Harry's dragon-phoenix form arced through the air above the battlefield, the wind whipping around him as his fiery breath scorched the ground below. Every motion of his body felt fluid, a seamless blend of power and grace. His glowing golden eyes swept over the Hydra convoy below, taking in the chaos as soldiers scrambled to respond to the aerial threat that had appeared out of nowhere.
The first wave of soldiers tried to return fire, but Harry wasn't about to let them get away that easily. With a snap of his tail, he sent one armored vehicle tumbling into a barricade, the explosion of flames and debris lighting up the night sky. The soldiers screamed in panic, but it was too late. Harry's wings beat the air like the thunder of a storm as he dove lower, his fire igniting a trail of destruction. Another convoy vehicle was reduced to a molten wreck in an instant.
"Target acquired," Harry muttered to himself, a wicked grin curling across his scaled lips. The Hydra soldiers below scattered, but it was clear they had no real strategy in the face of such overwhelming power. Not that they'd need one for long.
Bucky's voice crackled through the comms, cutting through the chaos. "Incoming, Harry. More soldiers to your left—looks like they're trying to flank you!"
Harry glanced to the side, his sharp dragon's senses already detecting the movement of the Hydra troops. His grin widened, the anticipation bubbling within him. "I see 'em," he growled in response, his voice like a low rumble of thunder. "Time for a little surprise."
He twisted in the air, diving toward the oncoming flank of Hydra soldiers. With a fierce roar, he released another burst of fire, engulfing several of them before they even had a chance to react. The air was thick with smoke and the scent of burning metal and flesh. As soldiers scrambled to evade, Harry gripped a nearby tank with his claws, lifting it effortlessly into the air before hurling it at a group of retreating Hydra agents. It slammed into them with a deafening crash, tossing them like ragdolls.
"Should've packed a bigger lunch," Harry chuckled darkly, before his attention was pulled to the comms again.
"Stay focused, Harry," Peggy's voice came through with a sharp edge, a tone only Captain Carter could pull off. "We've got more than just Hydra soldiers to deal with."
Harry shot her a mental salute before glancing to the sky. "Copy that, Captain."
Behind him, Alexei's deep voice boomed through the comms, punctuated by the sound of his large frame moving into position. "This is gonna be fun," he growled, a grin audible in his voice. "Hydra thought they could bring more? I'll show them what happens when they mess with the Red Guardian."
"Alexei, don't go picking fights," Natasha added, a smile tugging at her lips, though her voice was as dangerous as ever. "We're here to wrap this up, not start a global incident."
"Right, right," Alexei chuckled, his rifle coming to life with a series of sharp cracks as he took down Hydra soldiers from his vantage point. "But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy myself, eh?"
"Just keep it contained," Natasha replied, ever the strategist. "We don't need unnecessary casualties." Her voice was steady, but there was always an undercurrent of calculation in everything she said.
Harry snorted, his eyes flicking toward the building where Project Aegis was being kept. The Cloak of Levitation was already in motion, performing the task Harry had set for it with uncanny precision. But while his cloak was handling that delicate operation, Harry still had a fight on his hands.
"I'll wrap this up in style," Harry said, his voice thick with anticipation. "Hang tight, everyone."
As the last Hydra soldiers below tried to make a stand behind their makeshift barricades, Harry's form blurred with speed. He landed with a massive thud in front of them, sending the ground trembling. His glowing eyes narrowed, the fire within him barely contained. "Your turn."
"Harry," Bucky's voice warned, his tone a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "You're not about to—"
But it was too late.
Harry's wings unfurled, catching the wind in a magnificent display of molten fire and feathers. He roared—a deep, resonant sound that echoed across the battlefield like a storm's rage. The Hydra soldiers flinched, some trembling as they realized what they were up against. The rest of them? They didn't even have a chance to scream.
Before they could pull their triggers, Harry unleashed a wave of flames that swallowed them whole. The fire didn't just burn—it scorched the very air, warping the heat into something more akin to the wrath of a vengeful deity. The last few soldiers, barely able to react, were thrown back by the sheer force of the blast.
When the smoke cleared, the battlefield was eerily silent. Harry stood there, his chest heaving with exertion, as he surveyed the aftermath. The remnants of Hydra's forces were scattered around him, some still moving, but most left incapacitated or dead. Harry's golden eyes gleamed with cold satisfaction. This was what he'd trained for.
