Chapter 3
ALLIED S.S.R. BASE - ITALY
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH 1943
1030 (10:30AM)
The crowd started to disperse as medics took the wounded to their area and the other men began to find their units. Those that were from other units were given over to a supply Sergeant to figure out where to house them till they could get them back to their units or sent further back behind the lines to be reassigned. Athena felt a gentle hand at her elbow and looked towards her sister knowing that Peggy was probably worried about her.
“Come on, let's get you checked out” Peggy said trying to guide her towards a medical tent but Athena stopped Peggy and shook her head. Athena arched an eyebrow towards Bucky and he nodded to her silent inquiry letting her take the lead.
“Actually we all need to talk, Rule 19” Athena said but the last part was whispered just low enough for Peggy’s ears and of course the two enhanced men just standing just slightly away from them.
“Athena..” Peggy started to say before she was cut off by a look from Athena causing Peggy to sigh and roll her eyes.
“Captain, Sergeant please follow us” Peggy finally said, with her arm still on Athena’s elbow she began leading her in a different direction than she was originally going. A few minutes later they walked into a tent and Athena saw a man she hadn’t seen since they had gotten piss drunk the night before she was supposed to drop into Norway.
That jump, hungover as hell, had been a lesson to never drink and jump the next day. It was also the last time she had sex…Well it was the last time she had any form of sex willingly. It took her a moment to remember the girl's name was Samantha while Howard had made the move on Samantha’s friend that was named Heidi, both were American nurses that were about to be sent to Africa with their medical unit. It seemed like those memories were from another lifetime.
“Howard it’s not even noon” Peggy scolded, getting Howard’s attention.
“Peggy come right on in” Howard snarked before turning around while pouring himself a drink before stopping in his tracks with wide eyes and dropping both his glass and the bottle to the floor of his tent.
“Holy shit you look like crap Athena” Howard finally said in one of his instances of blunt honesty that was the cause of so many of his open mouth insert foot type of troubles with many of the women he dated or not dated. It was a moment later that Howard quickly moved towards her and pulled her into a fierce hug.
“Always the charmer Stark,” Athena laughed as she hugged her best friend just as fiercely and if she felt it as a few tears had escaped Howard’s eyes against her neck she didn’t say anything because she was more than sure she had a few threatening to escape as well again.
Howard pulled back and looked her in the eyes as if he was searching for something for a moment and Athena looked back into his eyes and knew even though he didn’t go out into the field like her and Peggy did regularly he had aged in their time apart just as she had while being away.
“Wait, how come Howard knew who Athena was right away but Peggy didn’t recognize her at first?” Steve asked from the doorway of the tent.
“Because Howard has a penchant for flying rogue agents into enemy territory on rogue missions. He was the one that flew Athena into Norway on a rogue undercover assignment so he got to see her disguise. This is how I knew he was crazy enough to fly us” Peggy answered, giving Athena a little bit of a cover story if she didn’t want to disclose her abilities. “This last one he didn’t get into quite as much trouble as the first one.”
Athena winced because she could only imagine how much her father had been pissed when Howard had returned after flying her into Norway “How bad was the old man pissed?”
“Remember New Castle in ‘39?” Howard asked and Athena winced again because that was when Howard had become an agent of SWORD because he had witnessed an assassination attempt on herself, Michael and Peggy while they had been out drinking celebrating Michael’s promotion. “Yeah, that bad, but don’t worry about it. I knew he was going to blow his cork at me and did it anyway. Steve, come on in and bring your friend. I’m guessing you are Bucky.”
“Bucky, this is Howard…Stark…” Steve started then blushed, shooting a look towards Peggy and then blushing more while Howard looked smug glancing between the two of them only to wipe the look off when he saw Athena looking at him questioningly. It took a lot longer than she would like to admit for Athena to realize what all the blushing from Steve and Peggy and the smug look Howard had when looking at both of them meant, especially after he tried to wipe the look off his face when he saw her looking at him.
