| Wake Up, Little Peggy | |||||
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| What: A SHIELD team flies to northern Germany to investigate a strange energy blip and finds an old friend. | |||||
The system of caves in the hinterwilds between Carinerland and Retschow in northern Germany leave very little to be desired. The closest paved mountain road is at least three miles off and any ragged, unpaved roads that once existed to this area have been neglected for over 70 years. Anything inside those caves was abandoned shortly after the war and hasn't been an afterthought since. Rugged, all-terrain vehicles or a helicopter is probably the best way to get to the mouth of the caves.
After a short hike up a hill, the darkness of hollowed caves can be seen. They seem a natural part of the terrain, snow drifts high against the walls many times of the year. About 300 meters in the cave's mouth, however, the rusting metal of old support structures can be seen. At one point, this cave was reinforced. Going deeper, there is a heavy pile of rocks from some sort of cave in, but the faintest blue glow along the ceiling from behind those rocks.
It was about a week back that SHIELD was doing a few routine flights and scans when something strange was detected. A very faint trace of otherworldly energy. So faint that it was initially passed off as a hiccup on the scan, but then it showed up a second time, flickering in and out, from a remote series of caves in the northern hinterwilds of Germany. While there were other, more pressing missions on the RADAR earlier in the week, things have now calmed down enough that command has sent a small group out to investigate. It's probably nothing, but if there is old tech left behind somewhere, it is worth clearing up. The setting is remote, no drive-able roads go there any longer. At least the bad snow season hasn't started yet and the dead grass is just covered with a dusting of white instead of feet of it. The wind that whips through the area, however, is bitter and cuts to the core.
Steve Rogers is letting Tynan fly. What they're investigating seems unlikely to be something to get them shot out of the sky, and she needs to practice some time. He's in the copilot's chair, quite relaxed, the shield secured nearby rather than on his back, for once. "Remember what I said about landing...try not to overcorrect." If she starts to screw up, he can take over. Minoke's with them for magical support. Logan...well...Logan's always handy to have watching your back.
Ruby Rampart is sitting in the middle of the quinjet so as not to unbalance. She is watching carefully, studying how the thing flies. She is inher hero form, the red metal skin and all. She just watches. "I don't sense anything yet," she muses softly. "But I've found out my magical sensor only has a range of 1 mile or so."
Well, Tynan made a very very strong point of learning how to pilot a QUINjet, and even cut her vacation short for a mission. The woman nods her head a bit as she settles the craft into a hover. "Just take it nice and easy, and let the jet do the work.", she says. It seems that Tynan has a bit more confidence in herself at the moment. For now, the jet settles, doing a slight bounce as Tynan lands. "...Sorry, cut the thrusters a hair too short...", she says. Tynan takes several deep breathes as she gets up.
Logan was sitting in the back. Something was in his gut on this one. Too many reports about Captain America read. He figured this was probably nothing. Who was left to unearth too? All of the soldiers from yesteryear had either already returned, were KIA, died off the battlefield or had been missing for so long it was easy to presume they had passed on too. Deep down, he hoped they weren't about to find some super-weapon.
"Keep searchin' kid," Logan said to Ruby, who was near him as he too was in the center. Dressed in the black and grey uniform. Sure, the arms were somewhat bare, but he had gotten used to the cold through other missions together. The mask was down so his blue eyes were able to go over the jet.
"Pick anything up on the sensors, Captain?" Yes, Logan referred to Steve Rogers by rank. Rogers was one of the few people Logan addressed, and respected, the rank of. The list was very short.
Logan was just waiting for that ganplank to open up.
Fortunately for Tynan, or maybe everyone else, there is a fairly flat stretch of slop right outside the mouth of the caves. It's the first hint that maybe something more went on in this area, as the rest of the moutain face is ragged and uneven, but this whole area could have been a levelled lot at some point. The stones that cover it are tiny pebbles, not large boulders, though dead greens grow up in all different patches around and whatever this area was, it clearly hasn't been for a LONG time. Setting down this close, the RADAR is still picking up that strange blip, flickering and distant, from somewhere within the cave structure. However, this close, it's not flickering out as often. There is definitely something there.
Captain America relaxes as he sees a relatively easy landing site. "There's something there, but I'm not getting a good identification on it. Might want you to go first." He flickers a grin at Logan. Yes, Steve is quite willing to let the basically indestructible guy go into the dangerous situation first. It's not what they keep him around for, mind.
Once the jet lands, she closes her eyes. "There's something... in the direction of that cave... I can feel faint magical and electrical energies. More than that I can't say till I get closer..." offers Ruby.
