Natasha had identified a HYDRA base located east of Germany. The Avengers assembled, formulating a plan to assess its current status and potential intelligence.
The mission’s objective was straightforward: infiltrate, investigate, potentially engage HYDRA operatives, extract any valuable information, and exfiltrate.
Easier envisioned than executed, of course.
Steve, Bucky, Tony, and Peter were chosen for the operation.
“I hope this doesn’t drag on too long. I’ve got Spanish homework due,” Peter muttered under his breath. As a Midtown Tech sophomore, he faced a mountain of verb conjugations.
“Ready, kiddo? Landing in five,” Tony announced, sealing the cockpit door.
“Y-yeah, I’m ready,” Peter replied, rising from his seat.
Bucky exhaled loudly, grabbing his weapon. Steve offered a quiet chuckle in response.
“We’ve touched down, sir,” the pilot reported over the intercom.
“Alright, let’s move,” Tony said, activating Friday. The AI swiftly bypassed the base’s keypad security. Within minutes, the doors slid open, granting access. The quartet moved down corridors, checking rooms for signs of activity. They discovered a chamber stocked with surprisingly advanced technology, contradicting Natasha’s intel of an outdated facility. They explored, examining the room’s offerings. Steve and Bucky discovered another heavy metal door. Bucky beckoned Tony over. Tony approached, and Friday began hacking the keypad. The doors opened, revealing another chamber. Bucky and Steve entered, encountering a massive cylindrical glass container at the room’s center. Inside, suspended in a crystalline blue frost, was a faintly outlined human form.
“What the hell…” Tony began.
“Language!” Steve interrupted sharply.
“Um, should we try to extract whoever’s in that frozen glass tube thingy?” Peter inquired, gesturing toward the container.
“We should,” Steve affirmed, approaching a console.
“Is that even a good idea? We don’t know if they’ll try to kill us,” Tony protested.
“Or maybe they won’t,” Bucky countered, scanning the room.
“Tony,” Steve called, and Tony hurried to the console, typing rapidly while Steve watched, bewildered. Decades frozen in ice left him out of his depth.
“Got it!” Tony exclaimed. Peter, Steve, and Bucky moved to the front of the container, prepared to catch the occupant upon release. The glass retracted, and Bucky braced, catching the falling figure.
“Wait… is that… who I think it is? How?” Steve asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“I… I don’t know,” Bucky replied, cradling the person in his arms. “How did they even get here?” He looked at Steve, stunned.
“Uh, yeah, anyone care to explain? Who is it, and why are you two looking like ghosts?” Tony demanded.
“It’s Bucky’s sister, Y/n.” Steve said quietly.