Chapter 10
June 10th, 2014
"Target approaching from the northeast corridor," Natasha's calm voice came through the comm unit built into Sara's mask. "Inferna, maintain position until my signal."
"Copy that," Sara replied quietly, staying perfectly still in her hiding spot near the ceiling of the warehouse. The heat inhibitor watch on her wrist kept her body temperature regulated, preventing thermal cameras from detecting her unique signature—her own innovation following a training exercise where she'd been immediately identified by heat-sensing equipment.
Two months into her official Avengers career, Sara had adapted to field operations with remarkable speed—a fact Natasha attributed to her years of preparation and Sara credited to having excellent mentors. The secretive nature of her Inferna identity had become second nature, compartmentalized neatly from her daily life as Sara Raavi, honor student and newly acknowledged (though still privately) daughter of Tony Stark.
Movement below caught her attention—three figures in tactical gear, moving with the precision that marked them as professionals rather than common criminals. This was no routine smuggling operation as the initial intelligence had suggested. These were trained operatives, likely connected to the weapons technology theft they'd been investigating for the past week.
"I count three targets," Sara whispered into her comm. "Professional-grade tactical gear, military movement patterns."
"Confirming," Clint's voice came through from his position at the opposite end of the warehouse. "And they're carrying SHIELD-issue stun rifles. Interesting."
Sara's instincts kicked into high alert. SHIELD-issue weapons in the hands of apparent mercenaries didn't make sense—unless they weren't mercenaries at all, but SHIELD operatives on an unsanctioned operation. The implications sent a cold feeling through her chest despite her naturally elevated body temperature.
"Hold positions," Natasha ordered, a new edge to her voice suggesting she'd made the same connection. "Surveillance only until we confirm identities and objectives."
Sara remained motionless, years of training allowing her to maintain position without discomfort as the targets moved through the warehouse toward what appeared to be a hidden room behind a false wall. Her enhanced hearing picked up fragments of conversation—something about "Phase Two materials" and "Project Insight timeline."
The mission had suddenly become far more complicated than the straightforward intercept operation they'd been briefed on. In the two months since Sara had officially joined the team as Inferna, most of her missions had been clearly defined—retrieval of stolen tech, surveillance of suspected HYDRA cells, protection of vulnerable assets. This unexpected development pushed into murkier territory.
"Widow, the package they're loading appears to be weapons-grade material," Clint reported softly. "Definitely not standard issue. And I've made the leader—Brock Rumlow, STRIKE team commander."
Sara heard Natasha's barely audible intake of breath. Rumlow was no rogue agent or criminal—he was one of SHIELD's elite operators, a man who had worked alongside the Avengers on several occasions.
"Change of plans," Natasha decided. "Maintain surveillance, record everything. We don't engage unless they pose immediate threat to civilians or critical infrastructure."
Sara understood the implications instantly. Something was very wrong within SHIELD itself—a suspicion that aligned with Steve's increasingly concerned communications from DC over the past few weeks. His search for Bucky Barnes had uncovered disturbing patterns within the organization, hints of some deeper corruption that he'd been carefully investigating.
For the next forty minutes, Sara remained perfectly still, recording the STRIKE team's activities through her mask's integrated systems as they loaded mysterious containers into a nondescript van. Her mind worked furiously, connecting this development to other concerning incidents she'd noticed in recent mission briefings—inconsistencies in intelligence, unusual deployment patterns, resources being shifted with minimal explanation.
When the team finally departed, Natasha gave the signal to regroup at their rendezvous point—a safehouse twenty minutes from the warehouse location. Only after confirming they hadn't been followed did Natasha initiate the debriefing.
"This complicates things significantly," she stated, reviewing the footage Sara's mask had captured. "STRIKE operating off-books, handling classified materials without proper authorization protocols."
"Connected to whatever Cap's been investigating?" Clint asked, cleaning his bow with practiced movements that betrayed his tension.
"Almost certainly," Natasha nodded. "This aligns with the patterns he's been tracking in DC. Something big is happening inside SHIELD, something compartmentalized even from high-level operatives."
Sara removed her mask, the identity of Inferna temporarily set aside in the security of the safehouse. "Does this change our operational parameters? If SHIELD itself is compromised..."
"It changes everything," Natasha confirmed grimly. "But we need to be strategic about how we proceed. Stark and Banner need to see this footage immediately. And Cap needs to be warned that his investigation may have been noticed."
"I can get the data to Tony securely," Sara offered. "I have my usual video call with him scheduled in two hours—we can use the family conversation as cover for the information transfer."
Natasha nodded approval. "Good. In the meantime, Barton and I will monitor STRIKE's movements and see if we can determine where those materials are headed."
As they finalized their approach, Sara couldn't help but feel a chill of apprehension. Two months into her career as an Avenger, and already she was facing what appeared to be corruption within the very organization that was supposed to support them. The clear lines between allies and enemies that had seemed so defined during her training were blurring rapidly in the field.
Back at the tower three hours later, Sara had completed her secure data transfer to Tony and was finally able to take a breath. She shucked off her Inferna suit, carefully stowing it in the specialized compartment hidden within her quarters, and changed into regular clothes—the transformation from masked hero to ordinary teenager complete.
