The Iron Maiden Melina Vostokoff was easy to find.
At the very least, with Alexei leading the way, Natasha and Yelena had no trouble finding the Iron Maiden, Melina Vostokoff.
During their conversation with the Iron Maiden, Natasha and Yelena learned why they had hurried back to the Soviet Union from Federal territory when they were young.
At the time, the Iron Maiden Melina Vostokoff and the Red Guardian Alexei had not been trying to steal anything in Federal territory. More precisely, they had not stolen anything at all. They had merely brought back a piece of technology.
After the Third Reich was defeated, there was no doubt that, whether in the real universe or this one, the Federal government had taken in far too much of Hydra's legacy.
The Northern Research Institute in Ohio had been one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research centers dedicated to studying Hydra's technological legacy.
The Iron Maiden looked at Natasha. "In fact, back then, the researchers at the Northern Research Institute were almost all Hydra operatives."
Natasha said in a low voice, "Operation Paperclip."
"Correct!"
Melina glanced at Natasha, nodded, and said, "At the Northern Research Institute, they combined it with the Winter Soldier project. They dissected and deconstructed the human brain, creating the first—and only—cellular blueprint of the basal ganglia. That was the center of cognition, voluntary movement, and procedural learning. We didn't steal weapons or technology. We stole the key to unlocking free will!"
With this cellular blueprint, there was no doubt that, from a certain perspective, any creature with a brain could be controlled.
After all, this was Marvel. No matter how advanced the Black Technology was, it was nothing surprising.
The Red Guardian Alexei listened with a blank look on his face.
Natasha remained expressionless.
Did controlling someone's will really need to