Deep within a Hydra base at the bottom of Lake Michigan, Peter was busy in front of a computer in cold lighting. Through his mask, a serious and focused expression could be seen. He had just discovered many human experimentation plans.
However, after experiencing much, Peter was able to manage his sadness and concentrate on the task at hand. After a bit of work on the computer, Steve, holding his shield, crossed over the fallen tables and chairs, asking him, "Did you find anything? Where did the researchers go?"
Peter shook his head, looking at the screen and answered, "They destroyed most of the data before they left. What I retrieved is only a small part, and it is unlikely that their whereabouts would be stored in the computer."
"What about the surveillance equipment?"
"All the data was destroyed. I am trying to recover it." Peter said, keeping his eyes glued to the screen. Streams of data flowed before his eyes, and after a moment, the screen flickered. Steve asked, "How is it?"
"Only a very small part was recovered. How much clue we will get is down to luck." Peter typed a few more keys, and an image showed up on the screen.
It looked like a camera in a cleaning room, with the door left slightly ajar allowed the camera to capture the scene outside. Perhaps for this reason, this surveillance footage was not cleaned but retained. A faint conversation could be heard, as if someone was on the phone.
Steve stepped forward and told Peter, "Pause it, and replay that sentence."
Peter did as he was told, setting the audio clip on repeat. They listened intently for a long time, managing to pick out several words from the blurred sounds.
"Evacuate... Protection Plan... and 'Doctor'?" Steve squinted and said, "Seems like they already contacted another Hydra team before we broke in, and then relocated to another base."
"But where could they have gone? We've destroyed several nearby bases." Peter questioned, somewhat puzzled,
Steve explained, "Hydra is a covert organization. They often have many safe houses to avoid being investigated by various forces."
"These bases are layered and nested, with each operative unaware of the exact locations. Although we and Stark have dismantled nearly all the safe houses, there's a chance that there may still be more hiding beneath the surface…"
Peter inhales deeply and says, "So we've been busy for quite some time, and they've managed to escape?"
"You need to understand that much of the efforts in operations amount to fruitless endeavors, but they lay the groundwork for the final victory." Steve stepped forward, placing an arm around Peter's shoulder, and looked him in the eyes, "The cunning enemy will only achieve temporary success. Only we will attain the ultimate victory."
The next day, they discovered another laboratory underground. Hydra had hidden many secret bases below ground, and under Captain America's leadership, the Avengers managed to pull each base out as if farming potatoes.
With a "boom", Spider Man broke down the last door. This was a common control room of the Hydra base, but it was already deserted.
Peter took a deep breath, his shoulders raised, and the low voice of Steve from behind him said, "This is not right. One or two bases and points moving early due to leaked intel is plausible, but important personnel from several points all disappearing..."
Matt came in and said, "As expected, there should be a very deeply hidden safe house. All the escaping key personnel should have gathered there. We must find its location."
"Do you remember the name we heard last time?" Steve looked at Peter and rubbed his chin, "The person who arranged their evacuation, seems to be called 'Doctor' or perhaps 'Ph.D.'."
"Excuse me, Steve, but you're a little too meticulous lately," Matt stepped forward and said to Steve, "As long as we can fight crime, we can cooperate with anyone, including Stark. Even if we have disagreements on the methods, the path is ultimately the same. We should have joined forces."
Peter also advised, "Actually, you two don't have any fundamental conflicts, Captain. Even if you don't see eye to eye in terms of temperament, that might just be because you don't really know each other. I always believe that those with a sense of justice will become friends."
Steve shook his head and said, "I don't dislike Stark. I think battling Hydra is my inescapable responsibility. However, I wouldn't force anyone to bear this responsibility for me."
"Similarly, I don't know why he suddenly decided to do this. But I need to tell him that this isn't a child's play. This isn't an undertaking he can complete simply by being hot-blooded for a short while."
"But..." Steve's tone changed, "His recent actions have indeed proved to me that he intends to fight Hydra."
"He has achieved notable successes over a period of time. I think it's time to gather all our forces to utterly eradicate them."
"It's good that you've had a change of mind." Matt nodded, conceding that Captain America was indeed an honorable man and also a good friend—calm, open-minded, and always ready to listen to others.