With a sharp rustle cutting through the night air, the German scout muttered under his breath, clearly annoyed by something in the forest. He glanced around with mild irritation, unaware that death had already crept within arm's reach.
Locke moved like a shadow, his figure slipping silently up the tree. With a light push from his hands, he climbed swiftly and soundlessly, his body hugging the trunk until he was less than half a meter behind the scout. The man remained oblivious, casually turning his head to check behind him, his attention drifting just long enough.
In that instant, Locke struck.
A cold flash of steel cut through the darkness as the dagger in his hand shot forward with lightning speed. The blade plunged straight into the scout's throat, his horrified expression frozen in place as a wet sound followed.
Blood spilled quietly, and the man's body slumped, instinctively falling backward toward the tree. Locke reacted immediately, catching him before he could make a sound. With careful precision, he eased the corpse onto a sturdy branch, ensuring it wouldn't fall and alert anyone nearby.
His eyes scanned the surroundings in a rapid sweep, sharp and alert. After confirming there were no additional watchers in the vicinity, he gave a subtle signal.
Bucky and the others moved in quickly.
As Locke dropped down from the tree, the group of American soldiers looked at him with unconcealed admiration. Their excitement was obvious, but discipline kept them silent. Instead, their emotions showed in their eyes—respect, awe, and something close to reverence.
The intensity of their stares made Locke feel a faint chill crawl up his spine, and he resisted the urge to sigh.
Moving efficiently, the team advanced deeper into the area. One by one, Locke eliminated four more guards with the same quiet efficiency, clearing a path until they finally reached the outskirts of the German secret facility.
The Hydra base loomed ahead, heavily guarded and faintly illuminated under the dim glow of artificial lights. For the first time since the mission began, Locke felt a trace of real pressure settle in.
Ordinary bullets didn't concern him much, but Hydra's weapons were another matter entirely. Powered by the energy of the Cosmic Cube, those guns were in a completely different category. One direct hit, and even he wouldn't walk away from it unscathed.
At that thought, he finally turned to the soldiers who had been trailing him without engaging so far.
He issued a series of quiet orders, dividing them into two teams. Their objective was simple—neutralize the guards on both flanks simultaneously. Under the cover of darkness, the two groups split apart and advanced toward the base.
The German soldiers, confident in the security of their stronghold, maintained only a loose patrol. Their movements lacked urgency, their vigilance dulled by routine.
That complacency cost them.
Seizing the opportunity, the American soldiers surged forward. The clash was swift and brutal, a flurry of movement and suppressed gunfire. With Locke's assistance tipping the balance, the guards were quickly overwhelmed.
Once the perimeter was cleared, Locke approached the factory entrance. His hand rested briefly on the door as hesitation flickered through him.
Then he pushed it open and stepped inside.
A gunshot exploded.
The impact slammed into his chest before he could react, the force driving him backward. Pain flared sharply as he staggered, the echo of the shot still ringing in the air.
An ambush.
German soldiers had been waiting inside all along.
The moment Locke went down, the soldiers behind him rushed forward, dragging him back out of the doorway. Gunfire erupted instantly as both sides engaged, bullets tearing through the air in rapid succession.
Despite the hit, Locke's vision remained sharp. His marksmanship didn't falter as he raised his weapon and returned fire, quickly eliminating the guards positioned at the entrance.
Grinding his teeth, he cursed inwardly.
He had known the outcome of this mission in broad strokes, but the details had been unclear. Now it was obvious—his movements had been exposed from the very beginning. Hydra had been waiting.
There was a mole inside SHIELD.
The realization hit hard, and with it came a shift in his thinking. The idea of storming through and confronting the Red Skull directly vanished in an instant. This was no longer a controlled operation—it was a trap.
"Fall back!" he shouted sharply.
The order cut through the chaos, and the soldiers began to retreat, firing as they moved toward the jungle behind them. But before they could fully disengage, a thunderous explosion ripped through the factory wall.
Bricks shattered outward as a massive hole was blasted open.
From the smoke and debris, German super soldiers stepped forward, their weapons unlike anything seen before. Without hesitation, they raised their guns and fired.
