Operation: Winter's End (Sephie & Howling)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: persephone325 on 20-01-2016, 22:01:37</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>20-01-2016, 22:01:37</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://ilarge.lisimg.com/image/6070450/1118full-kat-dennings.jpg)</div>Karina Baker was born Karina Volkov to Dimitri and Anya Volkov in Moscow, Russia. Bright and perceptive from a young age, she graduated high school at fifteen years old. By the time she was nineteen, she had a bachelor's degree in the medical field.<br><br>Despite her accomplishments being unusual for someone so young as her, they weren't the only thing that set her apart from everyone else. When she was seven years old, a freak flood destroyed all the homes in the town she lived in. Karina ended up trapped in her house, water rushing in.<br><br>The next thing she remembered, was waking up in a hospital bed. Her parents were asleep in chairs by her side. However, something was...different. She was overwhelmed with emotions. Happiness, sadness, anger, fear, panic, relief... The thing that confused her, was that they weren't <i>her</i> emotions. It was only years later that she realized she had a power known as "empathy".<br><br>After she graduated high school, and before she left for college, her parents had told her about when she was trapped by the flood. They told her that she had died in the hospital. She was legally dead for two minutes before she somehow came back. The doctors had even called her time of death. When her heart began to beat again, they put her into an induced coma and kept a close watch on her. After Karina found out, it made sense. Why she suddenly developed this strange power.<br><br>Over the years, Karina spent time learning to control her power on her own. She never told her parents, relatives, or even her friends. She just quietly went about her life like any other normal human being. Though, there were days when she just became so overwhelmed with emotions that she would just lock herself in her room and force herself to sleep. Whether she cried, screamed, or just laid in silence and willed herself to sleep.<br><br>After she graduated, she was approached by a man who offered her a job. He didn't tell her much, only that the pay was very good, and she'd be able to live in her own house with the salary she would have. Her family would be well taken care of, too. The only catch, was that she had to give the man an answer right there.<br><br>Karina said yes.<br><br>After the weekend was over, she started her new job. It was there that she was finally informed as to what her job would be. Due to her medical degree, she was placed on a medical team. The team's job was to tend to a...well, Karina could best describe him as some kind of soldier. He always seemed to come back unharmed, though if only covered in someone else's blood...<br><br>Whenever Karina was around him, couldn't feel anything from him. It was like he was just a shell of a person. He always just stared blankly ahead. Honestly, Karina had never heard him speak a word in the five years she worked for the organization. The only time she was able to "feel" him, was when they shocked him. Well, "torture" was a more appropriate word for it. She would feel fleeting emotions as his brain was scrambled by the electricity. Pain, fear, loneliness...<br><br>Karina knew it wasn't allowed, but she would often find herself staring at his frozen face while he was inside of the cryogenic freezing chamber. His eyes were usually closed, and it almost looked like he was sleeping. If not for the obvious signs of frost that encompassed him. She spent the better part of her breaks in the room, just staring at him and thinking. So far, she hadn't been caught. Karina didn't want to push her luck, but she just couldn't stop. For some time, she began wondering if this was legal. Or even <i>moral</i>.<br><br>About a month ago, her employers informed her that she would be transferring, along with most of the organization. When she asked why, they told her it was "need to know information" and she wasn't a part of that list. However, she was informed that the transfer would place her in America. Karina didn't know what to do. She didn't want to leave her family behind, but she also knew that she was able to keep her parents provided for.<br><br>Apparently, Karina didn't have much choice in the matter. Her employers were determined to keep her around. Not that she was complaining. The pay was good, her coworkers were civil, and she never had any problems. She mainly chalked it up to the fact that she was the youngest person on the team. Not to mention, one of the smartest as well.<br><br>Her parents were sad to see her leave and travel so far away, but she promised she would keep in touch with them. So, Karina left for America with the rest of her coworkers and employers. Her new job had landed her in New York. Surprisingly, she was still able to afford her own place in America. Despite living in Russia since she was born, Karina spoke fluent English as she had studied the language in college. It didn't take her long to adjust to living in America. The only thing her employer didn't tell her, was that she had to change her surname. Not only that, but they wouldn't tell her why.<br><br>The day started out like any other normal day. Karina woke up, showered, had breakfast, then headed to work. She entered the building and waved her ID card over the scanner at the door. It beeped once, the light on the pad turned green, and the door automatically unlocked for her. She opened it up and headed down the long stairwell.<br><br>When Karina finally made her way into the lab, she wasted no time getting to work. She found out very early on that the less she asked questions about what she was doing, the easier her job would be. The only thing that her mind could focus on, was the man in the cryogenic chamber. She had a lot of questions about him...<br><br>Break time finally rolled around, and Karina had fifteen minutes to kill. She ate half her lunch, then got up and walked around to stretch her legs. Before long, she found herself waving her ID over the scanner of the door where the cryogenic chamber was. Where the male subject was held...<br><br>Karina shut the door and leaned against it. She stared silently at the chamber before slowly taking a few steps towards it. There was a small window where his face could be seen. Karina stared at the frozen man. Like usual, his eyes were closed; giving off the appearance that he was just sleeping. She wondered if he was actually <i>alive</i> in that chamber. He... He had to be, right? At least in some sense...<br><br>Karina slowly brought her hand up and placed in just underneath the glass pane. The tube was colder than she thought it would be. She wondered if it was that cold, or colder, inside. Her hand moved up slowly and her fingertips rested on the glass. She studied his face in silence. The only thing she could hear was her own breathing and steady heartbeat.<br><br>Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. Karina let out a surprised cry as she jumped back from the chamber. Her heart began to race and the nearby monitor started beeping as it registered his heart rate. It was in that moment, that she realized why one person was never allowed to come into the cryogenic chamber by themselves. In case something like this happened.<br><br>Karina stood there in a frozen panic for a few moments, before she turned her attention towards the computer nearby. She quickly typed in an override command and heard the familiar hiss of the chamber opening beside her. She stepped away and watched as a billowing cloud of cold air dissipated and revealed the man within.<br><br>Karina stood a few feet from him, her hands shaking at her sides. Her eyes were locked onto him. She didn't want to move. She didn't know what would set him off. All she knew, was that he was a powerful, lethal weapon. He could probably kill her in no time, before she could even blink. However, he wasn't moving towards her. He was just...staring back at her.<br><br>That's when she felt it. Felt <i>him</i>. For the first time in five years. He was confused, and Karina could feel it. What's more, she was just as confused as he was. Neither of them moved for some time. Karina felt herself trembling under his gaze. His ice blue eyes were locked onto her.<br><br>She didn't know what to do, and she needed to distract herself from the overwhelming amount of confusion she was feeling. So, she opened her mouth and let the words fall out.<br><br>"Я ... Меня зовут Карина." She said softly. He understood Russian, didn't he? After all, she had glimpsed his file once and was positive she saw something about Russia in it. That's where she had first began working on him, too.<br><hr><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Translation</div><div class="spoiler_body">Я ... Меня зовут Карина. - I... My name is Karina.</div></div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>14-05-2016, 18:08:56</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/rsIn0GX.jpg?1)</div>Perhaps the strangest thing about Cryo-Sleep was the fact that your brain didn't&nbsp; fully shut down. Or at-least's the Soldier's brain didn't, as the two tiny nodes implanted therein pulsed with electricity, not allowing for such luxury. So there he was, stuck shifting between a dream of partial clarity and the pitch black of unconsciousness. He didn't know if the scientist were&nbsp; aware of exactly what happened when he went under or not, and frankly it was only in these small spaces between consciousness that he even wondered about it.<br><br>Those gaps of the personality beneath the scar tissue were meaningless, though. Soon that door would open, the process would begin, he'd be briefed and everything else would just slide into the background. It was who he was and the only thing he had aside from the subtle flashes of a life he didn't&nbsp; remember. A life he wasn't even sure he actually lived. Yet something different was&nbsp; beginning to happen this time, something that had his mind more then just drifting to consciousness.<br><br>At first&nbsp; he just felt numb, with his eyes frosted over in a shut glaze. He could not see, he couldn't&nbsp; move; he could only think. It was confusing, especially for someone who's conditioning ensured that they woke up from cryo-sleep in a state of disarray to begin with. It took some time after that before he felt&nbsp; sound come to his ears&nbsp; in a swoosh of&nbsp; liquid, only to be replaced by what sounded like an alarm. An emergency protocol? It had to have been, yet his confused mind could find no objective at the forefront. No mission.....<br><br>For the very first time, The Soldier could not comply.<br><br>The sudden realization spurred his eyelids to move again, forcing through the cold as they opened. The doctor&nbsp; outside the glass, while familiar to him, had&nbsp; jumped back in fright. Confusion filled him again for a moment before his eyes caught the form turn to the computer and begin typing in commands. He had just enough wits about him to memorize the key sequence. Just a simple piece of his S.E.R.E training that rose to the surface in situations like these, but this time was different. He had no leash.<br><br>The familiar hiss of the opening chamber filled the room thereafter, and he could feel the remaining frost fade from his skin as the wispy vapors began to billow out into the room proper. It was more by relfex that The Winter Soldier stepped from inside the chamber, something that came clear as the confusion began to settle onto him more. He almost seemed like he was waiting for something, his eyes even searching for it. That is, until the woman's voice finally came through. <br><br><div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/JR6zvBX.gif)</div>The Soldier finally made eye contact with the unknown female then, his head tilting slightly as subtle memories began to plague him. Not memories of speaking with her, but more a sense of knowing. A sense that she'd been around him far more then she should have been. Had he been more lucid, he'd have realized it was due to the cryo-sleep error with his nodes, but he wasn't. So another sort of logic and training took over altogether as his hand lifted to his face, removing the partial mask that they used to conceal him. <br><br><strong><acronym title="What's my designation?">"Chto moye naznacheniye?"</acronym></strong> He asked fluently in the mother language, but that confusion from before lingered on his face. It wasn't just because of the startle either, it was also&nbsp; the introduction. Something was wrong. Now what that might have been was quickly washed&nbsp; away by the strange flood of something rising in his chest. Another malfunction he didn't normally encounter. <br><br>The Monitor still attached to his robotic arm began to beep faster then, detecting through his arm's sensor array that there had been a spike in heart rate. Hearing the proof of his rising panic caused The Soldier's eyes to narrow then as he took a step away before The Doctor could answer his question. Something was definitely wrong,&nbsp; he knew, because he was feeling things his mind hadn't in decades. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>15-05-2016, 05:51:46</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://www.thesnipenews.com/wp-content/gallery/kat-dennings/kat-dennings-headshot.jpg)</div>Karina stood frozen in place. Her heart thumped in her chest, her anxiety and panic multiplied by his. She felt the room begin to spin around her, but she quickly fought off the feeling.<br><br><em>Oh god... Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me.</em> She chanted over and over in her mind. There was nothing like standing but a few feet away from the world's most deadliest assassin to really make your life flash before your eyes. It was the second time that had happened to her. First being the flood, of course.<br><br>The soldier stepped out of the chamber, his eyes darted around the room. Almost like he was looking for something. When he finally locked onto her, Karina felt like she was staring down an incarnation of the Angel of Death. She maintained eye contact with him, not wanting to break it for fear of... Well, she wasn't sure. A swift death? Slow painful death? Death was the only thing on her mind at the moment.<br><br>When he moved his hand up towards his face, Karina swore her heart stopped. Being around this man made her feel like she only had seconds left to live. She never remembered feeling like this when she worked on him around her co-workers. However, she believed it to be due to the fact that she was on her own right now. All the other times, she was around other medical personnel. And military like men who were his... The only term Karina heard was "handlers". But it made it sound like he was some kind of animal that needed to be trained.<br><br><em><strong>"Chto moye naznacheniye?"</strong></em> He asked her. Karina bit her lip, not knowing how to respond. This wasn't her job. She didn't know what to do in this situation. She very vaguely remembered something about "trigger words", but had no idea what they were. Or if they would even work.<br><br>When Karina didn't answer, she heard the beeping of his heart monitor begin to increase. It must have unnerved the man, because she could feel something building up inside him. He took a step away from her, his eyes still locked onto hers. Her lower lip began to tremble as she opened her mouth to speak.<br><br><strong>"Я не... Это ... не должно быть."</strong> Karina swallowed nervously after she spoke. She wanted to move; leave, even. But her feet wouldn't cooperate. Part of her wondered if playing dead would work. It worked for bears, right? If the rational part of her brain was a person, it would have laughed mockingly at her for that thought.<br><br><strong>"Я ... мне очень жаль."</strong> She whispered softly, feeling like she was going to collapse under the weight of the emotions she was feeling.<br><hr><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Translations</div><div class="spoiler_body">Я не... Это ... не должно быть. - I don't... This...shouldn't be.<br>Я ... мне очень жаль. - I... I'm sorry.</div></div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>27-07-2016, 05:35:57</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/fSKNPnk.jpg?1)</div>The Soldier noticed Karina's panic and confusion as he stepped back, forcing him to reanalyze the situation once again. The emergency alarm, the way everything kept flashing in and out for him. The purposeful confusion, along with his arm detecting a threat. The senor's were never wrong, but while they detected threats, they couldn't see intent. His mind was sharpening now, proof coming in the fact that he'd rationalized that. With some measure of clarity coming to his mind, he jerked the monitor attachment from his steel with a hiss.<br><br><em>James...</em> The name flooded his senses then, like an echo from the past. Spoken on Russian lips, and that caused him to regard Karina again. <acronym title="James"><strong>Dzheyms...</strong> He spoke his name as it flooded to his mind, mainly in hopes it'd calm her. She wasn't a threat, despite what his arm wanted to think, and if he wanted to keep it that way he had lower any panic she was feeling. He didn't disregard that other's would be coming for him, though, so he moved past her with a quick pace and thrust his robotic at the electronic keypad at the door. From those digits a pulse of electricity fired, and the lights that indicated the door was operating disappeared. <br><br>With the door jammed for now, James let his gaze pass over the rest of the room quickly. Searching for a way out, but he noted no windows or alternate doors. His eyes flashed to the Cryo chamber, though and that's when the idea came to him. Water, it'd require a lot for cooling purposes alone. There had to be a wet wall. With that knowledge he moved back to the wall behind it, brushing his hand over it till the sensor's felt a gap. It took only a few seconds to find where the piping between the walls was, and he plunged his arm through it and ripped down immediately. <br><br>The sound of crashing metal tore through the air then, and he growled before he pulled free a big enough chunk to facilitate escape. <acronym title="You're coming with me."><strong>Ty poydesh' so mnoy.</strong> He said then, and turned to face her before slamming from the sealed door sounded. They were here now. He didn't wait for much of a response, he just wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Readying to jump down that hole in the wall, and slide along the pipes till he could burst through a less secured hall.</acronym></acronym>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>28-07-2016, 10:47:48</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md28soz6zI1rx13a5.gif)</div>Karina felt frozen in place. Her eyes were glued to the man she had released from captivity. The two stared at each other for a few moments before he moved. In one fluid motion, he ripped off the cord that was attached to his metallic arm. Karina flinched out of reflex.<br><br><strong><em>"Dzheyms..."</em></strong> His voice broke through the silence. Karina was so focused on him, everything else seemed to fade away. She couldn't hear the emergency alarm anymore, though the red lights were still flashing. The heart monitor that had been registering the man's heartbeat was still emitting a continuous beep that signaled a flat line.<br><br><em>James... His name...</em> In all the files she had seen, his name had been blacked out; redacted. Her employers were hell bent on keeping his identity a mystery. Karina wondered why, all of a sudden, did he just blurt out his name. <em>It must have something to do with being woken up like this.</em> However, she still didn't understand.<br><br>James quickly advanced towards her and Karina jumped aside in fright. She watched him punch the keypad with his metal arm. Sparks flew out from the electronics and the lights above the door went out. It took Karina a few moments to realize that he had disabled the door; trapping the two of them inside the room. Her heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest.<br><br>She remained quiet as she watched him move about the room, silently praying that if she stood still enough then he might forget she was trapped with him. James ran his metal hand along the back wall, then suddenly stopped. Karina watched him punch right through the wall and pull down chunks of plaster and concrete. She cried out in surprise.<br><br>James let out a growl as he pulled down large hunks of the wall. It sounded like a feral animal trying to escape a cage. Karina let out a soft whimper and held her hand against her temple. Images flooded her mind like water breaking through a dam. She was overwhelmed with a sense of confusion, panic, fear, and agonizing pain.<br><br>There was snow; lots of snow. Everything was so cold and wet. Faces blurred in and out of focus and voices sounded muffled. Suddenly, an image appeared crystal clear in her mind. A man was laying on an operating table, and several people wearing white coats surrounded him. There was the unmistakeable sound of flesh and bone being cut with a powered surgical saw. Karina watched as one of the men moved away and she saw the person on the table. There was something familiar about him.<br><br>The scene changed, presumably to some time later. The man was still on the operating table, but something was different. There was a sheet covering his body, leaving his head exposed. A man came into the room with a clipboard and pulled the sheet away, letting it fall to the floor. Karina let out a gasp as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks.<br><br>It was James; complete with his metal limb.<br><br><em><strong>"Ty poydesh' so mnoy."</strong></em> Karina was ripped from her trance when James spoke again. She blinked several times to clear her head. When she finally became aware of her surroundings again, she was much closer to James than she had remembered being. She could feel the warmth of an arm around her waist. The sudden loud noise of banging against the disabled door made her snap her head behind her.<br><br>Before she could react, James grabbed a hold of the pipe with his metal arm and began to slide down with her. Karina reflexively wrapped her arms around his neck and hid her face against his chest. She squeezed her eyes shut and let out a cry that was a mix of fear, panic, and a little excitement.<br><br>It seemed like they fell for hours, but it was really only a few seconds. James landed firmly on his feet, taking the weight of both of them and supporting Karina until she regained her composure. It was dark when she opened her eyes. The light from the hole in the wall on the upper floor only reached so far. Still, she could see just enough. James moved in front of her, still holding her waist, and punched through the wall again. He made an opening just large enough for them to fit through.<br><br>James exited the hole first and practically drug Karina out after him. After a quick glance around, Karina noticed they were in the men's bathroom. The pair exited the stall they had escaped into, and two men in suits standing at the urinals stared at them with disbelief. Suddenly, the reality of the situation set in for them and they ran out of the bathroom as quickly as they could. One of them holding up his pants as he ran.<br><br>Karina felt James let her go and she took a step backward, her hands shaking. She could feel his determination trying to suppress his panic and confusion. Her eyes were locked onto him, and she jumped when her back hit the wall. Her feet were moving on their own. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>15-02-2017, 19:33:49</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://49.media.tumblr.com/d82b4a05eeb5c2d4805050176308ed93/tumblr_o3s8q2kTbs1sc0ffqo5_500.gif)</div>Sparks flew from the metal on metal as James slid down the piping in the walls, his flesh arm holding Karina as close to him as he could to protect her from the wayward flames. Confusion hadn't settled yet, and was in fact only growing worse as they neared further from the place of his imprisonment. The flashes in his mind, visions of a life he didn't know mingling in with death and destruction. Death and destruction that had been wrought by his own hand. What had happened, who was he really? where was he? For Hydra, these questions and concerns were a red coded emergency of the highest level. sooner than he realized, though, the ground floor began to quickly approach; a fact he only noticed from the neurodes that flared from deep within the chrome of his arm. <br><br>James barely managed to draw himself from the fog of memories in time to stop their descent with his feet. Normally, he'd have just swung without a stop, using the momentum to smash through their exit. The distraction had caused the slip and that slip had cost them precious time,, he knew, so he worked to position himself correctly to finish it. A minor shift in his weight caused the pair to swing, and as they swung toward the wall he let go of the piping and sent them through the wall with his chrome arm at the lead.<br><br>&nbsp;Concrete and plaster broke free to make way for them, and soon the light of a restroom greeted the pair.&nbsp; James released Karina as stares came their way, but he simply stared back as he attempted to catch his bearings. The stare apparently worked, for the two rushed away in an amusing way, it was then that he took his attention back to Karina, only to see her backing up in what he perceived as fear. More confusion surfaced on his features as he shook his head. <strong>Come on, we don't have much more time."