Athena had known Howard since a little bit before the war started between England and Germany and they had been best friends from the word hello. And since they were best friends she knew just how many people Howard had slept with over the years because they had been each other's wing-man. The only unwritten rule they had between them was that Peggy, her little sister, was off limits if Howard wasn’t serious about her because she didn’t want Peggy to get hurt. Her sister had a small crush on the brilliant inventor but had confided in Athena that his womanizing was the reason she would never consider dating the man even if he was brilliant.
“Really Stark?!” Athena yelled and she felt the anger that seemed to be always just under the surface bubbling up again as that primal part of her brain recognized Peggy as family, as pack and though Howard was pack he had hurt Peggy who held a higher rank in that primal part of her brain.
“It’s not what it looks like Athena,” Howard said, throwing up his hands in front of him as Athena backed him up against a desk.
“It looks like you slept with not only my sister but the Captain here by all the blushing they are doing and the smug look you had on your face” Athena growled grabbing Howard by the front of his shirt with both of her hands and lifting him up to where his feet barely touched the ground.
“Okay it is what it looks like but I swear it wasn’t planned and it was all three of us both times. I care about Peg and would never hurt her by cheating on her and we both care about Steve as well” Howard said slightly out of breath as she held him up by the front of his shirt, slightly choking him.
“Athena put him down, I’m a grown woman and can handle my own affairs!” Peggy said, giving Athena a slap to the back of the head. Athena looked to her sister and the anger she felt so fast was gone instantly at the disappointed look in her sister's eyes. Sighing and letting go of Howard, she took a step back and felt the exhaustion of the last year starting to hit her. As she took another step back she stumbled and felt a pair of strong arms catch her and knew it was Bucky by his scent.
“You alright Doll?” he whispered after he turned her around to look into her eyes. Athena and Bucky had compared notes one night while everyone else was asleep when they were making their way back towards allied lines. While they had similar reactions to the serum Zola had tested on them it seemed that Athena had more abilities because of it. Bucky had been the one to suggest the primal part of her brain she had become aware of might be some type of pack animal like a wolf from the way she described how it felt and thought almost as if it was a second consciousness inside her.
Athena took a deep breath all the while closing her eyes trying to center herself again so not to lose her temper again. It seemed now that Peggy wasn’t the only one with a touchy temper but she had years of learning to control her temper and not letting it control her abilities…Athena still had a long way to go to even learn a tenth of her sister’s control.
Opening her eyes she gave Bucky’s arm a squeeze before she turned back around feeling his arms release her. “I’m sorry Howard, I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that.”
“Don’t sweat it, Athena. I honestly expected if you came back alive somehow for you to kick my ass and then maybe question me later” Howard said with a shrug and a smirk making her laugh because the response was just pure Howard.
“Athena what is going on? First you tell Phillips to send home Zulu 99 and then you tell me Rule 19 when I try getting you over to medical and now you lose your temper which is so unlike you. I could see something was wrong, it was in your eyes..” Peggy asked subtly letting Athena know that her glamor must have temporarily broken again on her eyes. Athena sighed because safe or not, exhaustion or not it wasn’t the time to rest, now was a time for a very long talk.
“Where are you going Howard?” Peggy asked Howard her question but Athena already knew what Howard was going to do before he even moved. To be honest it was what she would have done as well.
Howard went and grabbed the open bottle he had dropped on the floor before shaking his head and tossing the mostly empty bottle in another box full of empty bottles. Athena watched as her eccentric best friend then opened another box and grabbed an unopened bottle of whiskey before thinking for a second and grabbing a second unopened bottle from the box he had them stashed in before going to a second box and pulling out a large jug of a clear liquid.
“Where do you think Peggy?! If Athena sent a Zulu 99 and then said a Rule ending with the number 9 we either need an arsenal or a shit ton of liquor or an excellently, insanely dangerous combination of the two. Though since it’s Rule 19 and we are not being currently chased or shot at I am going with the liquor for now. I’ll add weaponry later as needed” Howard said, making Peggy roll her eyes and Athena to chuckle. Leave it to Howard to put a SWORD emergency code and then one of the family rules that way.
