The Captain & Ice Raven

Chapter 7 - Two Heroes are Born

Up in the hallway, soldiers attempt to stop Clemson but he shoots each one. Exiting the hidden hallway, the old woman comes out from behind a shelf ready to fire her gun. But Clemson shots her, taking the gun from her. Exiting the store, a man waves him over as they get in a nearby car. Peggy runs out, aiming her own gun at the driver effectively shooting the driver. The car crashes and Clemson climbs out throwing the now dead man to the street. Getting in he drives back down towards Peggy, pressing down on the gas.

But just before Peggy can pull the trigger, Steve runs out of the bookstore, tackling her to the ground. Rosalie comes out, chasing after the car, using the water around her to help her speed up. Steve scrambles to get up, Peggy shouting at him, "I had him."

Starting to run after Rosalie and the car, Steve shouts back, "sorry." Running down the street, Steve picks up speed all on his own, catching up with Rosalie very quickly. "You keep up with him and I take the turn."

"Good," Rosalie agrees, "go."

Turning down the street, Steve maintains his speed, spotting the car and Rosalie behind a fence as they go down the street he is running towards. Rosalie throws her hand out, making a fire hydrant explode, spraying water everywhere. Clemson swerves, the car getting sprayed with water. Steve jumps over the fence, turning to follow the car that Clemson drives. Jumping onto some crates, Steve launches himself into the air, landing on top of the car.

Inside the car, Clemson jumps hearing the thud above him. Raising his gun, he fires shot after shot trying to hit Steve. So focused on trying to hit Steve, he swerves the car trying to turn, but loses control when Rosalie throws icicles at the car, hitting his tires. The car flips, as Steve holds on for as long as possible, but flies off after the third tumble. Coming to a stop, Clemson dizzily climbs out, firing his gun at Steve and Rosalie. Steve picks up the broken car door, blocking the shots as Rosalie ducks behind him.

Turning around Clemson points his gun at the civilians nearby, looking over to Steve and Rosalie, slowly retreating towards the docks. Snatching a kid away from his mom, Clemson picks up his pace making it further away. Setting down the car door, Steve jogs over to follow Clemson, with Rosalie trailing behind. Clemson notices the pair, shooting at them, grazing an old piece of metal and Rosalie's shoulder.

Hissing in pain, Steve ducks, taking Rosalie behind the piece of metal as well. "Rose, you're shot."

"Thanks for stating the obvious," Rosalie snarks out, "c'mon."

Ignoring the pain in her arm, Rosalie jogs after sneaking around the corner with Steve right behind her. Glancing around the corner, Steve is the first to jump out, as Clemson points his gun at the kid's head. "No, wait don't," Steve exclaims. Clemson switches his target, pointing it at Rosalie who stands behind Steve. "Don't."

Clemson hauls the kid to the edge of the dock, tossing him into water below them. "No don't," Rosalie shouts, as Clemson runs further down the dock. Rosalie looks to Steve, the man nodding to her to follow him. Steve runs to the edge, looking down to the boy. "Go get him, I can swim," the boy shouts, beginning to swim over to the ladder.

Rosalie runs after Clemson, the man firing at her, hitting her leg. Kneeling down, Rosalie groans, holding her thigh. Clemson climbs down a ladder as a submarine emerges from the water. Climbing into the submarine, Clemson dives back into the water, beginning his leave, but Steve jumps in swimming after him. Crawling over to the edge, Rosalie sticks her hand out, guiding the water to stop the submarine. Clemson grunts when a force jerks him forward. Steve swims to the submarine, punching through the glass, grabbing Clemson and throwing up to the docks. Rosalie hauls herself up as Steve climbs up the ladder. Storming over to Clemson, Steve kicks him in the face, making him drop the last vial of the serum.

"No!" Rosalie shouts, her eyes widening when the vial falls to the ground, shattering on impact with the ground. Her eyes ice over, becoming even more vibrant, as she grabs Clemson's jacket, "who the hell are?"

Steve stands back, watching Rosalie, as Clemson answers. "The first of many. Cut off one head," Clemson bites something off in his mouth, crushing it strongly, making foam cover his lips, "two more shall take its place. Hail hydra."

Yelling angrily, Rosalie shoves Clemson's body away, frost covering the body instantly. Steve, now taking the moment, looks at himself, the exhilaration leaving his body.

AT THE HIDDEN BASE IN THE ARCTIC

Schmidt walks with three other men, leading them down the hallway towards the lab. "The Fuhrer is not accustomed to being ignored, Herr Schmidt," one of the men says.

Another continues, agreeing with his comrade, "he funds your research because you promised him weapons. You serve at his pleasure. He gave you this facility as a reward for your injuries."

"Reward," Schmidt says dryly, glancing over his shoulder, "call it what it is, exile. I no longer affect his aryan perfection."

The third man stops as he looks over a hydra soldier, but when the soldier looks down, the man continues walking with the group. "You think this about appearances? Your Hydra division has failed to deliver so much as one rifle in over a year. And we have learned through local intelligence, you have mounted a full scale incursion in Norway," he first man informs Schmidt.

The third man finally speaks up, folding his arms behind his back, "the Fuhrer fears, how does he put? The Red Skull has been indulged long enough." Three men stop walking forcing Schmidt to stop as well and turn to the men.

"Gentlemen, you have come to see the progress of our work, yes? Come let me show you," Schmidt leads the men into the lab where Zola works. The soldiers in the room close the metal door, entrapping the men. "Hitler speaks of a thousand years of Recih. But his troops spill their blood over every field of Europe. But he is still no closer to achieving his goals."

"And I suppose you still aim to win this war through magic?" the first man asks, as the third one walks over to examine a map and other things laid out on the table.

"Science, but I understand your confusion. Great power has always baffled primitive men," Schmidt says, flicking some switches, "Hydra is assembling an arsenal that will destroy my enemies in one stroke." Schmidt snaps his fingers, glancing over at the men. "Wherever they are, no matter the amount of power, all in the matter of hours."

"Your enemies?" the second man asks incredulously, looking to his comrade beside him as if asking if Schmidt was serious.

"My weapons contain enough destructive power, to decimate every hostile capital on Earth. Put it simply, gentlemen, I have harnessed the power of the gods."

"Thank you Herr Schmidt," the first man thanked.

"For what?" Schmidt asks, pretending to be confused.

"For making it clear on how mad you are," the second man clarifies, chuckling with his comrade. But both men stop when they hear their third man speak up.

"Berlin is on this map," the man exclaims, pointing to the spot and glancing over to his comrades.

"So it is," Schmidt says, firing the weapon and disintegrating one of the men into nothing. Firing two more shots, they both miss the targets as one man runs for the door but fails at opening it.

The man beside the table begins shouting, "you will be punished for your insolence. You will be brought before the Fuhrer and..." the man is disintegrated mid rant as Schmidt aims the gun at the final man. The man shouts, being hit by the weapon.

"I apologize doctor," Schmidt apologizes, glancing over to the man, "but we both knew that Hydra could no longer carry on in the shadow of Hitler. Hail Hydra."

The soldiers in the room raise their arms, shouting, "Hail Hydra."

Doctor Zola hesitates but straightens his posture when Schmidt glances over to him. He shouts out in his strongest voice, "hail Hydra."