Chapter 7
EUROPE
July 26th, 1949
The frigid wind of a northern European morning swept across a makeshift command post set up in an abandoned warehouse. Inside, the mission was taking shape, and every person present understood that time was running short. Amid the maps and scattered documents, Dottie Underwood, her eyes steeled by a lifetime of secrets and hard choices, broke the silence.
“So, what exactly is the plan?” she asked, her tone a mixture of determination and exasperation. “We’re already approaching Japan, and I still don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
Across the room, Steve—his voice calm, his gaze fixed on the map pinned to a battered desk—explained, “Bucky is put into cryostasis after his missions. Our plan is to neutralize whatever HYDRA operatives and Soviet agents are guarding the facility and then take the chamber that he’s in with us.”
Dottie’s eyes widened slightly, incredulous. “You guys want to take a whole chamber?” she questioned, as if daring them to doubt the audacity of their plan.
Peggy, ever the steady force, interjected with cool confidence, “We have two supersoldiers, Underwood—they can handle it.” Her eyes sparkled with conviction. Dottie gave a slow nod, acknowledging the plan while silently weighing the risks.
Later that day, the team gathered near the perimeter of the facility. The building, guarded by the latest generation of HYDRA-trained agents, stood outside of it. Peggy’s voice came over the commlink, measured and clear: “There are two agents on our side.”
“Yeah,” Steve confirmed, his eyes scanning the facility. “There’s also two at the front. We’ll take both pairs simultaneously.”
The plan was as precise as it was daring. In a series of swift moves, the two Steves moved, the guards falling one by one; bodies dropping silently, knocked out.
“We’re going in,” Steve announced quietly, his voice a blend of resolve and calm focus.
“Same,” Peggy replied, her tone cool but determined.
“Another two there,” Steve pointed out, his eyes spotting movement in the corridor. “Okay, just like what we practiced,” Grant said, and Steve nodded in agreement.
In a flash, Steve hurled his shield toward one of the guards, distracting him long enough for Grant to deliver a precise blow. The shield was quickly retrieved as the pair moved in synchrony, Peggy and Dottie, as well, making their way into the center of the base. The two Steves followed closely behind, their steps measured.
“That's Vasily Karpov,” Grant informed the team as they regrouped in a secure corridor. “He’s the one who controls Bucky when he’s out of cryostasis.” His voice carried a mix of caution and resolve.
“Leave him to me,” Dottie declared, stepping forward. Both Steves glanced at Peggy, whose nod confirmed that they should trust her. Dottie advanced toward the man who had long been an instrument of cruelty. In a low tone that brooked no argument, she said, “Go to hell.”
A single gunshot echoed in the narrow corridor. Vasily Karpov crumpled to the ground, as silence reigned as the team absorbed the weight of the action. Then, in a sudden rush of emotions, Dottie dropped to her knees, tears dropping.
Later, back in the safehouse after rescuing Bucky, away from prying eyes, Peggy knelt beside Dottie. “Dottie,” she said softly, her voice trembling with concern. “What do you want, Carter?”
Dottie’s eyes, red from crying, flashed with memories that had haunted her for years. “What’s your story with Karpov?” Peggy pressed gently, wanting to understand.
“He was one of my first instructors in the Red Room,” Dottie began, her voice low. “He was the one who ordered me to kill my best friend at the time.” The room fell silent, the confession heavy with guilt. Then Dottie’s voice broke as she continued, “And he also raped me.”
Peggy’s face paled at the raw truth of the revelation, a silent tear escaping her eye as she reached out to offer solace. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured, enveloping Dottie in a tender hug, past animosity turned off.
“We’ll end the Red Room together, am I right?” Peggy vowed softly, her eyes locking with Dottie’s in a silent pact of both vengeance and healing.
“Absolutely,” Dottie replied, managing a small smile.
Back in Washington, D.C., the team reconvened to assess the state of their rescued friend—Bucky Barnes. In a secure, soundproofed room at the headquarters, Howard examined the latest reports on Bucky’s condition.
“Poor Barnes,” Howard commented quietly as he studied the medical charts and data on a flickering monitor. “How long is it going to take for him to be his normal self?” Steve’s voice cut through the silence, heavy with concern.
“Between one or two months,” Howard responded. “We already have a memory-suppressing machine, similar to what they used on him. Now all that’s left is to reverse-engineer it—see if we can do something with it.”
“Okay, you’re the genius,” Steve teased lightly, trying to ease the tension that he has. “But is he staying like that?” he asked, referring to the uncertain nature of Bucky’s suspended state.
“Sadly, yes,” Howard replied solemnly. “We don’t know how he’s going to react if we try to unfreeze him too soon.”
“Don’t worry, Steve,” Grant interjected, his voice filled with confidence and protectiveness. “I’ve seen Bucky become himself once. He’s going to be fine.”
Steve nodded slowly at the statement, his mind momentarily at ease. “Well, I guess we’ll go home then?” he asked, the exhaustion settling over him.
“Yes,” Grant confirmed, and with a series of goodbyes to Howard, the two Steves stepped out into the cool night air, returning to their home.