Natasha's POV

The gunfire was a roar in my head that pained my senses. My ears rang painfully and yet I couldn't hear a single thing other than that incessant noise. My head felt fuzzy like it was stuffed with cotton. The world around me seemed to slow down a drone of popping and banging the back ground music. My vision swam in and out of focus.

I had barely managed to understand that Steve had found me somehow, and that I was slumped out of view against a wall. Bang,bang, crack! Get a grip Natasha! Shaking my head, I desperately tried to get a an idea of what my surroundings looked like. Painful screams sounded behind me as the exchange of bullets found targets. A large bang and a flash sounded to close for comfort. A smoke screen seeped into the corridor further blurring my vision. Their was the faint sound of boots and panicked orders. Gunfire swarmed around me in unorganized chaos. The ringing in my ears slowly faded and with it my disorientation became less severe.

Rising up onto my knees I turned to see a scuffle taking place in the fog. A man and soldier were wrestling for control over a gun. The dark suited soldier slammed his fist in his opponent's gut causing the man to keel over in pain. A boot from the soldier cracked against the man's back toppling him to the ground, the gun in his hand flying across the floor. The soldier's victim rose un- steadily to his feet . With a set jaw he launched himself at the soldier, a fire to his gaze. Lashing out the man's fist connected with the soldier's jaw followed by a knee to the gut. The two were stuck in a vicious brawl of wills. The soldier clearly had better skill, and as I struggled to my feet the soldier gained supremacy over the man. With the gun now resting in his hand the soldier planted his boot atop the man's chest and fired a single shot.

The man's tense body went limp, his muscles relaxing, and a single sigh escaping his bloodied lips. The man's head lolled to the side his eyes glazed over but a small smile on his lips. The dead man's gaze fell on me, somehow betraying my location even in death. Maybe it was punishment for not helping.The soldier cocked the gun again turning to me his dark eyes burned into my soul. Glancing back at the man lying on the ground unmoving and lifeless the reality around me came surging back with brutal force. My head cleared, the intense sounds of combat flooded my ears, and my skin crawled in anger. In a second I lunged catching the soldier by surprise. Slamming him against the wall I twisted his wrist until there was a loud pop. Prying the gun free from his fingers I shot the man in the leg. With a pained shriek he crumbled to the floor.

You people have caused to much pain, and much misery, it was time it ended. Rounding the corner I dissapeared into the fog. Bodies flashed in and out of view, limbs flailing about, weapons flashing menacingly. A soldier stumbled out of the fog his gaze settling on me. In an instant I pulled the trigger and he fell to a similar fate as his comrade. Turning my gaze landed on a soldier whose gun was pointed on a man that rested on his knees. Another shot, another fall. Picking up his gun I spun in a three sixty degree turn. I pulled the trigger on every enemy I saw. A body came flying out of the mist and landed amongst his fallen friends. In surprise I looked up to see Steve, Hope, and Clint, emerge from the white cloak and ravaging the opposing forces.

Steve punched a soldier who went flying and crashed into a wall where a man snatched him up and thrust him onto the ground before plugging him with a bullet. Just as soon as they appeared they faded back into the mist but it was enough to give me more energy than before. My friends are alive! They're okay, and they're here! With renewed strength I dove back into the fray. The enemy crumbled under my assault, they came in waves and each of them met the floor. I was untouched, unstoppable, a panther stalking her prey. The fog began to disperse and as It did I noticed the collection of people writhing at my feet. Turning I saw Steve at the front of a group of rag tag men all of them staring in awe at me.

"Okay, who gave her a gun?" Clint asked looking at the tired ranks. Sliding a new clip into my pistol I cocked it staring determinedly at the tunnel in front of us.

"I think it's time we get out of here." I noted. A cheer erupted from the men and the slightest smile formed upon my lips. Turning I jogged down the tunnel with the others following closely. Steve came up on my left and another man on my right.

"Good to have you back. I'd like to introduce you to James, he's the brains of this operation." Steve gestured to the unfamiliar man on my right.

"Well then, it's a pleasure to meet you James. What's next on the agenda?" I asked without pausing I shot the cameras. Turning a corner we came across another group of soldiers marching towards us. Without breaking stride I charged at them in a fury. Gunfire opened but I dropped to the ground sliding under the legs of their leader. Spinning I swept their legs out from under them. Springing to my feet I bashed my gun onto the head of a soldier knocking him unconscious. Dodging another man's punch I grabbed his arm flipping him over my shoulder and into his companions. Firing bullets they dropped like flies and in an instant the group was cut down to half their original size.

