Winter's End [winter soldier//Bucky Barnes AU]

Chapter Sixteen

*Bucky's POV*

After my small breakdown yesterday (maybe it wasn't a breakdown, but it sure felt like one), a few old S.H.I.E.L.D. agents had made it to our location.

They came with lots of information regarding Hydra, including maps, pictures and videos. Fury had gathered us all in the underground cellar to share this information with us. The agents, who's names were Melinda May and Skye (no last name for her, apparently), spread the maps out on the floor for us to look at.

The first one was a map of the first floor of a small building, which definitely wasn't big enough to be a base of any sorts. It looked like maybe a small shop. What surprised me was the map of the basement that was below it. There were six levels below the small building, all as wide as a football field, and heavily secured. There was a labyrinth of hallways, stairs, and hundreds of rooms. The very bottom floor, that was almost seven stories beneath the surface, contained cells and torture rooms. May estimated that there were over two hundred Hydra prisoners down there, and a quarter or so of them were S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that had been captured after the incident with the hellicarriers.

The final map had a side view of the building. There were several elevators to other levels, but none that went all the way to the surface.

Meaning there was only one way in, and one way out. And the entrance was hidden in the small store.

I sighed after I realized this, because it was not going to be easy at all. We had one chance to bring down this base, and if we failed, then Hydra will without a doubt take control of the country.

"So as far as we know, this base is the offical headquarters of Hydra now that you guys took out the other ones. All prisoners are taken here, along with all scientific information or research. Six levels, one way in and one way out, thousands of guards including Centipede or project DEATHLOK soldiers, and high security cameras and alarms." Agent May summarized, a bleak look on her face as she stared at the maps, her eyes unfocused. I took a seat on a bale of hay and put my elbows on my knees. Several others also sat down, their eyes trained on me as if they knew I was just about to speak.

"First thing we are going to need to do is shut down all cameras and alarms. If they can't see us, we'll have a much better chance." I said, my raspy voice a stark contrast to Agent May's fluid tone.

"I can do that. Hydra's computers are protected from hacking, but they didn't secure their system as well as they should. If I can get closer to the network they are using, maybe even get acces to a computer, I could release a virus that would shut down all cameras, computers and alarms for half an hour. It's not a lot of time, but it will give you enough time to at least take down guards." Skye spoke up, and I glanced at her, nodding.

"Half an hour will be good. Our goal is to destroy the base, capture any leaders or scientists, and free whatever prisoners we can. In half an hour, we can split up and attack each level at once. Kill the guards, find any leaders and see what we can find in terms of a self destruct button, or any other way to destroy the base." I explained. brushing a piece of hair behind my ear. I caught Sarah's eye from the across the room, and I could almost see the gears turning in her head, as she considered the plan. She was cute when she was troubled.

"Guys, I'm not sure if I should come with." A small voice said.

I looked over to see a timid Cara standing next to the door, her eyes flashing with fear. She looked so small next to the rest of us, and I suddenly remembered that she was only sixteen. She never acted like it, because of how smart and mature she was, but she was really young to be in this situation.

"Why not?" Peter asked her, his eyebrows knotting together as he glanced at her. I wondered if there was something else going on between the two.

"Because my powers haven't been stable lately. They've been erratic, hard to control- and there's a recurring voice in my head. I feel like Hydra has found a way to control me, and in a fight like this I can't have someone controlling me. And plus with my powers the way they are...it's just better if I stay behind." Cara said. She looked at the floor with a pained expression on her face. What she said made sense; this mission was too much for her, and I didn't want her to get hurt. But as I looked around the room, trying to figure out if anyone else shouldn't come, I realized that John shouldn't go either.

He was standing in the corner of the room like a shadow, silent and almost totally unnoticeable. I had completely forgot about him. Since finding him in the woods, he had barely talked and never made himself known. He blended totally into the background.

"John, you shouldn't go either." I spoke up, and his dark eyes snapped to mine, eerily reminding me of Valerie. They both had a glance that made me feel uneasy.

"W-why not?" he stammered, almost looking panicked.

"Because you've already lost your whole family, there's no point in going into this bloodbath and losing your life too. You and Cara should stay here while we go." Steve told him, and I nodded in agreement.

John simply sighed and nodded, looking at the floor.

"So that leaves me, Steve, Bucky, Sarah, Peter, Clint, Bruce and Stark. Eight of us." Natasha stated, looking around. May stepped forwad after she spoke.

"Me and Skye are in as well."

Natasha nodded and thought for a moment, before determining the groups. "Bucky and Steve, you guys go straight to the bottom level. That's where all the prisoners will be, along with the best guards. Sarah, you and me will attack the fifth level below the surface, where the labs will be. Peter and Stark, you guys go to the fourth level below the surface, Clint and Bruce go to the third, and May and Skye find a computer somewhere in the first two levels and down the computer system. Once we do what we have to do on each level, meet back at the first level below the surface and we'll go from there. Got it?" Natasha asked, and we all nodded in unison, because this was actually happening. The final step in defeating Hydra.

After the plan was officially made, Fury told us that we would attack the day after tomorrow. That gave us time to rest, train and think.

We dispersed soon afterwards and Fury instructed us to use the rest of the day to train. Tony collected all of our weapons to repair them and add ammunition, and me, Steve, Natasha, Sarah and Clint decided to go for a run to boost stamina and get our muscles into shape. Peter stayed behind for some reason (probably to talk to Cara) and Bruce obviously wasn't much of a runner.

We ran in a wide U around the farm's five and half acres, everyone aiming to run three miles. Me and Steve, though, ran twelve, speeding by the others quickly with Steve constantly calling, "On your left!" and then laughing to himself, as if it was an inside joke.

I didn't get it, but he did, and it was nice to see Steve smile.

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