#northern quebec | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sjsmith56 · 8 months

Text

The Ghost Children - Part 13, From There to Here, Bucky Barnes One Shots

Summary: Five Avengers take on a mission in Northern Quebec at the request of the Canadian government then learn Zemo is connected to the location. What they find is completely unexpected.

Length: 6.4K

Characters: Bucky, Sam, Clint, Peter, Oeznik, Henry (a Canadian Inuit Ranger), Lt. D’Aoust (Canadian Special Ops)

Warnings: disappointment, irritation at Zemo’s connection, creep factor as team tries to learn what they’re dealing with, talk of prejudice against black people, anger at HYDRA and Nazis.

Author’s note: This came out of nowhere and started out with Bucky and Sam commiserating about being pulled away from their girlfriends. It becomes Bucky and Sam trying to do the right thing by helping some survivors of HYDRA’s experiments, who originally appear threatening. The survivors will be referred to in a later one shot.

<<Part12

❄️

Present day

Nothing was said for some time between me and Sam as he drove in the dark to the storage locker where I kept my weapons. Both of us were a little irritated about being texted for a mission right in the middle of a social occasion. I was mid kiss with my new girlfriend, June, after just asking if I could spend the night for the first time, while Sam was about to kiss her friend, Ingrid. When Sam cleared his throat, I finally spoke.

"I like her, a lot. She makes feel me good."

"I noticed," replied my partner. "June is a special lady. You've been sharing your file with her, haven't you?"

"Yeah, nothing about me should be a secret, not if she's ...."

My voice trailed off, but Sam knew what I was going to say. If she was the one, I wanted her to know everything about me. It was important that the people I cared about knew what really happened to me. Keeping things secret had kept me a prisoner for so long.

"Where are you at on your file?"

"Where I fell," I replied. "She read Steve's report." I looked sideways at Sam. "She had much the same reaction as you had. Said he abandoned me. I defended him but I'm beginning to understand why you weren't happy with his decision."

"After all he ... we went through to find you, keep you from being arrested, and get you help it just seemed like a quick decision on his part to leave just after you and I reappeared," said Sam. "Now mind you, I'm willing to accept that he had five years to come to that decision during the Blip, time we didn't have or were aware of. To him, it took a long time to realize he would happier back in the 1940s. To us, it was a matter of days."

I was almost about to tell him that Steve went back for more than one reason then decided against it. It obviously hadn't worked as I still went through all the shit I did, not able to get away from HYDRA until Steve and I fought at the Triskelion. There was a memory of a woman in Siberia telling me we had been betrayed and I had to kill her, on Zola's order. Would I tell Sam, or June, about that? Sighing, I put the thought out of my head. Not yet, perhaps not ever, but I would consider it later.

He pulled up to the gate of the storage units and inputted the code, then drove through the open gate to the storage locker. I unlocked it and lifted the gate, turning on the light. Entering the code on the footlocker where I kept my weapons, I chose several firearms and knives, plus the harnesses and sheaths I would need to hold them. Sam smirked at the care I took in my choices, but he knew I had my own preferences. Many of them were weapons I used for years as the Winter Soldier. As much I hated being that person, they were the only things I really kept from that time, liking the familiarity and ease with which the implements fit my needs. For all they put me through HYDRA did give me superior tools to work with. I pulled my spare working uniform out as well, the blue leather jacket with the removable sleeve, black singlet, the black tactical pants with pockets to store magazines, zip ties, and anything else I deemed necessary, with my black combat boots completing the "ensemble." Packing all of it in a large satchel I relocked the footlocker, turned off the light, secured the storage locker and put the bag in the back of Sam's truck.

It was only a short drive to the air base and Sam parked in the designated parking spot for his truck after clearing the check point. The quinjet hadn't arrived yet and we sat looking out through the windshield.

"You looked like you hit it off with June's friend, Ingrid," I noted. "She seems fun."

Sam smiled. "Not at all what I was expecting of a librarian and part time burlesque dancer. We'll see what happens, but she does interest me. We are going to the Christmas party, aren't we?"

"If we get back in time," I replied. "June wants to show me off." I was silent for a moment. "Did the Avengers ever have parties?"

"Oh yeah, Tony Stark was a real party animal," replied Sam. "Booze, beautiful women, food, he provided it all. After Ultron, though, it kind of came to a screeching halt. The Sokovian Accords were brought out after that. It split us apart."

"I thought I did that." Quietly I looked out the front windshield. It was something we hadn't really spoken of. "You did end up in the Raft because you helped me fight the others in Leipzig."

