Alec:

Alyssa:

Next Morning

Stark Guest House

The next morning, Alec was sure to leave Alyssa in the capable hands of Howard Stark's butler, Jarvis, who had helped Howard watch Alyssa when Steve, Bree, Amara and Peggy had staged the rescue mission to save the 107th, including Alec and Bucky themselves.

"Why can't I stay on the base with you, Aunt Bree, Uncle Steve and Uncle Bucky?" Alyssa complained. "I wanna learn how to fight, too."

Alec couldn't help but smile at the adorable tone and pout.

Alec knelt down to Alyssa's level, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "I know you want to help, sweetheart, but this training is going to be very intense and dangerous. Even for adults like us."

Alyssa's pout deepened. "But I'm brave! I can handle it!"

Alec chuckled softly. "I know you're brave. You're the bravest little girl I know. But right now, the best way you can help is by staying safe with Mr. Jarvis. Can you do that for me?"

Alyssa sighed dramatically but nodded. "Okay, Daddy. I'll stay with Mr. Jarvis."

"That's my girl," Alec said, pulling her into a tight hug. "I promise, when this is all over, I'll teach you some self-defense, my little soldier."

Alyssa grinned at hearing Alec's nickname for her again. "I miss that."

"Me calling you little soldier?" Alec asked knowingly.

Alyssa nodded eagerly. "Uh-huh."

Alec smiled in return. "I missed being able to say it." He cupped Alyssa's head, kissing her forehead. "Did you look at the stars like I told you to?"

"Yes, Daddy," Alyssa answered. "You told me to look at the sky and know that you were watching over me. Just like Mommy."

"And that I'd be looking up at the stars and thinking of you, too," Alec agreed.

Alyssa smiled slightly. "Do you still have the black cape I made you?"

Alec gave his daughter a grin. "Of course I do. You gave me that before I deployed. I'd never lose that. I'll always carry it with me."

Alyssa beamed. "Good. Because you guys really are turning into heroes now, Daddy."

Alec smiled warmly at his daughter's words. "We're just doing what's right, sweetheart. The real heroes are the ones who keep hope alive even in the darkest times. Like you."

Alyssa looked down. "I'm not a hero."

"You are," Alec affirmed. "Your strength and bravery through all of this... it's what kept me going when things got tough. You're my hero, Alyssa."

Tears welled up in Alyssa's eyes as she threw her arms around her father's neck. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you too, my little soldier," Alec whispered, holding her tight. After a moment, he pulled back, wiping a tear from Alyssa's cheek. "Now, I need you to be brave for me one more time. Can you do that?"

Alyssa nodded, leaning her head against Alec's. "Yes, Daddy."

Alec closed his eyes, kissing her cheek. "See? My little hero."

Alyssa and Alec shared a small smile as Alec led Alyssa inside where she would be cared for by Jarvis, while he had to leave to head to the base and continue training.

✯

Bree:

Allies Base

It was nearly the time of meeting with Howard and Peggy.

Bree walked in on where Steve and a woman were kissing, clearing her throat awkwardly.

They pulled away, looking at Bree.

"Steve, they're ready for us, if you're not otherwise occupied," Bree told him, walking away down the hall.

Steve followed. "Bree, wait. It's not what you thought it was."

"I don't think anything, brother," Bree told him. "Not one thing. Always wanted to be a soldier, and now you are. Just like all the rest."

"No, no, no, no," Steve told her. "She came onto me." Bree smiled a small smile. Steve gave her a look. "Which you knew about, so you're just trying to find a way to torment me."

"Torment?" Bree repeated. "I'm offended. I much prefer torture." Steve tilted his head at her. Bree smiled. "I'm teasing. But what about Peggy?"

"What about Peggy?" Steve asked.

"You really think that I can't see how you much you like her?" Bree asked.

Steve tried to play dumb. "Wha... I don't... I mean..." Bree tilted her head at him. "How can you tell?"

"First of all, you can never take your eyes off her," Bree answered.

"Well, what about her and Stark?" Steve asked. "How do I know they haven't been... fondueing?"

Bree had to keep from laughing, shaking her head. "You still don't know a thing about women. Fondue's just cheese and bread, my friend."

"Really?" Steve asked.

"Yes," Bree answered. "Come on, now, before we're late."

"You pull of the soldier persona a little too well," Steve told her.

"I'm going to take that as a compliment," Bree told him.

They continued to walk along.