</strong> He urged from her, this time in a surprising english. Even he didn't realise the change in his demeanor yet, but unfortunately he wouldn't have the chance to really catch it. Guards were at every floor of this secured building, and their exit hadn't exactly been been quiet. <br><br>The unfortunate reality of that became apparent as a rush of movement sounded from&nbsp; their rear. James&nbsp; turned in that instant, seeing two guards rush inside only to stop in shock at the doorway. He positioned himself between them and Karina as he eyes the firearms they were already drawing. Too bad for them they were within twenty one feet, a rule provided for any normal man when firing on an armed attacker. Doubly sad for them, he was no normal man. His hand reached back to grab hold of Karina's while they shouted warnings not to move, and then he burst into motion, bringing the chrome of his arm up in defense of any bullets that might fire before he managed to clear the distance. <br><br>There was only one that discharged, and James made a growl as it dented off his arm just before he closed distance. With one hand still gripping Karina's wrist, Bucky used his right leg to sweep the one who'd yet to discharge out from under his feet at the instep. Another shot fired into the air as the man was upended, and following it the chrome steel of his mechanical limb just lashed out at the second, catching him in the chest. The impact sent the poor sap flying before he dashed from the restroom. It hadn't occurred him that dragging Karina along must have been scaring the daylights from her, not yet. Probably because he'd sensed danger from everyone and everything but her thus far, which his mind had marked as he being in danger as well. <br><br>The hallway was less obstructed outside, and James had thought that spelled good things for their escape. Little did he know, the security measures were better than that. As he rounded one of the corners with Karina, a blockade of more men stood in their path. Just as they could reach the door. At their head was a tall, pale figure that stepped forward. <strong>"SPUTNIK!"</strong>&nbsp; The man called called outloud, and though a growl escaped the lips of The Soldier, the hardware in his brain sparked at the word; and soon the distant look returned to his eyes. <br><br>The hand that held onto Karina let loose, and standing there, James remained as motionless as a statue.. A shutdown command, one that had been first instilled in him by the soviets. "Are you injured?" The pale man asked Karina at that point as he continued to move forward, and behind him one of her bosses came up at a fast pace. "No, no Mr. Vonns. She appears to alright, if shooken up.... Thank you for your assistance." He Thanked the man before looking at Karina. "What on earth happened?" He asked then as men came to place locks on the soldier and lead his now passive form away. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>16-02-2017, 08:20:13</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/gPDAn.jpg)</div>For the second time that day, Karina found herself unable to move. Everything was happening too fast to process. On top of that, she still didn't know what the deal was with those strange images she saw earlier.<br><br><em><strong>"Come on, we don't have much more time."</strong></em> He told her. His sudden English surprised her. Karina's mouth felt bone dry and her voice caught in her throat. His tense determination felt overwhelming; like a man on a mission.<br><br>James' attention snapped towards the door of the restroom, and Karina followed. Two guards stopped short as they registered the scene in front of them. Karina couldn't tell if she was still feeling her own fear, or theirs. Which lead her to wonder what the hell kind of terrible security the company was hiring if they were scared of doing their job.<br><br>The frenzied soldier stepped in between her and the two guards, like a human shield. They drew their weapons, and Karina felt a hand clasp around her wrist. A sudden jolt seemed to shoot through her body, and her head began to pound. It felt like she had just gotten shocked by something. She winced in pain, and brought her gaze up as one of the men shouted at them not to move.<br><br>James held up his metal arm just before one of the guns went off. Karina cried out in fear before she suddenly felt herself jerked forward. James engaged the two guards, making quick work of them. One man fell to the floor while the other was propelled backwards by his metal arm. The young woman felt her heart pounding in her chest and her adrenaline pumped through her veins.<br><br>James rushed out of the bathroom, dragging Karina along behind him. She didn't have too much trouble keeping up with him, but he still ran quicker than she thought. Perhaps it was the adrenaline pumping through her that gave her a speed boost. The pair rounded a corner, and Karina found herself suddenly smacking into the back of James. He stopped suddenly, and she peered out from behind him to see a group of men blocking the path. Her chest was heaving up and down as she tried to catch her breath.<br><br><strong><em>"SPUTNIK!"</em></strong> A tall man with pale skin yelled. Karina furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. No sooner than the man had spoken the word, James' hand slipped from her wrist and he stood motionless in front of her. Karina brought her hand up and gently rubbed her wrist. It didn't hurt, but it hadn't been entirely comfortable either. She scanned the area, trying to get her bearings, before her boss' voice registered in her ears.<br><br>"What on Earth happened, Karina?" Vincent Tyrell asked, standing in front of her with his hands gently resting on her shoulders. Karina blinked several times as she stared at him. She looked over at the, now, docile soldier as he was taken away by a group of men.<br><br>"I... He..." Karina stumbled over her words. The whole situation seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. It felt so surreal. As everything seemed to calm down, the adrenaline that kept her going seemed to immediately drain out of her body. She suddenly felt so tired and drained. "His eyes..."<br><br>"Karina. Take a breath. Sit down." Vincent told her. Karina nodded and he lead her to a nearby chair. She sat down and took a deep breath, slowly composing herself.<br><br>"There...must have been a malfunction in the freezing chamber. His eyes snapped open, and I typed in the override code. Then..." Karina gestured to the two unconscious guards that were being taken away; most likely to the infirmary.<br><br>"What were you doing in there by yourself?" Vincent asked her, his tone more serious now.<br><br><em>Shit! Lie quick, lie well!</em> "I wanted to check and make sure everything was functioning properly. Ever since we had that massive rainstorm, sometimes things go on the fritz." Karina replied, hoping she was convincing enough. Vincent seemed to be studying her, and she did her best to look innocent and truthful.<br><br>"Why don't you take some time off, Karina?" He suggested. "This was...quite a shocking incident. You're lucky you weren't hurt." Karina looked at him in surprise.<br><br>"Sir..! I-I couldn't possibly...!" She stammered. Vincent shook his head.<br><br>"Paid leave time. Take some time to rest and recover, OK?" He explained. "Don't worry about anything here. We'll get it covered." He assured her. Karina looked down after a moment, then nodded silently. "Good. Why don't you head home now and relax." Karina looked at him and nodded again.<br><br>"I...Thank you, Sir." Karina said softly. Vincent nodded wordlessly and called over a security guard to escort her to her car.<br><div align="center">*****</div>Three days later, Karina was home and still couldn't process what had happened at work. It seemed like an ongoing bad dream that she couldn't wake up from. She had so many questions; why did it happen, what was going to happen to James, why did he take her with him, was she going to be in trouble when she got back to work...<br><br>She spent the rest of the evening trying to distract herself with trashy reality shows, movies, and political news. But nothing seemed to be working. Karina couldn't stop thinking about James. He was a person, and the company was treating him like he wasn't. Like he was just some weapon. Didn't he have friends? A family that was worried about him? Karina wondered why these thoughts were only occurring to her now. She felt like a horrible person.<br><br>A glance at the clock told her it was just after midnight. With a heavy sigh, she stood up from the couch and stretched. She grabbed her cell phone and quickly dialed her parents. It rang several times before it picked up.<br><br>"Здравствуйте?" The voice on the other end said.<br><br>"Привет папаша." Karina smiled.<br><br>"Карина!" He said enthusiastically. "Мед! Иди сюда!"<br><br>Karina felt her worries fade away for the few minutes that she talked to her parents. They asked about work, and she avoided telling them about the incident that happened. It was a short, but sweet conversation that gave Karina some much needed comfort. Karina told her parents she loved them, and they told her the same before she told them goodnight and hung up the phone.<br><br>Laying in bed, Karina couldn't shut off her brain. Her mind was racing, still wondering about the incident at work. She had a growing uneasiness in the pit of her stomach, and she couldn't figure out why. She wondered if there was something her employers weren't telling her. Something really hideous or depraved...<br><br>With a frustrated groan, she threw the blankets off and headed to the kitchen. She ran her hands through her hair to get out a few of the tangles. The kitchen was very dimly lit by the small light over the stove. It provided just enough illumination for her to see where she was going. She opened the door to the fridge and grabbed a water bottle. After opening it, she took several large gulps. She pulled the bottle away and took a few breaths.<br><br>Karina put the cap back on the bottle and headed back upstairs with it. She walked past the doorway to the living room, noticing something out of the corner of her eye. She froze just past the doorway, then took a step backwards and took another look. Her blood ran cold and&nbsp; the hair on the back of her neck stood up. There was the clear silhouette of a person standing in the darkness. Out of pure survival instinct, Karina threw the bottle at the figure and immediately began racing back up the stairs.<br><br><em>Phone! Police!</em><br><hr><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Translation</div><div class="spoiler_body">Здравствуйте? - Hello?<br>Привет папаша. - Hi papa.<br>Карина! - Karina!<br>Мед! Иди сюда! - Honey! Come here!</div></div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>16-09-2018, 10:15:14</strong>
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				The command word always brought the darkness. Silence, coldness, stillness. And then the pain. The Soldier remembered the pain the most. He stayed like that for some time, the initial treatments given while he was under before the command phases started to be spoke. <strong>Longing</strong> The shock hit him, he felt the neurodes in his brain spark. <strong>Rusted.</strong> Another shock, another spark. <strong>Furnace</strong> His eyes opened then, the bit in his mouth as another shock hit him. Yet, he didn't scream. <strong>Daybreak</strong> The shock came again, sparking his brain once more before his eyes became colder. <strong>Seventeen</strong> Again, the shock. And it would repeat. <strong>Benign, Nine</strong> Another shock, and The Soldier stood up this time. <strong>Home coming, One</strong> The words called again, and yet another shock, and this time The Soldier fixated on the face of his of his handler. Vincent Tyrell....<br><br><strong>Freight Car</strong> It was the last word, the last electrocution..... And every Nuerode in his brain sparked to life then. "Ready to comply." They were the only words to leave his mouth, but they left Vincent smiling all the same. He handed a file to The Soldier then, and a menacing tone entered his voice. "We have a target. Eliminate her and make sure no ones suspects our involvement." The soldier didn't respond to the directions other than to nod his head, indicating he understood. He then opened the file, looking to see the face of none other than Karina. To the pleasure of Tyrell, he didn't so much as flinch before making eye contact again. <br><br>"As you order...."<br><hr><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/A4PLolD.jpg)</div>The Soldier soon found himself outside the home of Karina, his target. He'd come at night, less to be seen and had taken a motorcycle to get nearby her house. He'd stashed it well around the block, she wouldn't even have heard the motor. He cased the scene for a few moments before he came to the window in time to see Karina moving to the kitchen. He stopped, stalling for a moment just staring. Soon his gloved hand came up, and from it tore a long, silver colored blade. Thin, but strong, he slid it silently beneath the window and turned. So much for the lock. <br><br>While Karina was distracted in the kitchen, The Soldier let himself in through the window. A draft flew, but nothing more, not even a sound as his feet touched her carpeted floor. He didn't bother shutting the window yet. He had the bore long-gun in his hand, and he rose it for a shot. He had one, right at her back. Still as a statue he just stood there poised to shoot for several moments. Yet, the gunfire never rang out. What was happening?<br><br>The Soldier didn't have time to ponder the question, not before Karina turned around. Yet, when she did he was gone. Shifted position, having stepped to the side just out of her view. Again, he didn't so much as move. The gun was pointed down now, but still visible as his target apparently felt the energy in the room or something. Because, what should never have happened happened. She turned and faced him. He didn't need to wait for her words, or screams, he knew he was made the moment her expression changed. <br><br>The Soldier still felt strange, though, his mind was foggy. Steeped in the land of ice and snow, memories suppressed just beneath the surface. Her reaction, though, was the only thing he needed to set the predator instincts at the front. Running made her prey, and he reacted instinctively. His bionic arm shot up then, almost faster than the eye could see, blocking the bottle with force enough to rupture it before he lept forward.