Marvelous Twist #76

"How... how did this happen?" Steve asked, his voice trembling with a mix of shock and horror as he tried to grasp the reality of what had become of his friend.

Evan sighed, his expression carrying the weight of the situation. "I'm not familiar with the finer details. You'll have to wait for him to wake up before asking him that yourself," he replied, shaking his head as if lamenting the mystery surrounding Bucky's ordeal.

Dugan, now healed thanks to Evan's abilities, chimed in with his own grim assessment. "Is that even possible?" he questioned, skepticism evident in his voice. "I knew the bloke personally, but he didn't even spare a second glance before sucker-punching me when I tried to help him—bloody bastard," Dugan added with a scoff, clearly harboring some resentment.

Dugan then turned his attention to Steve Rogers, offering a dose of harsh reality. "Not to be the pessimist, Cap, but he may be too far gone," he concluded, his words carrying a heavy weight.

Evan, however, remained optimistic. He chuckled softly and reassured them, "That's what brainwashing does. Still, we have one of the most powerful telepaths in the world and the foremost expert on the human mind." 

He gestured toward Professor Xavier, who was still deeply focused on Bucky's condition. "If Bucky Barnes' mind can be saved, then this man will save it," Evan declared with confidence.

"In any case... we can't do anything about his state of mind," Nick Fury stated firmly, his gravelly voice cutting through the somber atmosphere in the room. He cleared his throat, a signal to draw everyone's attention. "What's more, we need to discuss our next move," he continued, his gaze unwavering.

Dugan and Steve turned their attention toward Fury, acknowledging the importance of the impending discussion. They waited for him to lay out the situation.

"The way I see it," Fury began, his tone contemplative, "the entirety of SHIELD is going after us. We need help from the inside, but who the hell can we trust?" He asked, his voice tinged with frustration and distrust.

Steve was quick to respond, his determination evident in his words. "I don't know about everyone else, but Romanoff and Natasha will definitely take our side," he asserted, his confidence unwavering. "They've been through thick and thin with us."

Fury, however, wore a skeptical expression, his arms crossed. "Will they now?" he questioned a note of doubt in his voice. "It hasn't been long since Clint's been brainwashed himself. Besides, he has a family, which the enemy could use to leverage his services," Fury added, shaking his head. 

"Romanoff is trustworthy, but we have no idea what the hell is happening in SHIELD right now. We can't trust anyone blindly," he concluded, emphasizing the gravity of their situation.

Dugan clicked his tongue thoughtfully, considering the options. "Maria Hill might be our safest option," he proposed, his voice laced with a hint of hope. "She left SHIELD on her own before all this shite happened. She might be the least likely to turncoat," he suggested, trying to find a glimmer of trust in a sea of suspicion.

Steve, initially inclined to defend their former colleagues, fell silent as the situation in the lab escalated. Evan suddenly lunged at Bucky Barnes, his powerful grip locking onto the Winter Soldier's arm as the restraints failed to contain his enhanced strength.

"The hell did Hydra do to this guy? That anesthetic was enough to put an elephant to sleep," McCoy exclaimed, his movements quick and precise as he reached for another dose of anesthetic, startled by Bucky Barnes' abrupt awakening.

Xavier, meanwhile, remained composed, his full attention directed at Bucky Barnes' troubled mind as he delved deeper into the complex labyrinth of memories and conditioning.

"What they do best. They turned a good man into an animal," Fury replied, his voice heavy with the weight of the revelation as he approached the bed. His eyes remained fixed on Bucky Barnes, who violently thrashed against the restraints, a raw and primal struggle evident in his every movement.

As McCoy approached the bed with another dose of anesthetic, ready to inject it into Bucky Barnes's bloodstream to calm his frenzied state, he couldn't help but express his amazement at the superhuman strength on display. "No hunting hound I know of takes two adult men with super strength to restrain..."

Before McCoy could administer the dose, Professor Xavier suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the situation at hand. He placed his hand gently on McCoy's wrist, halting the medic's actions. 

"There's no need," Xavier calmly stated. "I've already done all I can for his mind, but he's currently in shock. He needs to remain conscious to process what he's done-- what he's been forced to do."

Xavier turned his attention to Steve and Evan. "Keep him company and make sure he doesn't do anything foolish. His mind is a dark place, to say the least," he advised, his concern for Bucky Barnes evident in his voice.

"We'll do that, professor," Evan reassured Xavier, noticing the signs of exhaustion in the telepath's demeanor. "Why don't you go ahead and get some rest? We'll take it from here."

Xavier nodded, grateful for the support. "I will take you up on that offer," he replied before turning his wheelchair towards the exit. With each push of the wheels, he made his way out of the lab, leaving Bucky Barnes in the care of Evan and the others.

Evan turned to Storm, who had been watching the intense scene with a concerned expression. "Ororo, dear, would you mind escorting the Professor to his office?" he asked, recognizing that Bucky might not want strangers to witness his vulnerable state when he finally woke up.

Ororo nodded in understanding. "Alright," she agreed, moving behind Xavier's wheelchair. "Let me take you to your office, Professor," she offered, and with that, she began to push Xavier away from the lab, ensuring he had the privacy he needed.

As Xavier and Ororo left the room, Bucky Barnes' thrashing gradually subsided until he finally ceased resisting, his breathing still heavy and erratic. 

McCoy, recognizing that his medical expertise was no longer immediately required, decided to take his leave. "Looks like he's calming down. I have classes to attend to, so do excuse me," he stated and headed for the exit, not waiting for a reply from the others.

Evan, too, acknowledged his own commitments. "I also need to discuss something with my students," he mentioned as he released his grip on Bucky Barnes' hand. "I'll give you the privacy you need to sort this out..." He turned to depart but halted as Bucky Barnes suddenly clamped a trembling hand around his wrist.

"You... don't leave," Bucky Barnes pleaded in a hoarse voice. "I don't know what I'll do... you can stop me." His voice quivered slightly, revealing the depth of his inner turmoil.

Evan remained silent and turned to Steve Rogers with a questioning expression. Steve, in response, simply shrugged. "If Bucky wants you to be here, I don't mind either," he replied.

"Fine. I'll stay, but don't expect me to hold back on my punches if you suddenly revert to super-assassin mode," Evan warned, nodding towards Bucky Barnes. Bucky chuckled at the remark, but before he could respond, Nick Fury approached him.

"Who did this to you? Who are the current leaders of Hydra?" Fury inquired, getting straight to the point. Bucky looked at him with a hint of confusion before offering a bitter smile. "That you, Fury? Always to the point as ever..." Bucky remarked with a chuckle, prompting Fury to arch an eyebrow.

"I recognize that scowl anywhere," Bucky added, drawing several chuckles from Dugan and Steve. "Anyway... the man you want is Alexander Pierce..." He added. 

"There was Arnim Zola too-- but that bastard is probably dead by now..."