Chapter 21
“He is leaving the hospital.”
Tony murmured from where he was hiding with Sydney in a corner down the street.
Sydney leaned next to him to watch Holdstein as he walked towards his car.
“Well, he certainly looked like what his reputation says about him.” Sydney muttered while Tony trailed his eyes towards her and away from the general.
When Sydney felt his eyes on her, she turned to him with a raised eye brow.
“What?” she asked while titling her head to the side in confusion. A movement so familiar to Tony that made him stare even more intently.
“You said your dad made your weapons, right?” he asked bluntly. She nodded carefully while looking at him strangely. “He seems very smart to create something so powerful.”
“Yeah, you could say that he is a genius.” She confirmed with a proud smile.
“And what about your mother?”
“What about her?”
“Isn’t she a genius too or something? You sound like a family of incredibly smart people.”
“She is. But she prefers to use her fists more than her smarts.”
“That sounds like someone I know.” Tony was staring directly at her eyes. He caught the slight twitch of her eye even though she tried to hide it.
“Why are you suddenly so interested in my family?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Just trying to figure out who you are.”
“I told you. Well, I told Cas and Steve who in turn told you.”
“Speaking of which, why did you say you will only trust Steve and Cas? Who are they to you in the future? What am I to you to build a guardian robot programmed to protect you? Why did you freak out when you thought Dean was dead and looked so defeated like you expected to die any second? Who are you to us? What is your connection to our future selves?” Tony demanded question after question, not giving her a chance to think.
They stared at each other silently, her face was so emotionless and cold. Her eyes looked like they were staring into his soul. In this few moments, she looked so much like Castiel it caught him off guard as the suspicions growing in his gut started to increase in every passing second.
Then, suddenly she smiled charmingly at him, and brushed her hair behind her ears while chuckling a little. Tony knew it was a nervous gesture. She was nervous.
“Dude, we are hiding in a corner to not be seen by the Nazis, watching a hospital where your best friend was kept and guarded by German soldiers and you are standing here interrogating me about my identity? Seriously?” she chuckled again with a shake of her head. Tony just kept staring at her, but he knew she was right. This wasn’t the right time for this. “Can we focus on Dean’s problem first?”
“It is one hell of a problem especially now that the resistance refused to assist us.” He decided to let it go for now. Until they get Dean back. He will just focus on saving him for the time being.
“You can’t really blame them. Our story is a little hard to believe, and we are asking them to do a risk that could compromise them and lead the Germans to their hideouts in the subways, which no one knows its secrets except them.”
“I know that.” Tony sighed in frustration. “But Dean is still in that bastard’s hands and we have no chance in getting close to him since that general will recognize us from history.”
“Recognize you.” she corrected.
“What?”
“You are Tony Stark. Of course Holdstein will know your face if he saw you, since you are pretty famous and all that. But not me.”
“What are you implying?”
“I am the only one who have a chance to get to Dean.”
“How?”
“By the traditional way, Tony.” She smiled at him. “Didn’t you watch any WWII movies? I will impersonate a German officer, of course!”
“No offense, but I don’t really remember women had such roles in this era.”
“I have a solution for that, no worries.”
“It is impossible, Syd! That is the first thing that will come to their minds! And they will take all the possible precautions they could and-“ he cut himself off as he thought about it again. “-but we can take down all their precautions.”
“Exactly.” Sydney grinned at him.
Tony raised his eyes towards her, and their thoughts matched as a plan started to form in their heads. Soon, Tony found himself grinning back at her.
***
Anxiousness was written all over Fury’s face as he stormed into the room.
“Is what I heard is true, Romanov?” he exclaimed nervously.
Castiel and Steve glared at him and gestured for him to lower his voice while pointing at the still sleeping Sam on the couch.
“If you mean my report about the presence of another time traveler, then yes.” Natasha answered in a hushed voice.
His face paled as he lowered himself on the first seat he found.
“This is a disaster!” he muttered in a much lowered voice. “Can you identify them?”
“Not yet. There is no information about the crew of the ship in any of the files.”
“But you are sure of their presence?”
“Yes.”
“This is a disaster! There is another time spy out there and we don’t have any information about them! A disaster!”
Sam flinched violently in his sleep when Fury’s voice was raised again. Castiel immediately rushed to him to place a hand on his forehead to calm him with his grace and back to sleep while sending another sharp glare towards Fury.
“Maybe it is not that bad.” Steve murmured quietly.
“It is! We discovered Hunter by sheer luck after she worked in the secret service of the president then in SHIELD, then we, suddenly, discover that she has a partner somewhere who could be literally anywhere, in a ministry, or the military or even the white house! I won’t even be surprised if they were in SHIELD too.” then he stood up and paced the room. “And you must have noticed that Hunter never even mentioned their presence, like she was protecting them for some reason. And this proves how dangerous his position must be.”
