12 | DISCOVER

The following night, the team had a meeting to run down how they plan on taking down Schmidt and his army. As of that moment, their only source was Arnim Zola, and Amelia just loved interrogating him. Colonel Phillips observed the maps as the Howling Commandos, Howard and Peggy perched themselves at the table.

"Johann Schmidt belongs in a bughouse. He thinks he's a God and he's willing to blow up half the world to prove it, starting with the United States." The Captain spoke clearly with his trite voice.

"Schmidt's working with powers beyond our capabilities," Stark recapitulated, "his ascendancy is great. If he gets across the Atlantic, he will wipe out the entire eastern seaboard in an hour."

"Great," Amelia was apprehensive, "how much time we got?"

"According to your new best friend, under twenty four hours." Phillips replied.

Their plan was already slipping through the Howling Commandos' fingers. "HYDRA's last base is here," the Colonel flashed a picture of a mountain side, "in the Alps, five-hundred feet below the surface."

"So what are we supposed to do? I mean, it's not like we can just knock on the front door." Jim derided.

"Why not?" Steve finally contributed to the conversation. "That's exactly what we're going to do." Steve sent Amelia a jittery smile. However, instead of returning the anxiousness, she peered at him placidly and rolled her eyes.

After the brief meeting was over, Amelia wandered the halls. Her brain was pushing out thoughts and plans every minute of the day now. It was habitual for her to plan her next move, even if it was a simple action such as to grab a cup of coffee.

"Are you okay, Amelia?" Peggy noticed Amelia's stilted manner.

"Oh— I am fine, Peggy." Amelia sent a sincere smile, dismissing the fact that she had been becoming more pensive recently.

"If this is about Buck—"
"It's not about Bucky."
"Well... all right then."

Peggy's cynical visage remained as she hesitantly walked away from Amelia.

* * *

Amelia slid guns in their designated hole and knives in their own pockets. Soon enough, Amelia jumped onto the truck that boarded the Howling Commandos, with the exemption of Steve whom was going to get purposely captured. Meanwhile, Peggy and Colonel Phillips sped off into the forest, so when the expected force of soldier attacked, they would be annihilated.

Despite the believed inevitable win for the SSR, the air tasted different. It had a tang of metal which seemed to linger in the bitterly cold air. It gave her a headache, putting Amelia out of her militant mode.

Amelia helped set up the equipment with the group, ignoring the strange bubbling feeling that grew within her. At this moment, Steve was being lead in, getting ready to announce the cue.

Although Amelia dismissed the strange feeling as pre-battle jitters, she was very wrong. An unseen force was preparing itself in the dwelling of her DNA, ready to trigger once the appropriate moment arrived. The power was unstoppable, and soon enough she would have that power to hold for herself at the wrong moment and time.

Then suddenly, Steve called out the cue. However, Amelia seemed to be stuck in some kind of trance as time completely stopped. Everyone was frozen, even the gentle blow of the frigid wind stopped blowing, she looked around.

"No... what happened? Go back!" Amelia desperately yelled, and as the command slipped from her lips time was restored. Amelia was in shock, however there seemed to be no time to explain, for everyone was already throwing themselves down the zip line. Amelia followed swiftly, still scared out of her mind.

As soon as Amelia landed on her two feet, she didn't hesitate to blast her gun into the flames in which engulfed the compound. The team continued killing the opposing team as they advanced further into the base.

Eventually, Amelia lost her group in the midst of fighting. A young soldier whom was fighting for HYDRA ran directly into Amelia. Amelia, who was already enraged that the team pushed on without her, she wrapped her thin hands around the poor boy's throat.

"Where's Captain America?" She asked, but mostly demanded.

The boy began chanting in German. This only infuriated Amelia more, making her tighten her grip.

"Tell me now!"
"In," the boy gasped for air, "hangar."
"Thank you." Amelia let go of the boy.

Amelia jogged to the hangar, without looking back at the petrified John Doe. As Amelia pushed on, she threw knives, kicked, punched and shot HYDRA soldiers as she attempted to catch up with the SSR team.

Every kill seemed to grow easier and bloodier as seconds passed. Amelia had a feeling that something was different about this fight, it was awfully lonely yet loud. Her breath was uneven from the constant stabbing, throwing and kicking when she finished. Amelia's face was covered in blood, the gore that has resulted from her vexation was far too large for a simple, determined New York girl. Now, Amelia knew the truth.

Dr. Erskine lied to her. He had told her that she was a failed experiment. However, the was not the case. Amelia could feel the power growing everyday within her, she was powerful now; she withheld powers. But, was she going to be able to use them for the good, as Erskine told her?

"Agent, what is going on?" Agent Carter pointed to the trail of annihilation behind her.

Amelia blinked in realization, then hardened her face. "I was left behind."

Peggy furrowed her brows together and ran a hand through her hair. "We must hurry, Schmidt had taken to his aircraft but Phillips and I have a plan, come on!"

* * *

"Where's Steve?" Amelia questioned as the three took off in a car.

"That's who we are going to get." Peggy replied.

The engine growled as the car raced through the garage. "There he is!" Peggy called over the sound of the engine. Steve was knocking a person out with his shield as Phillips stopped the car directly beside him.

"Get in!" The Colonel ordered. Steve hopped in and didn't even look at Amelia in the eye. Amelia sensed regret but dismissed the thought to ask him later. Although this was not the time nor place to have a romantic moment, Steve and Amelia had just kissed the day before. At least a smile, or wink would do it.

The car drove directly to the Valkyrie, which was slowly approaching the outside. Her heart squeezed with rage as she understood what Steve was going to do.

She yanked Steve's face to look at her. "You are not about to do that! It's suicide!" She yelled.

Steve shook his head in disapproval, still not daring to look at Amelia. "I have to."

"You may not even come back from this!" Amelia protested.

Then, Peggy placed a relaxing hand on Amelia, sitting her down. Steve stood on the side of the car as the wheels of the aircraft neared. Peggy came close and kissed him. Amelia's eyes widened and she finally knew why Steve would even make eye contact with her anymore, he had loved another girl. Her face was full of hatred and hurt, but she stayed seated. Because she knew what his decision was and she wasn't going to deny the unprofessed backstab that she had just received.

Steve looked at her, apologetically, then jumped onto the plane and disappeared from her sight. Amelia wished that he would never come back from that flight, so that she wouldn't have to deal with all of the pain that he would bring back.