&nbsp; One jump cleared the distance, mostly, and he raced up the stairs behind her. <br><br>The head-start put The Soldier at the disadvantage, but he always had a plan. Unbeknownst to him, though, he'd already dropped the gun. He took four steps before the sound of grinding wood rung out, his bionic hand gripping it as he launched himself up, and just in front of her at the top of the stairs. The blade shot from his left arm with another snap, shredding the glove this time before the masked assailant rose and began to approach her. It was slow, almost like the villain in a horror movie as he raised the blade as if he was going to cut her in two. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>16-09-2018, 11:54:12</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://www.hdwallpaper.nu/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/kat_dennings-5.jpg)</div>Karina's heart pounded in her chest. She could practically hear it hammering away in her ears. Panic overtook her as she raced up the stairs. An odd, yet loud, sound penetrated through her thrumming heartbeat and she had no idea what it could have been.<br><br>The next thing she knew, the intruder was standing at the top of her stairs. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared at him. The man raised his hand, the unmistakable glint of a blade reflected in the moonlight as he stalked closer to her. Karina swallowed hard, taking a step back down the stairs. Her hand gripped the railing tightly.<br><br><em>I won't die! I'm not helpless!</em> Karina thought. Without a second thought, she gripped the railing with her other hand and heaved herself over the side. It wasn't a long way down, but she did feel a twinge of pain shoot through her feet when she landed. She let out a cry and fell to her knees before scrambling to her feet and running down the hall.<br><br>She passed a few rooms and ran straight into a storage room, closing the door behind her. There were a few boxes stacked up and she crouched on the other side of them. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw one of the boxes had a label that said "KITCHEN". Without hesitation, she slipped her hand into the box. In a simultaneously lucky and unlucky moment, she felt a knife that stabbed her in the hand. Karina covered her mouth and let out a muffled whimper of pain. She managed to grab a hold of it and pulled it out of the box.<br><br>Karina had basically no self-defense training, but she wasn't about to go down without a fight. Her hand stung as she gripped the handle of the knife tightly with both hands. It was only a matter of time before he found her. The second he opened the door, she'd pop out and surprise him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>18-09-2018, 23:33:48</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/DALlx9P.jpg?1)</div>Target was about to be eliminated. It wasn't clean, it wasn't by the book as state, but the mission was about to be complete. But... The Soldier always completed the mission as directed. The crosswires in his programming caused a slight delay, slight enough that when The Soldier slashed down his prey was able to react. Nimbly, Karina managed to dodge his overhanded strike, hopping over the rail just in time to leave nothing more than wood for his blade to slice. And slice it did. The railing was cut in two cleanly, leaving but the sound of the creaking wood resetting into place as his head turned to follow the prey. <br><br>Off to the Kitchen, perceived weapons. With that thought, The Soldier too jumped down to the floor, only his legs didn't nearly buckle. No, he just made a walk toward the direction she fled as the sensor array in his arm detailed her location. The hiss of his blade retracting sounded then, just a few feet from the door as he walked by it. His arm, of course, gave him the location.... but why would he use the door when another, more direct way presented itself. Without so much as breathing, he turned to the wall then, right where she braced against before he rose his arm and punched it right through the sheet rock and wood. <br><br>The bionic hand and part of the arm pushed right through the other side, punching out just a few inches away from Karina's neckline while the servo motors roared, and the hand made an impossible turn, grabbing her upside down by the throat. The metal was cold at first, enhancing the shock that came in it's firm grip that constricted airflow. This should have been it.... One turn could have snapped her neck. But the hand just sat there for a moment, still as if something had happened. And indeed, it had. <br><br>It was almost like a shock. One of those shocks he got during programming, and like those the neurodes in his brain began to spark. "Arghhh!" He screamed out, but this wasn't a shock treatment, somehow she'd caused him to do it from his own bionic arm! Bucky's hand released her then, the arm pulling back through the wall as The Soldier groaned. "Wha... Wai..." The words came and went as he seen stars. Flashes of a frozen land again, red hair, betrayal. What... what had happened? He nearly collapsed onto the floor as the entire room spun. <br><br><em>My target. The mission. <br>No, fuck the mission!<br>My Target, my mission.<br>No, it's HYDRA!</em><br><br>Three personas were clashing. Bucky, James and The Soldier. Who was gonna come out in control when he came to?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>19-09-2018, 06:21:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/96/04/75/960475ef8c11ade6d60a0c898d92e542.gif)</div>Karina gripped the knife so tightly, her knuckles were turning white. Blood ran down her arm and her hands were shaking. She heard his footsteps as he drew closer, and she held her breath. She stared at the door, waiting to see it open.<br><br>Suddenly, the wall broke open next to her. She screamed, but was cut off by something cold and metallic pressed hard around her neck. The scream turned to a strangled cry as she wheezed loudly, gasping for air. It felt like electricity zapped through her. Images flashed in her mind; a snowy landscape that felt too familiar, someone with red hair, someone in what looked like a World War II era uniform falling into a ravine... What the hell? Why was she seeing this?<br><br>Just as quickly as the choking started, it stopped. Karina fell to the floor, still clutching the knife with one hand. Her other hand holding her own throat as she gasped and coughed, struggling to catch her breath. Still trying to make sense of everything, she forced herself to her feet and leaned against the wall for a few moments. She couldn't hear any movement, just two people breathing heavily. Karina swallowed hard and dared a look through the gaping hole in the wall. The intruder was still there.<br><br>Karina took a shaky breath and wiped her eyes, clearing away tears that hadn't yet fallen - leaving a streak of blood on her face. She quietly opened the door and stepped out into the hall. A cautious glance both ways seemed to suggest he was the only intruder. There was a gnawing feeling of familiarity that she couldn't shake.<br><br><em>Please don't let it be him...</em> If it was who she thought it was, she knew what that meant. She wouldn't be the first employee to die by their hands. <em>All those "accidents"...!</em> The realization suddenly clicked in her brain. She turned the corner, and saw him bent over holding his head. If her heart sped up any faster, she would most certainly be dead. <em>Oh, shit...</em> She held the knife in front of her, shaking hands keeping the handle close against her stomach. Karina fought past her fear and spoke to him - her voice just barely a whisper.<br><br>"....J-James..?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>07-11-2018, 05:30:42</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The dizzying battle in Bucky's brain kept him disoriented, until a voice called out "James." Still in the mask, he turned to face Karina and titled his head before he reached up pushed the release for the mask. It popped off and he lowered the cloth quickly to breathe. "They... It..." He started to try and speak, but it was a mess before he just blinked a few times while she came into focus. "How did the programming break?" He asked then, clearer but still strained while he stayed doubled over. <br><br>Being suddenly jarred to consciousness so quickly after a 'treatment' was rough, his brain was still fighting him on... pretty much everything. If it hadn't, he'd have already noticed that psionic readings were detected on his arm. "Did you do something?" He asked then, waiting before shaking his head. "Nevermind, it doesn't matter... They're expecting you dead, we need to move." He decided before trying to stand, but stumbling a little and catching himself on the door frame. <br><br>They weren't gonna get anywhere like this. "You have a car, right?" He asked, because if not one of her neighbor's was getting their's stolen. He could knock out the GPS, and they could swap to a different make after they cleared the area. But as is, he wasn't going to be getting them anywhere until his head cleared some. "They aren't gonna let either of us go, we need to get out of here and recover... Figure out a next move." He followed before he started to try and move again. <br><br>Bucky found he could walk slow now, but the room still spun whenever he moved too much. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>08-11-2018, 01:38:16</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/38100000/Kat-Dennings-kat-dennings-38199662-500-281.gif)</div>Karina wasn't sure what to expect. Well, that's not entirely true. She expected him to come after her; strangle her again, or even grab the knife from her and use it against her. She knew he was programmed to eliminate the specific target - her.<br><br><em>"How did the programming break?"</em> That wasn't what she was expecting. He seemed...confused and dazed. So much different than what she was used to seeing. Though, it was similar to how she had seen him a few days ago. Still, it was strange seeing him look so lost and purposeless. <em>"Did you do something?"</em><br><br>"...I -"<br><br><em>"Nevermind, it doesn't matter... They're expecting you dead, we need to move."</em> He interrupted her, struggling to stand on his own. Karina went to step forward to help him, but couldn't get her feet to move. She wasn't sure what had just happened. Had she really done something to break him free? How was that even possible? She was starting to feel her head throb from all the emotions that were overwhelming her. She couldn't even tell which ones were hers anymore.<br><br><em>"You have a car, right? They aren't gonna let either of us go, we need to get out of here and recover... Figure out a next move."</em> James said, holding himself up against the wall. Karina swallowed, trying to find her voice. Her hands fell to her sides, though she was still tightly clutching the knife. The pain in her hand just a dull ache now.<br><br><em>"Karina!"</em> His voice was sharp, and had a sense of urgency to it. Karina jumped, but it was the start she needed to finally find her voice again.<br><br>"I...yes." She was flustered, and her heart was still hammering in her chest. This wasn't a trick, was it? It couldn't be. They couldn't program him to do that...right? Regardless, she wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to have him on her side.<br><br>"The keys...are by the door." She pointed in the direction of the door. Her hands were still shaking a little. She didn't know if she was in any state to drive, she didn't even know where they were going. But, James didn't look like he would fare any better.<br><br>"Are you...? ...How?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>22-11-2018, 09:26:10</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/Kj3LuFF.jpg)</div>After Bucky determined he could move, he waited for a response from Karina before realizing it wasn't coming. She was in shock.... that wasn't gonna work. He was tired, and probably snapped the words harsher than he should have. "Karina!" Regardless, it got her attention and got him an answer. He began to move that way, motioning for her to follow. It wouldn't be hard to keep up with his slow gait. <br><br>As Bucky grabbed the keys, Karina seemed to question him. He looked at her in confusion for a minute, and then shook his head when he glanced at the keys. "Just trust me." He said, which was a hell of a thing for the man that just tried to kill you to suggest. But it's actually what he was suggesting. "I can get us out here." He promised before raising his robotic arm. She probably wouldn't guess just how that was gonna work, but she'd see soon enough. "Come on." He urged her before he slowly moved out the door and from the house. <br><br>This was gonna be where they were caught. No, not caught, discovered. Those monitoring would report back and the timer would start. He'd have to get them to a safe house no one was gonna think about. He thought about it along the way, and tapped the steering wheel for a moment in contemplation. "Taking us somewhere safe for now, don't worry." He said, and then reclined his chair back a little before literally closing his eyes and gripping the wheel. The arm started moving then, while his other hand controlled the keys and and his foot the pedal. They pulled out, and didn't hit anyone. In fact, he was driving perfectly straight. <br><br>That's because Bucky had programmed a location into his arm, and allowed the biomechanical wonder to go on a programmed autopilot for the trip. The wheel was most likely where something was gonna wrong and he didn't have to worry about knowing where to hit the gas or the brake. His Sensory array told him when and where. "It was only here, paying so much attention to the sensors did he detect the residual build up of psionic energy. It was small in present form, but the potential for more was definitely there. <br><br>Was it coming from Karina? It'd possibly explain what happened back there. "Are you a psionic?" He asked her rather plainly, slight disorientation in his voice. Great comfort given he was still technically the one driving. "When we touched something happened.... I got a flashback and it's like I was just brought to the surface." He explained. It sounded like the beginning of a romantic speech actually, but honestly it was just information. Information he felt was important.