"I'll set up on top of the jet, and wait for an 'All Clear'. I can give Logan some cover with my rifle.", Tynan offers as she activates her mutant ability. She pulls out the compact sniper rifle from hell. "With your permission, Captain.", Tynan says as she starts taking in a few breathes. She grabs a thermal foil blanket, breaking the seal. Her uniform has lots of tricks, but warmth ain't one of them...
Once the jet came to a stop, Logan gave a nod of respect to Tynan. Once everything was opened he started out into the cold. On Logan's person was some climbing gear used for spelunking with the appropriate harness already in place over his uniform. Pulling up the mask, his red lensed eyes looked over the location trying to figure out where to go. Sniffing the air a few times, he was trying to make out any sense tha many a scanner or magically inclined person would have missed. Maybe there was a change of ozone that stuck out a little. It was a long shot. His gaze also made sure they were clear, as he hoped Tynan wouldn't have been needed for cover fire. "Com check," he pressed the red X against the black material making sure his communication device worked on the S.H.I.E.L.D. channel.
Cold always somehow feels worse in the fall, when summer touched bodies still remember the lazy evenings of June and no one has seen the bitter deep freezes of January in a long time. So, stepping out of the QUINjet is going to be a shock to most. It's certainly below freezing, probably nearer to zero with the ragged wind that constantly blows through. The mouth of the cave is gaping blackness, not a single crack of light peeking out from the interior. There are also no tracks of any sort -- tires, heli, or even really animals -- in the dusting of snow and dead foliage. Farther in the caves, well over a hundred meters, a rusted metal support beam can be seen stretching up to the wall. It seems more of those support beams rusted out, because there is also a cave in shortly after that first trace of civilization. And the air, inside, smells stale. At least, what is coming over the top of the cave in. Not like nature, but like something abandoned and old. Musty. Rotten.
The shield is picked up in a smooth motion as Cap stands and head for the gangplank. "Do it, Caliber." Using codenames, just in case. "Check received, Wolverine," he adds. When he goes to codenames, you know it's serious. Following Logan out into the bitter cold - fortunately his armor provides some insulation, but it's a shock after a relatively warm New York fall nonetheless.
Cold wouldn't bother Ruby Rampart any. Not like this. She had made sure to attune herself to SHIELD frequencies so she can communicate nonverbally. She climbs out of the jets. She decided to bring some copy pets with her - so around her arms and legs is some metal thumbnail-sized blocks that look like some kind of weird metal spiders tightly folded - four of them. She tilts her head. "Check received, Wolverine," Ruby echoes, not having spoken aloud. She steps to the mouth of the cave, bright lights shining from her eyes to illuminate the dreary cave for her companions. Red light, of course. "There is metal support struts approximate one hundred meters into the cave. Badly rusted. They appear to have broken deeper within - there is a cavein where the trusses have collapsed. And much deeper, a faint signal that appears to be both magical and scientific. There is no evidence that any person, animal, or anything has come this way in some time," she transmits further, saying nothing aloud, just transmitting directly over the radio.
Tynan moves up on top of the Quinjet, and settles herself into a comfortable sniping position with the blanket around her. She's from Ireland, so the cold isn't too bad to her, but its been a long time. "Check on comm.", she tells. THe woman keeps her eyes open. "Give the signal when you're ready for me to move up.", the woman says as she watches the area so that people don't ambush the group.
That sensation of energy wrapped up in magic was stronger now, steadier, to Ruby. Low level, like a dull thrum in the back of her skull, but certainly there. Behind that heavy pile of stone and collapsed metal. The cave collapsed the side to open air somewhere because the wind that was cutting through the interior as they work was awful. But the stone moves fairly easily -- this is probably a recent collapse. Maybe what allowed the energy reading to actually escape the caves, in fact.
On the outside of the caves, as Tynan keeps guard, things seem fairly boring. Lots has weathered over time. But as she studies the area, looking for anything out of sorts, her eyes will come across a distant, familiar symbol almost completely worn away on the outer surface of the cave. The octopus with six curling legs. HYDRA, if she knows her history. It's barely present, very easily missed, but once one realizes it's there, the symbol is unmistakable.
Cap moves to follow the other two, taking up rear guard as Logan's in front, shield now on his back. He's frowning, but his carriage is still relaxed - he moves like a man who knows he's in control of the situation. If he's noticed the HYDRA symbol he says nothing about it. Yet.
