26
One Year Earlier
Washington.
The next few hours Daisy said very little, she listened to everything that her Father and Sister said, though very rarely did anyone talk to her, every so often her Father or Sister would look over at her, to which she pretend she didn’t notice or would smile at them. It had only been a few hours but already her neck was beginning to ache and she started to feel as if her head was becoming heavier than it was, which was little disconcerting.
Back inside her Father’s car, they were driving back to Washington, The Triskelion, Daisy sat in the back, whilst her Father and sister sat in front, every so often her Father looked at her from the mirror, her expression unreadable, his constant checking was if he was expecting her to do something.
Inside Daisy was a bundled bag of nerves, she was trying her best to look composed and calm, as if the mind control had worked and had turned her into a submissive and passive person, who would anything for Hydra but she didn’t know if she could keep it up. There was only so much quiet and calm she could pretend, so far she hadn’t been alone and so far she had managed not one slip up but she knew that she would be back with Whitehall, this time with more intensity.
Thinking to herself Daisy wondered if that was part of the mind control technique, the fear of the pain was stronger than the fear of letting go. Had her Father or sister been mind controlled? Could they be bought back. Daisy’s heart did a little flutter, maybe she could find a way to turn them away from Hydra, show them that what they were doing was wrong.
When they reached The Triskelion building, her Father didn’t park his car like he had before, instead he stopped at the front, got out and let an agent take the car to park. Stepping out the car with her Family, Daisy took a better look at the building before her, the thought that this building held the monstrous flying weapons that was going to wipe out millions of people calculatedly and with complete ease, made Daisy want to run around screaming for help, to get people to listen.
“…We will show that we know what is best for everyone." Daisy’s father words rang into her ears.
In the entrance to the The Triskelion, its massive glass and metal fused paned entrance leading into the forecourt of the building, the morning sun shining in and illuminating the water feature and the Shield symbol further inside.
Walking over toward Alexander Pierce and his family appeared Brock Rumlow and the strike team, all following him dressed in their strike uniform but toned down with the armoured weapons or the bullet proof vests absent. As he grew closer, Rumlow saw that Daisy walked to the right of her Father, her head high and her look firm and determined, a smile formed on his face, pleased that Daisy was now part of the fold, having for the longest time wished she had been, considering it unusual of Piece to keep his youngest daughter away from Hydra…but that was never something which he would have said to Pierce.
“Report.” Alexander Pierce said before he had reached Rumlow and the Strike team.
“Sir,” Rumlow nodded respectfully. “The Lemurian Star has left Baltimore and headed to internal waters.”
Walking together, the Strike team now walking behind Daisy and Caitlin heading towards the elevator.
“And Sitwell?” Pierce asked.
“A dispatch as been sent to pick him and take him directly there within the next 48hrs.” Rumlow replied.
Caitlin Pierce, with her hands behind her back, in a military stance and walk she was known for amongst her collages. “Has there been any interference from The Security Council?”
Shaking his head, Rumlow replied turning to face Caitlin. “No Ma’am, though I assume they will want to be update ASAP.”
Trying to maintain her calm and patience expression Daisy tried to think if anything that was being said might help her. Rumlow sneaked Daisy a look and smirked at her, to which she let the corner of her lip curl to smile, thinking that she had to somehow maintain who she was before, so not to cause too much thought from anyone to her change. Rumlow was no longer the Rumlow she had known for years, this was a different Rumlow…but maybe he was like her father and sister, he could be bought back from working with Hydra, after all wasn’t everyone?
Reaching the elevator the Pierce family, Rumlow, Strike member Rollins and another member that Daisy hadn’t seen before stepped inside, the door already open and waiting for them. Taking positions around Pierce in the middle, everyone was quiet and still as the descendent upwards begun. Stood to the left side of her father, Daisy looked out to the world as on the journey up, trying to ignore the nerves in her stomach, she hadn’t been told why they had returned back to The Triskelion but from the way that everyone around her, it was not a casual visit for coffee and snacks.
Standing near each other Caitlin Pierce and Brock Rumlow flicked each other a look, Rumlow holding a smirk as he looked slyly at Caitlin, to which Caitlin gave him a cool narrowed eyed look back at him. Daisy noticed the two, she realised this was the first time in a long time she had seen them together, from the look of it she knew something had gone on between the two of them since then.