“Then why not search for them in the places you just mentioned?” Steve asked with a shrug.
“Search for what? Do you have any idea how many people work there? Thousands! We can’t search all their files as thoroughly as we did with Hunter and don’t forget how perfect Hunter’s file was without any mistake.”
“Check the psychological part of the files first.” Castiel stated while covering Sam’s body again since the blanket fell from his violent flinch. “And choose those who have a strong personality, patience, quick decisions makers and you can exclude whoever have a fear of heights or closed places then search for those who prefers to be alone and quiet.”
“And why those specifically?” Fury asked in surprise.
“Because these are the qualities of whoever would go on such a mission.”
“Yeah, that actually makes sense.” Steve nodded along to Castiel’s explanation.
“Yeah, that might actually help in our search but I still need to know any of their physical description. Their height. Their weight or-“
“I might be able to give you that.” Came Charlie’s voice from the doorway.
“Charlie? You didn’t get enough sleep.” Steve murmured in concern.
“I couldn’t settle down and relax so I asked JARVIS to fill me in on what you guys found.” Then she trained her eyes on Fury. “I think I have a way to know an approximate description to the other time traveler.”
“Which is?” Natasha asked curiously.
“We know the consumptions rates insides the ship. We also have Sydney’s rates. All we have to do is subtract her rates from the total rates and what will remain would be the rates of the other time traveler. When we check them we will be able to know their size and descriptions.” She explained while taking a seat in front of the computer and already started to work.
“That… that’s genius. You are a group of geniuses” Fury’s eye widened as he stared at Charlie.
“I hope we are genius enough to bring back Tony and Dean.” Natasha murmured quietly.
“And Sydney.” Steve and Castiel added at the same time, making Fury look at them incredulously.
“She deserves to be saved too.” Castiel stated firmly.
“Besides, her presence is vital now to discover the identity of her partner.” Steve added sternly. “The second time traveler.”
***
Holdstein stood staring at a big map of Paris on the wall, lost deep in thought.
Castiel might be back. Or it was just Winchester. But the report of the pilot who almost collided with their ship said that they were two men and a woman. The other man couldn’t be Castiel, the description he was given didn’t match the angel. Unless he chose another vessel, but from the picture he found in the locket around Dean’s neck proved that he was still in the same vessel. So, Castiel wasn’t on the ship with them but he might have come by his powers instead, but who was the other man? And who is the woman? Her description didn’t match anyone he knew from history. He was pretty sure the other two were Avengers. They had to be.
They came in a time ship. He needs that ship. It was his ticket home when he takes control of this era. Without it, all his dreams and hard work would go to waste.
He gazed at the map and kept thinking about who the other man and woman could be, when he was interrupted by a knock on his door.
“Who’s there?” he asked sharply, turning to the door with a glare.
His secretary entered while shaking in fear from him.
“Excuse me, sir.” He said shakily. “I know you said you don’t want to be disturbed, but you asked for the chef of the military police, and he is waiting for almost half an hour now and-“
“Let him in immediately.” He cut him off sternly.
“Of-of course, sir.” The man got out, then a few moments later the chief of the military police entered the room while raising his arm out and exclaiming: “Hail Hitler!”
Holdstein gestured to him without answering his greeting: “Come in, Von Darke. Close the door behind you.”
Colonel Von Darke entered the room and closed the door, then stood waiting for the General’s orders.
“How did the man and woman escape from you, Von Darke?” Holdstein demanded sharply.
“I don’t know how, sir.” The colonel answered with a flushed face. “They entered the subway’s tunnel. Then they vanished completely, leaving no trace behind. We don’t where they-“
“It is not allowed for a colonel in the Third Reich to admit being a failure.” Holdstein interrupted angrily. “A man and woman escaped from you in the subway’s tunnel and vanished. Why would you fall back? They couldn’t have vanished completely, which means they’re there somewhere. Release your men through the tunnels, search everywhere in there. Blow it up if you have to, but find them!”
“Sir, we are trying to-“
“Enough!”
The colonel snapped his mouth shut, his face flushed in frustration.
“I have a confirmed information that the French Resistance’s men are making the subway’s tunnels a hideout for them.” Holdstein stated while straightening himself up.
“The subway’s tunnels?! But sir-“
“Don’t interrupt me!” The general yelled in anger.
“Sorry, sir.”
“This information is nonnegotiable. They are hiding in there and use the complicated tunnels to confuse their chasers.” then he took a deep breath before adding: “But we are going to ruin that.”
“May I ask how, sir?” The colonel asked carefully.
“Go to the archives and search for maps for the subway’s tunnels.”
