The Final Countdown

We're leavin' togetherBut still it's farewellAnd maybe we'll come backTo Earth, who can tell?I guess there is no one to blameWe're leaving ground (leaving ground)Will things ever be the same again?

It's the final countdownThe final countdown-Europe

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Siberian Facility, USSR; 18 January, 1986

The revelation of The Winter Soldier's real name was something that confused Tessa still, but she believed him because she'd seen the files on him. She knew his real name already, but she wasn't quite sure where this might lead. She still worried that she'd scrambled his frontal lobe in the process. He hadn't remembered much. He remembered a childhood friend in Brooklyn then began to recall the times he'd seen Tessa over the years. Knowledge like this needed to be kept safe.

Even in private, Tess called him Soldier so that no one was the wiser. That part of it would be as if it had never happened, but she would have to let her father know immediately that she'd advanced in her training. That was something that could not be ignored.

This new identity that began to be returned to The Winter Soldier was only shared with Tessa and only in the privacy of her bedroom. It was likely one of the only rooms of the place that didn't have security cameras on it. No one would really think twice about The Winter Soldier visiting his student. For all anyone knew, he was teaching her something beyond combat. Logistics would be just as important as would the basics of land navigation, and both of those could begin small scale in her room before moving into readily observed venues.

This was true for the most part. The Winter Soldier did take the opportunity to train his student when he was able, but there wasn't a day that passed that Tessa didn't ask if he had learned more. Since it was their secret to share, he found unburdening himself to his young friend helped. He'd recalled his full name as well as the nickname given to him, but he understood why she never called him by either. He had remembered Steve to a small extent, knew they were like brothers, but that was the majority of what he'd been able to glean from the memories Tess had scrambled in his mind.

As for that, they still had no explanation for why she was able manipulate the electrical currents in his brain so damn easily. She hadn't intended to effect his memories at all, just cause pain, but the currents had cut through everything like butter.

The table of Tessa's room was currently cleared of everything except a map of the eastern edge of Central Florida.

"We'll cross over to the 510 at Wabasso and turn back northward on the A1A until we can take the road down to Wabasso Beach. There's a dock near there where HYDRA will have a Zodiac waiting. We'll head North, around the Air Force Base and up to Titusville Beach," he trailed along their path with the end of a red China marker pencil without making a mark until he reached their landing point. "From here, we'll stealth in to the launch pad. I'll keep an eye on physical security while you get done with your mission."

His blue eyes lifted to take in her features as she processed his words with focus and simply nodded. It wasn't infrequent that storms brewed in Florida, so no one would question the one that Tessa would whip up and bring into their general vicinity. From there, she would disable the cameras and mechanical security around them as well as the space shuttle itself. A member of S.H.E.I.L.D. was going with the crew into space, and it was in HYDRA's best interests to prevent that.

Tessa nor James questioned their orders or what would be done on the mission. It was to be the first field test for Project: Tesla, and both wanted to assure that she succeeded. She had worked quite hard to get to this point. She wanted to make her father proud, to make HYDRA proud. She wanted to help shape the century, as well.

"You have this look on your face like you have questions," the Soldier idly mused as he watched Tess from across the table.

"No," she stated then raised bright, icy blue eyes toward his. "Not really. I think it's just nerves. Everything sounds good. I can surround us in an electromagnetic field and knock out cameras that might be near the water. Just be sure we pack some food so I can replenish when I need to."

He nodded and let one side of his mouth offer a half smile at her. He admired how quickly she'd learned and how strong of spirit she'd always been. Guard dog or not, it had been his honor to watch over her all these years. That was something he would never forget. She would be formidable when she was grown, and he looked forward to seeing that.

"I can make that happen," he said and folded his arms onto the table and the map atop it. "I had a dream last night." That pulled Tessa's attention back toward him where he then continued with his words. "About the day HYDRA found me and brought me here, I think. At the time that it happened, I remember being so scared, so lost until they guided me into my place here. I'm glad to be one of the ones to help you find your place here, too, Tess."

She gave him a gentle smile and nodded her head as she folded her arms the same way he had. "And I'm glad you are, too, Soldier. You've mostly always been nice to me." With that was given a playful grin.

They both knew that he was a little harsh right after he was reset, but she clearly held no grudge because of it. He had helped to make her better, and that would save her life someday.

"Well," he started, his spine straightening some. "I have logistics to get in order and bags to pack. Go get in some practice then join me up in the cargo bay. I'll show you how to load the mission pallet."

"Oh, that sounds like so much fun..." Tessa chuckled but was already getting to her feet.

"A necessary evil," he grinned in her direction. "Someday you might be activated by yourself for a mission. You need to know what's expected to help make the mission a success."