"No, there was tension before you were framed," said Sam. "Steve was ready to walk before because Stark was acting so high and mighty. In a way, it was understandable. He was feeling pretty guilty about what Ultron did to Sokovia. Some of us thought that it was his hubris that got us into that situation. But he and Steve were always butting heads over who was leading the team. When Tony tried to bully Steve, me and a few others into signing the Accords, it brought it all to a head. Then Tony wanted to arrest you and put you into the psych ward without an expiry date, and that just rubbed Steve the wrong way."

"He wanted me in an insane asylum indefinitely?" I asked, turning to face Sam. I wasn't surprised considering how those in law enforcement viewed me when I was the Winter Soldier. "How did the others feel about it?"

"Well, it was preferable to the CIA shooting to kill, and Zemo framed you pretty effectively, making it seem like you were up to your Winter Soldier activities. But Steve defended you and I respected his judgement, so I stood with him."

"Did you think I was still the Winter Soldier?" I didn't mean to stare, but I knew my eyes were boring into his.

"Honestly, I didn't know what to think," replied Sam. "You saved Steve's life after the Helicarrier fell. We checked satellite footage and saw you call for help on the emergency telephone, telling them where he was. Then when we realized you were looking out for him while he recuperated, Steve asked that we let you be. You didn't seem to be a threat to us, so we did. Then we lost track of you until Romania."

"You knew I was watching? I find that hard to believe."

"Why, because you're the god of stealth? It's kind of obvious when I come home the day after I picked up some groceries to find someone has been eating my food, has moved some of my personal possessions and has used my shower."

"You didn't know that," I scoffed.

"Damp towels," said Sam. "You even washed your clothes, because you used a different setting than I usually did. Found a tag that you ripped off of a new shirt but didn't put in the waste bin. I was observing you, too, even if it was after the fact. Tell me, did HYDRA actually come looking for Steve?"

For a moment I said nothing as I sat in the truck, maybe pouting a little bit that I hadn't been as successful at that surveillance as I thought I was. Then Sam sighed, still waiting for my answer.

"Yeah, they did," I replied finally. "I intercepted two different pairs of operatives who were trying to find out what room Steve was in. One pair even set up on a rooftop across from the hospital. I was on a higher rooftop and took them out." I smirked as Sam's eyes grew wide. "I didn't kill them. I was done with that. But I did take them down and dropped them off at a police station, identifying them as HYDRA. They were terrified of me; thought I was going to kill them outright. Told me everything they knew about who was still in play, which wasn't much."

"What happened with the second pair?" asked Sam.

"I led them on a merry chase," I replied, remembering them pursuing me in their car. "The first pair said after finishing Rogers I was a secondary target for reacquisition. They didn't know I was in control, thought I was hiding, waiting for the right time to provide my mission report. I wanted to know who was in charge after Rumlow; told them I could only give him a mission report."

"Did you find out?"

I nodded. "Oh yeah, an Air Force General. Took him hostage, took his phone, I intended to get him to tell me the names of other high ranking HYDRA operatives."

"What happened?"

"The General started saying the activation words. I grabbed him by the throat to shut him up. Grabbed too hard." There was still regret about that. "I killed him. It wasn't my intent, but I couldn't let him have control of me or they would have sent me to finish Steve off, and you, since you were there in his room most of the time. I made amends to his family. Never told them he was number three in HYDRA. They had no idea."

We could see the quinjet approaching in the distance and both of us got out, removing our go bags from the back seat. I took Sam's go bag while he lifted his suit travelling case from the back. Within seconds the quinjet was landing in front of us with Clint at the controls. The ramp was lowered, and we saw Maria Hill and Peter Parker strapped in as we boarded. After stowing our bags and the case Sam strapped in while I approached Clint.

"You need a co-pilot?"

"No, we're not going far," replied the archer. "One more pickup. Thanks though."

Dropping into the seat next to Sam I strapped in and sat back as Clint took the aircraft up. We flew for about half an hour landing next to a rural property. Clint looked back at Maria, and she unstrapped herself from her seat then headed for the ramp.

"Stay here," she said to us.

"What happened to the second pair?" asked Sam.

For a moment I looked at him blankly then I remembered our previous conversation. "The General had called them; told them I was at his hotel, so I waited for them to show up. Then I led them on a pursuit before letting them catch me and I faced off against them. When they saw the General was dead, they thought they were next and begged me not to hurt them. I told them you and Steve were under my protection and if I saw them anywhere near you, I would kill them, slowly. They believed me. I suggested they head to Mexico, find some safe work with a cartel. They didn't notice I had the General's cell phone. As they left, I took a picture of their car's license plate and made an anonymous tip they were smuggling cash to a Mexican cartel, and that they killed the General, then ditched the phone. They admitted to me that they broke into a HYDRA safe house and cleared out the money from the safe, so they had a few hundred thousand on them."

