POV: Baldur
HYDRA Research Base, Sokovia, Border of Slovakia and the Czech Republic
One Hour After the Conversation with Wanda Began
After an hour of talking, I finally conveyed all the information I had about Sokovia to Wanda. The detail and completeness of the information left no room for doubt, even if she ignored her powers to detect lies.
Her reaction was expected. HYDRA had been using the rebellions against the Americans as a cover to keep their base hidden. They were responsible for creating this smoke screen. Once they realized they couldn't use Loki's scepter to power the Chitauri weapons left behind in New York, they shifted their research to human experimentation.
This is where the Maximoff twins come in. They were persuaded by Dr. List, the lead researcher, to participate in the experiments. Many other anti-American protesters also volunteered. Dr. List discovered that the twins possessed a special gene, the X-gene, which wasn't surprising since mutants were relatively common. What excited him was his theory on how to use Loki's scepter to awaken dormant mutant powers. Mutant awakenings were typically random, often triggered by severe stress, but sometimes occurred without any apparent cause. If Dr. List could find a way to reliably awaken mutants using the scepter, it would be a significant asset for HYDRA.
After recounting everything, Wanda clearly believed me, but she still didn't want to join the Avengers. Her most traumatic memory was nearly losing her family to a missile with "Stark" written on its side. This experience left a deep scar.
In this reality, I had managed to prevent the initial mortar strike that was supposed to kill her parents. However, the second mortar, which followed shortly after, still fell into the room, causing her to see the name "Stark." Although she and her parents were rescued from the apartment just moments later, the damage was done.
I managed to save her parents, but I couldn't save her from the fear of facing a missile that could explode at any moment. Years later, her mother died of illness, and her father was killed in an accident that was, in fact, an assassination. HYDRA wanted to incite rebellion, and they used various means to achieve this, including killing Wanda's father.
I shared this with her, omitting the part about watching over her since she was a child. I also told her that it wasn't Stark who sold the weapons that attacked her parents, but rather his former partner, who was already dead.
"That's how it truly happened, Miss Maximoff," I concluded.
"Just call me Wanda," she replied softly.
The reality check hit her hard. She sat on the floor, head down, clearly struggling to control her anger. I gave her the space she needed to process everything. Protected by Amora's spell and my own light manipulation illusion, which made it appear on the security cameras that Wanda was sleeping in her bed, we had plenty of time.
"I've decided. I'll join you," she announced after several minutes of silence.
"Calm down first. We're not doing this right now."
As soon as she made her decision, she stood up, and a red aura began to envelop her arms. She was ready to break out of the cell and unleash her anger.
"When, then?" she asked, clearly struggling to remain calm.
"The Avengers have a plan to root out all the bad apples at once, and they'll be gathering right here. We just need to wait a little longer."
"How long?" she asked, growing more impatient.
"A week or two. After that, we'll attack this place. While we assault from the outside, you and your brother will do the same from within. Remember, your objective isn't just to take down your enemies but also to ensure the safety of the other innocents still imprisoned here."
Wanda and her brother weren't the only ones who participated in the experiment; they were just the only successful ones. The fake gem in Loki's scepter was enough to awaken their powers, and it also saved the lives of the other test subjects. The fake gem lacked the potency to kill the others, which would have happened if it were the real gem. Dr. List kept the others alive to understand why only the twins succeeded.
"I agree to wait, but the Doctor is ours," Wanda said, her voice filled with venom.
"I have no problem with that. The good doctor is one of our primary targets."
His research is too dangerous to fall into Fury's hands, which will likely happen if he is captured. Fury is "dead" to the world but is actually gathering competent spies under his command and creating a new, completely covert espionage agency. At least, that's what I think he's doing. I'll need to review the information my Wardogs have gathered after ordering him to be watched 24/7.
"So, we're agreed. I assume you have a way to inform your brother about everything?"
(I'm not keen on repeating the same story to him.)
"I've been sharing this conversation with him from the beginning," she replied.
"That speeds things up. Now I have to go. Until another day, Wanda."