Ruby Rampart approaches the cavein. She contemplates, but her shapeshifting doesn't seem to be needed as the rocks move easily - she simply moves the rocks away, and looks up at the ceiling. She takes one of the support beams handy, moves it up and wedges it up there to support the ceiling.
Tynan takes several deep breathes, as she looks around. The woman pauses, and uses her holodisplay to zoom in on the mark. She changes the channel to a private comm to Cap, and sends in morse code. Squid Base is sent to Cap. Tynan repositions herself to get a bigger view of the area, and to give herself more cover....
"I'm gettin' a sense of deja vu," Logan said as he completely missed the Hydra symbol. Maybe an operation from long ago happened here. It felt like his mind was trying to put together a puzzle while missing a few pieces. He wasn't sure where, or for that matter why, but something about it felt like all of the same ol' some ol' eventhough the last time Logan came to Germany was to get a beer. Mountains were far from his mind, and sight, when he was putting that liquid bread to his lips.
That was the whole thing that irked Logan about the mission. Sure, he knew magic was making its mark somwhere. Chances were that this thing, whatever it was, had something inherently powerful and presumably wrong with it. Captain America and a few others were here to either destroy it. If it couldn't have been destroyed, plans could have been mad to contain it. what irked Logan was the familiarity of the place while understanding he didn't recognize anything about it. That whole knowing yet not knowing, which came a little too often for his taste, made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Speaking into the com he just said, "Stay sharp."
The rocks aren't too difficult, there are just a *lot* of them. It's plain, hard, old fashioned work to clear enough space across their crests that bodies can move through. But they can manage enough room or crawl through without taking overly too much time. As the rocks are clear away, that low powered thrum grows more noticable. Whatever the stone is made of in this area, it had a fairly good blocking effect on whatever is inside. Ruby's quick calculations are goo enough to solidly put a beam into the most risky place, protecting them from further cave-ins.
Tynan's further explorations of the area don't reveal much more. This cave system probably goes for a mile or two from the cut nature of the hills around them. There is a slightly flatter, rolling path to the west side which may have been a road once, but it's completely overrun now. Just more carved out than most of the cliff face.
As they come over the crest of the rocks, a large, echoing cave interior can be seen. The ceiling is fairly high, the space having been wide open as a cave can be, at one point. Old 40s style hanging lights with metal covers are still connected to the ceiling in some areas, others have fallen in. On the ground, the place looks like it was once a lab, but it's been ransacked. Or worse, it's the graveyard of a lab. Metal tables have been bent and over turned, glass of cabinets shattered, rotting wooden chairs broken. There are a few dark smears on some surfaces that may be blood or worse. The HYDRA symbol can easier be seen here, on at least two of the walls. And against those walls are four long, pod like things. They look almost like coffins, but rounder. Three are broken, glass cracked, rotting apart. But the fourth emits a faint blue glow. Some power core is still active somewhere. The sight of thin, small fingers against the frosted glass can be seen from a single hand.
Got it, Cap taps back. Walking into the lab. HYDRA lab. "I agree. Who knows what they were working on here." He looks around...he's BEEN in HYDRA facilities like this. Not, he thinks, this one, but he knows the kind of thing to look for.
Ruby Rampart moves right towards the cryo-pod. "Deja vu..." she whispers softly. She looks at the pod. She murmurs, "Captain America... this is..." She sighs softly as she touches the pod. "This is a cryogenic storage capsule. It appears... very similar to the one that my mother and I were frozen in. The power source is also the source of the magical reading, though the person within is not actively generating a magical field." She then looks at it, trying to clear the glass to see who or what is inside. "Permission to try to open the capsule?" she transmits over the radio channel.
Tynan takes several deep breaths in the cold. She hates having to be on the guard duty, but one can't be too careful with this place. Hopefully nobody does something silly like openning up a experiment with checking for alarms, and force a young girl outside to have to defend their escape route from an army...Tynan smirks a bit as she shakes her head. "...Nah, they wouldn't do anything like that...", she tells herself....Five seconds later. "...Yes they would....", she tells herself. Tynan comms the group. "Careful you don't set off any alarms or touch anything....", she tells them.
Blue eyes, which were covered by red lenses, searched the facility. A soft smile came to his face. Some of the few memories he had from the 30s, 40s and 50s were actually around taking out Hydra facilities. This was almost like coming back to your childhood home except with less violence and confused Germanic expressions. Tomb-like cases caught his attention. Smelling the air there was a combination of a musty smell, the smell of burnt metal and wiring as if power sources gave out, but then he caught something else. "Something's still on," he then saw the hand pressed against the glass. Logan tried to remember what female Hydra agent would have been worth saving. This wasn't going to be good. Then he moved closer to the glass.
