Just A Normal Kid

Chapter 16

Sharon was standing in the control room, supervising the techs launching the Insight Helicarriers and worrying about Rosie. It had been a big risk to call Rosie and warn her about the situation, but Sharon felt that it was worth it to keep the girl from getting unnecessarily mixed up in it. 

She had been quite close to her cousin Marlene and was thus well aware of her excessive selflessness, which had been passed on to her daughter. Rosie would definitely put herself in danger trying to help. 

Better she stayed safe and as far removed from the situation as possible. Not that Sharon believed it would happen; the kid would somehow find a way to help Natasha. All she could hope for was that Rosie heeded her warning and didn't physically get involved in anything.

Sharon knew that Steve hadn't had something to do with Fury's death - she'd been there, for god's sake! 

There was something else in play; something big. The fact that Secretary Pierce seemed largely unaffected by the Fury's assassination and the sudden disappearance of Maria Hill did nothing to reassure Sharon's growing fears that all was not well behind the scenes. She didn't have enough intel to draw any solid conclusions, but every single instinct she was screaming that there was danger. 

Without knowing anything more, her best option was to keep her head down and try and discreetly find out what happened that night in Steve's apartment. Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice sounding through the PA system. Sharon hid a relieved smile, feigning surprise at the announcement.

"Attention, all SHIELD agents. This is Steve Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days, some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth. SHIELD is not what we thought it was, it's been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The STRIKE and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want: absolute control. They shot Nick Fury and it won't end there. If you launch those Helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way, unless we stop them. I know I'm asking a lot, but the price of freedom is high, it always has been, and it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it... But I'm willing to bet I'm not."

Everything fell into place in her head like a jigsaw puzzle. It all made sense now... Fury had failed to notice the presence of HYDRA until a few days ago, when he must have said something that told Pierce that he had figured it out. 

In return, Pierce had him assassinated and declared the Captain a fugitive because Fury had somehow managed to tell him about his suspicions. Natasha had been there in at the hospital where Fury had been taken to and must have fled as soon as she realised what was happening. 

The question was, what had they found out about Project Insight that made them want to stop it?

At that moment, Rumlow and a few other agents broke into the control room, Rumlow ordering the head tech, "Preempt the launch sequence. Send those ships up now." This solidified Sharon's belief that the Captain was right and that Rumlow was indeed HYDRA. Why else would he order the launch instead of replying to the allegations that had been just made about where his loyalties lay?

The tech whose name Sharon had never learnt, seemed to be stuck in a dilemma and hesitated to do as he was told. "Is there a problem?" Rumlow snapped at him.

"I'm..." The poor guy was stuttering in fear.

"Is there a problem?" Rumlow repeated his question, his voice a low, threatening growl.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm not gonna launch those ships. Captain's orders." Brave guy.

Rumlow leveled a gun at the tech's head. "Move away from your station."