“We tried before, sir. But the French hid all those maps that we didn’t find any copy of them.”
“And that didn’t make you suspect for a second that they are hiding there?!” Holdstein screamed in anger.
“They are not the only things that went messing, sir.” The colonel stated hesitantly. “The French also hid everything related to their history and art.”
“Fine. Leave that to me.” the General growled. “Just prepare your men for an attack that will be strong enough to wipe out the French Resistance from history. Forever.”
***
“The plan need precision and preparation to avoid any chance of failure.”
Sydney stated while she was sitting with the resistance men in that big room in the subway’s tunnels.
“Let’s first lay out all the troubles I am going to face while impersonating a German officer in an attempt to get Dean out. At first, we will face Carl Mannheim’s suspicion, and his insistence to make sure that the person in front of him is the real deal, then his insistence on an official statement of delivering Dean to the officer. That statement needs to have Holdstein’s signature on it. Then, he will try to contact the General himself. This call will be made by a telephone or a communication device.”
“Or send one of his soldiers to make sure.” One of the men suggested sharply.
“Or he will go himself.” Another one said.
“He won’t be able to do either of those things.” Tony answered with a shake of his head. “If the statement the officer will have said that the delivery must be quick.”
“What if Holdstein went to the hospital at the same time?” Alan asked in worry.
“This is also a possibility.” Tony agreed then looked around at the other men. “Does anyone have any other possibilities?”
“You are asking us?” one of them asked in surprise.
“Well, yeah. Maybe someone will have a possibility that didn’t cross my mind.”
They all exchanged nervous looks before looking back at him. “But our decision didn’t change, Stranger. We will not help you with this.”
“That depends on the kind of help we need.” Sydney pointed out.
“What do you mean?” Brigitte asked in confusion.
“She means that we will not ask you to face the Germans with us.” Tony answered. “We understand your decision. We will just need your help in the preparations of the plan.”
“What are you asking exactly?”
“At first, we need a Gestapo officer clothes with a rank higher than Carl Mannheim’s, a German driver clothes and a Gestapo car.”
“That can be arranged.” Alain shrugged.
“We will also need a professional forger.” Sydney stated. Alain and Brigitte’s brows furrowed as they looked at each other. “We don’t need to meet them personally. You can keep their secret. We will just need a statement in Holdstien’s handwriting and signature.”
The French exchanged another look before Brigitte turned back to them “Write the statement you want and we will try our best.”
“Perfect. All we need now is a long range wireless device and transistors.” Tony announced with a smile.
“Trans-what?” Alain exclaimed in confusion.
“He means electronic valves.” Sydney clarified with a small smile.
“These last things will be hard.” Brigitte said anxiously. “The Germans forbid trading them so no one can contact the allies.”
“But it is not impossible, right?” Sydney insisted while looking at her.
Brigitte gazed into her eyes and gave her a small, secret smile. “Not for you.” she whispered sweetly to her.
Alain furrowed his brow in anger and glared at Sydney, jealousy clear in his eyes while Sydney blushed and flustered and murmured: “Uhm, yeah great. Can we have all those things fast?”
“Not before a few hours.” Alain said harshly.
Tony trailed his eyes between Sydney, Brigitte and Alain contemplatively before saying: “As long as those few hours won’t turn into days. Dean is still in their hands and we don’t know what are they doing to hi-“
“They’re torturing him!”
Bernard shouted that sentence as he got in the room while panting harshly.
Tony flinched while Sydney tensed from his sentence.
“T-torturing him?” Tony stuttered as he stared at Bernard, he already could feel his breath getting shorter and his hands shook a little.
“Yes.” Bernard confirmed with a nod. “One of our friends in the hospital told me that that Butcher, Carl Mannheim, is doing his favorite hoppy on him without caring for his injuries.”
“That son of a bitch.” Sydney growled in anger.
“They removed two of his fingernails, cut off his stitches and left him to bleed out. Not mention the bruises and the-“
“Please, stop.” Tony choked out as he felt an anxiety attack hitting him from the visual images flooding through his head. He could feel Sydney’s worried eyes on him, but he ignored her look and got up on his feet and fled from the room to have his attack in privacy.
Sydney followed him with her eyes, concern and sadness filling her up, then she turned back to the men.
“We need to work harder, guys.” she said anxiously. “Every second passes, cost poor Dean a lot. Please, hurry. Help us before Holdstein comes for you.”
“He can’t come for us in here.” Alain snapped sharply. “No one except us could move freely in those tunnels.”
“Who knows?” Sydney asked firmly.
“What do you mean?!”
“You heard me, Alain. Who knows?” she then, also got to her feet and went after Tony, leaving dead silence behind her as everyone thought about what she just said.