Chapter 9
The meeting room was colder than usual, the soft hum of the ventilation the only sound besides the ticking of the clock on the wall. Colonel Karpov stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching as Alexander Pierce read a report in silence. Beside Karpov, Dr. Elise Wagner remained upright and composed, but the tension in her shoulders was noticeable.
"So, you believe she’s ready?" Pierce finally broke the silence, his voice calm but laden with intent.
"Ready for something small," Karpov replied. "A field test, nothing complex. She follows orders without hesitation and has already demonstrated enough skill to operate in real conditions."
Elise glanced at him sideways. That was what unsettled her. They spoke of 616 as if she were merely a prototype being evaluated—not a child.
"We need to assess her ability to follow commands outside a controlled environment," Karpov continued. "To test her emotional stability under real stress."
Pierce closed the folder in front of him and turned his gaze to Elise.
"Dr. Wagner, you mentioned she needs positive reinforcement. Perhaps this is the moment. A successful mission could be seen as a privilege for her."
Elise pressed her lips together. What else could she say? They wouldn’t give her a choice.
"What will be the scope of the mission?" she asked, knowing the decision had already been made.
"Something simple," Karpov said. "She will accompany the Winter Soldier. He will complete the objective, and she will observe, learn, and assist if necessary."
The doctor felt a tightness in her chest. Observe. Learn. The hidden meaning behind those words made her want to protest, but she knew that nothing she said would change 616’s fate.
"And if she fails?" she murmured, unable to stop the question from escaping.
Karpov and Pierce exchanged a glance.
"Then we’ll know she’s not ready yet," Pierce replied simply, leaning back in his chair. "But if she has been shaped correctly... she won’t fail."
--
"The mission is to eliminate Alexei Volkov, leader of the Mikhailov. We recently learned that Volkov has made contact with the Americans. He is looking to strike a deal, agreeing to hand over information about Mikhailov’s negotiations with Hydra in exchange for immunity and passage to America. He has intricate knowledge of Hydra’s foundation within Russia. He must be eliminated before any deal is made and the information is passed on."
Karpov began briefing the Winter Soldier and 616.
The Winter Soldier remained motionless, listening intently, but his gaze shifted slightly to the side. Sitting a few feet away, 616 maintained a rigid posture, her eyes fixed on the instruction screen in front of her. This was her first mission.
"This time, you won’t be alone," the Handler continued, his voice devoid of emotion. "616 will accompany you and execute as necessary."
She showed no reaction.
No surprise, no hesitation.
She simply gave a single nod.
"Your objective is to eliminate Volkov and any security protecting him. He typically travels with a team of four to eight guards, and this time should be no different. He has gone into hiding, but we have identified a location where he is expected to arrive within the next three days. The mission will take place in a remote rural area where communication with the base will be impossible. You will be inserted near the coordinates by helicopter and advance on foot to the observation point. Remain on-site until Volkov arrives, execute the mission, and make contact once the target is neutralized. The helicopter will retrieve you at the same insertion point within two hours of contact. Go get ready."
The Asset rose from his chair without question, following Karpov out of the massive converted missile silo. He could hear 616’s light footsteps right behind him—steady, yet silent.
Climbing a set of concrete stairs and passing through a winding corridor, faint music echoed from the depths of the base, distorted by distance. The sounds faded as they entered the briefing room.
The mission folder was placed on the table. He waited until the Handler stepped away before opening it. Spreading the documents across the table, he studied the countless photos of the target, memorizing his face from different angles.
Then, he looked at 616.
The girl, only six years old, held the photos and mission documents tightly. Her eyes scanned the data with focus, but her hands were too rigid.
"Do you understand the mission?" he asked, watching her.
616 nodded without looking up from the screen.
"Yes. We must neutralize the target and confirm elimination before making contact for extraction. Communication will be limited until the objective is complete." She slid her finger across the display. "Risk variables include the uncertain number of bodyguards and the possibility of unidentified surveillance around the perimeter."
The Soldier raised an eyebrow.
"It looks like you memorized everything. But understanding the data isn’t the same as being out there."
