Origins-1961: Survival of the Fittest
The Soldier carries Iris to the Decontamination Room. Helping her stand to her feet. His eyes still filled with sadness. She looks up to see two men dressed in black walking towards her, and the solider turns his back. The men strip Iris from her bloody and dirty clothes. She tries to cover herself, but the men aren't interested in her physique. They push her into a bath stall, and spray her down. The water is unbearably hot, and Iris cries out. As one washes, the other scrubs her down with a harsh brush. Iris lifts her head to see if 'Soldat' is still there, but he is gone. The henchmen finally finish with nearly boiling her alive and toss her a pale green uniform. Once she is dressed, the men march her to her 'quarters', but upon a quick observation, it is nothing more then a cold prison cell. She is hesitant to enter, but the men are quick to shove her inside. Slamming the cell door behind her. Iris sits on the hard cot, and weeps. She thinks of her Mother, her Grandfather, her friends. They must be distraught with out her. Darkness falls upon the holding cells, except for a small glow from her 'window' which views the hive floor of the bunker. In the darkness, she hears a heart wrenching sound- the other captives are weeping too.
Out of exhaustion, Iris lays down on the cot and tries to keep warm with the itchy, stiff blanket she's been given. She closes her eyes for what only seems like a moment when she finds herself standing in the great hall again. There before her, Farmir's spear still impaled into the ground, and the raven still perched upon it. She and the Raven share a long stare, before the voice inside her whispers, "I see a great fear in you, child."
Iris is confused, her sights still upon the Raven. "Who are you?" she asks fearfully, thinking it was the Raven who had spoke to her. Her eyes are drawn to the soft glow of a ghostly silhouette that materializes before her, "It is I you hear child." Iris becomes afraid for a second before recognizing the apparition, it's Moria. "You're my ancestor, my grandmother by descent." Iris fumbles out. "I am." Moria replies.
"Are you..."Iris gets out shakingly, "Are you the voice I here? When I'm in trouble?". Moria smiles and steps towards Iris, "I am." Iris is confused and perplexed with the encounter. But her mind remembers even in her spiritual dream state that she is someone's captive. A sadness fills her chest, realizing that the place that was once a nightmare to her now felt like her only escape. "I know you are in great danger, young one." Moria says with a coolness in her voice, "I know that you have been taken because you have something coursing through your veins that many have tried to obtain." Iris and Moria share an intense gaze. "Because you are a descendant of great warriors worthy of Valhalla. The gift of Odin flows through you, and although you appear weak to them, the strength that is hidden in you child, will prove you a force to reckoned with." Moria commands with fierceness.
Moria turns to the spear, "The spear is your's to claim. But first- you must awaken what lies dormant in your spirit." Moria speaks softly her voice cracking. Iris frustrated answers, "I don't understand, I tried to take the spear and I..." before she can finish Moria spins around, and hit's Iris right in her chest with the palm of her hand. Iris is thrown backwards, falling into a bright light, filled with prism rainbows. She awakens on her cot gasping for air. She sits up as she clings to her chest, she notices a man standing at her cell looking in. It's one the hydra henchmen, "Rise and shine, Fraulein." he says coldly. The cell door opens and he enters. Iris leaps off the cot and he grabs her arm and leads her into the walkway. The henchmen form a line of the captives, eight men and another woman, being pulled out of their cells. They are escorted to a large room constructed of cement. The room is dimly lit and freezing. The captives are lined before Zola, Wilhelm, and another henchmen who towers over the rest. Beside him stands 'Soldat', who shares a brief glance with Iris before returning his attention forward.
