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D E C A Y
3
"We can know only that we know nothing."
Bavaria, Germany
December, 1939
HER EARS RANG AS Dr. Zola pointed a gun at the ground. His eyes were bright with satisfaction, lips curved in a proud smile. Lucy breathed deeply as her heart palpitated in her chest, adrenaline rushing through her veins. Miniscule piles of dust littered the ground in several different areas, each pile representative of the bullets once flying through the air.
All she needed to do was tear the bullet inside out and rearrange their molecular structures- she could turn things to dust. If she'd known that the other day she wouldn't have landed herself in the infirmary or anywhere near the hospital ward.
She winced as a headache sped through her head, and Dr. Zola tilted his head back to look up at her.
The air around her buzzed as she moved one foot forward, the bottom of her feet hitting nothing but air. She stumbled, and Abraham moved to stand beneath her, eyebrows furrowed with worry, eyes glinting with awe. Her eyes narrowed with concentration and sweat trickled down her forehead as she held her hands out, tearing the air's molecular structure and forming it into something denser. The chemical concoction was invisible beneath her feet and it looked as though she was floating.
Abraham slowly stepped to the side, looking hesitant.
Lucy regained her balance and let herself lower to the ground, staring at her feet. With hesitance her eyes flickered across every molecule, checking and fixing the mistakes of her calculations. She heard the door to the room open and looked up for a split second. In the brief moment she caught sight of Dr. Schaffer, the toxins beneath her feet returned to its natural state and she let out a justified shriek as she fell four feet in the air, knees smacking into the ground with a crack.
Abraham rushed to her side as a pained groan escaped her lips. Dr. Schaffer stepped over towards Dr. Zola with a clipboard in hand. He shifted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, tucking his gun into his lab coat and speaking to Dr. Schaffer quietly.
"Geht es dir gut?"
Are you alright?
Abraham muttered and she nodded wordlessly, pulling matted hair behind her ear.
Dr. Zola turned on his heel, a pleased smile on his face as he marched towards the pair. Abraham stiffened as if he was expecting a blow, and Lucy found herself scrambling onto her feet, hands clasped behind her back. She pushed Abraham behind her as Dr. Schaffer followed behind Dr. Zola.
"Ein Ruhetag war alles, was du brauchtest, ja?"
A day of rest was all you needed, yes?
Dr. Zola hummed contentedly and Lucy nodded her head sharply, eyes lowered in submission.
Dr. Schaffer looked mildly offended, but his hands remained crossed over his chest. She kept her breath steady as Dr. Zola beckoned her towards the door.
"Komm, du wirst Schmidt treffen."
Come, you will meet Schmidt.
He said and Dr. Schaffer's lips curled upwards in a cruel smirk.
Abraham stiffened further besides her, and Lucy swallowed thickly, careful to keep her eyes expressionless. She remembered Dr. Zola's warning and was intent on following his advice. He turned and stepped towards the exit with Dr. Schaffer, and Lucy moved to follow. Abraham grabbed her arm and she paused, tilting her head to see a frantic look in his eyes.
"Vielleicht sollten wir nicht-"
Maybe we shouldn't-
Abraham started anxiously, eyes flickering back and forth between both doctors.
Dr. Schaffer sent him a deadly glare and Abraham gulped, adjusting his glasses as he turned to Dr. Zola. The shorter man raised an eyebrow, before shaking his head.
"Schmidt ist seit Monaten dünn im Terminkalender. Sie hat keine Mängel."
Schmidt has been on a tight schedule for months. She has no defects.
He said with a hint of pride and Lucy stilled as Dr. Schaffer took a step towards Abraham.
"Sie müssen nicht kommen, wenn Sie nicht wollen, Doktor."
You don't have to come if you don't want to, Doctor.
He smiled, teeth glinting threateningly.
