Music for this:

Rob Dougan's "Chateau"

watch?v=KCNOe7s1lD0&list=PLD4ZwDeQz9JARiJWqZtrcInSi-HicI-F4&index=47

Namor shoved his grandparents out of the way just as the sharp shards of glass fell upon them. As more of the overhead dome cracked apart, everyone scattered so not to be sliced into ribbons. Peggy's group barely got to safety before a large piece could land on them.

Around them, the screams of the Atlanteans were drowned out when more missiles suddenly slammed into the royal dais from above. Most of it was destroyed, as was the area around it. Looking over her friend's heads, Peggy was relieved to see that Namor and the others were alright, if not a bit shaken.

When the freezing cold waters began to intermingle with the warmer currents, Peggy's breath was nearly taken away. Then what emerged through the large jagged hole above almost made her swallow it whole.

Five Hydra-styled submersibles propelled downwards. From behind each subs front windshield, Peggy saw that a Zemo Man-droid was at the controls.

The cigar-shaped subs were decked out in all sorts of deadly armaments. Underwater machine guns were welded to the sides, and multiple missiles were fastened to the undercarriage. Also, each one had a long mechanical arm that protruded from its nose. And at its end was a large metal claw that snapped menacingly at any who got too close.

Peggy watched aghast as the subs now raced around the massive chamber.

Amazed, Howard exhaled, impressed, "Those must be the modified Hydra 4X7s. They had been working on them just before the war ended. From the specs I have seen, they are very formidable."

His words snapped Peggy out of her shock. Instantly, her training kicked in, and she pushed Howard and Jarvis back as one of the dangerous submersibles darted toward them. Dmitri and Zdenka dived out of the way in the opposite direction.

Now split off from the Russians, they hunkered down behind a pile of debris. Peggy figured that at least the ruins from the dais were providing them with some cover.

Catching their breaths, Peggy asked, "Where in the hell did they come from?"

Squinting, Howard glanced upwards, "Must have somehow tracked us here and waited for Zemo's signal."

Cautiously looking over the mound of wreckage, Peggy saw that Dmitri and Zdenka had retreated to a safer position on the other side of the destroyed platform from them.

She then watched as the golden armored guards charged Baron Zemo. Yelping, Zemo Junior quickly hid behind his father as the royal guards got closer.

But before they could reach them, one of the subs changed course and rammed into them. Flying backward from the collision, the Atlanteans slammed violently into the nearby wall and lay stunned on the floor.

Seeing the mighty royal guards so easily defeated seemed to spur the stunned citizenry into action. Quickly they swam for the exits, but the subs would not let any leave the chamber. The machines instantly blocked the exit and used their giant claws to grab those fleeing. These Atlanteans were then tossed near the center of the room where a cluster of scared citizens was growing.

While the red, yellow, and green-clothed individuals were herded closer together, the blue-clad military scrambled to fight back. But it was not going well for them, and they were quickly rounded up as well.

In a show of intimidation, those subs not guarding the prisoners began to damage the imperial chambers. Their metal claws slammed into ornate coral columns and walls, effortlessly knocking them over. Watching their beloved symbols so easily destroyed made the Atlantean inhabitants all the more fearful.

During this, Prince Namor shielded his grandparents, protecting them from any potential threats. All three watched, horrified at what was going on. Namor was torn between helping his people and guarding his imperial family.

When everything was finally under his control, Zemo ordered his subs to converge on the stunned monarchy. The few remaining royal guards took defensive positions against the oncoming danger, but they were no match as the mechanical arms swept them aside.

Planning to stop the subs before they could reach his grandparents, Namor charged at them. He suddenly had to duck out of the way before a thrown guard almost plowed into him.

As a worried General Kadar raced toward the sovereigns, that same flung guard crashed into him. The collision was so hard that he was knocked past Peggy's hiding spot, and he lay dazed in a heap.

When Namor confronted the nearest sub, two others were able to bypass him. Instantly their mechanical arms grabbed the vulnerable monarchs by the throat. Seeing them in trouble, Namor spun around and sped toward his grandparents.

Sneering, Baron Zemo ordered, "Stand down, Princeling. With a flick of the switch, I could execute your family before you could stop my mighty machines."

Glowering, Namor relented begrudgingly. Powerless to help his family, he could only watch. He feared that any sudden movement might get them killed.

The few blue armored soldiers that could still stand regrouped and charged their weapons, ready to fight to the end.

"Stop this at once!" Zemo's voice boomed. "If you do not cease trying to free them, I will order my machines to snap your Empress's neck. Now drop your weapons and swim over there." He pointed to the wall that was furthest away from the monarchy.