"Target neutralized," Harry said, his voice coming through the comms, though there was no joy in it—only a hard edge. "We're done here."
Alexei chuckled, the sound rich and deep. "Hell yeah. Let's get out of here before they bring in more toys to play with."
Steve's voice broke in, calm as ever, the steady presence of a leader in the chaos. "Everyone, keep your heads on straight. We're not out of the woods yet. We still have Project Aegis to secure."
Harry nodded, his wings folding as he hovered above the wreckage. He could feel the Cloak working its magic already. The task was nearly complete. Project Aegis was in safe hands—and soon, the team would be ready to exfiltrate.
"Got it," Harry responded, more to himself than anyone else. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the facility below for any last signs of resistance. "I'll wrap up the rest. You all head for the exit. I'll see you there."
As the rest of the team moved toward their extraction point, Harry's wings flapped once more, sending him soaring into the air with purpose. The cloak was already handling the delicate task of securing Project Aegis. There was nothing left to do but clean up. And that, Harry Potter had always been good at.
Just as he prepared to land in front of the remaining Hydra soldiers—those who had managed to escape the initial chaos—his thoughts flickered to the mission at hand. Project Aegis was secure. There was nothing else for him to do but make sure no one was left standing.
"One more thing," Harry muttered, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he prepared to finish the job. "I hate leaving a mess."
And with that, he dove back into the fray, the sounds of his fierce battle cry filling the air.
—
The last of the Hydra soldiers crumpled to the ground in a heap, their weapons abandoned as they lay defeated, helpless in the wake of the fury Harry had unleashed. His golden eyes—glowing like twin embers—swept the battlefield for any remaining threats, a predator's instinct keeping him alert. But there was nothing left but the wreckage of the Hydra base and the echo of fire in the air.
Harry took a deep breath, exhaling as his body began to shift. His massive wings folded in, their fiery glow dimming as his form shrank. The heat that had radiated from his phoenix-dragon hybrid body dissipated, leaving behind only the soft, golden gleam of his red-and-gold armor. His wings vanished into the fabric, as though they had never been there. His eyes softened, returning to their usual golden hue, as the Revenant—his true self—was restored.
As if answering his transformation, the Cloak of Levitation fluttered toward him, the expanded pouch securely fastened. With a graceful motion, Harry caught the cloak and pulled it over his shoulders, tugging it into place. The pouch, stuffed with the spoils of their mission, rested comfortably at his side, and Harry couldn't help but appreciate the weight of their success.
The others—Red Guardian, White Wolf, Captain America, and Black Widow—had begun to make their way to the van, but they froze when they saw him. Their eyes widened, taking in the sight of Harry standing there, resplendent in his armor.
Bucky, ever the cynic with a sharp edge, was the first to break the silence. "Alright, now I've seen it all," he muttered, shaking his head with a mixture of awe and disbelief. "You got a new trick up your sleeve, Harry? Because that... that was not the usual 'saving the day' routine."
Steve gave him a side-eye, his lips curling into a smile despite himself. "Yeah, seriously, Harry. I've got questions. First one being, where do you even find the time to get new powers like that?"
Natasha leaned against the van, arms crossed and her usual smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "I know, right? You're making the rest of us look bad, with all your shiny new forms and god-like abilities." Her gaze flicked over his armor and then narrowed, her curiosity clearly piqued. "So, what was that back there? Some kind of new form? You've been holding out on us?"
Harry chuckled softly, adjusting the cloak as if it were a casual piece of clothing. He couldn't suppress the smile on his face. "You guys know I'm an Animagus, right?" he asked, his tone light and nonchalant. "So... that form?" He paused for effect, grinning as he glanced at each of them. "That was my new Animagus form. A Fenghuang. A dragon-phoenix hybrid."
Alexei, still a bit overwhelmed by the sheer spectacle of it all, blinked twice, a frown deepening on his face. "A what now?"
Harry gave a half-laugh, shaking his head. "A Fenghuang. It's from Chinese mythology. A creature that's a combination of a dragon and a phoenix. Immortal, reborn from its ashes, and all that dramatic flair." He flicked a hand dismissively, grinning wider. "So yeah, fire, flight, immortality—basically, I'm the ultimate package."
