Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch

“Pietro, what are we doing here?” Wanda asked her brother later. She was sitting on a bed with her back to a stone wall, eyes on her brother as he looked out the window with his arms crossed.

He looked at her, then back out of the window. “...Getting revenge.”

“I'm not so sure of that anymore.”

The pair had been given a room in the castle to themselves. It was more expensive than any home they'd ever lived in, with beautiful art on the walls, silk sheets, and a beautiful view of the countryside.

Wanda watched as her brother continued to stare out the window. After a moment, he spoke.

“He's going to help us kill Tony Stark. To kill the Avengers,” he said with conviction.

“And then?” Wanda asked curiously.

He said nothing, any righteousness fading.

“He has brought monsters here. We've... we've been responsible for killing people. I'm not so sure of what we're doing here, Pietro.”

Her brother frowned in thought. He shook his head after a while. “We will stay until the Avengers are dead. Then... then we leave. Go back home.”

“And if he decides not to let us?”

He had nothing to say to that.

“We can't do this, Pietro. Whatever we are doing here, it isn't what we wanted for ourselves... I think we need to plan our escape.”

------

Downstairs, other people were dealing with certain issues at the same time the twins were dealing with their consciences.

“Fascinating,” Sterns said, watching the objects gathered from the HYDRA academy and the raid on the Fridge get brought into the large room that had been turned from a spare kitchen into a laboratory. The items were placed at the side of the room, which was full of tables, computers, and counters. “These items will sky-rocket my research and make it so I don't have to do everything from scratch.”

“Yeah, there's some cool stuff here,” Garrett said flippantly, biting into a piece of beef jerky.

“Yes... 'cool stuff',” Sterns responded, annoyed. He turned to look at Garrett. “Must you be here?”

“Hey, I'm the one who brought the stuff you're so gaga over,” Garrett said, putting a hand on his chest. “You could stand to be a little nicer.”

“Hmph,” scoffing, Sterns looked over at a cage in the background. “I'm nice to those who are worthy of it, and you have yet to prove yourself worthy of anything more than being a delivery boy. In the meantime, I have to work on the girl.”

“Girl?” Garrett looked towards the cage and blinked.

The girl in the cage was glaring out at them. She was in her late teens, thin from lack of proper nutrition, wearing a white prison jumpsuit. Her black hair was matted, and her eyes were wild. She was yelling in Spanish, shaking her cage as best as she could.

“Damn, spitfire ain't she?” Garrett asked, eyeing her as one would a caged animal.

“More than that,” Sterns said. “She killed three of our men when we tried to transport her.”

“That little thing?” Garrett grinned. “She got laser eyes or something?”

“No. She was, according to records at the HYDRA academy, taken from Mexico when she was a toddler. She was found surrounded by the bodies of dead gang members who had killed her mother,” Sterns idly said.

“Shit...” Garrett responded seriously, suddenly much more wary of the prisoner.

“Indeed. HYDRA got their hands on her but soon found that another group was trying to take her as well. She was brought to the academy, taken to the depths of the school, and found to have increased ability to absorb combat skills, as well as naturally enhanced speed, strength, and senses. Even her healing is enhanced,” Sterns said, sounding absolutely fascinated.

Garrett froze, and Sterns pretended not to notice. “Lucky we found this, 'Black Sky'. She would have died in months under the care of those ingrate scientists at the Academy.”

“What do you mean?” Garrett asked.

“They were planning to dissect her, after finding she was resistant to being trained,” Sterns turned away and watched as a large object was wheeled into the room. A tube big enough to contain a human. “I have other plans for her. Using these,” Sterns turned and lifted something for Garrett to look at. He blinked.

“Now that is one big ass diamond.”

“It isn't diamond you troglodyte,” Sterns hefted the cracked piece of blue-green crystal. “No, it is far more durable than any known substance on the planet besides vibranium and, despite all appearances to the contrary, organic. This, Mr. Garrett, may be step one in my research. But first,” Sterns looked around at the soldiers surrounding him. “I have something I wish to confirm.”

------

“She wasn't there,” Helen hissed at Strucker as they walked through the hallways together. “Davida is still with SHIELD.”

