Black Star: HYDRA War

丅𝔀𝓔︎𝓷𝐓︎ⓨ︎-ꪮ𝓷𝓔︎

COME on, guys, get me eyes on Barnes!" an agent with pale skin and graying hair shouts into a walkie-talkie. You're pretty sure his name is Everett Ross.

    From the small amount of light still in the room, you can see Tony tap the side of his glasses. "FRIDAY, get me a source for that outage."

    Steve turns to look at Sharon. "Where is he?"

    "Sub-level Five, East Wing."

    He and Sam exit the office and take off running. You also leave the office, but to join Tony and Nat.

    "Evac all civilians. Get me a perimeter around the building and gunships in the air," Ross orders. The agents around him nod and rush off to do as he says.

    Tony and Natasha start quickly walking down the hallway. You're not totally sure where they're going, but you follow them nonetheless, assuming they're going to look for Barnes - who's probably the Winter Soldier now.

    Please tell me you brought a suit," Natasha says to Tony.

    "Sure did," he replies. "It's a lovely Tom Ford, three-piece, two-button." When Natasha sighs in annoyance, he adds, "I'm an active-duty non-combatant."

    Sharon joins the three of you.

    "Follow me," she tells you as she takes off running.

    You go down a few levels and end up in a cafeteria. The Winter Soldier is already there, fighting with a couple agents, both of whom he easily knocks unconscious. You and Tony take cover behind a pillar, just out of his sight. Tony presses a button on his watch, and suddenly his hand is encased in an Iron Man glove. He powers it up and fires at the Winter Soldier. When the sonic blast hits his eardrums, he winces. Tony walks forward and blasts him again, this time knocking him down. But he quickly gets back up, and soon the two are fighting hand-to-hand. You want to run forward and help, but they're so close together and moving so quickly you're afraid you might hurt Tony. Before you can make up your mind, however, the Winter Soldier aims a punch that sends Tony flying backward into a table and crashing to the ground. That action chooses for you.

    You turn invisible, then run forward as you scoop up a knife sitting on one of the tables, and, in one fluid motion, dig it into the elbow crook in his real arm. It's only a steak knife, but blood starts leaking from the wound. You wince and look away, regretting the action as it leaves an all-too-familiar scene behind. The Winter Soldier's eyes dart around as he searches for the source of the attack. Sharon takes advantage of his distracted state and runs forward, but it only takes him a moment to readjust, and once he's ripped the knife from his arm, he's knocked her unconscious, too.

    You take a running leap, then just like on the bridge, you jump onto his shoulders, turn visible, and punch every inch of him you can. Now that he's in civilian clothing instead of HYDRA armor, it's much easier. But your triumph doesn't last long, because he flips you onto a table, pinning you down with his metal arm around your throat.

    "This feels familiar," you choke out.

    Black spots start to pop in front of your eyes, but you hold your position. With his full attention on you, it should be easy for Natasha to-

    The Winter Soldier collapses to the side as Natasha's fist connects with the side of his skull.

    "You're welcome," you say to her raspily between giant gulps of air.

    The two of them continue to fight, but you stay out of the way, trying to fill your lungs. Natasha lasts longer than you, Sharon, or even Tony, but eventually, she, too, is knocked out of the fight. But just as the Winter Soldier is about to run away, King T'Challa comes flying at him. The Winter Soldier predictably defeats him, but unlike the rest of you, T'Challa catches himself. However, he's not quick enough to stop the Winter Soldier, who immediately takes off running.