<br><br>"I'm also detecting some residual energy... pretty sure whatever happened, you did it somehow. "Bucky explained as they got about halfway there. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>23-11-2018, 10:17:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://cdn.movieweb.com/img.site/PHxwYBCGJWGmCx_1_l.jpg)</div>James motioned for Karina to follow him, and she found herself compelled to do so. She didn't know why, but she felt like she could trust him. Despite the fact that he had just tried to kill her. Something was different with him, and she could sense it.<br><br><em>"Just trust me."</em> He said. <em>"I can get us out of here."</em> Karina truly believed him. Anyone else would have run screaming to a neighbor's house. But Karina could sense his honesty. He was confused, but was determined to get them somewhere safe. <em>"Come on."</em> She followed him to the car.<br><br>Karina got in the passenger seat, without a word. She didn't even know what she would say to him. He reclined the driver's seat and started driving...somehow. He had no way to see where he was going, but he was definitely driving like he could. Karina felt a sharp pain in her thigh, and saw that she still had the knife in her hand - and the tip was digging into her skin.<br><br><em>"Are you a psionic?"</em> James asked. Karina looked at him in confusion. She had never heard that term before. <em>"When we touched something happened.... I got a flashback and it's like I was just brought to the surface. I'm also detecting some residual energy... pretty sure whatever happened, you did it somehow."</em> She had never been asked about her ability before.<br><br>"I... I'm..." Karina tried to figure out how to explain it to him. "I don't know. I can feel people's emotions." She said plainly. "When I touch someone, everything gets magnified - more intense." Karina looked away, and stared at the floor of the car.<br><br>"I can feel you right now. Just sitting here, I can feel... Your confusion, and determination, and even your anger." Karina was simultaneously drowning in a sea of emotions, but felt numb to everything.<br><br>"I can't believe they want me dead..." She whispered, mostly to herself. Her hand moved up to her neck and she rubbed it gently. She was definitely going to have some bruises when she woke up.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>17-07-2019, 10:05:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/Kj3LuFF.jpg)</div> Letting the biomechanical part of Bucky's body take the strain of the drive was a good idea. He could already feel his strength returning a little, aided by his enhanced cellular regeneration of course. The body starting to heal up was all nice and good, but his mind still felt like a mess. Like three different realities were battling inside it. A part of him had never left the 1940's, and the other part of him just knew the world and everything that had happened. Everything <em>he</em> had done. The thought caused a sharp sense of panic for a moment, but he pushed it back rather quickly when Karina began to confirm his suspicions. <br><br>The last thing Bucky wanted was to panic around the potential empath. Regardless, her explanation for it seemed spot on. "You definitely have something working there." He answered as he adjusted himself in the seat some. He was starting to try and plan their next move once they got to the safehouse when he heard her mutter about how she couldn't believe they wanted her dead. He almost did a good job of ignoring it, until he caught her touching her neck where he'd..... <br><br>Bucky's eyes closed a little and he shook his head. "They'd kill anyone who got in there way, you just... you know too much." He explained, trying to help, which he realized he failed. The words sounded good till he heard them aloud. He'd been a robot for way too long "Look, we're not gonna let that happen... I'm not going back... I can't, and I'm not letting them take you either." He said. Confirmed psionic or not, he was clever enough to know however he broke of their control, she was the reason it happened. He was the reason she was in danger. He couldn't let her take the fall just because she was a doctor that was looking after him while he was on ice. <br><br>Bucky's bionic armed turned the wheel after his words, causing a slight start from Bucky that revealed he'd lost track of where they were. Exhaustion from the brain shock recovering or not, he was still a little out of sorts. They were almost there. They had a single stretch of road to soar down before they hit the safe house. It was no longer in use, but one of his old partners had reprogrammed the locks and restocked it on a mission once. Off the books. He hadn't had to report it because it wasn't him, and well... he'd killed the partner on the job, so he was certain that it's location was secure. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>26-08-2019, 04:35:25</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://d.wattpad.com/story_parts/648099229/images/15623bd8731a17cd29046300256.gif)</div>Everything was happening so fast. It felt like only twenty minutes ago, Karina was just a normal woman going about her normal life. Now? Jesus... Nothing would be the same. Would it ever go back to normal?<br><br><em>Unlikely... Your boss wants you dead and sent a highly trained assassin to do the job.</em> She thought. It truly felt like something straight out of an action movie plot.<br><br><em>"They'd kill anyone who got in there way, you just... you know too much."</em> James said.<br><br><em>Obviously...</em> Karina thought, but stayed quiet. She knew her response wouldn't help the situation. After all, they were both kind of in this together now.<br><br><em>"Look, we're not gonna let that happen... I'm not going back... I can't, and I'm not letting them take you either."</em> He added. Karina could sense the sincerity of his words, and genuine emotion was incredibly hard to fake - especially in the presence of an empath.<br><br><em>Was... Was I the reason he woke up?</em> She wondered, her gaze wandering until it fell upon him. <em>Is it possible that my ability...had something to do with it?</em> She didn't truly understand her power, to be honest. She had no idea what she could do with it.<br><br>"I...don't know the extent of this ability." She admitted softly. "But... I do know that when I touch you - I see things. And that's never happened before." Karina looked down at the knife in her hands. "I saw you. Only, you looked different. <em>Much</em> different." She went on. "I think I saw you falling down a ravine? I don't know. I saw you being operated on. And the sound..." She rubbed her temple and closed her eyes.<br><br>"Flesh and bone being cut through. I don't know if I'll ever forget that sound..." She winced, as if she could feel the pain. "There's so much snow, and it's so cold... And you're terrified and in pain, just wondering why you didn't die." A single tear slid down her cheek as she was lost in her reminisce.<br><br>She wasn't so lost that he couldn't pull her out, but she was letting everything quickly overwhelm her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>26-08-2019, 20:28:07</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/Kj3LuFF.jpg)</div> Bucky had gotten so into his own mind, plotting the next move, that he hadn't properly been monitoring Karina. He'd just been telling her about how he wasn't gonna let anything happen. Maybe it was the fact that he'd thought so hard on the topic, maybe the shock just had her senses on overdrive, but when she started speaking; Bucky felt like she seeing and feeling everything she was saying at once. <br><br>The explanation just brought a nod at first, but the detail she was going in to caused Bucky to become visibly uncomfortable. He looked over at her then, even as she started to go into detail about the sound. He could hear it too, half awake on the operating table as the buzzing... His eyes shut tight before he shook his head. "Hey... That was a long time ago." He told her, in as calm of a voice as he could muster. Being a trained assassin made that one pretty easy at least. <br><br>"We're here now, you and me..... and we have to keep going forward." He said before he moved his human hand over to place it on her shoulder for support. He was careful to [lace on the clothing of her shirt after what she'd told him, of course, he just hoped that was how it worked. "It's gonna be alright... We can rest soon, figure out what to do." He explained. And while he was being sincere, he already had a bad feeling he knew the way out this. <br><br>HYDRA operated in heads. To get out of this mess, they were probably going to have to cut the local one off. His arm alerted him that they had reached their destination, though, so he started to reduce speed. Slowing to a stop just outside an old industrial building. He'd already roasted the computers internal chips, so they weren't going to be tracked. With that in mind, he was happy to leave it out front. "Entrance is down the stairs, on the left side." He explained before slowly opening the driver side door and starting to step out. <br><br>Bucky may have been a master assassin , but he had no idea if he'd really reached Karina through her little episode. With that in mind, he moved around the car and opened the passenger door for her. He was still a little dizzy. but he was steadier on his feet now. "C'mon." Was all he could think to say as he held out his hand for her to take so he could help her out of the car. He didn't think she needed the help, but with everything that was happening, he hoped the gesture would somehow calm her some. Ironic, given her'd been strangling her not an hour ago. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>02-01-2020, 07:00:38</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://womenandhollywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/dollface-1024x576.png)</div>Karina was on the verge of getting sucked into the pain of the memory until she felt his hand on her shoulder. Despite the fabric that shielded her from skin to skin contact, she was still able to feel how numb he was. Or at least how numb he tried to force himself to be. It shouldn't have surprised her - he was a trained assassin. Emotions and feelings were unnecessary for him. In a way, it was a blessing that he was so cold and distant. Though there were a few times tonight already when she felt genuine concern from him.<br><br>"I... Sorry. I don't..." She stammered softly. Her world had turned upside down tonight.<br><br><em>"It's gonna be alright... We can rest soon, figure out what to do."</em> James reassured her, and she truly believed him. She nodded but didn't speak. She stared down at her hands in a daze. The small puncture wound on her palm had stopped bleeding some time ago, and the dried blood cracked as she flexed her hand. It was a weird and painful feeling.<br><br><em>"C'mon."</em> James' voice startled her with its closeness. She snapped her head towards him, not having even realized he had gotten out and opened her door for her. He held his hand out for her to help her out. Without thinking, Karina moved to place her hand in his. She caught herself at the last second and stopped just before they touched.<br><br>"I...probably shouldn't...touch you." Karina said as she slowly moved her hand away. She appreciated the gesture, of course, but had come to the realization that the more she came into physical contact with him the more he would effect her. She still wasn't sure what was happening with her ability.<br><br>As she stepped out of the car and wandered towards the entrance of the safe house, she wondered what kind of effect she was having on him. Well, if she was having any effect on him at all now. The initial shock of her somehow breaking him from his programming seemed to have worn off of him. She still wasn't sure how it happened in the first place, and part of her mind figured neither of them might ever know why.<br><br>In spite of what she had just said, there was a part of her that <em>did</em> want to touch him again. That same curious part of her that always won out and kept her sneaking back to his containment chamber. She wondered if those numerous visits had something to do with him suddenly waking up that fateful day. Had she been building up some kind of...empathic rapport with him without realizing it?