Forged in the Stars : Bucky Barnes

1. Remember

"Who the hell is Bucky?"

Five simple words kept echoing through Stella's head as she held her hands up in surrender; as the black armored vehicles surrounded them and the STRIKE team led by none other than Brock Rumlow trained their rifles on the four. Rumlow ordered Steve to drop the shield and kicked his leg out forcing him onto his knees. Rollin's held his gun directly to Steve's temple and Stella felt the wind shift around her, a warning that if he pulled the trigger they'd pay.

"Not here, put your gun down!" Rumlow ordered looking at the news chopper overhead. Steve made eye contact and shook his head subtly telling her not to use her powers right now. They cuffed Steve, Natasha, and Sam putting them in the back of one of the vehicles leaving just her and Brock for a moment.

"We could've been good together Stella, you and me. We could've taken on the world, but you chose the wrong side." Brock said leaning her down close to her ear his breath hot on her neck sending chills down her spine and revolting her. She kept her eyes trained forward refusing to let him see her squirm. "I wanted you for myself, they even promised me that they would make you compliant just for me."

"Go to hell," Stella said through gritted teeth "did you know, about him and me?"

"Of course I did, and now I can't wait to watch you forget all about him. To only want me at your side." Brock said lifting her arms to make her stand and walking her to the same vehicle with her friends.

As he tossed her in she quickly got up turning around to face him "Mark my words Rumlow, you're a deadman. Maybe not today, maybe years from now, but I will remember and I'll kill you myself."

Rumlow smirked at her "sure baby, we will see about that," he quipped before she was hit with a tasing baton in her side send electricity through her and knocking her out.

...

Stella came to in what seemed like some kind of underground bunker jumping up quickly trying to figure out where she was and how to get the hell out. The door opened and she summoned fire her rage adding to it enough for purple flames to fully engulf her arms as she readied herself for a fight.

"Stand down Agent." Nick Fury said stepping into the light.

"Nick?" You're alive or did HYDRA just get really good at mental torture and this is a dream."

"Not a dream Stella, Tetrodotoxin B I am sorry for everything. I always knew you were someone to trust. Everyone is waiting for you in the briefing area."

"Hold on, if you're Nick, really him what's something only he would know," Stella said still wary this may some kind of ruse.

"Your mom wanted to name you Edith, but your dad chose Stella so he could hold his own star."

Stella let the fire dissipate quickly and rushed forward to hug Nick he reciprocated for a short moment before pulling away and motioning for her to follow to where the others were.

They joined the others and Stella took a seat next to Steve reaching out to squeeze his hand for comfort.

"He's alive," she said quietly.

"Seems I may be able to keep my promise after all," Steve answered turning his attention back to Nick who had just laid down a photo of him and Pierce.

"This man declined the Nobel Peace Prize. He said, "Peace wasn't an achievement, it was a responsibility." See, it's stuff like this that gives me trust issues."

"We need to stop that launch." Nat chimed in.

"I don't think the Council's accepting my calls anymore," Nick laid a briefcase before them and opened it revealing three computer chips inside.

"What's that?" Sam asked.

"Once the Helicarriers reach three thousand feet, they'll triangulate with Insight satellites becoming fully weaponized," Maria answered.

"We need to breach those carriers and replace their targeting blades with our own," said Nick.

"One or two won't cut it. We need to link all three carriers for this to work because if even one of those ships remains operational a whole lot of people are gonna die," Maria added.

"We have to assume everyone aboard those carriers is HYDRA. We need to get past them, insert the server blades, and maybe, just maybe, we can salvage what's left," Nick commanded.

"No," Stella interjected looking over at Steve nodding at him knowing they were both thinking the same thing.

"We're not salvaging anything. We're not just taking down the carriers, Nick, we're taking down SHIELD."

"SHIELD had nothing to do with it," Nick argued.

"You gave Stella and me this mission, this is how it ends. SHIELD's been compromised, you said so yourself. HYDRA grew right under your nose and nobody noticed."

"He's right Nick, I've been around since SHIELDS inception none of us had a clue about that parasite infecting it," Stella said echoing what Steve said.

"Why do you think we're meeting in this cave? I noticed."

"And how many paid the price before you did?"

"Look, I didn't know about Barnes."

"Even if you have, would you have told me, or Stella? Or would you have compartmentalized that too? SHIELD, HYDRA, it all goes."

"He's right," Maria chimed in.

Nick looked around the room Natasha shrugging in agreement before he looked at Sam.

"Don't look at me, I do what they do," Sam said motioned to Stella and Steve, "Just slower."

"Well, looks like you're giving the orders now Captain." Nick gave in. Stella went outside for some fresh air Steve followed close behind.