Were the Asset more focused on his companion he may have forcibly started him on the pushups. Instead the speaker captured all his attention, because Pierce rarely spoke to his tool, except to give direct, important orders.

Those orders turned out to be quite unusual. The Asset rarely performed protective actions; in the short term, yes, especially when used to train the other Winter Soldiers. Long term only HYDRA's mission mattered; cut off one head and two more would take its place. By Pierce's words, this particular, newest recruit seemed a very important piece indeed.

He turned his attention back to his apparent trainee; judging by those pushups, he'd be practically eaten alive. "Understood," he acknowledged, not that he could refuse an order. With no more clarification needed he walked back over to his companion, pacing a circle around him to observe his movement and effort.

"Twenty more," he said.