616 finally lifted her eyes to him.
"I know the protocols. I know what to do."
He stepped closer, lowering himself to her level.
"Knowledge isn’t experience. In the field, things change fast. You need to react without hesitation."
She bit her lip, gripping the paper tighter.
"And if I make a mistake?"
The Soldier watched her for a moment before answering, his voice firm but not harsh.
"If you make a mistake..." his voice was quieter but steady. "I’ll save you."
The girl’s eyes shone with something that wasn’t fear, but a quiet relief.
"Always?" she asked, almost in a whisper.
He didn’t hesitate.
"Always."
616 took a deep breath and straightened her posture, as if those words were exactly what she needed to move forward.
The Soldier nodded.
"Now, put that away," he gestured to the paper, "and stay alert. Out there, there are no second chances."
Her mission started now.
--
The dense snow crunched under their boots as they moved through the silent forest. The biting wind carried the damp scent of trees and the distant echo of branches breaking under the weight of the frost. The Winter Soldier moved with calculated precision, each step sinking lightly into the soft snow before pressing forward—unhurried, yet unwavering.
A few meters behind him, 616 tried to mimic his every movement. Small and silent, she kept her posture rigid, exactly as she had been trained. The cold burned her exposed skin, but she ignored the sensation, focusing only on the mission. Her sharp eyes scanned the terrain around the frozen trail, absorbing every detail as if her life depended on it. And, in a way, it did.
The helicopter had dropped them five kilometers before the observation point. In silence, they moved through the thick snow, each step carefully placed to avoid unnecessary noise. The biting cold wasn’t an obstacle—their training had hardened them against it. Even so, the snow made movement more difficult, turning the trek to their strategic position into an exhausting endeavor.
For hours, they pressed on without rest, climbing small snow-covered hills and ducking beneath low-hanging branches until they finally reached a high vantage point—a natural elevation that granted them a clear view of the valley below. The terrain stretched out in bluish shadows under the faint light of dawn, and at its center, standing out against the landscape, was the isolated structure where Alexei Volkov was hiding.
The Winter Soldier stopped, crouching behind the protection of a fallen log. Without needing orders, 616 did the same. The silence between them wasn’t empty—it was discipline.
Observe.
Learn.
Evaluate.
The house ahead was a dark outline in the middle of the clearing, a sturdy wooden structure resembling an expanded cabin. Its two stories rose against the snowy landscape, the straight lines of the beams contrasting with the irregularity of the surrounding pines.
The exterior walls were made of well-worked logs, reinforced by exposed beams, giving the building a rustic and solid appearance. However, what caught the most attention were the large glass windows that stretched across much of the facade, revealing the main rooms inside.
The absence of light made the house a silent monolith, but even in the dark, it was possible to distinguish the elegant, functional furniture within. On the left side, a spacious living room with a leather sofa facing a stone fireplace, now cold. Further back, a modern kitchen with dark wood cabinets and a central counter, illuminated only by the pale reflection of the snow outside.
On the upper floor, through the mezzanine windows, a solid wooden staircase led to an open corridor, with doors leading to other rooms—perhaps bedrooms or an office. The structure felt both cozy and vulnerable—designed to integrate with nature, but in that moment, it served only as a silent display under the darkness of the forest.
No light. No apparent movement. Only the slow breath of the night, mixed with the rustling of the trees in the wind.
The Winter Soldier remained motionless at the edge of the clearing, analyzing the building ahead. For someone who was on the run, Alexei Volkov hadn’t been very smart in choosing his hiding place.
The house was too big, too exposed. The wood and glass blended perfectly with the surrounding landscape, but offered no real protection. He could see almost every main room from the outside, and if he could see, he could shoot.
A mistake.
A mistake that Volkov wouldn’t have time to correct.
The Winter Soldier tilted his head slightly, scanning the surroundings. No movement on the flanks, no visible patrols. If Volkov was there, he was either stupid enough to feel safe, or he was relying too much on his security. Neither option changed the inevitable outcome.