"Welcome!" Zola shouts. "Today is the beginning of our great work. Project Annihilation." Iris lifts her head from the floor to see the juggernaut of a henchmen glaring at her. "Did you know that human's are capable of moving automobiles?" Zola inquires to the captives, but no one answers. "But, the human brain limits what it's muscles can do. Limiting your true abilities. Imagine what you could do if your brain told you were strong enough to accomplish such a feat. What you would be capable of if the ancient code written into your DNA was unlocked. You have all been given an injection that is expected to help sprout forth your hidden abilities based on my research with certain DNA mutations. So, " He pauses, "you will each be matched against one of our skilled soldier's, where you will spar in hand to hand combat." Zola announced.
"You expect us to be able to fight with a trained soldier? After injecting us with some special liquid? None of us have any special training like that...This is suicide." One of the male captives mumbled weakly. Zola turned his attention to the captive, his hands folded behind his back, "Shame. Then I guess we have no use for you then do we?" Zola replied. Zola motioned his head towards the stacked Russian standing next to 'Soldat', who let a unsettling smile spread across his long, scarred face. "Ivan, please show this poor soul back to his quarters. The serum has obviously not proven successful in unlocking any secrets hidden in this one." Zola commanded.
Iris raised her eyes to see Ivan, pull the captive forward and march him out of the room while two henchmen followed them. None of the captives even dared to breath loudly. Zola turned himself on his heels back towards them, "Now! Shall we begin!" he declared. One by one, a captive sparred with a henchmen. The first four men failed horribly, and with each defeat Zola would shake his head while Wilhelm would quickly scribble something down. The next three male captives, held their own for a moment or two, but were ultimately overpowered. One male captive, however did stand toe to toe with his opponent, before getting his nose broken. The second female of the captive group was called forth, she wept uncontrollable, her hands and legs shaking violently. "Stop crying you idiot." Iris pleaded with the girl in her head. The female captive reached the mat with the sparring henchmen, and Zola began the experiment. The henchmen hit her once, and she fell to the mat. Blood splattering across the floor. She tried to cry out, but she couldn't move her jaw, the monster broke it. The captives looked up to Zola awaiting for him to stop the spar, but he didn't, and the henchmen unleashed hell upon her. "GET UP! Fight back!" Iris was screaming in her head.
Iris could feel a strange new energy rushing through her. The men turned their heads from the scene, but Iris looked at each blow to the woman. Her heart was pounding in her ears, images of Moria and Farmir flash through her mind. "Reach out and take hold you destiny!" Moria's voice whispered inside her. Before she even realized what she was doing, she slowly marched to the henchman who was getting ready to deliver a final blow to the defenseless woman, when Iris caught his hand mid-strike. The henchman confused turned his face towards Iris. Iris without thought kicked the henchman's leg from under him, bringing him to one knee, locking his arm and neck in a hold. The henchman fought to escape from her grip, but Iris had slipped into a trance like state, and her hold became tighter until the sound of a snap cut through the room. But even that wasn't enough to stop her rage, and she began bludgeoned the henchman with her fist. Over and over, screaming wildly like a mad woman. 'Soldat' pulled Iris away, while another henchman looked over the lifeless woman beater, "He's...He's dead." the henchman reported.
Iris was slowly coming out the trance, realizing what she had done. 'Soldat' stared into her eyes, both of them visibly in shock at the brutality she had unleashed. Zola beamed a bright smile. "Magnificent.." he whispered, "Absolutely magnificent.". Zola looked up to the astonished captives, "I believe that is enough excitement for one day." Zola said cleaning his glasses. Ivan had finally returned to the room, "Ivan, please have your men take the rest of our subjects back their quarters." Zola commanded. "Except you four gentlemen," he says, then turning towards the poor unconscious woman lying on the sparring mat, "and this lovely one here." The henchmen herd the remaining captives in a line, and returned them to their cells. Iris sits on her cot staring at her hands, "I...killed...someone." she whispers to herself. She feels a sense of disgust comes over her.
