Project Alpha

Chapter 31- What About Bucky?

I was ushered onto a bus that was filled to the brim with hostages that Hydra had managed to capture throughout the years. If I were to guess, this wasn't all of the ones who were in the nearby compound. It was more likely that the people being transported by this bus were the ones who were the most powerful, and therefore the ones who were the most useful to the horrid organization.

"Move!" the guard next to me shouted to the driver. My body was so weak and was shutting down, but I was somehow still considered dangerous to all of the people around me. I had cuffs that were slapped onto my wrist before I was even remotely close to the bus, which prohibited me to use my powers. I even had a muzzle on me that prevented me from talking. I guess they got sick of my commentary. Apparently, I was still a danger to them because I also had a guard next to me who held a gun to the side of my head in case I tried to move.
The bus was kicked into gear and sped up towards what I assumed to be the nearest compound. I had no doubt that there was another compound close by that we would probably get to within the next few hours. That would give the agents time to gather the people they needed, come up with a plan, and get out without a scratch. They were honestly pretty predictable, but I guess that's what happened when you spend your entire life around the same people.

"There's someone blocking the road," the driver says in Russian. I knew at that moment that it had to be someone there for me. Whether they were good or bad, I didn't know. Either way, it was a chance to escape that I was willing to take.

"Speed up," the man next to me yells back at him. The driver did as he was told and accelerated to about double the speed he was originally going. I couldn't see who or what was standing in the road from the position I was sitting in, but I knew we had to be getting close.

Sure enough, the second I thought that we were slowed to a stop, but from the front of the bus. I was sure that there had to be a dent from whatever had stopped us, and based on the fact that we slowed to a stop instead of being flipped over, I knew that the Avengers had to be behind this rescue.

"You will pay for this," the bus driver said, getting up from his seat, with a gun in hand, ready to fire. Just as he got the weapon in a position to shoot, he was shot with a big blast that I knew had come from a familiar red and gold suit.

My suspicion was confirmed as that very suit strutted through the bus. Guards got up from other seats and fired at the suit, hoping to damage some part of it, but failing miserably to do so. Each guard was blasted back into their seat by the blasters from the suit. Tony was looking left and right trying to find me, but because of the mask on my face, I couldn't yell at him that I was right there.

Then, his eyes caught mine and I had felt at home for the first time in months. "She's right here," Tony called to someone. I could feel the tears pooling in my eyes and I could see the ones that were in his. He took my face in my hands and looked at me with so much sorrow in his eyes. "What did they do to you?"

I wanted to break down right there, but I had to hold it together until we at least got on the quinjet. I didn't know how much longer I could hold my brave face. The pain was starting to take over my body and that mixed with all of the emotions flooding my body was beginning to be too much.

"Let's get out of here," Tony said, extending his hand for me to reach. I grab it and l lift myself to my feet, but immediately I am greeted by my old friend, gravity. I fall forwards, but I'm caught by Tony. My body is slowly drifting to sleep and there is nothing that I can do about any of it.

Tony reaches under my legs and lifts me up into his arms. "Dad," I say, looking up at him with what feels like helpless eyes. Whatever I am feeling must be either reciprocated or felt between our eyes because my father just nods his head, knowing what I need.