revivalproject | Longing

WHO: Beck, Soldier
WHERE: Sh'ka
WHAT: Just reading a familiar book together
WHEN: End of the month
WARNINGS: Manipulation, mind control, etc.

This was probably the most risky part of his plan. If things didn't go perfect Beck would find himself beaten to death within a matter of minutes, but he was reasonably sure he'd thought out every angle. He practiced pronouncing the words again under his breath, his drones taking off to complete the first part of the mission and lure the Soldier in.

It hadn't been too difficult to get voice samples. Any of them probably would have worked, but Beck had observed the two of them over the network, he trusted this one would draw the man in the fastest, give him little time to think things over.

The drones split up, one cloaked and near enough to project the sound, while the other projected a familiar figure off in the distance, red cape picked up now and then it the wind, and it seemed to be running from something...

A pained scream cut through the air, one the Soldier should recognize as Billy's.

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The Winter Soldier knelt, fighting back the tremors in his limbs. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to his feet. His body shook with the effort and he couldn't stop all the trembling, but he made it. And still he wore that same blank expression.

"Standard procedures include memory wipe and reprogramming prior to deployment," he recited. "Standard deployments no longer than a few months. Reprogramming during field deployment acceptable. Asset to be returned to cryogenic storage when not actively deployed."

"Standard procedure's out the window in this place," Beck informed him, lifting his chin as the Soldier managed to get to his feet, and he swallowed, holding firm to his believe that the words had worked and this wasn't some ruse.

"I know this isn't necessarily in your wheelhouse, but can you do undercover? I need you to lie in wait until I need you. And no one can know you've been activated. Can you do that, Soldier? I need you to act like nothing's happened."

The Winter Soldier blinked, considering; critical assessment of the situation came slowly given that a larger part of his concentration centered on the pain of the drug.

"I have been trained for undercover operations." Not his standard deployment but not outside his skillset. "Deviancy has been noted in prior deployment. Regular reprogramming recommended for optimal performance."

Beck gave an amused snort. "Deviancy, huh?" He nodded then and considered, "You're going to need to come back to Temba then. You're going to help me work out a schedule for when you need a reprogram. And any time you feel an act of deviancy coming on, you come to me for a tune up," he instructed.

"For now you're just going to lay low. But if anything happens to me, then you come to me, understood? And you stop anyone who tries to keep you from me."

Curse Beck for thinking of all possible loopholes! Were the Soldier in his right mind he might almost admire the man for such attention to detail. As it was, every word drew the proverbial chains tighter. "I will comply."

And there it was: the command that had the part of the Soldier that was still his own screaming in the back of his mind. He didn't want to do violence, but he knew he wouldn't be able to resist if commanded thus. "Am I to monitor your movements and status?"

"You are." Beck nodded, and looked the Soldier over.

"...is the toxin still affecting you or has your body fought it off?" he asked curiously, wondering whether he ought to be impressed by how well he was withstanding it, or worried that his means of hobbling the Soldier wasn't as foolproof as he'd hope.

"My absence from here may be noticed." Not by many; few would likely actively seek him out. But one or two? Maybe.

"I am compromised," he answered. "I cannot operate at full capacity. I do not know how long the effects will last." A beat, because he was unsure of the entire contents of the book, of what may have been recorded, and Becks control didn't leave a lot of wiggle room for non answers. "I have fought off Earth-based toxins before. I cannot speculate about anything from this planet."

"Make whatever excuses you need to. Stay close. Don't intervene unless things look dire. Or I call for you to. Understood? I'm giving you free reign, but I expect you to be ready when I need you."

Beck nodded, looking interested at the phrasing. Compromised. Strange.

"If you can fight it long enough, take the train back to Temba. Go to the hospital and they should have something to undo it. Tell them you were stung by something in the lake. Make up whatever reason you need for you to have been there. If you don't think you'll make it back, use whatever strength you have left to send a message for someone to come collect you."

"I will comply." Orders not that different from some of his missions, at least in generalized terms. Staying in the shadows — literally and figuratively — was one of his skills.

"I will go to the hospital." To his detriment if he had to drag himself there, but he could make it on his own power. The train would do the hard part, and presumably he could rest while on it. "And stay in the city thereafter."

Beck grinned. He liked this more than he thought he might. Maybe he'd have to explore this further when there wasn't a toxin floating through his veins.

"Good boy," he mocked with an amused look. "All right, go. And don't be so predictable next time. You didn't even stop to think for a second, did you? Just went off running."

Perhaps Beck should be cautious that the other end of the leash didn't slip. He had control now. He didn't necessarily have control permanently.

Beck's insults fell on deaf ears; the Soldier had no opinion on the man's sarcasm and therefore ignored it. Don't be so predictable next time wasn't an order and didn't give him the leeway to use it for his own freedom. He simply turned and started moving toward the train station.

Longing

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