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>02-01-2020, 08:59:22</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/5fM0DW4.jpg)</div>Bucky didn't know what he'd expected, but it wasn't to startle her out of a little reverie. He didn't let the start he'd given her bother him, he just remained calm and kept his hand extended for her. That's when she said something that definitely struck a note. She didn't think it was a good idea for her to touch him. He had to admit, it seemed to have been causing her stress so far. If she was collecting bleed off from him, well he was one of the last people in the world she needed to be surface skimming. How long had this been going on? He knew he'd sensed her, through all of the.. All the cold silence. <br><br>Bucky shook the thoughts from his mind, nodding his head to Karina. "You're probably right." He answered as his hand lowered and he stepped to the side so she could exit the vehicle. He followed on behind her, his eyes taking in her sight for probably the first time. Even as ruffed up as she was, he could have certainly been stuck with someone far harder on the eyes. He moved them from her, and forward toward the safe house as they neared. He had other things to pay attention to, after all. He picked up his pace a little, moving ahead of her as they came in close to the door. He moved to what seemed like a keypad, bent down and started to enter a code so they could enter. <br><br>Even from a distance, it was obvious that the keypad was outdated. Nineties tech, maybe. This was true, of course, but then it was HYDRA nineties tech. A few clicks on the pad triggered the mechanism inside the door, causing a motor to roar as the maglocks released. The entire place looked like some abandoned water treatment, or other industrial plant. Just a building, and a lot of equipment surrounding. Great place to hide out for a night. He swung the door open then, revealing the inside. It wasn't what one would call cozy, but it was a sight better than the outside. Furniture, if sparse. Rooms with beds, one would presume and other basic necessities. It was drull, a little dreary even given the sterile design. But it would do. <br><br>Bucky motioned Karina on inside as he started in himself. He went right to an island counter in the main room, seemed to double as a 'kitchen' area given the hotplate, and pulled what looked like a first aid box from the inside. This would help them clean up a little better, he thought as he opened it. But more importantly, it had something for his head. He pulled out a small bottle, old fashioned looking. It was used to calm someones mind after trauma, help em set back together. A secret of how HYDRA Agents remained as 'put together' as they did. It didn't work the same on him, he had so many enhancements over the years, but history told him it'd settle his brain down. <br><br>Bucky uncorked the bottle and took a large swig from it. He grimaced at the taste, but sat it back down before he looked toward Karina. "Come here, let's get your hand cleaned up properly." He offered. He knew she didn't want him touching her, or rather her touching him, but that hand needed to be cleaned up better. She needed a little doctored up in general. He regenerated at the celluar level, she didn't. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>02-01-2020, 11:06:21</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://d1qxviojg2h5lt.cloudfront.net/images/01DSK1CHT8GQP1BE67AJA1VWAE/katdennings570.png)</div>Karina hoped she didn't come off as rude, which almost made her laugh out loud when she put it into perspective. An hour earlier, this man had broken into her house and assaulted her - nearly killed her - essentially kidnapped her, and she just hoped she hadn't insulted him by not taking his hand...<br><br>She watched as James entered a code into a keypad and opened the door for her. She nodded gratefully at him as she entered the house. It wasn't exactly welcoming, but Karina didn't know what else to expect. It looked like it hadn't been used in a long time. She shuddered at the thought of what kind of bugs might be hiding in the crevices.<br><br><em>Please don't let there be spiders...</em> She thought as she watched James walk to an island and pull out a first aid box. Clearly he had been here before. He pulled out a bottle and opened it, taking a large drink of whatever was inside. She wondered what it was, and if it was even safe to be drinking. She said nothing, though.<br><br><em>"Come here, let's get your hand cleaned up properly."</em> He said. Karina bit her lip and hesitated for a moment. She didn't want him to touch her, but he was right. It might not have been a life-threatening wound, but she couldn't let it get infected. Cleaning it herself probably wouldn't be an issue, but bandaging it with just one hand would probably be a little difficult.<br><br>Karina let out a breath and joined James at the island counter. Finally, she let go of the knife she had been holding onto. Not having it in either hand felt strange, but only for a few moments. She grabbed a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide and poured some of the liquid onto the wound. A pained whimper escaped her lips and she gritted her teeth, slamming the bottle on the counter.<br><br>"Блядь!" She hissed angrily. Karina took a deep breath, then slowly held her hand out towards James. She was visibly shaking - both from the stinging pain and the fear of needing him to touch her again.<br><br><em>Please don't let this time be as bad... Please...</em><br><hr><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Translation</div><div class="spoiler_body">Блядь! - Fuck!</div></div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>02-01-2020, 21:39:13</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/5fM0DW4.jpg)</div>Bucky regarded Karina for a moment while she seemed to debate on the subject. She did start walking his way, though, still silent as could be. He supposed he couldn't blame her, he hadn't exactly said much since they got here either. He wasn't much of a talker these days if he didn't have to be. When she joined him at the counter, he watched watched while she went about cleaning it herself. Or trying, rather. He took another swig of the medication then, feeling it rush to him again before he capped the bottle. That should be enough, anymore and it would actually start working for it's intended purpose. And that wasn't something he wanted to experience again. <br><br>The tonic has certainly calmed Bucky's nerves and mind down, he felt things starting to even out. Not quite there yet, but a lot closer. He was distracted from that thought as Karina cursed out from cleaning the wound, and he looked over to see it seeping as the peroxide bubbled. Peroxide, that was something he'd have to teach her better on. Something he got the chance to do as she extended her hand, offering to let him finish. He wasn't sure if that'd been her plan all along, but he was game to play. Bucky pulled a bottle of what looked like Vodka, because of course it was, and slid it over to her. "Here, that should dull the pain and settle your nerves a little." He offered, before a thought popped in his mind. "Just don't take more than a couple drinks." They didn't need her escaping everything in a bottle right now. <br><br>Bucky steadied himself then, trying to ease his feelings before touching her. He thought better on it, and prepped some rubbing alcohol on a gauze pad. It'd hurt a little more, but it'd speed along the healing process, as opposed to peroxide which slowed it down. "Just try to stay calm, it'll only take a minute and it'll feel better after that." He wasn't lying, the cushion of the bandage would do a lot to help. He started by just dabbing and cleaning with the gauze cloth, he knew touching at all probably did it, but avoiding direct skin contact probably helped. At least, he hoped. <br><br>After the wound was better cleaned, which only shed light on how gnarly it was, Bucky placed a gauze padding on the wound directly, before he wrapped some around in Karina's hand in a field bandage. Afterwards, he just tore the gauze and secured it in place with some medical tape. "Hopefully that was a little better." He asked, looking back up into her eyes. He'd tried to focus on just patching her up, so he hoped that was all that had bled through. Looking in her eyes now, he felt the thought he'd had when walking behind her pop back into his mind, and a grin came to his lips. <br><br>"You have really pretty eyes, ya know?" Bucky sorta asked and commented at the same time before his eyes moved back to the first aide kit that was still open on the table. He needed to pack that away. He started in on that, putting up the gauze and medical tape. Along with the alcohol and peroxide. He left out some Tylenol and IBU for pain, if she needed or wanted them. He knew the latter would definitely help with the swelling. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>03-01-2020, 08:05:49</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/28000000/Kat-in-Shorts-kat-dennings-28001088-853-480.jpg)</div>Karina was out of sorts and not thinking clearly. Of course, putting hydrogen peroxide on her open wound was stupid. She knew that but did it anyway for whatever reason. She wasn't an idiot, but she was pretty sure she looked like one. She wouldn't have been surprised if James asked her if she really was part of the team that kept him in 'working condition'...<br><br><em>"Here, that should dull the pain and settle your nerves a little. Just don't take more than a couple drinks."</em> He said. Karina looked at the bottle, unable to recall the last time she had any alcohol. She watched James pour some rubbing alcohol on a gauze pad, and figured he was right. She grabbed the bottle and took a large drink from it before setting it back down. The burning sensation that worked its way down her throat forced an involuntary cough from her, but that was about it.<br><br>James pressed the pad against her wound, and she had to grip her wrist with her free hand to hold it in place. She grimaced and turned her head to the side in pain, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. It took her a few moments to realize that she wasn't getting lost in another one of his memories. She could definitely still feel his emotions, but... Was it the alcohol? Or...something else?<br><br>Karina slowly turned her head back to face him, and she watched him as he continued to tend to her wound. It seemed like he had done this before, the way he worked rather efficiently. He was rather stoic for the most part, aside from a few flashes of worry she could sense here and there. She couldn't really tell if he was forcing himself to be numb for her benefit, or if it was the result of years of - let's be real - abuse at the hands of her employers.<br><br><em>"Hopefully that was a little better."</em> His voice cut through her thoughts. She looked at her now bandaged hand. There was still a dull stinging, but it lessened with each passing moment. Karina nodded silently, again, flexing her hand just a little. It was starting to feel less painful. She looked at James again, ready to thank him, but he spoke first.<br><br><em>"You have really pretty eyes, ya know?"</em> His words caught her off guard, and she was left speechless for a few moments while he packed up the first aid kit. She grabbed one of the bottles of pain pills and dumped a few into her hand, quickly downing them in an effort to make it seem like she was too busy to reply at the moment. In actuality, she was trying to buy herself some time to figure out what the fuck to actually say back to him. In the end, it didn't actually help.<br><br>"I, um... Thank you...?" It sounded more like a confused question. "...So do you...?" She didn't know what else to say, honestly. Awkward conversations felt like something that was going to become the norm for the foreseeable future.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>03-01-2020, 21:52:53</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/5fM0DW4.jpg)</div>Bucky noted as Karina went about taking the pain killers, even if she didn't answer or really respond yet. He took the time to admire the work he'd done on the bandage, giving it another nod before she seemed to finish up with the pills. He was expecting a response to whether or not this time had been better on her mind than last, touching him that was, but instead she focused on his eyes comment. It'd been more a random observation, but the way she seemed to get flustered by it almost made him think she wasn't use to the compliments. It was a notion he found a little absurd. He chuckled a little at how she chose to respond, nodding his head a little bit. "Thank you." He responded with a smile on his lips. <br><br>Bucky was amused, she was awfully cute. "And yeah, it was a compliment." He decided to confirm for her. His eyes left her's, coming back to the kit before he stashed it in it's place beneath the little island counter. It had a lot of useful compartments inside. That'd be a good thing to note if they were gonna be trying to strike back any. It'd give them a temporary base of operations. That conversation would have to happen a little later, though. Karina seemed like she was still less than full force at the moment. Understandably so. He regarded her again, eyes moving to her's before he thought on how to proceed. <br><br>Bucky had a million jokes pop in his head about awkward conversations, but he shoved them to the side. He was a super soldier cyborg assassin that'd been created by one of the most vile organizations on the planet and she was a scientist that had kept him under their control. Maybe even brought him out of it. He supposed there was bound to be some awkward conversations. He didn't know if she could sleep right now, but given that there encounter hadn't really given her the chance, he figured it was best to bring that subject up. She could certainly use some rest after what she had been through. "There's a couple rooms here."