Chapter 10: Graduation

Chapter 10: Graduation

2010

Canada, Appalachian Mountains

HYDRA Preparatory Academy

Two Years Later

"Hail, Hydra! Immortal Hydra! We shall never be destroyed! Cut off one head, two more shall take its place! We serve none but the Masteras the world shall soon serve us! Hail Hydra! " As the students finished the chant, Madame Contessa took the podium.

"I am extremely proud to welcome you all into the new guard of HYDRA, and I cannot wait to see all your accomplishments in this next chapter of your journey." Madame Contessa addressed the hundreds of students seated in the large auditorium.

"Congratulations to our three leadership graduates." She gestured toward Me, Ruby, and Werner who were standing on the stage beside her.

We each wore a black militaristic jumpsuit with a familiar red emblem emblazoned over our hearts.

"All of your hard work and perseverance have led you to this proud moment in your lives. Best wishes on your next adventure! Hail Hydra!!"

"Hail Hydra!!!"nove(l)bi(n.)com

**********

After the ceremony, each student shuffled to a different path as we were told to see our homeroom teachers for our new assignments.

Moving to the side of the stage, I was stopped by Ruby who placed a hand on my shoulder.

I glanced back as she signaled me to follow her.

Moving out of the auditorium, we made our way into an empty classroom as Ruby shut the door behind us.

She turned towards me, her sad green eyes looking to mine with a hint of longing

After the first bet, Ruby and I got a lot closer over the last two years. We would often make similar bets on the other exams, some the other would win some they lost. They became less serious contests of pride and more friendly games of competition as we stopped caring who won.

Ruby even started to visit my dorm room a couple of times late at night to blow off some stress.

"So...this is it? We might never see each other after today." She said, moving closer to softly grab my hand.

I nodded, wondering where she was going with this.

"M-Maybe we could still keep in touch?" Ruby asked, looking up at me like a scared puppy.

"If you're going to work within for HYDRA, you can't ever get attached to anyone or anything. You have to fight that weakness in you."

He moved back and stared at me while I tried to process his words, hoping that he didn't want me to do what i think he does.

But looking over at the man's knowing smile, I paled in recognition.

It may be hypocritical of me to say, but killing a dog is super fucked up. I mean Hydra has made me do some pretty fucked up stuff but this... this was Max.

I tried to wreck my brain for a way to save the small pup. But in the end, I just let out a defeated sigh. Knowing I had little choice in the matter, I picked up the knife and looked into the cage at the small pup's brown eyes, trying to tell him how sorry I was, and how I would get revenge for him someday.

Opening the cage, I reached in for the small dog who was trying to avoid my hand, sensing what was coming.

Grabbing it by the neck, tears threatened my eyes as I drove the knife into it's heart.

Max let out one last whimper before falling limply in my hands.

Dr. Whitehall let out a small amused chuckle before placing his fucking hand on my shoulder.

"Marvelously done Agent Rumlow. Marvelously done."

*******

Sitting on the bare mattress in my empty dorm room, I tried to pull myself together and push Max's wrongful death to the back of my mind.

Wiping the tears from my eyes I opened the black folder containing my new post, and read the info in the file.

***

Operation Type: Sleeper Cell

Operation Bio: The Agent will be dispatched undercover as a fresh eighteen-year-old recruit for a Special Ops task force serving directly under veteran General Thaddeus E. Ross.

Operation Goal: The Agent will distinguish themself amongst their peers and move up to a higher position within their assigned post. The Agent will then wait for further instructions from his superiors.

***

Reading the file the first thought to come to my head was, "What kind of name is Thaddeus?"

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A/N: That wraps up the Academy arc!!! The MC will now be off into the world and start interacting with more MCU characters. What did you think? Was the dog death too much? Where do you think the story is going? Let me know in the comments!!