Resilient

Chapter 37

Evelyn had spent the better part of an hour getting her powers to return. Once they had returned she focused on sending her power out in search of the other bride the Doctor had mentioned. Closing her eyes she sent the power out in tendrils in different directions from her room. Sensing the emotions of the soldiers and staff of the complex she continued on until she hit a wall. Focusing on that thread she pushed against the wall to get a better feel. It felt like a wall of stone but she felt sorrow pulsating along it. She pushed her own emotions through the tendril; sent it compassion and hope and felt the wall tense and bristle at her. She sent a mental image of the Avengers coming to save them and friendship to the wall. Before she could get a response Evelyn felt a presence nearing her room.

As she pulled back her powers they brushed against the man entering her room. "Hello Doctor," Evelyn said as he walked into the room.

"Ah Mrs. Pierce how wonderful it is to have you back with us," he said as he walked up to the bed. "We have been anxiously awaiting your return."

"I see the bedside manners haven't improved," Evelyn said looking down at her restraints that were beginning to dig into her skin "Drugged and restrained after a second kidnapping - very original."

"You left us little choice - fraternizing with the enemy. It's too bad we won't be able to use those memories to our advantage," the Doctor said giving Evelyn a wicked grin "it would've been so easy to use you as an inside agent but of course I don't make the rules."

"Ah yes the memories of being stuck in a room for all hours of the day. About as useful as my memories from here I think," Evelyn said not breaking eye contact.

"So modest. Mr. Martin told us that you have been training with the Avengers and getting your strength back. That will make Mr. Pierce very happy - I was worried we'd have to give you over to him in your broken state before. He would have been most displeased with us," the Doctor said, looking worried at the last sentence.

"I'm glad my hard work to bring myself back from the dead benefits you," Evelyn said angrily "it's a good thing you are wiping my memory - I may have come back to kill you one day for all you put me through."

"I made you stronger, more powerful. You are our strongest bride - the first to survive and with the most power. Which will only get more once I inject you with this," the Doctor said holding up a vial.

"How many women died for this?! How many lives did you deem disposable to do this program?! What is the point of all this?!" Evelyn screamed as she fought against the bonds.

"Countless experiments were done to determine that empaths were the most suitable to make brides for our soldiers. To be the soldiers handlers in the field and make sure they listened to orders and kept their emotions in check. Then becoming the best breeding stock for a new generation," the Doctor said, rubbing a spot on Evelyn's arm. "Once we have wiped your memory we will remove the implant from your arm and hand the bride's over to the soldiers to begin their training."

"You monster," Evelyn said, thrashing as an assistant came into the room.

"Now stay still Mrs. Pierce. If you remember correctly the more you fight the worse the serum burns in your bloodstream," he said as he directed the assistant to hold down her arm.

Evelyn forced herself to relax her arm because he was right - fighting it only meant she would definitely pass out from the pain. He lowered the needle to the vein in the crook of her arm and pushed the serum into her. Her body felt like magma had been injected into her veins and her body was being lit on fire from the inside out. Evelyn felt her power start to rise without any control and seep from her in powerful waves that almost made her sick. Then the power surged back into her and she felt she may explode. She released a scream with the power that shook the walls and fell unconscious.

_____

As the Quinjet landed a power surge showed up on the monitor. "Safe to say we are in the right place," Clint said, grabbing his bow.

"That was Evelyn's power - something has happened," Wanda said, trying to focus on the surge. "I can't feel her."

Bucky was the first out of the jet and had his rifle up to his shoulder waiting for the rest of the team to go over the plan. He had gone over the plan over and over again with Steve and Sam on the journey over; going over each contingency so they were prepared. Whenever his mind would slip and drift to Evelyn he would say a silent prayer she was okay and then swear to get revenge for even a hair out of place.

"Ready Buck?" Steve said from next to him. When Bucky turned he saw the team all ready for his order to proceed. He took a deep breath and nodded at the team.

"Let's show them why you don't mess with our family," Tony said as he ascended to the sky with Sam following after him.