Nathan's next objective was clear.
Before finding Wolverine, he needed a defense—something to stop adamantium claws from tearing through him like paper. Fortunately, there was one person who dealt in rare metals: Ulysses Klaue, an infamous arms trafficker known for smuggling Vibranium.
Nathan knew Klaue had recently sold Vibranium to Ultron, giving the rogue AI the material to build the indestructible body that would later become Vision. That deal had cost Klaue his arm when he dared to speak too freely in front of Ultron. Nathan figured he could pay Klaue a visit and liberate some Vibranium for himself—on his own terms.
He slammed his foot on the gas.
The car tore through the mountain road, engine howling, and in a blink, it disappeared into the winding forest highway, leaving a cloud of dust behind him.
Back at the Hydra facility, the man in charge stood dumbfounded outside the ruined lab.
He watched the dust settle in the distance. His eyes widened, his face turned pale.
"No! No! That was my accomplishment!" he shouted.
He stomped forward, veins bulging in his neck. "That car was meant to deliver him to Baron Strucker!"
Someone behind him cautiously asked, "Should we send another team to pursue him?"
The leader turned red with rage and kicked one of the immobilized vehicles nearby. "Damn it! He sabotaged all the transports! All our cars have blown tires!"
He was about to erupt again when something clicked in his mind.
Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes.
"Wait. He's using a HYDRA vehicle… which means it's connected to our tracking system. Lock in his signal!"
A nearby technician jumped into action, flipping open his rugged military-grade laptop. His fingers danced across the keyboard.
Within moments, a digital map flickered to life, showing a bright red dot accelerating along a serpentine highway.
"Target confirmed," the technician said. "We've got him on GPS."
The commander's lips curled into a smile. "Perfect. He thinks he's gotten away…"
Just then, a low rumble echoed through the skies.
A HYDRA fighter jet broke through the clouds, descending fast.
It roared down and landed like thunder at the front of the facility. The facility doors opened automatically.
The commander's expression lit up with relief. "Backup has arrived."
From the aircraft descended four fully armored super soldiers, their faces hidden behind angular black helmets, eyes glowing faint red. Their body language was stiff, inhuman—programmed.
Everyone in the facility instinctively backed away. Even the guards who had trained alongside them knew better than to make eye contact.
The commander approached, holding out the laptop. "Sirs. That's the guy we're tracking. His vehicle is marked. You can intercept him on the road—he won't be able to outrun a jet."
The lead soldier took the device without a word.
Then, without warning, they raised their weapons.
The commander froze.
"Wait… what are you doing?"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Gunfire erupted.
Blood sprayed.
The four soldiers, without hesitation, opened fire on the entire security team. Screams echoed. Panic overtook the facility.
It was a massacre.
In seconds, the research compound was drowned in carnage once again.
Research Group 71 was wiped out.
Inside their comms, Baron Strucker's cold voice issued the order: "Eliminate all personnel involved in the super soldier serum breach. Then intercept Nathan. Bring him back—alive."
"Yes, sir," one of the soldiers responded calmly as blood dripped from their armor.
Miles away, Baron Strucker stared at the computer screen in his war room.
He scrolled through the data that Nathan had managed to extract and copy before his escape. Names, genetic sequences, combat simulations—it was a treasure trove of enhanced human research.
"What is this boy planning?" the Baron murmured.
The files weren't just limited to superpowered individuals. There were dossiers on non-powered assets too—key figures from HYDRA's black market network.
One name caught his eye.
Ulysses Klaue.
Strucker's eyes narrowed.
"Could it be...? Is he targeting Klaue? Trying to get his hands on Vibranium?"
He activated a secure line.
A driver answered: "Baron?"
"Divert your route. Intercept Klaue. Now."
"Yes, Baron!"
Meanwhile…
Research Group 71 burned.
The flames danced across the blackened walls. Pools of blood reflected the inferno. The super soldiers turned, boarding their jet again. With one last look at the facility, they activated their engines.
WHOOSH!
They vanished into the sky.
Their destination: the red dot racing down the road.
—
Far away, beside a dingy roadside motel, Nathan finally pulled the car over.
He yanked the ignition wires apart, killing the engine immediately.
It was time to regroup.
His entire torso ached, his arms sore from strain. Blood oozed from a tear in his side.
Though he had the body of a super soldier, his wounds were real, and they weren't healing fast enough.
If he didn't take care of them soon, infection could set in, and HYDRA wouldn't even need to shoot him to stop him.
He opened a first-aid kit he'd snatched from a gas station earlier and tore open his shirt.
His muscles were tight, cut like marble, but littered with angry red welts, deep cuts, and bruises. Five bullet wounds marred his body, and some bullets were still inside him.
He bit his lip and grabbed a pair of forceps.
"Let's get this over with."
With a sharp breath, he pushed the tool into the deepest wound and twisted.
CLINK.
One bullet head hit the metal tray.
"Hhsssss—!"
Pain stabbed up his spine.
He repeated the process again and again, removing all five bullets. His breath grew ragged. Sweat rolled down his temple.
CLINK. CLINK. CLINK.
When he was done, five bloodied fragments of lead lay in the tray.
He grabbed the bottle of alcohol.
"Here goes nothing."
He poured the liquid over the open wounds.
"AAAGHH—!"
The burning sensation made his eyes water. But he didn't stop. He gritted his teeth, wiped away the sweat, and wrapped his torso in fresh white bandages.
By the end of it, he looked like a soldier emerging from a war zone—scarred, wounded, but still breathing.
He stood up, breath steadying, and looked eastward.
Toward Klaue.
---
At that very moment, back at the HYDRA command center, Baron Strucker watched the screen.
The fighter jet was closing in on the blinking red dot.
"The car has stopped…" he said with narrowed eyes. "Either he passed out, or he's trying to change vehicles."
He tapped his headset.
"Move faster. Lock in on his position. Do not let him escape."
"Understood," came the cold response.
Strucker leaned back in his chair and smiled.
"You've done well, Nathan. But it ends now."
"Four of my super soldiers. One of you. Let's see how long you last."
___________________________________
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