Origins 1962: Root and Stem

Zola looks at the Pendulum Relic through a large magnifying glass. Slowly tinkering with its dials and mechanisms while reading from a old tattered book, faded green in color, it's pages scribbled in Latin. A nurse enters the room, startling Zola who receives a small shock from the relic. Zola frustrated looks up from his work to the apologetic nurse, "What could it possibly be?" he snapped hatefully. The nurse bowing her head, "Project Annihilation has been cleared. The swelling has subsided. Your assistant has noted a full recovery despite the damage. She has also been successfully processed through the Memory Suppressing and awaits her orders Dr. Zola." she informs him meekly. Zola looks away from the relic with a smile, "Take me to her..."

Anni had been in Med-Ward for nearly a month. She had finally regained sight in her left eye after the breaking of her cheek bone. Her face still has a hint of bruising around her cheeks and eyes. She sat on the end of the Exam table, left in a fog from being subjected to the Memory Suppressing Process. "Project Annihilation!" Zola glee'd, "How wonderous to see you out of bandages and nearly restored to your full glory.". Anni glared at Zola with emptiness. "Follow me, Fraulein." Zola ordered turning away from Anni who rose to her feet slowly. Zola lead her to a large meeting room. As he walked in, Soldat was already there, standing before a table where Ivan and others were seated. Zola took his seat in between them.

Anni walked into the room and stood next to Soldat, who only offered a quick glimpse to her before returning his face forward. "We have brought you both here today to inform you of your next mission. I trust we have come to an understanding of our expectations and the consequences of failure? Hmm?" Zola said with a coldness. Soldat and Anni both shake their heads in agreement to Zola.

"We have a small problem back in the United States. A woman who we did not think would be successful in causing a commotion, has made enough waves to be graced with an audience with the US Senators and SHIELD. She poses a threat to our infiltration projects and weaving in with major organizations such as SHIELD. You are ordered to eliminate her and destroy any evidence she may have had. Is that understood?" Zola asserted. "Understood.." Soldat and Anni respond blandly. "You will depart in a couple of hours. Ivan is gathering the last bit of intel needed. O, and Anni..." Zola trailed off, "Remember who you belong too." he said coldly. Anni dropped her head, and took her leave. She went to the Armory to gather her spear and daggers, when she sensed someone near her. Without even turning her head, she knew who it was, "What do you want, Zimniy Soldat?" she said hatefully, but he doesn't answer. "Are you just going to stand there or.." is all she gets out before he is nose to nose with her. "How did you do it? How did you put those images in my head?!" he growls. She quickly backs away from him looking into his eyes, "What are talking about?" she replies. Soldat is befuddled, "I carried you to Med-Ward after..." he avoids talking about the vicious beating he was ordered to deliver up on her, "I..I touched your hand..." tears pulling into his broken eyes, "I saw you.. you and me.." he says looking to Anni for some kind of reassurance, but he finds nothing. "I don't know what you saw or what you think you saw, but you need to get it together! You and I, we're nothing but children of Hydra. We take orders, and we deliver results. That is the extent of who WE are. Got it." She snaps sharply before brushing her shoulder with him.

Ivan finds Zola in his office, nose buried into the tattered green book, "Have you made any discoveries in how the Pendulum works, Doctor?" Ivan bellows with his deep Russian voice. Zola gives his attention to Ivan, "In absentia lucis, Tenebrae vincunt. Do you know what that means Ivan?" Zola riddled to him, "I am afraid not." he answered. "In the absence of light, darkness prevails." Zola answered, "The Pendulum opens the door to an other worldly strength and power. Much more then we have seen with the combination of Annihilation's DNA mutation and the power of the Tesseract. However, we need a catalyst, according to the text. To help reign in the energy that would be emitted from the combination of the two. I know nothing known to man or man-made could withstand it's power." Zola said with a timid tone of defeat. "Continue the work, Doctor. I will make sure Annihilation is ready for the process upon our return." Ivan said before taking his leave.

