39
One Year Earlier
Washington.
Laying in her childhood bed, Daisy mind run wild with thoughts and emotions, how was all this real and possible? How could her whole life changed so quickly, so basically everything was lie and she was nothing but a puppet…and that soon millions of people were going to die.
Sitting up in bed, Daisy scanned her room, it was room frozen in time, everything was as it was when she left, everything was still in its place, she knew Renata would come in once a week to dust and once a month to change the sheets, even if no-one had slept in them and she wasn’t due back for another 6months, she would routinely do this.
That smell…the smell of Rose and lavender was what reminded of her home and Renata, and her room then and there was filled with it, it felt so good on her nostrils but it wasn’t the same…nothing was.
In her pyjamas she walked to her door and looked down the corridor at her sister’s door. It was closed and empty, still she hadn’t seen and heard from her sister since her Father had ‘disciplined’ her for awakening the Winter Soldier. Daisy was sure Caitlin was fine, her Father wouldn’t do anything to her…but still…where was she?
That next morning Daisy woke early, she looked at herself in the mirror, the dark rings around her eyes forming from the lack of sleep from the last few days, her skin paler and more drawn.
Crap. She thought. How was she supposed to convince her Father and Hydra she was part of them if she looked like death…which was ironic when they were all about killing and death. Using an old trick she seen her Mother use, she pinched her cheeks to bring back colour to them and she put more eyeliner around her eyes to hide the darkness, which slightly worked.
At the breakfast table her Father was dressed and reading, reading from his iPad and eating, unhappily, muesli and orange juice. Walking in Daisy froze, the man at breakfast table then was her Dad, the carefree look and the way his blonde hair fell to one side, the way his tie was untied and loose around his neck and his top button undone, so not to get anything on it before he even left the house. For a moment Daisy felt like hugging him and saying to him to stay like this, forget about Hydra and his plans, stay as he was…her Dad.
“Morning.” Daisy said briskly as she moved over the breakfast table and sat down, she gave her Father a kiss on the head before she sat.
Alexander Pierce gave his daughter a toothy smile, his lined handsome face showing genuine happiness. “Morning Flower, how are you this morning?”
Smiling and showing teeth Daisy said her lines. “Happy and ready for the day.”
“Good.” Pierce said putting down his iPad and pushing his soggy muesli aside. “I’m just going to make some phone calls in my office and then we’ll be off. I want you to come meet come people today, there’ll working on something that’s going to help us.”
Pierce begun to stand. Daisy stood up like a shot after him. “Dad, can I come with you to your office?”
Frowning Pierce asked. “You don’t want breakfast?”
Giving a stiff smile Daisy said. “I’m not hungry Dad, I’ll get something later.”
“Hmmm.” Pierce said unhappily. “You should eat something.”
Still giving the same smile, she said nothing.
Shrugging Pierce smiled and reached out his hand for her. “Okay Flower, come with me.”
Internally Daisy gave a sigh of relief, but instead she kept her composure, taking her Father’s hand and following him to his office. For years Alexander Pierce’s office had been the one place that no-one but he went, it was filled with books, artwork, the typical man’s office, everything behind a old fashioned red oak desk, with a leather top and elegant decor around it, the office at the back of the house looked out on to the garden behind, a beautiful lash green view, that because it was situated where it was made it look as if it looked out on a forest instead of their garden. Walking in, Daisy took note of some of the books on the shelf, it being years since she had looked at them, noticing only now that beyond the classics her Father had books based on the occult and a mixture of books which had subversive titles, all beautiful placed together on the shelf, intermixed with the art figures and art figurines near them, looking at them she knew then that there was a purpose and point to how and why they were the way they were. Walking in behind her father, Daisy looked down at the carpet and she noticed it was red and stretched out underneath the desk was image of something, something which as she moved forward was familiar…it was the Hydra symbol which she seen many times over the last few days, but something else.
