Pierce lounged upstairs in Germany, idly sipping red wine when his phone rang. His face darkened visibly as he listened. With a sudden motion, he hurled the expensive wine onto the even pricier carpet and barked into the phone, lacing his words with curses.
"You haven't even identified the intruders? What about the surveillance feeds?"
"Sir, the intruders took control of surveillance from the start."
"Then scramble reinforcements!"
"They're already deployed, but the base's signals were jammed right after the breach."
"Useless! Every last one of you!"
Pierce ripped his tie loose after the outburst.
"Get me a plane—I'm returning immediately. Expedite final testing on the Insight Project and set up a meeting with Fury."
"Understood."
The Winter Soldier's strength? Compared to Master Hong, he was insignificant. But against ordinary humans—even elite special forces—he stood unmatched. Bucky remained the undisputed strongest among them.
Not because of his combat skills or firearms expertise. Not even the mechanical arm. His true value lay in controlling him meant controlling a living legend: Steve Rogers.
Big Head worked the controls for a few moments before machinery whirred to life. Bucky's cryo-pod hissed as it depressurized. The seat slid forward, releasing a plume of frosty air. Moments later, Bucky's eyes snapped open—blank, lifeless pupils staring through synthetic skin like a doll's glass eyes.
"Special case?"
Frank leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Hong Fei pulled out his phone, tilted Bucky's chin up with one finger, and snapped a headshot. Bucky didn't so much as twitch.
"Arthur, search."
The screen flickered. In under a second, Bucky's photos populated the display. Hong Fei turned it toward Frank.
"Look."
Most images showed the Captain America museum exhibits. James Barnes: fallen hero, Captain America's brother-in-arms, celebrated worldwide.
"That's him?"
Frank's eyebrow jerked up.
"I've visited that museum. Heard the name. Never thought he'd still be breathing."
Hong Fei nodded, then shook his head.
"For him? Breathing might be worse than dying."
Frank took one look at Bucky's hollow expression and understood. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head—a soldier's empathy for another broken warrior.
Hong Fei's brow furrowed in thought.
Frank caught the expression.
"What's on your mind?"
"Whether to bring Steve here."
"Huh? Is that even a question?"
"It is. This man means everything to Steve. His best friend—no contest. They were inseparable even before the serum. Barnes wasn't just the weak Steve's protector; he shaped who Rogers became."
The realization hit Frank. That's why Hong Fei handled Barnes differently.
"If he's that important, why hesitate? Steve trusts you completely."
"True. But he's also... complicated."
Precisely because Steve trusted him implicitly—saw him as family—Hong Fei couldn't just eliminate Bucky. Even though he could have done it quietly without telling Frank or Big Head, Master Hong felt that would betray Steve's trust. Villainous as he often was, Hong Fei understood reciprocity. Killing and fighting operated on different moral axes. No amount of Dragon Bone justified burning that bridge.
It would be a waste and could damage their relationship.
"Forget it. I'll bring Steve over, and we'll see," Hong Fei said, opening a portal. On the other side, Steve was drenched in sweat, pounding a punching bag with frustration. Hearing the noise, he snapped his head around.
Seeing Hong Fei, his serious expression melted into a smile.
"Hong, what's wrong?"
Hong Fei gestured for him to come through. Steve stepped into the portal, which closed behind him. Glancing back, he remarked, "That's an incredible ability. Like magic."
"It is magic," Hong Fei replied. Steve didn't notice Bucky, who sat with his head bowed.
Steve looked around, his smile fading as he took in the surroundings.
"This looks like architecture from my era."
"Exactly. It's a HYDRA base," Hong Fei confirmed. Steve stiffened.
"HYDRA again? Have you cleared this place out?"
Hong Fei shook his head.
"Not me. Frank did."
Steve turned to Frank with admiration.
"Good job, friend."
Frank gave a reserved nod.
Hong Fei interrupted, "Alright, stop looking around. Turn here."
He reached out and lifted Bucky's face. Steve turned, and his entire body froze.
"Bucky!" he cried out, rushing forward. Hong Fei stepped back silently. Steve dropped to his knees in front of Bucky, calling his name repeatedly. When he caught sight of the metal arm, his eyes welled up with tears.
