Bound By Purpose

Siberia

The rain had turned into snow a little over 45 minutes ago. Even as we land flurries are still present. It was clear we were the last ones to arrive as the jet and another vehicle are parked feet from the door. I can feel the cold biting through my metal suit. 

"Seems we're late to the party." Tony says jokingly. I can't find it within myself to joke around right now. Stark sees this and immediately his demeanor changes. "What should our strategy be?"

My mind flashes from the torture I endured in '63 and the massacre scene I encountered in '91. "It's a labyrinth down there. Lot's of corridors and open rooms. We need to find the boys as quick as we can, I don't think any of us stand much of a chance if we're separated." I leave it at that and try to shove the demons of the past out of my mind as I step into the cold hallway of yet another Soviet bunker.

As we enter Tony scans for movement, heat, anything that might register as life. Feeling that I can't hear most effectively I let my helmet collapse in on itself to the protest of Tony. I shush him and point to double doors. "Something is telling me behind here." I say, a hunch I dared not defy. Tony scans it reluctantly and nods. Admitting his defeat he pulls the two doors apart. 

When the doors are fully open I can see past him. Tony retracts his helmet. "You seem a little defensive." He says. Steve and Bucky stand ahead of me alive and well. I let out a sigh of relief and step out of Tony's way to reveal myself. The boys' weapons are instantly lowered. 

Steve and I bridge the gap between our two parties and link arms. "Glad to see you got out."

I glance backwards to Tony. "It wasn't without help."

"The others?" Steve asks.

"In prison." Tony answers. I can feel the tensions returning. 

"I know where to go." I say interrupting. "If this place is anything like the others I've been too their testing chambers will be..."

"Center of the base. It usually takes up 4 or 5 floors." Bucky has stepped forward. I nod my head, that's exactly what I was going to say.

Tony's helmet reforms and he takes the first steps forward. Steve follows him and then Bucky falls in stride with me. It was an eerie feeling to be next to him here in a place like this, but he had chosen to walk next to me so perhaps it was a sign that he was ready to heal and to be near me even if I was fully armored. 

We continue this way for a few minutes until Tony stops us. Entering a large cavernous room he makes the call, "I got heat signatures."

"How many?" Steve asks.

"Uh... one." This stops me in my tracks. That couldn't be right. The others take a few more steps and then the lights in the room come on revealing capsules. Each soldier rests, with a gunshot to the head in their seats. Bucky stares up at the nearest one clearly distraught.

"If it's any comfort, they died in their sleep." The voice echoes across the room bouncing off the stone walls. "Did you really think I wanted more of you?" That voice. Looking to the front of the room where another light has illuminated the speaker I see the doctor from the night in Berlin. I reach out for Bucky who despite my armored state reaches back to take my hand and keep me behind him. "I'm grateful to them, though. They brought you all here... and even Ms. Moore. I have to say I wasn't expecting to see you again." Steve launches his shield at the window but it merely reverbs back to him. "Please, Captain. The Soviets built this chamber to withstand the launch of UR-100 rockets."

"I'm betting Moore and I could beat that." Tony says raising his repulsors.

"Oh I'm sure you could, Mr. Stark. Given time. But then you'd never know why you came."