“Yes, and I am trying to discover where she is, as per our deal,” Strucker said, moving quickly. “But even Sterns hasn't been able to get through the AI SHIELD is using to defend their files, at least without him starting anything that would bring their eyes upon us. I suspect she is being held on the Insight Helicarriers.”

“Then my girls and I can get her,” Helen said without a second thought.

“You will fight the Avengers then.”

“We can take them.”

“No one can take them!” Strucker stopped spinning to look at her. “I have an army, I have super-human soldiers, miracles and monsters! But the Chitauri armor cannot defeat Iron Man! My monster cannot fight the Hulk or Dial on his own! My super-soldiers are worthless against Captain America! We are outmatched, and we need more!” Strucker yelled into the stubborn woman's face.

The two stared at each other in the stone hallway.

“You're afraid,” Helen accused.

“I'm pragmatic. SHIELD has the quality to defeat our quantity. But I am building those numbers... And Stern has an idea. Three targets he wants to kidnap. People who can help us take the Helicarriers and perhaps even the Avengers head on.”

“Who-”

“Sir!” The two turned to see List walking towards them hurriedly. “Sterns is making something he wishes us to look at. Gamma radiators.”

“What?” Strucker said, shocked.

“He... he thinks we can make more like the Hulk.”

Strucker thought about that. Fast. Too fast. Sterns was trying to accelerate everything... perhaps Strucker could use that to his advantage. “He is certain?”

“Yes.”

“Then tell him he's authorized. Oversee the project, and make sure to have Deathlok, Abomination, and Wanda on standby. Ask our soldiers to volunteer.”

“You think anyone will?” Helen asked.

Strucker looked at her, then continued his walking. “Many in this world would sacrifice for the slightest bit of power. And the Hulk and Abomination represent more than a little bit of power.”

“I have also,” List continued, following with Helen. “Begun the construction of the cybernetics, as per the Cybertek designs. I'm also having our scientists look at the Centipede serum with the girl, Raina.”

“Then we will have an army enough to fight against the Avengers,” Strucker said firmly, a small smile coming to his face. “Tell me about the other projects.”

------

January 15th, 2014

“Your project needs work, Sterns,” Strucker said as he stood in the laboratory of Sterns.

The gamma-irradiated scientist smiled. “Yes, but I have simply found what doesn't work and that is progress.”

They were looking at the results of Sterns experiments, men and women in cages within a large tent set up on the grounds. Eleven in all, four woman and seven men, all of them in too much pain to move. Two of the women and four of the men had green skin after the experimentation, their bodies misshapen and twisted, muscles on their bodies growing and shrinking at random as they screamed in pain and horror. Strucker could hear their bones snapping over and over as they shattered under the immense pressure of their own muscles strength before healing back, only to break again. Some of them had even grown strange appendages, tentacles from their arms and legs, while one of the women had a leg turned to a long stump of flesh.

“The gamma radiators proved what I've always suspected. Bruce and I are not accidents, we are genetically built to accept gamma radiation, to be empowered by it. Emil Blonsky does not have the gene naturally, but the super soldier serum he was given, as crude as it was, allowed him to become what he is now,” Sterns said with a grin.

“And you believe you have isolated the gene?” Strucker asked.

Sterns, in answer, turned to leave the tent and walked out. Strucker followed after an annoyed scowl at Sterns arrogance.

Sterns led him to another tent, where they found several people waiting inside as they worked around two patients on tables.

“Two is now stable.” Sterns said firmly. “One already injected with the Centipede serum while having the gene, the other using Abomination's blood as a catalyst.”

“I suppose that would be her,” Stucker said, nodding towards the massive being on one table.

“Yes, Rana Philips,” Sterns confirmed.

The woman in question looked like a more slender and female version of Blonsky. She had the same enormous muscles, the same hard exterior and dark green coloration, slightly glowing eyes, and seemed to maintain her hair though it had become green in color. She was awake and lucid, looking around at the scientists experimenting on her. As they watched, she shrank until she had become a normal human woman, with brown hair, green eyes, and a fit form, if not as impressive as she had been before.

“Such control,” Strucker noted with a raised eyebrow.

