The Soldat, The Captain and The Asset

3.6: The Copycat

THE ROOM WAS VAST, the surroundings dark, contrasting against the light by the door, just behind where a small desk had been placed. In the centre of the room, there was a glass prison pod. Inside, Bucky was still stiffly restrained, his eyes dark as he faced upwards, his head against the chair. He ignored the sound of footsteps coming into the room, going over to the small desk facing the pod. Zemo looks up at Bucky, looking over the edge of his glasses slightly. "Hello, Mr. Barnes." He greets. "Before you ask, Ms. Johnson is fine albeit annoyed." Bucky keeps his eyes closed, clenching his fists. "I've been sent by the United Nations to evaluate you. Do you mind if I sit?" Bucky stays completely silent. Zemo gives a forced smile before sitting down at the desk. "Your first name is James?"

— — — — —

Sharon walked into the main control room of the building, holding a few sheets of paper in her hands. She walks behind Steve and Sharon, her heels clicking onto the ground as she makes her way over to the desk. She hands the papers to the two men. "The receipt for your gear." She tells them with a bland voice.

Sam looks at the paper and backs up at Sharon. He sighs in exasperation, holding it out, a scroll on his face. "'Bird costume'?" He groans, placing the sheet back down on the table. "Come on."

Sharon looked down at the black man from where he sat. "I didn't write it." She says dismissively before pressing a button on the console that disabled the muting of the video feed coming from Bucky's evaluation.

— — — — —

Zemo looks away from the paper notes on Bucky's past on the table and clasps his hands in front of him on the table. He looks up at the ex-assassin with a soft smile. "I'm not here to judge you." He reassures him, talking in a soft and kind voice, sounding caring towards him. "I just want to ask you a few questions." He sits back slightly. "Do you know where you are, James?" He asks him. He waits a few moments and Bucky doesn't reply, instead staying completely silent, not giving Zemo satisfaction of answering his questions. "I can't help you if you don't talk to me, James."

Bucky lowers his head slightly, his vision drifting from the ceiling over to the man sitting near the door, over the yellow warning lines traced around the rim of the prison pod, as if they were a silent warning to not get close. "My name is Bucky." He says, his voice small. His eyes drift around, almost as if they were trying to piece everything together.

— — — — —

At the large power station near the edge of the city, multiple rows of power lines and generators run along the vast empty area. A small hut is left off to the side, housing the custodian who manages the plant. A white delivery van rolls up outside of the house. He groans slightly and honks the horn, signifying that he has entered into the area and needs to speak to him.

"Hallo (German: Hello)?" He calls out and the door opens, a man in green overalls exits from the hut and comes out to the van.

He quickly gets out of the van. "Hey. Ich hab eine große für dich. (German: Hey. I have a big one for you)." He informs him, his face blank slightly, his eyes sharp and knowing. He goes towards the back and removing a large wooden grate from the van, placing it on the ground, near where the central controls where for the power station itself. "Ja. Okay, hier unterzeichnen. (German: Okay. Here. Just sign here)."

"Hier (German: Here)?" The person asked, pointing to the paper. He glances at the grate and back at the digital screen.

"Ja. (Yeah)" The driver answers, holding the screen out to him, which the custodian quickly signs. The driver gets back into the van and quickly drives off. Meanwhile, the custodian looks down at the grate and get's out a wrench, ready to open it.