For T'Challa

[advanced]

[Bucky knows that Steve doesn't really understand why he chose to go back under instead of live his life in freedom; but, to Bucky, this was freedom. He didn't have to worry that he'd hurt anyone ever again while he was out cold, nor did he have to worry that someone else might be coming for him with the whole might of Wakanda surrounding him.

He's expecting to be out for years until a way is found to effectively remove his programming, maybe even forever if one is never found, but that's not to be. All of a sudden unconsciousness is becoming consciousness again, the familiar chills and nausea of coming around from cryo-freeze wracking through him as he looks up through blurry vision to see the king.]

What--?

Comments

[forwakanda]

[ The sheer strength of the man always took T'Challa by surprise, most would have broken under the weight of the trauma and the amount of loss. Hydra stole everything about him and T'Challa doubted he would have handled it as well as Bucky. It only made him more determined to help the man find his peace and the safety, the very least he could so for the added grief he offered to the man before.

Lips twitching at the corners, he ran his fingertips along the surface of the tablet in his hand to show Bucky the device they created to literally wipe out the words from existence. ]

As you can see, this device will remove the words and no one will be able to trigger you again. But the one downfall is this will remove the enid existence and origin of the words. As if they never existed. You will not forget anything you did but will not recall the words that triggered you to do it. The mind neurons are an all or nothing, I'm afraid.

[advanced]

Why does it matter if I forget the words, if it means they can't be used against me?

[That seems like a small price to pay, miniscule even, and he can't imagine that this is the part that T'Challa thought would be unpleasant. He glances down at the tablet in interest, but such technology is beyond him. He's been taught how to use weapons and vehicles, the internet, but nothing this advanced.]

Will it make me forget anything else?

[forwakanda]

[ When messing with the mind, there were always big prices to pay and this wouldn't be any different as much as he wished it could be. Even with all their advancements, they couldn't manipulate past some of the fundamental truths of human nature.

Swiping more across the surface, an image of Bucky's brain displayed in front of them. ]

When the trigger words are removed, their creation will go along with it. You will not remember ever having them. But you will recall what you did because of them. Just not that you were triggered by words.

[advanced]

[The image means nothing to him. He just sees a brain, he can't see the scarification from everything HYDRA did by zapping him with electricity, and he can't see what T'Challa wants to do.

But Steve trusted him, and he's been good to Bucky so far, so he just shrugs without any argument.]

If it means that I can't be used against anyone again, it doesn't matter. I've lost memories before, it's nothing new.

[forwakanda]

[ The resignation troubled T'Challa but he understood the pain resting behind such a state because he often experienced similar with so many matters being out of his hands. But he wanted to do as much as he could for James and bring him to a place to find himself again. To never again feel the sting of being used out of his control.

Rather than debate the matter, he gave a nod of his head and instructed the scientists and doctors to ready things. ]

Is there anything you need before we begin? Would you care for music? Some find it soothing, I have discovered.

[advanced]

[He very nearly laughs at the suggestion, but then... well, why not? It would make this pretty damn different from whenever HYDRA messed with his head, there had never been any music in that sort of environment.]

You have anything by the Andrews Sisters?

[forwakanda]

[ With a nod of his head, he went over to one of the main screens to move through a few pages and start the music up. Then he looked back ever to James to allow the scientists to ready everything they needed for the procedure. It wouldn't take too long but he worried about the state of the other man during it. ]

We have everything ready, Mister Barnes. Do you need anything else before we begin? It should take about forty minutes give or take. You will need to recover after I imagine.

[advanced]

Are you going to strap me down?

[It's asked in the same matter of fact way as he's said everything else, but there's just a hint of fear behind it. Every time he gets restrained things don't end well, from HYDRA to Zemo, it just gets messy.]

[forwakanda]

[ Machines finished up, he set the last of the calibrations and the music James wanted to have during the procedure. ]

Not at all and this should not take long. Afterwards, we'll work on getting the freedom you deserve. In the meantime, you can stay here, whether at the palace or in your own place.