[What John is hearing is that the programming can be broken to some extent.]
Bucky, I've told you I won't lie to you.
I will make one attempt to reach you, then I will attempt to forcefully subdue you in a way that might very well kill you, and then I'll kill you if I haven't already or that doesn't work. I can't promise to kill you immediately. You're too important to me for that.
But I'll contact Nat first, so that she can do what I couldn't if it ends up going poorly.
no subject
Bucky, I've told you I won't lie to you.
I will make one attempt to reach you, then I will attempt to forcefully subdue you in a way that might very well kill you, and then I'll kill you if I haven't already or that doesn't work. I can't promise to kill you immediately. You're too important to me for that.
But I'll contact Nat first, so that she can do what I couldn't if it ends up going poorly.
[It's the best compromise he can offer.]