Boom!
Steve's body slammed hard against the side of the aircraft, the reinforced metal denting inward from the impact. Pain exploded through his abdomen, forcing a sharp breath from his lungs as he steadied himself. His eyes snapped forward, locking onto the second attacker who had emerged from the shadows.
Another Hydra agent.
But something about him felt wrong.
"Red Skull?" Steve's voice tightened as realization flickered in his mind. The pieces finally began to align, and he understood—one of the two "agents" had never been one at all.
The man grinned, his expression twisting into something feral. "You've interfered with Hydra's grand design one too many times."
His hands rose slowly, gripping the edge of his disguise. With a deliberate motion, he peeled it away.
The red, skull-like face beneath was unmistakable.
"I could do this all day," Steve said, lowering his stance and raising his fists. His body shifted into a combat-ready posture, every muscle coiled and prepared.
"Funny," Red Skull sneered. "Now die."
The Hydra agent, having regained his footing, lunged forward again. His punch came fast and heavy, aimed straight at Steve's face. Steve twisted aside at the last second, his body moving with precision as he countered.
His fist drove hard into the man's armpit, forcing a grunt of pain.
At the same time, Steve snapped his arms up across his chest, his shield angled perfectly as Red Skull's follow-up strike slammed into it. The force reverberated through his arms, but he held firm.
The fight became chaos.
Three figures clashed in the narrow cabin, their movements blurring together as fists, shields, and bodies collided again and again. Steve fought with everything he had, but the coordination between the two enemies began to wear him down.
Red Skull's technique was sharp, calculated.
Every time Steve gained a momentary advantage over the Hydra agent, a strike from Red Skull followed immediately, punishing him before he could capitalize. The rhythm of the fight shifted against him, his body absorbing hit after hit.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Steve drew his pistol and fired, forcing space between them. Bullets sparked against surfaces, some ricocheting wildly as he raised his shield to block incoming fire. The metallic clang echoed in the confined space as sparks burst outward.
His expression hardened.
Across from him, Red Skull and the Hydra agent exchanged a brief glance. A silent understanding passed between them.
Then the Hydra agent moved.
He dropped his defense entirely, charging forward without hesitation. Steve's fist slammed into him, but instead of retreating, the man endured the blow and closed the distance.
Before Steve could react, the Hydra agent wrapped his arms around him and dragged him down.
They hit the floor hard.
Steve drove his elbow down into the man's back, but the grip didn't loosen. The Hydra agent locked him in place, holding him just long enough.
That was all Red Skull needed.
He stepped forward, drawing a dagger. The blade gleamed coldly in the flickering light as he raised it high, aiming straight for Steve's head.
Time seemed to slow.
Then—
A blur.
A figure appeared between them, moving so fast it left an afterimage. A hand shot out and caught Red Skull's wrist mid-strike, stopping the dagger just inches from Steve's eyes.
The blade froze in place.
Steve exhaled sharply, his heart pounding as he stared at the man who had intervened.
"Colonel?"
"It's you?" the Hydra agent blurted at the same time, shock evident in his voice.
Red Skull pulled back instinctively, trying to free his arm, but the grip didn't budge. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the newcomer.
Then—
A fist came at him.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Locke's punches landed in rapid succession, each strike heavier than the last. The final blow smashed into Red Skull's head, sending him flying backward into the cabin wall with crushing force.
The impact rattled the entire aircraft.
Without pause, Locke snatched the dagger from Red Skull's hand and flung it back at him. Red Skull reacted just in time, dropping and rolling across the floor in an almost awkward motion that somehow kept him alive.
Locke didn't pursue.
Instead, he pivoted.
The Hydra agent had already released Steve and was attempting to retreat. Locke's leg snapped out like a whip, catching him mid-motion and sending him skidding across the floor.
He reached down and pulled Steve to his feet with ease.
"Still need more training, Steve," Locke said with a faint smile.
Steve stared at him, still trying to process everything. "Colonel… you—"
"We'll talk after this," Locke cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He raised a piece of metal plating he'd grabbed along the way, using it as a shield as bullets struck and ricocheted away. Steve mirrored him, lifting his own shield as they both focused on the enemies taking cover ahead.
Behind the bunker, Red Skull's voice rang out.
"So there's another one," he said, his tone darkening. "Colonel Locke. It seems the rumors didn't do you justice. You're far more dangerous than Steve."
His mind raced, searching for a way to regain control of the situation.
Then—
Click.
A small object landed at his feet.
His eyes dropped.
Grenade.
"What the—"
He didn't even finish the curse before diving.
The explosion tore through the cabin, shrapnel blasting outward in all directions. Red Skull twisted mid-motion, but a fragment still sliced into his ankle.
Pain flared, forcing a stagger as he retreated toward the cockpit.
At the same time, the Hydra agent popped up, weapon raised. A stream of bullets tore toward Locke, forcing him to duck back behind cover.
Steve moved.
