No traces," she informs me. Tony adds, "Barnes has made a lot of enemies. It'sUnsurprisingly, someone saw an opportunity to take him out." I shoot Tony a glare, and he raises his hands defensively. "I'm just stating the public opinion. The rest of the world won't easily accept the mind-control explanation. To them, it's too far-fetched, too much like a Saturday morning cartoon, even if it's true." I voice my disagreement, "We were under mind control not too long ago, and we were cleared." Nat supports Tony's viewpoint, crossing her arms over her chest. I let out a sigh, conceding, "Yeah, I know."
Tony leaves the mission-room, leaving Nat and me alone. I take a seat and pull out Bucky's journal that I retrieved from his apartment. I want to gain insight into who Bucky truly is: my brother or the Winter Soldier. Flipping open the notebook, I skim through a few pages. Many entries focus on his fragmented memories and dreams, his attempts to piece them together proving unsuccessful. I glance up to see Nat staring intently at the security feed of Bucky in the interrogation room. I ask, "Want to talk about it?" Startled, Nat jumps as if caught off guard. It seemed, for a moment, she forgot where she was. She quickly composes herself and replies, "No. I highly doubt he'll even remember me." I offer a small glimmer of hope, "Maybe, maybe not." Placing the journal on the table, I catch Nat's perplexed expression as her eyes fall upon it. "In one of the entries, he described a woman with red hair whom he was partnered with," I share. Curiosity piqued, she asks, "Is that all it said?" For a brief moment, vulnerability seeps into her voice, but it quickly disappears. "Unfortunately, that's all he could gather. Everything remains fragmented," I explain. Nat walks over and takes a seat next to me. I shift the topic, saying, "You know, you never told me the full story of your history with Bucky." Nat responds matter-of-factly, "Yeah, I did. There isn't much to tell. Bucky was my trainer, and occasionally, he was my partner." At that moment, Sharon signals that the psychologist has arrived, diverting our attention.
[Karai POV]
[Office.] I sit across from T'Challa in the office, expressing my condolences, "Sorry about your father. I've heard he was a good man and a great king." T'Challa acknowledges my words with a nod of gratitude, "In my culture, death is not seen as the end. It's more like a stepping-off point. You reach out with both hands... and Bast and Sekhmet guide you into the green veldt... where you can run forever." I contemplate his words, finding the concept of such a serene afterlife intriguing. "That sounds peaceful," I respond, studying T'Challa closely. He meets my gaze, absently fiddling with a ring on his finger, "My father thought so too."
Taking a deep breath, I address the matter at hand, knowing it carries great significance. "At the risk of starting an argument, I'm asking you to give the AVENGERS a chance to prove Bucky's innocence," I state firmly. T'Challa's response is laced with disdain, "You would support a murderer and a terrorist." I narrow my eyes at him, determined to make my point clear, "No. And for the record, Bucky Barnes was a prisoner of war held by HYDRA. He was a mind-controlled assassin. All the atrocities he committed were against his will." T'Challa scoffs dismissively, "It doesn't change the fact that he still committed those acts, mind-controlled or not." I hold my ground, crossing my arms, "Yes, he did. I'm not arguing against that. I'm arguing that he needs help, not a prison cell."
T'Challa takes a moment to contemplate my words before posing a question of his own, "May I ask you something?" I gesture for him to proceed, "Go ahead." He looks at me intently while still fiddling with his ring, "Why do you speak up for Barnes and not Steve Rogers?" I tilt my head slightly, considering his question, "Barnes is important to Cap, which might cloud his judgment. Whether our leader wants to admit it or not, he has a blind spot when it comes to Barnes. The same goes for anyone who has a best friend in a difficult situation," I respond, offering my perspective to T'Challa. As our conversation reaches its critical point, a knock resounds at the door, and Sharon pops her head in, delivering important news, "The psychological evaluation is about to begin. Cap wants you on standby." I acknowledge her message with a nod, "On my way."
[Bucky Barnes POV]
[Irrigation room.] I regain consciousness, and the sound of an unlocking door reaches my ears. I slowly open my eyes to find a formally dressed woman entering the room. I remain restrained in the containment unit while she takes a seat at a nearby table. Her purpose becomes clear as she begins speaking, "Mr. Barnes, I've been sent by the UN to evaluate you. For the record, your first name is James?" Her question catches me off guard, and I tilt my head, listening closely. There's a hint of a Brooklyn accent in her voice, which triggers a flicker of familiarity. I wonder if it's a deliberate choice by the man in blue or just a strange coincidence. "I'm not here to judge you, Mr. Barnes, only to help you the best I can. Now, can you answer a few questions?" she continues. I nod in acknowledgment, ready to cooperate.