It's like waiting for a bomb to go off. The clearly destroyed base, which conducted gods only know what kind of experiments, the eroding outdoors, the bitter cold weather, and nothing but silence around them and the sound of their collective breathing. But whatever 'bomb' of a person that is in that pod hasn't moved for many decades, and so certainly isn't moving now. They are left with the choice to open it, or leave the place sleeping, abandoned and rotting, as it has been for who knows how long.
"It's a woman," Cap says, glancing at Wolverine for a moment. Something about this... "Minoke, go ahead, but be ready to move back. We don't know who this is, but it's probably a ranking HYDRA agent." He's trying to think who it could be, but there may well have been ones he didn't know.
Ruby Rampart studies the woman intently, trying to make out her face. "Wait..." she states. "I have an idea. Maybe..." Her chest shimmers as she pulls her cell phone out of herself. She holds it. "This is a Stark-issued cell phone with a JARVIS app. Maybe he can tell us who this is." She holds the phone up so its camera can investigate the woman. JARVIS hmmmmmms for a moment, then says, "There is a 68 percent probability that this woman is Margaret Carter, a founding member of SHIELD. But the image is distorted by the frosting on the inside of the glass." Ruby then ponders. "Good enough for me. Beside, no matter who she is, I doubt she can take all of us." Ruby then reaches forward, and studies it - feeling the clasp, and then finds it and opens the casket. "Tynan. I'm opening the casket. JARVIS thinks she's one of us," she transmits over the radio.
The hiss of decompression can be heard as Ruby turns the clasp. It's almost rusted shut, in truth, but Ruby has enough strength to make it not look like an issue. The sudden change in temperature and pressure over all the years is the last bit of pressure the class can take and it suddenly spider webs in cracking as the pod clunkily slides open. Now free of the frosted glass, the face of Margaret Carter is unmistakable. There is smeared blood on her cheek, and one of the arms of her parka is covered in frozen blood as well. Frosting sets on the edges of her mussed brown hair. Everything is dead silent for a single moment and then she drags in a shocked, deep breath.
Steve doesn't hear what JARVIS said on private comms. All he hears is "One of us." He doesn't relax. He still unflips the shield and is halfway through putting it into position when Minoke gets the capsule open. Congratulations. You all get to see something that happens way LESS often than once in a blue moon...
"PEGGY?"
...and he drops the shield.
Logan was standing near cap, "Peggy...?" he asked with more confusion than shock at nearly the same time as cap. However, that face hit him like a ton of bricks. Both sets of claws retracted with a "shnkt!" A message he memorized like a mantra went through his head, "To James, My handsome Canadian brute, next time I'll let you take the first shot. - Peg." The photo was of the pair together sometime after the second world war. A suit was on Logan's person, one of his cufflinks had been replaced by a woman's earring. He wasn't sure the significance of it all, but a ghost from his mostly hidden past was standing in front of him looking very alive.
Logan was trying to say a lot more. Anything from "Give'er room!" to "We need an evac," but everything was lodged in his throat. He was only able to utter that one word. Pulling back the mask, Logan stared at the woman at the woman for the first time in decades.
As his blue eyes focused on her features he turned away. A sea of memories flooded over him. He could smell the sweat mixed with gun powder. A night of dinner and dancing turned fun as it became an operation. Everything went belly up, but Peggy and James made it through. As the man in black and grey took a few steps away from everyone, he leaned against a wall. Hanging prominently was that digusting symbol with those tentacles representing a mythological creature. Screaming with rage the claws came back out with a "Shnkt!" Sparks flew from the wall as Logan started to hack, slash and stab the symbol like a man posessed. Somewhere deep down, he was upset for reasons even Logan couldn't comprehend. The man was angry at a lot of realizations right now. Apparently, this person meant a lot to the two oldest people in the room.
Ruby Rampart looks around. "Tynan. Bring blankets. Warming equipment. Apparently we have discovered one of the first members of SHIELD, Margaret Carter. Apparently the 'Grumpy Old Men' know her very well and are too busy gawking. There is no sign of trouble. Please. Hurry." she transmits as she sinks the phone back into her as she gently pulls Peggy into an embrace, casting a thin layer of her substance around the woman. "She needs to get warm. This device is almost exactly like the one Mommy used. Who knows, maybe they found our frostation and copied it..." She looks at the two of them - she felt a bit silly giving an order but the Old Men were gobsmacked by her appearance. She just holds Peggy in a cradle of warmth until she wakes up.