Abraham kept his terror at bay, clearing his throat awkwardly. He let go of Lucy's arm and she tucked it behind her back once again. Dr. Zola opened the door and Lucy stepped past the doorway in silence. She was vaguely surprised by the lack of guards as the three scientists led her down the hall.
Abraham managed to look apologetic, terrified, and relieved all at the same time.
They turned right down an unfamiliar hall, and passed a group of nurses who smiled and waved pleasantly. She caught the gaze of Peggy who nodded at her in greeting. Lucy's lips twitched and Peggy's eyes twinkled brightly at the miniscule action. Lucy turned her head away from her as Dr. Zola stopped in front of a glass door, pulling it open. Lucy's lips pressed into a thin line as they entered a huge training room used recreationally by any and all agents who decided to train.
Her eyes lowered to the ground as she felt the men stare at her with curiosity and caution. The agents who were sparring stopped, and Lucy caught sight of a man loitering with a few other high-ranking officials from the Wehrmacht. One of them had a red band tied around his arm, a swastika symbol embroidered with perfection.
"Herr Schmidt!"
Schmidt!
Dr. Zola called as they neared them, and the tallest of the men turned with a calculating look.
Johann Schmidt was practically muscle and nothing else. His dark hair was combed to one side, slicked back with gel. His eyebrows seemed to be raised permanently, head tilted half an inch with arrogance.
Lucy eyed the red skull embroidered on the sleeve of his black uniform, and wondered why HYDRA had a different symbol then the Wehrmacht. She didn't have much time to ponder on the thought as his gaze settled on her.
She felt self-conscious for the first time in months, and had the urge to look a bit more presentable. She inwardly snarled at the thought, pressing them to the furthest parts of her mind. She didn't need the man's acceptance, and she wouldn't ever want it.
"Arnim, wie ich sehe, hast du unseren neuesten Soldaten mitgebracht."
Arnim, I see you have brought our newest Soldier.
Schmidt said with a nod of approval.
Dr. Zola smiled, adjusted his glasses, then stepped to the side.
Lucy took that as her cue to step forward and did so, lifting her gaze just enough to catch sight of Schmidt's chin. She didn't dare look directly into his eyes, knowing submission was what the man wanted to see. Schmidt threatened to tower over her, and the officials besides him looked at her with distaste.
She wasn't awfully surprised when the man with the red swastika scoffed.
"Eine Frau? Sie wählten eine Frau zu Ihrem geschätzten Soldaten?"
A woman? You chose a woman as your treasured soldier?
He said and Abraham grunted quietly at the reaction, frowning with disapproval.
Lucy resisted the urge to smile and kept her face blank. She watched as Schmidt's eyebrow twitched, turning to the man with a smile growing increasingly threatening. The man remained unphased and Dr. Zola scoffed, causing him to spin on his feet and stare at him challengingly.
"Das Serum, das wir geschaffen haben, funktioniert am besten bei Frauen mit der seltensten Blutgruppe auf dem Planeten, Herr Roeder."
The serum we've created works best on women with the rarest blood type on the planet, Roeder.
Dr. Zola spoke sharply, eyes narrowed.
Lucy realized that must've been another reason why she was chosen by the Wehrmacht and HYDRA. Of the thirty-two women Lucy had seen, all had blonde hair and blue eyes- traits of Aryan superiority- an IQ level higher than two hundred, and supposedly a blood type of Rhnull.
The other women had been formidable opponents- she'd fought all of them once before, travelling upwards in the ranks at a grueling pace- but considering any of them as friends would hinder her chance of survival, so she'd never personally spoke to them. It wasn't a choice she had anymore, since the other subjects were dead.
She'd taken the title of highest rank and Subject 015 had been executed, cremated, and thrown down the chute Lucy had seen in the lab. If not for her docility and obedience, Lucy would've been the one shot, burned, and turned to dust, mingling with the other forgotten HYDRA victims.
She suppressed a shudder as Roeder raised his eyebrows.
"Und warum ist das so?"