The soldiers and royal guards looked to Namor, and he reluctantly nodded for them to do so. As they did as instructed, the Prince trained his fiery glare on the Baron.

Satisfied, Zemo punched in some new orders on the gauntlet. In moments, the three remaining subs used their mechanical arms to jostle the scared crowds into manageable groups. Among the Atlantean people's cries of despair and horror, Peggy's small party was forgotten.

Peggy sneered. Zemo had made a mistake in believing them to be a nonthreat.

Cautiously, she poked her head out and watched as Zemo made his way toward the Emperor and Empress. Most of the Atlanteans in red cowered as he swam past, and he reveled in their fear.

Soon his gaze rested upon the monarchs, who scowled back at him. His fingers hovered over the gauntlet's buttons. He chortled to the masses, "Now you Atlanteans will do as I say, or you will need new leaders."

General Kadar was helped up by his second in command. Glaring, the military leader hugged his arm against his injured ribs and seethed at the human interloper.

Studying the proud man, Zemo stated cordially, "Why are you so upset, General Kadar? We are of like mind, for I, too, want all humans to suffer. So why don't we work together for our common goal?"

The General stared at Zemo incredulously, "You truly wish for all your kind to perish?"

Baron Zemo snorted, affronted, "Well, not all of them. I will need a few thousand to tend the fields and bow at my feet. What I want is the will of whoever is left to be so broken that they can be easily molded into my fervent followers. Much like your ancestors did to the surface-dwellers three thousand years ago."

Preening from confidence, Zemo continued, "Now do not fear. I want nothing to do with your Kingdom. It is only your mighty warriors that I need to get what is rightfully mine. And I promise that once you lead your army to an easy victory, you can rule here. By the sound of things, it is justifiably yours anyway."

As the General gave the Baron's words some serious thought, Namor yelled, "Don't do this, Kadar."

The General sneered at the Prince, "We will get to you soon enough, pale crab. I know that I look forward to breaking that weak shell of yours open." He focused on Zemo, "What you say has some merit."

"I forbid you to side with this human. Now you are to do as I say, General, or be considered a traitor to your people," the Emperor commanded, which caused Kadar to sneer in derision.

"It seems that you are not in any position to order me around ever again, my liege."

Barely containing his glee, Zemo pressed, "Then I take it we are allies?"

The General's smile was a thin slit of evil, "Alright, I will work with you. And after we have destroyed those atomic bombs, our triumph over these surface-dwellers will be quick. Then you can be in charge of whatever is left of them."

Kadar barely controlled the malice in his voice as he glared at the monarchs, "Yes, I do think it is time for a new regime."

Zemo could hardly talk through his huge grin, "Good, then your first order is to—"

Offended at such impertinence, the General spat, "Order? I thought I was handling the invasion."

"Yes, yes, of course, you are, but first, we need to get all of this under control." Zemo's hand waved about to indicate those in the room.

General Kadar nodded and looked upon his loyal soldiers in blue armor, "Atlantean warriors, it is time for us to seize what is rightfully ours. Too long we have been at the beck and call of these old fools. We should be in charge of controlling our home, our destiny. Are you with me?"

All the soldiers in blue rang out a rousing chorus of support, "We are with you, General Kadar!"

The military leader nodded in pride and ordered, "Good. Now, since most of the influential families are present, I will address them first. Bring them forward."

Prince Namor cursed when the General's devoted blue soldiers picked up their weapons and swam over to the scared Atlanteans. As he glowered at the traitors, his cousins were shoved over to stand by him. They, too, could only watch ineffectually.

Focusing on those in red who were forced to the front of the cowering audience, Kadar eyed them critically. When the Lead Counselor in green suddenly blocked his view, he grabbed the front of her robe and yanked her to his face. Growling, he promised, "And I will deal with you later, Counselor Vivia."

Without warning, he head-butted her with a resounding crack that Peggy felt in her bones. The SSR Agent watched as Vivia collapsed onto the floor, unconscious. When Kadar's soldiers moved in to add more damage, the Counselor's followers quickly surrounded their leader and used their bodies to shield her from any further harm inflicted.

With her no longer an obstacle, the General spoke to the leader in red, "Come now, Lord Talon. I have heard your grumbles. Too often, your wants have been ignored. Well, under my rule, you will be allowed to do as you please here with no interference from me. But if you refuse, your group will join your sovereigns as hostages."

Grinning, the Atlantean representative in opulent red turned to his fellow brethren. After a quick nod of agreement back to him, he joined most of his faction in heartily offering their allegiance to the traitorous cause.