The Triskelion had as many floors as New York skyscraper, as they traveled up Daisy begun to feel a pitter of dread.
Somewhere to near the top the elevator stopped and they existed, all in a organised manner, Rumlow and the Strike members following.
Pierce walked to a large red double door way, to which he leant his head forward to wall to allow a retina scan to identify himself, to which the doors responded by opening straight away. Inside there was nothing there, just empty room, unlit until they begun to all enter in. Entering to the centre of the room, Pierce stopped and looked over at his eldest daughter, which she gave a gentle nod. Surrounding him a semi circle, all watched Pierce.
“Begin communication 167893.” Pierce said, to which ahead of an projection of The Hydra symbol was presented brightly in red.
Swallowing the lump in her throat made herself more solid on the ground, starting to feel as if she going to run but stopping herself.
For a moment there was nothing, but then a figure of man was projected in front of them, the Hydra symbol behind him. Taller than Pierce, close shaven face and hair, a monocle seeming attached to his face, a strong roman nose and a perfectible pressed military khaki uniform button tight to his neck. Head held hair, hand place behind his back he gave a smile to Alexander Pierce.
“Leiter.” The man said in a strong German accent.
“Strucker.” Pierce replied.
“How does the Plans go?” The man asked, his projection giving the impression that he was stood in the room.
Smiling Pierce pushed his shoulder back. “Everything is going to plan, 6 days time Project Insight will be fully operational.”
6 Days. Daisy thought herself panicky.
“Good.” The man Strucker replied with a nod of his head. “Too long Hydra have been in the shadows.”
From beside her Father Caitlin said with an gleeful tone. “Yes, far too long.”
Looking over to Caitlin, the man Strucker gave a smile at Caitlin Pierce.
“My daughter Caitlin will be coming to Sokovia to see the progress of your work in 7 days.” Pierce told Strucker.
“Excellent.” Strucker replied. “Ms Pierce’s arrival here will be most appreciated, I look forward to be able to share many things with her.”
Caitlin smiled at Strucker in a way that Daisy had never seen her sister smile before, she could almost swear there was slight swoon by gentle shift in her body. From behind in the shadows Brock Rumlow gave sterner expression and shuffled on his heels.
Reaching his hand across Daisy’s shoulder, Alexander Pierce gently moved Daisy closer to him. “This,” Pierce started. “Is my daughter Daisy, the one which i’ve told you about.”
As if all interest in Caitlin had dissolved, Strucker’s eyes opened wider and he gave a smile that showed all his teeth, he looked Daisy up and down. “Aww, finally the prodigal daughter arrives on the eve on glory. “
Feeling extremely vulnerable Daisy kept her head high and tried to keep her gaze steady as she looked at Strucker, feeling the way he examined her, similar to how Whitehall had done the first time she had met him.
“Tell me,” Strucker started still at Daisy. “Has she shown any signs yet?”
Still holding on her shoulder and looking at her proudly Pierce smiled. “Not yet but once we start the process she will.”
Nodding and smiling Strucker looked back at Pierce. “Will Ms Pierce bring her to Sokovia?”
“No.” Pierce said firmly. Looked back to Strucker. “After Hydra has complete control I will personally take her to where we know the connection is and where Armin Zola’s work will be finished.”
“Very well.” Striker replied with a nod.
Daisy tried her best to look composed but she felt her mind running with a thousand thoughts, what were they talking about?
Pierce and Strucker looked at each other for a moment, not quite a stand off but both seeming to measure one another, though both were very much a part of Hydra there was a power play between the two, where Pierce was obviously the one in the forefront of control when it came to Hydra, Strucker was something else, though holding power, he did not hold as much as Pierce. Strucker didn’t seem to consider Pierce fully the Leader of Hydra, though he said nothing, both knew the scales which they were measuring. Looking at the two of them, both were two fought for the same ideals, the ideals of Hydra but there was more, as soon as Hydra held control, there was to be a race, both man to take charge and be the one to hold the strongest card in the deck.
Holding her breath Daisy held her internal frown. What was she to Hydra? Why was she seemingly so important?