A beam of energy struck one of the retreating soldiers.
The result was immediate and horrifying.
Locke's pupils shrank as he witnessed it, his body reacting instinctively. "Move!" he barked, forcing himself into motion as he tried to pull the others back.
"No! We can't leave the Colonel behind!"
Bucky's voice rang out over the gunfire, loud and defiant. The retreating soldiers hesitated, then turned back, rallying around Locke instead of continuing their escape.
Shouts erupted as they declared their intent to fight alongside him. Some even spoke with fierce determination, claiming it was an honor to die in battle with him.
Locke's expression twitched, a complicated mix of emotions crossing his face.
Inside, however, his thoughts were far less noble.
You've got to be kidding me.
If they didn't run, how was he supposed to go all out and escape cleanly?
He wanted to grab Bucky and shake him senseless, but one look at the others—their unwavering expressions, their readiness to die—left him with no choice but to swallow the urge.
The firefight intensified.
Hydra's weapons gave them a massive advantage, their firepower overwhelming. The Americans were forced into cover, unable to even raise their heads without risking instant death.
An explosion tore into the ground just ahead of Locke, sending dirt and debris flying. For a split second, he nearly lost control, the instinct to unleash his full power surging dangerously close to the surface.
Behind them, movement stirred in the forest.
More enemies.
The realization spread quickly among the soldiers, their expressions shifting as the situation became clear. They were being surrounded.
"Break out separately!" Locke shouted, his voice cutting through everything.
This time, there was no hesitation.
The soldiers scattered in all directions, finally following the command without argument. Locke moved first, choosing a direction where the forest appeared less dense with enemy presence.
Shouts from German officers echoed behind them as troops gave chase, splitting up to pursue the fleeing Americans.
Locke ran hard, pushing forward until the noise of pursuit began to thin. The forest around him grew quieter, and for a moment, he allowed himself to breathe.
Then he let go.
His body blurred into motion, speed increasing as he moved through the trees like a phantom. Branches and shadows flickered past as he accelerated, no longer holding back.
Ahead, a group of German soldiers conducting a search operation suddenly came into view.
They didn't even have time to react.
Locke closed the distance in an instant, striking with brutal precision. Two lightning-fast punches landed before the soldiers could raise their weapons, dropping them silently.
Without stopping, he vanished into the forest again.
Behind him, shouts erupted as the remaining soldiers realized what had happened. They scrambled into formation, pursuing him with renewed urgency.
Not far away, Bucky and the others arrived just in time to witness the commotion.
"Sir must have drawn them away so we could escape," one soldier said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Bucky's expression tightened, admiration flashing in his eyes. Seizing the opportunity, he led the group in the opposite direction, heading toward what appeared to be a weak point in the German lines.
They ran for nearly half an hour.
By the time they finally stopped, more than a dozen soldiers collapsed into crouched positions, gasping for air. Even with their training, the relentless pace had pushed them to their limits.
One by one, they leaned against the trees, trying to recover.
"I don't know what happened to the Colonel," one soldier said quietly, his voice trembling. "He drew so many of them away… what if—"
A sharp smack cut him off.
Bucky lowered his hand, glaring at the man. "Colonel Locke is the greatest combat hero we have. He's a legend. A man who walked into a German stronghold and blew up fourteen bunkers. You think he's going down like that?"
The soldier froze, his anger fading as shame replaced it.
Bucky took a breath, then spoke again, his tone firm. "We need to get out of here. Once we regroup, we call for reinforcements and go back for him."
"Go?" a voice suddenly echoed through the forest, laced with mockery. "Where exactly do you think you're going?"
The group stiffened, their heads snapping toward the source.
A German soldier stepped out from the shadows, submachine gun raised and aimed directly at them. Around him, more figures emerged silently, encircling the exhausted Americans.
Among them were several soldiers carrying those same strange, ominous weapons.
Despair settled in.
At the sharp command of a German noncommissioned officer, the surrounding troops surged forward, forcing Bucky and the others to the ground.
....
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