After a tense standoff, Rumlow and Hit-Monkey were interrupted by the arrival of Dum Dum Dugan.
Rumlow couldn't fathom why Dugan showed up at his apartment, sparking suspicion of being watched. Hit-Monkey, unfazed, kept one gun on Rumlow and aimed the other at the approaching Dugan.
"Rumlow, didn't you give it the card?" Dugan halted, sidestepping any explanation for his presence.
"8564524354."
Dugan rattled off the numbers with astonishing speed, as if his mouth were on borrowed time. This was the code from Peggy Carter, to be delivered either on a specific-sized paper or spoken in under a second. Peggy had warned that failing these conditions meant Hit-Monkey could eliminate the messenger.
Dugan's visit was to ensure Rumlow didn't recklessly speak the code. Despite trusting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s professionalism, Dugan doubted Rumlow—a Hydra defector capable of anything.
Hearing the code, Hit-Monkey lowered the gun from Dugan, redirecting it at a bewildered Rumlow. Neither dared lower their weapons in the tense standoff.
Dugan, once Hit-Monkey's comrade, struggled to treat the silent primate as an equal. Only Peggy had ever chatted with it, treating it like a pet.
"Rumlow, lower your gun," Dugan said, knowing the request was unreasonable. But with Hit-Monkey, logic didn't apply. Rumlow was the soft target now, and Dugan, ever the instructor, seized the chance to press him.
Rumlow's eyes narrowed, masking his anger. Hit-Monkey's barrel shifted slightly, centering on his forehead. Grudgingly, Rumlow holstered his gun. His plan was just beginning, and he'd endure this slight for its sake. For a combat team leader like him, restraint was a rare ordeal.
"Instructor, take your friend and go. I need rest," Rumlow said, venting mild discontent while dodging Dugan's plans. This would build trust.
As long as Dugan pursued Hydra's trail, Rumlow's role was fulfilled. Next, Hydra would be exposed to S.H.I.E.L.D., sparking a decisive clash. Then, Rumlow could live as he pleased.
The next day, Bul-Kathos opened his shop as usual. No one waited outside—a rare calm. Jill headed to school smoothly, leaving Bul-Kathos with little to do.
He returned to the forge, ready to craft. After days of honing his skill, he felt ready to forge a weapon to carry his glory, unlike his beloved twin blades tied to the first Immortal King. A new legend would rise with his creation.
The forging process—adding materials, hammering—was long. Bul-Kathos hadn't settled on the weapon's form, but there was no rush. The metal needed time, and no urgent need for a new weapon pressed him. He could ponder slowly.
Nick Fury appeared in his safehouse, one of many decoys masking his true location. Even tracking all his stand-ins wouldn't reveal the real Fury. His caution bordered on paranoia, but "extreme fear of death" fit him best.
Now, he was on a classified mission to meet the active Howling Commandos. Rumlow's suspicions weren't beyond Fury's own. As S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director, he could easily deploy the Commandos for covert tasks, unlike Rumlow, who relied on Dugan's aid.
Fury doubted Rumlow's claims but saw an opportunity to audit S.H.I.E.L.D. internally. Relentless scrutiny kept the agency pure—a vital tactic for longevity.
Dressed in his black leather coat, Fury drove to the Commandos' base. He hadn't informed Peggy Carter, too frail for combat. Unbeknownst to him, Rumlow's machinations had made him a prime suspect among S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders. A massive blame was descending, and Fury was walking right into it.
Fury's move to the Commandos couldn't be hidden from Peggy Carter, alerting Dugan. As they rallied the team, Fury's interference deepened their suspicions. Coincidences didn't exist for agents—they signaled intent.
"Fury's making moves!" Dugan told Rumlow in a tavern. Hit-Monkey hadn't reappeared since that night, likely on a mission from Dugan.
"What?" Rumlow exclaimed, genuinely shocked. He hadn't expected Fury to align so perfectly with his plan. The Hydra blame landed squarely on Fury, unforeseen by both.
"He's at my old comrades' base, arranging an internal review," Dugan said, his face darkening. The Commandos, though scattered, were bound by the bedridden Peggy. After discussing Hydra, she'd secretly contacted their werewolf ally.
The situation grew dire. They'd only confirmed Pierce as Hydra through Rumlow, with Fury merely suspected. Rumlow had reported his attack to both, and Dugan, lumping them together, grew wary of Fury's actions.
"Haven't you received a mission yet?" Dugan asked.
(Chapter End)