Winter's Sunshine

28. The Test

"So, you think this will work?"

"I know it will", Shuri said, working on her computer.

Jen gulped as she recalled Shuri's plan. The plan was to test Bucky. Test his response on his trigger words. She glanced through the transparent screen at the white containment room. It looked rigid like it would withstand anything in it. Bucky was going to be in there.

Shuri had asked Jen to go in. She wanted to test him with several people. Both known and unknown to him. Shuri wanted to observe his reaction to them when he would be under hypnosis. Jen remembered her experience when Bucky was under hypnosis. She was worried about what would happen if Shuri's programming didn't work. She feared it wouldn't work.

"Look Shuri, it has happened before. Bucky was triggered and that time he tried to kill me."

"Yes, I heard you the first time you said it."

"So why do you think he wouldn't this time?"

"Because I know. I am pretty sure about it. Don't doubt my programming!"

"No I am not doubting your programming, but Shuri, I am not sure about this... I mean is it safe?", Jen asked, worried. "He is terrifying when he is you know, not him."

"Yes, so terrifying. I have seen the footage", Shuri said in horror.

"I know", Jen said looking horrified, as she glanced at that room once again. What the hell, she thought. Do I HAVE to go in this death trap?

Shuri started laughing hysterically all of a sudden, catching Jen off guard. She looked at Jen's confused face and continued her laugh. "Look at your face!", she said trying to catch her breath.

"What? what happened? Why are you laughing?"

"You really thought I would compromise you and my valuable soldiers just to test Bucky?"

"You are not?"

"No stupid, I was just joking"

"Then why do you need me?"

"I need to build an AI of you. I am going to use simulations to test him."

"Oh", Jen realized what Shuri had said. Thank God for Artificial intelligence!

"Yes... and you call yourself a Biotech Engineer.", Shuri snorted at Jen.

"No actually, I am sorry, my bad. I thought you were serious."

Shuri laughed again and said, "See, I already have of Captain's, Natasha's, Sam's and many of ours and now I am building one of yours too."

"That's amazing", Jen said looking at the projections above the screen.

"I know right!"

"So should I call in Bucky?", Jen asked Shuri.

"Um, OK. Need a few more minutes and then I will be ready. You can call him"

"Okay.", Jen said leaving the Lab. She headed out through the big door and walked in the long corridor. So pretty, she remarked looking at its architecture. She checked her phone for any messages. "Jen" a voice, Bucky's, called out to her as he walked towards her.

"Hey Buck, I was coming to you."

"Yes, I thought you guys must be in the lab"

"Yes and Shuri wants you in her lab"

"Okay, by the way, what did she do? She looked so excited back there"

"She is going to test you today."

"Oh", Bucky said, his heart dropping on hearing about the test.

"Nervous?", Jen asked noticing the change in his demeanor.

Bucky gulped looking towards the lab, "I can handle it." I HAVE to handle it

"I will be waiting in my room OK?"

Bucky looked at her for a second and nodded at her. "See you later", he said but stood there in his place.

"It's going to OK Buck", Jen said rubbing his arm.

"I know", he smiled walking away from her.

_____________________________

A few hours passed by when Jen decided to go to Bucky's room. She stood outside and was hesitant to walk in. What if it didn't work? Poor Bucky, I hope it worked. Jen opened the door and saw Bucky standing by his balcony. She walked to him and stood beside him.

Bucky turned his head smiling. "Hey Jen", he said looking at her nervous face.

"So? How was it?"

"Good."

"So did it worked?"

"More or less"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it turns out I still will get triggered by those words, but the only difference now will be that I won't be following orders."

"So? If you don't follow orders and are still under their control, then what exactly will you do?"

"Nothing."

"Huh? Nothing? What do you mean?"

"Just nothing. Shuri said my trigger words are attached to my core memories, so it's difficult for her to undo it completely. So she reprogrammed me in such a way that after I get triggered, instead of following orders as I am supposed to, I will just stand there blankly."

"Oh, so you will literally do nothing?", Jen asked smirking. That would be so funny

"Yup, will just stand there blankly"

"And how will you snap out of it?"

"She said I will reboot after 5 minutes."

"Oh.." after 5 minutes?  "Won't you be vulnerable for a whole 5 minutes? I mean you could be.. you know.."

"Killed?", Bucky chuckled sadly. "I know, but I won't be killing anymore when ordered."

"But Bucky that's-"

"I am fine with that actually. I am happy knowing for a fact that I won't be hurting people.", he said smiling weakly.

"That's not fair", Jen said shaking her head. So not fair.