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

16

The building was large, somewhat sprawling, and utterly uninteresting. It was office space attached to a warehouse and light manufacturing plant, parking lots in front with similar buildings continuing down the street on both sides. Each building was painted some combination of white or off white with blue, green or red accents, with the same bland landscaping of small trees, overwatered strips of lawn on the curb, near the parking areas in the front that had no boundaries from each other, continuing as endlessly as the buildings themselves. All of this was broken up only by an occasional side street that led to more offices, warehouses or industrial space. It was boring, bland and forgettable. Most of the company names in large letters on the buildings meant little to anyone except those that worked there or did business with them. Even the semi-trucks with heavily laden trailers coming and going didn't draw any attention. It was perfect for a deep cover site.

On of the buildings, indistinguishable from the rest, was in fact a front for SHIELD and Hydra. The trucks coming and going from the warehouse were directly involved in Project Insight, moving materials around in broad daylight with no one noticing or caring. There was little chance anyone would simply walk up to the main office, not when there were no real customers and the company used as a front did not actually exist. In spite of that, on a bright, sunny late spring day, the front office had a reception desk in a minimally decorated lobby with fairly comfortable furniture. There were even plaques on the wall allegedly showing awards the company had earned. It was very well done, in Rumlow's opinion.

He walked in, putting an arrogance to his stride deliberately. He was dressed down, still feeling slightly odd not wearing the STRIKE team uniform. He thought he looked more like some back-office employee allowed to wear jeans, but he wasn't sure. In the end, it wouldn't matter what he was wearing. The receptionist at the large desk to the right of the entrance frowned slightly at him, but it was a confused frown. He already knew from visiting the site before on official duties for Hydra that no one had any reason to simply walk in unless they were lost. He walked up to the reception desk and smiled at the woman who sat there.

"Can I help you?" She asked in a perfect distantly polite voice. She was as much Hydra as anyone there, far more involved in the physical security of the building than she looked, but she played the part of the receptionist well.

"Just checking things out," Rumlow said smoothly. "You saying you don't recognize me?"

"Should I?" A little more suspicion colored her tone.

"It's been a while, and I visited as part of the STRIKE team then."
"Uh huh." Her tone became skeptical with just a touch of sarcasm. She made no attempt to acknowledge she had any idea what he meant by STRIKE team. Rumlow wondered if she was completely loyal to Hydra or whether she would ever go against them. She could be valuable in trying to rescue Steve and eventually take Hydra down. It was a pity she would probably never get the chance.

"As a result of Project Insight." Rumlow smiled once again, as if sharing a secret. She did not react, did not even flinch, but something in the air chilled, enough so that he knew he was making progress.

"I'm afraid I can't help you Mr.....?" The distant politeness hadn't changed, but if she hadn't somehow called security already, without him seeing how she'd done it, he'd be surprised.

"Rumlow. Brock Rumlow."
He knew it had been a very long shot to think news of his betrayal hadn't spread to everyone in Hydra. When her demeanor changed instantly to one of a security professional and Hydra true believer, he knew he'd never had a chance. She had a gun in hand so fast it was as if it materialized. Rumlow only grinned, not bothering to hold up his hands, leaning on the desk as if he didn't have a care in the world.