Chapter 2
November 8th, 2001
The Red Room Academy, Stalingrad, Russia
“Agent Romanova, you have a mission, one very valuable to Hydra. Infiltration, deep cover, for an indefinite amount of time.”
Natalia Romanova stood at attention, ready to move at a moment’s notice. “Ma’am?”
”Infiltrate the Strategic Hazard Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Directorate. Get them to trust you, and strike when Hydra requires it. We will fake an escape, and you will go ‘rogue’. You will continue to carry out assassinations for us, but will make it look like you are independent. You will appear on SHIELDs radar, and other agents within them will ensure you are recruited.”
”Yes ma’am. When do I begin?”
”Tomorrow.”
<><><>
June 17th, 1984
Woodlawn Cemetery, New York, New York, United States of America
10 year old Anthony Stark watched silently as the casket containing Edwin Jarvis was lowered into the ground. Howard and Maria Stark were no where to be seen. Other than him and the gravediggers, only Obadiah Stane was present, a comforting hand on Tony’s shoulder.
“Tony, I’d like you to meet a good friend of mine, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Tony nodded slowly. “It’s alright.”
A car pulled up to the cemetery, and a tall blond man stepped out. “Tony, please meet Secretary Alexander Pierce, one of the current heads of Hydra.”
From the look on Pierce’s face, that was not what he had been expecting. Tony hadn’t been expecting it either.
”H-Hydra? The people Captain America fought in World War 2? The nazis?”
Pierce recovered himself, and knelt down to Tony’s level. “The Red Skull was a radical extremist, we’re not all like that. Hydra was founded on a pure belief, that humanity can’t be trusted to govern themselves. You know this, you’ve seen your father, a man who cares more for his work than his family, who wouldn’t even come to the burial of his faithful manservant. Is he the type of man we want in charge of the world?”
“N-no, but-“
”We want to offer you a chance to join us, create a new, peaceful world. A world in which Hydra rules, where the people who rule are the people who should. We hope you join us, but you don’t need to.”
”...Can I think about it?”
”You have 5 days, but the weak seek to stop our perfection, so if you breathe a word to others about it, I think you know what will happen.”
...
It was not a day later that Anthony Stark contacted Alexander Pierce, his eyes hard and a fresh bruise in the shape of Howard’s hand on his face.
”Hail Hydra”
<><><>
August 1st, 2009
Midwestern United States of America
“Ms. Skye. You’re a difficult woman to find.”
The young woman shut down her laptop and edged towards the exit. “I try.”
The suit laughed. “Please do not try to escape. Hydra needs bright minds like yours. You know of us, surely? We oppose SHIELD. They shouldn’t be allowed to operate with the impunity they do.” The man paused. “We can help you find your parents.”
Skye stopped at this. “And if I join, what would I do?”
”Well, you’d receive the mandatory weapons and hand to hand combat training that all Hydra agents get, you’d work along side such bright minds such as Dr. Whitehall, Dr. List, and Dr. Stark, and you might occasionally be given objectives to complete. Retrieve info, wipe computers, participate in cyber raids. After that, you’ll upgrade to assassination, torture, the like. You’ll probably be assigned to Stark as an assistant first, then a field operative once he deems you ready.”
”Wait. Stark? As in Doctor Anthony Edward Stark? As in Tony Stark, CEO of Stark Industries?”
”That would be him.”
”Alright, say I’m interested. How would I join?”
”I think you know. I think you also know what will happen if you betray us.”
Skye smirked. “Well, when you put it that way... Hail Hydra.”
<><><>
February 3rd, 2005
The Hub, Location Classified
“Secretary Pierce.”
”Agent Hill. Thank you for coming in today. Tell me, what do you know about Hydra?”
”Nazis, led by Red Skull, attempted to take over the world, were defeated by Captain America, the Howling Commandos, and the S.S.R.”
Pierce leaned back in his chair. “And what did you think about them?”
Maria Hill hesitated, then spoke. “I think that they had some good points, but the way they went around doing it was... misguided.”
”So, you think that their intentions were good?”
”Uh, I-I di-didn’t say tha-“
”Relax, Agent. It’s not a test. Because Hydra is still alive and well. Red Skull was an extremist. The rest of us aren’t like that. How would you like to join? Simple yes or no. Remember, a no is likely to get you killed.”
Hill let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. There was no hesitation in her voice. “Hail Hydra.”