Darkness had fallen over the cells again, and Iris laid on her cot curled into a fetal position, staring into the void. "How did you do it?" A male voice asks. Iris looks to her cell door, it's 'Soldat'. "I...I don't know." she murmurs, "I couldn't stand watching him beat her. She couldn't defend herself. Before I knew it...he was dead. I didn't mean to kill him." she says realizing he could have been sent to punish her for her actions. 'Soldat' stares at Iris through the bars, his fierce blue eyes, penetrating through the dark. "Who are you, really?" he asks coldly. She doesn't respond, to afraid of not having the answer he came searching for. "You snapped that man's neck. You. A scrawny little thing with no special training." He growls. Iris begins to panic, "I...I don't know. I felt like something came over me." she mumbles. 'Soldat' turns his back to the bars, lowering down against them, bringing himself to sit on the floor. Iris rises from her cot and walks to him. "You realize you only made yourself more valuable to them. Now, you'll never be able to escape their grasp."
Iris feels herself choke up. She leans against the bar and sits back to back with 'Soldat', "Is that what happened to you?" she asks. She can feel him tense up at the question even with bar between them. "I know that I wasn't always this way. Memories come and go, but when they realize that..." he goes quite. "What happens, Soldat?" Iris replies softly. He lets out a small chuckle, "Why do you call me that?" he says. "I heard them call you that on my first day here. Zimniy Soldat. I just figured that was your name." Iris says with embarrassment. He let's out another small laugh, but slowly stops. "You're a captive like me here, aren't you Soldat." she whispers, but he doesn't answer. He rises to his feet quickly, and Iris turns to look at him. "Tomorrow's test will be worse. Be prepared. Not that you'll need to after today's spectacle." he says with a cold tone before storming off.
Iris finds her way back to her cot, but her mind takes her to scenes of war. Farmir and Thor battling giants, Moria and her league of Norse maidens defending their village, Odin's oath being spoken over her ancestors, her Father's death the night of his regiment's capture. She wakes on her cot, disoriented by the darkness. Carefully rising, she fumbles to find the poor excuse of a sink in the dark, cupping water in her hand and sipping. She looks out her cell 'window', peering out onto the bunker floor. She see's Ivan and Wilhelm, their escorting someone, "Soldat?" she whispers. They follow him into a room, shrouded by thin curtains. Iris watches with what little view she can. A light casts shadows on the curtains, and she can see a man be placed in a chair and his hands restrained. "What are they doing?" she wonders. Iris can hear a buzzing hum over the sound of the loud machines groaning, and a man's muffled screams. Iris cups her mouth as tears stream down her face, sickened by the sight of it. After a few moments, the muffled cries of anguish stop. Iris sees the curtains open and Ivan and Wilhelm dragging someone, it's the blue-eyed soldier. "O my god...Soldat...what did they do to you??"
Iris held no real love for the man, especially after kidnapping her and the brutal beating he gave her at the first facility. But now she realized, that he too was a pawn of Zola's madness. Iris sit's on her cot, her back against the cold wall. The reality of her situation sinking deeper into her psyche. "I will not die here. I will not give them the privilege of killing me. I will not die here at the hands of that monster." Iris chant's to herself like a prayer. After a few hours, Iris can hear the footsteps of the henchmen sent to gather Zola's test rats. She is ready. The four remaining male captives and Iris are lined up and marched to a lower sector of the hive. They are brought to a room twice the size of the sparring room. The room is gray cemented with an observation glass from which Zola, Ivan, and Wilhelm are watching in a-joining room. The captive men and Iris are lined in front of the glass, and Zola speaks over an intercom. "Good morning everyone! I hope you are well rested as today's little test will be quite a challenge. You will be facing one of my greatest creation's. A little super soldier of my own design." he says with an eerie cheerfulness. The henchmen that had gathered the captives quickly exit the room, and the door is barred shut.
