Eminent Silence

by Tristan Carey

  Eminent Silence

  Tristan Carey

  Vielka stood in the back of the chopper, looking out of the open doors as it began to descend towards the ground, finding the only open space among the trees. She scowled as she noticed it was raining outside. Rogers had better be grateful when she got back, it was his personal request to her that had her out here. She could never turn down Captain America, it was probably the whole 'man out of time' thing that pulled at her heart strings, possibly even the target's backstory.

  She smirked a little, the boys at her old unit used to say she had no heart, turns out she was just heartless towards them. She bit her lip, as an old memory briefly passed through her mind, but she quickly pushed it from her thoughts as she picked up her rifle and jumped out from the back of the chopper.

  She was within the Hola Forest, west of the city of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. There was chatter that her target was hiding out here, having ducked out of Bucharest not long after being sighted. She thought it weird he would come back here, to Romania. Sure, his mother originated from here, but he personally had no links to the country and after his last visit here, it didn't make sense.

  She trudged through the thick undergrowth, watching carefully where she walked for any signs of human traffic. She took notice of the pile of bear scat as she trudged on, noting it appeared quite fresh. It didn't take long before she found a boot print in the undergrowth, she knelt down, keeping her weapon up, and inspected the print. Whoever belonged to it was heavy set, and seemed heavier on their left side. She scanned the ground carefully, looking to see which direction the tracks led.

  Once she was sure which way they went, she carefully continued on, clutching at her weapon as the sky began to darken. It would be night soon, and she would need to be extra careful now as the creatures of the night would soon be coming out. She wondered if she might run into that bear.

  She had been tracking for about two hours now, but it was soon too dark for even her to continue, her enhanced eyesight beginning to struggle as the moon moved higher into the cloudless sky. She was about to look for a tree to climb when there was a rustling of leaves behind her. She whirled around, rifle raised and saw two eyes shining in the dull light a short distance away.

  'Ah crap,' she murmured, before beginning to walk back carefully. She really didn't want to discharge her weapon in case her target heard it and fled. 'Nice teddy,' she murmured, taking another step back.

  It growled at her, before charging. 'Shit!' She turned and ran, slinging her rifle to her back to enable free hands when she found something to climb. Her eyes darted from tree to tree, looking for a good strong one, but there were no climbable ones within view. She got sick of running and decided to try her luck with the nearest tree, she changed direction quickly and launched herself into the air, just reaching a branch. She clutched at it with her hands, relief when she felt the bark in her hands. She looked down below as the bear ran to the tree, standing on its hind legs and swiping wildly up at her.

  'Well, this is just awesome,' she said with a grimace, moving to hoist herself up onto the branch. She regretted it almost immediately, as she felt it begin to give way under her weight. 'Damn it.'

  She looked below and measured up the fall and how she could avoid most of the teeth and claws below.

  She swung from the branch before it could break, landing just behind the bear, although heavily on one ankle, before rolling forward. The bear spun and swung out a large clawed paw at her, it caught her on the arm as she tried to dodge it, her left ankle buckling slightly as she tried to move, slowing her down. It slashed open her uniform. She let out a hiss of pain that shot through her arm, but mostly ignored it. She went to grab her rifle but found it was no longer slung to her shoulder, the bear had managed to catch the sling, cutting it loose. She grimaced in annoyance.

  She pulled the knife she carried in her boot, she really didn't want to hurt the bear, it was only doing what bears did naturally, but it was either him or her. She carefully stood, looking up to the bear cautiously. It stood on its hind legs, roaring angrily at her and showing his teeth. She too stood, knife poised and at the ready. 'Sorry big guy,' she murmured, before making the dash forward. The bear swiped at her again, but she rolled and dodged it, looking to sink her knife into its side as she stood and lunged forward again.

  She was about to plunge her knife in, when she was tackled roughly from the side, sending her sprawling into the undergrowth. She turned to fight off her second attacker as she attempted to right herself, pain shooting through her left ankle as she tried to use it to stop her fall, but felt her attacker force her back to the ground roughly, her face pushed into the undergrowth.

  'Don't move,' a deep, surly voice hissed in her ear, pinning her hand with the knife to the ground as well. She began to struggle back against it until she heard the bear again, it was close. Her would-be attacker lowered himself down on top of her, covering her body with his. She could tell he was heavy set as his body was much bigger than hers, but he held most of his weight off her. She glanced up through the brush to see the bear standing up sniffing the air, it seemed to smell them, but for some reason seemed hesitant about engaging.

  The male voice spoke again, but this time it seemed directed to the bear. 'Go on, off you go, you don't want to tangle with me again,' he said calmly.

  To her astonishment, the bear dropped back to its all fours, before it began trudging away. She watched it walk away, completely in awe of what had just happened, until she felt the weight from her back disappear. She looked around in surprise and felt her knife pulled from her hand roughly.