✯

Bree's staff:

Another Room

Howard was showing Bree and Steve weapons. He pointed at a shield. "Carbon polymer. Should withstand your average German bayonet. Although, Hydra's not going to attack you with a pocketknife." He tapped on Steve's former shield. "I hear you're, uh, kinda attached."

"It's handier than you might think," Steve told him.

"I took the liberty of coming up with some options," Howard told them. He picked up a gold staff with a hook at the type, almost like a spear. The top of the curve of the hook was another pointed edge that could still be just as dangerous as the razor-sharp hook of the staff. "This one's fun. She's being fitted with electrical relays, so that even if you just hit your target, you can send them reeling. The pointed edge of the curve of the hook is easier for combat so you won't have to jab with the point of the blade each time." He took the staff apart. "It's a two-piece, in case you're in an uneven fight, you can still take them on." Bree took the two pieces of the staff curiously, putting it back together. "Though, we're still working on throwing techniques."

Bree turned around, throwing the hook of the staff into the wall across the room with strength and ease; the sharp edge of the curve of the staff stabbed into the wall, keeping the staff upright against it.

Howard and Steve looked at Bree in surprise, impressed.

Bree shrugged. "I think it's ready."

Howard picked up a glove, handing it to Bree. "The electromagnetic rays in the glove will also pull the staff right back to you."

Bree pulled on the glove, holding her hand toward the staff.

The electromagnetism pulled the staff out of the wall, as it spun around through the air and flew back into Bree's hand, much to her surprise and awe.

Bree smiled. "I want it."

Howard picked up a steel shield, turning to Steve. "And this one is for you."

"What's it made of?" Steve asked.

"Vibranium, the same metal that's used to create that staff," Howard answered. Bree looked from her staff to Steve's shield curiously, tilting her head. "It's stronger than steel, and a third of the weight. It's completely vibration absorbent."

"How come it's not standard issue?" Steve asked.

"That's the rarest metal on Earth, what you're holding there," Howard answered. "That's all we got."

Peggy walked closer. "Are you quite finished, Mr. Stark? The Captain and the Mistress should really be on their way."

Steve showed Peggy the shield. "What do you think?"

Peggy picked up a gun from the table next to her, firing four shots into the shield that completely protected Steve, the bullets falling to the floor, completely flat. "Yes, I think it works."

Peggy walked away, leaving.

Steve and Howard watched her go, awestruck.

Bree walked toward Howard, handing a piece of paper to him. "I had some ideas about my uniform. It's the sketch I tried to give for the, um... The 'Star Girl' outfits, but they turned me down. I think this would be a more fitting uniform."

Howard took the paper. "Whatever you want."

✯

Bree:

Alec:

Amara:

Montage

Bree, Steve, Bucky and Alec were already starting to train with Amara.

The air was crisp and cool in the early morning light as they gathered, all dressed in practical workout clothes.

Amara stood before them, her posture straight and commanding. "Alright, let's begin. The techniques I'm going to teach you are unlike anything you've encountered before. They require not just physical strength, but mental discipline and focus."

Amara started by demonstrating a series of fluid, graceful movements that seemed almost dance-like in their execution. But as she sped up, the deadly precision and power behind each motion became apparent.

"This is a basic form from my home world," Amara explained. "It emphasizes using your opponent's energy against them, rather than relying solely on brute strength."

The others watched in awe, trying to mimic Amara's graceful yet powerful movements. Steve and Bree, with their enhanced reflexes and strength from the serum, picked up the basics fairly quickly. Bucky and Alec, though lacking superhuman abilities, were determined to keep up.

"Good," Amara nodded approvingly. "Now, let's pair up and practice some of these techniques in combat scenarios."

Amara paired Steve with Bucky, and Bree with Alec, while she moved between the pairs to offer guidance and corrections.

As they sparred, Amara called out instructions. "Remember, it's not about overpowering your opponent. It's about redirecting their energy, finding their weak points, and exploiting them."

Bree flipped Alec over her shoulder, using his momentum against him. Alec landed with a grunt.

As Alec hit the ground with a thud, Bree's eyes widened in concern. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

Alec groaned but managed a smile as he sat up. "I'm fine. Just... remind me not to underestimate you again."

Bree offered her hand to help him up, which Alec gratefully accepted. As he got to his feet, he couldn't help but marvel at the strength in Bree's grip. It was still strange to see his friend, who had once been so frail, now possessing such power.