Natasha's smirk deepened into a grin as she crossed her arms, clearly entertained. "Fire-breathing dragon and an immortal bird, huh? Can't say I'm surprised." Her voice was teasing but layered with genuine curiosity. "You just keep getting more dangerous, don't you, Potter?"
"That's one way to put it," Bucky chimed in, his tone dry but tinged with admiration. He shook his head, still in disbelief. "You know, I've fought some weird stuff in my day, but that? That was something else. You were flying like a freakin' storm."
Steve crossed his arms, a thoughtful look on his face. "A Fenghuang," he repeated, as if testing the word out. "A mix of a dragon and a phoenix... sounds like something you've pulled out of an ancient legend." He glanced over at Harry, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You're pulling from some deep stuff, Harry."
"Yeah," Harry said with a shrug, running a hand through his hair. "I figured I'd shake things up a bit. It seemed fitting, considering what I've had to go through. You know, fire, flight, rebirth... kind of sums up my whole deal. Powerful, but unpredictable, right?" He tilted his head with a grin, his golden eyes gleaming mischievously.
Natasha's lips quirked. "I'm sure the rest of the world would agree. I mean, I don't think Hydra's ever seen a fire-breathing dragon come for them."
Harry gave a wry smile, his tone dry. "Yeah, well, that's their problem now." He patted the pouch at his side, the weight of the collected intel from their mission a reminder of their success. "Let's just say I've got everything we came for. And Hydra's not going to be bothering anyone else tonight."
Peggy's voice cut through their banter, sharp and no-nonsense. "You all done playing superhero? I'd prefer if we left before Hydra comes up with a plan for a counterattack." There was a tone of impatience in her voice, as though she had been waiting long enough for them to finish their post-battle debriefing.
Steve smirked and gave her a nod over his shoulder. "On our way, Captain Carter!" He glanced back at Harry. "Just wanted to make sure you didn't burn the place down… again."
"One step at a time, Steve," Harry quipped, his voice light. "I'm still working on the whole 'controlled destruction' thing."
As they walked toward the van, Alexei slapped Harry on the back with the kind of force that sent a slight jolt through him. "I get it now," Alexei said with a low laugh. "A dragon-phoenix hybrid. You're like the fantasy version of a nuclear bomb, huh?"
Harry raised an eyebrow, but he couldn't help the chuckle that escaped. "Great. Just what I needed—another nickname."
Bucky's laugh echoed from behind. "I mean, it was pretty cool, Harry. You were like a walking natural disaster."
Harry shot him a playful glare. "I'm glad you all appreciate my flair for the dramatic." His eyes sparkled with mischief. "But let's focus on the important stuff, shall we? We've got what we came for. Time to go."
Steve opened the van door, and they all piled inside, ready to leave the wreckage behind. Harry took a last look at the remains of the Hydra base, the last flickers of flame dying out. It had been a hard-fought victory, but for now, the mission was over.
"Let's go," Harry said, his voice softening but still filled with determination. "Hydra won't be troubling anyone tonight."
Natasha shot him a knowing look as she slid into the van beside him. "Just don't burn down the next place we go to, alright?" Her voice was light, but there was a teasing edge to it.
"One step at a time, Nat," Harry responded with a grin. "One step at a time."
—
The van doors slammed shut with a heavy thud, the dust still settling from the battle they'd just fought. Inside the cramped space, the team tried to catch their breath, but before they could truly relax, something unexpected happened.
The comms crackled to life, the sharp static grating against their ears. Then, as if in defiance of the stillness, the unmistakable opening riff of Thunderstruck by AC/DC blasted through their earpieces. The guitars hit with such intensity it felt like the ground itself might shake.
Everyone froze, eyes snapping wide open. Bucky's hand immediately hovered over his sidearm, Natasha's sharp gaze darted toward the rearview mirrors, Steve's posture shifted slightly, muscles tensing in preparation, and Harry's eyes flashed, golden and intense, scanning the horizon for any threat.
"What the hell is that?" Bucky growled, clearly unamused as his fingers twitched over his weapon.
"I thought I was the only one with a flair for the dramatic," Harry muttered, his brow furrowing in mild confusion. He looked to Natasha, who was equally perplexed, raising a brow at him.
"Don't look at me," Natasha replied, just as puzzled. "I think this is a first."
Before they could exchange another word, a loud whooshing sound tore through the air—something, or someone, was coming in fast. The noise grew louder and louder, until—
BOOM.
