Hydra's Lair

Chapter 5

Kasey followed Ward down the hallway in silence while the other trainee walked beside her. Eventually though he was the first to break it. “I’m James Barnes. Thought you’d like to know since we’ll be training together.”

            “Well you already know my name.” Kasey replied still a bit nervous about what she’d just gotten herself into.

            “Pay attention.” Ward growled. “You are not here to socialize. You are here to train and work for HYDRA.”

            “Sorry sir.” James lowered his head quickly.

            Ward turned his gaze on Kasey and James elbowed her. “Oh… uh, sorry… sir.”

            “That’s better.” Ward nodded.

            James watched him turn around before turning back to Kasey, who had just thought of something she’d seen on the news. “You don’t look like the guy on the news… the one Captain America was fighting. They said his name was James Barnes.”

            “Yeah… he’s my uncle. I was named after him once my father thought he had died.” He whispered. “Want to see something cool though?”

            Kasey glanced at Ward who had gotten farther away as they slowed down. “Sure.”

            James took her hand and walked towards a corner of the hallway where the lights didn’t reach, at first she was confused but then darkness swept over her and she felt as if her skin was turning to ice. What seemed like an hour later, really only a few seconds according to a clock on the wall, they appeared somewhere else. Unfortunately that somewhere else happened to be in front of Ward instead of behind him.

            “You are asking to be punished today aren’t you agent.” Ward said, his voice chilling.

            “I was ju-”

            “I don’t want your excuses Barnes. Drop and give me fifty and be glad you’re getting off light this time.”

            “Yes sir.” James sighed and got on the floor before starting to count.

            “Miss Crain… as a warning for later dates, don’t get into trouble and be happy that as your first day here you can mess up a bit until you learn the rules.”

            “Thanks… I think?” Kasey gave him a confused look as Ward turned his attention back to James.

            Fifty pushups later, and about five different squads passing the three in the hallway, James had learned his lesson and was obediently following Ward again. This time he was silent and didn’t try showing off his apparent ability to shadow travel. Eventually they stopped in front of another door, which to Kasey looked exactly like all the other doors there, Ward turned to face them.

            “Kasey this is going to be your room.” Ward informed her and handed her an ID card. “Just scan your ID in the lock and it will unlock and open. Jame’s room is on the other side of the hall and mine is with the others that aren’t for trainees. Never come find me I will shoot you.”

            Kasey saw a hint of a smile on her mentor’s face and couldn’t decide if he found humor in shooting her or if he just thought it was fun to mess with her. She turned and glanced at James’ face but his was blank and unhelpful, apparently he didn’t wish to get into a worse punishment than he was in before. Ward continued leading them down various hallways that of course all had to be the same so that Kasey would most likely make a fool of herself as she tried to find her way back to her room. He showed them the training room next as that would be the room she would be using most, then the cafeteria, which much to James’ disappointment, they didn’t get to stop for food at. Finally Ward took them into an elevator and pressed a button to a lower level.

            “Where are we going now?” Kasey asked.

            “HYDRA’s lab, trainees don’t go there often but sometimes if there isn’t anything to do and I’m satisfied with your training for the day you’ll be assigned to help out the scientists.”

            “Or we get some free time to do whatever.” James finally started speaking again.

            Ward gave him a look that said not to interrupt him but didn’t say anything to his trainee. The doors opened to reveal a bunch of labs set up in a huge room with scientists dressed in the usual white lab coat rushing around and working on various projects. They walked around the perimeter before going back to the elevator and back onto the floor they started on.

            “This room and the lab are the only levels you should ever be on. If you are caught in another level… let me just say no one will see you again.” Ward warned before walking off. “As Barnes said earlier you get some free time. Just remember training will start at five tomorrow.”

            Kasey groaned at the thought of training that early and then remembered that she couldn’t even remember how to get anywhere still. James seemed to realize this because for the next few hours he led her around until she had the place memorized.

            “How did you ever learn to get around?” Kasey asked as she walked towards her room.

            “I basically grew up here. HYDRA found me when I was six, my mother had gotten sick and died and my father… well he died soon after of grief. HYDRA found out I was related to Bucky, or as you know him by his real name, James, and brought me here. So as you can see I’ve had a lot of time to figure it out.” He smirked. “Shadow traveling helps too.”

            “Lucky…” Kasey muttered and pretended to be annoyed at his gift.

            A shadow seemed to cross his face and his eyes seemed to go unfocused for a moment but he looked fine a few seconds later. “Just don’t be late to training or you’ll really see Ward’s wrath tomorrow. I’m pretty sure he’d make you clean some room with a toothbrush or something stupid and pointless like that.”