"Copy. Give me a few seconds cause I'm strapped down.", she tells. Tynan takes a moment to get herself into the quinjet, and starts grabbing some gear. She breathes out for a moment. No visitors. Maybe they can have a quiet extraction...for once...The woman moves outside...Wait, SHIELD, HYDRA, and QUIET? ....So not happening...
For those first few moments, the woman is simply not quite conscious. Body and brain thawing, even if it was a quick release, it's a big shock to go through. She folds like a doll into Ruby's arms, blood and frozen tears glistening on her face. Then she's coocooned like that, oxygen through her blood waking other parts of her, and Peggy's brain kicks in again. And, for just a moment, she's back in that moment. The motion that her hand had been making against glass finishes as she violently shoves against a covering that is no longer there, ragged, instinctively fighting in Ruby's arms, tear struck voice shouting desperately, "Gunsche, don't do-!" And then a bit more awareness kicks in, her instinctive, initial fighting spirit quickly being curbed as she realizes it's not a pod around her any longer. Wide, dark eyes dart up to the woman holding her, then quickly around the room. Her breath comes in shallow, misting huffs as she tries not to violently shiver.
Captain America taps his shield with his foot to flip it back into his hand and looks around for all the world like a cat who just did something graceless and is making sure nobody "saw" it. Ahem. That didn't happen, okay? At least it was in an abandoned HYDRA base. No way will it end up on Youtube. Right?
Ruby Rampart murmurs, "It's alright. We are with SHIELD. We found you. I was in something like that myself once..." She cradles Peggy in a titanium blanket of her substance. "We are getting you blankets to warm yourself." She glances over at the other two. "Any suggestions, Captain? Honestly, I don't remember my frozen time very much - I have limited memory when I'm just my heart-core. Any suggestions? I am warming her body using myself and Tynan's on her way," she transmits - not speaking, but going quietly on the other radios. Ruby would feel solid and warm - but still have a heartbeat. It might be strange for Peggy.
Tynan quickly shows up, and hands the blankets off. She takes a moment to look over things for a moment before summoning a rift, and getting an assault rifle out. "Ladies and Gentlemen. I don't know if you notice, but we are in an enemy base. So, less gawking and having temper tatantrums, and more getting our arses in gear, and getting out before we're spotted. The objective needs medical treatment stat.", she says. Hopefully the youngest person in the room (by almost a century) can get the group focused as she tries using a commanding voice to get the group out of their little "OMG" moment. Of course, Tynan has no idea who Peggy is, or her importance. Rather, she wants to get the group moving. "Lets not be draggin' arse either. MOVE.", she yells as she starts moving going out, moving into cover as she goes.
Logan stared at the woman. Pulling back his mask so Peggy could have seen she was around friendlies, despite wearing a less than standard military uniform. He was going to say something, but Tynan came in with some excellent points. Giving the young woman a nod, "Let's go," he said really wanting to get out of this base right now.
Strange doesn't even *begin* to cover it, and Peggy had seen some odd things in her day, but waking up what seems seconds after Hans shoved her in the pod in the arms of a seemingly completely red young woman whom she's never seen before is one of the stranger things that's happened in her life. She's trying to get a handle on everything, but now that her body has actually woken back up to senastion, she can't stop shivering. The pain in her blood covered arm and broken ribs is even secondary to the whole body encompassing cold. She breathes in raggedly through her nose for a moment, trying to gain control. SHIELD. The woman said SHIELD. "Report. I... I want a report. What's the sit rep?" She asks in her clipper British accent, somehow managing to sound professional and commanding even through shivering breath. Then her head turns to the teeth clenching sound of metal against stone, a brick house of a man she'd know anywhere, especially as he pulls back his mask, "...James?" Then her eyes trail back and just stop. Steve. In the flesh. Not a dream. Very much alive, young, in uniform, even if it was a newer design. Standing right before her. "...Steve..." She wants to say so much more, but then another young woman comes into the room with a game plan far more together than any of them. She mutely nods, still shaking.
"We're getting her back to the quinjet," Steve says, now he's recovered his voice. Brooklyn accent's as familiar as ever, and he doesn't really look any older...of course, some of that is likely the serum. "Let's move." Tynan gets a grateful look. Really, somebody who didn't have a blind clue who Peggy was...is...was rather an asset on this particular mission.