"As you will see, to your left on the wall, I have given you instruments to use to defend yourself properly." Zola instructs. The captives all direct their attention to the wall. "Good luck my dear subjects, and know, you are being carefully watched." Zola sneered. A loud buzzing sound filled the room, as the captives turned to run and grab their weapon of choice, they are shocked to see none other then, "Soldat?" Iris whispered. The captives are stand there, confused, as they never heard him enter the room. He stood before the wall, head titled down, heavily armed and wearing the same mask he donned the day he abducted Iris. One of the male captives lets out a yell, and takes off running towards him. Thinking he was going to gain momentum and somehow over power Soldat. But when he got with in arm's reach of him, the blue eyed soldier whipped out a knife and ended his foolish attempt. The three remaining men and Iris all share a concerned stare. The men all take off, thinking they could all three over power him. A brawl begins between them, and Soldat barely breaks a sweat during the fight.
Iris uses the fight as a distraction, and runs to the wall, grabbing none other then a metal staff. When she turns to try to aide the men in their fight, she finds herself face to face with Soldat. For a brief second she looks into his blue eyes, their lifeless again. He wraps his metal hand around Iris' throat, staring into her eyes like he had never seen her before. "Sol...Soldat.. It's me..." Iris whimpers. But he just tilts his head and throws her into the wall of weapons behind her. A male captive has regained his composure and begins to scuffle with Soldat. Iris lift's her head from the floor just in time to see Soldat cave in the man's head. "He's going to kill us. Holy Crap. He is out to kill us!" Iris thinks to herself. The blue eyed cyborg turns his attention back to Iris after hearing her move. She feels an energy fill her, the same energy that she had felt the day prior. She rises to her feet, a metal staff in hand. Soldat swings at her, and she dodges the blow. Rolling behind him, and striking his knee. He stumbles and Iris pounces- letting whatever was happening flow through her without thought. She connects several good blows to his legs and head, as she goes to deliver another, Soldat catches the staff. They share an intense stare down, "Soldat! Please! Please, it's me!" but her words means nothing and he lunges at her. Iris manages to kick him square in his torso, sending him sliding backwards. Iris spins the staff and awaits his next move. Soldat is furious, and removes his mask. He is quick on his feet, he removes another blade from his side, and marches towards Iris. Iris is timing for the perfect strike, when she notices a button on the staff. She presses it, and from the end an electric clicking is heard. Iris turns her attention back to the sprinting mad man running towards her, as he leaps and prepares to bury his knife in Iris chest, she raises the staff and presses the button, and ram's it into his chest.
Soldat groans in agony and falls to the cement floor. Sparks shoot from his bionic arm. She quickly kicks the knife from his hand, and kneels over top of him. He opens his eyes for a second, looking up at Iris, "Steve..." he whispers. She sighs, tears running down her face, "No. It's me Soldat. Iris. I'm so sorry." Zola and the other enter the room. Henchmen gather up Soldat and whisk him away, while other's drag away the two unfortunate men who didn't make it through the bloody battle. Zola applaud's Iris, she turns to him, still feeling the power rushing through her. "Marvelous. I have to admit, I did not expect you to be the one to rise above the others. But you are proving to be quite a diamond in the rough." he says gleaming with joy. Iris grips the staff, ready to drive it threw his small little body. Ivan rips the staff from Iris' grasp.
Zola orders Iris and the remaining two male captives to be brought to a more well suited sleeping arrangement. Iris and the two men are herded into a small line and led to an area joined with the second layer of the hive, sealed by vault doors. Each of them led to their new quarters, Iris prepares herself for the worse but when the guard opens the door leading to her assigned area, She sees a furnished room with an actual bed. She sighs, relived to see something besides the hard cot she had been given to sleep on. The room also has a private bathroom, with a shower. "There are towels in the lavatory.." the henchman told Iris. "As well as a more suited wardrobe in the armoire." Iris watches the henchmen leave the room, closing the door behind him.