Anni and Soldat are transported with their small squadron of skilled operatives. Ivan walks up to Anni who is walking a blade between her fingers, she stops when she sees him retrieve a photo from a file in his hand. "Project Annihilation, you have been tasked to carry out the elimination orders. This, is your target." Ivan hands Anni the photo of the woman, "Zimniy Soldat and the other's are strictly ordered to operate as back up to you. Is that understood?" Anni returns the photo to Ivan, "Understood." she answers. He smiles, and looks to Soldat who is looking at Anni, seeking answers to his questions silently. "Problem, Zimniy Soldat?" Ivan asks, Soldat looks away from Anni, "Not at all" he responds sharply. The plane descends and lands at a secret hangar located along the east coast. The Hydra operatives begin loading into vans, "There's to many of us. We'll be spotted right away in such a small neighborhood." Soldat says to Ivan. Ivan begins to dismiss him before Anni speaks up, "He's right. This needs to be discreet. The more men, the more liability the mission is compromised." she argues. Ivan stares at the both them for a moment before calling back all but three of the trained operatives.

The both of them load into the van and begin their route to their target. Soldat stared at Anni intensely during the ride. "If you don't quit gawking at me, you'll me no choice but to cut that pretty face of yours." Anni scowled. Soldat rolled his eyes, and pointed them towards his hands which wrapped around his rifle. After an hour of driving through the darkness, the operatives finally reach the targets home. "This is it." The driver remarked. "You stay here in case we need a quick get away. You..." Anni orders one of the operatives, " Station yourself on the east side of the house as a look out, and You guard the backdoor. No one, and I mean no one is to come in unless the mission appears to be in jeopardy. Soldat, you will tag with me. Cover me as I enter, got it." Anni barks as the men nod in agreeance.

Anni and Soldat reach the side door on the west side of the house. Iris peers in through screen door, it looks to lead into the kitchen. Anni slowly opens door and enters, quietly removing one of her blades from her side. She can hear soft music playing from another room and the rustling of papers. She treads lightly so not to creek the hardwood floors and alert her victim to her entrance. She rounds the corner to a parlor room lined with books, and there behind a desk sits her target. The victim is to invested in her paperwork to see the predator, that is Anni, stalk her from the doorway. She moves closer into the room, when the woman looks up from her desk to see Anni standing before her.

The woman looks petrified and joyous, the reaction startles Anni. With tears streaming down her face and rising from her desk she makes her way to her, "I..Iris? Could it really be?" she says clutching her chest. Anni is dumb-struck, she expected fear and a fight for her life, not this. "Iris? O my goodness, Iris, your face. What has happened to you?" the woman cries out as she moves in closer to Anni. The woman rushes to look over Anni and her injuries, but is shocked to find her attempt of concern met with Anni's hand around her throat. "Iris? What are you doing?" the woman mutters out with what little breath she could draw. She grabs at Anni's hand trying to release her grip, but it's futile. Anni throws the woman into the hallway, slamming her into a wall. The woman hits hard and pictures crash around her, she tries to crawl away, but Anni deals a series of harsh kicks to the woman. She hears the breaking of several ribs, and the woman tries to cry out but is unable to draw in enough breath to do so. Anni flips the woman over, and pins her to the ground with her knees, hitting the her a few times causing a small laceration in the corner of the woman's lips. Anni stops, retrieving her blade, her cold expression offering no sympathy to her victim. "Hail, Hydra!" she whispers while bringing up her blade, preparing to drive it into the woman's chest. But something catches her attention, a broken picture on the floor next to the her. Anni stares at it for a second, it's a photo of her, and the same woman she is attempting to kill with a tall older man in-between them. Anni lowers the blade and removes the picture from the shattered glass. Anni feels like she is short circuiting as hundreds of memories fly through her brain at once. She looks away from the photo to the woman underneath her, "Who...Who are you? How do you know me?" she trembles. The woman, gasping for breath simply answers, "It's me. It's me Mae Flower.". Anni falls off the woman bringing her hands around her head as more and more memories flood through her mind. Her grandfather, the visions of her ancestors, her friends, her Mother and Father. Anni cries out as the work of Hydra slowly unravels.

