Ascertainment || Bucky Barnes (2)

10

"Initiate system?"

Basil jumped as a small electronic voice spoke. Green words had typed themselves up on the largest computer screen. Nat stepped forward and typed out the word yes. "Shall we play a game?" She grinned. "It's from a movie".

"I know", Steve muttered. "We saw".

The computer began humming and green lights began dancing around the screen as the pixels took like. A voice, a disturbingly familiar voice, one that sent shivers down Basil's spine, began speaking. "Rogers. Steven. Born 1922". Up above the main screen, a camera turned. "Parrish. Jahi. Born 1924". The camera turned again. "Romanoff. Natalia Alianovana. Born 1984".

Nat jerked at the sound of her name. "It must be some kind of recording".

"I am not a recording fraeuline", the voice snapped. The green pixels had taken shape and there was a imprint of round dark glasses and a nose. "I may not be the man I was when the captain took me prisoner back in 1945. But I am". On the screen to the right appeared a black and white image. Basil froze as his eyes widened.

"Oh god".

"You know this thing?" Nat asked.

"He was one of the doctors who experimented on me", Basil felt sick. He covered his mouth with his hands, mumbling the words through his fingers. "He was the one who tested the super soldier serum on me and Bucky". He took a step back, horrified.

Steve had began walking around the computer screen as if he could try and find the ox behind the curtain. "Arnim Zola was a German scientist who worked for the red skull. He's been dead for years".

"First correction, I am Swiss", the computer replied. "Second, look around you. I have never been more alive. In 1972, I received a terminal diagnosis. Science could not save my body. My mind however, that was worth saving. On two hundred thousand feet of databanks. You are standing in my brain".

"How did you get here?" Steve asked as he circled round to join Nat and Basil again.

"Invited".

"There was a operation paper clip after ww2", Nat explained. "Shield recruited German scientists with strategic value".

"Why would they do that?" Basil asked. "Bucky died trying to capture this man. This man held us captive for weeks. Had us strapped to metal tables while he tortured us. Why would anyone want to work with someone like that?"

"I am glad to see that you are still alive", the computer, Zola, said. "That some of my super soldier serum tests paid off. They thought I could help their cause. I also helped my own".

"Hydra died with the red skull", Steve stated firmly.

"Cut off one head. Two more shall take it's place".

"No", Basil slammed his hands down on the panel. "No. Bucky died trying to stop you. I died trying to stop you. It can't have been for nothing".

"Ah yes. The brave Sargent Barnes", Zola's voice seemed gleeful. "I remember my capture. You weren't there, were you Corporal Parrish? Would you like to see?"

On the left hand screen, black and white footage. Basil couldn't help but take a step closer. With the blurry pixels, he could make out Steve in a narrow metal room. The hydra train. The white captain America star stood out. Next to him, Basil made a choked noise at the sight, was a tall familiar man. Bucky had his back to where the camera was placed. They watched as he shot a black uniformed hydra soldier and stepped up next to Steve. Basil was shaking.