Chapter 14

Abi, Steve, Sam and Maria all geared up and headed for SHEILD. Sam was wearing his wings; Maria was in a black SHEILD cat suit; Steve had stolen his old uniform from the Smithsonian and Abi had stolen her old battered leather jacket. It was one Bucky had given her nearer the end of the war. She hoped it might jog his memory. Other than that she was in the same black t-shirt and jeans that were ripped from the fight on the bridge.

There was just over two hours to Insight's launch and everyone was prepping the carrier's. Pierce was showing the rest of the members of the World Counsel to the top floor so that they could all watch the launch.

Abi shot out the comms system in the building so all they heard was a load pitch screech. As she jumped back through the window one of the techs opened the door to check out the problem. He opened the door to Sam pointing a gun and immediately waved them through. Abi and Maria ushered the rest of the guys out of the room as Steve walked across to the PA system.

"Attention all SHEILD agents, this is Steve Rogers." Steve started over the system. "You've heard a lot about me and Abi over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt us down. But I think it's time you know the truth. SHEILD 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. We 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 helicarrier's today, Hydra will be able to kill anyone who 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." He finished and stepped away from the console.

"Did you write that down first or was it off the top of your head?" Sam questioned with a smile.

Abi interrupted before Steve could reply. "Someone just overrode the launch sequence. The helicarrier's are going up now." She looked at Steve.

"Let's go." Steve said.

Abi, Steve and Sam ran out leaving Maria at the station with the security cameras.

"They're initiating launch." Maria informed them through their comms.

"Hey, Cap, how do we know the good guys from the bad guys?" Sam asked as the three of them ran towards the carriers.

"If they're shooting at you, they're bad." Steve called back.

Sam pulled out his wings and took off as Abi and Steve jumped onto the nearest carrier.

"You take this one; I'll get the far one." Abi said to Steve who nodded in response.

Steve ran towards the deck as Abi ran towards where the two carriers were closest. She nearly made it to the edge to jump when some guys appeared in front of her and started throwing punches. She started taking them out but without her powers it was going to take longer than normal.

Steve had run into the same problem and was attempting to fight his way down to the main deck. Sam was being shot at by the anti-aircraft guns that occupied almost everywhere on the carrier's. This was going to be harder than any of them expected. Abi heard an explosion as Steve threw a grenade.

"Hey, Cap, I found those bad guys you were talking about." Sam said over the comms as he tried to avoid getting shot out of the air.

"You okay?" Steve asked.

"I'm not dead yet." Came Sam's reply.

Abi had finished of one set of guys with the last of her ammo when another lot appeared and she was back fighting them in hand to hand combat. Pierce and the members of the counsel were watching the ships rise and the guns shoot at Sam from the top floor. As Pierce threatened one of them, women suddenly took out all of his men and disarmed him. She soon pulled off a mask to reveal Natasha posing as the member.

"Falcon, status?" Maria questioned.

"Engaging." Was his reply. "Alright, I'm in." He added a moment later. As soon as he said that a Quinn jet appeared and he ducked under the carrier. He used the jet's guns to break the glass on the lower deck before swooping in and replacing his blade. "Bravo lock." He said as he plugged it in.

It came up green on Maria's screen. "Alright, Abi how's it going?"

Abi just finished off the last of the guys but the carrier was too far for her to jump. "Sam, do you think you could maybe give me a lift?"

"Yeah give me a signal when." He replied.

"I just did." She said as she jumped off the edge. Sam quickly swooped and caught her; pulling her up to the other carrier. They both landed safely.

"Eight minutes, Cap." Maria said over the comms.

"Working on it." Was his reply.

He ran down onto the bottom deck and quickly changed the cards. At the same moment Natasha was dumping all of SHIELD's and Hydra's intel onto the net.

"Alpha lock." Steve said to Hill as he secured the card.

That one just like the other came up green. "Two down, one to go."

Steve ran to the edge of the carrier. "Abi, Sam you got this?"

"Yeah. Get yourself clear." Abi replied.

Steve jumped the short distance onto the roof of the main building and went back down to help Maria. As he did so Fury arrived to help Natasha override the system.

Abi and Sam started to move towards the main deck but kept getting caught fighting Hydra agents.

"Six minutes." Maria reminded them.

After she did, Bucky came out of no where and shoved Abi over the side of the carrier.

"Abi!" Sam shouted.

Sam tried to take off but Bucky caught his right wing and flung him back onto the carrier. Sam took out his machine guns but Bucky dodged the bullets easily. Sam's ammo ran out and he went to fly away. However, Bucky pulled out a grappling hook and grabbed his wing and sent him tumbling back to the deck. Bucky yanked on the hook, removing the wing completely before kicking Sam off the edge. Sam spiralled out of control but managed to pull his parachute and landed successfully on the roof.

"Abi? Abi? Come in. Are you okay?" Sam said worriedly.

"Yeah I'm here." Abi said as she pulled herself back on to the carrier's engine. "I'm still on the helicarrier. Where are you?"

"I'm grounded. The suit's down. Sorry, Abi." Sam told her.

"Don't worry. I got it." She told him before she took off running to the main deck.

Bucky saw her from above and also headed straight for the deck.

Abi ran along the metal walkway but stopped halfway. She took a shaky breath and met those all too familiar eyes. Bucky was waiting for her and his graze was as cold as ice. Whatever trace of her he had remembered Hydra had once again erased.