Steve paused for a moment, glancing at the still-unconscious Bucky beneath him. Gritting his teeth, he gave the order, "Fire."
Hill, not daring to hesitate, feared that the remaining two helicarriers might also vanish or lose their targeting locks. She immediately pressed the fire button.
The next second, all weapons aboard Helicarriers B and C unleashed a devastating barrage at each other.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
The skies erupted with explosions as the two giant warships exchanged relentless firepower.
Charles Doyle, floating midair, watched the spectacle and remarked, "What a beautiful fireworks show. If only it were nighttime—it would be even more magnificent."
Steve saw that the helicarriers had yet to crash. Leaping from the chip room, he hoisted Bucky onto his shoulders, only for an overhead passage to collapse, pinning them both under its massive weight.
In the Triskelion, Nick Fury and Natasha Romanoff heard the thunderous barrage and looked out the window just in time to see the helicarriers locked in combat.
Fury couldn't help but mutter, "What a waste of resources!"
Then he squinted and asked, "Wait. Why are there only two of them? Where's the third?"
Selene, observing the chaos with a faint smile, understood, "It seems Lord Charles really did take one for his collection."
Just then, Charles Doyle appeared suddenly in the command room.
Nick Fury blinked, momentarily stunned by Charles's mysterious entrance. Before he could speak, Charles announced, "Natasha, the mission is complete. Time to settle the payment."
"Transfer it to the usual account."
Without sparing Fury a glance, Charles grabbed Selene, and the two vanished instantly.
Natasha took out her phone and sent the coordinates of the warehouse containing the 084 artifact.
Fury, still standing where Charles had disappeared, frowned, "He ignored me. He completely ignored me…"
Then remembering the massive alien ship that had vanished in London, Fury muttered, "It was him. He's the one who took the helicarrier."
Natasha nodded, her tone deliberate, "Yes, and since he took this mission personally, that helicarrier is… his war trophy."
She emphasized the word "trophy" with unmistakable finality.
Fury's eyes widened, and then he sighed heavily. Anything in Charles Doyle's possession was as good as lost forever. Rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D. would have to wait.
Natasha reported to Hill, "Hill, Helicarrier A was taken by Charles Doyle. No need to worry."
Relieved that Charles had claimed it as loot rather than due to mission failure, Hill finally exhaled.
Fury glanced at Pierce's lifeless body one last time before stating, "Natasha, we should leave too."
They moved quickly to the helipad, heading for the helicopter Fury had used to arrive.
…
Meanwhile-
Helicarriers B and C continued their ferocious exchange, missiles flying as if they were free of cost. Helicarrier B's propulsion system was the first to fail, sending the massive structure plummeting into the river.
Helicarrier C, heavily damaged, barely retained partial power. Its frame tilted dangerously, drifting slowly toward the Triskelion tower.
At this moment, Bucky stirred, groaning as he regained consciousness, only to find himself pinned under fallen steel beams. Steve, freeing himself from the wreckage, immediately moved to help his friend.
…
Meanwhile-
Rumlow was still beating on Sam, and though only about a minute had passed since their encounter, Sam was already carrying a bruised and battered face.
Grabbing Sam and tossing him aside with brute force, Rumlow sneered, "Hey, Black guy, do you feel the pain now?"
But Sam's attention suddenly shifted as he spotted the massive shadow of a crashing helicarrier bearing down on them. His expression turned from defiance to sheer terror as he spun on his heel and bolted.
Rumlow, puzzled by Sam's reaction, turned to see what had spooked him. A dark, hulking mass loomed above. His eyes widened in realization, and he cursed loudly, "Bitch!"
He leaped from the table, scrambling to escape, but it was too late. Debris from the collapsing structure slammed into him, knocking him to the ground.
"Ahhh!"
Sam, sprinting with all his might, caught sight of an approaching helicopter through the shattered window. His heart raced as he shouted, "Please tell me you're in that helicopter!"
The radio crackled with a response, "Sam, where are you?"
"41st floor, northwest corner!"
"I'm coming. Don't move!"
Sam, still running for his life, barked back, "Not possible!"
Staying put now was a death sentence.
Natasha saw the falling helicarrier crashing into the Triskelion. In a desperate move, Sam dived out of the window, leaping into open space.
Nick Fury's helicopter swooped below just in time. The pilot maneuvered expertly, tilting the aircraft as the side door opened wide. The hatch lined up perfectly with Sam's trajectory.
He tumbled into the helicopter, breathless and wide-eyed. Natasha reached out, grabbing him firmly before he could slip away.
Sam gasped, "41st floor! 41st floor!"
Fury, steady at the controls, grumbled, "They don't label the floors on the outside of buildings."
Natasha, relieved that Sam was safe, quickly called Hill, "Hill, what's Rogers' status? Do you know where he is?"
As the helicopter veered away from the wreckage of Helicarrier C, Natasha remained unaware that Steve was still aboard and was struggling to lift the massive steel beam crushing Bucky beneath it.