Big Head whispered psychically to Hong Fei, "Boss, why does their relationship seem... unusual?"
"What are you trying to say?"
Hong Fei shot back.
"Um... I think they look like a cou—"
"Shut up. You're insulting their deep friendship. Do you even have friends? Brothers you'd trust with your life? Anyone willing to die for you? Anyone you'd die for? No. You're alone."
Big Head immediately wilted.
"Hong, what happened to Bucky?"
Steve turned, his face etched with sorrow. Hong Fei pointed to the nearby unopened cryo-pods.
"They're all the same. Frozen by HYDRA for years. Only woken up for missions. And they've all been brainwashed."
"HYDRA!" Steve growled, his voice thick with anger.
"Those damn bastards!"
"Don't worry. Big Head, you're up."
Big Head released his psychic power. Soon, Bucky's eyelids flickered, and his eyes regained their sharpness. But when he saw Steve, there was no brotherly reunion. Instead, he reacted instinctively, raising his metal arm and throwing a punch. Steve dodged just in time, leaping back.
"Bucky! It's me, Steve!"
Bucky didn't respond. He stood abruptly, his eyes scanning the room with murderous intent. Hong Fei happened to be closest. Bucky stepped onto the cryo-pod and launched himself into the air, his metal fist clenched with a series of clicks as it hurtled toward Hong Fei's face. The move was swift, fierce, and undeniably cool.
Hong Fei raised his own fist in response. Their fists collided with a dull thud. The force traveled from Bucky's fist to his forearm and upper arm, causing the metal plates on his arm to explode violently from bottom to top. In an instant, Bucky was flung backward at an even greater speed than he'd come. He slammed into the metal wall with a loud crash and crumpled to the ground, motionless.
"Ehe!" Hong Fei exclaimed, surprised. He'd tried to hold back but hadn't expected to send Bucky flying.
"Ehe?"
Steve turned to glare at him, his eyes full of resentment. Hong Fei coughed awkwardly, trying to mask his embarrassment. Steve hurried forward, reaching out to help Bucky up.
Bucky's hand shot out unexpectedly, fingers grasping for Steve's ankle just as he reached him. Hong Fei reacted instantly—his palm slammed downward. A spectral dragon claw materialized above Bucky's head, pinning him with crushing force.
"Big Head," Hong Fei snapped, "if you were half as competent as you are useless, we wouldn't be in this mess."
Big Head scrambled to comply while babbling excuses.
"Boss, his mind's defenses are complex! The countermeasures triggered the moment I made neural contact."
Hong Fei merely nodded.
"HYDRA's programming runs deep."
Bucky's struggles ceased abruptly. His eyelids fluttered shut as unconsciousness claimed him.
The dragon claw dissipated at Hong Fei's gesture.
"He'll need hours of rest," Big Head reported.
"Full recovery upon waking. But to purge the brainwashing completely..."
He trailed off meaningfully.
"How long?" Steve demanded.
Big Head calculated.
"Sessions every three days. A month should suffice."
Steve clasped the technician's shoulder.
"Whatever resources you need—just name them."
Big Head's gaze flicked nervously to Hong Fei.
"Why look at me?"
Hong Fei arched an eyebrow.
"Having second thoughts?"
"No! Of course I'll help! Steve's our friend!" Steve smiled gratefully.
"I appreciate it."
Hong Fei surveyed the chamber.
"Release the other six. We're taking them all."
He turned to Steve.
"You're coming to Sokovia with me."
Steve hesitated, eyes lingering on Bucky.
"The Foundation negotiations—"
"Leave that to Xu Wenwu."
Hong Fei cut him off.
"He won't fail us."
Steve's laugh held no humor.
"My concern isn't his competence. It's whether he'll slaughter everyone at the table."
"I'll rein him in."
Hong Fei's tone brooked no argument.
"Besides—you'd make a terrible diplomat right now."
After a long pause, Steve exhaled.
"Alright."
He crouched beside Bucky, gently lifting his friend's shoulders. As Big Head secured the other six prisoners, golden sparks erupted in the air. The portal swallowed them whole.
Shortly after, Rumlow arrived with a HYDRA reinforcement team. The sight of seven empty cryo-pods twisted his features—expected, yet still infuriating. When he radioed headquarters, his expression darkened further under the torrent of reprimands.