She proceeds with her inquiries, starting with a simple question, "Do you know where you are, Mr. Barnes?" My gaze meets hers, and I feel a strong urge to correct her, "My name's Bucky." Suddenly, the room plunges into darkness, and the emergency lights flicker on. A sense of foreboding fills the air as a voice breaks through the silence, stating, "No, that name belongs to a dead man." In a matter of seconds, a man in a tactical combat suit materializes behind the woman. Recognition strikes me, and a wave of memories crashes over me like a tsunami. "It's been a long time, Winter," he says, his voice sending a chill down my spine.
Before the woman can react to the intruder, the man swiftly draws his gun and ruthlessly shoots her in the head. Her lifeless body collapses to the floor, and my eyes widen in horror. The man shows no remorse as he casually tosses the table aside and approaches the containment unit. Standing mere inches away from me, he begins speaking in Russian, uttering bizarre phrases that make no sense to me. A searing, agonizing pain pierces through my head, intensifying with each word he utters. Overwhelmed, I can't help but cry out, "NO! STOP!" My desperate plea falls on deaf ears as the pain engulfs my senses, consuming me entirely. Darkness swiftly envelops my consciousness, and I succumb to its suffocating embrace.
[Spartan POV]
[Observation room.] The team watches the psychological evaluation unfold through the monitor in the office when suddenly, the entire JSOC HQ is plunged into darkness. "What the hell?" I exclaim as emergency power kicks in. The silence is shattered by an explosion and the sound of gunfire. Panic ensues as someone yells over the radio, "WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" Cap swiftly takes command, ordering everyone to gear up. The team splits into two groups, Team Cap and Team Iron Man, to address the threat.
[Holding area.] Sam, Karai, and I follow Cap as we make our way to the holding area. Chaos surrounds us as we come across the lifeless bodies of JSOC soldiers strewn across the floor. Standing over them are two individuals - one clad in a black tactical combat suit and the other, Bucky. But it's not Bucky; it's the Winter Soldier. The realization dawns on Cap as his eyes meet his friend's. I lock eyes with the masked man, a feeling of intense animosity building within me. "Drake," I growl. Sam, confused, asks if I know this guy. I respond with venom in my voice, "We crossed paths."
Cap demands to know what has been done to Bucky, and the man in the combat suit, who we now identify as Drake, replies callously, "Nothing. I just brought out his true self." In an instant, the Winter Soldier swiftly incapacitates Sam, knocking him out cold. He then turns his attention to Cap, charging at him and forcing him back toward the elevator with a series of devastating combos. Cap manages to use his shield to hold off the Winter Soldier, but with a mighty blow, Winter Soldier punches Cap through the elevator doors, sending him plummeting into the darkness below. Karai and I rush to intervene, but Drake blocks our path.
Drake launches a powerful punch at me, and though I manage to deflect the attack, it still sends me reeling backward. Without hesitation, we clash head-on, exchanging blows. Drake attacks with a high hook punch, but I swiftly drop low, delivering two elbow strikes to his leg, causing him to drop to a knee. I prepare to deliver an uppercut, but he seizes me, lifting me onto his shoulder and slamming me forcefully onto the ground. He mounts me and unleashes a barrage of punches, but I react quickly, wrapping my arms around him, pulling him close, drawing my pistol, and unloading five shots into his side. He bellows out in agony as he rolls off of me, his wounds beginning to regenerate. "Right, enhanced regeneration," I note. Drake laughs, acknowledging my tenacity. "Still got your edge. Aggro and ferocity! You never bore me, Spartan. A true blood-knight like me."
I immediately charge at him, leaping into the air, attempting to strike him with a jumping elbow. But he sidesteps my attack, delivering a powerful kick to my body. Swiftly moving around my back, he executes a back suplex, slamming me forcefully into the ground. Karai draws her pistol and opens fire on Drake, momentarily stunning him. However, it fails to halt his advance. Drake closes in, disarms Karai, grabs her by the throat, and slams her to the ground with a devastating choke slam. He then readies his gun, preparing to finish her off. Reacting swiftly, I dash forward, tackling Drake off of my partner. But he quickly retaliates, pushing me away with a powerful push-kick to the chest. I fall back but quickly roll with the impact, swiftly recovering to my feet.
Karai and I regroup and charge at Drake, launching a coordinated assault with a combination of punches and kicks. However, Drake skillfully defends against our attacks. He traps Karai's attacking leg and flings her toward me, then tosses a flashbang, temporarily blinding us both. As we recover, we find that both Drake and the Winter Soldier have vanished. Karai and I rush to the elevator, only to discover Cap lying at the bottom of the elevator shaft, unconscious.