And why is that?
He snapped.
Schmidt let out a small humorless chuckle, and Lucy double checked her stance, keeping her back as straight as possible, hands stiffly by her sides.
"Männliche Hormone bekämpfen das Serum, als wäre es eine Krankheit. Ich würde sagen, die Anatomie einer Frau ist in diesem Zusammenhang überlegen, Herr Roeder. Lassen Sie sich nicht vom Feminismus einer Frau täuschen. Das könnte Sie umbringen."
Male hormones fight the serum as if it were a disease. I would say a female's anatomy is superior in this context, Herr Roeder. Do not be deceived by a woman's feminism. That could kill you.
He said and if this was any other situation, Lucy would've applauded his words.
"Ich sehe nichts besonderes in dieser Frau."
I see nothing special in this woman.
The man besides him said with a condescending look, and Lucy's only reaction was flexing her hands.
"Nun, meine Herren, möchten Sie sie in Aktion sehen?"
Well, gentlemen, would you like to see her in action?
Schmidt smiled and Lucy decided he was a better man than Dr. Schaffer- not that it meant he was a good man- but at least he referred to her as a soldier, not an object.
The third man standing besides them stared at her before crossing his arms over his chest.
"Wie ist dein name?"
What's your name?
He questioned and Lucy felt her heartbeat drum at a faster pace.
If she was allowed to answer his question she had no idea what she was supposed to call herself. Her name was supposed to be long forgotten and saying it would bring imminent death.
Her gaze remained focused near Schmidt and she could feel him look at her. Deciding the Wehrmacht man didn't have clearance to speak to her, she kept her lips sealed, waiting for an order from either the doctor's, or Schmidt himself. She caught sight of his lip twitching upwards with amusement as the man impatiently waited for her to answer.
"Die Agenten hier nennen sie den Verfall Soldat."
The agents here call her the Decay Soldier.
Schmidt said and Lucy's nose threatened to scrunch with distaste.
It was a fitting name for her abilities, but not for herself. She was named Lucille after her grandmother, and the name was hers since the day her mother realized she was pregnant. "Lucy" had become a childhood nickname and she'd be damned if she ever forgot it.
She could give up her freedom, but her name was hers- always.
"Verfall? Was zum Teufel soll das bedeuten?"
Decay? What the hell is that supposed to mean?
The man besides Roeder huffed.
Schmidt didn't answer, instead eyeing Lucy thoughtfully.
"Soldat."
Soldier.
Schmidt said sharply and Lucy instantly straightened her neck.
She lifted her head so her nose was horizontal to the ground, shifting her legs slightly and widening her stance. Her gaze rested on his lips and she waited for an order, intent on appeasing him. If she wanted to survive, Schmidt would have to see every trait he wanted in her, and she was determined to live.
Schmidt pulled a gun from his hip holster, and Lucy inwardly relaxed- this was something she was familiar with.
He lifted it and pointed it between her eyes. The men besides him looked horrified and Roeder cleared his throat.
"Schmidt was sind-"
Schmidt what are-
He started and Schmidt turned to look at him.
"Sie behaupten, Sie sei nutzlos."
You claim she is useless.
Schmidt stated, tilting his gun slightly, and Roeder frowned deeply.
He didn't reply and Schmidt turned his attention to Lucy. She could feel his eyes pierce through her skull and she swallowed thickly, finger twitching unnoticeably.
"Stopp die Kugel."
Stop this bullet.
Schmidt said, smiling smugly as the men besides him scoffed in disbelief.
Lucy nodded her head once, eyes forever trained on the barrel of the gun.
He cocked it and Lucy closed her eyes, hardly a blink as she turned on her abilities. She waited patiently for him to pull the trigger and when he did, the sound was sharp like a clap of thunder, gunpowder flying through the air. The men looked terrified and Lucy managed not to roll her eyes. The bullet melted into dust before it could touch the tip of her forehead, metallic glitter dropping to the ground in tiny clumps.
