from_the_outside

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The backdoor works, and he leads Hill and Sam to traffic control, grateful for the clarity that always comes once he's on the mission. So far, this coup of theirs is silent and bloodless. He has no illusions it'll stay either.

When they come to the locked door, he nods to his companions. Hill nods back, then activates the gadget she'd brought. From inside the room, they can hear the sharp yelp of pain from the techs as their earpieces short out.

A moment later, the door opens, and Steve nods to the tech who stands there, bemused, as Hill and Sam level their guns at him. "Excuse us."

Once the techs are out of the way, Hill takes a seat at the console. Her fingers fly over the keyboard, and she nods at Steve, who takes a breath. Thinks. Then leans down to the microphone. "Attention, all SHIELD agents," he says.

"This is Steve Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days, some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth. SHIELD is not what we thought it was, it's been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The STRIKE and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want: absolute control. They shot Nick Fury and it won't end there."

He pauses, then continues. "If you launch those Helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way, unless we stop them. I know I'm asking a lot, but the price of freedom is high, it always has been, and it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not."

The microphone clicks off, and he straightens, only belatedly realizing Sam's looking at him with bemusement. At his quizzical glance, Sam huffs a laugh. "Did you write that down first, or was it off the top of your head?"