  'Hey!' she exclaimed as she stood up. She was about to ask what his problem was when she noticed his arm. She saw the moonlight bounce of the silvery colour as he turned to face her, his stormy blue eyes narrowed at her. She sized him up, he was much bigger than her, wearing jeans and casual shirt under a dark hoodie, a baseball cap pulling his long hair from his face. A face she recognised instantly.

  'Sgt Barnes... I'm here to bring you in,' she said, eyeing the knife in his hand. She berated herself mentally for losing both her rifle and knife, so unlike her. He looked at the knife, holding it up to the light. The movement put her on edge.

  'Who sent you?' He asked, looking back at her, seeming to be sizing her up.

  'Captain Rogers,' she replied honestly. Sgt Barnes looked surprised, before he narrowed his eyes at her. 'No, I'm not working for the Wakandan King this time, I'm on loan.'

  'Get out of here, before you get yourself killed,' he said, before turning to walk away.

  She took a step toward him, making him turn around again, now holding the knife up in her direction.

  'I'm afraid I can't do that, Sgt. I have orders.'

  'Are they worth your life?'

  'With all due respect, Sgt, would that be worth your guilt?' She seemed to hit a nerve there, he flared his nostrils and narrowed his eye at her, but she noted that the knife lowered slightly. 'Sgt, I'm taking you in, either willingly, or by force.'

  'Just try,' he said, before running at her. She was ready though, she leapt back as he lunged for her, pulling one of the twin swords she kept concealed at her back, blocking the knife. He was strong, as he pushed against her sword, but she didn't let that intimidate her, she had fought bigger and far uglier.

  She shoved back at him, causing him to step back and glare at her. She narrowed her eyes at him, before pulling her second sword from her back slowly. She saw Sgt Barnes' eyes widen as he took in the two swords now in her hands. 'Sgt, are you sure you wouldn't rather co-operate? I would rather not have to re-sharpen my Wakizashis.'

  Barnes narrowed his eyes at her, before dropping his eyes and the knife to the ground, and placing
his hands to the back of his head.

  She raised her eyebrows at this, feeling slightly disappointed, but also slightly relieved, she really didn't want to sharpen her swords again. She replaced her swords in their sheaths at her back before walking towards the knife at the ground in front of Sgt Barnes' feet. 'Thank you-' she began, as she bent down to pick it up, only to have Barnes strike out at her.

  She managed to block the kick that he had aimed at her chest, before blocking his following punch with his titanium arm, although she was forced back slightly from the power behind it. She gritted her teeth, feeling pain shooting through her forearms that had taken the full force of the titanium arm.

  'Just walk away,' he said, standing ready with his fists up.

  'Sorry, Sgt, I can't do that.'

  She lunged first now, leading with her left before jabbing with her right, he blocked her punches easily but she quickly brought he knee up and it connected with his chest. He was forced back a step and she quickly followed through with a round house. He caught her leg and moved to throw her but she was quick to grab one of his arms and bend her leading leg, swinging her body weight around so that she could off balance him.

  It worked and he began to tip forward. She used her core strength and curled herself into a ball to brace for impact as Barnes fell over. She maintained her position, grabbing his titanium arm and trying to pin it, she knew it wasn't going to be easy.

  He tried to grab at her legs, working as best as he could to loosen her grip on him, but she grit her teeth and refused to let him out power her.

  'Let go of me! I don't want to hurt you!' he growled, as he began trying to manoeuvre his titanium arm.

  'Urgh, who said chivalry is dead,' she murmured through gritted teeth. Unfortunately, his titanium arm was too strong for her and he managed to break free from her arms and legs, moving to be kneeling before her, before trying to move to grab her in a stress position.

  He almost had her in a vulnerable position, his arms woven around her neck and one of her arms, his face awfully close to hers so she could feel his hot breath on her cheek, when she decided it was time to stop messing around. She gave a flick of her loose wrist, popping out a small syringe from the device she wore, before stabbing him in the leg with it.

  He froze when he realised what she had done, releasing her and stumbling back. She gasped for breath and rolled her shoulders, trying to get the blood moving again, before looking back just as he fell to the ground. 'Sorry, mate.'

  She stood in the dark there for a moment, just looking at the Winter Soldier, lying amongst the leaves and undergrowth of the forest. Then she groaned. 'Crap, now I have to drag your ass back to the LZ!' She kicked at a tuft of grass in annoyance before huffing and getting back to work.

  Bucky looked around groggily, his eyes adjusting to the red lights around him. Once adjusted, he noted he was inside an aircraft of some sort. From the sound of the rotors, it was a chopper.

  He looked to his right and saw a svelte but fit body leaning into the cockpit, dressed in a fitted, black outfit. He noted she didn't have red hair, but was immediately on edge. He recognised her, if only by her body. She had been the woman who followed the Wakandan King everywhere, like his bodyguard. He tried to move his arms and found himself impeded. Looking down he found he was restrained with a device he had never seen before. His arms were crossed in front of his chest with a large steel contraption tight around his wrists and shoulders. He started to try and pull himself free but to no avail.

