Rising tensions -223

The trip to Denver passed mostly uneventfully; the jet was highly advanced and had all kinds of secret technologies inside it to hide it from detection. So even if they flew over robots lurking around, they weren't found.

However, the atmosphere inside the jet remained tense, as Steve and his group were anything but happy with how the Foundation handled this. They didn't like all the secrets kept from them. Even Bruce and Lena weren't happy, but they understood the Foundation better than the other three.

However, everyone kept their mouths shut; even Steve didn't say anything; he knew that it likely wouldn't do anything. This was just like back in the war, with those in charge not listening to him or the men on the front.

He knew that the Captain was following orders, and he couldn't really blame him for that, so for now, while he couldn't do anything. Though he was ready to strike off on his own if he needed to once they reached Denver, if there were survivors, he wouldn't hesitate to go out and save them.

As the jet neared Denver, the tension in the cabin was palpable. The city's skyline came into view, a mix of crumbling buildings and nature returning to a place humans once banished it from.

As the jet descended closer to the city, the devastation became more apparent. Denver, once a bustling metropolis, was now a ghostly ruin. The remnants of skyscrapers stood like jagged teeth against the sky, their glass windows shattered and steel frames twisted.

Vines and other vegetation had begun reclaiming the streets, weaving through the cracks in the asphalt and creeping up the sides of buildings. The contrast between the urban decay and the resurgence of nature was stark, a haunting reminder of how quickly civilization could fall apart.

Steve stared out the window, his expression unreadable. He had seen cities in ruins before, during the war and in the aftermath of battles, but there was something different about this. The silence was eerie, and the lack of any human presence made it feel as though the city had been abandoned for much longer than it had.

Peggy moved to stand beside him, her eyes scanning the city below. "It's hard to believe this was once a thriving city," she murmured. "It's like nature decided to take back what we tried to control."

Steve nodded, his mind still focused on the mission. "We have to be ready for anything. If the AI is still active here, it's not going to let us walk in without a fight."

The jet touched down on the outskirts of the city, in a wide, open space that was once a bustling industrial area. The ground was littered with debris, and the air had a faint, metallic tang to it. The team disembarked quickly, weapons at the ready. They knew that once they were on the ground, they were in enemy territory.

The Captain, still in his imposing suit, led the way, his movements precise and controlled. He was all business, not showing any signs of the tension that the rest of the team was feeling. He was the first to step out of the jet, his visor scanning the area for threats.

"Remember, we are here to investigate, so we will try to stay hidden if possible." He once again reminded the team, mostly looking towards Steve as he spoke.

Steve met the Captain's gaze, his expression resolute. "Understood," he replied, though the unspoken tension lingered between them. Steve knew the importance of stealth, but he also knew that if they encountered survivors or signs of life, he wouldn't hesitate to take action.

The team moved out, staying close to the dilapidated buildings for cover as they advanced toward the city's heart. The air was thick with the scent of rust and decay, and the occasional gust of wind carried the distant sound of creaking metal. It was a city that had once been alive with the hustle and bustle of daily life, now reduced to a silent, eerie graveyard.

As they moved deeper into the city, they encountered more signs of destruction. Cars were abandoned in the streets, some crushed under fallen debris, while others were overgrown with vines and weeds. The remnants of what once were homes and businesses now stood as hollow shells, their windows shattered and interiors gutted.

However, once again, there was something missing from the picture: bodies; if the entire city had been destroyed like this, then it would mean that everyone inside had likely been killed, yet there were no bodies anywhere.

Not only that, there were clearly signs of battle everywhere: blown-up tanks, crashed helicopters and fighter planes, weapons, and police cars. But neither the bodies of the dead defenders nor any broken robots were anywhere.

They had halfway expected or suspected that the reason that was the case back in Colorado Springs was because the Foundation had cleaned it up, but according to the Captain, there hadn't been anyone here.

"I take it the initial team who entered Colorado Springs were met with a similar sight of no bodies or either defenders or aggressors?" Lena asked towards the small group of armored men,

The Captain turned his helmeted head slightly towards Lena, his voice calm but with an edge of something unreadable. "Yes," he replied, "Colorado Springs was the same. No bodies, no remnants of the attackers. Just the signs of destruction. It's as if both sides vanished after the battle was over."

Bruce, who had been silently observing their surroundings, spoke up. "It's almost like someone—or something—cleaned up after the fact. But if that's the case, who, or what, did it?"

Steve scanned the area, his senses on high alert. "It doesn't make sense. Even if the AI took over and wiped out the population, there would be some sign of the people who were here. Bodies don't just disappear."

Peggy nodded, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the abandoned vehicles and empty streets. "Unless whatever was responsible for this had a reason to remove all evidence of life. But why? And how?"

Bucky, ever the skeptic, added, "It's like someone wanted to erase any trace of what happened here. But who has that kind of power or technology? And why leave the destruction but not the dead?"

Lena was deep in thought, her scientific mind racing through possibilities. "Could the AI have developed a method to dispose of biological matter while leaving everything else intact? It's possible, though it would require an advanced understanding of technology and biology."

The Captain, standing a bit apart from the group, observed their discussions silently before speaking. "Our mission is to gather information, not to speculate. But I agree, this is unusual, even by the Foundation's standards. We'll proceed with caution."

Steve, however, wasn't content with just that. "We need to find out what happened to these people. If there's any chance survivors were taken somewhere—or worse—used for something, we need to know."

The mechanical eyes of the Captain's suit seemed to glow brightly at the challenge. "We are here for information, for answers. If that includes what happened to the people and where they are, then that's fine, but we aren't here to play heroes; we are here for the mission."

Steve felt his muscles tighten at the Captain's words, the tension between them growing. He had always been about doing what was right, even if it meant going beyond the mission's scope. The idea of leaving potential survivors or clues behind in pursuit of a cold, clinical goal rubbed him the wrong way.

"We can do both," Steve replied, his voice steady but firm. "We can complete the mission and help anyone who might still be out there. They aren't mutually exclusive."

The Captain's helmet tilted slightly, the mechanical hum of his suit the only sound in the eerie silence that surrounded them. "Priorities, Rogers. Information first. If we find anything that suggests survivors, we'll address it. But we don't go looking for trouble."

Bucky, who had been listening quietly, stepped up beside Steve. "Trouble tends to find us anyway," he said, his tone laced with the kind of dark humor born from too many battles. "Might as well be prepared for it."

The rest of the team exchanged looks, a silent agreement passing between them. They understood the Captain's point, but they also knew where Steve was coming from. They were soldiers, yes, but they were also protectors, and abandoning people wasn't in their nature.

The tension mounted as everyone seemed ready to come to blows. Something that Bruce and Lena didn't wish for, after all, they were members of the Foundation, and while they didn't think Steve was in the wrong, they also knew that it wasn't a good idea to go against their superiors.

Even more so for Lena, who knew full well that Alpha-1 wasn't someone you should mess with at all.

Bruce and Lena exchanged a quick glance, both understanding the delicate balance they needed to maintain. They had always been caught between two worlds—their loyalty to the Foundation and their natural inclination to do what was right. This situation was pushing both to the limit.

A/N

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