Chapter 91: Secrets buried under snow
The secret base of Hydra from the inside looked more like the embodiment of an old, exhausted beast than an evil on earth. The walls were crumbling, with cracked plaster and exposed wires hanging out like torn veins, a testament to its age.
However, efforts were being made to revive the old place. Ancient Soviet computers from the Cold War era now coexist with modern surveillance systems and other military gadgets for perimeter control and security against unwanted guests. Through, the equipment was not yet operational. As Romanoff had predicted, technicians were still swarming around, trying to revive old systems or replace them with modern alternatives. We had arrived just in time - it would have been much more difficult to penetrate the bunker in a couple of days. Interestingly, the people living inside the bunker were vastly different from the unfortunate souls outside who were forced to form the outer perimeter of security.
No soldiers of conscription or bored contract workers can be seen here. Everyone, from fully armed fighters to laboratory assistants, are gathered and focused, exuding confidence in themselves and the cause they are involved in. I have seen something similar at the base of the Apostles before I destroyed it. I think I am not mistaken if I consider everyone admitted to the depths of the refuge as agents of Hydra. And this means that I should stop pretending to be a casual tourist - no matter how great the authority of Karpova is, it is not worth testing the favor of Fortune again, I feel that this favor will come in handy in the near future.
Meanwhile, no one has attempted to stop us yet. Upon seeing Vasilisa Karpova, whose form is currently being worn by Natasha, all opposing technicians and soldiers either rush to adopt a stern appearance of self-important guards and greet high command, or swiftly put into motion whatever tool is at hand, claiming that they are not idling, but rather working hard.
It seems that we were lucky, even more than I expected. Vasilisa Karpova is not just one of them, but the leader of the entire Hydra cell. On the one hand, this opens all doors for Natasha, who has taken on her identity, and on the other hand, it allows us to hope that we will not discover anything dangerous on a global scale in this place. I mean, if Vasilisa Karpova was really a powerful and dangerous villain, if she had done something outstanding, I would probably have heard her name before...her male counterpart is possible...Karpov Vasil... or how are names formed among these Russians?
Finally, after another turn of the frozen concrete corridor, in a room that was apparently once the heart of the bunker's information center, we find a delegation waiting for us. In the midst of long-departed post-apocalyptic computers, a woman in a white lab coat is waiting for us. In addition to her, there are also a couple of soldiers here, one of them a man, but no one else. Strange.
"Colonel," the corner of the woman's mouth twitches upward, "you've returned quickly. How was the trip?"
Natasha responds with a short "normal" in response, trying to gauge the appropriate behavior in her communication with this woman. The woman's gaze is intense and cold, with a hint of suppressed malice, but not deep, like it usually is, but rather on the surface, as if her hidden ambitions are about to burst out.
"And what's this?" The scientist's gaze falls on me, a hint of surprise and interest in her eyes. "Who is our guest?"
"Consultant," Romanoff dismisses casually, "from our American colleagues."
"A boy?" The woman asks with obvious skepticism, then turns to Natasha with a sneering look.
Something about her attitude doesn't sit well with me. I mean, towards her superiors. Disrespect towards me, I can understand, but such thick and undisguised disdain towards superiors... I sense a trap.
'It doesn't matter,' Romanoff snaps. 'What's going on here, I've been gone for a few days and you've set up some kind of mess?!'
Judging by the intonation - the meaning is escaping me - Natasha immediately tries to take the initiative in the conversation, forcing her conversation partner to justify herself and answer questions, thus avoiding the need to confirm her legend. She's good, but she doesn't even know who these people are or what they do!
But the scientist doesn't look frightened, only hmming with a disdainful smirk in response.
"No need for this comedy," she responds with notes of annoyance in her voice, "we all understand perfectly well what has happened and what will happen in the near future. You've already met number two, right?"
It's an unpleasant feeling when everyone around you speaks a language you don't understand. Especially when the people around you are all spies and assassins.
"Did you send her?" Natasha asks.
"Of course!" the stranger responds with annoyance. "Who else could it have been? As you can see, she's quite stable... and she's not the only one. They're all stable now and they all follow my commands."
The longer she speaks, the more clear the notes of superiority become in her voice. I hope Natasha hasn't destroyed our cover.
"What does 'they are subject to me' mean?" Romanoff continues to interrogate.
"It means," the woman coldly throws out, "that your time has come to an end. Number two, kill her."
The last was obviously addressed to Darya. And this was the only phrase whose meaning I clearly understood, because I was already getting tired of listening to these two communicating mostly in a language that was not understandable for me. Apparently, Romanoff still managed to make a mistake.
Darya and Natasha exchanged glances, and the younger spy could not help but smile on her face, which completely destroyed her image. This face seemed not intended for smiles.
"What... what does this mean?" The scientist worried, stepping back behind the soldiers.
"Can we take her now?" I asked, not hiding my impatience.
"It doesn't matter!" The scientist exclaimed, "Even if you managed to take control of one, on my side all the others! Number five, Number six, kill them!"
"Goddammit!" Daria quietly muttered.
I think I understood: the soldiers in the room are the same as the one who guarded Karpov, and they just received orders to kill us. The girl obviously does not like the prospect of fighting more of her kind. Which is not surprising if we remember that even one crazy Russian was enough to fight Romanoff and Larisa, and it's unknown who would have won without Daria's intervention.
It seems that after all Spider-Man is really needed here!
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Navuhodonosr
Navuhodonosr Did it get better? If so, do you think I should go back to the old chapters and edit them similar?
— New chapter is coming soon — Write a review
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone