To the Rescue
An update sooner than expected.
Bucky stared down at his hands as Agent Coulson explained that a Senator Pierce had led an assualt on SHIELD headquarters and managed to barricade himself and a handful of Hydra agents within the Project Insight facility while another larger group of Hydra agents was slowly pushing the loyal SHIELD agents from the Triskelion . Fury was trying to stop the launch with a group of loyal SHIELD agents but from the last message Coulson had received it appeared they were being reduced to trying to keep the launch bay doors from opening without much success.
"The situation is not ideal but if we work as a team we have a chance of stopping the Helicarriers from launching," Coulson told them quietly as he looked at each of them searchingly. From beside him Steve nodded minutely at the SHIELD agent but Bucky glanced away from the older man's eyes for a moment unsure whether he could fight or not. A large, warm hand landed gently on his shoulder and he glanced up hesitantly at Steve sure that he would see disappointment in his eyes but was instead met with a gentle understanding.
"Buck, you don't need to fight if you don't want to. I know this is not easy for you and if you are not ready then that is fine. If you are never ready then that is also fine," Steve told him softly. The clear understanding in Steve's voice along with the undisguised affection had Bucky gulping back the tightness in his throat. Quickly, before he could break down, he glanced down to the floor. He knew they didn't have time for him to have a break down but despite the fight looming ever closer the others remained silent allowing him to consider his decision.
Finally he got control of his breathing and turning to Agent Coulson he nodded firmly that he was in. A large part of him didn't want to fight, he had caused far too much pain in his years under Hydra's control and he did not want to cause more, but another larger part of him knew that the team needed him. Surprisingly, as he made the decision he felt a weight lift from his shoulders and knew that he had made the right choice.
"We will be coming onto the Triskelion grounds from the south-west which should put us close to the launch bays. Tony, you are going out first to distract them so that we can get Steve and Bucky close enough to one of the helicarriers to allow him to board. After that we will be able to get Natasha onto another carrier, Tony will take care of the third while I provides air support," Coulson told them quietly as he handed Steve, Natasha, and Tony small boxes. Bucky frowned at the assignments knowing that he was being paired with Steve in order to ensure that if he had a break down Steve would be able to talk him down but not seeing any way around it. While mentally he was better than he was a few months ago he could not delude himself into thinking he was actually mentally ready to take on a mission like this without Steve's help.
"These boxes contain three chips that need to be placed within the main computer of the helicarriers. These chips will reset the helicarrier computers so that all weapon systems are targeted at the other helicarriers. If for some reason the chips fail then the next target on the helicarriers are the engine rooms. There are three engine rooms: two on the sides of the craft and one at the tail end," Coulson explained as he brought up a rough drawn schematic of the carriers. "These plans may not be fully accurate as Director Fury drew them from memory so be prepared to improvise."
"Coulson, we will be within range in under thirty seconds,"Natasha announced softly from where she was piloting the quinjet. Without another word the two SHIELD agents switched positions so that Coulson could take over the controls for the quinjet. Looking through the window Bucky felt his muscles tense as he saw that at least two of the helicarriers were beginning to rise into the air with the third just barely starting to clear the launch bay doors which seemed to have been jammed by a group of people on the ground. As Bucky watched the group of people that were attempting to jam the final bay droors were pushed back by another group of armed people and the last helicarrier began its ascent.
"Heading in. Prepare for deployment," Coulson called evenly as he easily piloted the quinjet toward the nearest helicarrier. Gun fire rang out around the quinjet and Bucky located several planes launching off the decks of the helicariiers as they approached. Heart beating fast he caught Steve's eye and nodded briefly to let him know he was ready and received a proud grin back. Without another word the two of them made their way to the back doors of the quinjet where Tony was just launching from, the Ironman suit a bright streak of red and gold as the inventor flew to head off the incoming air craft.
The quinjet abruptly jumped up as Coulson manuvered them to avoid a projectile and moments later a large shock wave made the jet jump and tremble as whatever had tried to hit them exploded uncomfortably near them. Bucky swallowed and forced himself to take a deep calming breath as the deck of one of the helicarrier's loomed below them and without a word he and Steve moved as one to jump.
Wind whipped his hair up into his face and for a brief moment he almost missed his old mask but then shuddered as the idea of having that thing on again. Pushing the nausea away he landed with a thud and immediately he was noting where Steve had landed before they were both moving for cover under a rain of bullets.
Bucky ducked behind a plane and glanced to Steve who had ducked behind another plane. Scouting the area where the gunfire was coming from he saw six people, looking to Steve he signaled the number of shooters and saw Steve nod his understanding before the man was flashing the signal for Bucky to follow. Bucky groaned as Steve broke cover and raced toward the Hydra agents but dutifully followed his friend's lead. As Steve threw his Shield in order to take out a Hydra agent on top of a plane, leaving himself wide open to enemy fire, Bucky made a mental note to teach Steve what self preservation meant. Without hesitation Bucky pushed the punk to the side and using his metal arm as a shield kept the bullets off of them as he shot three of the Hydra agents in quick succession. The remaining agents were shortly taken down by Steve's shield as he sent it careening through the air.
"Clear," Steve announced as they scanned the area on deck and moments later Bucky announced his sector as clear.
"Ready," Steve asked quietly as they stood beside the door leading into the bowels of the ship. Bucky stared at his friend before simply nodding. He had followed the punk into hell once before what was one more trip?
Phil watched for a moment as Steve and Bucky landed before pulling away from the first helicarrier and moving toward the next in line. Out of the corner of his eye he watched as Natasha double checked her widow bites and other equipment and wished once more that Thor was here. He knew Natasha could more than take care of herself in any fight but he hated dropping her into an unknown situation without backup but he refused to let his worry show as he announced "Fifteen seconds till we are within the launch window."
A blast of gunfire assualted them as they approached the helicarrier and Phil spotted where a Hydra agent had manged to get one of the turret guns working. Phil thanked their lucky stars that most of the turret guns that were meant for the helicarriers had not been installed yet as he brought the quinjets own guns to bare. A quick spray of automatic fire took care of the turret and he brought the quinjet low over the helicarrier before opening the bay doors once more.
Natasha nodded to him before launching herself out the doors and landing gracefully on the helicarrier's deck. Phil noticed with relief that she was immediately up and running and within moments she was safely concealed within the helicarriers depths just as a Hydra team made its way up on deck and took aim at the quinjet. Without hesitation Phil manuvered the quinjet to bring its weapons to bare and managed to scatter the Hydra team.
Phil scanned the area quickly noting that Tony was manuvering in for a landing on his own helicarrier while dodging gunfire and quickly he turned to provide Tony with some cover fire. He managed to take out a few planes that were heading in Tony's direction before he was forced to break off as a squadron targeted the quinjet.
Phil cursed mentally as he realized that the squadron tailing him was actually working well together and trying to box him in so that the remaining members of the squadron could get a clean shot. He gripped the flight controls hard as he wondered bitterly if he knew who was behind the planes' controls and if maybe he had actually been the one to train the traitors.
With a wrenching motion he managed to dodge the plane that had been attempting to box him in and hummed in pleasure as he saw the missile that had been meant for him blow up the plane he had dodged but moments later he was cursing again as he saw that the squadron was breaking off and heading back toward the helicarriers to provide backup there. Phil wondered what had caught their attention but moments later his question was answered as part of a lower bulk head on one of the carriers exploded outward and a minute later Natasha was jumping out of the opening.
Phil felt his heart skip a beat as he saw his charge falling before he saw Natasha grab the edge of the helicarrier and watched as she began to climb quickly along the side of the carrier. The planes that had been pursuing Phil apparently had spotted her also as they began moving in that direction with their guns already coming to bare.