A red and gold blur hurtled from the sky, crashing down with all the grace of a wrecking ball. The earth trembled as the figure hit the ground with a perfect superhero landing—a knee bent, a fist planted on the dirt, sending a plume of dust into the air.
The team stared, eyes wide, jaws slightly slack, at the figure rising from the dust. The suit shimmered with red and gold, the unmistakable design of a high-tech armor that screamed "futuristic genius." Then, the figure straightened up, standing tall and confident as the dust settled.
There was a dramatic pause—almost theatrical—as the figure stood there, clearly waiting for the perfect moment. And then, through their earpieces, a voice rang out, dripping with cockiness.
"Did someone order a hero?"
There was an awkward silence before Bucky snorted in disbelief, "Really?"
Harry was the first to speak up, raising an eyebrow. "Is he... wearing my colors?" His voice was a mix of amusement and mild annoyance. "Tony Stark, you absolute cheeky little—"
The figure in the red and gold armor whipped off his helmet with a flourish, revealing a very young, very disheveled Tony Stark. His hair was messy from the high-speed descent, and the grin on his face was a mix of pride and sheer smugness.
"Sorry I'm late!" Tony declared with a wide grin, brushing dust off his shoulder as if he hadn't just crashed into the ground like a meteor. "Had to make a grand entrance, you know? I figured I'd spice things up a little."
Harry couldn't hide the smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, now you show up. And here I thought I was the one with the whole red-and-gold thing." He crossed his arms, eyes narrowing in mock disbelief. "You're stealing my color scheme, Stark."
Tony shot him an exaggerated look of offense, his lips curling into an almost comical pout. "Oh, please. You may have had the whole 'red-and-gold' vibe going for you, but this—" He gestured to his shiny new suit with a dramatic sweep. "This is Iron Man. I'm pretty sure I made it look a lot cooler than you ever could."
Harry rolled his eyes but kept the playful banter going. "Right, and I'm the one who told everyone that red-and-gold was the new black."
Before Tony could fire back, Bucky's voice cut through the banter, dripping with sarcasm. "Iron Man? How original."
"Not at all," Steve said, his voice filled with wry amusement as he glanced over at Bucky. "But it's good to see he's bringing style to the table. Someone had to." He shot Tony a grin.
"Well, I can't leave all the heavy lifting to you guys," Tony shot back, clearly undeterred. He brushed imaginary dust off his chest, not missing a beat. "So where are all the Hydra guys? Did I miss the fight?" His voice betrayed a hint of genuine confusion as his eyes darted over the wreckage.
"You missed the entire party," Natasha said, her lips curving into a teasing grin as she folded her arms across her chest. "Where were you, Tony?"
Tony blinked, disbelief flashing across his face. "Wait. Wait. Wait. What do you mean? The big fight? The explosions? The lasers?" His gaze bounced between the team, clearly trying to piece things together. "Did I really miss all that?"
Harry leaned against the van casually, giving Tony a sidelong glance. "Yeah, the fight's already over. You missed all of it." He shrugged nonchalantly, though his golden eyes glittered with mischief. "Oh, and by the way, I turned into a freaking Fenghuang—like, a dragon-phoenix hybrid now. No big deal."
Bucky raised an eyebrow, clearly trying to suppress his amusement. "Yeah, that little detail didn't quite make it onto your live stream."
Steve chuckled, a fond smirk pulling at his lips as he shook his head. "Guess we can't always rely on Tony for the save, huh?"
Tony's face froze in shock. "Wait—wait. You really turned into a—what? A dragon-phoenix hybrid?" His mouth hung open for a moment, before he broke into a dramatic, playful groan. "I missed the moment of transformation? That's—" He threw his hands up. "That's... disappointing. You couldn't have waited for me to arrive and at least make it dramatic?"
Alexei, who had been silently observing from the back of the van, finally let out a bellow of laughter, slapping Tony on the back with enough force to almost send him crashing into the van's door. "Good to see you, Stark. Maybe next time you'll make it on time for the action."
Tony shot him a playful glare. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. I'm late." He flicked a finger at Alexei. "But just so you know, I'm here now. And I'll still be stealing the spotlight later. Wait for it."
"You better," Bucky quipped. "For the sake of your ego."
