Misery and Destruction

I

HYDRA Base, Sokovia - 1950

Arnim Zola. A name that was praised throughout HYDRA. No one in S.H.I.E.L.D ever expected a man so little could be head of the cult that they believed was destroyed and buried at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean where Captain America remains frozen there in ice.

Not only was he the head scientist but he had also done many impossible things that only other scientists could ever dream of doing. Even then, would they dream of something so inhumane?

Walking through the double doors into the lab, all the scientist bowed their heads in respect to the man who had done the impossible yet again. Zola walked over towards the 30 petri dishes each containing an embryo.

"How are they doing?" Zola asked to the scientist who had helped him developed his 6 month project further.

Taking a gulp, Klaus Meyer replied, "They are growing faster then the average embryo would in a female womb. By the end of the week, they will need to be transferred to the incubators to allow for the final stages of growth, sir."

Zola allowed a sly grin to appear on his face still staring at the embryos. "Perfect. The serums are working." He looked up towards Klaus. "I need them to be able to walk this time next month."

After receiving a nod from Meyer, Zola walked out of the lab. Klaus breathed a sigh of relief returned to the computers and continued to analyse the brain growth of the embryos.

"Will it even be possible for them to walk so early?" Weber, a fellow scientist questioned.

"Of course they will. Their brains may be small but they are developing faster then the average human brain would. They can even hear what we are saying and they are developing and remembering it." Meyer replied.

"But we only created them two days ago. How is it even possible?" Weber continued to ask causing Meyer to become annoyed.

"That is a secret that will only stay with sir and I. Now get back to work before I shoot you on the spot." He gritted out through his teeth.

"Y-y-yes sir." Weber stuttered before walking quickly back towards his desk.

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Zola continued to make daily visits to the lab. It would include the same daily routine: check on the embryos, receive an update from Meyer and then leave. This time, however, was different, they were taking the embryos out of their incubators.

As he entered the lab, all the scientists lined up by the wall and waited for further instructions.

"We are ready sir." Meyer spoke up to Zola.

"Perfect. Let's start with Number 1." Arnim replied as he walked up to the incubator containing an embryo which had a '1' tattooed on the back of it's neck. Meyer followed as all the scientists went to their stations to finally do what they had been preparing for weeks to do.

"Vitals are all secure."

"No abnormal action from the brain."

"Oxygen levels in the room stable."

"Room temperature stable." Scientists called out from around the room to make sure there would be a safe and secure 'delivery'.

With a nod from Zola, Meyer opened up the incubator.

"Vitals are still secure."

Zola reached into the incubator and picked up the experiment making sure none of the wires were pulled out. It was only created 3 weeks ago yet it was the same size as a newly born healthy baby.

"Good morning number 1." Zola greeted it. He began to slowly take the wires and the tubes that were feeding it with serums for the past 3 weeks off with the help of Klaus.

"Vitals and brain activity are still normal sir."

"Excellent." Zola replied with. "Congratulations Number 1, you are our first success. How are you feeling?"

   At this statement, Number 1 opened its eyes and looked towards Zola, "I'm good thank you sir." Zola let out a smile and looked towards Meyer who was shocked by the reply.

"We did it Meyer. These assets have the same brain age as a 10 year old already yet still in the body of a newly born baby. If what everything we thought is true, then they will have the same strength as the Winter Soldier by the time they are 5 months." Zola explained as he put Number 1 on the mat that was in the corner of the lab. Number 1 sat up straight without any support and read the book that was handed to them by Zola. "This book will teach them how to read and how to do daily activities such as eating, getting dressed and how to walk. It also shows them how to fight and all the different weapons they will be trained with."

Number 1 was immediately engulfed in the images and words that were in the book.

After the remaining 29 experiments were taken out of their incubators, they were placed on the mat and given the book that Number 1 had started reading.

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"We have 15 males and 15 females just as we had genetically modified." Meyer began to brief Zola as they both watched the 30 assets were sleeping. Zola and Meyer were standing behind a soundproof glass window which separated them and the assets.  "They all share the same sperm and egg donor which will remain unknown just as you requested. Number's 1-15 are all male and 16-30 are all females. We have teachers all set up to teach them different languages, normal school subjects and different fighting techniques as well as use of weapons. They will all share the same room to sleep in. The males and females will be separated for lessons until you deem appropriate for them to be together. We obviously still have many more experiments to do but they won't all survive them." Klaus turned to face Zola.

"Then may only the strongest of them survive Project Achilles Doctor." Zola smirked before walking off without looking at Meyer once. "Hail HYDRA." He said as he continued to walk away. Klaus replied with a mumble.

"Hail HYDRA."