Schmidt's smile widened and there was a flicker of awe in his eyes. Lucy clasped her hands behind her back and lowered her gaze as the men around him looked at her with wide eyes of shock.
"Das ist nicht möglich."
This is not possible.
Roeder muttered and Schmidt bent down, swiping his hand over the dust.
He held up his fingers, pinched his thumb to his pointer, and rubbed them together. When he pulled his fingers apart, his skin was covered in powdered metal, reflecting the ceiling light. His smile had turned into a proud grin and he turned to the men besides him.
"Das ist genug Beweis ja? Dass wir Waffen erschaffen haben?"
That's enough proof, yes? That we have created weapons?
Schmidt questioned, and the men nodded slowly, mouths agape as they stared at her.
She didn't shift under their gaze, remaining still. Dr. Zola's shoulder slumped slightly as he relaxed, and Dr. Schaffer smirked at the Wehrmacht men. She felt a hand brush against her arm and almost jumped. She could see Abraham in her peripheral vision, and her hammering heart slowly calmed. She'd forgotten Abraham was still in the room, and he looked tired as well as terrified. It was a sad sight to see, and Lucy wished she could help him escape this place.
She didn't listen to Schmidt gloat to the other men about how successful his experiments were- though she wanted to point out the work had been done by his three other scientists, more specifically Abraham- and she barely noticed him dismiss the men.
The agents in the room who had once been training had left earlier, and she realized no one, not even Schmidt's own colleagues, wanted to be in the same room with him.
Nothing escaped her lips and she was careful not cower under Schmidt's gaze as he turned to Abraham, Dr. Zola, and Dr. Schaffer.
"Ich muss Ihnen gratulieren, Arnim, Henry. . .Erskine."
I must congratulate you, Arnim, Henry. . .Erskine.
Schmidt said with a pleased smile, eyes glinting dangerously at Abraham, who ducked his head and nodded.
Lucy easily noticed how Schmidt thought less of Abraham as a person. She knew he was useful to Schmidt, but too kind-hearted for his taste. The fact she could feel the guilt on Abraham's shoulders didn't help at all, and she had the urge to hug him.
She didn't.
"Wir haben einen Durchbruch geschafft, Herr Schmidt. Es kann Fliegen."
We have made a breakthrough, Schmidt. It can fly.
Dr. Schaffer said pleasantly, and Schmidt's eyes glimmered with curiosity.
Lucy didn't swear at the doctor as she shifted slightly on her feet, unable to stop the anxious tremor travelling through her arms- flying, as he put it, was not something she'd perfected, and she did not want to fall in front of Schmidt.
The man noticed and he hummed for a moment, before shaking his head.
"Vielleicht können Sie es mir ein anderes mal zeigen."
Maybe you can show me another time.
He said to Dr. Schaffer who shrugged at the suggestion.
He didn't press further on the topic and Schmidt looked between the three scientists.
"Macht eine Pause, ihr alle. Ihr könnt gehen."
Take a break all of you. You're dismissed.
He said with a nod of approval.
Dr. Schaffer whistled in delight and his lips twisted upwards in content. The smile, Lucy noticed, did not reach his eyes.
"Danke, Schmidt. Ich werde auf Sie anstoßen."
Thank you, Schmidt. I'll propose a toast for you.
Dr. Schaffer said nonchalantly, and Lucy half expected Schmidt to scowl at him for his casualness.
Instead, the intimidating man chuckled and nodded with the first genuine smile she saw on his face.
"Hail HYDRA." Dr. Schaffer said in accented english.
"Hail HYDRA." He replied with a similar accent, and Dr. Schaffer spun on his heel.
Dr. Zola sighed as the man exited the room, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Du willst, dass sie bleibt?"
You want her to stay?
He questioned, pointing towards Lucy who swallowed nervously.
Abraham opened his mouth to object the idea.
