August 2nd, 2025
Kate knew it was a mistake, but it didn't really bother her at this point. Though she couldn't ignore how good it felt to say something, anything, even showing a fraction of her anger. She hated how little resentment she felt towards Hydra, how little she cared.
She always imagined getting her revenge, her justice for what Hydra put both her and James through. But now, after her failed escape from this nightmare, nothing seemed to matter anymore.
"Please, we're trying to make this as easy as possible. And that takes cooperation on both sides." Bucky sounded awfully convincing, or James as Kate knew him. If he intended to rationalize with her about cooperation, she was the last person he needed to ask.
"What I'm telling you is the truth." Kate argued, anger pitching her voice a couple octaves lower.
"Then stop lying about your name. How are we supposed to believe you about anything else if you can't tell the truth." Shuri sighed, not buying Kate's argument.
"Why does it matter to you?" Kate snapped, pulling at the cuffs behind her back.
"We're probably the only people you can count on to not kill or use you in some way," Bucky argued, his temper finally showing, "all we need is a little cooperation to figure out what's going on."
Kate sighed. She knew she had to get somewhere, and ignorance wouldn't do that. It didn't matter that Bucky was there, or what he did or didn't do. All that mattered was getting herself as far away from Hydra as possible.
Bucky and Shuri both leaned back in their own chairs, waiting. Kate tried to calm down, but the cuffs didn't do anything to help with it. She jerked against them again. "Can you please just take off the cuffs?"
Shuri groaned and looked at the watch on her wrist. In seconds, the cuffs holding Kate's hands clicked and fell to the floor.
Kate sighed as she pulled her hands in front of her, itching the skin near the IV needle. She ran her hands through her hair, resting her in her palms. Somehow, all Kate could focus on was how her hair felt under her fingertips. She could feel every strand of hair brush against the unique patterns on the pads of her fingers.
Taking a deep breath, Kate sat up and looked at Bucky. After a second more of completion and indirect eye contact, Kate decided to tell the truth. "My name is Kate. Kate Alden." She took a shaky breath, her name being spoken out loud for the first time in over fifty years. "I was born in Brooklyn, New York, 1938."
Bucky's smile was broader than she would have thought. After all, it was just her name. Shuri scoffs, "Lauren Sonrail, right, of course."
Kate felt like her nerves were pinched as she gave Shuri a look. "Lauren Sonrail was the name given to me when Hydra took me captive. Everyone who knew my birth name is now dead."
"It's nice to meet you Kate." Bucky smiled.
"We've met before." Shuri didn't give Bucky enough time to answer before she spoke up.
"Give me all the information on Kate Alden, New York, nineteen fifties." Just as it had done before, the mirror flashed to life. To Kate's surprise, the first image was the first headline she'd made when she was just twenty.
"Top listings pulled from American archives, top report: Kate Alden, born August 17th, 1938 in Brooklyn, New York. Alden became a well known engineer and biochemist throughout her high school years. At the age of twenty, she was recognized by Stark Industries and SHIELD in her endeavors. Working within the most powerful agencies in America, Alden advanced in ways never thought possible. Within months, she became a direct contractor with Howard Stark and underwent an internship within the industry. Alden made headlines for three years up until April of 1961.
YOU ARE READING
Eclipse (Born at Dusk - Book 1)
Fanfiction"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not, but our lives were created together within HYDRA's walls. They can't unmake us." To her, he was a ghost; to him, she was a stranger. Bucky is the only super soldier left, he'd checked himself. However...