Meanwhile, Steve and Bucky were locked in an intense sparring match. Despite Steve's enhanced abilities, Bucky was holding his own, years of combat experience allowing him to anticipate and counter many of Steve's moves.

Amara watched them all with a critical eye, occasionally stepping in. "Good, Bucky. You're adapting quickly."

Bucky managed to sweep Steve's legs out from under him, sending the Super Soldier crashing to the ground. Steve looked up at his friend in surprise.

"What do you know," Bucky smirked, offering Steve a hand. "Looks like I can still teach you a thing or two."

Steve grinned as he took Bucky's hand and got to his feet. "Don't get cocky, Buck. I'm just warming up."

Amara nodded approvingly. "Excellent work, all of you. Now, let's move on to something a bit more... challenging."

In a montage, it showed that Bree was training with her staff, with Steve and his shield, with Buck and Alec, with Amara.

The four were learning a great deal about fighting with Amara very quickly over the next month, heading into December of 1943.

Despite Bree and Steve's strength and speed, Bucky and Alec were better trained, so they were able to block most of their shots and taught them to be better.

Amara taught all of them to be better, watching as Bree and Bucky were sparring with staffs after her training.

Bree had pulled the staff apart so that she wouldn't use the hook/blade against Bucky, who was training her with another, regular staff. Bucky swung his staff at Bree. Bree raised her staff to block the move. Bucky spun around to try and hit Bree again. Bree ducked, spinning to try and kick Bucky in the head. Bucky raised an arm to block the move.

Bree spun closer to hit Bucky in the stomach with the staff. Bucky caught Bree's arm, spinning her away, trying to punch her which Bree blocked and spun underneath Bucky's arm to stand in front of him with her back to her chest, flipping Bucky over her shoulder to the floor. Bucky rolled up to a standing position, turning to face Bree, both of them circling each other as they looked at each other with a smirk.

In another part of the montage, Alec and Bree were training as Amara watched. Bree had the hook of her staff off while training with Alec, who also had a metal regular staff. They both traded blocks and blows with the staffs. Alec swung his staff at Bree's head.

Bree ducked, spinning around Alec, trying to hit him from behind with the staff. Alec, without looking behind him, used his staff to block the move from that side. They both turned to the other side, trying to hit the other with their staffs, blocking each other's moves. Alec spun around to face Bree, swinging the staff at her repeatedly. Bree used her staff to block the moves, ducking. They traded more blocks and blows, catching each other's wrists with the staffs raised.

Now, Bree trained with Steve, who had his shield. This time, Bree did have the hook of her staff on given that Steve had his shield, swinging it toward Steve. Steve raised his shield to block the move, as the hook of the staff hit directly against the middle of the star on his shield. The vibranium of both their weapons rung throughout the room from the clash of weapons. Bree backed away and tried to hit Steve in the stomach. Steve jumped back to make her miss.

Bree swung the staff around, spinning to swing it toward Steve from the other direction. Steve ducked, before jumping up to come at Bree from overhead with his shield. Bree raised her staff to block the move, placing her hand against Steve's chest while he was still midair, lifting him up higher and pushing him down on the floor, swinging the staff down on him. Steve rolled out of the way, up to his feet. but Bree spun around and kicked him in the back the same time that he stood, with enough strength to fling him forward across the room.

Steve placed his shield on the floor below him as he rolled over the shield and up to his feet, spinning to face Bree just as she ran closer, raising the shield to block a swing of her staff, the point of the curve of her hook hitting the shield, which was clearly a fake out from Bree, as she used it as a distraction, spinning around to swing the hook of the staff at Steve from the other direction, but Steve ducked, pushing Bree away, swinging his shield at her head.

Bree ducked to the floor, spinning to leg sweep Steve's legs out from underneath him, making him flip through the air and fall to the floor as she stood, latching the hook of her staff around the strap on the back of his shield to pull it from his hands and throw it up, which spun around in the air before falling back toward them. Bree caught the shield in her free hand as she finished the spin to face Steve, shield and staff in either hand, putting the point of the curve of her hook against Steve's chest to "kill him" in training and win the fight.

Steve smiled proudly.

Bree:

Alec:

Amara:

Amara's double-bladed sword:

In pieces, Amara was shown training Bree with the staff. Amara wielded a double-bladed sword from her home planet of Vialara; it was gold, medieval looking and the sword's blades were curved at the edges. A perfect weapon to further teach Bree how to wield her staff.

Bree and Amara circled each other, their weapons at the ready. The air crackled with tension as they sized each other up.

