I'm Sorry | Natasha Romanoff

Chapter 1: Ash

In the dimly lit Hydra bunker, tension thickened the air like fog. Monitors hummed, casting eerie glows on the faces of those gathered in the strategic command room. Dr. Gruber, Strucker, and Marcus stood toe-to-toe, their voices rising in heated argument. Jenna sat quietly in a corner, her keen eyes absorbing every word.

"We need to send her out" Marcus insisted, "The Avengers has information we need. She's our best tool."

Dr. Gruber nodded in agreement. "She's been trained by the Winter Soldier himself. Her skills are unparalleled."

Strucker's lips curled into a sneer. "And what if she betrays us? Just like him."

"She won't" Dr. Gruber shot back, his tone edged with irritation. "She's loyal to our cause."

Strucker's sneer deepened. "We already lost one soldier. Can you guarantee we won't lose another?"

The room fell silent, the weight of Strucker's words hanging in the air. Dr. Gruber squared his shoulders, meeting Strucker's glare with unwavering resolve. "I'm confident in her loyalty. We've conditioned her thoroughly."

Strucker's patience snapped. He slammed his fist on the table, causing a nearby vase to tremble. "Conditioning can fail. It did with the Winter Soldier. I will not risk another betrayal."

"And yet, here we are" Marcus interjected, his tone smooth but with an underlying edge. "The twins do not have the training she does. They are powerful, yes, but undisciplined."

Strucker scoffed. "But they are loyal"

Marcus shook his head. "But they lack the finesse and experience that Inferno possesses. One well-trained soldier can achieve what two raw powers cannot."

Strucker's eyes blazed with fury. "And if she turns against us?"

Dr. Gruber stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "She won't. I have faith in her commitment to our cause."

Strucker's face twisted with disdain. "Faith? Faith won't protect us from betrayal."

Marcus stepped forward, "Faith might not protect us, but she will. The absence of any other life bounds her to us. Hydra has been her world. She isn't like the Winter Soldier. We didn't just take an adult and mold them into a weapon. We didn't need to erase her memories because we wrote them for her. We didn't just condition her; we wired Hydra into her very being. Her loyalty isn't a choice-it's a fact. Inferno isn't just a soldier; she's a product of Hydra, through and through. Betrayal isn't an option because there is no other life for her to choose. She is Hydra's tool, by nature and nurture."

After a moment, Strucker's anger seemed to cool, replaced by a calculating look. "I will continue with my twins. They may not have her training, but they are loyal by choice, and they are powerful. While you two play cat and mouse with your soldiers, I'll deploy mine. And if I am correct, you have one of two while I still have my set of two."

Marcus stepped forward, his jaw set. "And one is all we need. Inferno will complete the mission. She will succeed where others have failed."

Strucker's lips twisted into a sardonic smile. "We'll see about that. If she fails, it will be on your heads." With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

Jenna sat at the back of the room, her expression blank as she barely listened to the heated exchange between her handlers. She was only here for one reason: to receive her mission. All the political maneuvering and power struggles bored her. Her purpose was clear and straightforward-receive a task, complete it, and return.

As the door slammed shut behind Strucker, she allowed herself a small sigh. The sooner they finished this discussion, the sooner she could get to work.

Marcus turned to Dr. Gruber, his voice low and intense. "How confident are you that she can take out the Avengers?"