Looking around the tent she found the main wardstone she was looking for in the organized chaos under the desk she had cornered Howard on just moments before. Moving to the desk again she took out a knife from her belt and cut the palm of her hand before whispering “Sanguis signare secreta quae sunt intus.”
“Bloody hell Athena you just got back from being captured and having God only knows what done to you for almost a year next time let me activate the wardstones!” Peggy began to scold Athena but Athena waved her hand showing her nearly healed cut. “That is new.” Peggy said the shock was very evident in her voice.
“Hence the Rule 19 and my activating the wardstones” Athena said standing up and sheathing her knife again on her belt. Howard handed her one of the bottles of whiskey before giving Peggy the other and taking her hand dragging her over to Steve. Once he was there he handed Steve the jug of clear liquid before grabbing his hand as well and pulling them over towards a couch pushing Steve down, then Peggy in the middle with himself on the other side.
“Well I guess I can’t tease Stevie here any longer about being a virgin” Bucky said as he joined Athena next to the desk timing the comment just as Howard was taking a drink and caused him to choke while Steve and Peggy both blushed.
“Shit you were a virgin?” Howard asked before blushing when he realized he spoke the question out loud.
“Not only Steve, but Peggy as well unless something more happened while I was away” Athena teased her best friend while dodging a pillow thrown by Peggy.
“But you are just as bad as I used to be…how the hell did Peggy manage to still be a virgin?” Howard asked incredulously then realized how he worded that question and groaned as Peggy leveled a glare at him. “Bloody shite I’m in the doghouse aren’t I?”
Athena laughed at her friend's misfortune and only laughed harder as her baby sister glared at her before Peggy looked back at her Howard “Some of us weren’t….”
“Man whores” Athena provided the term for her sister when Peggy had paused trying to find the right word to describe Howard and Athena for the few years they’d known each other. Peggy shot her a dirty look but Athena just gave her an unrepentant grin back.
“...like you or my sister.” Peggy finished.
“Ouch sis!” Athena said, holding a hand over her heart earning an eye roll from her sister.
“Just as much as I love making Steve blush and embarrass the shit out of him. I have three questions, what does Zulu 99 and Rule 19 mean and what did you just do, Athena?” Bucky asked, as he took the whiskey bottle from her and opened it up before taking a drink after he was finished.
“Rule 19 my friend means that a secret or situation is about to be discussed that is of the highest order of importance and secrets usually are full of highly emotional shit. So hence the liquor” Howard finished while shaking the bottle he still held. “As for what Athena did…”
“I activated a set of wardstones that were placed inside this tent by placing some of my blood on them and telling them what I needed done. Which was latin basically for: blood to seal the secrets spoken within. Myself, Peggy and Howard belong to a secret organization within the English government that deals with the more mythological and occult side of our world.”
“Wait, secret organization?” Steve asked but he wasn’t looking towards Athena but towards Peggy and Howard with a hurt look in his eyes.
Athena looked towards her baby sister looking to see if she wanted to explain it or if she wanted Athena to do it. Peggy nodded letting Athena know this was all her decision on how much to tell Steve and Bucky. Taking a drink directly from her bottle Athena took a moment to decide how to broach everything that needed to be discussed tonight before they talked to Colonel Phillips in the morning.
“How much does Phillips know?” Athena asked, looking towards her sister and Howard knowing that Peggy was the one sent to assess Phillips.
“He hasn’t been brought fully in yet he knows some but as you can see he didn’t recognize the Zulu 99, but my last report was a recommendation to bring him fully into the secret. I know that Churchill and Roosevelt were officially brought into the secret in August from the last communication we received” Peggy answered.
“Well if he sent word I’m back we will probably be recalled back to England..” Athena started but stopped at her sister's snort and incredulous look.
“Probably?! Really Athena?! I can guarantee it. Mother and Father did not take your disappearance on mission well. Especially since we still haven’t had any word from Michael or any of his group still. Adding Zulu 99 just puts a fire under the orders and places everyone back home on alert” Peggy answered, then took a drink from the bottle of whiskey Howard just offered to her. Michael had only been missing a few months when she had gone rogue and jumped into Norway.