Well, as ordinary as any teenager could be while juggling advanced placement courses, a secret superhero identity, and a long-distance relationship with a brilliant musician.
Her phone chimed with a notification, and Sara smiled as Zara's name appeared on the screen—a welcome slice of normalcy amidst the increasingly complicated hero life.
"Perfect timing," she said as she answered the video call, Zara's face appearing on screen from her bedroom in San Francisco. "How's the Juilliard preparation going?"
"Intense," Zara admitted with a tired smile that still managed to make Sara's heart skip. "My composition professor is pushing me to refine the third movement before final submission, which means I've been living on coffee and determination for the past forty-eight hours."
"Sounds familiar," Sara laughed, thinking of her own late nights—though hers typically involved combat training rather than musical composition. "I miss you."
"I miss you too," Zara's expression softened. "Two more weeks until summer break, then I'll be all yours for that whole weekend in New York. My parents finally agreed to the visit after I bombarded them with the complete schedule of master classes and workshops I'll be attending. They think I'm sleeping in the dorms with supervision."
"And instead you'll be in the guest suite here," Sara grinned. "With a different kind of supervision. Tony's already planning an embarrassingly elaborate welcome."
"I can handle Tony Stark," Zara replied with the confidence that had first attracted Sara to her. "It's your terrifying friend Natasha who makes me nervous. I swear she was reading my entire life story when we met during my last visit."
"She probably was," Sara admitted. "It's kind of her thing. But she likes you, which is rare and impressive."
They talked for another hour, Zara sharing her music school dramas and Sara carefully editing her day to focus on her AP Physics challenges rather than her covert operations with the Black Widow. The balance was becoming second nature—being present and honest with Zara about everything she could share while protecting the secret aspects of her life.
"You seem tired," Zara observed toward the end of their call, her perceptiveness one of the qualities Sara valued most. "Everything okay?"
"Just a long day of training," Sara replied, the misdirection coming easily thanks to Natasha's intensive coaching on maintaining cover identities. "Advanced techniques that left me pretty drained."
"Don't push yourself too hard," Zara said softly. "Even teenage geniuses need rest sometimes."
"Says the girl who's been awake for forty-eight hours composing," Sara teased back.
After their goodbyes, Sara lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling as her mind processed the day's revelations. The corruption within SHIELD had significant implications not just for the Avengers but potentially for global security. Whatever Project Insight was, the involvement of Rumlow and specialized weapons suggested something far more dangerous than typical internal politics.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Natasha:
Natasha [9:45 PM]: Cap's gone dark. Last communication indicated he was closing in on something significant in DC. Rogers and Fury missed scheduled check-in.
Sara's stomach tightened with concern. Steve going off-grid wasn't entirely unusual given his mission to find Bucky, but missing a check-in with Fury was significantly more worrying.
Sara [9:46 PM]: Options?
Natasha [9:47 PM]: Stark and I are discussing. Potential deployment to DC within 24 hours. Be ready.
The prospect of a major operation sent a surge of both excitement and apprehension through Sara. Her previous missions had been carefully controlled, limited in scope and risk as befitted her junior status and age. A deployment to DC in response to Steve's situation would represent a significant escalation in her involvement.
Sara [9:48 PM]: I'll be ready. Any specific preparations?
Natasha [9:49 PM]: Review all DC tactical maps. Focus on government district and SHIELD headquarters layouts. And get some rest. Tomorrow may be complicated.
Following Natasha's advice, Sara pulled up the relevant schematics on her secured tablet, studying potential entry and exit points, surveillance blind spots, and tactical advantages within the SHIELD headquarters complex. Even as her analytical mind processed the technical details, another part of her consciousness grappled with the emotional weight of the situation—Steve Rogers, her mentor and friend, potentially in danger from the very organization he had aligned himself with.
A soft knock at her door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," she called, setting aside the tablet.
Sandhya entered, carrying a mug of chai that filled the room with the comforting scent of ginger and cardamom. "I thought you might need this," she said, placing the mug on Sara's nightstand. "Aniruddh told me about the situation with Steve."
Sara accepted the drink gratefully, the familiar taste offering a moment of comfort amid the tension. "We don't know much yet," she said. "But it doesn't look good."
Sandhya sat on the edge of the bed, studying her daughter's face. "How are you handling all of this? The double life, the missions, the secrets? It's a lot for anyone to manage, let alone someone who's only been sixteen for two months."
"Honestly?" Sara considered the question seriously. "It's easier than I expected in some ways, harder in others. The tactical aspects, the physical demands—all that preparation makes those parts almost second nature now. It's the emotional compartmentalization that gets complicated."
"Like with Zara?" Sandhya asked perceptively.
Sara nodded. "And Harsha and Sesha. When they visited last month and we told them about the Stark heritage... I wanted to tell them everything. It felt wrong keeping such a huge part of myself hidden from them."
"That's natural," Sandhya assured her, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Sara's face in a gesture that reminded her of simpler childhood days. "Family should be where we can be our most authentic selves. But sometimes protection requires distance, even from those we love most."