Noticing the way his daughter looked down at the floor, Pierce gave a smile. “Its the Tree of the world, its from Red Skull’s private home in Finland, managed to buy it from a Hydra fanatic.”
Looking up her Father, Daisy smiled. “Its amazing.”
Taking a seat, Pierce begun to start to connect those he needed to via his translink on his desk, putting in codes and numbers that Daisy couldn’t see. As he did there wasn’t even a dial tone or any ringing before a voice came through. The voice that spoke simply said. “Hail Hydra.” To which her Father replied. “Hail Hydra.”
Alexander Pierce begun to speak in detail to the other person, seeming to want to organise the matter of disposing of the bodies once Project Insight was complete and to begun connecting Hydra bases internationally and using the Hellcarriers on to other countries and continuing using the algorithm there, there next place being in Europe before there could be any chance of uprising or people escape off the grid.
“Does Russia have the numbers yet for how many will die?” Pierce asked casually.
The voice on the other end replied coldly but enthustically. “The number is great, but mainly those are of internationals that do not matter. We already have secured a plan to dispose of the bodies.”
“Good.” Pierce said. “Hail Hydra.” Then he ended the call to the other person.
Straight away her Father made another call, he flashed her a smile across his desk. Daisy clenching her fists and toes, trying to hold back on her emotions, having heard in details the things her Father was saying about killing millions of people…she wanted to scream but couldn’t, she had to remain composed.
Leaning back in his chair as the call before it was answered but by a croaky male voice. The express on Pierce’s face become thoughtful with a hint of aggression. “Hail Hydra.” The voice said straight away, though the voice was robot and cold.
“Hail Hydra.” Pierce answered back with.
Pierce pressed his lips together in thought. “Tell her she’ll be contact shortly.” Exhaling, Pierce creaked his knuckles as he looked ahead. “I need you to make sure that Fury, Hill and Rogers will be in the correct location once Project Insight is in place.”
“Of course sir.” The voice said, still dispassionately. “I will make the arrangements so they will die in the first wave.”
“Good. They must be dealt with as soon as possible.” Pierce said firmly.
“Yes sir.” The voice replied. “Sir, I have made the adjustments as your requested. The person 223789 is no longer on the…”
“Thank you Zova.” Pierce said quickly, sitting up.
“If you would like me to-“ The voice continued.
“No!” Pierce said firmly. “You are not to alter my command, is that clear?”
“Yes.” The voice said slowly.
“Good.” Pierce said. “Now go to work, we have 4 more days before Hydra rises again.”
Saying no more, Pierce ended the call and looked at Daisy, a fresh new happy smile on his face. “Okay Flower, ready?”
Nodding Daisy stood up, her legs felt wobbly, as a faint feeling washed over her. Seeing his daughter on steady on her feet Pierce jumped up and walked over to her. “Whats wrong Flower?” His voice filled with Fatherly concern.
Thinking quickly, she wanted to say she felt faint from everything she had just heard her Father saying, how she wanted to throw up there and then, but instead she smiled, straightening her up. “You were right Dad, I could have some breakfast.”
Alexander Pierce gently rubbed his daughters arm as he stood in front of her. “Got get something to eat, we have a long day ahead and you’ll need your strength.”
Daisy gave her Father a nod and begun to leave his office, her legs still wobbly and her heart pounding. Walking out she left out a exhale, the tension inside of immeasurable. Her walk to the kitchen was slow, but she made it, she stood in front of the counter and begun to breath in and out quickly, counting to ten as she did so, slowly she felt better but still sick to her stomach.
“Bubabla?” Came a voice from the side of her.
Lifting her head Daisy found the concerned face of Renata Meiser beside her, standing taller than her and smelling of oranges and lavender Daisy felt overcome with emotion. A tear fell down the side of her face as she looked at Renata and she reached over and practically jumped on her into a hug.
With the instinct of a mother bear, she embraced Daisy, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her close, making a hushing and cooing sounds as she did.