Sam smirked then almost choked when Maria walked back on the quinjet with Oeznik.

"What the hell," he said. "Why is he here?"

"Mr. Wilson, Mr. Barnes," said the old man. "It's a pleasure to see you again. The Baron suggested I offer my services to the Avengers for this mission. I will let Miss Hill begin."

With a nod to Clint to start the final leg of their trip Maria strapped into her seat while Oeznik sat in a seat and did the same. We glared at both her and Oeznik, while Peter just looked from one person to another wondering what was going on.

"It's an open secret that Baron Zemo has managed to maintain his network of contacts while incarcerated in the Raft," began Maria. "About three days ago one of them informed him of a discovery located in a nickel mine in the Ungava Peninsula of northern Quebec. I believe the Baron has an investment in that particular mine." Oeznik nodded his head sagely. "Shortly after that time a request for assistance was forwarded by the company listed as the majority mine owners to the Canadian federal government. Oeznik?"

"Thank you, Miss Hill," he wheezed. "The Baron originally bought shares in the mine for the ore it brought out of the ground. With his investment being considerable he did a lot of research on the area and eventually found a rumour of a connection between the mine and an early HYDRA research facility started in the 1930s. Nothing was ever confirmed until he received word from his onsite contact that an underground chamber was located, filled with cryogenic capsules. He ordered the contact not to touch the capsules, but it appears a curious employee may have done just that."

"What did they unleash?" asked Sam.

Oeznik shrugged. "The mine was on shutdown with only a skeleton crew for the Christmas break," he replied. "Since the request to the government for assistance there has been no contact of any kind."

"The Canadian government requested our intervention on this, considering Bucky's background and your recent experience with the Flag Smashers," said Maria, "but with the temperatures in the area approaching -40 degrees Fahrenheit the quinjet will be unable to withstand the environment. We are en route to Canadian Forces Base Bagotville in Quebec where we will be outfitted with winter clothing, and transported on a Hercules aircraft along with a select group of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, who will act in support of you four. We will rendezvous with a Canadian Ranger unit who will provide transportation to the mine. Oeznik and I will stay at the airstrip, monitoring the operation."

She looked pointedly at me, Sam, and Peter, who gulped nervously. Clint obviously already knew as he never turned his head away from his piloting duties.

"You want me to send Red Wing in there first to find out what we're up against?" asked Sam. "Then what?"

She and Oeznik looked at each other. "Contain, disable, and reinsert into cryostasis if you find what we all suspect you will find," said Maria. "If that isn't possible Clint will institute an Omega Protocol." She looked directly at me. "We would never ask you to do that. Clint volunteered to take that responsibility if it comes to that."

I could feel my jaw clamping hard as I was bothered, fuck, even angry. They were expecting to find Winter Soldiers, people who possibly were transformed against their will like me. Before answering I breathed deeply several times then swallowed my anger down and looked at Maria.

"If Peter and I succeed in containing them and getting them back into cryostasis, what then?" I asked.

"Wakanda has already offered to begin the deprogramming process," she replied. "So much was learned when they treated you that they feel they can offer them a good chance of reintegration into society but until we actually see them and interact with them ...."

Peter looked at me, obviously nervous about coming face to face with who knew how many transformed individuals? But Peter was stronger than me and with his webs could humanely contain them.

"Alright but I will do everything I can to keep them alive," I stated emphatically. "I want your promise that the Omega Protocol will only be taken if there is no other choice."

"You have my promise," said Clint, from the cockpit, as he put the aircraft on autopilot. "I don't want to be responsible for their deaths but if it appears they will break out of that facility then I will accept that burden."

Oeznik brought up all the information on the onboard computer which the team crowded around. Sam and I had to give Oeznik and Zemo credit. Their information was thorough. The original owners of the mine were among some of Nazi Germany's top industrialists. The mine was sold during World War II, when the Canadian government passed laws restricting hostile foreign ownership of natural resources. The new owners who bought it at that time complained that it appeared certain portions of the mine appeared to have been deliberately sealed off in such a way that exploration of them was too dangerous. As a result, the mining operations shut down for some time then restarted after the war, but in new directions, with multiple various owners, until two years previously with the discovery that the shafts created since that time had extended beyond the areas that were sealed off.

"When did Zemo acquire a financial interest in the mine?" I asked Oeznik.

