Finding Death

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Captain America

The Jet lands a few miles away from the HYDRA base; close enough so we don't have to walk for too long, but far enough that the radar won't pick us up. Everyone knows what they're doing but we're just waiting for Sam to get here.

I'm hoping it's him when my phone rings; thankfully I'm right. Picking it up, I take my leave from the group "Sam, hi."

'Hey. Sorry for the delay, Rik and I just got here. Filling her in now, I'll let you know when we're done. Won't be long, promise.'

"No worries. We're pretty much ready, so we're just waiting on you now."

'I'll be as quick as possible.'

*

Nomad

As Sam explains how the earpiece he's just given me works, I find myself more focused on Steve's pep-talk with the Avengers than the instructions. I think Sam notices because he stops talking for a little while, allowing me to listen.

"So, you know how to use the earpiece, you've got your weapons," Sam sighs with a small shiver. "I've got to go meet Steve- you'll be okay here, right?"

I nod, eyes transfixed on the grey HYDRA building nearby. To get a better vantage point I scamper up a tree, answering Sam from a high branch: "Yes, I'll be fine."

"As soon as you see us, start doing... you know, whatever it is you do."

I laugh quietly as a number of HYDRA soldiers emerge from the base, heading straight towards Steve's team. It's all part of the plan, thank God. "Go. I can still hear you through the earpiece."

Sam nods, just once, before swooping off towards the Avengers. I hear him say, "Steve, the HYDRA guys are en route. Be ready," in my ear and resist the urge to rip the communication device out. I don't like it. I'm just not used to it, I suppose.

The ten HYDRA guards split off into pairs, exactly as I thought they would. I tell Sam on the private channel, then he relays it to Steve.

Two of them are dead in seconds. Courtesy of yours truly, of course. Another pair goes down seconds later, then another; I leave the rest to the real heroes.

As more villains emerge from the base, I speak to Sam: "I need to get in there, Sam. Quickly. I reckon I can disable the security measures."

There's a click as Sam switches back onto our channel: "I'm working on it!" he exclaims, zooming over my head. "Follow me!" so I do, practically throwing myself through trees. I dread to think what my once-perfect plait is going to look like after all of this.

Standing on a fairly sturdy branch, I open fire on the HYDRA bastards, ensuring not to damage any of the Avengers. Steve glances up at me a few times- he knows I'm here.

Apparently, so does Natasha: "There's someone else here. Shooting HYDRA soldiers."

"Should we be scared or thankful?" Clint questions; he's not on the ground, I notice. After a few seconds of searching, I find him atop one of HYDRA's guard towers, arrows raining down left, right and centre.

With one tap on the earpiece, I forge a private channel with him: "Whatever your instincts tell you to do, don't shoot me. I'm on your side. Listen: is there any dead guards up there with you?"

Click; "Who is this?"

"It's exactly who you think it is. Now answer the question."

His eyes flit around as he tries to detect me; the stony gaze is caught in my own.  "Yes. Two of them."