Before the Morning // TFATWS

15

The two Avengers, Dorothy and Josiah looked, but didn't find Karli. They found an unconscious Zemo, along with Lemar and John instead.

Sam spread his arms a moment before dropping them and asked, "What did we miss?"

John glanced at Lemar who looked up at the Avengers. Dorothy's eyes narrowed as she stared at them. Josiah looked between them with a frown.

They woke Zemo and made their way back to the house.

---

Dorothy handed Zemo a wet cloth. "This should help."

Zemo smiled at her. "Thank you."

Sam sat at a computer as he typed a message to Sharon.

Zemo asked Sam, "Were you ever offered it?"

"What?" Sam questioned.

"The serum."

"No."

"If you had been, hypothetically, that is, would you have taken it?"

"No."

"No hesitation. That's impressive." He removed the cloth from his head. "Sam, you can't hold out hope for Karli. No matter what you saw in her, she's gone. And we cannot allow that she and her acolytes become yet another faction of gods amongst real people. Super Soldiers cannot be allowed to exist."

"Isn't that how gods talk? And if that's how you feel, what about Bucky?" Zemo didn't answer. "Blood isn't always the solution."

The door opened and closed.

Bucky caught Dorothy's eye and said, "Hey, Dorothy." He glanced at Josiah who was writing something in a notebook.

Bucky walked across the room. He took off his jacket and she asked, "What is it?"

"Something's not right about Walker."

Dorothy nodded. "No kidding."

"You don't say?" Sam replied, turning back to Bucky.

"Well, I know a crazy when I see one," Bucky replied, making his way to the cabinet. "Because I am crazy."

He poured himself a drink as Dorothy went to see what Josiah was doing.

"Can't argue with that," Sam said.

"Shouldn't have given him the shield," Bucky told him.

"He didn't give him the shield."

"Well, Steve definitely didn't."

Before anyone could answer, the doors flew open and John and Lemar strutted in before John said, "All right. That's it. Let's go. I'm now ordering you to turn him over." Zemo stood.

Sam walked up to John. "Hey, slow your roll. And let's be clear, shield or no shield, the only thing you're runnin' in here is your mouth. Now, I had Karli and you overstepped." He pointed to Zemo. "He's actually proven himself useful today." He walked closer to John. "We're gonna need all hands on deck for whatever's comin' next."

"How do you want the rest of this conversation to go Sam, huh?" Sam didn't answer. "Yeah." He chuckled softly. "Should I put down the shield? Make it fair?"

John set the shield down and Dorothy glared at him.

A spear came between them, embedding itself into the wall. Josiah glanced up to see that one of the Dora Milaje had thrown it. He grabbed Dorothy's hand and pulled her to the side.

Two more Dora Milaje walked in. Ayo said in Xhosa, "Even if he is a means to your end... Time's up." She switched to English. "Release him to us now."

John turned and smiled. "Hi. John Walker. Captain America."