"Two years ago," replied the old man. "It was at the same time that access to the sealed off areas was improved. It was no coincidence as he had his suspicions, even though his purchase of shares was legitimately for the minerals in the mine."

"He suspected there was something from HYDRA left behind, didn't he?" asked Sam.

"Yes, but he believed it to be an information storage area only, until his contact mentioned the capsules then communications were lost," said Oeznik. "Immediately he authorized me to share all of his knowledge of the mine."

Until we got there and sent Red Wing into the mine, we weren't sure what we were going to find. A couple of hours later we landed in Quebec. Over the next two days there we were outfitted in cold weather gear, then boarded a Hercules transport, along with six members of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment for the three-hour flight to the air strip nearest the mine. When we arrived at the airstrip there were several Rangers, mostly Inuit members of the local population who acted as eyes and ears on the ground protecting Canadian sovereignty in those remote areas. They waited with several snow cat vehicles to transport us to the mine. The CSOR soldiers had dealt with the Rangers before and advised us to trust their knowledge of the environment. The Rangers were the experts who would make sure we all stayed safe in the harsh conditions. After confirming our comms all worked, we dressed for the weather and headed out towards the mine, spread between several vehicles.

After we arrived, Sam sent both Red Wing units ahead of us to determine where the mine employees were. So far as we knew there were about 10 people on site, as the mine was on shutdown for the Christmas break. We waited in the vehicle as Sam monitored the images coming from the drones while they flew through the accommodations portion of the camp, peeking in windows, using their features to look inside the buildings, searching for people. From there the drones were sent to the mine buildings themselves. After twenty minutes of flying through the structures it was determined there was no one above ground in any of the buildings around the mine. Sam brought the Red Wing units back and we decided to relocate to a communal space in the accommodations structure.

The CSOR soldiers exited first, their weapons at the ready and took point on gaining entry into the building, pronouncing it clear. Inside the structure communications were set up with Hill and Oeznik still back at the air strip.

"There is no sign of anyone in any of the above ground structures of the mine," said Sam over the radio. "I can send the Red Wing units down into the shaft but there are three separate shafts, according to the images we received inside the processing structure. Oeznik, do you happen to know which shaft contained the capsules?"

"The one opened first," he replied. "Identified as A shaft. It is the oldest and most extensive of the three."

"Send your Red Wings in there, Sam," said Maria. "I would suggest you do reconnaissance in silent mode. Don't want to tip them off that we have a contingent on the surface."

"Roger that," he answered. "I can make it possible you get the transmission as well."

With a little sigh Sam directed his Red Wing units to switch to silent mode and sent them down the A shaft of the mine. We all gathered around the computer monitors that Sam was able to connect to. He was also recording the transmissions so that if we had to, we could go back and review anything that looked suspect. As the drones lowered themselves into the shaft it looked normal, just another mining shaft. Then they came to a section where the lights had been extinguished and Sam switched to infra-red mode. Still nothing looked out of place until they got to the bottom of the shaft where the lights were on again. There were two directions, but Oeznik didn't know which direction the capsules were found so Sam split the Red Wings up into their different components. Slowly they moved in both directions. Nothing seemed out of place until one of the Rangers noted something.

"Go back," he said. "Something moved. Something is in the shadows."

Sam sent one of the drones back to where the Ranger noted the movement and he switched to infra-red, showing the outline of a small person, a very small person. They were breathing but their breath was barely registering on the infra-red. Suddenly, whoever it was leaped out, grabbed the Red Wing and seemingly crushed it, stopping the transmission and making Sam groan in frustration. Quickly he brought up the slow motion replay of that moment and what we saw coming out of the shadows had us all floored. It was a child, a small child of maybe 4 or 5 years old.

"Jesus Christ," said the CSOR commander, a Lieutenant D'Aoust. "That was a kid. What's a kid doing in the mine?"

"Sam, get Red Wing out of there," I said, suddenly having a bad feeling. "They're compromised. Bring them all back."

Just at that moment two more components met similar fates and Sam sent the signal to return to base. While they returned, we looked closely at all the footage that had been recorded and the Rangers were able to pick out more movement in the shadows. There were at least four other children that were identified. All of them appeared to be wearing hospital type gowns, were barefoot, and all had long blond hair. We couldn't tell if they were boys or girls. But they were all definitely young. Concerned about the possibility of these children, who were likely quite feral, from coming up the shaft Maria sent the order to evacuate the building and return to the air strip. That was the plan but that isn't what happened.

While we were preparing to leave several of the Rangers had taken up positions at the windows keeping watch outside. Just as we were ready to exit the building and board the snow cats two of the Rangers called from their spots.

