Marvelous Twist #77

In Washington DC, inside a heavily fortified underground bunker. There existed a dark chamber adorned with advanced technology. 

Alexander Pierce, a member of the World Security Council, stood in the obscurity, his countenance devoid of emotion, his gaze firmly affixed on the five pods, each containing individuals donned in combat attire, immersed in a profound state of cryo-stasis. 

Pierce couldn't escape the burden of how everything had unraveled. Captain America, of all people, had somehow deduced that Hydra had not been obliterated and had infiltrated SHIELD. 

He had gone directly after Arnim Zola, one of Hydra's most valuable assets, compelling Pierce to sacrifice Zola in a desperate attempt to eliminate Captain America and conceal the threat. Yet, Captain America had endured despite Zola's demise.

With Zola's removal from the equation, his meticulously laid plans for Project Insight faced significant delays. Moreover, Captain America's discovery of Hydra's survival posed a substantial threat. All it would take was a few words from him to ignite a witchhunt within SHIELD to identify and eliminate any Hydra operatives within the organization. 

Hydra had operated meticulously, erasing almost every trace of their existence, but true perfection eluded them, regardless of their efforts. Captain America was a man of integrity, and his revelations carried substantial weight sufficient to spell Hydra's downfall. 

The captain alone would have been enough to weigh on Pierce's mind, but there was more.

Nick Fury, a man Pierce had held high hopes for, had grown suspicious. He seemed to be influenced by the same source that had impacted Captain America. The sudden actions of both Captain America and Nick Fury were too convenient for a coincidence. 

Pierce couldn't help but wonder if it was a coordinated effort or if Fury had merely used Captain America as a distraction to pursue his own investigation. 

Regardless, the situation was precarious, and if swift action wasn't taken, it could lead to Hydra's ultimate demise. Pierce understood that time was of the essence, and he couldn't afford any further delays.

As Pierce roused himself from his contemplation, the sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention. He swiveled around to investigate, discovering one of his trusted subordinates, posing as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, standing just behind him. 

The man swiftly delivered a report. "Agent Black Widow and Agent Hawkeye have responded to the call. They are en route to the X-Mansion to deal with the dissenters as we speak, Mr. Secretary."

"Good. That should help us eliminate most of the troublemakers," Pierce calmly responded, redirecting his gaze to the pods containing the cryogenically frozen assassins. A sinister glint shimmered in his eyes. "Prepare to unleash the hounds," he added ominously.

The subordinate, however, displayed a lack of enthusiasm. "With all due respect, sir, they are too unstable to be of any use," he protested. "It's more likely they'll kill everyone rather than follow orders," he cautioned.

Pierce chuckled darkly. "Who said anything about giving them orders?" he retorted, turning to face his subordinate squarely. "Simply drop them into this X-Mansion and let them do what they do best. That will be a nice surprise, don't you think?" he concluded, shaking his head in dark amusement.

The subordinate gave a firm nod, comprehending Pierce's plan and deeming it suitable. These cryogenically frozen assassins were once some of Hydra's most formidable operatives until they received Howard Stark's Super Soldier Serum. 

This serum had destabilized their psyches, reducing them to mindless killing machines incapable of distinguishing friend from foe. If they couldn't issue orders to these assassins, the logical course of action was to release them into enemy territory and let them wreak havoc indiscriminately.

However, there were a couple of complications. "Nevertheless, the X-Mansion is a sanctuary for mutants. It serves as the home base for the X-Men, a team of powerful mutant vigilantes," the subordinate cautioned. "I don't believe the hounds will be able to exterminate everyone there," he added, shaking his head in doubt.

Pierce grinned slyly. "They don't need to kill anyone," he retorted. "Their mere presence should be sufficient to hold them off long enough for us to obliterate the entire structure, along with everyone inside," he declared with a casual shrug.

"Very well, sir. I'll make preparations immediately," the subordinate affirmed, acknowledging his orders.

Alexander Pierce didn't bother to see his subordinate off. Instead, he turned to face the pods with a fanatical smirk splitting his face. "Hail Hydra..." 

...