"Remember," Amara said, her voice steady. "Your staff is an extension of yourself. Feel its weight, its balance. Let it guide your movements."

Bree nodded, her grip tightening on the staff. She took a deep breath, centering herself.

Suddenly, Amara lunged forward, her double-bladed sword slicing through the air. Bree barely had time to react, bringing her staff up to block the attack. The clash of metal on metal rang out across the training grounds. Each clash of metal on metal sent sparks flying, the vibranium of Bree's gold staff meeting the otherworldly metal of Amara's gold double-bladed sword.

Bree spun away, using the momentum to swing her staff at Amara's legs. But Amara was too quick, leaping over the attack with graceful ease.

"Good," Amara praised, even as she pressed her advantage, her double-bladed sword a blur of motion. "But don't telegraph your moves. Let them flow naturally."

Bree nodded, adjusting her stance. She feinted left, then struck right, the hook of her staff nearly catching Amara's arm. The Vialaran warrior smiled approvingly as she deftly avoided the attack.

"Better," Amara said. "Now, let's see how you handle this. Don't just react. Anticipate. Feel the flow of the fight"

Amara's attacks became a whirlwind of motion, her double-bladed sword seeming to come from every direction at once. Bree found herself on the defensive, her staff a constant blur as she blocked and parried.

But as the onslaught continued, something clicked in Bree's mind. She began to see the patterns in Amara's movements, the slight tells that preceded each strike. As Amara swung her sword in a wide arc, Bree saw her opening. She ducked under the blade, thrusting her staff forward. Amara barely managed to dodge, the tip of the staff grazing her side.

"Excellent!" Amara grinned, genuine pride in her voice. "Now you're getting it."

The fight continued, each woman pushing the other to their limits. The clash of metal on metal echoed through the training grounds as Bree and Amara continued their intense sparring session. Sweat glistened on their brows, their breath coming in controlled, measured pants as they pushed each other to new limits.

Bree's newfound confidence grew with each exchange. Her movements became more fluid, more instinctive. The staff truly felt like an extension of her body now, responding to her will as naturally as her own limbs.

Amara's double-bladed sword whirled through the air, a golden blur that seemed to defy the laws of physics. But where once Bree would have been overwhelmed, now she saw the patterns, the rhythms in Amara's attacks. She parried a high strike, then immediately ducked low to avoid the follow-up attack she knew was coming.

"Good!" Amara praised. "Remember. The staff is not just a weapon. It's a tool for balance, for leverage. Use its length to your advantage."

Bree nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. As Amara launched another flurry of attacks, Bree saw her opportunity. She planted one end of her staff on the ground, using it as a pivot point to vault over Amara's head. As she sailed through the air, she twisted, bringing the hooked end of her staff down towards Amara's back, forcing her to leap back.

But Amara was ready. She spun, her double-bladed sword coming up to meet Bree's staff with a resounding clash. The force of the impact sent vibrations running up Bree's arms, but she held firm.

They broke apart, circling each other once more. Bree's heart was pounding, but she felt more alive than ever. She could see the approval in Amara's eyes, the pride of a teacher seeing her student excel.

"You've come far," Amara said, her voice filled with pride. "But let's see how you handle this."

With lightning speed, Amara charged forward, her double-bladed sword becoming a blur of golden light. Bree's eyes widened, but she didn't falter. She planted her feet firmly, her staff held at the ready.

As Amara closed in, Bree made her move. She spun her staff in a circular motion, creating a shield of sorts. Amara's blade clashed against it, the impact sending sparks flying. But Bree didn't stop there. She continued the motion, using the momentum to guide Amara's sword to the side.

In that split second opening, Bree struck. She thrust the hooked end of her staff forward, catching Amara's ankle. With a quick twist, she pulled, throwing Amara off balance, sending Amara spiraling through the air and falling to the ground, making her drop the double-bladed sword.

Bree leaped forward, pressing the hooked blade of her staff against Amara's neck, effectively winning the match, both women breathing heavily.

Something had changed in Bree. The training, the countless hours of practice, had honed her skills to a razor's edge as she moved with fluid and grace, until finally she was able to win against Amara.

Alec, Steve and Bucky were watching, smiling in pride.

Amara looked at Bree with a gleam in her eyes. "You're ready."

Bree caught her breath, stunned but relieved, feeling more alive than she had ever before.

As the training montage came to an end, Steve and Bree stood facing each other, both breathing heavily but grinning with exhilaration. The others watched from the sidelines, impressed by how far they had come in such a short time.