"We have movement outside," said the one and confirmed by the other.

Turning out the lights I joined them while the CSOR squad took up positions at the other windows. The Ranger closest to me, Henry Inaluk, nudged me.

"There are two of them, just beyond the last snow cat on the left," he said. "They don't seem to be bothered by the cold."

I looked where he was pointing and sure enough, they were there but had blended into the different shadows given by the low setting sun and buildings. Their stealth skills were incredible, and it got me thinking of something that was only hinted at when I was the Winter Soldier. It was something I wasn't privy to except for the big mouth of a braggart HYDRA operative who had also been in the SS. I got on my comms.

"Maria, any chance you can access the online HYDRA and Nazi Germany files, and look for information on Geisterkinder from the Lebensborn program?" I asked. "It was a very hush hush HYDRA operation using children born to pureblood Aryans in the SS, to turn them into operatives from birth."

"You're not kidding, are you?" she responded, her disgust at the notion coming through even on the comms.

"No, I only recall whispers of it but these kids, they have skills," I replied. "Probably better than mine. They're likely feral and very dangerous. They've got us trapped inside. I need information on trigger words, failsafe words, anything I can use to communicate with them to convince them that I am their handler."

"On it," she said.

We waited and watched as five more were identified in other spots. The two that were still camouflaged in the shadows hadn't moved. I looked at Henry, who seemed to know exactly where they were.

"You can see them?" I asked.

"Not exactly," he replied. "They blend in very well but they're different enough from the snow that I can tell they don't belong there. They're not natural. It's not the first time we've heard of them." He looked at me as if he was terrified. "Qaulluqtuq meeqqat is the closest Inuktitut term to them, "white child" in English but you could call them ghost children. There were stories of them before the Second World War, coming out of this mine while it was first being developed, searching for their parents, taking an adult from their bed and we would never see them again."

"You said the stories were from before World War II," I noted. "What happened then?"

"The stories stopped," he said, still not taking his eyes off the two that were watching us. "So did the disappearances."

"Bucky," said a voice beside me and I looked down at Peter, who was watching with us. "I could go out there and try to capture one of them with my web, bring it back here."

"How do your webs work in low temperatures?" I asked.

He blew some air out of his mouth and tilted his head as if he was thinking. "I can adjust the settings on my web shooters to compensate," he replied. "I just don't know how durable they are when they are chilled."

"Let's wait," I said. "You and I are probably the only two strong enough and quick enough to deal with them one on one. There are seven out there that we know of, and I wouldn't want to risk you being captured by them."

"Bucky?" Maria's voice was in my ear. "We found something. It's not much. Seven children, orphans who were part of the Lebensborn. They were "given" to HYDRA to explore raising them from childhood like Hitler Youth, while injecting them with the serum to give them powers. It didn't go quite how they expected, and they were supposed to be eliminated as they were considered too dangerous. Obviously, someone thought they could do something with them and took them. We're trying to find out more about the original owners of the mine, which wasn't a mine when it was first built."

"What was it?" I asked.

"Not sure," she replied. "There are definitely gaps in the record which makes me believe they wanted to hide these kids permanently, possibly because they couldn't deal with them. It's unclear if they were dangerous only to HYDRA or dangerous to everyone."

"They're moving!" called out Henry, who gestured to the darkening landscape.

The sun had just set and the children were approaching the building. Even I could see them. Suddenly I felt very exposed and made a quick decision.

"Everyone into the common room," I ordered. "Away from the windows and doors. Peter, can you web up the vent covers and ceiling panels to keep them from being moved? We don't want these kids to get in here."

He began covering the ceiling in the central common room with his webs, adjusting the composition so they were almost unbreakable. The rest of us congregated there, all with weapons drawn and on high alert. We could hear scuttling sounds in the vents and efforts being made to come through the now sealed openings into the room. Listening carefully, I became aware of whispered conversations between the children, in German. The more they spoke the more I realized they were as frightened of us as we were of them. In fact, they saw us as Butzemann, or Bogeyman, and more specifically they referred to Sam as der schwarze Mann, or the Black Man, another type of Bogeyman.

"Henry, the stories of adults being taken before World War II, were they white or were they Inuit?" I asked.

"White," he replied. "The priests, or ministers, RCMP, some teachers."

"Maria, I think I know enough to try something," I said. "They speak German and they're terrified of us like we're Bogeymen. The skeleton crew, were they white or Inuit?"

"Mixture," she said. "You think they took the crew because they were scared and they wanted comfort?"