"Don't worry, I'll be back in action before you know it. In style," Tony assured them, grinning from ear to ear.
Harry shook his head in amusement, but his voice was teasing as he addressed Tony, "Don't worry, Stark. We'll save you a seat for the next fight."
Tony smirked back, his helmet clicking into place with a soft hiss. "Don't worry, Potter. I'll make sure it's worth the wait."
As the team piled back into the van, Harry gave Tony one last glance, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Next time, Tony. Next time."
With that, the van rumbled to life and pulled away from the wreckage. Tony might have missed his debut, but Harry was certain it wouldn't be long before the young genius made his mark. The real fight? That was just getting started.
And as for the song still blasting through their comms?
"Perfect," Harry muttered with a grin. "Absolutely perfect."
—
As the van cruised through the quiet streets of Riga, the post-mission exhaustion hung heavily in the air, but there was a sense of anticipation among the team. They had just completed a risky operation, and the weight of it was starting to settle in. Inside the van, the members of the team were quietly processing the events—none of them were strangers to danger, but this mission had hit a little harder than usual.
Harry, as always, couldn't resist breaking the silence. He leaned back in his seat, his golden eyes flashing with a mix of amusement and weariness. "I'm just saying, Tony, next time maybe don't make us wait until the fireworks start before you show up. The van's going to need therapy after that entrance."
Tony Stark didn't look up from adjusting his gauntlet. The faintest trace of a smirk tugged at his lips. "Oh, I'll keep that in mind. You can't rush greatness, you know." He flicked a switch on his gauntlet, the bright red and gold fading as it powered down, compacting into a more manageable form. "Besides, what's the point of being fashionably late if you don't make an entrance?"
"An entrance is one thing," Bucky grumbled, clearly unimpressed. "But I've been trying to get the adrenaline out of my bloodstream for the last ten minutes. A little less flair next time, huh?"
Steve Rogers, sitting across from them, chuckled softly. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes, though. "I think we've all had our fill of the show for today. Next time, Tony, just... show up on time. No need for the dramatics."
Natasha, who had been silent until now, let out a low chuckle. Her voice was dry as usual, sharp with that familiar no-nonsense edge. "If he pulls that again, I'll personally take him off the comms. Not even 'Thunderstruck' can save him from that." She shot Tony a pointed glance, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Tony grinned. "You guys just don't appreciate good music, do you? Thunderstruck's a classic."
Bucky raised an eyebrow, his tone flat. "I was hoping the next time I heard it, it wouldn't be because we were waiting on Stark to waltz in like a superhero from a cheesy movie."
"Oh, relax," Tony shot back, looking completely unbothered by Bucky's grumbling. "At least the van's still in one piece. That's something, right?"
"Let's keep the victory parade short," Peggy interjected, her voice cutting through the banter like a blade. She was always the one to focus on the task at hand. "Vladis is expecting us. We've got a lot of data to go through."
At the mention of Vladis, the room's tone shifted. Vladis was SHIELD's handler in Latvia, and while the team could joke around with each other, there was no room for levity with him. He was all business, no fluff, no filler. His silence had a weight to it, and the team knew that if he was involved, they were walking into something serious.
The van slowed to a stop in front of a nondescript building on the outskirts of Riga. Its cracked windows and weathered exterior belied the operations that ran behind those walls. A single, imposing figure stood in front of the door, arms crossed over his chest—Vladis. His silhouette was sharp and unyielding, a man who never seemed to need to make an effort to command authority.
Harry stepped out first, pushing open the van's door with a sigh. "We meet him once, and it's like the temperature drops ten degrees. How does he do that?"
Bucky was the next to exit, giving Harry a brief glance before muttering under his breath. "He's like the human embodiment of the word 'intense.' No idea how he pulls it off, but I swear he could give Captain America a run for his money in the 'scary silent' department."
"Let's go," Steve said, already walking toward the door. His voice had that calm, resolute tone, the one that made it clear no further argument was needed. He always led by example.
The team followed in a loose formation, Tony bringing up the rear with his usual easy confidence. As they reached the door, Vladis gave them a single, terse nod, his features unreadable. "You're late," he stated, his voice deep and deliberate, though it held no emotion.
"Yeah, sorry about that," Tony replied with a shrug, completely unphased by the rebuke. "Traffic, you know? Riga's got a great public transportation system, though. You should try it sometime."
