Winter's Sunshine

8. Sputnik

"Bu-Bucky?", Jen called out again.

Hearing no response from him alarmed Jen, her instincts screaming her to run. She couldn't fight him, she had no chance against him. Bucky who was now under mind control failed to recognize her. He was like a blank slate, had no thought or any emotions in him. He just stared at Jen, his eyes completely focused on her.

"Soldier, kill her! ", the voiced echoed the corridors. It belonged to the other soldier who had gone rogue on them. He stood behind Bucky, a proud smile plastered on his face.

Jen had no time to think about what she should do next, not when she was being choked by Bucky the very next second. Gasping for air, Jen felt her body elevate from the ground, now being eye to eye with Bucky. Jen tried pushing him, hitting him, fighting Bucky's flesh arm, attempting to free herself from his grip, but failed miserably. There is no escaping this.

Just when Jen had started to loose hope, all of a sudden she felt herself being thrown to her left, hitting hard on the ground. Bucky too collapsed beside her. She raised her head slowly and saw the Falcon shooting shoots at him, which Bucky blocked using his metal arm, way too easily. Bucky got back on his feet and started throwing punches at the Falcon.

Sam was loosing control and soon was thrown on the ground. Bucky searched for Jen who was still lying on the floor and marched towards her leaving Falcon alone.

"Soldier, leave her, kill him. Now.", the rogue soldier ordered, pointing at the Falcon.

Falcon on hearing this targeted laser at the soldier through his redwing which killed him instantly.

Bucky now furious advanced on the Falcon, remembering the order, nothing but to kill him.

Jen witnessed the super soldiers brutally fight each other. She was aware of their strengths and their  abilities but witnessing a fight was new to her. Jen cornered herself in the corridor, feeling numb, unable to comprehend anything.

Suddenly she heard the sound of gunshots coming from the end of the corridor. A team of soldiers, heavily armed were approaching them. She noticed that they were led by none other than Agent Maria Hill. Hill. The woman she always admired. A faint smile appeared on Jen's face as she saw Agent Hill fighting, in her full glory.

Bucky fighting back pulled out his M4 carbine and started taking all the soldiers down, one by one. Jen noticed Hill being frustrated by having on control on Bucky no matter how much she tried. Bucky was hitting falcon's head repeatedly on the wall, leaving bloodstains on it.

"Down now, Soldier.", Agent Hill announced, pointing her gun at him. She was the last soldier standing from her team, leaving her no choice but to shoot Bucky to end this fight.
Shield usually used taser guns to control the uncontrolled ones but Bucky would nullify its effect for sure. A real gun, a bullet was the only option now.

That's when Jen shouted "SPUTNIK!", loud and clear to be heard by Bucky, in his Winter Soldier form. As soon as the sound hit Bucky's ear, he immediately let go of the Falcon and fell on the ground, lying unconscious.

Both Falcon coughing out gasping for air and Agent Hill lowering her gun still holding it at Bucky looked confused at what had just happened. Hill looked at Jen, then at Falcon and back at Bucky, reaching him out to check his pulse on his neck.

"He is still alive." Agent Hill remarked looking at Jen, who was kneeling herself to be at Bucky's level, checking for his breathing. "Just unconscious.", she continued, getting up to help Sam.

Jen after feeling Bucky's breathe on her fingers looked up to see Agent Hill staring at her.

"What did you do Jennifer?", Agent inquired.

"You know me?", was Jen's reply.

On seeing Agent's stern face, Jen thought of answering her question first.

"Sputnik. The word Sputnik is his shutdown trigger.", Jen said waiting for Agent Hill to respond.

"There is a shutdown trigger for Bucky?", Falcon blurted out.

"Yes. I read it in his profile, available on the server.", Jen explained herself, glancing at Bucky.

Focusing her gaze on Agent Hill, Jen waited to see her reaction. She noticed a small smile forming on her face, making Jen's heart flutter.

"You saved us, Jennifer. Good work."

Hearing those words from Agent Hill made Jen extremely happy. She had made Agent Maria Hill happy, and getting a compliment from her made her feel special.

Jen returned a hearty smile to the Agent, feeling satisfied with completing her first mission. She knew it had not gone as planned, having Bucky unconscious on the ground, but saving the day, made her proud.

Falcon picked up Bucky and followed Agent Hill to the exit. Jen trailed behind him noticing all the fallen soldier's bodies around her.