Hope fired a few rounds before taking an approach similar to mine. She was a blur of fists and kicks, her reflexes quick and her hits ferocious. Making my way over to her she ducked a punch as I leapt off her back and onto the shoulders of a soldier. In an instant he was incapacitated. Cupping my hands Hope planted her foot into the foothold back flipping over the closing ranks. Once behind them they were easily on the floor in a pile.

"I've missed having you around." Hope sighed. Turning to the others who had stayed back and fired carefully at the mass of enemies. "The route's clear boys!"

"Is it me or do you feel completely unnecessary and useless?" A dark skinned man joked following us further into the facility's works.

"Every single day!" Clint laughed. Silence then fell over the group ,James continued shouting out directions on where to go. More groups of soldiers attempted to halt out progress but they weren't as skilled or as fierce as the others.

"Why is it getting easier to beat them?" Steve asked as we rounded another corner.

"They're saving their skilled forces for the invasion." James and I answered in unison. Glancing at him out of the corner of my eye I nodded.

"You know about the invasion?" Hope asked.

"Not the details, but enough to know that it's big, dangerous, and happening soon." Turning another corner two guards attempted to fire at our group but were easily mowed them down.

"This is our stop!" James yelled. The group stopped and he pushed to the front typing into a key pad by the door. The key pac hissed angrily before bursting into a bunch of sparks. The door slid open revealing an armory of sorts. Only inside were a few new additions. Clint's bow was mounted on a wall quivers of arrows bellow it. Hope's suit was folded up, while Steve's shield was mounted in the center of the wall in a glass case. Almost like a trophy. Next to the shield were my weapons mounted in a similar glass case. Clint rushed forward snatching up his bow with a childish cry before planting a kiss on its glossy surface.

"Oh, how I've missed you!" He then thrust his gun eagerly into James' hand. Picking up a quiver he slung it over his back before grabbing the other and slipping it on too. The straps crossed his chest in an x pattern. Hope busied herself with fastening her suit. Steve and I stood before our trophy cases

"Together?" He asked.

"Yeah." Rearing back our arms we thrust our fists into the glass. It shattered falling to the floor with a pleasurable crunch. Reaching inside I grabbed my guns, my widow's bite, smoke screen marbles, my electric batons, and lastly my belt. Officially armed we looked like our old selves again. But something was different. There were periodic blank patches amongst the shelves.

"Oh no. Guys, Tony's suit is missing." Hope noted.

" Maybe he got here first?" Clint asked hopefully. Hope shook her head in disappointment.

"No, this can mean only one thing. They're close to the invasion and they've already prepared Tony and the others." Steve responded grimly.

"James, what's the plan." I questioned the tension in the room growing.

"We get you to a communications tower. You contact someone for help, or whatever organization you come from, and have them send reinforcements on the way." He set his jaw firmly the wheels seeming to turn in his head. "We have a few hours tops. From the looks of it they're speeding the process up. They don't want to risk you guys stopping them."

"The reinforcements won't get here in time." Steve noted.

"No they won't. That's why we need to do everything we can to slow them down." James turned to the charcoal skinned man. "Jerry, it seems it's time to split up. Take Clint and Hope to the Docking Bay. Hijack a jet or two and when the invasion starts pluck them out of the sky. Make as much chaos as possible. On the way find the children's quarters and release them. They aren't loyal yet. Find a cargo plane and have Malcolm fly them to safety."

"What about you?" Jerry asked concern in his voice.

"I'm going to take them to the communications tower. Take all of the men with you." James ordered.

"You're going by yourself?" One of the men asked.

"Yes. It will be easier to stay hidden that way. The rest of you listen to Jerry. Fight hard and strong. If you die, you die a free man, you aren't apart of this stupid organization any more!"

A cheer filled the room the men piled out back into the hall. Hugging Clint and Hope I wished them luck as they filed out. Jerry embraced James patting him on the back. "Stay safe brother. After this maybe we'll see our families!"

"Yeah." The two broke apart and the crowd disappeared down the hall. I couldn't peel my eyes away from where Clint and Hope had been standing.

"Hey, they'll be alright." Steve assured resting a hand on my shoulder. Reaching up I squeezed it desperate for something normal.

"So, this isn't going to be easy is it?" I questioned. James set his knowing eyes on mine, they were cold, and wise. I had seen that look in the mirror before, it was the same one I had worn.

