Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

THE FIRST AVENGER: CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Colonel Phillips stood at the head of the table, his eyes narrowed in grim determination. He didn't look at anyone as he spoke—his voice hard and sharp, a man who had seen too much and was done with hesitation. "Johann Schmidt belongs in the bughouse. The man thinks he's a god, and he's willing to blow up half the world to prove it." He stabbed a finger at the map before him. "Starting with the U.S.A."

"That's insane," Dugan spoke up first, his voice dripping with disbelief.

"So's Hitler," Phillips replied bluntly. "But look where he's gotten with less than Schmidt has."

Falsworth, his mind always analyzing the bigger picture, added, "Hydra would need millions of soldiers, fleets of transport, endless supplies. They'd need to be fed, fueled, and supplied for a long-term mission. How does Schmidt plan to sustain that?"

Howard shook his head in disbelief. "Schmidt's not working with mere men or machines. He's working with powers beyond our capabilities. If he makes it across the Atlantic, he'll wipe out the entire eastern seaboard in an hour, maybe less."

Steve's gaze, which had been moving across the map, inevitably settled on New York, his mind racing as his thoughts solidified. "Every able-bodied man we have is either here or in the Pacific," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "Our borders are wide open."

Jones looked up from the map, eyes searching the room. "How much time do we have?"

Colonel Phillips didn't hesitate, his tone colder than ice. "Under twenty-four hours. According to my new best friend." The gravity of his words settled like a lead weight in the room.

"I do love a good countdown," Rhiley's voice rang out suddenly, cutting through the tension like a knife. She entered with the ease of someone who had done this a hundred times before, pushing her way into a space between Scott and Steve. As everyone turned to her, she didn't skip a beat. "Who died?" she asked, her tone casual. "Where is he now?" She switched topics like it was nothing.

It took Colonel Phillips a moment to respond. "Hydra's last base is in the Alps," he said slowly, dragging a finger down the map. "Five hundred feet below the surface."

Morita leaned forward, his eyes scanning the area as he tried to process the challenge ahead. "What are we supposed to do? It's not like we can just knock on the front door."

The room went quiet, and everyone's gaze turned to Steve. The look on his face told them all they needed to know.

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Later, after the meeting had wrapped up, Peggy tracked Rhiley down. She found her near the hallway, walking away with purpose, but Peggy was quick on her heels.

"Rhiley," Peggy called out, and Rhiley halted, turning slowly, as if trying to hide the subtle droop of her shoulders. She straightened them, putting on a face of indifference.

"Peggs," she greeted her, a little too brightly. "Did you need something?"

Peggy wasn't fooled. She saw the cracks in Rhiley's facade, and the silence between them said more than words ever could. She hesitated before speaking again. "I haven't seen you since..." She trailed off, unsure how to phrase it. She had tried to check in on Rhiley after the train incident, but her sister had withdrawn, locking herself in her room. The only one able to get close was Howard. "Are you okay?"

"Is anyone here okay?" Rhiley shot back, a bitter edge creeping into her voice. "Honestly, 100% okay? It's a dumb question, Peg. Are you okay? No, I'm not. But that's life, right? A bunch of bullshit wrapped in more bullshit."