“I was actually very surprised when Steve said you were here but I thought that might mean Michael had been found. But if Michael hasn’t been found how come father didn’t recall you back to his side since that meant you were the heir apparent of SWORD” Athena asked surprised then that Peggy was here and not back home with both her and Michael missing.
“He tried, I told him to come get me himself but I wasn’t coming home unless he came and gave me the bloody order himself” Peggy said, causing Athena to snort at her sister's wording that had probably been a bit more colorful in code back to their father.
“Oh I bet that went over well” Athena snorted with an eye roll.
“Don’t worry guys this is how they always are” Howard said, making both Peggy and herself shoot him a look before seeing the lost look on Steve and Bucky’s faces.
“Sorry Bucky and Steve. So Peggy, Howard and myself work British Intelligence for a secret agency called SWORD, which has two divisions that use the same acronym. Secret World Organized Research Division for the mainly scientific or bookworm side of the organization or Secret World Operations Response Division which is primarily agents that are tasked with undercover work or responding to any event that has been deemed otherworldly.”
“So you deal with exactly what?” Steve asked, trying to understand.
“Basically magic, demons, other dimensions, creatures of legend and mythology” Athena said with a shrug and took a drink at the blank look that Steve was giving her but Bucky seemed to be taking it better because he looked like he just made a connection in his mind.
“So those weapons that shoot out that blue glowing shit that is something you deal with” Bucky asked and Athena had to hand it to him for making the connection so fast.
“Yes. It was actually what I was trying to prevent Hydra getting their hands on when I got captured in Norway by the SS. Which reminds me I need to send Dr. Erskine a bottle of schnapps for the good tip” Athena said but saw Peggy, Howard and Steve’s body language change and it gave her a bad feeling. “What?”
“Dr. Erskine was assassinated when Steve was changed. An idiot Senator brought a Hydra sleeper agent as a guest to the procedure” Peggy told her while taking the bottle from Howard again and taking another drink before whispering something to Steve who also took a drink from his jug.
“Oh for fucks sake” Athena finally said after what she had been told sunk in. “Please tell me they were caught and didn’t get away with the formula.”
“Steve caught him and he took the cyanide route. Erskine’s formula was lost though” Peggy answered.
“That must be why Zola and Schmidt are so obsessed with trying to recreate it” Athena sighed looking towards Bucky and seeing the same understanding.
“Is that how..?” Peggy started to ask but stopped.
“Yes, both Bucky and I were being experimented on when Steve found us. I was first, it was only a few days ago but you can imagine that I was not in good health after being almost a year under both the SS and Hydra’s care” Athena scoffed at the last word purposely not looking at Peggy and Howard because she knew they’d have a look of horror and pity in their eyes. Athena knew the risks when she had jumped into Norway; this was war and their father made sure they were very aware of what could and most likely would happen if Peggy and herself were ever captured while on a mission.
“Oh bloody hell” Howard finally said, running a hand through his hair. Athena watched it as he looked lost in thought before sharing a look with Peggy then with Steve. “Do you know what it did?”
“Bucky and I compared notes so I know it changed me more than him. I have some ideas and theories as to why that is most of them based on the theory we have who might be my birth parents…” Athena started but stopped when Peggy got up and stood right in front of her looking her dead in the eyes.
“You might not have been born from our parents but they adopted you using the blood ritual. You are just as much a Carter as Michael and myself are” Peggy said, squeezing Athena’s shoulders with her hands.
“Thanks.”
“Always” Peggy said, stealing the bottle from Athena and taking a drink. Before giving it back and heading back towards the couch Peggy said, “so I’m guessing some speeded up healing abilities, endurance, speed, strength and senses.”
“Those for both of us, and then some more for me” Athena answered as she let some of the power she had loose. The whiskey bottle gained a thin layer of frost on it before Athena brought it up to her lips and took a drink all the while watching Howard and Peggy’s shocked faces.
“Now that can come in handy, since Peggy can only throw fireballs. Mind doing our bottles, Athena?” Howard asked, shaking his and Peggy’s whiskey bottle.