Having witnessed all this, Peggy whispered to Howard, "Help me figure out how to get the monarchs to safety."

Howard nudged Peggy's arm and indicated the gauntlet that Zemo wore on his wrist. "That's our answer right there, pal."

She nodded in agreement. By getting the device that controlled the Man-droids, they could free the monarchs and all the innocent bystanders. Then another thought crossed her mind.

They could instead use Zemo's robots to stop any future Atlantean's assault upon mankind.

Sighing, Peggy silently chided herself. No, she wanted peace between their species, not further animosity. Besides, just harboring a similar belief as Zemo's chilled her worse than the Antarctic waters that continued to flow more and more around them.

Decision made, Peggy waved the Russians over. Successfully using the rubble and the crowd of terrified Atlanteans as cover, they were soon crowding around her. Deferring to her friend, Peggy asked, "What are you thinking, Howard?"

Quirking a grin, he suggested, "Well, if we can expose the Man-droids to the salt water, they should cease to function."

Jarvis asked, "Mr. Stark, how can you be sure that the water will affect them? It certainly did not stop the first-generation ones."

Howard shook his head, "Yeah, but these have proven to be way more advanced technologically. Any intricate circuitry inside would be very difficult to protect when fully submerged in water for too long."

Peggy looked at him skeptically and hoped that his theory was correct.

Cautiously, Dmitri ducked under cover just as one of the deadly subs patrolled past, "Either way, good luck getting them out of the subs, comrade."

Howard countered snippily, "We just need to get that gauntlet, and then I can order those robots to leave that protective shell."

Nodding, Peggy said, "Or when I get you that device, you can command them to use the subs to stop Zemo. That way, we won't have to rely on if the robots are waterproof or not. Regardless, we need that device."

Before the others could ask how, Peggy stated with forced confidence, "Alright, wish me luck."

Jarvis asked worriedly, "What are you going to do, Miss Carter?"

She dipped her head at Zemo, "Getting us that gauntlet. Now be ready."

While Howard and Jarvis exchanged concerned glances, Peggy straightened her appearance as best as possible. Grimly she thought that there were times when she truly disliked her job. Swallowing her pride, Peggy turned to swim toward Baron Zemo and his son.

But before Peggy could leave, Howard grabbed her arm, "Peg, you don't have to do this alone. Let us help you."

Peggy's smile was a thin line of determination, and she shook her head. "No, it is better if you stay here where it is safe."

Howard knew that grim tone as well as the burden she carried, "Look, Peggy, trust me, I don't plan on dying this young again. You don't need to protect me or any of us, for that matter."

Jarvis added, "Remember the lesson from the Labyrinth trial? We are all in this together."

The others nodded in support.

"Thanks, but I got this. Just wait for me here." Then ignoring her friend's unspoken frustration, she slowly swam towards Baron Zemo, her gaze fixated solely on him.

While Peggy made her way toward her foe, she tried to tune out what was happening to the stubborn audience members who refused to join the General's traitorous cause. However, it was difficult for her not to intercede. As the Atlanteans were roughly separated into smaller groups, some were beaten for their strident denouncements.

At least General Kadar was too preoccupied to interfere with her plans. From her periphery, she saw Namor watching her every move, his face a blank slate.

Noticing her approach, Zemo Jr. called out a warning, "Father, Agent Carter nears."

Turning to face his foe, Baron Zemo sneered, "Stop right there, fraulein Carter. One push of the button, and I will kill them both."

As she came closer, she shrugged indifferently. "Why should I care if you kill them and their ilk? They have already threatened my people."

A confused Baron asked, "Your people?"

Stopping in front of him, Peggy stated unwaveringly, "Yes, it seems that they have designated me the leader of the free world."

The villain grinned smugly. "I see. So what are you going to do? Force my hand?"

"If needs be, yes. I certainly would benefit from the Atlanteans being in disarray from their ruler's deaths. After all, they had knocked our ancestors back to the dark ages." She glanced at Namor and registered the sullen glare aimed her way. If looks could kill, she would have been struck down then and there.

Head tilted, Baron Zemo gauged her appraisingly, "You continue to surprise me, fraulein Carter."

Shrugging, she admitted, "My life means a lot more to me than my moral principles." She smirked maliciously, "And it seems that self-preservation has kicked my usual vaulted beliefs down a few pegs."

His smile softened, "I like how you think, fraulein. Once more, I see why you are held in such high regard."

Peggy quickly schooled the frown that had begun to crease her features. Instead, she stated breathlessly, "And I am beginning to see why you are so difficult to subdue. I will admit, you have been a fascinating quarry, Baron."