"That's my theory," I replied. "They seem to be impervious to the cold and I wonder if that's part of the abilities they may have received from the serum. Not that it matters because maturity wise, they're little kids, scared little kids who just want the Bogeyman to go away."

"Uh, Buck," said Clint, getting my attention. "We have a visitor."

I turned to where he was pointing and saw one of the children standing in the doorway to the kitchen area. Several other children appeared behind him / her, obviously coming through a vent in that room. Shifting so that I was positioning myself in front of the group I laid my weapons down and knelt, so I wasn't as threatening. Surprisingly, the others did the same, following my lead.

"Why aren't you in bed?" I asked in German. "It's bedtime for good children."

The first child took a step towards me. "We're hungry," she said. It was a girl by the sound of her voice. "They put us to bed without dinner then when we woke up the teachers were gone. It was all strangers here."

"Where are the strangers?" I wanted to find out if they were still alive.

"In the locked room," she replied. "They won't come out even though we're hungry."

"What's your name?" I asked. "I'm Jakob."

"Irene. Can you make us food?"

I stood up and stepped closer to her, offering her my hand. Shyly, she put her hand in mine and I turned back to the others.

"She's hungry and wants food," I said. "It appears they were put to bed without any dinner and when they woke up the teachers were all gone. She says the others are in the locked room and won't come out."

"Buck," said Clint. "What are you going to do?"

"Give them food," I replied. "If they're super soldiers who have been asleep since World War II they're starving. Securing food would be a primary need. Her hand is cold and I'm hoping once they get food in them, they'll warm up, hopefully in more ways than one."

Leading her back into the kitchen I told her and the others who were all in there to sit while I made them something to eat. Fortunately, the pantry and walk-in cooler in the kitchen were full of food. I pulled out eggs, milk, and flour.

"Want help?" asked Henry, from the Rangers, appearing in the doorway. "Scrambled eggs would be the easiest, but pancakes would do in a pinch and satisfy their sweet tooth, if they are anything like my kids. Bacon would go over well."

"Sure, why don't you scramble up some eggs and fry some bacon while I make pancakes," I replied. "No sudden moves. They're still a bit wary of us."

While we made food for the children Lieutenant D'Aoust and his soldiers went down into the mine, looking for the locked room, speculating it was a central place for miners to go in case of an emergency. Sure enough they found the ten mine employees there, almost at the end of their rations. As they debriefed the employees on what happened Sam and Peter came into the kitchen to see if they could help. The kids were afraid of Sam at first which bothered him, but I explained that he was probably the first black man they had ever seen and as children born into Nazi Germany, they had probably been inundated with propaganda describing black people as evil.

"Well, we can't have that, can we?" said Sam. "I have an idea. Peter, could you help me find out what kind of movies they have here? I think they need to watch some Disney."

"They're probably bored," noted Henry, as he began dishing out the scrambled eggs onto a serving dish. He drained the bacon strips on paper towels then put the strips on a platter. "We were doing a Christmas toy drive in Kangiqsujuaq, about an hour's flight from here. We could get some toys and clothes flown out for them."

I relayed that information to Maria who said she would see what she could do. Finally, Henry and I had enough food to feed a small army and we took the trays of food out to the common area where one of the other Rangers had set a table for the kids. They followed Henry and me out of the kitchen, sitting themselves expectantly at the table. While I dished out the food Henry went back for milk and glasses, pouring out a full glass for each child. They waited for permission to eat, undoubtedly it had been programmed into them by their HYDRA teachers.

"Go ahead, children, eat," I said.

They were ravenous, eating everything put in front of them. Like I speculated, once they got food into their systems their skin colour changed, becoming normal in appearance. So did their behaviour as they became more talkative and began acting like the small children they were. Irene, who seemed to be the oldest at about 6 or 7 years of age watched me as I watched them.

"What is it, sweetheart?" I asked.

"Are you my father?" she asked in return. "The teachers said that someday our parents would come for us."

I almost wanted to cry at the longing on her face. Kneeling down I took her now warm hand in mine.

"No, I'm not but I will help you and the others. A great wrong was done to you, and you were left behind, forgotten for many years. You won't be forgotten any more. For now, we'll stay here with you until the authorities find families for you. That's what you want isn't it? A mother, a father, a home?"

She began to cry, and I gathered her into my arms, comforting this scared little girl. It would likely take months, maybe even years to find out exactly what had been done to these children. In the meantime, I knew that I would make sure they had what they needed to feel as normal as possible. If that meant becoming their advocate then I was willing to do that as well, as there was no way I would make them get back into those cryostasis cylinders ever again.