"Damn it," Phil cursed as he shot the quinjet forward and slammed into one of the planes hard. The impact sent the plane off course and into one of its fellows while the quinjet jerked off course before Phil righted it with an effort and forced the shuddering craft forward to collide with the wings of two of the remaining aircraft. Phil noted with satisfaction that the planes had sustained major damage but didn't have a chance to note anything else as the impacts sent the quinjet tumbling. Phil fought hard to right the quinjet but quickly realized that the jet had been too badly damaged and that he would have to bail out. Staggering as the quinjet tumbled through the air, Phil managed to grab one of the parachutes in the emergency lockers and barely had time to strap it on before he felt something in the craft break further with a terrible wrenching sensation. Without waiting another moment Phil flung open the emergency exit and jumped as far as he could away from the damaged jet praying that he would be able to get far enough away that he would not be caught by any debree from the quinjet.
Luckily he managed to jump free and he watched as the jet spun away from him before he deftly opened his parachute. The sound of an engine had him turning and grimly he watched as the last plane he had not managed to down glided toward him its guns locked on him and with a start he recognized Agent Dovers in the cockpit. Phil glanced around him for a possible means of escape but knew he was a sitting duck up there and taking a deep breath he waited for the killing shot as he glared at Dovers, refusing to let the man see him panic.
He had time to see Dovers' eyes crinkle in a smile before the breath was being knocked from him as something hit him hard from above. Suddenly his parchute was flying free as someone cut the lines. Phil wondered for a wild moment if Tony had finished with his helicarrier and managed to rescue him but he immediately realized that the arms wrapped around him were flesh and blood and not the Ironman armor. With a growl he started to reach around to attack his unknown assiliant but a worried voice stopped.
"Agent Coulson, are you alright?"
"Mr. Wilson," Phil asked surprised and turned slightly in the arms holding him around the chest to see Clint's friend staring back at him through a pair of aviator glasses.
"Sam is fine," the man told him cheerfully but the whizzing of gunfire around them interrupted him.
"Hold on," Wilson said just before he dived down suddenly leaving Phil's stomach hanging somewhere fifty feet above them.
Phil wanted to ask where the other man had come from and where he had gotten the wings that he was currently using but decided that his questions could wait for another time as they continued to dodge the plane tailing them.
"Man, I am ready anytime you are," Wilson, Sam, hissed above him and Phil wondered if he were talking to him and if so what he expected him to do but moments later Phil heard a small explosion behind them. Phil carefully looked behind them and saw that flames were licking out of the side of the plane that had been trailing them and as he watched the flames expanded causing an explosion which blew apart the entire plane. The shock waves from the explosion tumbled them through the air and Phil felt Sam's arms tighten around him as the other man fought to hold on to him. Phil linked his arms with the other man's in order to help and remembered to breath as Sam got them straightened out.
"Do you think you can turn around and link your arms through my harness," Sam asked and instead of answering Phil deftly flipped around and wove his arms through the harness.
"Great," Sam said then flipped them around so that they were heading toward the ground. Phil noted that Sam was aiming to land behind the line where the SHIELD agents were battling and with a hand gesture Phil pointed him to where he could see Nick directing the agents around him.
Nick and the other agents immediately zeroed in on them as they came into land, their weapons drawn but Nick waved them away as he saw Phil.
"Finally decided to join the party, I see," Nick snarked causing Phil to give the other man a bland look as he untangled himself from Sam's harness.
"I was a bit busy escorting some last minute guests, sir," Phil said calmly back making Nick snort as the left side of his mouth curved up in a reluctant grin.
"Well, let's hope your guests know their stuff," Nick rejoined and Phil glanced up as another explosion sounded from above them and they watched as fire bloomed briefly out from the helicarrier Tony had been assigned.
"I think they will do," Phil told him with a smile as Nick handed him a gun.
"Sir, I should really get back up there," Sam said as he looked up toward the fighting happening high above them. As Phil watched another explosion rocked one of the enemy aircraft that had been making a move toward the agents on the ground and Phil frowned wondering what had caused the explosion before he noted several Hydra agents lying out on the tarmac with arrows through them.
"Go," Fury growled at the young man and Wilson didn't wait another moment before he was taking off back into the fight.
As they watched one of the remaining helicarrier turret guns angled toward Wilson before an arrow hit it and it exploded. Phil exchanged a look with Nick before they turned back to the fighting on the ground feeling a bit more hopeful.
Hope you guys enjoy! I think a few more chapters should finish this up.