"I know," Sara sighed. "Natasha's been helping me work through it—she understands compartmentalization better than anyone. And Tony's surprisingly insightful about the identity balance too, given how terrible he is at keeping his own secrets."
They shared a laugh at that, the tension easing momentarily before Sandhya's expression grew serious again.
"This mission tomorrow," she began carefully, "if you go to DC... it's different from your previous operations, isn't it?"
"Potentially," Sara admitted, knowing better than to minimize the situation. Her mother had always valued honesty above reassurance. "If SHIELD itself is compromised, the threat level is significantly higher than what we've been dealing with. But I won't be alone," she added. "Tony and Natasha are the best possible backup."
Sandhya nodded, her expression a complex mixture of pride and concern that Sara had come to recognize whenever her Avengers role was discussed. "Your father—Arun," she clarified, though the distinction was becoming less necessary as Sara grew comfortable with acknowledging both her fathers in different contexts, "he always said that true courage wasn't about feeling no fear, but about acting despite it. I see that in you every time you put on that suit."
The mention of Arun sent the familiar bittersweet pang through Sara's chest—grief mixed with gratitude for his enduring influence on her life. "I wish he could have known," she said softly. "About my powers, about Inferna. Sometimes I wonder what he would have thought."
"He would have been terrified and immensely proud in equal measure," Sandhya replied without hesitation. "Just as I am every time you walk out that door in your suit."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the shared memory of Arun creating a bridge between them as it often did in quiet moments.
"Get some rest, bangaaram," Sandhya said finally, rising from the bed. "Whatever tomorrow brings, you'll face it better with a clear mind."
After her mother left, Sara completed her review of the DC tactical information, then performed the meditation exercises Bruce had taught her for maintaining mental clarity under pressure. As she finally drifted toward sleep, her thoughts circled between concern for Steve, anticipation of the potential mission, and the complicated web of identities she now maintained—Sara Raavi to the public and her siblings, Saranika Stark-Raavi to her parents and the Avengers, and Inferna to the world she was learning to protect.
The next morning dawned with urgent activity. Sara was awakened at 5:30 AM by JARVIS announcing a priority team meeting in thirty minutes. She dressed quickly in standard training gear, knowing she could transition to her Inferna suit rapidly if deployment was confirmed.
The briefing room was already tense when she arrived, Tony pacing with barely contained energy while Natasha stood perfectly still—her version of high alert—reviewing information on multiple screens.
"What's happening?" Sara asked, immediately noting the satellite imagery of DC displayed on the main screen.
"Multiple concerning developments," Tony replied, his usual quips notably absent. "Fury was attacked last night—currently in critical condition at a secure medical facility. Rogers is officially listed as a fugitive by SHIELD as of four hours ago, with a kill-order authorized for STRIKE teams."
Sara's blood ran cold. "A kill-order? For Captain America? That's—"
"Insane," Tony completed. "And confirmation that something is deeply wrong within SHIELD. We've been monitoring communications channels, and there's clear evidence of a coordinated operation against Rogers underway."
"The Winter Soldier was identified at the scene of Fury's attack," Natasha added, bringing up a blurry image captured from security footage. "This aligns with the intelligence Steve has been gathering about HYDRA infiltration within SHIELD itself."
"HYDRA?" Sara repeated, the historical significance of the name immediately registering. "The Nazi science division from World War II? That should be impossible."
"'Cut off one head, two more shall take its place,'" Natasha quoted grimly. "Apparently they took their motto seriously. Based on what we've pieced together from Steve's encrypted communications and Fury's contingency protocols, HYDRA has been growing within SHIELD for decades, positioning key personnel throughout the organization and government."
Tony pulled up another screen showing technical schematics. "And this is what they've been building toward—Project Insight. Three next-generation helicarriers with satellite-linked targeting systems capable of eliminating thousands of targets simultaneously. They're scheduled for launch today."
The implications struck Sara with horrifying clarity. "A preemptive strike capability against anyone HYDRA considers a threat."
"Precisely," Natasha confirmed. "And based on the algorithm parameters we've managed to extract, the target list includes everyone from prominent political figures to gifted individuals—potentially millions of people worldwide who might oppose HYDRA's agenda."
"Including all of us in this room," Tony added darkly.
"What's the plan?" Sara asked, her mind already shifting to tactical assessment mode despite the shock of the revelations.
"Rogers is on the ground with intelligence on how to stop the launch," Natasha explained. "He's operating with limited support—we believe he's working with a former pararescue specialist named Sam Wilson and has made contact with Agent Hill. Our mission is twofold: provide extraction options if needed, and secure the SHIELD data archives before they can be purged or compromised."
"Inferna's role?" Sara asked, understanding that the question of her participation was likely a point of contention given the extreme threat level.
Natasha and Tony exchanged a look that confirmed her suspicion—they'd already debated this extensively.
"You'll be with me," Natasha decided. "Data extraction team. We enter SHIELD's secondary archive facility—less heavily guarded than headquarters but containing critical historical records that could expose the full extent of HYDRA's infiltration. Stark will provide air support and coordinate with Rogers directly."