"Sie bleibt."
She stays.
He agreed, and Dr. Zola turned, then paused.
"Hail HYDRA." He muttered with less enthusiasm then Dr. Schaffer.
Schmidt seemed to assume the man was tired.
"Hail HYDRA." He repeated.
Dr. Zola continued on his way, leaving the room in quick footsteps. Lucy watched as his fingers wrapped around Abraham's thin forearm, dragging him backwards. Her eyelid twitched as Abraham stumbled on his feet, looking at her with concern. Dr. Zola pulled him out of the room and the door shut with a quiet click.
Lucy felt hauntingly alone, and she kept her face as expressionless as possible when Schmidt turned to look at her. He hummed softly under his breath, the only sound reverberating in the room.
"Wie haben Sie dich genannt? Lucille? Lucy? Soldat? Verfall?"
What do they call you? Lucille? Lucy? Soldier? Decay?
He questioned slowly, as if she was mentally deficient.
She wasn't surprised he knew her name- HYDRA knows everything rang in her head- but she was definitely concerned about what he'd asked.
She'd learned questions were used easily to trap her in every possible way. If she answered wrong, it would end in punishment. If she answered right, it could be the correct answer, but the incorrect response. Answer right- be punished. Answer wrong- be punished.
Abraham called her Lucy. Peggy called her Lucy. Dr. Zola called her Lucy. Dr. Schaffer called her an it, or a weapon. And Schmidt seemed to think of her as a person, but Lucy was her name and that most definitely was not the right answer. Lucy didn't sigh as she decided to go with the safest option.
"Soldat."
Soldier.
She said clearly, tone blank.
"Ja, nun, ich denke, das passt."
Yes, well, I think that's fitting.
He said with approval.
Silence settled between them and Lucy knew he was watching her every move, from every breath she took, to every twitch of her hand. She wondered what Schmidt was thinking of, but said nothing.
He paced back and forth, his footsteps echoing across the vast gym. She wasn't quite afraid of him yet, and she didn't want to have a reason to be afraid.
"Du redest nicht viel, oder?"
You don't talk much, do you?
He asked, and Lucy hoped the question was rhetorical.
It wasn't.
She swallowed thickly and wracked her brain to remember what she had been conditioned to say.
"Ich spreche, wenn es mir gesagt wird, Herr."
I speak when I am told, sir.
She felt like it was very necessary to tack on 'sir'.
"Und das stört dich nicht?"
And that doesn't bother you?
He prompted and Lucy shook her head.
"Negativ, Herr."
Negative, sir.
She said smoothly, and Schmidt's lips curved with amusement.
"Was ist dein Zweck hier, Soldat?"
What is your purpose here, Soldier?
He continued, and Lucy blinked.
"Ich diese als Hydras Arsenal, wenn ich gebraucht werde."
I serve as HYDRA's arsenal when I am needed.
She answered without skipping a beat.
"Ist es das, was du willst?"
Is that what you want?
Lucy almost blurted a sharp yes, but paused before she could speak the word. The question was oddly suspicious and Lucy knew it was a trick. As a person it was instinct to want and desire something. As a Soldier, less so. As a weapon, nothing.
She didn't know what was crueler- to admit she is not supposed to have wants, or to reply with a snarky yes anyway.
She breathed in deeply
"Ich habe keinen Willen, Herr."
I do not have wants, sir.
She said, reciting the words from memory.
Schmidt grinned, and she stiffened as he tucked a finger under her chin, pushing her head upwards. She stared straight into eyes that were as black as blue could be, piercing through her soul.
"Was ist dein Platz in der Welt?"
What is your place in the world?
He asked softly, as if he were speaking to a child.
He tilted her head to the side and bile climbed her throat as she stopped a shudder from travelling up her spine. Instead of throwing up, she lowered her gaze and spoke monotonously.
"Ich habe keinen Platz auf der Welt."
I have no place in the world.
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