“But she is not as powerful as a result,” Sterns noted. “Still, a stable result is good. The other is odd, however,” Sterns nodded towards a man who was asleep on the other side of the tent. The man was green, but he seemed to grow and shrink at random, much like the victims in the other tent. Unlike them, he was at peace.

“Drugged?” Strucker asked.

“Hardly. No, this is apparently how his powers manifest. As it is, I'm not sure if he can control it, especially with his... feeble, personality.”

“What do you mean?” Strucker asked.

“Benjamin Tibbets is not a... strong person, unlike Rana,” Sterns explained. “He volunteered to become powerful. Did you know he is not even HYDRA? He begged to defect from SHIELD rather than die.”

Strucker blinked. “But... SHIELD was winning.”

“As I said, Strucker. He is not a strong person, physically or mentally, and I fear that will interfere somewhat in his usefulness. Rana, however, proves that the process is useful, and I can at least suggest using the others as canon fodder. As for candidates, I believe I have a perfect one in mind.”

“...Very well,” Strucker decided. “And the other experiment?”

“I did not begin it yet,” Sterns admitted. “I wished to make sure that one worked perfectly. Despite the positive results garnered here, I do not wish to waste any more soldiers. Especially since the Black Sky is so valuable.”

“Black Sky,” Strucker mused quietly. “I thought that creature was dead.”

“Almost,” Sterns smiled. “But don't worry. She is undergoing the Faustus Method now. Soon, she shall be ours, and then I will enhance her to be a perfect warrior.”

“...Very well. In the mean time, have Rana test with Davida's team. I wish to see how powerful she really is.”

“Understood,” Sterns said. Somehow, he sounded almost mocking.

Strucker noted that, and looked over at the young woman watching Rana Philips transform back into her monstrous form with a fascinated glimmer in her eyes.

She'd come with Garrett, who insisted on calling her 'Flowers' despite her preference for her actual name, Raina. She had short black hair that fell in artful curls around her pretty face and carried herself with the sort of vulnerability that screamed for people to care for her. Which only made Strucker distrust her more.

“Has she been helpful?” Strucker asked as Sterns watched her as well.

“Yes... but worryingly so,” Sterns said. “She has the air of a fanatic. She can't seem to stop staring at the Maximoffs, and even Blonsky has drawn an admiring glance where many would shy their gaze away.”

“A fan of Enhanced?” Strucker asked.

“More that she covets powers similar to them,” Sterns replied.

“Hm,” Strucker frowned. After a moment, he turned around. “I'll speak to her later. Keep me apprised.”

------

Hours after Sterns' projects had started in earnest, Strucker received horrible news.

“Whitehall is being attacked,” List said to Strucker later.

von Strucker, Gideon Malick, and Garrett had been perusing files together, planning their next attack strategy when List came into the room. Strucker looked up at List, shocked. “Are you sure, List?”

“We've been cut off from communications with his people, and reports have come in from social media that vehicles with an odd version of SHIELD's symbol have shown up at the building,” List confirmed.

“Damn!” Garrett cursed. “We could use that old man and his people.”

“Has anyone been able to get through?” Malick asked, his jowls tightening when List shook his head. “Then it is them. We haven't been able to communicate during dedicated SHIELD raids. The second they start actually trying to keep us out...”

“We must find a way,” Strucker decreed.

“There is one,” Garrett said. When the room looked at him, he smiled. “Well you've been working on it, haven't you? List told me about that little 'claw' of yours.”

When Strucker glared at List, the man sighed in annoyance. “He overheard me designing it.”

“Astral projection, right?” Garrett asked. “Sounds like a neat trick.”

“An unproven trick,” Strucker said firmly. “Theorized by Sterns after his brief work enhancing Davida's team.”

“But you think it can bypass the communications blackout?” Malick asked.

Strucker froze, thinking. After a while, he nodded slowly. “Yes... Sterns theorized it to be possible...”

“Well?” Garrett asked.

“It's too dangerous,” Strucker said. “Even for all the things we are dealing with, even as desperate as we are-”

“That's right,” Garrett interrupted, his voice smooth and calm. “Desperate. We're dealing with SHIELD, and they're attacking one of our oldest leaders. We need to fight back, Strucker. We need to know what we're dealing with. We can't do it the normal way. You've to reach out for whatever you can take... You know, I'm kinda glad we've been getting our asses handed to us.”