Sara nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over her. This wasn't a training exercise or a controlled operation—this was a direct confrontation with a threat of historical proportions, one that had apparently compromised the very foundations of global security.
"Wheels up in thirty," Tony announced, already activating his specialized bracelet that would summon the Iron Man armor when needed. "Suit up, firecracker. Time to see what all that training was really for."
In her quarters, Sara changed into her Inferna suit with practiced efficiency, each piece of specialized equipment settling into place with familiar precision. The crimson and black design that had seemed so dramatic two months ago now felt like a second skin, the mask that concealed her identity a necessary boundary between her civilian life and the increasingly dangerous world she operated within as an Avenger.
As she completed her final equipment check, Sara caught sight of her reflection in the mirror—the masked figure staring back at her so different from the Sara Raavi who attended online classes and video-chatted with her girlfriend. For a moment, she wondered what Zara would think if she knew the truth, if she could see Sara now, preparing to face a threat that could reshape the world.
There was no time for such reflections, however. Within minutes, she was aboard the Quinjet with Tony and Natasha, the aircraft cutting through the morning sky toward DC at maximum speed. The mission briefing continued en route, tactical details and contingency plans reviewed and refined as new intelligence came in from Maria Hill's encrypted channels.
"Rogers has confirmed the algorithm creator is Arnim Zola—or rather, a digital version of his consciousness preserved by HYDRA after his physical death," Natasha reported, displaying information on the jet's screens. "This explains how the infiltration remained undetected for so long—it was orchestrated by an entity operating outside normal human parameters, capable of planning across decades rather than years."
"And the Winter Soldier?" Sara asked, remembering Steve's mission to find his long-lost friend Bucky Barnes.
"Rogers believes he's identified him as James Buchanan Barnes," Natasha confirmed, her expression grave. "Apparently captured by HYDRA after his fall from the train in 1945, subjected to extensive experimentation and neural reprogramming. He's been their primary asset for decades, kept in cryostasis between missions."
Sara felt a pang of sympathy for Steve. Finding his friend alive only to discover he'd been transformed into a HYDRA weapon would be devastating. "Has Rogers made direct contact with him?"
"Briefly, during yesterday's confrontation," Natasha replied. "But there's no indication the Winter Soldier recognized him or showed any signs of breaking his programming."
The tactical discussion continued until they reached DC airspace, where they separated into their assigned teams—Tony as Iron Man heading directly toward the Triskelion where the helicarriers were docked, while Sara and Natasha took a stealth approach to the secondary archive facility located beneath an unassuming office building ten miles from SHIELD headquarters.
"Comms check," Natasha's voice came through Sara's mask as they approached the facility's perimeter. "Inferna, status?"
"Five by five," Sara confirmed, adjusting her mask's enhanced vision settings to scan for security measures. "I'm detecting unusual activity at the north entrance—guard rotation is doubled from standard protocols."
"They're moving to secure assets," Natasha assessed. "We'll use the maintenance tunnel at the southeast corner—it's less likely to have enhanced security since it's not on the primary building schematics."
Moving with practiced coordination, they navigated the approach, Sara's enhanced vision allowing them to avoid security patrols and surveillance cameras. The maintenance tunnel proved accessible with Natasha's specialized equipment, and soon they were inside the facility's lower levels.
"Server room should be two levels down," Natasha directed, consulting the building schematic displayed on her wrist device. "Be ready for automated defenses—if HYDRA is purging evidence, they'll have implemented additional security measures."
Sara nodded, following Natasha's lead through the dimly lit service corridors. The facility felt eerily quiet—too quiet for an organization supposedly conducting normal operations.
"Something's wrong," she whispered as they approached a junction. "Security presence is minimal. If they're protecting valuable assets—"
"They've already moved them," Natasha completed the thought, her expression darkening. "Or they're using this location as a trap. Stay alert."
They continued more cautiously, each sensor reading and security pattern analyzed for inconsistencies. When they reached the server level, the reason for the limited security became clear—the server room door stood open, the interior visibly damaged.
"Someone got here first," Natasha observed, weapon ready as they entered the room. "Recently—the equipment's still warm."
Sara surveyed the damage, noting the precision of the destruction. "This wasn't random vandalism. They targeted specific server banks—historical records from the 1970s through early 1990s based on the labeling."
"The formative years of HYDRA's infiltration," Natasha confirmed, examining a partially destroyed terminal. "Let's see if anything's salvageable."
Working quickly, they connected specialized extraction devices to the remaining servers, bypassing damaged systems and security protocols to access whatever data remained. Sara's technical training proved valuable as she identified alternative access points to compromised systems, her enhanced senses allowing her to detect which components remained operational despite the sabotage.
"I've got something," she announced after several tense minutes. "Personnel files, Operation Paperclip extensions beyond the publicly acknowledged program. Names, placements, project assignments." She transferred the data to their secure storage device, protecting it with multiple encryption layers as Tony had taught her.
"Good work," Natasha approved, continuing her own extraction from a different system. "I'm accessing communication logs—fragmented, but there are references to something called 'Winter Soldier program protocols' and 'asset conditioning procedures.'"
