A Soldier's Journey

Part 11: The Official Fight

Steve, Sam, Mariah and I all walk through the tree line and get to the Shield HQ. We walk across the deck and get to the control room. An agent opens the door and his eyes widen when he sees Sam and Mariah with guns pointed to his head. "Excuse us." Steve says politely. The man immediately steps out of the way. We make our way upstairs to the speaker control. Mariah gives Steve the mic and he starts speaking. "Attention all Shield agents. This is Steve Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth. Shield is not what we thought it was. It's been taken over by Hydra. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The Strike and Insight crew are Hydra as well. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want. Absolute control. They shot Nick Fury. And it won't end there. If you launch those helicarriers today, Hydra will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way. Unless we stop them. I know I'm asking a lot. But the price of freedom is high. It always has been. But it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not." Steve looks at Mariah and nods, saying that he's done talking. "Did he just pause for dramatic affect?" I ask Sam sarcastically. Sam laughs. Steve turns around and we start walking out of the building. "Did you write that down first? Or was it off the top of your head?" Sam asks, making me chuckle.

"They're initiating launch." Mariah says through our comms. We pick up the speed to a jog. "Hey Cap, how do we know the good guys from the bad guys?" Sam asks. "If they're shooting at you, they're bad." Steve responds. Sam opens his wings and lifts into the sky. Steve and I jump off the edge and I use my powers to soften my landing, whereas Steve rolls to a stand. We continue running until we make it to a group of crates. Bullets start to fly right past our faces. We pick up pace to a sprint and I use my powers to help me keep up with Steve. Some of the Hydra agents continue to shoot at us, so I use my wind and knock them off of their feet, giving us time to take cover. Steve takes a grenade from one of the agents and throws it towards three of them, knocking them out. "Hey, Cap, I found those bad guys you were talking about." Sam says. "You okay?" Steve asks. "I'm not dead yet." Sam responds. We get back into the fight and I turn two of the agent's guns towards each other, making them shoot each other instead of us. I use my powers and push one of the crates towards a group, smashing them against the wall. We begin running again towards the helicarrier. "Falcon, status." Mariah says into our comms. "Engaging." He responds. We make it to one of the carriers and I use my powers to push Steve on top first, followed by me. We land on the carrier and begin running to the center. "All right, Cap, I'm in." Sam says. "Eight minutes, Cap." Mariah says. "Working on it." He replies. Our run is stopped by a grenade rolling towards us. I use my powers and throw it away as fast as possible. It ends up blowing up in the air. We turn to the cause of the grenade and Steve hits the agent with his shield, knocking him unconscious. We pick up pace again to a full sprint to the center. We finally get to the center and Steve puts in the code while I look around and make sure no one is distracting us. He quickly puts the microchip in, closing it. "Alpha lock." Steve says. We start running again to the next helicarrier.

"Falcon, where are you now?" Mariah asks. "Had to take a detour." He responds. "Bravo lock." Sam replies a little while later. "Two down. One to go. Charlie carrier is 45 degrees off the port bow. 6 minutes." Mariah says. We make it to the outside of the helicarrier. "Hey Sam, I'm gonna need a ride." Steve says. "Roger, let me know when you're ready." Sam says. I lift an agents gun and hit him in the face with it, knocking him unconscious. "I just did." Steve says, jumping off the side. I use my powers and glide through the air to the helicarrier. I land on the deck just as Steve and Sam do. The three of us begin walking to the center. "You know, you're a lot heavier than you look." Sam says to Steve. "I had a big breakfast." Steve says. Bucky jumps out from behind a crate and pushes Steve over the side. "Steve!" Sam and I yell at the same time. Sam attempts to fly off the side to get Steve, but the Winter Soldier grabs Sam's wing, ripping it off and throwing him off the side to. "Sam, Steve are you okay?" I ask the both of them. "Yeah, but the suit's down." Sam says. "Steve, where are you? Are you okay?" I ask. "Yeah, I'm on the side, still on the helicarrier. Come meet me." Steve says. Bucky turns and looks at me. I see a flash of hesitation across his face before he starts advancing towards me. "Bucky please...." I say. He comes up to me and throws a punch, which I catch. "Please listen." I say. He grunts and elbows me in the stomach. I stumble back a few feet, but hold my ground. "Lauren?" Steve asks. "Steve, Bucky's right here." I say. "Get down here." Steve says. "I can..." I start before Steve interrupts. "Lauren, please." Steve says. I take a deep breath. "Alright, I'm coming." I say. I turn back to Bucky. He advances towards me and I use the wind to knock him onto the floor, then I lift into the air and go to where Steve said he was.