Prisoner #1.

Chapter 8: What the heck just happened?

     Understandably, one would, figuratively, fall apart if they were told what Bruce just told Bucky. The kid, however, literally fell apart. His left arm and right leg fell to pieces. His robotic eye dulled and fell to looking downward, while his other one looked in shock at Bruce from his sitting position on the floor. Bucky's silent face showed utter disbelief.
     Bruce was understandably freaked out. He backed up a few steps, making space between both of them.
     "Look, kid. I know this is hard to take in, but please...pull yourself together."
     He smacked his forehead at the joke, but was surprised to hear a faint chuckle from Bucky. The kid was starting to sniffle. He let a silent tear fall down his cheek. But it was black. Like oil, but less thick. It dropped off his chin, onto his old, tattered suit, which needed to be thrown away. Bucky stared at the new stain on his old shirt.
     "Um...kid...?" Said Bruce.
     Bucky looked up to see the scientist's worried eyes on him. He rubbed his eyes, but inexplicably fell still, rubbing his left eye. The pieces of his limbs began to collect themselves back up to form his arm and leg, the wires shooting out and reconnecting to the different parts. All the while, his eye projected the word "rebooting..." into the air. Once he was back together, he started to move again. Bruce stared fascinated all while this was happening.
     "Bucky... You're more machine than human..." He said.
     Bucky's expression was one of confusion. "What do you mean?"
     "I mean..." He paused. "You need Hank Pym. He's more of a technological scientist than I am."
     "Who?"
     "Hank Pym. He's a scientist that works with the Avengers, a team I previously worked with. They could help both of us out...if, that is, I could convince them."
     "Please do." Bucky said.

     Rick had explained his whole story to the Avengers. They were on their way to the place Star and Rick had left, following Star's lithe form, which was slithering through streets, then woods.
     Captain America stood next to Rick, looking out the front window.
     "So," He began. "Bucky was there... Was he...alright?" Said the Captain.
     Rick hesitated. He was worried about telling the guy about his last living friend being partially mutilated and possibly turned into a gamma monster. "He...well... He needs a hospital...and maybe, after this, a psychiatrist."
     "How bad was he?"
     "Um...he...is missing an arm...and has a scar down his right eye." Rick neglected to tell him about the other possible changes. He heard the Captain suck in a gasp. He clearly was not ready for that. Rick put his hand on Captain America's shoulder. "He'll be alright. As soon as he sees you, he'll be fine. Trust me."
     They were approaching the Hydra base. Star was slowing down, cautiously creeping towards the destroyed, hidden building. The quinjet landed near the shattered wall. What had happened?
     Rick rushed out of the jet, and Star walked protectively up next to him.
     "I don't get it!" He said. "What the heck happened here?" He climbed up onto Star and they went up to the gaping hole in the wall. No one was there. The place looked like it had been evacuated in a hurry. They ran down the halls, to the cells. No one was there either. It looked like something had attacked this place, and they weren't prepared for it.
     They rushed back outside to the rest of the team.
     "No one here." Said Star.
     "Something attacked this place. They obviously packed up quickly and booked it out of here as fast as possible. They probably took Bucky with them." Rick said, and gave the Captain an apologetic look.
     The soldier patted Rick's shoulder. "It's alright. You've done enough. Thank you. We'll find him. Besides," He added. "Bucky can take care of himself."

     Meanwhile, Bucky was packing up some small supplies. He and Bruce were leaving soon. He gave Bruce's bag to the scientist, and took one himself.
     Bucky had on modern, simple clothes. Things that would cover up his robotic limbs, and make him look inconspicuous.
     It was going to be a long trek, seeing as how they couldn't go by vehicle. Bruce said they'd be taking what he called a bus periodically. So it wouldn't be like walking the entire way. Bucky was glad, though, that they were in a part of Canada not far from New York, where they were headed.
     "Hey, Bucky, put these on." Said Bruce. He held a pair of sunglasses. Bucky put them on. They fit well, and worked to cover up his mechanical eye. "We need to make sure you don't stand out. Not too many people will recognize my face, but you would look pretty abnormal."
     "Good point." Said Bucky.
     "Once we get to New York, we're going straight to Avenger's mansion. Hank will help you there, and I can get back with my team." He picked up a biscuit from a bag, and started eating it.
     "Y'know, we need to save those for the road, right?" Bucky chuckled at the scientist's stuffed cheeks.
     "What?" He said. "I had a light breakfast."