"Please tell me he's still alive, B-A-R…" Steve pleaded seriously, spelling out Bucky's name.
"I know how to spell," the colonel interrupted irritably, getting up and flipping through a stack of letters.
"I've signed many condolence letters today. I can't remember all the names, but this one I do."
"I'm very sorry."
Steve was stunned. He couldn't accept this result. He didn't believe Bucky could die so easily.
"What about the others? Are you planning a rescue?" Steve asked, not giving up.
"Yes, as soon as we win the war, they'll be rescued," the colonel replied dismissively. He didn't want to explain his plan to Steve, a rookie who had never been to the battlefield. In fact, he had no good solution. Without Chen Mo's strength, it was too difficult for the special forces alone.
Steve frowned.
"But if you know where they are, why not…"
"They're thirty miles behind enemy lines, through the most heavily guarded area in Europe. A rescue mission would only result in more losses."
The colonel interrupted Steve, pointing to a map on the wall.
A black marker representing Hydra's newly discovered base was pinned on the map.
"I don't expect you to understand this because you're just a dancing clown."
The colonel was as sharp-tongued as ever. Like most soldiers, he didn't think much of Steve at this point.
Steve had never been to the battlefield and was a complete rookie, yet he was here giving orders. The colonel was already troubled by Hydra's sudden movements and the rescue mission. If it weren't for Steve being Chen Mo's apprentice and a future S.H.I.E.L.D. member, he would have kicked him out of the command center long ago.
"I think I can understand," Steve said, taking a deep breath.
"Then go understand somewhere else," the colonel replied, walking away. "If I read the poster correctly, you have thirty minutes to be somewhere else."
Steve stared at the black marker representing Hydra's base, memorizing its location. Without turning around, he said, "Yes, sir, I will."
With that, Steve left the command center. Carter, seeing the colonel engrossed in his papers, quickly followed him.
Steve went straight to the dressing room backstage and began packing.
"What's your plan? Walk to Austria?" Carter asked, seeing Steve packing.
"If necessary," Steve replied without looking up.
"You heard the colonel. Your friend might already be dead!"
Carter didn't want him to impulsively run to the Hydra base.
"But it's not certain."
Steve and Bucky were like brothers. He couldn't give up without trying.
"Even so, the colonel is making a plan. It takes time," Carter tried to persuade him.
"By the time he's done, it'll be too late!" Steve shouted, his concern for his brother overriding his tone with Carter.
He packed his things into a backpack, put on a leather jacket over his tight uniform, and grabbed the iron shield he used for performances. Ignoring Carter's protests, he walked out of the dressing room.
"Steve!" Carter called, chasing after him without even putting on her raincoat.
Steve threw his backpack and shield into a jeep parked at the door. Seeing Carter's worried face, he paused.
"You said I could do much more than this. Is that true?" Steve asked seriously.
Her hair was wet from the rain, clinging to her face. Despite her disheveled appearance, Steve thought she looked beautiful.
"Absolutely," Carter said solemnly. She believed that once Steve joined S.H.I.E.L.D., he would prove his worth and earn everyone's respect.
"Then let me go," Steve said, getting into the driver's seat.
Watching Steve's determined figure, Carter's admiration grew. His integrity, kindness, loyalty, and courage were why she liked him.
Seeing Steve start the car, she quickly grabbed the steering wheel, looking up at his determined eyes, feeling conflicted.
She knew it was too dangerous to let him go, but she couldn't stop him from wanting to save his friend. She didn't know what to do.
At that moment, the roar of an engine sounded in the distant sky, growing louder and closer. Both looked up towards the sound.
Soon, a silver twin-propeller plane appeared in their view, flying low, only a few dozen meters above the ground, heading straight for them.
The surrounding soldiers were initially on alert but were quickly dispersed by their officers, indicating it wasn't an enemy plane.
The plane flew fast and kept lowering its altitude. Soon, it was directly above Steve and Carter, less than twenty meters high.
As the plane reached them, a figure suddenly jumped out!
Everyone was shocked. At such a low altitude, there was no time to open a parachute, and they could see the figure wasn't wearing one!
In the stunned eyes of Steve, Carter, and the surrounding soldiers, the black figure fell rapidly, cutting through the rain like a sword.
"Boom!"
A dull sound echoed in front of the jeep as the figure landed on the ground, creating a pit with the impact, mud and rainwater splashing out.
A tall figure, knees and back slightly bent, stood there steadily. It was unimaginable that someone could jump from nearly twenty meters high and land unscathed.
In the incredulous eyes of everyone, the figure in black combat gear slowly stood up and raised his head. Steve and Carter finally saw his face.
"Master!"