Red Winter: Timeline

Chapter Twenty-Three: Coordinate Surprise

"Marcus and Jack...they're not masterminds." Fury sat back in his chair, "I hate to say it...but I think there's more at play there than we are seeing." 

Sam pointed up at the monitor, the large holo-screen clicked on, "There must be someone behind the scenes."

They all sat in the meeting room, the large round table with the holo-screen lit in the middle. Fury leaned forward, looking at the readings Bruce had taken after examining Vision. "We've got track on all former HYDRA members. Those with Marcus and Jack...and those not. We're missing something, and I'm not just talking about a soldier." Wanda was silent, she stared at the table nipping on the inside of her cheek as they spoke. "What did you find?" Fury turned to Pepper who was skimming through something on the tablet in her hands.

"I tracked their jet for miles. They're not idiots, they knew I was on their tail." Pepper se the tablet down on the table, she shook her head, "I wouldn't know the first place to look."

Suddenly the holo-screen began to flicker, Pepper looked up, quickly grabbing her tablet trying to regain control. "Wait..." Wanda sat up, "There..." Wanda pointed to a new screen that had opened, it was a map, slowly it zoomed in on coordinates. 

"Pepper?" Fury spoke out.

"I'm not doing that..." Pepper shook her head, it's an outside transmission. "F.R.I.D.A.Y track that signal." Affirmative. Signal is...coming from those coordinates. Pepper looked over to Sam, "You said The Winter Soldier was activated, how sure are you about that?" Sam didn't answer, he shifted his view over to Wanda who was staring at the screen in shock.

"We can't just drop in, could be a trap." Pepper shook her head.

Sam nodded, looking back at the screen, "It sure could...that's why we will bring back up."

The next morning Wanda pulled on her red leather coat and took a deep breath. Standing in her room she stared at herself in the mirror, only to see Vision standing in her doorway. "I always liked that jacket on you." A soft smile spread on his lips. Wanda smiled back, but the way she looked away made him nod his head almost in understanding, "Wanda...before you go..." He stepped into her room, "I can't help but...understand that something may have changed in my absence." Wanda felt the hair on the back of her neck stand as she felt him walk up behind her, "I am sorry for everything you went through because of me." He looked into the mirror, standing inches away from her, Wanda was staring at the floor, "Yet I feel your distance." Wanda shook her head, turning around and finally pulling nerves out of her to look up at him, "How can I prove I am...me?"

"Vis..." Wanda swallowed hard, her heart was beating so fast it should be popping out of her chest, "It's not that."

"Tell me." The feeling of his hand brushing her hair behind her ear made her close her eyes, but he felt her sightly shaking, "Wanda...you hold yourself at bay...is it...my appearance." 

Wanda shook her head, "No..."

"Wanda we better get..." Sam walked into the door, stopping at the sight, "Going..."

Wanda looked over at the door, catching Sam's eye, and nodded, "Right." She smiled quickly at Vision and stepped around him. "Let's go."

Sam looked at Vision as Wanda passed by him and exited the room. Vision was still, standing while looking at the floor, "I feel...like I am missing something..." Vision looked up at Sam, "I am...confused."

"Women." Sam nodded, "We'll never understand them." Vision nodded though still not sure what Sam was talking about. Sam felt bad for Vision, but not as bad as he felt for Wanda. "We will see you soon?" Sam nodded.

"Yes," Vision turned to face him, "Good luck...Captain." Vision smiled at Sam, Sam nodded before turning and walking down the hall.

"Oh I am so ready for this!!!" Peter buckled himself into his seat on the jet, "I haven't seen action in months!"

Scott laughed, bucking in next to him, "You haven't seen action ever."

"Is that a sex joke? You know I'm a teenager right?" Peter shook his head. "Perv."

Wanda buckled in across from them, she was silent as the others entered the aircraft. Pepper and Sam sat at the head of the jet, preparing for take off. "Everyone in?" Pepper turned around to see everyone nod, "Ok then. Let's go."

After punching in the coordinates left for them they were on their way, the monitor displayed a map, it zoomed in North of the Kolyma River.

Their trip started to come toward an end as they began to close in on the coordinates. After finding a landing spot a few miles out, they stepped out into the snow. It was cold, the air was windy with flurries. "Peter and Scott take the South way in, I'll take the north. Wanda, Pepper, surprise from above. Let's find out what this is and if our guy is here...no matter his state of mind, he is coming with us." Sam nodded, gripping the shield in his hands.