He eyed her appreciatively, "Then why not instead team up with me, and we can take over this world together? You have proven yourself to be a very clever and formidable woman. And you are certainly pleasing to the eye. All those traits have me understanding how you have attracted such superior male specimens, be it the body or the mind. And honestly, I can attest that I am also amazing when it comes to those exceptional attributes."

She slowly looked him up and down, and a grin of lascivious lust overcame her features, "Hum, siding with the new world leader does have a certain lure to it. Yes, I think that could work."

If Zemo had been thinking with his larger head and not the smaller one, he would have thought it odd that she would so easily give up on her people and principles. Instead, he purred, "It seems that I am also ensnarled in your web, my dear."

As if his words had made her amorous, she reached out and grabbed his jacket with both hands. Yanking him close, she nuzzled his neck, their masks making it impossible to kiss (which was just as well, she thought relieved). Her hands relaxed their hold, and one began to wander lower.

Expecting something special, his eyes blazed with passion. Whispering, he mumbled, "I see that you are worth the effort, Margaret."

Pulling back, she gazed into his eyes. Her seductive leer promptly changed to an arrogant sneer. Peggy spat, "That's Agent Carter to you, Zemo."

Suddenly, she simultaneously yanked on his balls and punched the masked creature where she assumed was also a sensitive spot. It was. Zemo's howl of pain became louder when the surprised sea critter bit his nose.

Instantly the injured Cephalopod instinctively loosened its seal around the Baron's face, and water seeped in. As Zemo choked in pain, he nearly drowned from gasping so hard. He did not know what throbbing member to grab first.

But Peggy did. As he pulled away, gargling on saltwater, she snatched the gauntlet off his floundering wrist. In one fluid move, she kicked his thrashing form into his son and darted off.

With no new incoming orders, the robotic sub operators ceased moving, frozen in their last command.

Briefly studying the gauntlet, Peggy had no idea what buttons to hit to release the monarchs from the sub's deathly grip. Fearing she might instead cause them to be strangled, or worse, have their heads pinched off their bodies, she left it alone.

Howard saw her confusion and yelled, "To me, Peggy!" And he rushed forward, his hands raised as if to catch it.

Though he was getting closer, the thickness of the water would prevent a far enough throw. Since Peggy could not toss it to him, both made a beeline to meet in the middle of the chamber instead.

As Peggy swam, she shouted to Namor, "Get your family to safety!"

Namor's shocked expression changed instantly, and he flashed a quick grin of thanks to her. In moments the Prince was by his loved one's side. He then easily pried the sub's mechanical claws apart so that his grandparents could escape. Once freed, he ushered them and his cousins to safety via the smaller exit tucked behind the destroyed thrones.

Realizing that the subs were no longer backing up the traitorous military guards surrounding them, the crowd suddenly acted. Pandemonium ensued when those not supporting mutiny surged past their captors and rushed towards the main entrance. Without the aid of the additional firepower, there were too many fleeing for the General and his loyal soldiers to stop.

Finally getting his mask back on, Zemo pursued Peggy. Though she had covered a lot of distance, she had to slow down around the multitude of evacuating citizens.

Zemo was jostled and also could not get past the escaping mob. Outraged, he bellowed to General Kadar, "Stop her! She will ruin everything!"

Before Peggy and Howard could meet, the grinning Atlantean General was suddenly in her path. Though his ribs had been injured, he was much bigger than Peggy and was also in his element. Frankly, she had no idea how to fight him.

General Kadar sneered at her, "You are a fool. You should have made a deal with your human master."

Taking a risk, Peggy dashed towards his weaker side in hopes that she might have a chance to get past him. But the General was too fast.

Peggy was instantly caught, and her back was crushed to his massive chest. As she frantically struggled, his other hand was able to grab her kicking legs. Holding onto them, he began to curl her body inwards with the promise, "I am going roll you into a little ball, mammal."

As her knees were compressed forcefully against her chest, she gasped from the inability to breathe. Desperate, she pounded hard where his ribs had been injured.

The Atlantean grunted but would not let up.

Cursing, Peggy frantically recalled that soldiers were conditioned to ignore pain. It kept them alive during battle.

Due to the lack of air, Peggy's movements soon lessened. Distantly she could hear the chicada's heart beating rhythmically in her ears. It was almost a peaceful-sounding drum beat, a lure to let go.

Faintly she heard Zdenka yelling, "Hang on, comrade Peggy!"

"Keep fighting. We are almost there," Jarvis urged.