"Information that could help Steve if he manages to confront Barnes again," Sara realized, moving to assist with the retrieval.
Their data extraction was interrupted by a sudden alert from Natasha's communication device. "Change of status—the helicarriers are launching ahead of schedule. Rogers is moving to intercept with Wilson, but they're outnumbered."
Sara felt a jolt of urgency. "Do we abort and provide backup?"
Natasha considered rapidly, weighing options against the critical timeline. "Finish the extraction—two more minutes maximum. Then we move to secondary objective: securing transportation for Rogers and his team if the primary plan fails."
Working with increased speed, they completed the data retrieval, securing what information they could salvage from the damaged systems. As they prepared to exit, however, Natasha's comm unit crackled with a priority alert.
"Widow, Inferna," Tony's voice came through, tight with tension, "be advised—HYDRA sleeper agents are activating throughout DC. We've got STRIKE teams converging on your location and mine. Rogers has engaged the Winter Soldier directly on the lower platform of helicarrier Charlie."
Before they could respond, an explosion shook the building above them, dust and debris raining from the ceiling as alarm systems activated throughout the facility.
"That's our cue to leave," Natasha stated, pocketing the secure data device. "Alternative exit route—maintenance shaft to the north parking structure."
They moved swiftly through the increasingly unstable facility, Sara using her enhanced vision to navigate through smoke-filled corridors as the building's systems failed around them. When they encountered a sealed security door blocking their escape route, Sara looked to Natasha for confirmation before directing controlled heat at the electronic locking mechanism, melting it precisely without triggering secondary security measures.
"Nice technique," Natasha commented as they passed through. "Your precision control has improved significantly."
"I had a good teacher," Sara replied, the brief moment of normalcy amid crisis offering strange comfort.
They had nearly reached the parking structure when the distinctive sound of SHIELD-issue weapons being primed echoed from around the corner. Natasha signaled for silence, then gestured a tactical approach plan that would allow them to assess the threat before engaging.
Peering carefully around the corner, Sara counted six operatives in STRIKE tactical gear, positioned to intercept anyone coming from the archive facility. Their comms indicated they were waiting for confirmation that "the targets" were still inside before setting explosive charges to collapse the entire underground complex.
Sara relayed the information to Natasha using their silent hand signals, then waited for instruction. Despite months of training and field operations, direct confrontation with former SHIELD operatives—people theoretically on the same side until hours ago—presented a new type of challenge.
"Alternative route not viable," Natasha assessed quietly. "We go through them. Non-lethal takedowns if possible, but prioritize our extraction. The data we've recovered could be critical to exposing the full HYDRA network."
Sara nodded, mentally reviewing the tactical options that would minimize harm while ensuring their escape. Her pyrokinetic abilities offered numerous non-lethal approaches, from creating disorienting light effects to precision temperature manipulation that could incapacitate without permanent injury.
On Natasha's signal, they executed their attack with coordinated precision. Sara projected controlled flame barriers to separate the STRIKE team members, isolating them for individual neutralization while Natasha engaged the team leader directly. The HYDRA operatives responded with professional efficiency, but their standard tactics hadn't been designed to counter Inferna's unique capabilities.
Using techniques she'd practiced extensively with Steve and Natasha, Sara created disorienting patterns of light and heat, making it impossible for the operatives to maintain visual contact or effectively coordinate their response. When one agent managed to target her with a specialized weapon, she deflected the attack with a heat shield, then responded with a precisely calibrated thermal pulse that overloaded his tactical gear's electronic systems.
The engagement lasted less than two minutes, ending with all six HYDRA operatives neutralized and secured with specialized restraints. Sara felt the familiar post-combat surge of adrenaline, her powers humming just beneath her skin as she maintained vigilant control over her emotional responses.
"Extraction route clear," she reported to Natasha, who was already accessing the STRIKE team's communication devices to gather intelligence on HYDRA's broader deployment patterns.
"Good work," Natasha approved, pocketing a confiscated communication unit. "We've got updated coordinates on Rogers' position—he's moved from the helicarrier to ground engagement on the Potomac shoreline, still in combat with the Winter Soldier. Stark is providing air support against the launched helicarriers but reports the targeting systems have already activated."
Sara felt a chill despite her naturally elevated body temperature. "They're locked on their targets? How many?"
"Initial estimate is over seven hundred thousand worldwide," Natasha replied grimly. "Rogers is attempting to replace the targeting chips with modified versions that will redirect the weapons systems to target the helicarriers themselves. He's placed two successfully but is encountering heavy resistance at the third carrier."
They moved quickly to their extraction vehicle—a nondescript car with significantly enhanced capabilities hidden beneath its ordinary exterior. As Natasha drove toward the Potomac, where the most critical phase of the confrontation was unfolding, Sara maintained communications with Tony, coordinating their approach with his aerial perspective.
"Rogers has replaced the final chip," Tony's voice came through their comms, tight with tension. "But the Winter Soldier has him pinned down on the lower deck. Structural integrity of the helicarrier is failing as the targeting systems come online."
"ETA three minutes," Natasha responded, pushing the vehicle to its limits as they navigated through increasingly chaotic city streets. Emergency vehicles and panicked civilians filled the roads as the massive helicarriers became visible in the sky above the Triskelion, their weapons systems powering up with visible energy signatures.