Rita manages to rise to her knees, pulling Iris' hands from her face. Iris looks up and the realization hits her, "Mama?" she whispers brokenly. "It's me, baby. It's me." Rita cries out. Iris hugs her mother tightly as they weep into each others hair. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. They...They made me do it. I never meant to hurt you." Iris cries out, confessing her sins to her mother. Rita pulls away from Iris, and looks into her face, "It's alright. You're home now. You're home now where you belong." Rita tries to reassure Iris "I'm going to call Peggy and we are going to keep you safe, OK" Rita said softly, wiping away Iris' tears. Out of the corner of her eye, Iris see's a figure enter into the kitchen, it's Soldat. He raises his rifle, and Iris without hesitation flashes herself next to him, with her hand on his head. "Remember!" Iris cries and forces the glow of her hand into his frontal lobe. Bucky drops the rifle and stumbles backwards. He looks up to Iris drunkenly, "...Iris?..." he mumbles. "It's me, love." Iris whispers. As she helps Bucky stable himself, she see's his face turn to panic, staring at something behind her. Before she can turn herself around, she hears a gunshot. Iris spins around to see her mother fall forward from her knees. A Hydra operative standing behind her, gun in hand.

Iris feels her blood run cold. Trying to wake herself from the nightmare playing out before her. Her brain attempting to process each second as her Mother falls to the floor. Rage and her fierce blue glow slowly wrap over her as she looks from her mother's lifeless body to the Hydra operative. "Iris, NO!" Bucky screams trying to grab her, but with one blow to the chest she sends him into the yard, crashing through a fence and into the street. The Hydra Soldier raises his weapon at Iris, but in a blip she is in front of him with her spear in his chest. Iris channels her energy into the spear, dusting him into ash. She slowly turns to her mother behind her, she has already gone pale. Iris kneels down and takes her mother into her arms, weeping hysterically. Rita looks up to Iris, trying to speak, but nothing comes out. Iris stroking her Mother's hair from her face, "please.. please don't leave me." she whispers. Rita smiles, "Mae.." is all she get's out with her final breath. As The remaining Hydra Soldiers enter the home, Iris waits until they are in her sights, and lets out a scream emitting a wave of blue like flame. Engulfing the home and the soldiers in it in a storm of dark blue smoke and blinding light, crumbling the structure of her childhood home into cinders. As Iris runs out of breath, she looks down to see her mother turn to ash in her hands, and the blue energy returning itself to a heartbroken Iris who rocks back and forth on her knees.

As she looks up, she see's a stunned Bucky walking through the destruction towards her. He had seen from the outside the destruction of a shattered Iris. "Iris...Iris we have to go. We have to get out here." Bucky yells. Iris is to grief stricken to answer, she returns her face downward, "I was home, Bucky." she whimpers. Bucky can hear the sound of sirens approaching, and quickly takes Iris into his arms. She buries her face into his chest as he seeks a place for them to hide.

Iris sits on the ledge of a building overlooking the city and it's gleaming lights. Tears still slipping from her eyes as she mourns the loss of her Mother. Words could not begin to describe the pain and emptiness that Iris felt, but the one resounding emotion that flowed through her gracefully was anger. Bucky who had given Iris some time alone, slowly approaches her, but his eyes catch the glistening of red flowing down her neck. "Iris. You're bleeding." he said softly. "I cut my tracker out." she murmured. Bucky sighs, and kneels down to look at the wound, "What do we do now, Iris?" he questions. She lifts her eyes from the city to him, "They took everything from me, Bucky. All I ever wanted was to go home. And they took my home away from me." she responds gritting through her teeth. "She never stopped looking for me. She was going to do what ever it took to find me. Dead or Alive." she muttered with a heavy-heart.