I didn't wait for her response. I simply phased through the wall like a ghost and began exploring the research base. This is undoubtedly HYDRA's most secretive base. Even the Wardogs couldn't gather any information about it, except for the original construction plans, which weren't much help since the entire place had been rebuilt over time. After my conversation with Wanda, I thought it wise to map out the facility.
The castle above was just a facade; the real action was underground. I found several research and equipment rooms. It wasn't surprising to discover they were studying the Chitauri. There were numerous Chitauri bodies and weapons, all deactivated. HYDRA was trying to power the weapons and possibly even create new Chitauri under their command, something far beyond their expertise.
I wasn't interested in anything from this base. Genosha had also acquired a significant number of Chitauri bodies after the Battle of New York. Initially, I was interested in creating my own disposable army, but the idea was abandoned when my scientists discovered that creating Chitauri required live or dead biological samples, something Thanos had in abundance. I wouldn't order my soldiers to roam the cosmos exterminating other races to create Chitauri.
With the soldier creation idea scrapped, our research focused on their weapons and armor metals, something HYDRA also explored. However, we abandoned it as well, since the common Chitauri soldier's armor was only slightly more durable than iron.
On the other hand, the Leviathan's metal was as tough as titanium, which excited HYDRA but not us, as we had far more versatile and durable metals.
The rest of the base held nothing of interest, but I managed to create a detailed map of the entire facility. I even found the location of Loki's scepter, which was clearly being studied for mind control. That alone made me angry enough to almost blow up the entire base.
The information I gathered from listening to the guards and scientists' conversations indicated that the big shot was coming to the base in a few days, clearly the big shot was Pierce. He has been moving from one base to another, escaping the Avengers' attacks, trying to avoid coming to this base, which he deems the most important and his only chance to regain power. But his options are running out.
After a few more rounds in the place, it's time to return to my body.
"I'd like to go back now, Amora," I say to myself, but Amora can hear me. I feel my body being pulled, losing control of my movements. When I come to, I'm lying on the snow with my head resting on Amora's thighs as she looks down at me kindly.
I lie in her lap for a few minutes, "recovering," while she gently runs her fingers through my hair, which is starting to grow. We don't speak, just lying in the snow, looking at each other while an enemy base looms on the horizon.
"We need to talk," she says to me with her soft voice.
"Yes, we do," I reply as I get up from her lap.
I wanted to save this conversation for when we were going to take down Hydra once and for all, but we still have two weeks before the final blow. Taking a few hours to talk to her wouldn't hurt.
"Do you have a place in mind?" I ask her.
She smiles at me and gestures with her hand, opening a golden circular portal that Earth's mages use. When I step through, I realize by the beautiful illuminated tower on the horizon that we're in Paris. We both loved Paris, having spent several vacations here. The place was simply romantic, though in recent centuries, the influx of tourists had diminished some of its charm.
As soon as we step through the portal, Amora makes sure to change out of her battle attire into a long red dress. She also changes my outfit to a simple black suit without a tie. We're not using magic or my tricks to conceal ourselves; with the bustling crowds in the streets, ordinary clothes are enough for now.
We walk a few minutes until we find a small restaurant setting up its tables outside the entrance. It's definitely an old-fashioned place judging by its architecture. We sit at one of the more secluded tables. It's early evening, so the restaurant isn't very busy, giving us some privacy.
"How have you been, Amora?" I ask after taking a sip of the wine I ordered from a waiter who was clearly trembling with nerves.
"I've been alone, Baldur," she replies, smiling.
It's things like this that break a man's resolve. I was almost jumping out of my seat to hug her, but I restrain myself.
"I'm sorry to hear that; the Ancient One mentioned that she was visiting you, so I thought you'd be okay."
"It's not the loneliness of a friend that afflicts me, Baldur, but that of a lover and husband."
(Cursed be I for allowing myself to fall in love with the goddess of Seduction.)
Every word of hers, whether intentional or not, tried to enchant me. I knew she was doing it unconsciously; I don't think she was even trying to seduce me, she was just speaking what she truly felt.
"We have time now, Amora. Why don't we ease this longing by catching up?"
support me at patreon.com/Lonely_Translator and read chapters in advance