[Berlin. Joint Counter Terrorist Centre. The Interrogation Room.]
The power died. The red emergency lights bathed the hallway in blood.
"Sir?" Sebastian spoke into his earpiece. "The grid is down. I detect a localized EMP."
"It's Barnes," Tony's voice was strained. "He's loose. I'm... ow... I'm engaging."
Sebastian walked down the corridor. Guards were unconscious on the floor. He stepped over them, his stride measured.
He turned the corner just in time to see Bucky Barnes—the Winter Soldier—throw Sam Wilson through a set of double doors.
Tony Stark, wearing only a suit and a sonic-gauntlet watch, was grappling with the super-soldier. Bucky grabbed Tony's gun hand, crushing the tech. He aimed a punch at Tony's face that would have shattered his skull.
WHOOSH.
Sebastian moved. He didn't intercept the punch; he pulled Tony backward by his collar, dragging him out of range just as Bucky's fist dented the concrete wall.
"You are unarmored, Sir," Sebastian chided, standing between Tony and the Soldier. "Please refrain from engaging heavy machinery."
Bucky looked at the butler. The programming clicked. Obstacle.
Bucky grabbed a heavy metal bench and swung it.
Sebastian sighed. He caught the bench with one hand, the metal legs screeching as they halted.
"Very rude," Sebastian whispered.
He kicked the bench back, sending Bucky skidding across the floor. Bucky didn't stop; he turned and jumped through the elevator shaft, sliding down the cables.
"Go!" Tony yelled. "Don't let him leave the building!"
[The Hangar Level.]
Bucky landed hard. He sprinted toward the open bay doors where a helicopter sat waiting.
Steve Rogers tackled him. "Bucky, stop!"
"Get off!" Bucky roared, throwing Steve aside.
Bucky climbed into the helicopter. The rotors began to spin.
Steve grabbed the landing skid. He groaned, his muscles straining, holding the helicopter down with sheer strength.
The helicopter whined, tilting dangerously.
Sebastian stepped out of the shadows. He saw the struggle. Steve Rogers holding the bird down. Bucky trying to fly away.
It would be so easy.
Sebastian could throw a knife into the tail rotor. He could jump up and drag Bucky out. He could end this right now. Bucky would go back to a cell. Tony would be safe. The truth would stay buried in 1991.
But then... the contract.
Despair, Sebastian thought. The Young Master needs to see the abyss.
If Bucky escaped, Tony would hunt him. He would follow him to the ends of the earth. He would follow him to Siberia. And there, he would find the truth about his parents.
Sebastian smiled. It was a terrifying, barely visible twitch of his lips.
He saw Black Panther (T'Challa) sprinting across the tarmac, claws out, ready to slash the helicopter's fuel line.
That won't do.
Sebastian "stumbled."
He moved to intercept the Panther, but his foot "slipped" on an oil slick. He collided with T'Challa, knocking the Prince off course.
"My apologies!" Sebastian gasped, holding T'Challa back. "Clumsy of me."
"Get off, demon!" T'Challa snarled, shoving him away.
But the moment was lost.
The helicopter lurched free of Steve's grip. But instead of flying away, Bucky (who was regaining some control) crashed it into the river to avoid killing Steve.
Steve and Bucky disappeared into the water below.
[The Aftermath.]
The sirens were blaring. Ross was screaming orders.
Tony walked up to the edge of the helipad, looking down at the wreckage in the river.
"They're gone," Tony said, his voice hollow.
Sebastian stood behind him, brushing dust off his coat.
"I am terribly sorry, Sir," Sebastian said, his head bowed in mock shame. "I attempted to intercept the Wakandan King to prevent friendly fire, and in the confusion... the target escaped."
Tony turned around. He looked at Sebastian. He looked at the butler who could catch bullets and outrun trucks.
"You slipped?" Tony asked, incredulous.
"The floor was slick with hydraulic fluid," Sebastian lied smoothly. "Even I am subject to physics, Sir."
Tony stared at him for a long moment. He wanted to scream. He wanted to fire him. But he needed him.
"We have to go," Tony rubbed his face. "Ross is going to come down hard. We have 24 hours to bring them in before he sends the kill squads."
"What are your orders, Sir?"
"We need a team," Tony said. "It's not just Bucky anymore. It's Cap. It's Wilson. They're all rogues."
Tony looked at the sky.
"Get the kid from Queens. I'll get Rhodey and Vision. We meet them at the airport."
"The airport," Sebastian repeated. "And if they resist?"
Tony's eyes hardened. The manipulation had worked. The wedge was driven deep.
"Then we break them."
Sebastian bowed low.
"Yes, my Lord."
[End of Chapter 35]
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