Bucky straightens himself up, looking down at Iris, "We can't stay here, doll. We have to keep moving or their going to catch up to us soon.". Iris stands from the ledge, unable to shake her anger, "No..." she says clinching her fist and closing her eyes. Bucky steps back from her, sensing Iris channeling her energy. She turns to face Bucky, her eyes open and glowing vibrantly, "We are going to destroy Hydra. Root and Stem. No one will ever endure what they have forced upon us.". Bucky looks away from Iris for a moment, before returning his gaze to hers, "How do you plan to do that? The moment we step foot near that Bunker, Ivan will have us out-manned and back in the frying pan, Iris." he argued. She smiles, "Then they don't see us coming." she replied slyly, admiring her illuminated hands as she schemes a plan.

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Ivan walks from the landing strip to the entrance of the hive bunker. He makes his way down to the first layer, were an anxious Zola is pacing back and forth with two other self proclaimed doctor's. "What happened? Where is Project Winter and Annihilation?" Zola shouted. Ivan, dripping wet from the pouring rain looks down to Zola, "We don't need them." he snarled. Zola is taken back by his suggestion, "What? Have you lost your senses in the rain?" Zola demanded. Ivan smiles coldly, reaching into his coat pocket and removing a round disc with Norse engravings, "I found this in the wreckage of the Crawsen home." Zola took the disc carefully from Ivan's hands, smiling ear to ear, "This...this is not a element known to man. Certainly nothing compared the Vibranium Howard extracted. Could it be? An extraterrestrial element sent to answer my prayers?" he whispered with amazement. "Apparently there is some truth to Ms. Crawsen's lineage." he said, "There's your catalyst. Set up the lab Doctor. I will carry Hydra to glory." Ivan suggested boldly.

Zola rushed to the lab, shouting orders to the his minions in white coats as they scurried around in a flustered hurry. He fashioned the Pendulum and the Norse relic together, and a charge connected between them. Zola sneered as he placed the relics in the glass chamber that housed the Tesseract. Lighting and bursts of explosions emitted within the glass chamber, before funneling a yellow hue into the same machine that had been fired at Iris. Ivan walked into the room, and the henchmen quickly help him fasten into the restraints on the exam table. Zola walked to Ivan's side, "I have no data to prove that this will not bring you to your demise. What I do have shows that this will be a painful process should you live." Zola said with uncertainty. Ivan scoffed, "If a weakling girl survived, what makes you think I won't" Ivan growled. Zola nodded with reluctance, and hurried back to his control table. Looking over, Zola sees the henchmen anchor a leather strap in his mouth, and Zola flips the switch. An explosion of golden yellow light shoots from the pyramid shape device hanging over Ivan. He screams in agony, nearly biting threw the leather strap, his veins protruding violently across his neck, arms, and forehead. Zola times the wave, and after a minute, shuts off the machine. Ivan is unconscious, an assisting doctor attempts to check on Ivan, but Zola grabs him, "Not if you value your life." he says pulling him back. Zola inches slowly to Ivan's side, "Ivan? Ivan? Can you hear me?" he mutters weakly, remembering how his first experiment had awoken post procedure. Ivan opens his eyes, they have taken on a bright yellow glow.

He bursts from his restraints, shoving off the table to his feet. He breaths heavily as the new felt power courses through him. Ivan looks over his body, bringing up his hands observing their yellow radiance. "How do you feel, Ivan?" Zola stuttered as he and the assisting doctors move closer to him. Ivan smiles sinisterly, snatching one of the doctors with in his reach by his throat. The doctor thrashed wildly, fighting for his life, Ivan turned his yellow gaze to his victim. As he stared into the frightened man's eyes, the yellow glow turned near golden and the man melted slowly in his hand, writhing in agony. Zola is shaken and amazed at Ivan's abilities. He turns his face to Zola, "Powerful.." he responds.