Sobbing as she held onto Renata, Daisy was lost for words, what could she say to her? How could she tell her anything? The only thing that Daisy could think then and there were two words, which she whispered. “Help me.”
Hearing the sad desperation in her voice, Renata’s expression changed, then and there was something inside of her was kicked into action, she had known something was very wrong when Daisy had come back from being gone, she had taken one slow and she had known. Most people would want details, most people would ask for an explanation but not Renata, having worked in the Pierce household and having seen and heard many unexplainable things, having seen how Alexander Pierce and his eldest daughter behaved, having watched Daisy Pierce grow, she knew things weren’t right for a long time but she could was never able to do anything. With her arms wrapped around Daisy, Renata gave their embrace an extra squeeze.
From his office Pierce begun to walk towards the kitchen, calling Daisy name as he come,to which Renata and Daisy could hear as he came. Moving away from Daisy quickly, Renata made it looked as if she taking something out of the cup broad, Daisy moved towards the fruit bowl on the counter, grabbing an apple and bitting into it.
Stepping into the kitchen Alexander Pierce stopped when he saw Renata. “Morning Renata.” He said, his voice plain, his focus being on Daisy.
“Morning Mr Pierce.” Renata said as she moved around the kitchen, seeming to put things away and move them around, making herself look busy without doing anything.
Turning to face her Father Daisy gave a smiled as she chewed on her apple. “Feeling better Flower?” Pierce asked.
Nodding Daisy said nothing, worried her voice might betray her.
“Let’s go shall we?” Pierce said, turning keenly out of the kitchen to the door.
Daisy walked past Renata as he left the kitchen, she couldn’t look her in the eye. Renata moved quickly towards Daisy and gave her a mobile phone, pushing it into Daisy palm. Leaning close to Daisy’s ear she whispered. “Phone me on this when you can…when your Father is not there.”
Daisy nodded, wanting to hug Renata, instead she continued to move out the kitchen to the front door after her Father. As she went Renata Meiser watched her, her face filled with concern and worry but a look of determination. Inside her trouser pocket the phone left a heavy weight but a weight that carried hope.
Again Daisy and Pierce drove towards the The Triskelion building, this time there seeming to be a hub of activity happening. Watching the people around them as they entered the building Daisy couldn't help but think how many people in that building were Hydra and how many were going to die. Inside the elevator up to her Father's office on the high level, Daisy had an idea, something which she hoped would work.
“Dad?” She asked in a sweet voice.
“Yes Flower?” Pierce answered as he played his phone reading something from it.
“Can I see the Hellicarriers later?” Again her voice sweet and eager.
Looking up from his phone Pierce smiled. “Oh course sweetheart. Soon as i’ve finished my meeting upstairs we can go down.”
“Can’t I go by myself?” Daisy asked in a worried sweet voice. “I know which way to go.”
Pierce looked at Daisy, for a moment his expression unreadable, for a moment Daisy thought he would say no and he might know that she was up to something, but instead he smiled, his face looked happy and proud, as if this was something wonderful. “That would be great sweetheart.”
Pierce left the elevator when it reached his floor, telling the elevator function to go to the lower levels, giving Daisy a kiss on her forehead before he exited, telling her to come back when she was finished.
Standing in the elevator Daisy’s mind raced, she held on to the phone in a pocket in one hand, wanting desperately to pull it out and use it. Walking out the elevator she again was met with the same sight of the three machine of death and doom in front of her, the sight even more frightening now she knew more details first hand of the plans ahead. Looking around her Daisy could see anyone watching her from the platform she stood on, below her people worked, various Quinjets coming and going, or being worked on.
Exhaling she took out the phone, she went through the number and phone Renata’s name, she realised then that the phone she had been given was Renata’s cheap international phone, one for which she used a pay as you go chip, this was more than likely the one she kept on her, the other was the phone she thought was the phone her Father had bought her, one that gave Renata access to the internet and all manner of things the housekeeper didn’t care for.