When they finished eating Sam started up a Disney movie on the big screen TV that was positioned against one wall with lounge seating in front of it. He even had German language dubbing for it. The arriving mine employees were surprised to see normal kids sitting in their viewing lounge, having seen only the ghost version of them. They were all read in on what we thought the children were and sworn to secrecy. Most of them were fathers and could understand the confusion and fear that greeted these children when one of the employees opened the cylinders.

Maria and Oeznik came to the camp the following day, bringing the toys and clothing that Henry suggested. Oeznik went one step further. He organized a Christmas tree to be set up within a few days, then wore a Saint Nicholas costume that he ordered in specially and spoke kindly to the children in German as he handed out additional gifts during what was likely their very first Christmas party. As we watched the excitement and enjoyment they got out of the event, Oeznik turned to me.

"The Baron wishes you to know that he will financially support the children for as long as they need. Like you, what was done to them was against their will but it is obvious that even with all their abilities they are just children."

"Thank him for me," I replied. "I don't know if we'll ever find out exactly what they were trying to do to them, but they should be allowed to be normal children, as normal as they can be. It makes a difference."

Sam and I volunteered to stay with the children while German speaking caregivers were found so that Maria, Clint and Peter could return home. Several of the Rangers stayed as well as Lieutenant D'Aoust and two of his men. Oeznik stayed with us and proved to be very grandfatherly to the children as arrangements for their care were made. When we all flew out of there on a private jet two and half weeks later, arranged by Oeznik, he approached me with a tablet and showed me a unique flower arrangement online, for my "young lady" as he referred to June, offering to have it sent on my approval. How he knew about her wasn't worth worrying about, but he did promise that Sam and I would make it for the library staff Christmas party. Sam thought the same as I did about Zemo's and Oeznik's assistance. There were times that they were helpful, and this Christmas was definitely one of them.

Part 14>>

Series Masterlist

If you like this one shot please reblog.

#bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #fatws bucky #sam wilson #soft bucky #hydra #nazis #child survivor #Canada #northern Quebec #urban legends

3 notes · View notes

ask-the-usa-manor · 1 year

Note

*Pops out of nowhere*

WHATS THE AGE ORDER OF ALL THE STATES + TERRITORIES OLDEST TO YOUNGEST

*vanishes*

(About time I updated this list! I’ll add their ages as of writing this, too!)

Age/Birthday HCs!

For America, the states, the territories, and DC! Heck, I’ll even throw in some dead/retired peeps.

United States of America: Born in 1585, the year Roanoke was founded. Uses July 4th since the actual day he was born is unknown. Used November 11th before 1776. Used random days before 1620. 437 years old!

Virginia: May 18th, 1607, when the Colony of Virginia was settled. 415 years old!

Popham Colony: August 16th, 1607. She passed sometime in 1608.

New Hampshire: 1629, when the territory between the Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers was named after Hampshire. Unknown day, uses June 21st. 393 years old!

Massachusetts: Born in 1630, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony was formed. Unknown day, uses May 14th. 392 years old!

Maryland: Some time in 1632, when the Province of Maryland was created. Uses April 28th. 390 years old!

Saybrook Colony: Born some day in 1635, aged 12 years.

Connecticut: March 3rd, 1636, when he was organized as a settlement for a Puritan congregation. 386 years old!

Rhode Island: A day in 1636, when the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was founded. Unknown day, uses May 29th. 386 years old!

New Haven Colony: Born April 14th, 1638. The colony diminished in 1664. Thanks, Connecticut.

North Carolina: Born on the day the Province of Carolina was formed; March 24th, 1663. Twins with South Carolina, 359 years old!

South Carolina: Born on the day the Province of Carolina was formed; March 24th, 1663. Twins with North Carolina, 359 years old!

Delaware: Born in 1664, the year the Delaware Colony was established. I couldn’t find an exact day anywhere, so he probably uses December 7th, the day he became a state. 358 years old!

New Jersey: Born in 1664, when the Province of New Jersey was formed. Unknown day, uses December 18th. 358 years old! Twins with West Jersey!

West Jersey: Born in 1664, when the Province of New Jersey was formed. Lived to 28. Was twins with New Jersey!

New York: Yet again, also born in 1664, when the Province of New York was created. Unknown day, uses July 26th. 358 years old!

Guam: June 15th, 1668; when the Spanish commenced colonization. Man, this guy’s got stories. 354 years old!

Pennsylvania: Born in 1681, the year Province of Pennsylvania (AKA Pennsylvania Colony) was formed! Yet again, unknown day, uses December 12th. 341 years old!