Ruby Rampart states, "Yes, ma'am. We have recently detected strange magitech energy readings coming from this location in eastern Germany." She starts wrapping Peggy in the blankets, and simply begins carrying her toward the door. "We found a derelict cave withthe emblem of an organizion called HYRDA. Captain America, Wolverine, Dark Caliber, and I, Ruby Rampart, all members of SHIELD, came to investigate. We found a partially collapsed cave - and then in this cave, we found a cryogenic freezing tube. We thought you might be one of us so I opened the tube - since I was familiar iwth such things - and we are now taking you back to our ride out of here," she states as she is steadily carring the wrapped-up Peggy. "We will get you back to America as quickly as possible." She then sighs softly. "I should inform you that the current year... is 2015."
Tynan keeps moving as she goes from cover to cover. While the others may be able to survive taking several hits, Tynan knows better as she nods to Cap. "I didn't have anything on radar, but that doesn't mean alarms might of been tripped. We don't know what was going on in here, or what traps might of been set. Wolverine, point. Captain, Rear. Ruby, stay close to Cap. Lets double time it back to the jet.", she says. Tynan moves into an escort position next to Ruby, making sure that she's keeping an eye on both sides. "...Sorry if I'm disrupting Command....", she says...only semi apologetically.
Pulling up his mask, Logan rushed out of the place taking point. His red lenses tried to take in what was happening. Right now, he had to be sharp. There was going to be time to ask questions, a lot of them, later. Question couldn't have been asked if they were all dead. Later Logan was going to give praise for Ruby and Tynan, they were unattached to the situation and picking up the obvious slack. Rgiht now, there had to be a focus on the task at hand. The task was getting Peggy back home.
The explanation the red woman with the oddly comforting accent gave her was actually immensely helpful. And, as much as Peggy would like to try and walk, she did not even fight being carried. By her age, she was mature enough to know when she'd be a detriment instead of a help to a team. So, she just tucks in a bit tighter against those red arms, putting trust in a stranger as they dash down the hall. And then the last part just sort of clicks. 2015. "...what?" She breathes out, throat cracking again as another wave of emotions she simply couldn't process right now begins to hit her again. She can't focus on it, or the men behind her who she just wants to hold tightly and never let go. She can focus on the Irish woman's voice, apologizing, and that's what she responds to, "Don't be sorry for doing your job, young lady." They were meant as words of encouragement, but right now they just come out a bit off.
They do actually make it down the cave without issue. While this may have been a base a long time back, it's been long forgotten, and the removal of Peggy Carter hasn't changed that.
Ruby Rampart nods slowly as she finishes carrying Peggy onto the jet. "I was not worried about traps. If it was an arcahic trap - like a spear trap from an Indiana Jones movie - it would not hurt me at all and I could protect Ms. Carter. If it was some kind of more sophisticated trap like a laser sensor to set something off, I'd sense any electrical circuit activity heralding its activation. If it was a runic trap to set something off, I'd sense the magic activating." She then looks down at Peggy. "We will keep you safe. I know full well the disorientation you must be expereincing. I was frozen in 1897 and just woke up six months ago. Captain America was also frozen for an extended period. Wolverine... ... ... I do not know as well, but he just refuses to age." She carries Peggy directly into the jet and goes straight to sickbay, and gently lays her on the table. Her first act is to turn up the heat.
Tynan quickly moves into the pilot seat. "Not doubting your ability, Ruby, but something has the Old men off their game, and thats a HYDRA base. I don't like taking chances in the Field.", she says. THe woman gets the engines going, and waits a few seconds for people to settle in before lifting off a bit more hastily then she should, but Tynan corrects it after a few seconds, and gets them on their way. She's quiet on the way back.
"How long before we're airborne?" Logan cried out getting back to his spot strapping in as quick as possible. "Cap, take over. Move this thing. When we're airborne, let yer co-pilot handle it the rest of the way. We're on the clock," his words were firm as if enough of him snapped back into the game and moment. His red lensed eyes helping mute Peggy's image which allowed him to pretend she wasn't there for a second. "Ruby, stop tellin' her 'bout the now. Ya might jar the woman. Just focus on keepin' her warm!" Peggy may not have heard James Howlett take charge like that before. Apparently, someone matured or changed since their last meeting.
Ruby Rampart nods. "Ms. Carter has lost consciousness," she transmits over the coms. "I am checking her over for injuries now... medicine is not my strong suit. I wish my boyfriend was here. He's a doctor." She just feels along Peggy's body. "I believe she has some broken ribs and there is a hole in her upper arm that apears to be the result of a gunshot. The bullet is NOT there."
