Red Winter: Timeline

Chapter Twenty-Four: Wink

The building was large, surrounded by fencing and barbed wire, vehicles parked near gates, and soldiers marching around. Pepper and Wanda landed on the roof, peeking down from below at the marching men. "How did they get these many soldiers? How long have they been recruiting?" Pepper spoke for the ear piece. 

"Months, years. There is no way of knowing." Sam looked out from behind one of the trucks, "But it looks like we have the right place."

"After a quick scan..." Pepper looked around in her helmet, waiting for the screen to locate their target, "Second floor...there is a...cell? He's in a cell." Pepper looked over to Wanda, "Why would they lock their super soldier in a cell?"

Wanda looked down at the soldiers, Sam watched from behind the truck, "Wanda...no, don't." It was too late, she had jumped off the roof and landed in a poof of red. Soldiers turned and aimed their guns but they were no match for the timing of her focus. They all hit the ground in red as she turned and threw energy at the guards near the door. A man began to run at her from behind but Pepper shot him away as she landed beside the witch. "Yeah, sure. Just...blast your way in." Sam walked over to the ladies, "That wasn't the plan."

Wanda took a huff in her breath and shook her head, "I was in the moment."

"No more moments." Sam shook his head and started to walk toward the door.

Pepper looked at Wanda, "I mean...I thought it was badass." They followed behind Sam.

"You're suppose to be on my side." Sam pulled the door open and knocked out a couple men that rain toward them. 

Pepper shot down the hall at some approaching soldiers, "I can't betray my own sex Captain." Wanda threw a few men against the wall, no more humor flowing in her body. "Scott, Peter, come in?" There was no answer, "Come in?" Pepper looked over to Sam.

"Bad connection?" Sam shrugged, "We will find them."

As they made their way toward Pepper's locked in targeting location they found less and less soldier's in their way. "Something smells fishy."

"That's just the location." Sam nodded toward the large door that lead into the cell block, Wanda pulled the door open with magic and they snuck around the corner only to find there was no guards in the wing. "Pepper?" 

"My signals jammed, something is blocking it." Pepper tapped her wrist screen, then looked up and shook her head.

"Something is wrong." Sam looked down the hall, "Which cell?" Pepper pointed to the third door, Sam slowly walked toward it. 

"Looking for me?" At the end of the hall Bucky came into view, for a moment they all stood still, waiting for another move. As the seconds passed hope brewed, until Bucky pulled a gun from his back and began to shoot. The three of them began to run, not wanting to fight their friend. Suddenly from one of the halls came Jack Rollins, they turned and began to run down a foreign hall. They ran into an open room and stopped as they found themselves in the middle. Marcus stepped out from behind a large stack of crates. Wanda watched as Bucky entered the room, gun raised at them.

"Wonderful. You found us." Marcus stepped out and smiled as dozens of armed men entered the room with guns aimed at the three. From behind Marcus a few men dragged out Peter and Scott, who now had arm and leg braces holding them down. "And we found you."

"Sorry." Peter looked at Pepper with a sad look.

"Now...how did you find us?" Marcus shrugged, "That's the mystery isn't it?"

Wanda starred at Bucky, who finally had his gaze start to shift toward her, his gun aimed at her head. The hurt that boiled in her chest as she fought to see something other than hate in his eyes began to burn. Wanda mouthed, please. She hoped for change in his eyes, but it didn't come.

"Tell me, who dangles your strings!" Sam called out, "Neither of you are smart enough to play this game on your own?" 

Marcus laughed, "There are many people are are against The Avengers. Also...people who are just against...well...everyone." He stepped forward and took the gun from one of the soldiers, taking a few more steps to press the barrel into Sam's forehead. "Tell me...Captain...do you really think you can fight this war without your leader? Or even at all?"

Wanda's eyes began to glow red, she shook her head with rage as the hurt began to boil over...then...something happened. Bucky was looking at her, then...he was looking at her. Wanda's eyes rested, she starred at the man before her and watched as slowly he winked at her.

The gun clicked, "The power that we protect." Marcus lowered his voice, "You should be scared." The man began to pull the trigger but before he could finish his task a bullet flew right into his forehead. Sam starred at Marcus's body fell to the ground before him, turning to see Bucky standing with the gun aimed right were the shot had rattled. They locked eyes and the soldier smiled, then everything went fast. 

Wanda rose above the ground with Pepper as they began to take out soldiers, Bucky shot at the men who were holding Peter and Scott and Wanda used her magic to pull their restraints off. After they were free they began taking out men as well. Bucky found himself in hand to hand combat with Jack as his gun was knocked from his hands, punched flew and suddenly he was down and being choked, hands wailing as he tried to get the man off of him. Sam spotted this, catching Bucky's eye and tossing the shield at Jack who was knocked to the ground. Bucky got up quickly and grabbed the shield, spinning to knock Jack out and tossing the shield back to Sam who turned on his heel to knock out another soldier. 

Soon every man was down and the team found themselves standing together, but before they could celebrate a large metal beam broke from the ceiling and began to fall to them, Wanda acted quick and focused her magic on it, holding it above their heads. 

This was when the sound of clapping echoed in the room, they all turned to see a man walked through the room. Wanda looked to, but still kept her magic holding the beam above them.

"Who are you?!" Sam called out, they all watched as the light hit the man's face.

"Magneto." He grinned.