"Well done, both of you," Amara said, stepping forward. "You've made remarkable progress."

Bree handed Steve back his shield, a playful glint in her eye. "Not bad for a couple of kids from Brooklyn, huh?"

Steve chuckled, accepting the shield. "We've come a long way from getting beat up in back alleys, that's for sure."

Bucky clapped them both on the shoulder. "You two are something else. I almost feel sorry for Hydra... almost."

Alec nodded in agreement. "They won't know what hit them."

Amara looked at them in amusement, nodding. "Let's begin."

✯

Bree:

Amara:

Steve was suited up in a real version of his Captain America costume, one that would protect him while in battle. He put a rifle in a military vehicle. He cocked a pistol, tucking it into a side holster. And last but not least, he put his shield on his back where it rested on back. The shield was painted red, white and blue; the middle of the shield was painted with a blue circle, over which rested a white star. The blue circle was framed by a ring of red, outside of which was framed by a ring of white. On the edge, the last ring surrounding the shield was painted red.

Bree was getting suited up for the first time in a protective red, white and blue suit. The blue top and shorts built for protection, a big white star on the center of Bree's chest, along with smaller stars lining the sleeves of her top. Her red electromagnetic gloves also had stars on them now, which she pulled on, before pulling on a blue simple mask. She also had black lining leggings that tucked into her red, black and gold boots. The red utility belt she had on also had a holster meant to hold her staff when she wasn't using it.

Amara had also been given a suit for the role of Lady Liberty. In the same red, white and blue colors, she had requested it to be like armor, which reminded her of home. She looked nearly Amazonian with most of her skin covered, however. Her orange arm bracer gauntlets clashed with the suit's colors, but she needed them for the war to come.

And now, they were all ready to go to war.

✯

Alec:

Hydra Factory

The soldiers, Steve and Bree stormed a Hydra factory, firing guns or taking the bullets.

A soldier tried to kick Bree. Bree used her staff to block the move, using it to hit him in the face, making him fall.

Steve used his shield to prevent some bullets, using it to hit a soldier, making him fall.

Amara leaped through the air with a super jump, spinning through the air, swinging a double-bladed sword through two men, tearing them to pieces as their bodies fell to the ground as she landed on her feet. Another man rushed forward to attack. Amara swung her sword to deflect his, punching him in the face, slamming the hilt of her sword into his face, spinning the sword in her hand to slash him deeply into the stomach in the same movement, kicking him to the ground. 

The other boys were taking down the rest of the agents inside, before they went to run outside after planting a bomb.

Bree was about to follow, but stopped when she saw a motorcycle nearby, smiling.

Once the boys of the Howling Commandos poured out of the factory, they dove for cover, waiting, but there was no explosion yet. They peered out from their cover.

"Where the hell is Bree?" Bucky asked.

Suddenly, Bree crashed through a factory window on a motorcycle, the glass raining down just as the factory exploded into flames, looking behind her to watch the flames, smirking slightly, turning forward as she continued to drive.

✯

Later

Later that night, Schmidt / Red Skull pulled his car up t the ruined factory. He glared at the destruction as his windshield reflected the flames.

✯

Allies Base

A location was crossed off the map by Peggy. The Xs were marked off and replaced by SSR flags.

✯

Woods

Amara, Steve and Bree led the soldiers through the snow, letting them know the coast was clear.

Steve saw something, throwing his shield toward a tree, making a man with a gun fall to the ground. The shield circled back around toward Steve. Steve caught it, placing the shield onto his arm.

Explosions started to occur.

Hydra agents ran closer with gun firing, which the Howling Commandos returned fire, fighting them off, wreaking havoc.

✯

Woods

The Howling Commandos were on a stake out.

Morita whistled.

Dernier ran through the woods, a bomb tucked under his arm.

Parallel to him, a Hydra fast-track raced along a road.

Dernier rolled under the fast-track, magneting the bomb to the bottom of the vehicle as it roared over him, letting them pass by, standing.

The fast-track exploded.

The Commandos laughed.

✯

Hydra Factory

Amara, Steve, Bree, Alec and Bucky were riding in the back of a Jeep as Dungan was driving away from the burning factory.

The rest of the Commandos were in the other Jeep following them.

A Hydra fighter plane swooped over them, guns blazing.

Steve blocked with his shield.