Vladis didn't respond to the jab. He turned on his heel and walked inside, the rest of the team falling in behind him. The interior of the building was dim, the walls lined with monitors and equipment that hummed with the quiet noise of active data streams. There was a central table, and it was covered with laptops, tablets, and papers. Data from their mission sprawled across the screens, waiting to be analyzed.
"Report," Vladis ordered, settling into a chair at the head of the table with his usual cool efficiency.
Natasha was already pulling up the data, her eyes scanning through the files with laser precision. "We got what we came for," she began, her voice calm but clipped. "Hydra's operations, their safehouses, some leadership contacts. We've even got names. There's one, though—a high-level target we haven't fully identified. Someone called 'The Director.'"
"Not exactly a name you can Google," Bucky muttered, his arms crossed as he leaned against the table. "What are we dealing with here, Natasha?"
"I don't know yet," she replied, her fingers moving quickly over the tablet. "But we've got a lot to sift through. If Hydra's this organized, they've got to be planning something big."
Harry leaned over the data, his golden eyes scanning the screen with interest. "If it's a setup, it's a hell of a good one. Too much info here to be a decoy. Hydra doesn't drop intel like this unless they're testing us. Maybe they think they've got us on the ropes."
Tony, still standing near the back, rubbed his chin, his face serious for the first time all day. "They don't send out data like this unless they're feeling cornered. We're dealing with a threat, alright. Something's about to hit, and they're not just taking us down—they want to make a statement."
Vladis's eyes flicked to Tony, then back to the screens. "And they might have someone on the inside," he said, his voice low and deliberate. "The last time we faced Hydra, their moles nearly destroyed us from within. If they're doing this, it could be a trap."
"Great," Bucky muttered, his voice full of sarcasm. "Another mole. Just what we need."
Steve's voice cut through the tension, as steady and reassuring as ever. "We don't jump to conclusions. We go over this intel carefully. If there's a mole, we find them. And we shut them down."
Natasha, never one to shy away from a challenge, nodded. "Agreed. We go through every single detail. No mistakes."
Alexei, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up, his voice gruff and tinged with humor. "While you guys are doing all the brain work, I'll grab some drinks. It's been a long day." He paused, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Maybe I'll even get some vodka. You know, for... medicinal purposes."
Tony laughed, glancing over at the large Russian. "That's the spirit. Literally."
Vladis didn't crack a smile, but his gaze softened ever so slightly. "Get comfortable. We've got a lot to dig through. The real work starts now."
As the team gathered around the table, the gravity of their situation settled in. Hydra was always a step ahead, but now they had the upper hand. They had the intel—what they did with it next would determine the outcome.
Harry leaned forward, his eyes burning with resolve. "Alright, let's get to work. Time to figure out who's really pulling the strings."
—
Harry's fingers brushed against the clasp, sending a subtle hiss through the air as the expanded pouch attached to his Cloak of Levitation flickered open. He reached inside with a practiced motion, pulling out a sleek, cylindrical cryogenic chamber, its frost-laden surface glistening under the dim light. Inside, a humanoid figure lay frozen in stasis, shrouded in ice, its features indistinguishable but the outline unmistakable.
The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of the discovery settling in. Harry placed the chamber down with a soft thud on the table. His golden eyes scanned the room, noting the expressions of the others as they took in the sight.
Vladis, standing with his arms crossed, stared at the chamber for a moment, brow furrowing in confusion. His gaze flickered to Harry, then Bucky, as if searching for some clue that would make sense of the unexpected. "Project Aegis…" His voice trailed off, low and thoughtful. "I was expecting a weapon, not... this."
Harry glanced at Bucky, who stood beside him, arms crossed. Bucky's eyes remained fixed on the chamber as he spoke, his voice rough, tinted with something darker. "Hydra doesn't differentiate. If they can use it, it's a weapon. Doesn't matter what it is—humanoid, alien, machine—it's just another tool for their war."
Vladis stiffened slightly, his eyes narrowing. He knew Bucky's history well enough to understand the harsh truth in his words. The air around them seemed to grow tenser.
"Hydra's always had a tendency to think in terms of control," Bucky added quietly, his voice laced with bitterness. "If they can't control it, they'll lock it up until they can."
Harry's gaze shifted to the cryo-chamber again. "Whatever Hydra says it is, it's not just a weapon. It's something else. They've probably created it to do something no one else can, and they'll use it to gain an upper hand."
