1951

Chapter Three: Consequences

The asset hesitated. It would be punished, but its basic necessities would be handled.

However, the American's voice in the back of the asset's head kept repeating: "You don't have to go back."

Spurred into rebellion, the asset stepped away from its handler, its hand curling into a fist.

"Soldier," Lieutenant Orlov repeated, clearly exasperated, "now is not the time for disobedience."

"Free," the asset muttered, its feet shifting into a defensive stance.

"Soldier..."

"Free," the asset repeated, its icy blue glare fixated on its handler. It hated Orlov - it hated Hydra. It wanted to run away and never look back. These men were standing in its way toward freedom. They needed to be eliminated.

The ferocity of the insubordinate thoughts surprised the asset enough that it did not notice a thick loop of a metal wire lying around the asset's right foot. When the asset lunged toward Lieutenant Orlov, the loop tightened and caused the asset to trip when it tugged against its weight.

The agent on the roof who was holding onto the other end of the catch-pole let out a yell as he was yanked from his perch by the asset's force and landed with a sickening crunch on the stone ground beneath.

Another man quickly grabbed the handle and held it tight as the asset struggled to its feet. Angry and exhausted, the asset became even more dangerous - and the men knew that.

Growling with animalistic rage, the asset lunged again toward its handler, who frustratingly backed away with a smug grin on his face. The snare around its foot held it at bay, pitching the now three men clutching the other end forward.

A whooshing sound filled the air, punctuated by a thick rope scoring a hit around the asset's torso, pinning its one good arm to its side. The asset struggled against the metal, furious at the audacity of the men for attacking it when it just wanted to be alone, and furious at itself for allowing it to be caught off guard.

Another metal loop landed around the asset's neck before it had the chance to turn its anger toward the men behind it. The rope constricted, cutting off its airway as a bolt of electricity surged through the metal.

Howling in pain, the asset dropped to its knees. The men yanked its right leg out from under it, leaving it to balance on its left knee until that too was ensnared and wrenched back. With nothing left to kneel on, the asset fell on its chest, its legs spread out behind it.

It tried wiggling free, but all of the ropes were electrified and the thick wires cut into his skin. The combined force of the electrical current running through the asset's nerves left the bare skin on its neck covered with a circular electrical burn and almost knocked it unconscious.

Roiling and aching all over, the asset heaved out shaky breaths as the boots of its handler came closer and stopped inches away from its head. The electrical currents subsided, allowing the asset to look up at its handler with a murderous glare.

"I gave you the option to come willingly. I assume that you know that there are consequences for disobeying orders. All of this is your doing; I am just here to teach you a lesson," Orlov said as he crouched down and reached out to brush the asset's hair away from its neck.

The asset snapped at the man's hand, intending to land a painful bite. However, Orlov's frown only deepened and he pushed his leather boot onto the asset's forehead before clearing its neck.

The asset felt more than saw the needle pierce its skin. The cool liquid in the needle flowed quickly through its veins.

"You must be exhausted," Lieutenant Nikolai Orlov said above the asset. "Rest now."