//------------------------------// // For me, not with me // Story: The six headed HYDRA // by Malcolm Merlyn //------------------------------// "Fascinating." Schmidt commented as he took a look at the recording of Erica. "So... zis is ze power of a vitch?" "Took out everyone else sir." The pilot said as he looked at his boss who gazed again at the video feed intently, paying much close attention to Erica when she blocked the bullets with her shield, as well as caused some missiles to collide with their unfortunate shooter who was blown to bits. "Don't know what the hell this... thing... even was." "A vitch no doubt." Strucker replied for him. "Ze girl zat ve took vas also a vitch... zough... not yet powerful enough to defy us... but just enough to give us vat ve need..." "Zis power however..." Schmidt began as he look at the video again and again. "It could be great use to us... ja?" "Indeed sir." Strucker said. "Vich is vhy I had taken ze liberty of... taking zis..." Clapping his hands together, the door opened and two men came in, both holding a box. If a certain god of thunder had been here today, he would have thought that from the red glow that emitted from within, it was containing the aether. Upon opening however, instead of a fluid force within, it was a bright beautiful red gem that had Erica or Trude been here, they would have recognized it instantly as a Neuroi core. "Ve now have ze means to replicate zis core." Strucker told Schmidt as he looked at it intently. "HYDRA's power will grow, grow and grow." "Sir? I don't follow." The pilot said as he saw too late, Schmidt drawing his pistol. "You don't need to." Schmidt said as he pulled the trigger, and looked at the pile of dust he had ended up creating. "I do not tolerate failure." "Indeed you don't." Strucker agreed as he took a look at the core. "Vhen ve replicate zis... ve vill have ze might zat not even Odin may have possessed." "Odin didn't need it. Ze crown jewel of Odin's treasure room gave him what he needed. But now zat ve have ze means of waging higher forms of war in just more zan one way..." "HYDRA will be invincible." Strucker smiled. "Ze world will be ours..." "Ze world vill be MINE... herr Strucker... you work FOR me... not vith me..." "Right... mein herr. Hail Hydra." "Hail Hydra." Schmidt said as he eyed the baron carefully. The old devil was smiling, rarely a good sign for anyone maybe except for Strucker himself. "Manehattan... thousands dead." Luna said, her voice dripping with the fires of hate and vengeance. "This... this HYDRA has been attacking civilians... for perhaps nothing more than just cruelty's sake." "Steve Rogers has told us much about them." Celestia said. "They had attempted to seize control of their world at least twice in the past, having planned many years in doing so. They are a force to be reckoned with, as they wielded the power of the Asgard." "Asgard? You don't mean..." "Odin Allfather, the tesseract. I am referring to Asgard sister.. HYDRA at one point tapped into the power of the Asgard and produced weapons of unspeakable power during their war on earth. I wonder..." "If they managed to have somehow acquire the tesseract... than what do you think that they are planning to do with things like the elements of Harmony?!" Luna suggested. "If they managed to get hold of the elements, it would be disaster for everyone!" "Luckily... there is little evidence suggesting that HYDRA knows of the elements... it seems to me they're here only for conquest's sake." "Are you sure?" "I am indeed... though I have moved guards away from the tree of harmony, I'll make sure that the guards posted are still large enough in number to repel any attack." They'd repel any attack alright. Just any attack that wasn't made by one of the most ruthless and powerful organizations of the face of the planet since Nazi Germany. HYDRA would make sure to harass Equestria for the many days. Despite the best efforts that would be put on by Celestia, Luna, Steve and the others, it would soon become clear that six humans couldn't possibly an entire country. But perhaps... six humans would be what it took to bring down a powerful terrorist organization... "And back in where I come from, I have over 200 aerial victories!" Erica said with a smile as she stretched herself alongside the windowsill, a glass of chocolate milkshake in hands as she took a sip at the sweet drink. She faced across to Steve, who nodded and smiled, and Bucky who looked as though someone had punched him in the gut. "Yeah... if you're combat effectiveness matched your discipline, you'd be the best soldier on the planet." Barkhorn breathed as she took a bite out of the cake, her eyes lighting up at the sweet taste of chocolate that was but a holiday for her taste buds. Normally, the strict and disciplined young woman wouldn't allow herself too much niceties. Today however, she'd make an exception after much nagging from Erica, she had given in. Perhaps Erica was right every once in a while about something. Like these cakes... which Erica was stuffing herself with, while Barkhorn ate moderately and Rogers paced himself, eating slowly and relishing the taste. Bucky touched nothing, save for a cup of coffee which he drank slowly. He hardly spoke at all, only speaking when spoken to and exchanged few nice words. Something that Steve was doing in excess. "Now that I think of it... I knew a German that was like you..." Steve said slowly as his brain began to think of the name. "Erica... you said you got nicknamed "Black Devil"?" "Yeah! Friends gave me the nickname... it's a bit... flamboyant. I like it." "There was an ace in the war I fought in. His name was Erich Hartmann. The Russians nick-named him the "Black Devil"." "I thought Russia was your world's Orussia..." Erica said as she scratched her head. "Simple... because he was their enemy." "Enemy? Wait... so YOUR world REALLY did fight each other? So... actually... I don't understand... how did some painter come into power?" "Excuse me?" "Apparently... a man called Adolf Hitler seized control of Karls... I mean Germany. And it's kind of strange... for us, he fought in the first Neuroi war... and is currently a pretty famous painter. He actually made good money by decorating the Emperor's palace... too bad most of it got destroyed when the Neuroi attacked. Painted many things about Ostmark... or Austria... I don't really know what all the hubbub about his paintings really is about. I've seen better from a guy who attended Vienna's academy of fine arts." "Humph... so she is the world's best ace? And Hitler is a world famous painter? What next then?" Bucky began. "Germany and America holding hands?" "That's actually what is happening..." Steve whispered awkwardly. Well... damn.... Changing the subject, the topic of Germany would naturally get Bucky back to HYDRA, which would get him back to topic on what their next move was. Actually... a good question was. WHY THE HELL WAS HYDRA EVEN HERE?! Apparently... Princess Celestia didn't know. Luna didn't know either or Twilight. Which effectively eliminated and potential people who knew about this all the way down to just HYDRA. Steve MAY have considered going back to where he came from to find someone to interrogate, but that wasn't exactly an option as of now. So it begged the question... why was HYDRA even here? The question wasn't exactly something that could have been easily solved here at lunch in Sugarcube corner, and they certainly wouldn't have time to when Slade radioed everyone in. He had spotted several transport choppers headed for the Everfree forest. From his assumption, they would be looking for something. What that "something" was... no one knew. Perhaps they could have had an idea if Medic's notes regarding Litvyak's blood sample hadn't been burnt, and a quick glimpse at what the organization was doing to Chris...