"We're headed to the heart of the compound. Level two, where the main control systems are. It'll be the most heavily guarded sector. With the helicarrier pads already under intense security, and being prepared for the invasion they won't expect someone to lead an assault on it. The others will get the jump on them. As for us, the only way this will work is with pure skill, and lots of luck." Turning on his heel James marched out the door.

"Let's get this show on the road." I sighed mentally preparing for what layed ahead. The going was easy, there was no adversary to take care of on the way to the elevator. Once inside James hot wired the machine. It moved smoothly upwards each of us breathing heavily in anticipation. The silence was intoxicating, I was able to hear my pulse and my breaths form a rhythmic beat. The elevator jerked fiercly before a screech signalled its stop. James stumbled into the wall, and I braced myself against the doors.

"I should have expected this. We'll have to go up." James grumbled. Steve bashed his shield against a bolted hatch in the roof. Two cracks against the metal later and it shot off like a soda tab. Hoisting himself up and out I followed behind. The area around us smelled of machine oil. The elevators shoot was small and compact, bathed in darkness with only cables and ropes visible.

"What now?" James asked. "I thought we'd be closer than this."

"Easy. We climb." Walking over to the cable I grasped it and hoisted myself up and off of the elevator's roof. The palms of my hands were slick with sweat making the surface hard to grip but it wasn't unmanageable. Hooking my feet expertly I began to shimmy up.

"Sorry to burst your bubble but I'm not, you know, made for this kind of thing." James quipped observing the task that lay ahead. Steve waved me down and I grudgingly obeyed.

"Slip this on your back." He handed me his shield before turning to James. "Climb on, and hang on tight."

With that he grasped another cable easily boosting himself up. With a humorous smirk I followed suit. This was going to be a long dangerous climb. It was slow and tiring work, the elevator below growing more distant with each inch we gained. My hands were beginning to burn something fierce but James encouraged us. We had barely passed level three. Reaching up I struggled to move a few inches. My arms were burning and no matter how genetically enhanced, and fit I was, climbing another forty feet was not appealing at all. Carefully I wiped my hands on my suit glancing at the bloodied blisters that had started to coat my palms. Grunting I reached up again. Inches, inches, inches, I went each handhold more difficult than the last.

"Sorry...I need to rest." I panted resting my cheek against the cable and relaxing slightly.

"Come on Nat. You can do it." Steve encouraged from a few feet above me. "We don't have a lot of time. Besides it's just up there. I can see it."

"I...I don't know...if I can." My lungs seemed to shrink making breathing harder and harder. My entire body was quivering from exhaustion, the burning in my muscles was fierce, like hungry vultures were pecking at my innards. Before long my breaths were shallow and harsh and my body was causing the whole cable to vibrate. I was having a panic attack, something I hadn't suffered from since I was little.

"Yes you can. Climb up to me. I promise I won't let you fall." Steve grunted but it was clear that even for him carrying two people up the elevator shaft wasn't going to happen. His strength had been sapped from his ordeals, and thought he could still physically hold both of us, the situation wouldn't allow it. Gasping I inched upwards a little at a time. It was painstakingly slow and with each bit of ground gained my panic grew stronger.

"I have an idea! Cap, if you can carry me up the last dozen feet I'll be able to hack into the exit doors. No one will be able to get in. You can go back down and get her then bring her up. After that we'll be able to safely leave." Steve contemplated this.

"Can you hang on? You don't have to move, just stay put." He breathed.

"I wasn't...planning on moving...Rogers!" I yelled angrily my pain inspiring my aggression. With an understanding look Steve turned and though fatigued continued on. I watched as he grew farther away and focused my last bit of grip strength in hanging on. God, if you can do anything at least do this! It's a freaking cable and you are not going to fall to your death! My head was pounding fiercly. Resting my forehead against the stupid cable I closed my eyes and tried to control my breathing. If I was meant to die this way there was nothing I could do about it. I could feel time pass slowly by and with it my grip slowly loosened. A fraction of an inch with each minute that passed by. Gunfire from up above sounded and I cringed silently praying they were okay.

"Shit, hold on Natasha, hold on." I whispered to myself desperately readjusting my grip. It wasn't helpful in fact it made it worse. My palms seized up, cramping angrily. A few of my fingers slipped and with a jerk I slipped down the cable a bit. Trying to recover I hugged it like a child would its mother. It was no use, my hands slipped and I felt the familiar sensation of weightlessness.