She slowly makes her way to the bathroom, looking at her face. She is horrified. Her nose is still blue along the brim, her lips still puffy and swollen around the cut in the corner of her mouth. Her cheek has a small gash and welted with bruising. Her throat has hand marks from Soldat's attempt to kill her in their last fight. She turns away from the mirror, striping from the bloody pale green uniform. She gets the shower water as hot as she could withstand, and sits underneath it. But the shower makes her vulnerable and she sobs uncontrollably. She had witnessed so much blood shed. "I will not die here." she whispers to herself over and over again.
After a while, Iris makes her way from the shower. Finding the wardrobe given to her by Zola, Iris isn't impressed. It's just a smaller commission of the hydra henchmen's uniforms. She rolls her eyes, "Pig." she whispers to herself. Iris finds an extra flat sheet at the top of armoire, and fashions an toga like nightgown from it. She crawls in the feather down mattress. Her body is exhausted, and she immediately falls into a deep sleep.
Iris finds herself back in Farmir's hall. The spear and raven still standing. She looks around for Moria, still skiddish after being suckered punch by her last time. As she steps closer into the hall, she notices someone standing by one of the hall's arched windows. A tall man, with a mustache. Iris' heart drops, "Pop?" she says her voice cracking. The man turns towards her, It's Arnold. Iris without thought runs to him jumping into his arms. Arnold recieves her and holds her close. Both of them weeping in each other's presence. "What..What are you doing here, Pop?" Iris fumbles out. Arnold drops his head and grabs Iris' hands. "It's just so good to see again, Mae. I know your Mother will be lost without us. But we made it here together. We can wait for her here in Valhalla." Arnold replies. Iris is confused, "Pop..Pop what do you mean?" Iris looks down to see her hands fall through Arnold's. She tries to reach for them again, but her hands ripple his like a stone falling into a puddle. Iris looks into her grandfather's eyes, "Pop! Pop, what happened?" she yells. Arnold fight's back his tears, "Mae, I think I'm going to see your grandmother. " his voice breaking. Arnold and Iris see the ghostly silhouette's of Farmir and Moria appear. Iris turns to her grandfather, "Pop! Pop...don't go! I'm still alive! Please! I'll find my way home, Pop. Please, don't go!" she cries out. Arnold turns from Farmir and Moria, "It's my time, Mae Flower. We will be together again one day." he smiles. Iris hits her knees, screaming silently as Farmir and Moria fade away with Arnold. She looks up to the spear, screaming in agony, and the rainbow lights surround her.
She wakes from her dream, to hydra men pulling her from her bed. But Iris rises up with a rage. With tears in her eyes, she manages to over power one, snapping his arm backwards as he cries out in pain. Another comes for her, and she dodges his grasp, breaking his ribs. The henchman hits his knees agony, and Iris delivers a fatal kick to his spine. She stands over the carnage, breathing heavy. She quickly throws on the uniform left for her by Zola. The sleeves are to small for her arm's so she rips them off. She grabs one of the henchman's weapons and runs out her room, prepared to escape back to her mother anyway necessary. But as she steps out of the doorway, Ivan blindsides her, sending an electric current through her body. Iris lets out a wail, and Ivan drops her to the floor. Iris tries to fight through the pain, and spins around to defend herself. But Ivan nearly knocks her head off with his fist.
Ivan stand's over Iris, "Take her to Zola." Ivan orders the guards, "She is now the key to phase two of Project Annihilation.". The guards pick up Iris, and make their way to Zola. Soldat rounds the corner and see's the henchmen carrying an unconscious Iris, he turns sharply to Ivan, "What the hell happened?" he says with a hiss. Ivan glares at him, "Smile, Zimniy Soladt. Soon the world will be ours.". Ivan brushes past Soldat, "What happened to the other two captives?" he questions. Ivan stops in his tracks, looking at Soldat over his shoulder, "Unfortunately they were not compatible, and were disintegrated upon impact of Zola's ray" Soldat's heart drops, "She won't make it through this..She would serve us better as a trained assassin then a walking bomb." he argues. Ivan smiles, "I guess we will have to see..." he say's as he walk's away.