𝙴𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚁𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 - Bucky Barnes

1. THE AWAKENING

TWENTY YEARS AGO - HYDRA FACILITY - LOCATION: UNKNOWN.

In the depths of a hidden Hydra facility, the sterile ambiance of the laboratory is punctuated by the low hum of machinery. Dr. Eriksson paces anxiously, his lab coat billowing behind him as he argues his point with Dr. Ivanov, their voices carrying through the cavernous chamber.

"We can't afford to release her, Doctor," Eriksson insists, his tone laced with urgency. "The Crimson Reaper is too unstable. We risk everything by waking her."

Ivanov, his features hardened with resolve, shakes his head. "It's not up to us to question the orders, Eriksson. The boss wants her out of cryo sleep, and that's final. We have a mission to carry out, and the Reaper is our only option."

Eriksson's brow furrows in frustration, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "But you've seen the reports, Ivanov. She's a liability. Unpredictable. Releasing her could jeopardize the entire operation."

Ivanov's jaw tightens, his patience wearing thin. "We've taken every precaution necessary to ensure her compliance. Besides, we have the Winter Soldier on our side. He'll keep her in line."

Eriksson's expression darkens, his doubts lingering like shadows in the corners of his mind. "And if he can't?" he challenges, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ivanov's gaze hardens, his tone final. "Then we deal with the consequences. But for now, our orders stand. Prepare the Reaper for extraction. We have a world to conquer."

Eriksson's shoulders sag in defeat, his resolve crumbling beneath the weight of their shared burden. With a heavy sigh, he nods reluctantly, knowing that their fate-and that of the world-rests in the hands of a woman whose very name strikes fear into the hearts of men.

Meanwhile, the Winter Soldier, Hydra's prized asset, is already deployed on a mission of his own, leaving the facility devoid of its most lethal operatives. With no other viable options at their disposal, the scientists know they have no choice but to awaken the Crimson Reaper from her icy slumber.

Approaching the cryo chamber, a sense of foreboding settles over the room, mingling with the chill that permeates the air. The stasis pod stands like a sentinel, its frosted surface concealing the enigmatic figure within.

With a flick of a switch, the cryo chamber hisses to life, its mechanisms whirring as it begins the process of thawing its occupant. The frost melts away, revealing the face of the Crimson Reaper, her features serene yet harboring an underlying aura of danger.

Anastasia Voronin, once a name whispered in hushed tones among Hydra's inner circles, stirs from her slumber. Her eyes flutter open, revealing a gaze as cold and unforgiving as the depths of winter itself.

As the Crimson Reaper takes her first tentative steps into a world shrouded in darkness, the scientists exchange a wary glance, their doubts overshadowed by the gravity of their situation.

"This is a mistake," Eriksson mutters, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ivanov's jaw tightens, but his resolve remains unyielding. "We'll see," he replies, his tone grim as he watches Anastasia take her first steps into a future fraught with uncertainty.

Anastasia Voronin emerges from her cryo-induced slumber and the scientists spring into action, conducting the customary checks to ensure her vitals are stable and her faculties intact. Dr. Eriksson adjusts the monitors, his brow furrowed with concern, while Dr. Ivanov observes from a safe distance, his gaze piercing as he scrutinizes their deadliest asset.

Anastasia remains eerily silent throughout the process, her expression impassive as she submits to their examination. Her eyes, once vibrant with defiance, now betray no hint of emotion as they dart from one scientist to the other.