New Beginnings

ELEVEN

"I know," John replies. "And I know those soldiers, which is why I know this is a bad idea."

"Wait, John," Lemar cuts in and John looks at him. "If he can talk her down, it might be worth a try."

John scoffs as he shakes his head contemplating. He looks at Zemo, "We'll deal with you later."

Zemo raises his hands in surrender, "I'm sure it will all come to an agreeable conclusion. My associate is just up ahead."  They look up ahead to see a little girl waiting for him. Zemo walks up to her as the others follow. "Hello, my friend. This is for your family," Zemo hands cash to the girl who takes it. "Can you show us the way?" The girl gestures for them to follow as she turns around and starts to lead the way. Zemo turns his head and nods and they follow.

John frowns, "What the hell?"

The girl leads them through the back into a room which looks like their electrical room. The girl opens the door which leads to a stairwell and she points at it. "Karli's in there," Zemo says.

"All right," Sam nods as he starts to walk towards the door. John aggressively grabs Zemo and handcuffs him to a circular door. "Hey. You got ten minutes."

"Really?" Zemo grunts.

"Then we're doing things my way," John states and Aurora rolls her eyes again.

"Aggressive. But I get it," Zemo says and John just looks at him.

A minute or so has passed and Bucky, Aurora, and Hallie all sit on the small steps by the door as Lemar leans against the wall while John paces back and forth.

"All of his pacing is making me dizzy. It's annoying," Aurora murmurs. During the few minutes, John had put his helmet on and holding the shield as he paces back and forth muttering to himself.

As they all watch John annoyingly panic, Sam is watching Karli talk about Mama Donya.

"I don't remember my mother or my father. Same goes for siblings, grandparents, cousins. What I do remember is bein' alone. Worse than bein' hungry or cold or scared. I was alone. Until Mama Donya. Like a lot of you here, Mama Donya saved me. She clothed me, fed me, loved me," Karli says on the verge of tears as she looks up and see's Sam watching. She gasps slightly and stares for a few seconds before recollecting herself as she hands the little boy she is holding to another lady as she walks around. "She taught me that we have to do for each other because they won't. And we know who they are. They imposed struggle and hardship on us, then labeled us as criminals for pushing back. But the struggle is what brings us all together. People who have nothin' in common. For we are, after all, simply one world and one people. So live accordingly."

Everyone starts to leave after awhile as Karli stares at Mama Donya before turning around to face Sam, "I saw you back there."

"I came alone. I just wanna talk," Sam slowly approaches.

"Bold of you," Karli remarks.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Sam genuinely says.

Karli scoffs, "Don't condescend me. I'm not a child."

"I'm not. I know what it's like to lose someone. Believe me," Sam says.

Karli shakes her head, "No, you don't. Not like this."

"It doesn't have to be a war, Karli," Sam says.

"They started a war as soon as they kicked us out of our new homes and onto the street," Karli exclaims. "People around the world need me. Millions of them."

"Right, I can't speak for millions, but I understand you. I understand your frustration. I understand your helplessness," Sam says and Karli softens up a little.