  'I wouldn't bother,' the woman said, walking towards him with a slight limp, he noted. 'We tested it. You're not going anywhere.'

  'This is a bad idea,' Bucky warned, eyeing the woman. She was a lot taller than Romanoff, whom he originally thought was tracking him, although her body was built much the same. He had never actually seen her face before, she was always wearing a mask previously and he found her facial features appeared slightly Asian, with jet black hair that was pulled back into a high ponytail.

  'I'm sure it is,' she said, before easing herself into the seat beside him. 'But when Captain America asks a favour, you don't generally decline.'

  Bucky furrowed his brow at the woman. She seemed very laid back, he also noted the accent she had, he didn't easily recognise it.

  He glanced back at his restraints, wiggling his fingers of his right arm a little, to keep the blood flow moving, before looking back at her. Her arms were now folded across her chest and her eyes closed.

  He began to recall the last time he had seen her. She had saved him from Tony Stark's rage, injuring herself in the process, but had urged him to flee while he had the chance. He remembered his confusion at the act of selflessness, after having pursued him alongside the Wakandan King, T'Challa for so long.

  He looked her over, before his eyes settled on her arm, her body suit was slashed and her arm bleeding. 'You should do something about that arm,' he said. 'Romanian bears are known for carrying bacteria that can make you quite ill.'

  She opened her eyes, looking at him and it was the first time he noticed the colour of her eyes and it shocked him, even in the red light of the cargo area. They were a mesmerising golden-brown colour. She glanced at her arm before frowning and shrugging. 'She'll be right.'

  She gave him a small smile before closing her eyes and relaxing again. He furrowed his brow at her nonchalant attitude but had little time to think of it when a voice boomed over the intercom.

  'Five minutes out, Paddy.'

  The woman opened her eyes and touched her ear, before replying. 'Roger that. Called us in?'

  'He's waiting for you.'

  'Lovely. I'll need a beer waiting on the Tarmac.' There was laughter over the intercom before the buzz of the intercom was silent.

  'Paddy, was it?' He asked, looking her up and down again, not sure the name suited her. She pursed her lips, not looking at him.

  'Shouldn't eavesdrop, Sgt, its rude,' she said, standing up and beginning to move around the chopper, collecting a bag, a rifle and then walking towards him. 'Come on, big fella,' she said, putting her arm under his and hoisting him to his feet. He was surprised at her strength, she was definitely stronger than she appeared.

  Steve watched as the Corporal led Bucky off the back of the chopper. He noted she seemed to be sporting a limp, but other than that, was surprisingly well. He supposed Natasha's suggestion of sending her to retrieve Bucky wasn't such a bad idea. She stopped a few feet away from him, looking expectant. He noted the mischief in her eyes.

  'Captain,' she greeted him, smirk appearing on her features, making her look more asian.

  'Corporal, I see you managed just fine on your own.'

  'Piece of cake, he only gave me a little trouble.' Bucky furrowed his brow and looked at the Corporal. That was when Steve noticed the open wound on her arm, looking at it in concern. She noticed him looking at it. 'That was not him. That was a bear.'

  Steve raised his eyebrows and did his best to hold back a small laugh. The irony of her being able to come out basically injury free against the Winter Soldier but not a bear was not lost on him. 'A bear?'

  'Shut up,' she said, rolling her eyes before tossing the keys to the restraining device to him. 'He's all yours.' She turned her head slightly to look at Bucky, who was still looking at her curiously. 'It's been fun.' With that she strode away back to the compound.

  Steve watched her for a moment, before looking to Bucky, who was also watching her walk away, eyes narrowed. 'She's a nice girl, really.'

  Bucky didn't respond, as Steve grabbed him by the arm and led him to the compound as well.

  Bucky was led into the compound and taken into an elevator. He counted the floors as it sunk into the depths of the facility. He counted it to be about ten floors down, but he couldn't be certain. Steve led him out and into a well lit corridor. The walls were made of concrete, thick concrete by the looks of it too.

  'You'll be safe here,' Steve said, clearly misinterpreting Bu
cky's analysing eyes. 'We're going to get some tests done and see what's going on upstairs.'

  'This is a bad idea,' Bucky replied, as they stopped at a door. 'It was safer when I was away from anyone.'

  'That's no way to live, Bucky, you can't keep running.' Bucky frowned, that's what Steve thought, but Bucky was pretty certain it was the safest way. 'Besides, if Paddy can find you, what's to say anyone else can't?'

  He furrowed his brow at the mention of the woman. He was right, but Bucky suspected she wasn't just anyone either. There was something curious about the 'corporal' that everyone seemed to affectionately call 'Paddy'.

  Steve opened the door and ushered him in. A young looking man wearing a white coat looked up expectantly and smiled, before motioning towards a machine. The door opened again as Steve was helping Bucky onto the table, it was Natasha Romanoff. She looked warily at him, crossing her arms and leaning against the door.

  'Captain, we need to take the restraints off,' the man, a doctor it seemed, said, looking expectantly at Steve. Steve bit his lip and looked to Romanoff.