Book One of the Shadows Series: Shadow of Redemption

HYDRA's Counterstrike

Inside of the underground HYDRA base, there was a sterile room used for brainwashing. No other area in the entire base ever heard as much screaming and sobbing as this one did. And as Joshua was being strapped to the metal table, he took a steadying breath. He turned his gaze to the ceiling, but the Viper stood in his way. "It is almost time for your mission, Agent 10. We have hit a roadblock in the planning and you have a target. It is an extraction mission. I will give you the details after your preparation. Врач! (Doctor!) Begin the washing sequence."

Joshua saw a scrawny man holding a needle rush over. He nodded vigorously and rolls up the boy's sleeve, revealing scars from previous injections. He takes a deep breath as the scientist approaches, the needle glinting ominously under the harsh lights. The serum is injected into his arm, and Joshua's body tenses, his face contorting in pain as the brainwashing process begins. He knew not to show evidence of vulnerability to Viper, but he couldn't help it. He let out an ear-piercing scream that would have shaken the walls if they weren't so strongly built.

"Hold still," the scientist scolded. Joshua focused on his breathing. That usually calmed him down. He grips the edge of the table, his knuckles white as ghosts and commands flood his mind. The pain is excruciating, more intense than any previous session. He grits his teeth, his body trembling as he fights to maintain his composure. The Viper's face reappeared in his vision. "Remember, Joshua. You are HYDRA's weapon. Do not fail us."

Joshua's eyes, now glazed and determined, meet hers. He nods, the pain subsiding as the serum takes full effect. "I won't fail."

The mission was easy. Find the nearest sanctum under the charge of Stephen Strange and kidnap the first sorcerer they saw. The team moves quickly, neutralizing the guards outside the sanctum with tranquilizer darts. Joshua led the group. "Move in. Secure the target."

Inside, the sorcerer, a young woman with sharp eyes and quick reflexes, senses the intrusion. She conjures a shield of mystical energy, ready to defend herself. "HYDRA? You'll find no victory here."

The HYDRA agents engage, but the sorcerer skillfully deflects their attacks. Joshua steps forward, his movements almost mechanical due to the brainwashing. He watches her, waiting for an opening. When it comes, he strikes with a combination of combat skills and sheer brute force, overpowering her defenses. "We need you alive. Surrender now."

The sorcerer, seeing no other option, reluctantly lowers her defenses. The HYDRA agents bind her hands and place a hood over her head. "Secure the perimeter. We leave no trace."

As they exit the sanctum, Joshua glances back, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. The sorcerer's words echo in his mind, but the brainwashing keeps his resolve firm. The team returns to the HYDRA facility, where the Viper awaits them. The sorcerer is brought before her, defiant despite her captivity.

The Viper grinned cruelly. "Welcome to HYDRA. Your abilities will help us find someone very, very dear to us. Cooperate, and your suffering will be minimal."

The sorcerer glares at her, refusing to speak. The Viper smirks, turning to Joshua.

"Prepare her for interrogation. We need to open a portal to whatever universe Agent 11 scurried off to. Time is of the essence. "Joshua nods, his mind still reeling from the brainwashing but his body moving with unwavering obedience. As he leads the sorcerer away, he can't shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong, but he pushes it aside, focusing on the mission at hand.

Now completely alone, the Viper's grin did not fade. "Seraphina, your time is running out. HYDRA will rise again," she whispered to herself.

The sorcerer, a young woman with striking features and a resolute demeanor, sat bound to a chair in the center of a sterile interrogation room. Her name was Amina Serket, a skilled practitioner from Kamar-Taj, known for her expertise in portal creation and mystical defense. She stared defiantly at the group of HYDRA operatives surrounding her, their eyes cold and calculating.