As Zola and Ivan share a smile, an alarm begins blaring throughout the bunker's intercoms. The both of them run out of the lab room watching a small band of henchmen arm themselves and rush to the entrance hall of the hive. They form a secure line in the cement hallway leading down from the only entrance. As they prepare themselves for an ambush, they witness a dark blue smoke creep across the floor. "What the..." is all one of the men get out before a shot is heard. As the other men look towards the man, they see a quick blip of smoke close and the man fall. They huddle together closely, not knowing where their enemy might attack from. They watch in terror as wormholes open in front of them and behind them, and out of the front walks a heavily armed Bucky, and from behind, Iris engulfed in her blue flame, eyes beaming brightly, her spear in hand. "Hail, Hydra..." Iris growls and the slaughter begins. Zola and Ivan hear the mean screaming from the first layer, "What is happening? How did SHIELD find us?!" Zola yelled. "That's not SHIELD." Ivan scowled.

"Code Red. Code Red. We have been breached. Code Red. Code Red." repeats itself over the intercom. The hydra henchmen arm themselves and make their way up to help their comrades, but as they reach the first layer scaffolding, all the see is blips of smoke opening unnaturally in mid air and the man it projected itself in front of shot or speared. Nearly half of the men are cut down, before the rest decide to retreat rather then face whatever lie on the other-side of the dark blue smoke. Zola see's the men running from the fight, "You cowards! Fight back!" he screams. The scared men, make it off the scaffolding and onto the first layer floor, huddled back to back in a small circle, each looking vigilantly for the void of smoke. As they stand together, herded like frightened sheep, a void opens above them. To quick for any of them to react, and from it falls Iris, spear charged with her blue flame, and Bucky, rifle in hand picking off the men below. The small group falls from their circle as Iris drives her spear in the cement floor, unleashing an explosion of light, blinding everyone who saw. As the men at ground zero of the assault regain their sight, they look see Iris and Bucky standing side by side.

The men slowly rise to their feet, and attempt to defend themselves. But Bucky is a sharp shot, and Iris is quick with her spear turning everyone who met it's end to ash. One of the brave souls attempts an aerial assault from jumping of the top of one the machines, but instead is caught by Bucky mid air with his robotic grip and Iris who roundhouses him through a glass window leading into an observation room. Iris and Bucky look up the platform, to see Zola staring down at them, reeking with fear. The vault doors open as the special operative group rush in. Bucky and Iris take their stance, and eliminate them one by one. They moved perfectly together, one always knowing the others move. "Behind you!" Iris calls out as she takes out her spear, ramming into the ground, spinning herself around, dropkicking the attacker. Bucky slides under her, removing one of her daggers and springs up, driving the blade into the neck of another. Iris and Bucky look around at the carnage, breathing heavy, preparing themselves for the next battle, when they hear someone laughing. From above, they see Ivan, who jump from the platform, landing on his feet in front of them. They are both in disbelief at the sight, "What have you done to yourself, Ivan?" Iris questions. "I am a God now." he bellowed. Ivans holds up his hands, one holding the Pendulum and the other holding the Norse disc. Iris is shocked, "Where...Where did you get that?" she demands pointing at the disc. Ivan laughs, "I had received reports of an explosion at the address of your assigned mission. So I went to scout out the situation. As I walked through the ash of your former home, I came across this. The only thing left. Untouched by your abilities." Ivan informed. "You have no claim to that." Iris scolded. Ivan's face went sour as he stared into Iris, "Then come and take it." he challenged.