When those in the room stared at him, Garrett smiled his insincere smile. “Come on. Look at what we've got around us. Blonsky, Sterns, those crazy twins, Deathlok, those wrestling girls, all of the kinds of super soldiers we've got running around. In a few days, we've made an army more powerful than any in HYDRA's history. I think we've been making a mistake, holding back as long we have. SHIELD pushing us the way we have has only let us unleash our full potential,” Garrett's voice seemed to draw them all in. “Why stop now, Strucker? When you're so close to really making our dreams come true...”

Strucker thought about that. After a moment, he removed his coat, revealing the blue polo shirt he wore beneath it. “Bring the claw and the scepter to the meditation room... it's time I tested it.”

------

Later, Strucker explained what had happened to Whitehall, Garrett, Malick, and List listening closely. When he was done, Malick shook his head. “Damn shame. The old man had style.”

“Wait, you thought he was old too? How long has Whitehall been alive?” Garrett asked, everyone else ignoring him.

“SHIELD has clearly gotten over whatever has paralyzed them, even to the point of using the Winter Soldier and Carl Creel in their forces,” Strucker said. “For now, I suggest we continue our efforts on increasing our forces. Stern has four targets he wishes to... recruit, to our cause.”

“Enhanced?” Garrett asked.

“Only one of them, an assassin SHIELD used,” List said. “Two of the others are SHIELD agents. The last is related to an Avenger.”

“That could be disastrous,” Malick said, walking to a nearby table to pour himself a glass of scotch. “SHIELD is already on guard. Attacking three of their own, and one related to an Avenger...”

“They're exactly what we need,” List said. “One has the gamma gene. The other two are prime candidates for the super-soldier serum, especially with the vials Garrett has given us.”

“You've done something with that alien juice?” Garrett asked. Despite trying to sound casual, Strucker noticed the eagerness he hid.

“That girl, Raina, has some ideas,” List smiled slowly. “I believe, combined with the alien crystals, we may be on to something... remarkable.”

“...then we can breath, for now, I believe,” Strucker said. “We'll take the targets. But after that, we focus on our army, on strengthening them.”

“You want to hide?” Garrett asked, visibly disappointed.

“For a short time,” Strucker said. “We need to breathe, I'm afraid. The soldiers have been pushed, hard, for three days. None of us has slept, and I can see it affecting our forces... We rest, rebuild our resources and operations, find a way to combat the incessant AI SHIELD is using, enhance our troops, and figure out our next step. Tomorrow, we take our targets. After that, we work from the shadows.”

“...Fine by me,” Garrett walked over to where Malick had poured a drink to take a cup as well. “Let's party, shall we?”

Malick sighed, shaking his head at Garrett. “Very well. Then I suggest, in the meantime, you keep an eye on Sterns. We're depending on that man for far too much. I believe getting rid of him once his usefulness is up would be-”

------

“-in our best interest.”

Sterns raised an eyebrow as he continued to work, listening in on the conversation through a comm unit in his ear. “Hmm... Smart man.”

------

“I agree,” Strucker admitted. “But for now, he is helping us build an impressive force.”

“Which he started building by turning eleven soldiers into mutated freaks who can't even function,” Garrett noted.

“...I'll watch him as much as I can, but in the end, we may not be able to stop him,” Strucker admitted. As he did, he made sure his eyes narrowed on every single person in the room. He conveyed, as best as he could, that none would comment otherwise. They seemed to understand in a moment.

Sterns was intelligent. Very, very intelligent. That intelligence, however, came with an ego and a lack of true experience, an inability to recognize another's skills at times. Such as realizing a spy would know when a room had been bugged.

The gamma-irradiated scientist was useful. But Strucker would not let that stop him from doing what needed to be done.

“Now, I must go speak with one of my new soldiers,” Strucker turned and left, several guards joining him. Strucker was thinking deeply on his new allies. Allies he couldn't trust. Sterns, Garrett, Blonsky, the Twins, Davida's team, even Malick... they would tear apart the alliance, whether due to their egos, greed, obsessions, or simply being too kind or moral for the work.