Tynan nods her head at the moment. "Ah. I see, boss. Sorry about down there. I disrupted command after abandoning my post.", she says. Cap probably has seen that once the mission is underway, a switch flips in Ty, and she's all business. THe woman pauses a moment before comming back to Ruby. "Skin's probably too fragile for a battlefield dressing. Keep an eye on the wound to see if it's oozing. If it does, gently put a towel there.", she comms. The woman keeps the jet steady, and sends in the proper codes. After being reminded by Cap what they were. Once the jet touches down, the woman unstraps, opening up the back bay so that SHIELD Med staff can collect Peggy.
Logan just got out of the way so the med staff could take Peggy. Then for some reason, he hugged the wall allowing Steve to give chase. Deep down he knew that Rogers would, but how the man knew that...was beyond Logan's own comprehension. It just felt like the right thing to do. God, he was going to have to dig up files on Peggy now.
Bucky Barnes makes his way to medbay when he hears the chatter about the jet landing, and is standing to the side with crossed arms when the group ushers in the wounded Peggy. His expression is neutral, if curious as the med staff get to their jobs.
Peggy Carter probably isn't going to be conscious for a bit, no matter how stubborn she is. A still actively bleeding gunshot wound, broken ribs and 60 years on ice will do that to even the sternest of constitutions. But she's still alive, at least, and in good hands. Far more medically sound and technologically adept hands than what she left. Even if the rumor mill and murmuring is traveling in a hot second, depending on the few who well knew their history. There is talk of surgery once she stablizes from the hypothermia, but it's talk that is mostly kept away from the men and other non-med operatives.
Captain America is further into the jet. He lets the medical people leave first...then he follows them. He glances at Logan on his way past. It's a "We obviously need to talk" look, but one with absolutely no rancor to it. Then...Bucky. He moves over to him. "It's...it's Carter." The scuttlebutt is going to be very, very active now.
Ruby Rampart moves toward Bucky. "Bucky," she states. For once, the playful gynoid is all business. She had packed the gunshot wound so it wouldn't bleed. Deciding that a more thorough report was needed than three words from Captain, she stated, "We have found a member of SHIELD in an abandoned HYDRA lab in cryogenic suspension." she states softly. "She has been revived. There are some serious injuries but nothing life-threatening - broken ribs, a gunshot wound in and out - and the effects of cryo-freeze. That member has had a profound impact on both Captain America and Wolverine. Her name is Margaret Carter."
While everyone is focused on the back, Tynan slides out the front. She moves towards the personal quarters, pulling out her flask. She takes a long pull from the irish whiskey in there. "Cheers.", she says, watching the event. Ruby, Cap, and Logan are likely going to be the ones getting the Credit on the Rumor Mill, as Tynan let them out the back, and slipped out while everyone was looking at Peggy. Another successful job, prep for the next one.
Logan nodded to Tynan, "You and Ruby both kept us alive at the end. Good on the two of ya," he said to the woman doing her own private party. Leaning against a wall, the man looked fonclited deep down. Right now, he was trying to process too much to care about getting to be the first one to talk at Peggy. When it was time, the two of them were going to talk, but only when it was time.
Bucky Barnes gives Steve a startled look. "Margaret Carter?" he asks in surprise, despite just having seen her go by. "Holy shit, are you serious? What, was someone at HYDRA going for a complete set or something?"
Bucky frowns though, reading Steve's expression as he adds cautiously, "..How'd she seem?"
His troubled gaze flicks to Ruby, nodding in acknowledgement of the summary and confirmation... and it looks like that nick-name is spreading. Oh well, it doesn't especially bother him any more what people want to call him as long as he knows who they mean. "Sounds like she was in a scrap. 'Who with' 's the question."
Ruby Rampart tilts her head. "She was obviously put into the cryo-chamber against her will. When she came to consciousness, her first words were, quote, 'Gunsche, don't do it'. I have no ways of making sense of that comment - does that name mean anything to you?"
Tynan smirks a little bit to Logan. "Head on a swivel. Never thought I would see you two get shellshocked. I'm just glad that things weren't worse. If there was fighting...", she says. THe woman takes a deep breath after a shiver from her. "Either way, mission completed. Good job, soldier.", she tells, giving him a light slug on the shoulder.
Ruby Rampart nods. "That would be a good idea... you are worried about psychological booby-traps such as Bucky was worried about." She sighs softly.
"...they... didn't kill him. Or they couldn't. He couldn't die. Das Unsterbliche... they called him...'The Immortal.'" Peggy's eyes aren't open yet. She *should* be asleep, but no one actually bothered to sedate her because no one thought she'd actually wake up. The discussion was to wait until they were certain she was stable, then surgery for the arm. But Peggy never did follow rules. Drowsily, she forces her dark eyes back open, turning her head in their direction. "So, I thought...if we frozen him..." Her still too-pale lips turn into a half bitter smile.