What happened next unfolded with horrifying rapidity—the helicarriers' targeting systems activated, but instead of striking their intended victims across the globe, they oriented toward each other, massive energy weapons firing in a spectacular display of destruction. The sky above DC filled with flame and debris as the vessels began to break apart, massive sections plummeting toward the Potomac and the surrounding area.
"Rogers' status?" Natasha demanded as they approached the river, watching one helicarrier crash directly into the SHIELD headquarters with catastrophic results.
"Unconfirmed," Tony replied, his voice strained as he maneuvered through falling debris to reach the collapsing vessels. "Last communication indicated he was still onboard Charlie with the Winter Soldier. Attempting to locate now."
Sara scanned the chaotic scene, her enhanced vision cutting through smoke and dust as they reached the riverbank. The devastation was overwhelming—massive helicarrier sections protruding from the Potomac, smaller debris scattered across a wide area, fires burning across the water's surface from spilled fuel.
And then—movement. A figure dragging another from the water at the river's edge, several hundred yards downstream from their position.
"Visual contact," Sara reported urgently. "Northwest shoreline, two figures. One appears to be dragging the other from the water."
Without waiting for confirmation, she was out of the vehicle, Natasha close behind as they navigated the debris-strewn shore toward the figures. As they drew closer, Sara could make out the distinctive features of the Winter Soldier—the metal arm gleaming despite damage, his tactical gear torn and bloodied—dragging an unconscious Steve Rogers from the river before staggering back into the treeline.
"Rogers is down," Sara reported, increasing her pace. "The Winter Soldier pulled him from the water but is retreating. Do we pursue?"
"Negative," Natasha decided immediately. "Priority is Rogers' condition. The Winter Soldier can be tracked later if necessary."
When they reached Steve, Sara immediately checked his vital signs while Natasha secured the perimeter. "Pulse present but weak," she reported, putting her emergency medical training into practice. "Multiple gunshot wounds, severe trauma. He needs immediate medical attention."
Tony arrived moments later, the Iron Man armor bearing evidence of the aerial battle he'd just survived. "Extraction team is inbound," he announced, landing beside them. "Two minutes out. What happened with the Winter Soldier?"
"He saved Rogers," Natasha replied, her expression thoughtful as she scanned the treeline where Barnes had disappeared. "Pulled him from the river, then retreated without further engagement."
"Something got through to him," Sara realized, thinking of Steve's belief that his friend still existed somewhere beneath the Winter Soldier's programming. "Some recognition or memory."
Before they could discuss further, the extraction team arrived—a covert medical unit assembled by Maria Hill, operating outside official SHIELD channels given the now-confirmed HYDRA infiltration. As they stabilized Steve and prepared him for transport, Sara observed Tony and Natasha conferring quietly, their expressions grave as they assessed the implications of the day's events.
SHIELD had fallen. HYDRA had been exposed but not defeated. And the Winter Soldier—James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes—had recognized his friend enough to save him, then disappeared into uncertainty once again.
Hours later, Sara sat beside Steve's hospital bed in a secure facility, her Inferna suit exchanged for civilian clothes now that the immediate crisis had passed. He remained unconscious but stable, his enhanced physiology already beginning the remarkable healing process that had saved his life numerous times before.
Natasha entered quietly, taking the seat opposite Sara. "How is he?"
"Improving," Sara reported. "His latest scans show accelerated tissue regeneration consistent with his previous recovery patterns. The doctors expect him to regain consciousness within the next twelve hours."
Natasha nodded, her expression revealing subtle relief beneath her professional composure. "Good. He's going to need his strength for what comes next."
"Which is what, exactly?" Sara asked, the events of the day still processing in her mind. "SHIELD is destroyed, HYDRA's been exposed but not eliminated, and we've got potential sleeper agents embedded throughout global security infrastructures."
"Precisely why our work is just beginning," Natasha replied. "The data we extracted from the archive facility, combined with what Rogers and Romanoff managed to release publicly, gives us a starting point for identifying HYDRA's network. But dismantling it will be a long-term operation, likely spanning years rather than months."
The scope of the challenge ahead settled over Sara with sobering clarity. Her introduction to official Avengers operations had coincided with the exposure of a conspiracy decades in the making—one that would reshape global security paradigms and redefine the team's operational parameters moving forward.
"What about Barnes?" she asked, thinking of the man who had saved Steve before vanishing. "Rogers will want to find him once he recovers."
"Already ahead of you," Natasha replied. "Stark has implemented search protocols using satellite and surveillance networks, focusing on likely extraction routes and historical HYDRA facilities where Barnes might seek answers or resources. But finding someone who's been trained to disappear for seventy years won't be simple, even with our resources."
They sat in contemplative silence for a moment, the steady beep of Steve's monitoring equipment providing rhythmic background to their thoughts.
"You performed exceptionally today," Natasha said finally, her tone shifting to that of mentor rather than fellow operative. "The data extraction, the engagement with HYDRA operatives, the crisis response—all executed with precision and judgment beyond your experience level."
