Chapter 106: Chapter 106: The HYDRA List
"Arnim Zola! I recognize that voice!" Steve blurted out, his fists clenching.
Dr. Zola was someone he'd never forget—the man responsible for taking Bucky from him.
"Dr. Zola? I thought he was dead. Is this a pre-recorded message?" Natasha asked, perplexed. She knew Zola as the devious strategist under Red Skull during WWII, a man captured by Thor himself. Later, Zola was recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D. for his knowledge and skills. Natasha quickly recounted Zola's history with S.H.I.E.L.D. for Steve.
"I'm not a recording, my dear. I may not be the same man your friend took to prison in 1945, but… I am still me," Dr. Zola's voice echoed through the room.
"In 1972, I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Science couldn't save my body, but my mind—ah, that was worth preserving. So, they stored me in a massive, 200,000-foot-long database," Zola continued, his tone growing more animated. "They thought I would help them, but I had my own plans."
The screen flashed, showing images of HYDRA's infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D. over the years.
From the moment Zola was recruited, HYDRA's plan to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. had begun in secret. With help from insiders, HYDRA gradually planted its agents, embedding them so deeply that S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA had become two sides of the same coin.
"HYDRA has fostered chaos, and soon, people will be ready to trade their freedom for security. Once we complete our purification process, a new world order led by HYDRA will be born. We have already won. Hail HYDRA!" Zola proclaimed.
"What exactly is on this USB drive?" Natasha asked, finally voicing the crucial question.
"It's the Zola Algorithm," Zola replied, "and as for what it's used for… you needn't know." His tone darkened. "But I've kept you busy long enough—a missile will strike here in thirty seconds."
Suddenly, the doors locked. Steve started toward the ventilation grate, but Natasha grabbed his arm, just as a voice came through their earpiece.
"I've activated the signal jammer. The missile will be delayed by at least three minutes, and the door is now unlocked. You need to move! HYDRA agents will realize something's wrong soon."
Back at Trudheim Manor, Skye wiped the sweat from her brow. She had just barely managed to hack into Dr. Zola's ancient supercomputer and disable the launch sequence in time, thanks to the advanced technology Thor had provided.
"That was intense! I can't believe how dangerous a dead man's system could be," Skye muttered, still shaken. "I wouldn't have cracked it without this alien-tech computer!"
Nick Fury's expression was grim. "If HYDRA was able to embed someone like Zola into S.H.I.E.L.D., who knows how many others are still lurking within our ranks?"
After a moment of reflection, he picked up his phone and made a call. "Sam, Captain Rogers needs backup…"
Sam Wilson was one of the few people Fury felt he could still trust.
Skye turned to Thor and handed him a USB drive. "Here. I managed to copy nearly all of Dr. Zola's database. It includes a list of almost every HYDRA agent."
Thor took the USB drive, grinning with satisfaction as he tousled Skye's hair. "Well done!"
Skye scowled, putting her hands on her hips. "Seriously? I went through all that trouble, and that's all you have to say?"
Thor chuckled. "Fine, fine. What would you like as a reward?"
Because of his connection with Peggy Carter, Thor often treated Skye as a kid, though she was already in her twenties. Thor patted her on the shoulder, and Skye felt a surge of strange energy flow through her.
"There, consider yourself rewarded," he said with a mischievous smile.
Skye blinked, feeling something change within her. Thor looked at her knowingly. "You know how Peggy Carter still looks so young? Now, you have that same gift."
Skye's jaw dropped. She'd always wondered about Peggy's youthful appearance, having seen it firsthand over the years. She'd asked Peggy about it countless times, but Peggy had only laughed and brushed off her questions.
"So that's why Aunt Peggy still looks so young! Wow!" Skye's face lit up with excitement. "I was starting to worry about turning thirty, but now I don't have to!"
Thor laughed, shaking his head. "Everyone in the manor has that blessing, you know."
Skye's excitement faded as she realized what he meant. She glanced around at the other women in the manor, blushing as she pieced together the relationships Thor shared with each of them.
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