“Howard really?!” Peggy and Steve yelled at the same time causing them both to blush before Steve must have comprehended what Howard said.
“Wait, fireballs?!” Steve asked and Peggy sighed as she took the bottle back from Howard and took another drink.
“Yes, fireballs. Our mother is a fire elemental. Peggy inherited her powers…” Athena answered.
“And her bloody fucking temper” Howard interrupted mumbled but not low enough because Peggy smacked his chest with her arm.
“Well, going home will be interesting.” Athena said dryly before reaching down and grabbing another unopened whiskey bottle so Bucky could have his own. The understatement of the century only earned her a snort from her sister and Howard as they all started to relax and begin to talk about other things than the war.
ALLIED S.S.R. BASE - ITALY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH 1943
0700 (7:00AM)
“Time to wake up you three!”
Athena groaned, cracking open an eye as she woke up to Peggy banging a pot that Steve was dutifully holding for her with a large metal spoon. Another groan underneath her made Athena move her head and realize that she had been cuddled up with Bucky on the tiny couch that Howard somehow had with him in the tent.
Athena knew she should be feeling a hundred times worse after drinking as much as she did last night but she barely had been buzzed from the amount. The jury was still out in her mind if the higher alcohol tolerance that was already pretty damn high from spending so much time with Howard over the last few years was a good thing or not.
“Fucking morning people” Bucky grumbled as he pulled the blanket they had been using to cover both of their heads only to have it ripped off of them by Steve who then started blushing realizing for the first time they were cuddled up on the couch.
“Steve I can see where your mind is but I can guarantee you it ain't happening” Howard grumped as he sat up on the bed glaring at Peggy with narrowed eyes because she was holding his coffee a few feet from the bed to make him actually fully get up. Steve just looked towards Howard then at Peggy with a confused look which just made Athena then Bucky laugh since she and Bucky had this conversation last night before they passed out.
“My sister prefers women,” Peggy said, finally taking pity on Steve.
“Oh!” Steve said then blushed more. “I’m sorry Athena if I offended you.”
“You’re good Steve” Athena said, giving Steve a pat on the shoulder after she finally got up and went towards Peggy who was now handing Howard a cup of coffee. Coffee, she needed coffee.
ALLIED S.S.R. BASE - ITALY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH 1943
0830 (8:30AM)
“So you are telling me that Schmidt’s new wonder weapon is somehow tied into this mythical object you went on a rogue mission to Norway to search for'' Colonel Phillips said sitting in his chair eyeing Athena like he was contemplating sending her for a psych evaluation for a moment before rubbing his brow. Athena knew the Colonel was a practical man but they were now dealing with the occult and those that believed in the obscure.
“In a nutshell, yes” Athena said while Steve pulled out an ammo clip that had the blue glowing ammo in it and tossed it to the Colonel who caught it and pushed out one of the bullets into his hand. The Colonel then tossed the rest of the ammo clip to Howard, who caught it with a look like Christmas had come early causing the Colonel to roll his eyes at the scientist.
“Sergeant Barnes, you said that you and your unit came up against these new weapons?” Colonel Phillips asked while holding the bullet in between a finger and his thumb.
“Yes, sir. We were giving them as good as we got but then the Germans showed up with these weapons with…”
“Blue glowing shit” Athena interrupted Bucky when he paused momentarily earning a disgruntled huff from the Colonel and a small smirk from Bucky because of her unladylike language.
“I saw men being hit with that” Bucky indicated the bullet “and they just disappeared? Vaporized? I honestly don’t know how to describe it sir but once that began happening the majority of the unit either ran for it, were killed or taken prisoner.”
“Well that’s just great” Colonel Phillips sarcastically said, finally leaning back in his chair. “I ordered a bombing run on the factory for tonight, since we can’t break through the line to get there any time soon. I don’t want to give Hydra the chance to repair that base let alone try salvaging any of these weapons. Any idea where they might be going next?”