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HYDRA Safe House, Sebastian, Florida; 25 January, 1986

As it would turn out, packing the mission pallet was not at all Tessa's idea of fun, but she had it drilled into her head until she wasn't even sure the chair would wipe it out of her. If there was one thing about her Soldier, it was that he was proficient, calculated and knew his craft well. While she might one-up him by accident in training, she could never out-shoot him no matter how much time she spent in the range.

Packing the mission pallet was definitely more his forte than hers.

While the private flight to Florida wasn't Tessa's first flight, it was the first one that would set Project: Tesla down the path that it took into more. She was dressed much the same as her partner -- basic black, as casual as possible without it being a hindrance. Her father didn't want anyone to stand out in the days following what was to come.

Once they arrived at the private air field, Tessa was quick and efficient in how she unloaded their gear and packed it into the back of the beat-up old truck that they would be driving while they were there. They would take advantage of the safe house to get settled in ahead of time.

It was currently late January 25th and was a humid 60 degrees outside. Inside the safe house it was a pleasant 70° and Tess was currently setting up window sensors in the back of the house's only floor. The old ones had gone out, or so she'd been told. For all she knew, that was a test as well. For the first time, things were so quiet that it was a little unsettling.

She was used to being in the Siberian base. While it wasn't overstaffed, there were always ambient noises to be heard. Here, it was just herself and James, who was currently outside checking the perimeter security.

With the last of her preparations complete, Tessa brushed off her hands and moved over to unpack the next bag, this one food to last them during their stay here. The plan was to get settled in, go through a dry run up to Titusville Beach the following night then the mission on the night after. The shuttle was set to launch on the 28th but their mission -- her mission -- would delay that, or so she'd been told in her briefing.

On the day of the launch, she and her Soldier-in-disguise would attend the launch viewing platform fully knowing that there would be no launch. After the general let down of the event, they would then head back to the safe house, collect what they needed to and return to the air field to fly up to D.C. to report to her father. For all she knew, they might stay overnight there to discuss how the mission had gone. After that, they would return to Siberia until each could be utilized next. That was their best laid plan, at least.

The door of the safe house opened to permit her friend inside. Tess paused only long enough to lift her eyes his direction to assure that it was him. She went right back to putting away the nonperishable foods into cabinets that already contained a small bit left behind by the last occupant of the safe house.

"Everything's in place outside," he said, his rifle clicking in protest as its safety was put on and the sling was pulled from over his head and left shoulder. He sat the Kiparis stock-first against the floor so that it could lean its suppressor against the wall beside the small couch that was in the living area. "But it's getting cold out there."

"I got the window sensors in the back repaired," she replied with a casual tone as the last of the items were closed up in the cabinet. She had situated their field rations on a counter all its own to be packed into the go-bags they would carry into the mission. "Food's put away, too. I'll redress the beds in a minute."

For now, her boots carried her over into the living area where he was removing the glove and jacket that covered up his metal arm. His hair had gotten longer over the past few years as the fashion of the times could explain why he wore it that way. It didn't not suit him, but it was different than the hair he'd had most of her life. Sometimes, the state of it made her question just what sort of conditions he lived in when he was away from her. That wasn't a question for her to ask, though she probably would at some point see what her father had to say on the matter.

"Are you nervous?" His question was delivered as she moved to flop down onto the couch and kick her legs up onto the cushion beside her. A brow was lifted as she took his spot, but James said nothing about it. Instead, he tucked his gloves into the jacket pocket then draped the jacket itself over a hook near the front door. Soon enough, he settled into the armchair facing the couch.

"A little, I guess," she responded, though the confusion on her face spoke differently to her statement. "I don't want to fail, of course, but I'm worried that I'll get out there and forget everything you taught me.

He offered her that half-smile she saw from him most often. "I wouldn't worry about that too much. Muscle memory will kick in if you just keep your head on straight."

"And if I can't?" Her head tilted slightly to the right as she posed her question.

"Then I'll be right there to knock it back into place," he said with an encouraging smile.

Tessa chuckled, "Oh, I have no doubt about that." She expected that he would keep her on track no matter what it took, and if he didn't then she would have to make certain that it appeared that he did just so he wouldn't be punished for not keeping her safe.

"I don't have to worry about that happening, though," he said as one ankle crossed over the opposite knee. "You have always been one of my best students, Tessa. You learned quickly and kept that knowledge where it needed to be kept. You have never regressed or lost your focus. You will always do whatever you need to do to keep your mind on your task. I may not remember everything all the time, but I remember you."

Her smile softened, "Thank you, Soldat."

"There's no reason for you to thank me," he said and meant it. "When you mutated, I was worried for you. I didn't know whether the process was going to kill you or not, but you stepped up to the plate and you didn't miss when you swung. You grew and, like a sponge, drank in everything I had to teach you. You've made me proud already. I don't think you'll ever fail in that task."

The smile grew on Tessa's features, but she offered only a nod in response. They would find out whether that was still his opinion in only a matter of days when it was her turn to sculpt out a piece of history with her own hands.

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Posted: 29 July, 2021