"So let me get this straight..." Nick Fury exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief as he absorbed Bucky's shocking story. "You got captured, brainwashed, and ended up killing dozens of people, including Howard Stark, Maria Stark, and John FUCKING Kennedy?!" His one good eye twitched in sheer astonishment at the horrifying realization.

Bucky Barnes nodded solemnly, his face etched with the weight of his past actions. Dugan and Steve Rogers exchanged horrified glances, struggling to come to terms with the enormity of the revelation. Meanwhile, Evan remained his composed self, leaning casually against the wall with his eyes closed, seemingly unfazed by the unfolding confession.

"You... you're--" Fury began to say, but Bucky cut him off, finishing the sentence himself with a bitter smile. "I'm a dead man. I know..." He acknowledged, shaking his head. 

"Once word of my actions gets out, many people will want me dead, and rightfully so," he added with a heavy sigh.

Before he could continue, Steve placed a reassuring hand on Bucky's shoulder. "You were brainwashed, forced to do these things. You can't be held accountable for the actions of people who used you as a weapon," Steve asserted, firmly squeezing Bucky's shoulder in a display of support.

Bucky let out a heavy sigh as he gently removed Steve's hand from his shoulder. "Quit it, Steve..." he advised, his voice tinged with weariness, which prompted a furrowed brow from Steve as he tried to grasp Bucky's meaning.

"Whatever mode you suddenly go into sometimes..." Bucky continued, his words carrying a hint of frustration. He shook his head, a shadow of sadness crossing his features. "Not everything can be fixed, and not everyone can be saved, not even by you," he concluded, his tone laced with a sense of resignation.

Bucky's eyes carried a weight of concern as he spoke. "Besides, this isn't the time to be worrying about me. Hydra is pretty much alive, and it's slowly sinking its teeth into the world..." His voice bore a solemn tone, reflecting the gravity of the situation. "We need to act quickly before it's too late," he added, his words hanging heavily in the air, emphasizing the urgency of their mission.

He paused, contemplating his next words carefully. "And if we're lucky enough, I'd be dead when it's all said and done..." or so Bucky wanted to say, but he refrained, knowing that he couldn't voice his true intentions in front of Steve. 

He knew Captain America better than most, understanding that Steve would never allow him to throw his life away. Steve would go to great lengths to save his old friend, even if it came at a high cost. 

But Bucky wasn't so different in that regard. He'd rather die while atoning for his sins than drag his old friends into the abyss as they tried to protect him. 

Hearing Bucky's ominous words, Evan couldn't help but open his eyes and fix Bucky with a peculiar look. As someone with military experience, Evan recognized the resolute determination in Bucky's eyes, a determination that hinted at a willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good. 

It was a look he had seen in the eyes of many soldiers during his service, a look that spoke volumes without uttering a word. Despite his understanding, Evan knew that interfering in such matters was often futile, and it wasn't his place to challenge Bucky's convictions.

Dugan and Nick Fury also grasped the words that went unsaid, but chose to refrain from commenting. Whether Steve did as well was unclear, but he still nodded. "You're right. We can catch up and discuss the future later-- for now, catchip up will do," He said with a smile. 

Clearing his throat to shift the focus of the conversation, Evan addressed the group. "Well, I'm glad you're all on the same page...." he began, his tone measured and serious. 

"However, time is not on your side. Hydra possesses significant manpower and vast resources. Every minute spent here is a minute they use to strengthen their position," he continued, gesturing with a subtle sweep of his hand.

 "You need to gather as many allies as possible and launch a coordinated strike against their leadership. Hit them all at once, leaving no room for their survivors to regroup and retaliate," Evan advised, his words carrying the weight of experience and urgency.

Before Dugan, Steve, or Fury could formulate a response, a thunderous sonic boom shattered the tranquility of the X-Mansion. The ground reverberated beneath their feet as if protesting the impending intrusion. 

Multiple thuds followed, resonating from the well-manicured gardens at the mansion's front. The ominous cacophony marked the deployment of the cryogenic pods containing the Winter Soldiers.

Evan, with an air of grim inevitability, couldn't help but release a resigned sigh. "They sure don't waste any time, do they?"