"You ready for this?" she whispered to Bucky. "You and Me." he whispered back. Iris took out her spear from the ground, and Bucky loaded his rifle, "Nachat.." she said softly. Ivan ran towards the both of them, yelling wildly, a golden aura enveloping him. Ivan leaps mid-stride, aiming to drive his fist into Iris' cranium, but Iris creates a shield between herself and Ivan. She forces Ivan backwards, Bucky fires three shots at Ivan, but the aura around him has given him immunity. He laughs, and sprints back towards them. Iris attempts to block him again, but Ivan overpowers her, catapulting her backwards into a boiler machine. Iris falls to the cold floor, trying to catch her breath as the pain radiates from her back into her chest. She tries to get to her feet, but she can't fight the devil's grip on her lungs. Bucky drops his rifle and takes out his knife, nicking Ivan a few good times, before Ivan catches his bionic arm, stalling it in motion. Bucky tries to fight out of Ivan's grip, but Ivan pushes him to the ground, "Pathetic..." he said with a sinister grin, placing his foot in Bucky's rib cage pulling on his robotic prosthetic. "Like ripping wings off a fly..." he boats. Bucky screams out in anguish as the device groans and blood seeps from around where skin and metal meet. Ivan laughs manically, pulling harder on Bucky's arm as sparks emit from its openings. Iris hears Bucky's screams, and her heart stops. She rises to her feet, spear in hand, "Hey...big boy!" Iris calls out to Ivan, he loosens his grip on Bucky's arm to turn his attention to her. "What do you want, dog?" he growls. "You will never be anything with me around. Him, he's easy. Nothing like what you and I possess. You wanna be the baddest, then you'll have to eliminate me." she challenges Ivan. He looks down at a defeated Bucky, and tosses him like a rag doll. Iris grimaces at the site, "I'll be sure to bury you and baby face together afterwards." he says. Iris closes her eyes, blocking out everything around her. She see's Moria and Farmir, her Mother, her Grandfather,All of them together in the great hall. "Remember who you are, Iris." Moria's voice whispered inside her. Iris opens her eyes as they glow vibrantly, she spins her spear, standing it vertical to her stance. Ivan runs towards her, but Iris doesn't move an inch. Ivan lunges at Iris looking connect a vicious swing of his fist, but Iris drops, avoiding the connection. Sweeping Ivan's legs out from underneath him, knocking him on his back. Iris spins herself upright, driving her spear towards Ivan's chest. But he rolls, and her spear hits the ground instead. As Ivan gets to his feet, trying gain stability, Iris delivers a heavy kick to his gut. Ivan drops to one knee, as Iris aims for another blow with her spear. Ivan grabs the spear, pulling Iris to him, catching her by her throat.

Ivan pulls her to close, "What a waste.." he says before delivering a headbutt to her face, throwing her down harshly. Tears well up in Iris' eyes as the burning sensation travels upwards from her nose. Ivan stalks his prey, "I watched you. Thinking you were our solution to total control.", he kicks Iris in her side, and she let's out a grunt. "All that power! And still just a weak nothing!" he sneered reaching down to pick Iris up by her hair. He stops when he hears Iris snickering, "You're about to die, and you find that humorous?" Ivan said confused. "No, it's just the size of your ego. Must be a compensation issue, huh?" she said with a sting, Ivan scours his face raising his hand to strike Iris for her audacity. Iris smiles, as she grabs a small blade, driving into his thigh. Ivan lets out a cry of pain, and Iris rises to her feet, glowing brightly. Ivan drops his to knees and removes the blade, furious with Iris. He spies a metal pipe lying next to one of the machines, Ivan tosses the knife, blade first at Iris who dodges it. Ivan grabs the metal pipe, it's just a bit smaller then Iris' spear. He wields the pipe violently, and Iris blocks every attack. Ivan let's out a yell as he brings down the pipe over his head, Iris, both hands on her spear, counters his attack. They share an intense gaze in their struggle to over-power the other. Iris pushes Ivan away and slides back, still on his feet. Ivan takes out the Pendulum dial and the Norse relic, laughing. "You cannot defeat me..." he gloated, "Even your own ancestors have made me stronger than you..." Iris realizes what she must do to stop him. Ivan tosses the relics behind him, and tries to attack her again, but she simply raises her hand, lifting Ivan off his feet and slamming him back into the ground. Before he can react, Iris drops from above driving her spear into his shoulder and into the cement ground under him, anchoring him down for good. Ivan cries out in pain, but Iris releases her grip from the spear, and walks to the relics, taking both in each hand. She turns and faces Ivan, "My ancestors would have killed where you stood had they seen what you had done to their blood. It is a great privilege to make sure that you have no access to that power." she said with subtle joy. Iris channels her powers into her hands, causing the relics to glow brightly. As the objects begin to crack in her hand, Iris lets out a yell and smacks the relics together, causing a huge explosion. Ivan covers his face from the light, as he brings his hand down, he see's Iris walking to him, and kneel down over top of him. "AND I...HAVE..NEVER BEEN NOTHING.." Iris growls, placing her hands on Ivan temples. Ivan screams as Iris forces the power flowing threw her into his head, slowing tearing him apart molecule by molecule, ensuring he felt every second of the pain as he burned from the inside out, crumbling into ash.