Tony Stark, who had been standing off to the side, arms folded as he observed the situation, stepped forward. His usual cocky smirk was gone, replaced by a look of intrigue. "So, we're dealing with something that was supposed to be an energy-based weapon, huh?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "Looks more like a bioengineered soldier to me. If this thing's supposed to be some energy-slinging powerhouse, why does it look like a person?"
Natasha, sitting at the far end of the table, her sharp eyes scanning the data on her tablet, didn't miss a beat. She slid the device over to Tony without a word. "Hydra's intel on Aegis says it's a hybrid," she said, her voice as calm and precise as ever. "It was designed to be energy-based—supposedly able to absorb, store, and amplify raw power. The problem is, it's also part human. Genetic manipulation combined with advanced tech. Probably a mix of nanotech, maybe Stark-level stuff if Hydra managed to get their hands on it."
Tony's fingers flicked through the tablet data quickly, his brow furrowing. "So, we've got some sort of genetically enhanced energy weapon hybrid, huh? Doesn't explain the humanoid part though. If they wanted an energy weapon, why not just build a machine?"
Natasha shrugged slightly, as though it was all in a day's work. "Aegis was supposed to be a supercharged weapon that could blend in with regular human forces, infiltrate places without drawing attention, and pack enough of a punch to make even the Avengers nervous. The 'human' side was probably just a side effect of the process, an added bonus they didn't mind. Could be useful in more covert operations."
Harry crossed his arms, his gaze never leaving the chamber. "Or it could be part of the reason Hydra's kept it locked away. They don't care if it's a person or a weapon, as long as they can control it."
Steve Rogers, who had been quiet up until this point, leaned forward, his blue eyes scanning the chamber. His voice was steady but laced with concern. "If this thing was supposed to be an energy-based weapon, it's more dangerous than we thought. And if Hydra's been working on it for this long, we've got to assume they've activated it at least once."
Bucky looked at Steve, his jaw tightening. "Hydra doesn't do things halfway. If they've got something like this, they're not going to let it sit in a freezer forever. If it's not already active, they've got plans for it."
Tony finally broke the silence, his voice cutting through the tension. "Okay, so we've got a potential disaster here. Let's not jump to conclusions. But I agree—it's probably not just some lab project. If Hydra's worked this long on it, it's definitely got a purpose."
Vladis, who had been standing at the back of the room, his eyes flicking between the team, folded his arms. "We can't let Hydra get their hands on it. If this thing's as powerful as it sounds, it could tip the scales in their favor. We need to figure out what we're dealing with before we make any moves."
Peggy Carter stepped forward, her presence commanding attention as always. Her expression was focused, her voice calm but filled with authority. "Then let's not waste time. We need to understand what's inside that chamber. If it's as dangerous as you say, we can't afford any mistakes."
Steve looked around at the team, then at Harry and Bucky. "You two have experience with Hydra's experiments. Can you access the cryo system? If we're going to figure out how this thing works, we need to know what we're dealing with."
Bucky nodded, his gaze fixed on the cryo-chamber. "I've seen this kind of thing before. Hydra loves their little 'failsafes'—shut it down if they can't control it. We'll need to take care with how we handle this."
Harry's golden eyes gleamed with a sharp focus. "Don't worry, we've got it covered. But if Hydra's been playing with this thing for so long, we can't rule out the possibility of a backdoor control mechanism."
Tony, with his usual sarcastic edge, gave a grin. "Well, I can't resist a good tech hack. Let me know what you need, and I'll be the backup plan."
Harry smirked. "Just keep it clean, Stark. No blowing anything up just yet." He turned back to the chamber, his fingers running over the frosted surface. "We've got one shot at this. Let's make sure we get it right."
Bucky stepped up beside him, offering a quick, tight nod. "We'll handle the rest. You just keep an eye on the tech side. Don't mess up, Stark."
Vladis, whose stoic demeanor rarely cracked, finally spoke again, his voice cold and firm. "Let's get to work. Time is not on our side."
As the team surrounded the cryogenic chamber, the air was thick with tension. Hydra had left them with a dangerous puzzle, and the stakes were higher than ever. Whether this project would become their salvation or their undoing remained to be seen—but one thing was clear: they had to act fast.
---
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