"They weren't around to find out when she went Missing n' people presumed she was killed. I can't remember much, I just know...it wasn't pretty," Logan sighed heavily. Right now, his mind was a mess. Memories were trying to come forward. It felt like having years at the tip of his fingers, but he wasn't able to quite wrap a hand around it. A nod went to the woman as he just stayed on the quin jet.
Bucky Barnes rolls his eyes at mention of Karla, swiping some hair out of his face, but nods. He can't argue that her work was effective..whatever the hell it consisted of. "Just her? You didn't find this Gunsche knock-off, then? Kinda sounds like if she was telling him 'not to do it' that he oughta have been involved too. From what I read, this lady doesn't sound like the type to beg.." he glances over to Peggy, only for her to speak. "Well, guess asking's easier anyhow." he tells her with a thin smirk. It's a harder expression than what she might recall as his typical.
"I assume he was...well..he was there when she went in." He looks at Peggy. "You need to rest. You..." He steps over to her, reaches for her hand, then hesitates. Frostbite, after all.
Ruby Rampart ponders as she shimmers, changing into a more normal appearance- her 'civilain' guise. Of a young woman wearing red - normal skin - but still glowing eyes. "She's awake," she states as she heads back toward Peggy Carter. "Hello again, Ms. Carter. I was the woman with red skin you first saw in that cave." She smiles softly. "We are all happy to have one of our own back with us," she states, trying not to give away too much information as she stands by Peggy's bed.
Tynan nods her head. "Well, I'm going to go do what a good Soldier does. Going to finish this flask, find a bulk, and get some sleep. Travelling over the Alantic...twice in one day, that takes a toll.", she tells.
As Steve reaches for her palm and then stops himself, she drowsily turns her fingertips up and clasps them around his anyway. The frostbite wasn't so bad, and she certainly wasn't going to let it hold her back more than she let anything else. She just takes hold of his hand and keeps it, tight, warm, familiar. Steve. She gives his fingertips a tiny, reassuring squeeze. Tired eyes then fall to the young, red-eyed woman. "Hullo, Miss... I am not entirely sure of your name. Good work back there. Thank you." Then her eyes trail over to Bucky, studying his face, confused, happy... and a touch saddened, at that look in his eyes. "Bucky. All grown up, it seems..." She whispers, even if he's barely a few years older. It's something different in the eyes.
Bucky Barnes didn't approach when Steve did, though he's giving Peggy a quizzical look as she continues to talk. His brow furrows in confusion at her comment, but he doesn't ask her to clarify it. "Heya." he raises his right hand in a small wave. "Guess there's surprises all 'round today." after a brief hesitation he says, "They'll take good care of you here."
Minoke Zavia murmurs, "I am Minoke Zavia. One of the newest members of SHIELD. Here on home base I relax - in the field I go by Ruby Rampart. Later, I'll be happy to learn more about you. But right now - you have to rest and recuperate. Sleep. When you recover - you can learn more about current events."
Her smile is bittersweet as she studies Bucky and that change in his eyes, "That is... putting it mildly. You've changed. I'm sure we all have..." In fact, of the group, Peggy has probably aged the most. In her 30s now, instead of 20s. She wears it well, but there's definitely a maturity and warmth that comes with the extra years. She then looks back to Minoke, inclining her head gently, "Miss Zavia. It's an honor to to meet one of our newest agents, then. I see recruiting is going well..." There is a part of Peggy that wants to sit up, hold court, ask the million questions she's missing. But the rest of her is barely staying conscious. She can't fight it, her eyes beginning to sink shut again as that grasp on Steve's hand slightly slackens.
"When you see what we've built..." Steve tails off. How WILL Peggy view what SHIELD has become? Is it close to her vision? And then the grip starts to slacken. He lifts a hand to his lips, gently detaches his hand and starts to withdraw. She HAS to rest.
Bucky Barnes does step forward now, bumping one arm into Steve's to draw his attention. "..So you think she ended up there in a fight? Could be a lot worse." he pauses, and wonders, raising one hand to suggest holding something rounded in his palm. "You had a picture..?"
Peg's asleep. She probably even missed the kiss on her hand. A few of the medical staff are now getting a bit more stern and what is left of the group is quickly going to be ushered out. It wouldn't due to have recovered one of the founders of SHIELD just to end up losing her to shock and exhaustion. So, the little area of the med bay is sealed off for now. It'll still never stop the rumor mill which is going to be lit up like a Christmas tree after tonight.