Georgia: April 21st, 1732, when the Province of Georgia was established. 290 years old!

Florida: February 10th, 1763. When East Florida was summoned into this world by a ominous ritual— Er, created. Definitely meant created. 259 years old!

Vermont: January 15th, 1777, when the Vermont Republic was founded. 244 years old!

Ohio: Unknown day in 1787, when the Northwest Territory (formerly known as Territory Northwest of the River Ohio) was established. Uses March 1st. 235 years old!

Tennessee: May 26th, 1790, when the Territory South of the River Ohio was created. 232 years old!

Washington, DC: July 16th (Hey, we’re birthday twinsies! :D), 1790, when DC was founded. 232 years old!

Kentucky: June 1st, 1792. Statehood, one of the few to actually be born a state. 230 years old!

Mississippi: April 7th, 1798, when the Territory of Mississippi was established. 224 years old!

Alaska: Born on July 8th, 1799 as Russian America. 223 years old!

Indiana: July 4th, 1800, when the Indiana Territory was established. 222 years old!

Louisiana: Born in 1801 on an unknown day, when French Louisiana (AKA New France) was created. Again. The first one sort of died, but that’s a story for another day. Uses July 4th, the day the Louisiana Purchase was established. 221 years old!

Michigan: June 30th, 1805, when the Michigan Territory was established. 217 years old!

Illinois: March 1st, 1809. The day Illinois Territory was established. 213 years old!

Missouri: June 4th, 1812, the day when the Missouri Territory was established. 210 years old!

Alabama: December 10th, 1817, when the Alabama Territory was established. 205 years old!

Arkansas: July 4th, 1819, when the Arkansas Territory established. 203 years old!

Maine: March 15th, 1820. Statehood, another one of the few to be born a state. 202 years old!

Texas: May 7th, 1824. When Coahuila y Tejas, was established. 198 years old!

Oklahoma: June 30th, 1834, when Indian Territory was formed by the Indian Intercourse Act. 188 years old!

Wisconsin: July 3rd, 1836, the day the Wisconsin Territory was established. 186 years old!

Iowa: He was born on July 4th, 1838, when the Iowa Territory was established. 184 years old!

California: June 14th, 1846. When the short-lived California Republic was created. 176 years old!

Oregon: August 14th, 1848, the day the Oregon Territory was established. 174 years old!

Minnesota: March 3rd, 1849. When the Minnesota Territory was established. 173 years old!

Utah: Unknown day in 1849. The date the State of Deseret was made. Uses September 9th, the day the Utah Territory was established! 173 years old!

New Mexico: September 9th, 1850. The day New Mexico Territory was established. 172 years old!

Washington: March 2nd, 1853, the establishment of the Washington Territory. 169 years old!

Kansas: March 2nd, 1853, the establishment of the Washington Territory. 169 years old!

Nebraska: May 30th, 1854, the establishment of the Nebraska Territory. Twins with Kansas. 168 years old!

Colorado: February 28th, 1861, the establishment of the Colorado Territory. 161 years old!

Nevada: March 2nd, 1861, the establishment of the Nevada Territory. 161 years old! Despite being born on the same day as the Dakotas, they aren’t… triplets… at all… *Squints at America*

North Dakota: March 2nd, 1861, the establishment of the Dakota Territory. Twins with South Dakota, swears she’s older than him. 161 years old!

South Dakota: March 2nd, 1861, the establishment of the Dakota Territory. Twins with North Dakota, swears he’s older than her. 161 years old!

Arizona: August 1st, 1861, the day Arizona Territory was established. 161 years old!

Idaho: March 3rd, 1863, the establishment of the Idaho Territory. 159 years old!

West Virginia: June 20th, 1863. Yet another one of the few who were born as states. 159 years old!

Montana: May 26th, 1864, establishment of the Montana Territory. 158 years old!

Wyoming: July 25th, 1868, establishment of the Wyoming Territory. 154 years old!

Hawaii: January 6th, 1873. 149 years old!

Puerto Rico: December 10th, 1898. The day the Treaty of Paris (1898) was signed. 124 years old!

Northern Mariana Islands: February 12th, 1899; When the German–Spanish Treaty (1899) was signed! 123 years old!

American Samoa: February 16th, 1900! When the Tripartite Convention became effective! 122 years old!

Panama Canal Zone: Born November 18th, 1903. Retired October 1st, 1979. She’s still alive, she just doesn’t want to deal with it. 119 years old!

US Virgin Islands: August 4th, 1916; 107 years old! Born the day the Treaty of the Danish West Indies was signed.

11 notes · View notes