The dense forest that surrounded the facility provided cover as Natasha and Snake Eyes moved silently through the trees. Their footsteps barely disturbed the undergrowth as they advanced toward their target. The facility loomed ahead—cold, industrial, and heavily fortified. From the outside, it looked like an unremarkable complex, but Natasha knew the kind of horrors that could be hidden within such walls. Enhanced soldiers, tech powered by Stark's arc reactor, and the Overseer's insidious vision for the future.
The two operatives paused at the edge of the tree line, crouching behind a thick grove. Natasha's eyes scanned the area, mapping out the security patrols and the various entry points. The guards were disciplined, their movements precise, suggesting they were more than just typical mercenaries.
"Same drill," Natasha whispered, her voice low but steady. "We get in, disable the defenses, and take control of the command center. Stark should be able to handle the rest once we're inside."
Snake Eyes nodded, already moving silently to the left, disappearing into the shadows. Natasha watched him go before shifting her focus to her own entry point. She could feel the familiar rush of adrenaline that always accompanied missions like this, but there was something more this time. This was personal. The Overseer had to be stopped, and she would do whatever it took to make sure that happened.
Natasha moved swiftly and silently, approaching the perimeter fence. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her mind remained clear and focused. She had done this a hundred times before. As she reached the fence, she pulled a small device from her belt, quickly disabling the electronic barrier. The fence powered down with a quiet hiss, and Natasha slipped through.
On the other side, she pressed herself against the wall, moving toward a service entrance that was lightly guarded. Two men stood at the door, their weapons slung casually over their shoulders. Natasha crouched, her hand resting on her pistol as she prepared to strike.
Suddenly, a faint sound from behind the guards made them turn. Snake Eyes, moving like a ghost, had already taken one down with a swift blow. Natasha moved in sync, taking the second guard down with a precise strike to the back of his head. Within seconds, the entrance was clear.
Together, they moved inside the facility, their movements quiet and coordinated. The interior was just as sterile and cold as the exterior—dimly lit hallways lined with security cameras and reinforced doors. They had to find the command center quickly, before anyone noticed the missing guards.
"Stark," Natasha whispered into her comms. "We're inside. What's the status on the security feeds?"
"I'm in," Stark's voice came through, laced with tension. "I've got eyes on you, and I'm working on disabling the internal alarms. You've got a clear path to the control room, but you need to move fast. There's a lot of chatter about enhanced soldiers being prepped for deployment."
Natasha nodded. "We're on it."
They advanced deeper into the facility, moving with the precision of two operatives who had been trained for exactly this kind of mission. As they neared the command center, the sound of voices echoed from around the corner. Natasha held up a hand, signaling Snake Eyes to stop. She edged forward, peering around the corner to see a small group of guards stationed outside the command room. Too many for a stealthy approach.
Snake Eyes joined her, his eyes scanning the situation. They exchanged a glance, the unspoken plan forming between them. Snake Eyes would go low, Natasha high. With a single nod, they moved.
Snake Eyes darted forward, his combat knife flashing as he took down the first guard in a smooth, fluid motion. Natasha leapt forward, striking from above with deadly precision. The guards didn't stand a chance. Within moments, the hallway was clear.
Natasha tapped into the control panel beside the door, bypassing the security system with Stark's help. The door slid open, revealing the heart of the facility's operations—the command center.
The room was filled with computers, monitoring equipment, and communications consoles. A handful of technicians sat at their stations, oblivious to the fact that their base had just been breached. Natasha and Snake Eyes moved in, taking control of the room before anyone could react.
"Stark, we've got control," Natasha said as she moved to the main console.
"Good," Stark replied, his voice urgent. "I'm pulling up the blueprints now. Get ready to take down the facility's core systems."
Natasha's fingers flew over the keyboard as she accessed the facility's central control. The screen flickered, displaying a map of the base's internal systems—power grids, communication lines, and, most disturbingly, the locations of the enhanced soldiers. Dozens of them, ready for deployment.
"We need to shut them down," Natasha muttered, her eyes narrowing. "We can't let these soldiers get out."
Snake Eyes moved to her side, watching as she began the process of disabling the enhanced soldiers' systems. But as she worked, an alarm blared through the facility. The Overseer had anticipated their move.
"Stark!" Natasha shouted. "We've been compromised!"
"I see it," Stark replied, his voice tense. "I'm working on it. Hold your position. Reinforcements are coming your way."
Natasha gritted her teeth, her hands moving faster over the console. They didn't have much time.