"I got you!" A firm hand grasped my wrist and I looked up to see Steve's brilliant eyes staring back at me in the dark. He strained pulling me up and onto his back. I limply clung to his form and he began the climb yet again. It was even slower than before but he seemed to draw strength from his struggling. As we got closer James appeared and leaned down offering his hand. Grasping it he pulled me up and over the lip that lead into the elevator shaft. Steve followed and the two of as leaned heavily on one another exhausted but still standing.

"I'll open the doors, follow me, I'll take the lead this time." Moving slightly as to not push us off the edge he untwisted a few wires in a control panel. The doors hissed before opening. We stumbled into the hall ,somehow still managing to stay alert, I scanned the area. James fired his gun at three soldiers in the opposite direction, none of them standing a chance. "Okay, follow me and stay close. We're almost there!"

We darted down the halls as fast as possible picking off the occasional enemy. James lead the way confidently until we paused in front of a large metal door. He glanced around before locating a panel and prying it off. The wires inside were more complicated than before and he cursed under his breath.

"Dammit! This will take a while! Cap, see if you can find a weakness in the door. If not check the one down the hall a little ways. If we can bust it down we'll save some time. As for you I heard you're pretty good at this stuff I wouldn't mind some help." Steve nodded before turning and pressing his ear against the door and tapping lightly. James reached into his coat pocket and produced a small picture and rested it in a crevice of the panel door. It was a small boy, his hair had once been combed perfectly, and he was frowning in the picture.

"Is that you?" I asked. He shook his head glancing at the image fondly.

"No, that's my son." James plunged his hand into the colored mess of cables pulling out a central control system. He passed it to me which I immediately started to work on. "He wasn't happy when I took this. He saw a boy picking on a little girl. I love the determination in his eyes. It keeps me going sometimes."

"He looks so much like you." I noted trying to take his mind off of the possible danger that awaited us.

"Yes, but he has his mother's smile." James used his teeth to peel off some of the wire covering.

"Do you see him much?" I asked.

"No. I met his mother on a mission. One of my old buddies kept tabs on her for me. A few weeks later I was told she was pregnant. I saw him once a few days after his birth and another time three days after his eighth birthday. Both in secret and I've kept that picture hidden for as long as I can remember. His mother is beautiful, I hope when this is over I can have a normal life with them." He smiled caught in the memory of it.

"I've always wanted a family." I laughed smiling to myself. The idea seemed preposterous to me, especially in this situation.

"Why haven't you?" James asked politely glancing in my direction.

"I can't. After my training I was sterilized to help keep me loyal and to get rid of possible distractions. They took away the one thing that might have mattered more to me than their cause." Handing him back the circuit board his hands worked expertly, placing it back where it came from. Standing he studied me a saddened look on his face.

"You may not want to hear it, but I'm sorry." His eyes were pained, but it wasn't a look of pity he gave me, but a look of deep understanding.

"Thanks, but you don't need to be sorry, they do." With a smile he called Steve back over. On the count of three he slammed his fist into the button on the control board. The door creaked before rising up and revealing the room. The three of us stood waiting in anticipation before rushing inside. A guards fired at us from across the way. Diving behind a metallic desk I fired around the corner. Once two had been incapacitated I leapt over the desk and moved towards another piece of cover. It went on like this for quite some time. The exchange took a few minutes max. Darting into a standing position I looked around unable to find other enemies.

"This was to easy!" Steve cautioned. Turning I witnessed the doors lowering ,before connecting with the ground, and echoing a loud bang. Raising my gun my eyes scanned the room hungrily searching for the enemy. The tension in the room grew to a crescendo, James shifted nervously his gun poised and waiting. Steve rested eagerly on the balls of his feet.

"Indeed it was!" A voice boomed mockingly from above as a familiar dark figure flipped from a catwalk above and landed in the center of the room. Viper raised his head his golden eyes hungry and a wicked smile on his face. A bone chilling laugh of a maniac resonated from his throat. Flicking his wrists two long blades protruded from his cuffs and into his palms. He seemed different than usual but nonetheless he was the enemy. His eyes scanned the room taking in the odds. He smiled sickly as his gaze landed on James. His voiced boomed, bouncing off the walls, like the laugh of a hyena. " So, who wants to die first?"

Okay; I just want to say Holy Freaking Crap. This has 3.11k reads?! I never would have thought this was possible. To make it better there is 191 votes! Thank you all so much. It means a lot to me when you vote and comment. It let's me know I am producing valuable content for you guys. Know that this story isn't really for me, it's for you, and all I want is to make you guys happy. But again thank you so much!