[Main level.] As we make our way to the main level, the scene erupts into chaos. JSOC soldiers are engaged in a fierce firefight with a mercenary unit, and they are losing ground. Bullets fly in all directions, creating a deadly storm of lead. Karai and I join the fray, positioning ourselves strategically against a wall, waiting for the mercenaries to come to us. When I spot a rifle barrel emerging from around a corner, I react swiftly, leaping into action. I grab hold of the rifle's barrel, striking the mercenary's nose with a back fist, flipping him to the ground, and dispatching him with two shots to the chest using his own weapon. Moving swiftly, I eliminate six more mercenaries with well-placed shots. Another merc attempts to strike me with the butt of his rifle, but I deftly evade the blow, counterattacking by punching the gun into the mercenary's abdomen, firing three shots, and finishing him off with a headshot. I then engage in close-quarters combat, executing a hip-throw on one mercenary, swiftly followed by a double tap to ensure their demise. I tag two more mercs with precise shots.
Drake and the Winter Soldier barrel through the JSOC soldiers, decimating their resistance. Despite their best efforts, JSOC is no match for the deadly duo. Tony, Natasha, Sharon, and T'Challa arrive on the scene. Tony activates his watch, transforming it into an Iron Man gauntlet, and fires a stun blast at the Winter Soldier. The shot momentarily stuns the Winter Soldier, but he retaliates by grabbing Tony's hand with his metal arm and breaking it, forcing Tony back with a powerful kick. Tony collapses to the ground, writhing in pain, clutching his now broken hand. Drake, on the other hand, bypasses the Winter Soldier to confront Natasha and Sharon, two of SHIELD's finest agents. Sharon strikes first, landing a kick on Drake, but he catches her incoming attack. Skillfully evading her leg, Drake closes in, shooting at close range, gripping her by the neck, and slams her down through a nearby table with a brutal chokeslam.
Drake then turns his attention to Natasha. He jabs at her face, landing a few body shots, and takes her back before executing a back suplex that sends her crashing to the ground. Witnessing this, I surge forward, launching a jumping elbow strike at Drake's face. Though he reels back, he manages to stay on his feet. Karai swiftly joins the fray, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks against the assassin. Drake adeptly blocks her attacks, seizing an opportunity to grab Karai. He fireman-carry-drops her onto a table, temporarily incapacitating her. "This suddenly turns into a Brooklyn-style street fight," I note to myself.
Just as Drake is about to deliver a finishing blow, Cap intervenes, throwing his shield at Drake, which strikes him and shatters his mask. The Winter Soldier and T'Challa engage in a fierce exchange of blows. To my surprise, T'Challa holds his own against the formidable super-soldier. T'Challa launches a barrage of strikes, but the Winter Soldier effortlessly blocks and counters with a powerful punch from his metal arm, knocking T'Challa unconscious. Despite his Vibranium suit, T'Challa is still vulnerable beneath it. Drake watches with sadistic pleasure, commenting, "I do miss watching you work, Winter." The two enemies dash toward the nearby exit leading to the helipad.
[Helipad.] I burst through the door, my pistol aimed at Drake; I call out his name. Our eyes lock, and I can see his twisted grin behind the cracked visor of his mask. But before I can act, a searing pain shoots through my back, causing me to drop to all fours in agony. A hooded figure emerges before me, donning a tactical suit with a skull-shaped mask. With incredible force, the figure delivers a devastating stump-kick to my head, rattling my senses. The pain intensifies, and I struggle to stay conscious as the three enemy combatants escape through a portal. Drake's mocking voice echoes in the distance, "Until next time, Spartan."
Despite my overwhelming exhaustion, I manage to gather my remaining strength and aim my pistol at Bucky, the Winter Soldier. Knowing that he's under mind control, I fire a stun bolt at him. The electrical charge courses through his body, rendering him unconscious. "At least it isn't a complete loss," I mutter to myself, acknowledging the small victory. As my energy wanes, I succumb to the weight of my injuries and pass out.
[Steve Rogers POV]
[Med-bay.] The med-bay is abuzz with the presence of wounded and injured soldiers, each one a reminder of the responsibility I bear. My fists clench tightly as I contemplate my failure. Tony approaches, his arm supported by a sling, mirroring my frustration. "Well, that was a complete disaster. Who were those guys?" T'Challa joins us; his curiosity is evident. "I, too, am eager to uncover their identity," he remarks.
"CERBERUS," Spartan growls with anger, his teeth tightly clenched. Nursing a deep gash on his head, he discards a bloodied bandage in frustration. As our conversation continues, a foreboding thought begins to emerge in my mind. This attack was merely a glimpse of the danger that lies ahead. The threat we face is far greater than we could have anticipated. Sam interrupts my thoughts, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. He directs my attention to the pod housing Bucky. "A bitter victory, but a victory nonetheless," he says. Despite the chaos and the casualties, we managed to retrieve Bucky, and for now, that is something to hold onto amidst the turmoil.