He turned to 616, who was observing the house carefully. Though this was her first mission, she was sharp. She had probably already noticed the vulnerability of the target.
"What do you see?"
She took a second to respond, making sure her analysis was correct.
"He’s hiding in the wrong place" she murmured, confirming her thoughts.
The Soldier simply nodded, adjusting the position of the weapon on his shoulder.
"This will end quickly."
Time passed. The cold intensified as the night wore on. Then, after a few hours, the distant sound of tires crunching through the snow broke the stillness. A dark van appeared on the winding road leading to the property. The Soldier immediately raised his rifle, observing the scene through the scope.
"Five men. Armed." he murmured, adjusting the focus.
616 leaned slightly forward, trying to capture the details.
"They’re carrying boxes. Supplies?"
"Likely."
The van stopped in front of the main house, and the men got out. Two of them carried wooden crates inside. The other three stayed outside, speaking in low tones, seemingly relaxed. None of them appeared to be concerned about security.
The Soldier analyzed each movement with methodical patience.
"Look at how they move. They’re not on alert. They’re used to this place."
616 observed closely. One of them lit a cigarette. Another tossed snow at his feet, as if trying to warm himself.
"They’re not expecting trouble."
"Exactly."
After unloading the supplies, the men gathered in the main room near the fireplace. They sat around a rustic table, opening bottles and spreading cards across the timeworn wood. They laughed amongst themselves, relaxed, as if there were no danger lurking. None of them returned to patrol. No reinforcements arrived.
The Winter Soldier observed from a distance, motionless in the darkness of the forest, when a flash of memory hit him.
He was sitting at a similar table, surrounded by five men. The smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke hung in the air as cards were slapped down on the table with sharp taps. Someone laughed loudly at a bluff, another grumbled as he lost. He held his own cards, but didn’t remember the game. Just the sensation. The relaxation, the camaraderie... and the latent coldness inside him, which never let him forget that, in the end, those men were just names on a report.
The memory disappeared as quickly as it came. He blinked, returning to the present. The men in the cabin continued laughing, unaware of the fate awaiting them.
Time passed in absolute silence. 616 remained still, her breath controlled, every muscle ready to act at the slightest command. When the Soldier finally moved, it was only to adjust the rifle’s sights, the scope capturing the sleeping darkness of the property.
They remained in ambush, waiting patiently. Hours passed, and the cold night wind brought an even deeper silence to the area. 616 felt a chill run through her body, but remained motionless. Her uniform, though designed for durability, was not enough to block out the biting cold of the isolated region.
The Asset noticed. Without saying anything, he removed his heavy coat and draped it over her shoulders. The thick, warm fabric brought immediate relief to the cold that had penetrated her bones. 616 looked at him, surprised, but he just turned his gaze back to the house, as if the gesture had no meaning.
"Don’t start shaking," he murmured, returning to hold the rifle and observe the targets.
616 lowered her head slightly, pulling the coat closer to her body. It was too large for her, but the warmth it provided was comforting. Even without words, she knew that small gesture meant something.
The sound of new engines echoed through the forest. A convoy was approaching. Lights flashed through the trees, revealing a line of vehicles advancing along the dirt road. He was right, the van that had arrived first was just a precursor.
When the cars stopped in front of the house, doors opened immediately. Volkov descended from one of the central vehicles, surrounded by about twenty heavily armed guards. Two women stepped out of the car right behind him, their expensive clothing contrasting with the rustic surroundings.
The Winter Soldier observed the movement, not missing a single detail. He captured each pattern, every security flaw, the weak points in the formation. 616 was also analyzing everything, absorbing the information with precision.
He shifted his gaze to her for a moment before whispering:
"We’ll wait. We need to see if anyone else shows up before we act."
616 frowned but nodded.
"So, what do we do now?"
"You rest for the rest of the night. I’ll keep watch."
"But I can—"
"616." His tone cut off any argument. "You’ll need to be alert when we move in. Don’t argue."
She hesitated, then sighed softly and nodded.
The Soldier refocused on the house. Time was on their side. If there were more guards, they would still arrive. If not, all they had to do was wait for the right moment.