Coming from Natasha, this constituted extraordinary praise. Sara felt a flush of pride, quickly tempered by the gravity of what they'd faced. "It felt different than training," she admitted. "When those HYDRA agents were targeting us—people who were supposed to be on our side until today—there wasn't time to question or hesitate. Everything just... flowed."
"That's the result of proper preparation," Natasha observed. "Your body remembers what your mind doesn't have time to process. It's why we train the way we do."
Their conversation was interrupted by Tony's arrival, his expression unusually somber as he entered the room. "Hill's team has secured what they could from the Triskelion before federal agencies moved in," he reported. "And Fury's condition has stabilized—he'll be moved to a European facility within the next forty-eight hours."
"And officially?" Sara asked, aware that the public narrative would necessarily differ from the operational reality.
"Officially, Nicholas Fury died during the attack," Tony replied. "Which provides certain operational advantages moving forward, given the uncertainty about how far HYDRA's influence extends into other agencies."
The three of them discussed next steps quietly, planning contingencies and resource allocations for the massive effort that would be required to identify and neutralize remaining HYDRA elements. As they talked, Sara was struck by how seamlessly she had been incorporated into these high-level strategic discussions—no longer just a trainee but a full team member whose input was valued and considered.
When their planning session concluded, Tony suggested Sara return to the tower for rest and recovery while he and Natasha maintained watch over Steve. Though part of her wanted to stay, Sara recognized the wisdom in the rotation—she had been operating at peak capacity for nearly fifteen hours, and even with her enhanced stamina, fatigue was beginning to affect her judgment.
"I'll coordinate extraction with Hill's team," Natasha decided. "We need to maintain operational security given the current uncertainty about who can be trusted."
Within the hour, Sara was aboard a secure transport back to New York, her civilian identity temporarily resumed as she processed the day's events. The magnitude of what had occurred—SHIELD's collapse, HYDRA's exposure, the Winter Soldier's emergence and retreat—would have far-reaching implications for global security and the Avengers' role within it.
Back at the tower, she debriefed with Bruce, who had monitored the situation remotely while coordinating with their international contacts to assess the global impact of the HYDRA revelations. His calm analysis provided valuable perspective as Sara worked through her own complex reactions to the day's events.
"You should rest," he advised when they concluded their discussion. "The coming days will require all our resources, both physical and mental."
"I will," Sara promised. "I just need to check in with my mom first. And Zara—she'll have seen the news reports about DC by now."
Sandhya was waiting in their family quarters, her relief evident as Sara entered. Without words, she simply embraced her daughter, holding her with the fierce protectiveness that had defined their relationship long before powers and secret identities had complicated it.
"I'm okay, Amma," Sara assured her, returning the embrace. "Really."
"I know," Sandhya replied, finally releasing her to study her face. "JARVIS kept me updated on your status throughout the operation. But seeing you with my own eyes... that's different."
They talked for a while, Sara sharing as much as security protocols allowed about the day's events while Sandhya listened with the quiet strength that had supported Sara throughout her journey. There was no judgment or fear in her mother's responses—only understanding and support, tempered with the natural concern of a parent whose child faced extraordinary dangers.
"You should call Zara," Sandhya suggested eventually, noting Sara's frequent glances at her phone. "She's been texting me all day, checking if we're safe given the 'chaos in DC' she's seeing on the news."
Sara smiled gratefully, appreciating her mother's understanding of the relationship's importance. "Thanks, Amma. I'll call her now."
In the privacy of her room, Sara video-called Zara, carefully constructing the version of events she could share—a narrative of being safely in New York while watching the shocking events unfold from afar, rather than being in the heart of the conflict as Inferna.
"I've been so worried," Zara's face showed clear relief as she appeared on screen. "The news is showing these massive ships crashing into the river, buildings collapsing, and then reports about SHIELD being compromised by some Nazi offshoot organization. It's like a nightmare."
"It's been intense," Sara agreed, maintaining the dual identity separation that had become second nature. "The tower's been on high alert all day, security protocols activated. Tony flew down to help with the situation, but the rest of us stayed here." The careful mixture of truth and omission came easier now after months of practice.
They talked for nearly an hour, Zara sharing her reactions to the news coverage while Sara provided the "insider perspective" of being connected to the Avengers through her family situation—all while carefully avoiding any hint of her direct involvement in the day's events.
"I can't wait to see you in two weeks," Zara said toward the end of their call, her expression softening. "After everything that's happened... it feels like the world is changing so fast. Being with you is the one thing I'm completely sure about."
The simple sincerity of the statement hit Sara with unexpected force. Amid the chaos and complexity of her Avengers role, her relationship with Zara represented something precious—a connection based on genuine emotional understanding, even if the full truth of her identity remained necessarily concealed.
"I feel the same way," she replied honestly. "No matter what else changes, that's the constant."
After they said goodnight, Sara finally allowed herself to truly rest, the exhaustion of the day catching up with her all at once. As she drifted toward sleep, images from the mission flickered through her mind—the data extraction, the confrontation with HYDRA operatives, the helicarriers falling from the sky in spectacular destruction, the Winter Soldier dragging Steve from the river before disappearing into uncertainty once more.
