Buried but Not Gone
Darkness surrounded them as the hum of the armored transport filled the confined space. Celeste’s head throbbed from the earlier fight, her body aching from the blows she’d taken. She sat slumped between Steve and Sam, her wrists bound in restraints just like theirs. Across from them, Natasha sat eerily quiet, her head tilted slightly downward, but her eyes remained sharp, scanning their surroundings for any opportunity.
Sitwell was dead. Hydra had taken them. The mission had gone south in a way none of them had predicted.
The silence was thick, tension pressing down on them like a weight. The guards in the transport—Hydra operatives disguised as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents—kept their weapons trained on them, ready to act at the slightest movement.
Sam shifted slightly, his voice low. “Well… this sucks.”
Steve didn’t respond. His jaw was clenched tight, frustration radiating from him. Celeste could see the gears turning in his mind, calculating their next move, but there weren’t many options when they were locked inside a fortified vehicle surrounded by enemies.
Then, without warning, a sudden jolt rocked the transport. A metallic grinding sound followed—a deliberate noise, not an accident. One of the guards frowned, moving toward the source of the disturbance.
A gunshot cracked through the space. The guard barely had time to react before a second shot dropped the one beside him.
The next second, a section of the vehicle’s floor was being cut open from below. Sparks flew as the reinforced metal gave way, revealing a darkened tunnel beneath them.
A familiar voice rang through the comms, smooth and unwavering. “Get down here, now.”
Steve moved first, kicking one of the remaining guards into the side of the vehicle before jumping through the opening. Sam followed quickly, yanking Natasha down after him. Celeste barely had time to react before Steve reached up, grabbing her arm and pulling her down into the tunnel as well.
The transport rumbled above them, but the moment they hit solid ground, they were already moving through the underground passageway, guided by a figure in the shadows.
Maria Hill.
“You’re welcome,” she muttered, leading them further down the tunnel.
Celeste exhaled sharply, shaking off the disorientation. “I was starting to think we were out of favors.”
“Lucky for you, I still owe Fury,” Maria responded. “Now, keep moving. We don’t have much time.”
They didn’t ask questions. They followed Maria through the tunnels, winding deeper into the unknown, until finally, they reached a secure hidden facility. Inside, the air felt heavier, charged with something unspoken.
And then, there he was.
Nick Fury.
Alive.
Celeste froze. She wasn’t the only one. Steve took a single step forward, his eyes narrowing. “You died.”
Fury, sitting at a table with files spread out before him, gave a small, humorless smirk. “Yeah. That’s what they were supposed to think.”
Natasha crossed her arms, unimpressed. “Could’ve given us a heads-up.”
“And risk blowing my cover? I don’t think so,” Fury said evenly. He leaned forward, gaze sharp. “But I knew you’d come looking. And now we have work to do.”
Celeste exchanged glances with Steve, Sam, and Natasha. The fight wasn’t over—not even close. But with Fury back in the game, they had a chance to strike back.
And this time, they weren’t going down without a war.