&nbsp; He said, though more trying to get a line of dialogue started than anything else. <br><br>"You should probably see which one you find more comfortable and try to get some rest." Bucky continued before his eyes came back to her's. He was expecting some resistance, but she was gonna be useless without getting some sleep. "We have some food here if you need a bite to eat first, but given how I..." Bucky stopped himself from completing the sentence with a sigh, obviously distressed about what he'd try to do to her. "After what happened, you really should rest." He finished the sentence in more pliable ways for his mind. They'd have to have a conversation about that if their forced partnership lasted that long, but he really didn't relish the idea of having to talk about it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>04-01-2020, 06:56:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://66.media.tumblr.com/9b81e07ef4491e705dea3de355e17996/tumblr_ov20fgHQZq1uvlkofo7_1280.jpg)</div>Karina heard him laugh softly at her response, but he thanked her as well and she saw...a smile? She hoped the would be something she would see more often in the future. He had a nice smile.<br><br><em>Wait... What future? I'll most likely be dead soon.</em> She frowned as the thought crossed her mind. However, she had to be realistic about the situation. James couldn't keep her safe forever. It would only take her employers a matter of time to find them. They had resources - <em>a ton</em> of resources. It's entirely possible that they had other assets Karina didn't even know about for situations like this. Plus, she was just a regular person in comparison to James. He was an enhanced lethal assassin. She'd only slow them down, get them caught quicker. It'd be better if he dropped her and ran on his own. He deserved a fresh start and a better life after everything they'd done to him.<br><br>Everything <em>she</em> helped do to him...<br><br><em>"There's a couple rooms here. You should probably see which one you find more comfortable and try to get some rest."</em> He suggested. Karina suddenly realized how exhausted she was when he mentioned sleeping. The adrenaline rush she had already started to wear off while they were in the car. Sleep sounded heavenly, even if it probably wouldn't be the best night of sleep she ever got. Food sounded good, too. But her body seemed to favor rest at the moment.<br><br>"Sleep sounds like a winner." Karina replied. "My head...is a mess right now." She rubbed her temples and sighed. "Probably make some sense of this after I rest." The last part wasn't really aimed at James specifically, it was just her talking out loud. A habit that had gotten her into some trouble in the past, and would continue to do so in the future.<br><br>"...Thanks." Karina said softly, debating on whether or not to tell him each individual thing she was thanking him for. Not murdering her was the first thing that came to mind. But she left it at that, keeping it short and simple. She felt like he knew everything she was thanking him for. Silently, she wandered off to sleep.<br><br>Karina barely remembered her head hitting the pillow. It was her vain hope that she would be able to get some good rest, but that wasn't in the cards tonight. Her dreams weren't even her own. She was back in the snow, looking down at James. She watched as he was taken away, dragged through the snow without care. Physically, she was tossing and turning in the bed - unable to wake herself. Karina had to watch them mutilate his arm and then attach the metal to his skin. They were rough and abusive.<br><br>"Stop! Why him?!" She found herself yelling at them. But nobody answered. She didn't exist, because what she was seeing wasn't from her memory. The scene shifted, and she watched helplessly as she saw James restrained to some strange chair. The sound of electricity crackled through the air, accompanied by the poor man's agonizing and muffled screams. Nearby, a man was reciting seemingly random words from a book in his hands. Karina was as confused as she was enraged at the site of seeing him be tortured.<br><br>Suddenly, everything stopped and a tense silence filled the room. The restraints on the chair unlocked and James stood up, his eyes locked straight ahead. It almost looked like he was staring right at Karina. She felt a chill sweep up her spine. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks.<br><br><em>This... This is how they've kept him obedient to them! Torture and brainwashing!</em> She barely had time to register the thought when her blood ran cold.<br><br><em>"Kill the target."</em> The man who had been reading from the book instructed James. Without hesitation, James - no - the soldier grabbed a nearby gun and aimed it at Karina.<br><br>"...W-wait!" Panic and fear washed over her. There was a loud bang as the gun went off.<br><br>"James!" Karina cried out and bolted up in the bed, her hair sticking to her face and chest. The loud pounding of her heartbeat echoed in her ears and made her head throb. She stood up from the bed and made her way to the nearest bathroom. She flicked the light on, still panting to catch her breath, and ran some cold water to splash on her face. Her reflection looked unfamiliar, but it didn't surprise her. She looked like hell, given what she had been through, and there was a faint bruise already visible on her neck.<br><br><em>Well... It could be worse, I suppose.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>06-01-2020, 11:24:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/5fM0DW4.jpg)</div>Bucky couldn't help but think Karina had smiled back at him during their little exchange before he suggested sleep. He couldn't be sure of it, of course, but if she had, at-least they'd found something to smile about after everything in the day. When she said sleep was a winner, he sorta nodded his head like he understood that. He wished he could sleep like he use to, but the implants made that difficult. He didn't sleep like other people, he had a shortened duration... and what sleep he had was typically plagued by nightmares. Just some of the fun things attached to having so much metal and circuits in your head. He brushed the thoughts away, or tried, but the little trigger memory they'd had in the car had already sentenced him to a rough night.<br><br>Now matter how much Bucky calmed down, the dreams would still get him. "I get it, you go get some rest." He replied to her saying it might make more sense later, then he watched as she silently left. It had him alone with his thoughts, but that wasn't a bad thing. He took the time to settle things up on his end. He took some of the resources around the facility and gathered up a few things they could find useful. He found some guns and ammunition. A nice rifle, some handguns and a shotgun. It'd help. Alongside that, he managed to use some of the other supplies to make a few pipe bombs to help them out. Just in case. After all of that, he started to feel his own fatigue creeping up on. He needed to rest too. He took the room opposite to the one Karina chose, tactical to a degree. After all, this is where an agent and their partner would sleep. <br><br>Bucky didn't care, though, with who they had up against them, they needed every bit of help they could get. He settled in with some difficulties, but soon enough, he eased into a restless sleep. A restless sleep full of the memories they'd discussed. It was made worse by the memory drug he'd taken before hand, it made everything more vivid and clear for him. He could feel the saw on his arm again, could feel the electricity surging through him for the first time. His mind was settling back into place for sure, but it didn't feel like it. Not one bit. <br><br><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/OXESwAy.jpg)</div>Of all the things Brock could be reporting today, this was probably the worst. He thought on that as the sound of the chopper blades roared overhead, the rotors busy taking the man where he needed to be. He sat in the back, strapped in and going over how the conversation might turn out. He didn't like any of the prospects he seen, almost all of them involved him taking a team for them. Unless they could secure one of the sealed assets to try and track them down. Now that was an idea, but he wasn't sure how it would fly with The Madam. He guessed he 'd have to hope to catch her in a good mood. "Preparing for landing soon, we'll be on the helipad shortly." His pilot announced, and he turned to nod to the man. "Good, just bring us in easy." He replied distractedly. <br><br>Brock couldn't go over it anymore, it was show time. He exited the chopper after the landed, setting foot on the roof of the one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city. It was, of course, a HYDRA run building. And here at the top was the penthouse that their dear Madam HYDRA was currently residing in. He made way toward the door with a brisk pace, still in his black BDU's and tactical gear. He punched in his access code to the roof entrance, then scanned his thumbprint on the device before he heard the pressure locks releasing. He opened the door and proceeded inside then, coming into a separate space where he had to disarm his weapons and body armor before continuing. It was an automated process, with turrets up above and trained on whoever entered to ensure compliance. <br><br>Brock placed his guns inside the appropriate lockers, then he unstrapped the vest and tactical gear. The straps loosened and he shed the extra weight, revealing his veined and muscular arms beneath. A sigh came from his lips before continuing, and he passed through the final check before he arrived at yet another door. Here again, he had to punch in an access code, then thumb print analysis, and for the finale; a retina scan. He grimaced as the infrared light scanned his iris, but sure enough, the screen registered with his information. And the door, as expected, opened without issue. He stepped out into the hall at that point, which lead right to the penthouse entrance. <br><br>Rumlow approached Madam HYDRA's door then, his credentials granting him instant access to the main door. After all, it just lead to the living room. He opened the door and then stepped inside. "We have a situation, Madam." He said, calling out loud enough to not be rude if she was in the room, but loud enough she'd hear it from afar. He didn't wanna say it right off, so he'd wait for her to inquire further before he gave her the bad news. That said, the look of urgency on his features clearly noted that the news, whatever it may have been, was bad. Really bad. <br><br><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/SJ8zhOG.jpg?1)</div>The morning found Bucky less than rested. He was ragged at first, but had still managed to wake before Karina. It let him get some time to pull himself together from the mess of nightmares. The PTSD episode hadn't been the most enjoyable. He was making due with the supplies here for some breakfast. MRE's, which had some decent things in them, along with the nonperishable supplies they had around. Altogether, they had a decent meal nutrition wise, even if it wasn't the most appetizing. He was heating up the last of it on the hot plate, a little bit of water for some noodles he had found, when he heard a scream from the other room. He tensed at first, thinking maybe Karina was under attack, but a quick scan from his sensor array told him that wasn't the case. No, something else was going on. <br><br>The Sensory array in Bucky's arm was able to reconstruct the sound, though. The words she had screamed out was James... He started to move toward her chambers then, but realized she had made a quick bee line for the restroom. He waited outside the door for a moment, standing toward the side so he didn't see in. She'd left the door open, after all. "You all good in there?" He asked first to announce his presence, then he stepped in front of the open door. It gave her ample chance to tell him she wasn't decent. He looked in to see that she was, or well sorta. She looked like hell, but he supposed he probably didn't look much better. All things considered. <br><br>"Heard you screaming...." Bucky started, announcing why he had come to check. He wanted to inquire why she had screamed for him, but he didn't yet. That could come later, she was probably having nightmares after all. It was the only conclusion he could come to, anyhow. He didn't want to think he was the one causing them, but they'd already determined she was probably an empath of some sort. He guessed her range was pretty impressive, too, cause if she had leeched the nightmares from him, she'd have been doing so from the other room. Maybe they'd formed a connection over time? He didn't wanna think about what that could do to the woman. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>27-06-2021, 08:08:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i1.wp.com/movienetworkpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Dollface.jpg?resize=759%2C500&amp;ssl=1)</div>Steadying herself and trying to catch her breath, Karina rubbed her temples. She didn't know much about how her ability worked, but it seemed now she was getting one hell of a crash course. What she <em>did</em> realize, was that the longer she stayed around James, the stronger the connection would get. Part of her just wanted to sneak away, and let whatever happen just...happen. He'd probably be better off without her slowing him down, anyway.<br><br>Unsurprisingly, she could faintly feel his presence. It seemed to be getting stronger...closer?<br><br><em>"You all good in there?"</em> His voice drifted into the bathroom, confirming to her that she actually had felt him coming to her. She gripped the sides of the sink, looked at her reflection and took a deep breath. <em>Am I good? Haha.</em> Karina resisted the urge to laugh. She had no idea how else to react. This whole situation she found herself in was like something out of a ridiculous spy novel, or something. <em>"Heard you screaming...."</em><br><br>"I... I, uh..." She stammered. His statement took her off guard. She didn't remember screaming... Though she <em>did</em> remember having a nightmare. She couldn't remember exactly what it was about, but she was positive it had something to do with James and his memories. Running a hand through her hair, she stepped out of the bathroom and flicked off the light. Still somewhat lost in thought, she almost collided with James.<br><br>"Shit. Sorry..." Karina apologized and looked down. "I'm...alright. Just..." She trailed off and nervously nibbled on the inside of her lower lip. She swallowed quickly and managed to bring her gaze to meet his. "So, um, what do we do now?"<br><hr><div class="floatright">(https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/5ac827d4-ddb8-40f6-ad27-8acdd7007497/d9b3lw7-71581bfd-6b6c-40b2-ac9d-48c17bffcd24.jpg/v1/fill/w_543,h_815,q_75,strp/madame_hydra_by_la_esmeralda_d9b3lw7-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9ODE1IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvNWFjODI3ZDQtZGRiOC00MGY2LWFkMjctOGFjZGQ3MDA3NDk3XC9kOWIzbHc3LTcxNTgxYmZkLTZiNmMtNDBiMi1hYzlkLTQ4YzE3YmZmY2QyNC5qcGciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9NTQzIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmltYWdlLm9wZXJhdGlvbnMiXX0.JZ6yqnGq1DLK1Hz3sxkKEC6fRZaVBjMe33BU7X8XG-k)</div>The Madame could faintly hear the whirring of helicopter blades, getting louder as it approached the building. She looked up towards the ceiling, as if she could see through it. The only people who could approach her here were the higher ranking HYDRA members, and an <em>extremely select few</em> who weren't. They were...special to her for various reasons.<br><br>Nevertheless, an in person visit here usually meant serious business. She closed the laptop on her desk and leaned back in her chair, propping her knee-high leather boots on the mahogany wood and crossing her legs - revealing a tasteful amount of thigh in the process. The woman didn't get to where she was by using her body and looks alone - but it sure helped her. No, she was an incredibly smart and cunning woman. Not to mention she was a force to be reckoned with when she had her hands on a gun. Sniper rifles were her favorite, but she wasn't picky if she needed to get her hands dirty.<br><br>She heard the beeping of the keypad, then the familiar musical like chime of an approved fingerprint scan. Madame Hydra tapped her long green fingernails on her desk as she waited for her visitor to present themself to her. The person stepped into her suite, and she heard their footsteps on the marble floor. Whoever it was, they were confident in their stride and knew where to go.<br><br><em>"We have a situation, Madam."</em> The visitor announced. She immediately recognized the voice as belonging to Brock Rumlow. Such a loyal man... A coy smile spread across her lips, then faded away when she remembered that this visit wouldn't be for pleasantries. His tone was serious, and business - unfortunately - had to come first.<br><br>"Brock Rumlow." She spoke his name in a way that just barely hinted at a more personal relationship. "Come." She said, her tone somewhere in between an order and a request. There were chairs around, should he want to sit down. He rarely did when he gave his reports, but every once in a blue moon he would surprise her...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Black Howling</strong> on <strong>27-06-2021, 15:26:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/OXESwAy.jpg)</div>Brock couldn't help the way his eyes drank in the bit of thigh he was treated to when he approached Viper, a woman he wouldn't dare refer to as anything other than 'The Madame' unless he was one hundred percent sure they were alone. He wasn't today, so he just nodded and approached closer upon her orders. Bringing his eyes up to her's for what he was about to say. <br><br>"An anomaly occurred in the holding tank of asset location 107, resulting in a connection between The Winter Soldier and one our scientist that have been working with him. He was dispatched to silence her after a repeat treatment, our SOP, but somehow the programming slipped again and he's gone rogue. We believe he's taken her on the run with him." Rumlow recounted the information concisely, though he wasn't nearly as steady delivering it as he seemed. <br><br>Viper was known for her temper and while he was not worried about getting the bitter end of it, he knew it might still explode. "We've already put out feelers and are tracking their movements as best we can. What would The Madame have us do?" He asked, informing her first that their standard procedures were being followed as it was, but they both knew that standard procedures would not be enough to keep their target in line. The last time their soldier had gotten loose was over two decades ago and it'd taken months to track him down and capture him. What's worse was the records show he wasn't nearly as aware as what was reported this time. <br><br>Regardless of Rumlow's concerns on her temper, he didn't budge. No, he'd braved more than her temper and wasn't going anywhere, not so long as he had the chance occasion to see the scar on her face while he made her hair thrash in pleasure. <br><br><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/SJ8zhOG.jpg?1)</div>Bucky just sorta chuckled sadly and shook his head when Karin astarted to apologize. In his mind, that wasn't exactly a good look and his mind was pretty fucked up right now. Still, he managed to put on a smile as her eyes rose up to meet his. "For starters, we're not gonna apologize for being rightfully freaked out." He said in a tone and with a level of exasperation that didn't really fit an assassin. Then again, he hadn't gone into the business by choice. <br><br>"You've already been through a lot, but uh... you were screaming my name." Bucky didn't even consider how it may have sounded due to his concern, but he also didn't picture Karina being willing to talk about it. So he just shifted from the doorway so she could make her way out of the restroom. "Anyhow, so far as what we do from here... We're gonna need to get packed up as best we can here at the safehouse, then swap to one of the off the books cars outside." He explained, but it wasn't really scratching the surface of what all they had to cover. <br><br>Bucky barely wanted to consider it, but already Karina was staring down a life on the run and nothing else. The problem was, she was anything but equipped to handle such a life and has more extended vulnerabilities than she could afford. They'd target her folks sooner or later. Their only hope was to take her to S.H.I.E.L.D and hope they'd help, the only problem was that he had to have been at almost the top of their list so far as public enemies went. He didn't like the odds they had just delivering her to an agent and hoping for the best. <br><br>"From there, we try to find people that can help... Just be patient and remember those same people are likely to shoot first and ask questions later with me." Bucky decided it was important to add.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Operation: Winter's End (Sephie &amp; Howling)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>persephone325</strong> on <strong>28-06-2021, 07:35:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/5ac827d4-ddb8-40f6-ad27-8acdd7007497/d9b3lw7-71581bfd-6b6c-40b2-ac9d-48c17bffcd24.jpg/v1/fill/w_543,h_815,q_75,strp/madame_hydra_by_la_esmeralda_d9b3lw7-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9ODE1IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvNWFjODI3ZDQtZGRiOC00MGY2LWFkMjctOGFjZGQ3MDA3NDk3XC9kOWIzbHc3LTcxNTgxYmZkLTZiNmMtNDBiMi1hYzlkLTQ4YzE3YmZmY2QyNC5qcGciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9NTQzIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmltYWdlLm9wZXJhdGlvbnMiXX0.JZ6yqnGq1DLK1Hz3sxkKEC6fRZaVBjMe33BU7X8XG-k)</div>Viper knew the news wouldn't be great. However, <em>this</em> was the last thing she had expected to hear. As Rumlow spoke she could feel her pulse rising. Her nails dug into the wood, making small marks in their wake. She pursed her lips together in a tight line. In a flash, she stood up and hurled her desk lamp in rage. It went whizzing past Brock's head. She wasn't aiming for him anyway, and he had been subjected to worse outbursts from her before. She gripped the edge of her desk, and very nearly turned it over as well.<br><br><em>"What would The Madame have us do?"</em> Viper took a breath, and shook her hair out of her face.<br><br>"Oh... What to do. What to do..." She let go of the edge of her desk and walked around in front of it. "This is your mission. Get your best men together and find them. Your <em>very best</em>." Viper nodded at him, then pushed herself up to sit on the edge of the desk and crossed her legs. "Can't very well have him lost for months again..." She rolled her eyes, clearly perturbed about that whole fiasco. She tapped her index nail on her lip as she thought. "Get me everything we have on this scientist, too. I wanna know every single detail about her." She instructed him.<br><br>"Make sure the orders are <em>clear</em>, that I want the scientist girl alive." She added. "I have a suspicion that she's hiding something from us." Viper paused for a moment, the pieces falling into place. "Ah! This is the same girl that was part of his sudden break out about three days ago, yes?" She knew she was right, of course. She knew everything that went on around her.<br><br>"Interesting... Yes... If they have formed some sort of connection, we can use that to make the asset more compliant." She said, thinking out loud. "We might even be able to integrate this into his programming. So we might avoid another instance like this in the future..." Viper smirked, nodding to herself.<br><hr><div class="floatright">(https://d1qxviojg2h5lt.cloudfront.net/images/01DSK1CHT8GQP1BE67AJA1VWAE/katdennings570.png)</div>James' laugh was almost comforting in a way. She felt like they were starting to get past that "awkward" phase. Especially now since the gravity of the situation seemed to be hitting them. Well, more so hitting Karina than him.<br><br><em>"For starters, we're not gonna apologize for being rightfully freaked out."</em> He told her. She chuckled softly and nodded in agreement. <em>"You've already been through a lot, but uh... you were screaming my name."</em> Karina took a second to process what he just said, and she felt her cheeks flush with heat. Reflexively, she averted her gaze as quickly as she could.<br><br><em>I...I did? Oh... Christ, that's embarrassing...</em> She cleared her throat out of nervousness and embarrassment, trying to think of something to say. Or change the subject. Luckily, James was already ahead of her.<br><br><em>"Anyhow, so far as what we do from here... We're gonna need to get packed up as best we can here at the safehouse, then swap to one of the off the books cars outside."</em> He said. Karina took a look into the room she was staying. Were there any spare clothes around? She didn't remember seeing anything but a bed, but she was so tired she didn't even remember laying down last night. <em>"From there, we try to find people that can help... Just be patient and remember those same people are likely to shoot first and ask questions later with me."</em> Karina looked down and frowned, staring at her hands. Her bandage needed to be changed, but she'd address that later.<br><br>"James... I don't know." She said, sighing softly. "You, of all people, deserve to just be free. From all this." She looked at him and shook her head. "I <em>helped them</em> with...whatever the fuck they did to you. If anything, you should let them find me. Them finding me will get you a head start on a new life. Away from...all of this." Karina appealed to him.<br><br>Did she want them to find her? Of course not. But her heart was heavy with guilt. She helped her employers as they tortured and abused this <em>man</em> for <em>years</em>. She had no right to ask for his help. There was absolutely no reason <em>for</em> him to help her.<br><br>Yet, here they were...
			</dd>
		</dl>
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