With a sharp motion, he hurled his shield. It struck a machine, ricocheted at a precise angle, and slammed directly into the Hydra agent.
The man dropped.
Locke couldn't help the quick thumbs-up.
That was clean.
He surged forward instantly, closing the distance in a blink. The Hydra agent barely had time to react before Locke was on him, dagger in hand.
The blade drove down.
It struck the shield, but the force behind it sent a shock through the man's body, forcing him lower.
Locke crouched, his presence overwhelming.
This wasn't like fighting Steve.
This felt like facing something else entirely.
The dagger shifted in Locke's grip. In one fluid motion, he twisted the shield aside and drove the blade into the man's shoulder.
The steel pierced flesh cleanly.
A strangled cry tore from the Hydra agent's throat as pain exploded through him. He forced himself to endure it, raising his shield in a desperate counterattack.
Boom!
The strike landed.
Locke didn't move.
Steve stared, stunned.
"Go after Red Skull," Locke said sharply. "I've got this one."
His foot lashed out, kicking the Hydra agent away before he could recover.
Steve hesitated for only a fraction of a second before nodding. Then he turned and sprinted toward the cockpit.
Behind him, the Hydra agent's resolve broke.
He didn't want this fight anymore.
This man—
He was terrifying.
"Let's finish this," Locke said quietly.
His eyes sharpened.
In the next instant, his speed exploded.
To the Hydra agent, it felt like the world blurred. Locke's figure vanished and reappeared in front of him in a heartbeat. The dagger came down like lightning.
"What the hell are you—"
Boom—
…
Steve burst into the cockpit.
He froze.
Red Skull stood there, clutching a glowing cube.
Brilliant blue light radiated from it, illuminating the entire space with an otherworldly glow.
The Cosmic Cube.
"Ahhh—!"
Red Skull's scream echoed, raw and distorted as energy surged through his body. The light seemed to consume him, warp him, yet he held on, his grin twisting into something manic.
Steve didn't hesitate.
He charged.
The shield came up as he prepared to strike, but a beam of blue energy shot from the cube. It slammed into him, sending his body flying backward as if struck by a cannon.
Red Skull stood at the center of the storm.
Energy coiled around him, the air distorting under its pressure. His expression shifted into one of triumph as he felt the power flooding his body.
"I thought I would fail," he laughed, his voice echoing unnaturally. "But the Cube… it's changed. Its power is stable now!"
He raised his hand, blue energy gathering into a sphere.
"I am unstoppable!"
Steve pushed himself up and charged again.
Red Skull moved faster.
He sidestepped the attack and drove a punch into Steve's chin. The force launched Steve upward, his body slamming into the ceiling before crashing back down.
Red Skull turned, energy building in his palm.
This would end it.
Then—
A shadow moved.
Locke.
He appeared beside Red Skull in an instant.
One hand seized the Cosmic Cube.
The other—
Drove the dagger straight into Red Skull's chest.
Time shattered.
Red Skull's eyes widened, disbelief freezing his expression as he stared at the man in front of him.
"You—"
The dagger twisted.
Pain erupted.
He screamed.
But he didn't let go of the Cube.
Energy exploded.
Blue light engulfed them both, surging wildly as it wrapped around Locke's body as well. The force was overwhelming, violent, uncontrollable.
Locke felt it immediately.
This wasn't something even he could fully control.
Then—
A voice.
Cold. Mechanical.
"Contact with Cosmic Cube established. Super soldier abilities acquired. Mission complete. Preparing return to main world."
The tension in Locke's chest vanished instantly.
Relief replaced it.
As the light swallowed him, he turned his head.
Steve was running toward him.
"You did good, Steve," Locke said, his voice steady. "Keep going."
The light consumed everything.
In the next instant—
They were gone.
The energy burst outward, throwing Steve backward.
He hit the ground hard.
Silence followed.
Steve lay there, staring at the empty space where Locke had stood. His vision blurred as tears filled his eyes, Locke's final expression burned into his mind.
Slowly, he stood.
His hand rose.
A perfect military salute.
"Colonel… rest easy."
The plane shook violently, alarms blaring as warning lights flashed across the cockpit. Steve forced himself into motion, pushing forward and taking control.
The communication line connected.
Carter.
Chester.
Their faces appeared on the screen, filled with tension and fear.
Steve told them everything.
Every detail.
Including Locke's final act.
Silence filled the connection.
Then Carter's expression shifted, realization dawning. Her eyes widened as she looked at Steve.
He smiled faintly.
"This plane… it's not landing."
Below, the city stretched out, alive and unaware.
Steve adjusted the controls.
He turned the aircraft away.
Toward the north.
Snow and ice filled the horizon as the plane roared forward, its systems failing, its path set.
Chester said nothing.
Carter covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
They all understood.
Steve's grip tightened on the controls as the frozen expanse rushed up to meet him.
Colonel… you'd approve of this.
....
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