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

33

Confirmation was received that Zola had been destroyed, which meant they were able to begin the rescue of Steve. Sam had watched as Barnes had killed a STRIKE team with little effort, but he would need backup. Another STRIKE team was heading his way on the roof, even as the few daytime lights on the building went out abruptly. He knew many of the security measures had generator backups, though the main power being out would at least provide some respite for him and the others. He kicked off from the ground, reveling in the feel of using the wings once again, of flying without having to be confined in a plane. He had loved the Falcon prototype, as had his friend and wingman, Riley. That loss still stung, but Sam was determined to move forward by not allowing any of his current comrades to be in a similar position.

He swooped low over the building, using his automatic guns to cut down some of the STRIKE team, aiming where Rumlow had told him to. The STRIKE team was good; Sam would have been on the defensive without the small explosives he'd taken from the basement of their last safehouse. Each was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand, easy to throw, attaching themselves to anything they came in contact with. He tossed one, flying away just as it exploded, taking out the last of the STRIKE team.

"They'll know we're here now," he declared to the others. He flew low again, just ahead of Barnes as he threw another of the explosive devices onto what looked like a reinforced vent cover. It may have been reinforced, but it didn't withstand the explosive, allowing Barnes to slip inside the vent easily. Sam flew around the building, firing rapidly to kill three members of another STRIKE team assigned to patrol the roof. He landed, using the wings for extra balance as he kicked another member of the STRIKE team off the roof. Someone grabbed him from behind, as a bullet was fired, grazing his ribcage on his left side. He activated the wings, throwing the person off of him as he took off once again.

The pain was intense from his ribs, yet the wound wasn't serious enough for him to stop. He turned in midair, kicking the person hard, using the thrusters from the wings to give him extra momentum. One of the remaining STRIKE team members tried to jump him, but he pivoted, hitting them with the wings. He landed, intending to throw another one of the explosives, but he was hit in the face by what felt like a club before he was tackled by someone else. Gritting his teeth in pain, Sam rolled, kicking upward at the person trying to pin him, managing to slip out from under them. He took to the air once again, tossing the explosive device which took care of the last of the team. He gingerly touched his face, already swelling under his right eye from the blow. He checked the bleeding from the bullet graze on his ribs, determining that the wound wasn't serious enough for him to be concerned, at least during the mission. Sam landed, the wings folding up as he followed Barnes into the building through the ruined vent cover.

He was used to open sky; the air in the vent was dirty, the confines claustrophobic for him. For a few seconds he was sure he was stuck, feeling the panic build automatically, but he slid through the tight space to come out behind Barnes in what should have been one of the main hallways that could access anywhere in the building, even if it became confusing in places. He heard shouts distantly, along with gunfire, understanding that both Romanov and Rumlow had to be in the building as well, hopefully still alive and able to fight. He didn't see any security as he went down the hallway, hoping to catch up with Bucky. He found Barnes, who was moving carefully, alert and predatory, along the hallway that was lit only by emergency lights set high up on the walls, making the light seem intermittent and ghostly. Sam couldn't help but grin at what the Winter Soldier's organization was able to do, what they'd managed to accomplish against Hydra. If all had gone well, the Triskelion would likewise be dead in the water, buying them enough time to get Steve out.

"Wait," Barnes said quietly to Sam. He was looking at a strange pattern in the walls, almost as if someone had decided to cover up a bad patch job in the drywall with paint. Barnes tossed a small object, possibly an empty bullet casing into the area which lit up instantly with a tangle of arcs of electricity. It was so bright in the otherwise dim hallway that Sam closed his eyes, backing up a step automatically.