Monsters Inside Us (Winter Soldier)

The First Mission

      It had been over seven months since I had begun training with the Winter Soldier. Sevens months of nonstop training, learning, and trying to figure out what to do from here. I know I didn't want to stick around and become an Asset but from the way I was seeing things, it's the only choice I had. Everything was locked down and guarded like crazy, especially the exits. If I was going to get away, it wouldn't be by leaving here. My only chance would be out in the field where the only person I had to worry about was the Winter Soldier. With that in mind, I started to focus on him, studying his movements, his weaknesses (which seemed to be nothing at all)!

      Today was like any other day. I woke up in my cell to the sound of keys turning in the lock of the door. I stood up and faced the door where two guards stood. Between them was a lab coat with a clipboard at hand. He backed away from the door, a signal for me to walk out on my own. When I stepped into the hall, the two guards seemed to come to life, stepping to each side of me.

      "Today is your lucky day," said the lab coat, "You will be accompanying the Winter Soldier on a mission."

      "A mission," I asked, the sound of my own voice seemed foreign to my ears.

      "Budapest," he answered, "You both are to intercept a SHIELD mission. SHIELD is sending in troops to extract a scientist who knows about you and the Soldier. He's the one responsible for making you both into super soldiers. We can not let them get to him."

      "And what are we to do with him," I asked, my words cautious since I wasn't really sure if I was questioning too much.

      "Rid the world of him," the man replied, a darkness seemed to have clouded his eyes, a smile gracing his features. At that moment, I thought of my father, the way he always held a smile at the darkest thoughts. The man turned on his heel, walking down the hall with his nose up in the air. I followed, knowing that the guards would follow close behind. I was taken to a room where I was given clothing and equipment I would possibly need for the mission, as well as a debriefing.

      The mission was simple. The Soldier and I would be dropped off on the outskirts of Budapest. We'd lay low for a while to recon and get more information on the whereabouts of the scientist and the SHIELD agents. Once we had enough information, or reason to believe they were extracting him earlier than planned, we'd move in. Preferably we'd make our move in the cover of the night but should SHIELD show up early or something go wrong, we were to do whatever it took to complete the mission and disappear. The troops showed me the rally point of where our pick up zone was for after the mission.

      "Let's go, Jester," said a troop standing at the door. I guess my family history has followed me, even to this desolate place. I did as told, following like a mindless machine down the corridor. We turned into a room that seemed to be mainly a lab. In the middle of the back wall was a cylinder machine with a fog leaking out from the open. There seemed to be a backboard inside with various wires hanging throughout. In the middle of the room was a large contraption that was hooked up to a control panel. From a quick glance, the switches looked to have some sort of monitor, as well as a way to increase and decrease whatever it was that it did. And sitting in the chair of this machine was the Winter Soldier himself, fully clothed and ready for the mission. Two labs coats stood before him while multiple troops stood on guard at a close distance. Guess he was getting his debriefing as well.

       The Soldier stood up, turning to face me, his hair was damp and framed his face. It was the first time I had seen what he looked like without the mask on. His jaw line was sharp and covered with stubble. His cheek bones seemed to compliment his jawline, giving his face a bit of a square shape. His face in general was covered with a dark stubble and framed with two strong brows that made his abnormally blue eyes pop out even more. Did my eyes look like that? Needless to say, he was one of the most attractive me I'd ever seen.