Iris stands from the ash pile that was Ivan, and turns to looks for Bucky. As she looks up, she sees Zola and two henchmen, Bucky on his knees, badly injured. Iris begins to walk towards them, but Zola stops her, "Ah Ah Ah..." he says and a henchman raises a gun to Bucky's head. Iris' heart is pounding. "Project Winter is severely injured. I wonder, if you kill us now, who do you think would help you repair your precious tin man, hmm?" Zola asserts. "His name...is James Buchanan Barnes. He doesn't belong to you. You stole him from his life. Just like me!" Iris screams. "All the same. You face a choice, Fraulein. Will you have your vengeance or will you submit and allow me to save his life?" Zola demands as the henchmen cocks the hammer on his gun. Bucky weakly looks up to Iris, "Kill them Iris. Finish this." he murmured. Iris sobs uncontrollably, "This was your plan all along. Your contingency to keeping me under your control. Knowing I would never risk his life for the sake of my own desires." Iris says with her voice trembling. Zola smiled, "Iris...Do it!" Bucky cried out. "I can't...I can't Bucky..." Iris drops to her knees and takes out her spear. She holds the spear up, glaring at Zola as she melts the spear in her hands. Reigning in her powers, she looks at Bucky who is yelling her name. "Bucky..."she calls out. He silences his cries, and they look into each other's eyes, "I love you..." she says softly accepting her defeat. "No! Iris! No! Please...Iris!" Bucky screams as he watches one of the henchmen approach her from behind, hitting her over the head with the butt of a rifle. Iris falls into the darkness, as she fades she hears the sounds of Bucky's cries echo in the abyss before succumbing to nothingness.

Bucky awakes from his surgery, he looks around for Iris, praying it was some horrible dream. "I was able to repair all the damage dealt to you at the hands of Ivan..." a voice says. Bucky looks to his right to see Zola standing with a chart in his hand. Bucky closes his eyes, realizing that he was indeed trapped in this reality. "Where is she? What did you do to her?" Bucky demands gritting through his teeth. Zola sighs, "Unfortunately, Project Annihilation has been deemed, to unstable and she has been decommissioned." Zola says with a touch of pity. Bucky closes his eyes tightly as his heart breaks, tears slowly rolling down his face. "Now, now...We will help you forget about her pretty face. Don't take it so hard. We will be sure to help keep you busy and erase any memories that may bring you discomfort." Zola remarks. Bucky tries to lunge at him, but his restraints prevent him from tearing Zola apart. "Take him, it's time for his long slumber." Zola orders. "I WILL KILL YOU! ONE DAY, I WILL KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" Bucky screams while being taken away.

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Later that day, Zola is driven from the bunker to a small warehouse settled near the coast line. He and his henchmen escorts load into an elevator, and descend down to a second floor. "Are you sure about this? She nearly destroyed everything we have worked for." A man in a lab coat asks, "Yes, maybe with more time, we can figure out to keep her under our control better." Zola replies. Iris is sedated, hanging from an open cryogenic pod placed in a 6 x 6 room. The doctors finish prepping her, and Zola takes one last look at her, "Until we meet again, Fraulein." he whispered, sealing her in and beginning her frosted sleep. The henchmen escort Zola and the other Doctor's from the room, sealing the vaulted door behind them. "One man is to be stationed here to man the controls. Commands will be put in place on the care of our hidden weapon. This is top secret gentlemen. No one is to know what is on the other side of this door. Is that understood?" Zola orders. The men all shake their heads. Zola smiles, "Hail, Hydra Gentlemen."