In another holding facility within the shadow isles, there were no less than 300 women. Every single one of them was trained as a black widow and controlled by General Dreykov. When Melina captured the floating fortress of Dreykov, she captured these widows too.
These women and most of them were young girls, were placed in different countries and in different locations but thanks to the information inside the Dreykov computer and the help of sorcerers, she managed to bring back every one of them.
Most of them were unconscious thanks to the heavy dose of tranquillizer but now they were beginning to get up. Thanks to their training and their familiarity with each other, they had enough confidence to escape from this place and still did not lose their composure over their capture.
What can the captors do to the women? Sell them as sex slaves or use them as spies. They can do these easily until they get a chance to kill their new employers and return to their base. Sadly, this undying loyalty they had for the Red Room was the result of the brainwashing technique created by Hydra.
"How are they?" Bucky asked to the doctor overseeing these women.
"Confused. Scared. I don't know their physiological condition at this moment but that's how I would be if I was in their shoes. We bought them back from Asia, America, Russia, Europe and many other places. They are as diverse as human beings can be and are of different ages. It is impossible for me to believe they all are trained as Black Widows.
Physically, most of them are completely fine. Some of them were injured during the attack and will need some time before but there are also three of them that will need the assistance of project HEAL if they ever want to live a normal life." The doctor replied truthfully.
"Make a report and send it to me. I will get the necessary preparation." Bucky replied before walking away.
For Bucky, the women behind those glass doors are an existence very similar to him. He too once was captured and kept as nothing more than a killing machine. He can simply put the blame for his deeds on Hydra, but he remembers. He remembers every life he took, especially the killings of his own brothers from Howling Commando.
There will be days with nightmares and sometimes he will find their dead faces staring at him in the darkness. He might be free from Hydra, but his demons are still chasing him.
Taking a deep breath, he came to the command HQ. Today he and Steve are going on a simple mission but the most important for these girls.
"Martha, connect me to Steve," Bucky spoke in his earpiece after wearing his protective gear.
"Hey, Bucky. Are you ready? I am taking my team first." Steve's cheerful voice came from the other side. This asshole, ever since his marriage, has been smiling like a fool.
"Steve?" Bucky asked, "Can I punch you once?"
"Wait…Why?" Steve on the other side was putting on his helmet and was confused.
"No reason. Let me punch you a few times. I think I will feel better." Bucky replied after nodding to the knight team leader following him. He got into his Quinjet along with his team and left the Shadow Isles.
Steve, inside the other Quinjet, looked at Bucky's vehicle and replied "You are jealous of my life. Accept it Bucky. I have such a handsome face, a perfect jawline and now the perfect wife. I am ashamed to say I am the perfect super stud now!"
Bucky listening to this stupid rambling of a fool in his earpiece felt his eyebrows jumping.
"I change my mind. After I come back from the mission. I will make sure to punch you a few times. You owe me a few punches." Bucky replied and then both the guys laughed.
Meanwhile, their Quinjet flew across the ocean and crossed the ocean and reached a secret lab meant to manufacture the important drug they needed. Red Dust. It was created inside a forest area and the trees were meant to hide its obvious presence.
It is the only possible antigen or cure that can free these women and wake them up from hypnosis. This was something that Melina found in Dreykov's drive and it is noted that he sent a killer known as 'Taskmaster' to collect it and destroy it before it can ever threaten his vision of the future.
However, the sudden alien attack halted her mission, and it lost contact with the Red Room. Now, before the Taskmaster reaches here, they must get at least one vial to manufacture the rest.
Bucky and his team got off the Qunijet and released Falcon drones to monitor nearby areas. They used hand signals to move silently and walked in as a trained unit.
"Puch…" A bullet came from nowhere and killed one Knight soldier by breaking his skull through his eye socket before hitting another Knight on the face and killing him instantly at the scene.
"Take Cover! Sniper attack. Take cover!" Bucky shouted in the earpiece and all Knights tried to find some cover but the killer was ruthless and fast.
"Puch!"
"Puch"
"Puch"
Three more shots and three more bodies. The knights were hunted down like a rabbit in the forest.
"Fuck! Martha locates her fast." Bucky feeling angry at losing his team members like this, asked Martha's help hurriedly.
Martha was already using the drones to do the same and based on the bullet projection and 3D spatial construction, she finally zeroed in on the target location.
"30 Metres West, 4th Floor. Target seems to be hiding there based on the bullet projection but there is no heat signature. The possibility of using remote-controlled weapons is not ruled out." Martha reported her findings.
Bucky sent four knights to that area and he along with 2 remaining Knights moved towards the institute at a fast speed. This was a diversion and test to check if the shooter is hiding at another location.
"Puch!" Another bullet came and claimed the life of a knight soldier walking in front of Bucky and Bucky instantly ducked avoiding the bullet still moving in the straight direction.
Bucky knew these bullets were special and had enough power to shoot through tanks let alone human bodies.
He ordered another knight to wait and hide while he decided to make a run for the institute.
Taking a long breath, he put the gun back in its holster and activated an energy shield on his previous metallic hand. Taking a posture, he jumped from the cover and ran straight towards the mission goal.
Ducking under a broken branch and jumping on another, Bucky used fast-paced movement ability to keep his rhythm irregular and his direction changing enough to not give any possible shot.
Finding the location of the institute coming close, Bucky found the area in front was without any protection. He will be running on the empty fields which will become a perfect shooting practice for any sniper.
He had to bet his life on the suits and his ability and ran faster.
"Puch!" Just three steps in front and he was hit in his heart area by the bullet, but the bullet broke on impact and threw Bucky behind with a strong force.
Bucky ignoring the pain used the momentum to do a backflip and shot at the possible shooter direction.
"Puch!" Another bullet came and this time from another direction and hit on his helmet. Again, the impact and again, a small explosion throwing Bucky to the ground, breaking his balance.
Bucky noticed this gunshot and used his earpiece to order the remaining knights.
"This is a trap. I repeat. This is a trap. Make your way back to the Qunijet and take cover." Bucky gave clear instructions to his team and the remaining 6 knights halted their movement and decided to follow their leader's orders.