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Schmidt’s voice, so normally arrogant and curt, now adopted a tone of clear, and obviously sincere, pride. "I will not attempt to explain its intricacies to you, Martin; you would not understand. I confess that I, myself, barely grasp it. And those who do, well...they are no longer…available…to explain it. I can tell you that it started as an experiment in anti-gravity propulsion; flight, without the need for burning fuel. But it became much more. So very much more. It is powered by a self-contained system utilizing a solution called Serum 525. Highly radioactive."

The term meant nothing to Bormann, naturally, and he opened his mouth to say as much.

Suddenly, a loud "whump" came from the door, and the Red Skull looked in its direction. He turned to his work, flipping switches and moving levers in a sequence whose pattern Bormann could not follow.

The device suddenly began to emit powerful bolts of plasma energy, like lightning, the crackling of which was almost deafening in the room as the sound bounced undiminished off of the metal walls, floor and ceiling. Bormann then saw, and understood, that the metal henge served a dual purpose; it not only secured the device from floating too high in the room, but the proximity of the metal acted as an attractant; a lightning rod, and a grounding agent. This prevented the "lightning" from literally filling the room, and killing anyone and everyone in the vicinity. Schmidt explained that the metal stanchions of the henge channeled the intense energy into a bank of large batteries which helped power the facility, and might one day power the planet. Nothing, he noted, was wasted.

Another, stronger "WHUMP" from the door, and as Schmidt and Bormann, nonplussed, watched, it sagged open on ruined hinges.

In the doorway, not quite obscured by smoke, was the figure of Captain America, looking grim, if resplendent, in his ostentatious uniform. Could it be truly called a ‘uniform’, however, Schmidt wondered, since there were none others like it? Behind him, now visible in the clearing smoke, were a number of his comrades-in-arms. No matter; Schmidt produced a Lugar, and fired at the Americans. Cap raised his shield and the round was flicked away as one would an insect.

"What the hell is that?" someone said, indicating the device. The words went unheard by the two Germans, lost as it was in the racket caused by the device and its plasma discharge.

The Red Skull redoubled his work and, touching another switch, caused a hatch in the side of the object to slide open. "Run," he said to Bormann.

"What?" the stocky man, truly mystified, asked in reply.

"Run, you fool! Run to the device!" Schmidt said, his voice rising urgently. Bormann goggled at him, disbelievingly.

"I will not! I will be killed by the lightning!" he said loudly, pointing at the murderous discharge. Gunfire suddenly filled the air, and Schmidt pulled Bormann down behind the protection of the metal console, firing back.

He hissed to Bormann; "You have three options:" he ticked them off with his fingers and thumb; one, you can be killed instantly by the lightning, yes--but still have a chance to escape; two, you can be shot and die, slowly and bleeding in great pain, or three, you can be captured, tried and die by the gallows."

"A wonderful array of choices," Bormann yelled, glaring at the Red Skull, who only glared back with—Bormann, a man used to getting his way, had to admit—a good measure more intimidating a demeanor. Suddenly, a red-gauntleted hand snatched Schmidt by the shoulder of his jacket, hauling him up and over the console.

The Lugar, slipping from Schmidt’s grasp, clattered to the floor.

Bormann, his options narrowed and thus decided, scrambled it up and took off across the room; it was such a long way, and while he was not entirely out of shape, he was not exactly in the trim of youth. He quickly began to puff, and strain. He turned and squeezed off a few rounds that, to his satisfaction, scattered the Americans, then ran on. Blue bolts of energy soared past him, as some of the troops discharged the captured Hydra weapons.

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