What If...? Rumlow Turned Against Hydra: Book One

7

The call he'd been dreading had to be made, there was no further option but to make it. He pressed the call button on his cell phone, hearing the rings, almost hoping he would be able to leave a voicemail, impersonal, distant and safer. He wasn't surprised when Pierce answered, he was only disappointed it would end up being an actual conversation after all.

"I have bad news, sir," Lieutenant Oramff said in a tone that had as much professionalism as he could muster. He had worked for the Washington Metropolitan Police for over twenty years and been a member of Hydra for almost that long. He feared nothing and no one, except the leader of Hydra, Alexander Pierce. Not because Pierce himself was physically threatening or intimidating, but because of the power Pierce wielded with so little effort. One look in his eyes told everyone that power was present in a way that went past mere physical strength. Pierce had been born to lead Hydra in the modern era, when they could finally take their rightful place in the world.

"I could ask the obvious question," Pierce said in a calm tone that held heavy displeasure. Oramff stiffened to attention at the tone, trying not to alter his own calm professional cadence. "That being how could two men, on foot, escape a police force after a very public shooting that ended with one of our own being thrown into traffic?"

"I don't know sir, they shouldn't have been able to get far, especially on foot." He sounded like a rank recruit, but he had to make the report. "They were gone before we could set up perimeters. The nature of the crime scene is such that we were inundated with multiple agencies, medical personnel, media and gawkers. The area was jammed, it took too long for us to take control of the chaos."

"The media got there very fast," Pierce said darkly. "I'd almost think they were called ahead of time."

"I don't know that sir." It was actually Oramff's conclusion as well, though he had no proof and couldn't accept anything without evidence. "You did say one of the people we were looking for was Asset 1."

"Yes, I did. You don't have a lot of information on Asset 1, do you?"

"I have some. He's supposed to be enhanced and could easily have run away much faster than an ordinary human being. He did after all toss a fully grown man a considerable distance as if they were a rag doll."

"Brock Rumlow isn't enhanced. I assume you checked everywhere you could in a reasonable distance?"

"We did sir and found nothing."
"Double the search perimeter. Asset 1 in particular is aware of our tactics. He planned this in order to tie up our resources." The dark tone deepened in Pierce's voice. Oramff had never heard him sound like that, angry and if he didn't know better, possibly afraid.

"I will sir. That won't be a problem, the nature of the crime means people are hysterical about what happened. If you could help with additional resources..."

"Consider it done," Pierce interrupted. "The STRIKE team would like nothing more than to catch the traitor Rumlow."

"Sir..." Oramff hesitated, unsure.

"I know what you're going to ask but go ahead and ask anyway."

"Asset 1 and Rumlow, both are or were loyal to us. Asset 1 was our most loyal asset. What happened?"

"A mistake was made, and we're paying the price for it. Rumlow will be tracked down and killed, that's only a matter of time. We need Asset 1 back and in our service, but you have to pay attention to the fact that he is incredibly dangerous, Lieutenant. If he is found, let me know immediately and do not approach him. Anyone who attempts to take him in themselves will be killed, it's something you need to understand is absolute. Not if they'll be killed, when."