Strucker couldn't trust any of them. So he would make himself allies of his own.

Several minutes of walking brought him to his destination. He strode into the lower labs and walked into a room where a glowing series of rings held the scepter of Loki floating, suspended. Strucker stared at it for a moment. Then he looked at the glove on the table. A mechanical device created by List, it had been dubbed the 'claw'. An orange metal glove with a single port on the back, designed like the armor of a demonic knight, a glove made for Satan.

Strucker put it on. The glove was designed to fight off any dangers the scepter could pose, but he still felt trepidation as he took the scepter in hand. With the weapon in hand, he turned and walked out of the lab. More walking brought him to the tent where Rana Philips and Benjamin Tibbets were being held. He walked in and glared around the room. “Out. All of you.”

The scientists began to walk out. Raina moved to follow, only for Strucker to shake his head. “No, Raina. Stay,” he looked at the soldiers behind him. “You, out now.”

“Sir-” one of the soldier began to say. He shut his mouth when he looked into Strucker's eyes.

Rana and Raina shared a look. Strucker walked over to Rana's bedside and looked into her currently human eyes. “How are you feeling?”

Rana, the woman who could become an aberration at a moments notice, blinked at the uncharacteristic softness in her leader's voice. “I'm... I'm fine. I feel amazing, actually.”

“No problems?” Strucker asked.

“Not at all, sir,” Rana smiled, putting a hand to her heart, on the HYDRA symbol on her white patients uniform. “I can fight. And I'm willing to do it.”

Strucker smiled back. Then he sighed. “Rana... I will speak to you frankly. Any other day, I would not. I would consider such a thing beneath me. But I've found myself realizing things. Important things. First, please. Transform into your other form.”

Rana looked at Raina, who looked bewildered. After a moment, Rana nodded.

In a shifting move, Rana gained height and weight. Smooth skin became scaled. Muscles and spike sprouted across her. Raina watched Rana's transformation with a vested interest. Strucker didn't look away from Rana.

“Beautiful...” Strucker lifted the scepter in his hand. “You know what this is, Rana?”

Rana stared at the glowing weapon with fear, swallowing. “L-Loki's scepter.”

“Yes. It is powerful, capable of launching directed energy blasts, gifting others with powers,” Raina leaned in at that. “It can even control minds... But that last power is not reliable. Useful... but I'd rather depend on someone's personal loyalty.”

He looked at Rana. “You've been controlling it well, but I can see your anger. It's in all gamma-irradiated individuals. That unending well of rage.”

Rana's eyes flashed. Whatever fear she had been portraying faded away. She had been faking. Intriguing.

“Good. Because I can use that anger,” Strucker leaned forward. “Rana. Thank you, for volunteering. In return, allow me to offer you a deal.”

Strucker continued to speak and Rana listened. Raina's eyes widened, further and further as the conversation went on. When it was over, Strucker held out a hand. Rana took it without hesitation.

“I hear, that it is traditional, in some factions of HYDRA,” Stucker flickered his eyes over to Raina. “To give enhanced individuals a name. Something powerful, to give an enhanced an inflated sense of ego, to make them more susceptible to control and manipulation. I do not subscribe to that. I want you to choose your codename, Rana. From now on, you are my right hand. Understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Rana said, her voice strong and steady. Her eyes flashed. “And you promise-”

“Win or lose, Rana,” Strucker said softly. “Win or lose.”

Strucker turned, walking towards Benjamin Tibbets, who was still asleep on his bed. The green skinned young man kept growing and shrinking uncontrollably. Rana only had to wear oversized clothing. Benjamin, who grew portions of his body to become as large as the Hulk or Abominations, had been left with only a blanket to wear. Strucker watched him for a moment before he pressed the scepters' tip to Benjamin's chest. The specters blue orb glowed for a moment as Strucker focused. Looking deep within the orb, one might have seen a yellow flash.

Benjamin sighed, relaxing. His growing and shrinking flesh stopped until he was a skinny young man again.

Strucker shook his head. “He'll sleep... but this peace is temporary. He is a truly sick young man,” With that, he turned. “Raina, come. I think you and I have things to discuss.”