BOOK 4 of the ORPHIC Series
DISENTHRALL
/ˌdisənˈTHrôl/
set free.
~~~~~
When Lucille 'Lucy' Opal Baker starts adjusting to a world without Captain America and more government therapy sessions...
T H E F A L C O N A N D T H E W I N T E R S O L D I E R
9
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Privilege is here, and with privilege goes responsibility."
Baltimore, Maryland July, 2024
ALPINE MEOWED ON TOP OF Lucy's stomach, rolling to her side and extending herself as she stretched. Lucy sat up slightly, running a hand through her fur. She moved slowly, sitting up and leaning on the wall behind her, legs extended over the bench. She exhaled, her eyes darting to James. Alpine stood to her feet, jumping off the bench and approaching him. She climbed onto the piece of cargo he was sitting on, before forcing her way in between his lap.
James's eyes were distant with memories–with thoughts. He was unsure about all of this–about the expanse of super soldiers that now existed. Nothing good would come of it; it always ended in fights, in death. He was worried for Lucy too; her abilities were still affecting her, and the amount of ease it took for her to trigger herself was alarming. She acted like what happened at the hospital didn't affect her, but they both knew that was furthest from the truth.
He didn't know how to help her, and it was as frustrating as their current predicament. His only lead was Helmut Zemo, his very last primary handler. The only primary handler who was still alive and existent. The only primary handler his programming yearned for.
If the serums had anything to do with HYDRA, Zemo would know so much more than anyone else.
Sure, Lucy might've had a lot of friends in shady places, but none of them were as closely tied to HYDRA as Zemo was. Well, apart from Henry, of course, but he wasn't willing to see him again, not after he'd promised that he'd punch the doctor in the face the next time he saw him. And he knew Lucy didn't want to see him either.
So Henry was out of the equation, thus leaving Zemo.
There was Agent Rollins, and the Commander but. . .well, both of them had been in such a good mood just a few weeks ago, even if they were overly rambunctious. The problem lied with what they were like when they were not in a good mood, when the Commander was aggravated.
It made him feel–
Then there was the shield, the goddamn shield that Walker still had, that Walker had thrown and James had caught. He knew how the shield worked, knew it like the back of his hand. Walker didn't deserve that shield, especially when he cared so much about integrating himself into the hero business just for the sake of the public eye.