But she could not anymore. As her vision darkened, Peggy wondered how her friends could ever stop such a massive foe in time. She feared that they might die if they even tried to.

Suddenly there was a loud thump, and then the General's grasp on her body slackened.

Drawing in a shallow breath, Peggy blurrily saw the Atlantean soldier pivot his head to face whatever had struck him. Though one of his hands let go of her legs, he could not fully block the next hit. Instead, he instinctively swatted back at the object to protect his head.

With his hold lessened, Peggy could grasp in a deep lungful of air. As she weakly struggled to get free, she swore it looked as if a flash of gold had gotten past Kadar's defenses and had whacked his injured side hard.

Hissing from the pain, the General finally released her so that he could deal with the assault.

As Peggy regained her senses, she saw Dmitri was using an abandoned trident weapon to fight the General. Not knowing how to fire the device, he was instead using it like a club.

Suddenly, the General grabbed the weapon just as it came down again, and he yanked it from the Russian's grasp.

"This is how you use it, surface-dweller," the General growled. He fired the trident, and the energy pulse slammed into Dmitri, knocking him backward. Stunned, the Russian male blurrily stared at the frustrated General, who quickly readjusted the setting on his weapon.

Zdenka instantly placed herself between the General and Dmitri, so Kadar aimed the weapon at her. Sneering, he stated, "This time, all you meddling hu-mans will die."

The defiant Russian Doctor glared up at the towering Atlantean.

Peggy would never reach her friends in time to stop the General from killing them. Coldness seeped into the agent's veins at the thought that she had allowed them to die.

Suddenly, Howard and Jarvis barreled into the General's sore side, and the trident's shot went wide. Their strike had hurt the General enough that he could not fire on them right away.

With Zdenka supporting Dmitri, they quickly darted over to Peggy.

The Russians looked to her in concern. Relieved that they were still alive, Peggy gasped, "I just need a moment to catch my breath." Then, solemnly she intoned, "Thank you both."

Dmitri chided, "Maybe next time you will allow us to help you."

"We have your back, comrade," Zdenka reiterated.

Grinning, Peggy finally felt much better. Looking in the General's direction, she saw Howard and Jarvis racing back toward her group. With time of the essence, Peggy held out the gauntlet for Howard to grab. They just might live through this if their genius inventor could turn the Man-droids on the Atlantean traitors and the Baron.

But before Jarvis could yell out a warning, Zemo Junior swam out of nowhere and plucked the gauntlet from her extended reach.

As Helmut quickly reactivated the gauntlet, Peggy protested, "No, what are you doing?"

The young man shook his head, "Sorry, Miss Carter, I cannot let you stop my father."

He pressed a button, and the Man-droids once more became aware. Since all the hostages were gone, the subs instantly converged on Peggy and her friends.

Behind these deadly submersibles, General Kadar swam confidently toward them. Now in range, the chuckling General aimed his trident at the troublesome humans, "You rats will be the first to die in the glory of the new Atlantean empire."

"Hold, General," Helmut commanded, "Do not kill them."

Kadar ignored the young surface-dweller's order. But before he could fire at Peggy, Junior used the gauntlet's controls. Expertly, he turned one of the sub's machine guns to face the Atlantean military leader.

Outraged, the General snarled, "I demand satisfaction for their insolence."

Baron Zemo hurried over to his son and patted him on the back. "Good job, my boy." He then turned to face Kadar, "General, we should be the ones to have the pleasure of killing such meddlesome foes, not you. It is more fitting this way." He then eyed Peggy angrily.

Ignoring the threat of the surrounding subs, Peggy tried to get Helmut to see reason, "Your father will never love you. You will never be good enough for him."

Baron Zemo chuckled, shaking his head at Peggy, "Nonsense, we are of the same blood." Sneering at her, he growled, "And to think I wanted to rule the world with you by my side."

Once more, the Baron addressed his son, "Now you must do your family duty and kill them. They have been a thorn in my side for far too long."

Peggy and the others looked beseechingly at Helmut. Staring at them, Junior pleaded, "But father, they saved my life back in the Labyrinth."

The Baron smirked, "And I am sure it must vex them now for helping you survive it."

Helmut tried to do what his father commanded but looked upon those who had saved him. Finally, his arm dropped, "No, father, I cannot."

Incensed, Zemo decreed, "Then you are no son of mine."

He snatched the device from his son's grasp and shoved him out of the way. After moving the dial a few clicks toward the red, two of the subs charged their weapons. Dispassionately the robots inside waited for the final order to kill.

"Say goodbye, Agent Carter," Zemo mocked, and his finger lowered.