127, the 'broken' Winter Soldier!
New Mexico.
Under the scorching sun.
A convoy of black vehicles, kicking up rolling clouds of dust, roared across the desolate, barren wasteland.
The rapidly spinning rubber tires crushed the hardened sand and soil, compacted over countless years, disturbing desert iguanas hidden beneath the surface.
Before long, the roaring convoy reached its designated location—
A vast expanse of undulating dunes, curving like the silhouette of a woman's body.
Hiss!
As the vehicles came to an abrupt stop, sand and dust billowed into the air.
Thick, armored doors swung open, and figures clad in black combat gear, their faces concealed by dark masks, stepped out from the temperature-controlled interiors.
Without hesitation, they strode into the relentless heat.
These warriors, towering and well-built, were armed to the teeth—
Each carried a high-powered automatic rifle, their tactical vests packed with enough ammunition to wage a small war.
Grenades with sleek black casings hung from their belts, reflecting the sunlight ominously.
Some, who seemed like elite fighters, carried even heavier weaponry—
Single-man rocket launchers slung across their backs.
Once the squad had fully assembled, the door of a black vehicle swung open, and a man with long hair leapt out.
His left arm—a metal prosthetic—was engraved with a weathered red star.
The soles of his combat boots sank deep into the dry, shifting sand as he landed.
A soldier nearby quickly stepped forward, offering him a weapon.
The long-haired man took the firearm without a word, swiftly pulling back the charging handle and checking the chamber.
His voice, hoarse and low, echoed in the heat.
"All units, check comms."
"Squad One, move in ahead—eliminate any potential witnesses. Squad Two, secure the convoy and maintain perimeter defense. Squads Three and Four, follow me—we're launching the assault."
"According to intel, our target will be here soon. We need to finish this quickly."
"Hail Hydra."
"Hail Hydra!"
At his command, the once-silent soldiers erupted in a unified, fervent chant.
Though their masks hid their faces, their eyes burned with an unmistakable fanaticism.
The words seemed to trigger something—
Beneath the black war paint smeared under his eyes, the long-haired man's expression contorted.
His bloodshot eyes narrowed, his teeth clenching tightly beneath his mask.
It was as if he was resisting an unseen pain.
"Tch—"
He instinctively raised his gloved hand, pressing it against his temple.
At that moment, another soldier hesitated before stepping forward.
Lowering his voice, he asked cautiously:
"Winter Soldier, sir—are you alright?"
A sharp breath.
A flicker of something in his eyes.
"Ah… Bob, is it? I'm fine."
"Stay on mission—Squad One!"
Shaking off his daze, the man known as the Winter Soldier exhaled a deep breath, gripping his firearm.
His metal arm shot up in a decisive motion.
Immediately, Hydra soldiers—moving in groups of ten—reacted with swift precision.
Their boots pounded against the sand as they sprinted forward, scaling the towering dunes with practiced ease.
Minutes later, hidden in the shadows beyond the dunes, three buildings emerged from the desert landscape.
The Hydra operatives, agile and efficient, rushed toward the structures, slipping inside with military precision.
Then—silence.
From the crest of the dune, the Winter Soldier lay motionless, watching.
He began counting the seconds in his mind.
Five minutes passed.
No radio contact.
No returning scouts.
The buildings, shrouded in shadow, stood eerily still—
Like an illusion conjured by the desert's heat.
"Tch—what the hell is taking them so long?"
Bob, lying next to the Winter Soldier, muttered in frustration.
Strangely, his superior didn't reprimand him for the comment.
Instead, the Winter Soldier's brow furrowed, unease flickering in his bloodshot eyes.
Another minute passed.
A deep breath.
Something was wrong.
Suddenly, the Winter Soldier pushed himself up.
Click.
Kneeling on one knee, he raised his weapon, chambering a round with practiced ease.
The red star on his metal arm gleamed under the harsh sunlight.
"Something's off."
"Squad Two, abandon the vehicles—reinforce the assault teams."
"Everyone, move out!"
Before he even finished speaking, the Winter Soldier lunged forward.
His long hair whipped behind him as he slid down the dune, landing in a sprint toward the building's entrance.
Behind him, Hydra soldiers followed suit, leaping down the shifting sand and charging after their leader.
—
The temperature seemed to drop in the shadows of the buildings.
Pressing his back against the concrete wall, the Winter Soldier narrowed his eyes.
The entrance was just a few steps away.
According to their intel—
The target was hidden in a secret underground laboratory beneath the sand.
And the only entrance was inside this building.
The other structures were mere decoys—storage for supplies.
But something was wrong.
He couldn't hear anything inside.
Only the faint sounds of shifting sand, his own soldiers moving behind him.
Beyond that—pure, suffocating silence.
Bzzt—
His mechanical arm hummed slightly as he flexed it.
Something about this silence…
Was unsettling.
A sharp exhale.
A last attempt to clear his mind of the disjointed memories and pounding headache.
The Winter Soldier made a decision—
No hesitation.
He dashed inside.
Darkness swallowed him whole.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A heavy sound.
Rhythmic footsteps.
Then—
From the dimly lit corridors, a massive armored figure emerged.
"Enemy contact! Open fire!"
Without hesitation, the Hydra operatives raised their rifles.
A storm of bullets filled the air—
Only to stop mid-flight.
Metal clattered uselessly against an invisible barrier.
And the towering figure…
Remained unscathed.
A horrifying realization settled over the soldiers.
Their weapons were useless.
Then—
Boom.
A red-clad fist smashed into the ground.
The deafening roar of explosive rounds erupted in the confined space.
Blood.
Shrapnel.
Agonized screams.
In mere seconds, the Hydra squad was reduced to torn limbs and shattered bodies.
A river of blood soaked the sand.
Then—
Bullets rained again, futile against the enemy's energy shield.
Desperation.
Grenades.
Thrown in quick succession.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions swallowed the figure in fire and smoke.
But as the dust settled—
It still stood.
Then—
CRASH!
A single, unstoppable charge.
Concrete shattered.
And the Winter Soldier barely had time to react before—
A massive red fist came crashing down.
"AARGH—!"
With a desperate roar, he swung his metal arm to block the attack—
Only for it to bend and snap under the sheer force.
The sickening sound of metal twisting filled the air.
Blood spewed from his lips as he was sent flying.
He hit the rubble-strewn floor with a heavy thud.
For a long moment, he simply lay there, gasping.
Then—
A face flickered through his shattered memories.
A warm smile.
A familiar voice.
"Steve…"
His lips trembled.
Then, everything went dark.