Two months into her official Avengers career, and already she had participated in an operation that would reshape the global security landscape. The challenges ahead would be significant—dismantling HYDRA's remaining network, establishing new operational protocols without SHIELD's infrastructure, helping Steve process the trauma of encountering his transformed friend.
But tonight, Sara allowed herself to simply be sixteen—to feel the pride of having met extraordinary challenges successfully, the relief of having returned safely, the anticipation of seeing Zara soon, the comfort of her mother's unwavering support. The compartmentalization that defined her life—Sara Raavi to the public, Saranika Stark-Raavi within the family, Inferna in the field—had held firm through its greatest test yet.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new missions, new balancing acts between her various identities. But she would face them with the confidence born of today's successes, the knowledge that she had proven herself not just in controlled training scenarios but in the chaotic reality of a world-changing conflict.
Inferna had risen to the challenge. And whatever came next, she would be ready.
One week later, Sara sat beside Steve's hospital bed, watching as he reviewed the intelligence they'd gathered on potential Winter Soldier sightings. Though still recovering from his injuries, his determination to find Barnes burned with undiminished intensity.
"The facial recognition algorithms have flagged three possible matches in Eastern Europe," she explained, highlighting the relevant data on the tablet she'd brought. "Tony's enhanced the software to account for partial concealment and the distinctive arm signature, which improves accuracy significantly."
Steve nodded, studying the information with single-minded focus. "The Bucharest location makes sense—there was a HYDRA facility there in the 1950s where they might have kept maintenance equipment for the arm. Barnes would need resources if he's trying to understand what was done to him."
Sara observed her mentor carefully, noting the complex mixture of hope and pain that characterized his pursuit. "You really believe he recognized you, don't you? That something of Bucky Barnes remains beneath the Winter Soldier programming."
"I know it," Steve replied without hesitation. "He pulled me from the river, Sara. He could have completed his mission and let me drown, but he didn't. That wasn't the Winter Soldier making a tactical decision—that was Bucky, remembering something of who he was. Who we were to each other."
His certainty was touching—a testament to the power of the friendship that had defined both men across decades of separation and transformation. Sara thought about her own friends, about Zara, about what she would do if faced with similar circumstances. The answer came without question—she would search just as relentlessly, believe just as fiercely in the possibility of recovery.
"Then we'll find him," she said simply. "However long it takes."
Steve smiled, the expression lightening his features despite the physical toll of his injuries. "Thanks for being here, Sara. For everything you did during the operation, and for this," he gestured to the intelligence she'd compiled. "It means a lot."
"That's what teammates do," she replied, the word feeling significant—a recognition of her evolution from student to peer, from trainee to fellow Avenger. "Besides, I owe you for all those training sessions. Wouldn't have made it through that HYDRA squad without your combat integration techniques."
They discussed the search parameters for another hour, strategizing approaches and contingencies with the easy rapport that had developed through months of training together. When Sara finally left to allow Steve to rest, she carried with her a renewed sense of purpose—not just as Inferna the hero, but as part of something larger, a team dedicated to protecting the world while never abandoning their own.
Outside the hospital, Sara paused to check her phone, smiling at the message waiting from Zara:
Zara [3:45 PM]: Juilliard confirmation came through! Official audition time scheduled for the weekend I'm visiting you. Prepared mentally to dazzle them with my violin and then spend the rest of the weekend being thoroughly distracted by my amazing girlfriend. How are things in New York? Still on superhero lockdown after the DC chaos?
Sara typed back quickly:
Sara [4:02 PM]: That's amazing news! And no, things are calming down here. Security protocols relaxed yesterday. Can't wait to see you next week. I have plans that definitely involve thorough distraction techniques.
As she pocketed her phone and headed toward the extraction point where Natasha waited, Sara reflected on the strange balance she maintained—participating in world-altering events as Inferna while simultaneously experiencing the normal milestones of teenage life as Sara Raavi. Rather than feeling divided, however, she found the dual existence increasingly integrated into a cohesive whole—different facets of a single identity rather than separate personas.
The HYDRA revelation and SHIELD's collapse had changed everything, creating new challenges and responsibilities for the Avengers. But as she joined Natasha in the waiting vehicle, Sara felt ready for whatever came next—her training complete, her place on the team secured, her confidence in her abilities confirmed through the crucible of actual combat.
Inferna had emerged from the shadows, tested in fire and proven worthy of her name. And Sara Raavi, behind the mask, continued to grow into the person she was meant to become—balancing extraordinary power with ordinary joy, global responsibility with personal connection, the hero's path with the human heart.
Whatever challenges awaited in the uncertain future—whatever HYDRA remnants remained to be discovered, whatever threats emerged to fill the power vacuum left by SHIELD's collapse, whatever personal complications arose from maintaining her various identities—she would face them with the training, support, and purpose that had brought her to this moment.
Fire transformed what it touched. And Sara, like the element she commanded, had been transformed by the events of the past week—tempered into something stronger, more defined, more purposeful than before.
Inferna was rising. And the world, whether it knew her name yet or not, was safer for her vigilance.