“Some. There was a map with quite a few markers indicating something important to Hydra in Zola’s lab where we were being held but no indication of what they might be” Athena answered standing up and walking over to the map table and soon was followed by both Bucky and Steve who took up pencils along with her and started marking up the maps. For a moment she was surprised that they had enough time to get a good look at the map but then was just thankful she wouldn’t have to be the one doing all the notation. “They could be bases, factories, stationed troops, storage depots I don’t know but from what I gathered Zola is Hydra’s lead scientist with Reinhardt underneath him.”
“Zola was the guy driving away from the factory that you and Bucky tried to kill?” Steve asked, earning a nod from Bucky.
“Reinhardt? Intelligence thought he was further down the food chain?” Peggy said as the rest of the group came up around the table watching as the maps were notated.
“Oh no he’s higher up than we thought or it’s a recent promotion but my guards didn’t realize I knew German and Hydra guards like to gossip and plot behind their superiors backs to get in favor with higher officers” Athena said with a shrug before continuing “They also talked about Reinhardt finding another object similar to what Schmidt found in Norway. What it is I’m not sure. I need to do some research but they talked about a legend about a blue crystal that killed most that touched it but that those that didn't die were changed and Reinhardt was experimenting trying to figure out what made them different.”
“So now there is more than one object linked to legends and the occult in the possession of Hydra?” Colonel Phillips asked, eyeing the maps with all their notes before giving Athena a tired look.
“At least two, maybe more. I really need to get back so I can do some research. All I have to work on is a blue crystal to figure out what legend it is from. I’m more than sure it isn’t from Norse Mythology like the Tesseract that Schmidt currently has in his possession” Athena said while watching the Colonel walk towards the door of his tent and look out in the now rainy weather.
“If we had access to the Reinhardt’s intelligence file we might be able to figure out a region” Peggy provided while stopping Howard from using a pair of scissors from trying to open one of the blue glowing bullets and shooting him a look that asked if he was being stupid or just that insane. Athena was more than sure it was a slight combination of the two but was glad her sister was making sure Howard didn’t blow them all up.
“And Stark I’m guessing you need better lab facilities to figure out what the hell we are facing?” the Colonel asked without turning around.
“It certainly will be faster that way Colonel” Howard answered giving Peggy a disgruntled face and then a pout when she took away the bullet and placed it back into the ammo clip. Athena then watched her sister walk over towards Steve and handed it back to him to hold.
“Whatever Zulu 99 means I’m guessing it isn’t good since I have never seen a response back so fast with orders cut to return immediately to England” Colonel Phillips said, turning around and raising a hand when Athena went to reply. “Don’t worry I figured I’m not read into everything that goes on the British side of things.”
“You will be sir when we get home” Athena said looking towards the maps.
“We need a main team to take the fight directly to Hydra, hit these targets and dismantle it piece by piece” Colonel Phillips said after almost ten minutes of silence from the man and Athena realized he was now standing next to everyone studying the maps as well.
“I have an idea of who we can use for that team Colonel,” Steve said, handing the last map for Athena to triple check.
“Stark, can you fly us to England using Switzerland as a way point? And how many people can we take with us?” Colonel Phillips asked moving towards his desk.
“I’ll need to get my contact on the ground to grease some palms but I can get us to Switzerland then England. Are you wanting to refuel and hop or did you need to meet with the Ambassador?” Stark asked.
“The five of us are going to need to meet with the Ambassador and I’ll need to pull two of my men from the embassy,” Colonel Phillips answered. “If we are about to get into the trenches I’d like two of the men I have trained and trust.”
“Not a problem then we could fit five more people as long as we pack lite” Stark said after a moment and Athena could tell he was doing the math in his head for the weight and fuel.
“Good. Rogers you get to pick five more men since I’m assuming Stark already calculated for Sgt. Barnes to join us” Colonel Phillips said, getting a nod from Howard. “They must all be volunteers and have them packed ready to go by tomorrow 0600 with weapons and ammo only. We will procure anything else we need once we land in England. I want that list in three hours. Go pack. Now all of you get!” Colonel Phillips ordered them waving his hand in dismissal towards the tent door as he picked up the telephone on his desk.