"Die!"
Rumlow roared, clasping his hands together. The Ancestor's Hammer materialized between them.
He didn't know who this guy was, but facing an enemy required no mercy!
The massive hammer crashed down on the foe before him. In a blink, it smashed into the metal arm!
A deafening crash rang out as Bucky Barnes was sent flying!
Under the immense force, his body was riddled with wounds, skin splitting open.
His legs bent unnaturally, blood spraying like a punctured kettle.
The mechanical arm shattered like electronics dropped from a height, parts scattering.
"Rumlow! Stop!"
Nick Fury's own strength couldn't intervene in this one-sided thrashing. With the right weapons, he might've taken Bucky down.
He'd fought alongside the Punisher back in the day, after all.
But now, armed with only a small pistol, all he could do was shout to halt Rumlow.
"You show mercy to enemies?"
Rumlow bellowed, swinging his axe at Bucky's throat.
He didn't care if this guy was a hero once. All he knew was the man wanted him dead.
Bang!
Fury fired at Rumlow.
When he'd sensed things going south, he'd sought out Captain America.
Steve was recovering and would soon rejoin the fight against Hydra.
Bucky's appearance—presumed dead—gave Fury hope of swaying Steve.
He couldn't let Bucky die by Rumlow's hand.
Clang!
Rumlow deflected the bullet with his axe's flat, his body twitching slightly in a nod to modern tech.
He adjusted his stance, hands clasping again.
Another Ancestor's Hammer would kill Bucky.
His broken legs couldn't withstand another blow.
"The Captain's waking up! This guy's still useful!"
Fury shouted again, desperate to stop Rumlow.
But Rumlow ignored him, the hammer forming, ready to crash down.
Captain America was one of the few leaders Rumlow trusted, but that didn't stop him from eliminating the threat before him!
A shield suddenly blocked Rumlow's view, halting the hammer's descent!
The massive impact cratered the floor, but no metallic clang echoed!
A young, blond man stood before Rumlow, holding the shield with one arm.
He knelt on one knee, the ground cracked beneath him.
"Director!"
Agent Hill appeared, flanked by a woman who bore a striking resemblance to a young Peggy Carter.
"Stop Rumlow!"
Fury exhaled in relief, his gun still trained on Rumlow.
At his command, Hill and Sharon Carter joined the fray against Rumlow without hesitation.
Their movements seemed stiff, unnatural.
The blond hero, after weathering the hammer's force, rose under Rumlow's axe.
His clear eyes glanced back at Bucky.
Turning, he said, "Stand down!"
"Captain America, Steve Rogers?"
Rumlow retracted his axe, dodging Hill's kick and pinning her head to the floor with one hand.
His other hand grabbed Sharon's ankle, yanking her into a full split.
"Did you release the gas in here?"
Steve's eyes scrutinized Rumlow, his grip tightening on the shield.
He flexed his knee, sore from the hammer's impact, ready to fight.
"Ask the black egg over there."
Rumlow flung the two agents aside, crashing them into the wall.
Whether they'd attacked due to Fury's tampering didn't matter—they'd come at him.
As Bucky dragged his broken body toward Rumlow, Fury snapped out of his daze, shouting, "Everyone, stop!"
He pulled a small vial from his waist and uncapped it.
Hill and Sharon regained control, while Bucky crawled toward Fury.
The Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes, had been sent by Pierce to kill Fury.
But the Purple Man's powers had hijacked his body upon entry.
Even his handlers hadn't anticipated this.
The electronics in Bucky's arm were destroyed by Rumlow's first hammer strike.
Regaining control, he still followed his initial order to kill Fury.
Pierce knew Fury used decoys, but even killing a double could be leveraged.
It could justify seizing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s command, letting Hydra act openly.
But now, everything had spiraled out of control.
Steve grabbed Bucky, delivering a precise chop to his neck.
As a veteran, he didn't make rookie mistakes like hitting too lightly.
Bucky collapsed with a thud, blood still oozing from his wounds.
Rumlow hung his axe at his waist, grabbed a blood potion, and approached.
With the fight over, he was ready to talk with Captain America.
Especially about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s rebirth—he needed to discuss it with Steve.
"I reserve the right to hold you accountable for your earlier words."
Fury addressed Rumlow, who was pouring potion into Bucky's mouth.
"You planning to talk here?"
Rumlow ignored Fury, fearless now.
"When I woke up and saw Sharon, I thought I was back in the hospital with Peggy tending to me."
Steve sipped from a cup at the table.
Dum Dum Dugan smoked his cigar silently nearby.
Hill and Sharon sat on a couch, watching Hit-Monkey puff on a cigarette, equally silent.
Bucky lay tightly bound on the floor.
"We need to act now!"
Fury fought to regain control. Pierce had already moved against him—there was no need to say more.
(Chapter End)
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