After one ring Renata answered the phone, her voice breathless and concerned. “Where are you?”
Exhaling, holding the phone tightly against her ear and in her hand, trying to look as normal as possible. “At The Triskelion…Renata…Dad and Caitlin…there a part of something that’s going to kill millions-billions of people.” Her voice was breaking as she spoke, but she managed to stay controlled as much as she could.
From the other end Renata made a throaty noise, something which was similar to a grunt and a exhale, a sound of exhaustion and frustration, which was noise she often made when talking about Daisy’s Father bad eating habits and Daisy’s older sister. “I knew there was something not right with you…there was something not right, I knew it.”
Inside Daisy wanted to laugh, finding it funny that despite what Renata had just been told about Alexander Pierce planning mass genocide on a global scale and Renata could only focus on the fact she had been right that something had been wrong with Daisy when she had come back.
Voice still shaking Daisy whispered. “I don’t know what to do…they have to be stopped.” She looked out at the sight if the Hellcarrier before her.
Renata from the other side was quiet for a moment thinking. “What can I do Bubabla?”
Looking out thought, she didn’t know the names of who was and wasn’t Hydra, only three, three to which her Father had been very keen they be dealt as soon as possible. Hill, Fury and Rogers. Which were Nick Fury, Maria Hill and Steve Rogers, those people were the only ones she knew she could trust, the only ones she could say with absoluteness that they were not involved with Hydra and what Project Insight was for.
“Renata…” Daisy said in focused and ready voice. “Go to Dad’s office and get contact details for the name Nick Fury.”
Working faster than Daisy had thought possible Renata came back to her within a few minutes, having gone into Pierce’s office and gone through his things. “Daisy.” Renata said breathlessly. “I have numbers and contact details, can you write it down?”
“No…no…” Daisy said quickly, looking around as he walked, trying to looks as if she wasn’t out of place. “Tell them to me and I’ll remember.”
“Okay…” Renata said, she read out the details all starting different, all using various types of mediums. Thinking fast as she heard them she tried to think which one would be most effective, realising which was best she knew she had to send a message, or a code to him which only a spy would understand.
Think think think. Daisy thought desperately. How could she tell Fury what was happening, he would have to know that the Hellicarriers were there, of course, he was the director, how could she plant a seed that would get him to realise something wasn’t right, what was the one thing that her Father and sister had spoken about. The asset? Russia? Whitehall? The Lemurian Star? Strucker? The Red Skull?
What was the one thing that need to happen for Project Insight to work? What was it that her Fatherhood been ensuring was in progress…The Lumurian Star, the ship that was carry the information from the satellites for Project Insight.
A realisation throw into her head and gave her clarity, she knew what she had to do, but if she did it she would have to make her escape as quick as possible. Staring at the Hellicarrier Daisy held onto the phone tightly and said. “Renata, I’m going to do something and I need to leave as soon as I can.”
“Okay.” Renata said sternly. “I’m packing a lunch for you.”
Inside Daisy’s heart melted for the love she felt for Renata and the fact at what she was going to do.
Going back to her Father’s office, she was about to enter into the elevator upwards when she met by Brock Rumlow who was just about to leave the lift, his expression serious and formidable, which quickly changed as he met Daisy. Wearing his strike gear and looking ready to jump into action, he stepped back inside.
“Your Dad just sent me to look for you.” Rumlow said as he pressed the button for her Father’s floor.
“Oh?” Daisy said casually as she leant against the back of the elevator, so her back was away from the view of the Hellicarriers, having had her fill of looking at them she couldn’t stand to look at them anymore.
“Yeah.” Rumlow said folding his arms as he leant against the wall looking at her. “He thought something had happened to you.”
Smiling Daisy maintain her cool. “Happened to me? What could possible happen to me?”
Lifting his brow Rumlow replied in a serious tone. “Anything.”
“I can take care of myself.” Looking Rumlow directly in the eye, holding on to her smile as she did so.