Steve's voice moved through the speakers after he gave his name. Every room inside the base heard him.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has been taken by HYDRA," Steve said. "Alexander Pierce is leading them. STRIKE and the Insight crew are with him."
He spoke again. "More of them are inside this building. If you still believe in what S.H.I.E.L.D. was meant to be, do not let those carriers leave the ground."
Adam stood near the door and listened without speaking. Steve did not sound like a man giving a speech. He sounded like a soldier warning people before the first shot.
"If those Helicarriers launch today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone who stands in their way," Steve continued. "I know I am asking a lot. If I have to stand alone, I will. But I do not think I am alone."
The broadcast ended. No one inside the room moved until Maria looked at the screens.
"They are moving."
The scene shifted to the launch control room.
Rumlow entered with armed men behind him. The people at the stations had already heard Steve's words. The room had changed after that broadcast, and no one wanted to touch the controls first.
Rumlow walked straight toward the main station. "Start the launch sequence," he said.
The controller's hands stayed above the panel. He swallowed once.
"Sir... I cannot do that."
Rumlow leaned closer.
"That was not a request."
Rumlow hit him before he could finish. The man fell out of his chair and hit the floor.
Rumlow sat down in his place and began pressing the controls himself. He did not look angry. He looked like he had already decided this would happen if anyone refused.
One agent nearby took a step forward. A rifle turned toward him before he could do anything.
The screens changed, and the launch sequence started.
Back in the broadcast room, Maria's eyes moved across the monitor.
"They launched the ships."
Steve moved toward the door as Sam opened his wings. Adam looked at the exit too.
"Go," Maria said. "I will handle this room. If anyone tries to move from here, I will stop them."
Steve did not waste time. He ran out first. Sam went after him. Adam waited until they crossed the doorway, then lifted one hand behind him.
The metal gate slid shut, and the lock turned under his power.
Maria stayed inside with her weapon raised.
Adam ran after Steve and Sam. Outside the passage, the base had already started changing. The floor shook under their feet. Through the glass ahead, the Helicarriers were rising from below.
Sam looked toward them. "They are already coming up."
More soldiers rushed into the passage ahead. Adam raised his hand while still running. The guns in the soldiers' hands bent before they could aim properly. A few triggers were pulled anyway, and the broken weapons burst in their hands.
Steve kept running past them. Adam caught up beside him.
"Captain, if I want, I can stop those ships right now."
Steve looked at him while running. "What do you mean?"
Sam turned his head. "You can stop them with that magnetic thing?"
"No," Steve said before Adam could answer. His eyes stayed on Adam. "You mean the giant form."
Adam gave him a small look. "You remember that."
"I thought your body needed a reset after changes like that," Steve said. "Or rest."
Adam understood what Steve was thinking. Steve still believed Adam came from another planet where people like him existed. That belief had helped before. Now it gave Steve another worry.
If one Adam could do this much, what would a world of Adams look like?
Steve did not say that part aloud because there was no time for it.
Adam said, "I already got the rest I needed."
Sam stared at him. "Wait. You can become giant too?"
Steve's mouth tightened. "That is not the problem. There are people on those ships."
More soldiers appeared from the side route. Sam lifted off and flew toward them before they could block the passage.
Adam kept running beside Steve. "It is not like those ships are full of innocent people," Adam said. "You heard what Steve said over the speakers. STRIKE and the Insight crew are HYDRA."
Steve did not answer.
Adam's voice stayed even. "If you want, we keep running and hope the plan works. If it does not, millions of people are on the line."
Sam flew back across the open side of the passage. Gunfire came from the rising ships, and he turned away from it. The shots were not warning shots. They were aimed at anyone trying to get near the carriers.
"Cap!" Sam shouted. "From what I can see, the people firing from those ships are not on our side."
Steve looked through the glass. The Helicarriers continued to rise.
Adam slowed only enough to stay near him. "It is your call," Adam said. "If you tell me not to do it, I will not do it."
Steve's eyes stayed on the ships.
The scene shifted to the council room.
Natasha Romanoff stood near the computer. The disguise mask was already gone from her face.
Alexander Pierce stared at her and did not speak.
He had expected Captain America to make a move. If Steve was alive, then he would not stay quiet while Insight launched. That was why Pierce had already pushed the launch forward.
But he had not expected Natasha to stand in front of him like this.
Natasha kept working at the computer. Pierce looked at the screen and understood what she was doing.
"You cannot release those files," he said.
Natasha did not look away from the computer. "Watch me."
Pierce's face hardened. "That order needs Alpha level authority. You do not have it."
Natasha smiled a little. Outside the window, a helicopter came into view.
Pierce turned his head. The helicopter landed near the building. The side door opened, and Nick Fury stepped out.
Pierce's eyes widened.
"Fury."