Alec opened up his .30 CAL, aiming it up at plane, shooting a bullet rigged with an explosive into the plane, making the plane explode into flame as the fire seared on, spinning out of control, and crashed ahead of the Commandos.

Dungan and the other driver, Sawyer, pulled over in the two cars, as all the Commandos stared, impressed.

Alec smirked, shrugging.

✯

Woods

The Commandos raced across a field as the Landkruezer bore down on them. They were almost to safety when Dungan's hat flew off his head, landing in the path of the oncoming tank.

Dungan ran back for his hat, as the rest of the Commandos shouted for him to stop. Dungan dove for his hat, grabbing it, rolling out of the way, wedging the hat on his head, smug, before he realized the tank had turned and was coming right at him.

Steve ran closer, diving over Dungan and grabbing the tank's cannon barrel, flipping himself into the air, landing atop the turret. He spotted a glowing energy housing marked "Explosive", and raised his shield high, bringing it down, making the tank grind to a halt. He raised the shield again and slammed it down again, making it crackle and sparks fly. He brought the shield down one last time, making an ominous drone arise. Steve stood, taking a running leap off the tank just as it exploded.

✯

Allies Base - Briefing Room

Peggy and Phillips were watching the footage of the Commandos. Amara, Bucky, Bree, Steve and Alec were surveying a map of the valley while the others were drinking from canteens or flasks.

The camera focused on Steve's open compass. Taped to the inside was a newspaper photograph of Peggy, before whipping up at Steve.

As Amara spotted the picture in the compass, she gave Steve a knowing look, crossing her arms. "My sister, huh?"

Steve snapped the compass shut, sheepish. "I really do not want to talk about that with you, Amara."

Amara smirked. "Not yet, anyway."

Phillips glanced at Peggy, amused.

Peggy was shocked, pressing her lips together.

✯

Woods

Somewhere out in the field, Alec was walking along.

A sharpshooter was in hiding, targeting Alec.

Bucky was also in hiding, sharpshooting the other guy before he had a chance to kill Bucky.

Alec looked toward Bucky, nodding.

Bucky nodded, reloading.

✯

Allies Base

Another location on the map was crossed off.

✯

Battlefield

The soldiers were fighting.

Steve hit a man with his shield, making him fall.

Bree was fighting two men, swinging her staff to whip their guns out of their hands to the ground, the pointed edge of the curve of her staff cutting their hands in the process, spinning closer to hit Man 1 in the jaw with her staff, spinning around to kick Man 2 in the head, making them both fall.

Amara rushed toward the oncoming men, spinning around a soldier, slamming her elbow into his back to make him double over, kicking him to the ground. As another soldier approached, Amara punched him in the face, jabbing a hand into his neck, making him clutch his throat as he gasped for breath. She flipped herself through the air and onto the shoulders of the soldier, flinging him to the ground while she completed her flip, landing on her feet as she did; the soldier ended up on his head, snapping his neck when he impacted the ground. 

There was an explosion behind Steve as he threw his shield straight ahead.

Bree took a running start toward a tank, jumping up through the air and landing on the tank, using the hook of her staff to break the lock off, opening it, using the hook to latch through the back of a man's uniform, pulling him out of the tank, turning around, throwing him several yards away, making him scream as he fell to the ground.

Bucky and Alec shot the man flying through the air before he hit the ground.

Steve threw a bomb vest up to Bree.

Bree caught the bomb vest and tossed it into the tank, jumping off of it before it could blow.

The explosion behind Bree sent her a little more out. She was caught by Bucky, both of them falling and rolling over the ground, landing on their backs, looking at each other, breathing heavily. They leaned their foreheads together, smiling small smiles.

✯

Hydra Factory

Red Skull was yelling at Zola. "You are failing!" Zola cringed. Around them, Hydra troops searched the rubble of another burned factory. "We are close to an offensive that will shake the planet, Doctor. Yet we are continually delayed because you can't outwit two simpletons with a shield and staff!"

Zola gestured at the devastated facility. "Sir, this is hardly my area of expertise. I merely develop the weapons. I cannot fire them."

"Finish your mission, Doctor," Red Skull told him. "Before the Americans finish theirs."

A Hydra soldier waked closer. "Sir!" The troops hauled the injured plant manager from the rubble. Red Skull bid them forward. "We fought to the last man."

Zola cringed, already knowing he was a dead man.

Red Skull pulled out his weapon. "Not evidently."

Zola turned away, his face illuminated briefly by an inevitable flash of blue light as Red Skull killed his own man.