8 A Future Hero Is Born
June 22,1943 After waking and getting ready for the day, both Adam and Steve make their way to a black sedan with Agent Carter waiting for them.
"Agent Carter." Adam held his hand out.
"Rookie Agent Bayard." She responds by shaking his hand.
In his head, the familiar 'ding' was heard. "Did you have to add the rookie part?"
"Yes. Now Steve, are you ready to go?" She said this, turning to Steve.
"Yes ma'am."
Good, let's head out."
With Agent Carter and Steve in the back, Adam sat in the front passenger seat, and the driver started the car. They left Camp Lehigh, making their way to Brooklyn.
"I know this neighborhood. I got beat up in that alley, in that vacant lot, and behind that diner." Steve started telling them.
"Did you have something against running away?" Carter asked
"You start running; they'll never let you stop. You stand up, you push back. They can only tell you "no" for so long, right?"
"I know a bit what that's like. To have every door shut in your face."
"Don't worry, it won't always be that way." Adam says
"Who'd shut a door on you? I figure guys would be climbing over each other to hold them open."
"It depends on which door you're trying to go through."
"I guess I don't know why a beautiful...agent...why would she want to join the army anyhow? She could do whatever she wanted."
"Smooth as gravel, man." Adam says he's looking at Steve in the mirror.
"You don't know an awful lot about women, do you?"
"You got me all wrong, Agent Carter. I don't know anything about women. This is probably the longest conversation I've ever had with one." Steve said something that made Carter laugh a bit.
"That was better."
"Stop commenting, Adam." Steve said this with his face blushing. "I wish I were kidding. Think about it: I don't have any money, so I can't take them to dinner. I'm kind of short. That doesn't help. Ever. And I don't dance, so that's off the table."
"You must have at least danced."
"Standing on my mom's feet when I was seven I don't know. Asking a girl to dance seemed so terrifying, and then, in the last few years, it didn't seem so important. I figure I might as well wait."
Carter ask. "For what?" Steve shrugs. looking out the window.
"The right partner."
Adam sees how this affects her. As the car slows. "This is it," Carter tells them.
The sedan pulls up to an antique store. Getting out of the car, Steve is confused. "Why did we stop here?"
"I'm redecorating." Carter says
As they enter, the bell over the door rings. The antique store owner nods at the three. "Luxury weather this morning, isn't it?"
"Yes, but I always carry an umbrella."
"I suppose you can't be too careful."
"It's best to be prepared for a shift in the wind."
After the code is exchanged, the woman presses a button under the counter, where a submachine gun is placed next to it. Carter leads the two through a door in the back. They find A Marine guarding a huge metal door. As the door whooshes open, the Marine salutes.
Steve steps onto a raised platform and is amazed. The enormous, ultra-modern Rebirth Lab stretches beneath him, much larger than the store outside. Technicians operate machinery, while engineers manage monitors. A film crew is setting up, and they all gaze respectfully at Steve. His attention is drawn to the Rebirth Device, which features glittering lenses surrounding a cradle shaped like a human. Pneumatic panels fold underneath, and six gamma-ray reactors loom behind them. Dr. Erskine scurries around in the center of the preparations. Steve takes in the scene, then looks over at an observation booth where a group of men is gathering. Adam takes the moment to go to the observation room.
He only pays attention when the senator introduces his guest, looking at the man and knowing he's a hydra spy. Adam really wanted to kill the man but knew that for a better future, it's better for Erskine's death and the serum he made to be destroyed. Because if the army was allowed to have this power, it wouldn't be far from WWIII. Adam does smile when he hears, 'Jeez, somebody get that kid a sandwich."
After a bit, Carter made her way up and sat next to Adam as Erskine grabbed an overhead microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this morning we do not take another step toward annihilation. Today, we take the first step on the path to peace."
"We will begin with a series of micro-injections to the subject's major muscle groups."
Stark and his assistants prepare the machinery. The engineers check their monitors.
"The serum will cause immediate cellular change. In order to prevent uncontrolled growth, the subject will then be saturated with Vita Rays."
Soon Adam could see a panel slide open and show blue vials. Six are taken and put in the machine; leave one vial there. Adam watches as Steve is injected and starts shaking before he gets restrained. Finally, the vials empty, and Adam sees Steve's eyes glow blue.
"Now. Mr. Stark."
The table gradually tilts upright, and Steve ascends like a rocket prepared for launch. The panels unfold, and a hood descends over Steve's head, sealing him within the Vita Chamber. A window frames Steve's face. Erskine speaks into a microphone. "Steven, can you hear me?"
"Is it too late to go to the bathroom?"
smiling, "We shall proceed."
Stark finally turns the power dial. A piercing whine fills the room. On a large gauge, the needle starts to climb.
10, 20... Steve's face tightens. Inside the chamber, the orange light intensifies. Technicians don goggles, and Peggy crosses her fingers.
30, 40... Steve's eyes shut tightly as the pain increased. Erskine monitors Steve's vitals and nods to Stark, who increases the dial.
50, 60... Steve's head jerks back, seizing. The EKG beeps faster and faster. Peggy stands, filled with concern, her breath fogging the glass.
70, 80... The glow surges, flooding the window and obscuring Steve. The EKG emits a shrill sound.
90... A scream echoes from the speaker. Erskine rushes to the window, unable to see inside. He urgently speaks into the microphone. " Steven? STEVEN?"
Carter rushes out. "Shut it down!"
"MR. STARK, KILL THE REACTORS!"
"No... "
"Don't..."
"I can do this."
Erskine swallows, displaying great hesitation, and then nods to Stark.
Stark gives the dial a final turn, reaching 100. The piercing whine cuts through the air. The Vita Ray Chamber transitions abruptly from orange to white. Then everything plunges into darkness. The whine fades, along with the EKG's signal.
Erskine's complexion turns pale. Stark gazes at his hand on the dial. Peggy swallows, and even Phillips appears sorrowful. And then a sound emerges: the steady beep of the EKG. The lights gradually brighten.
Erskine rushes to the device. " Mr. Stark
Stark presses a button. The hood and panels retract, releasing a burst of steam. As the steam dissipates, Erskine's view becomes clear.
A new man is suspended by the straps. He is muscular, tall, and appears perfect. His head rests against his chest, eyes closed.
In the observation room, everyone next to Adam gasps and hurries out to the floor below. Adam waits for the hydra spy before going down behind him and positioning himself so he can touch the last blue vial before it leaves the place.
The man with glasses enters the lab. Across the room, he notices the last remaining tube of unused serum. He flicks open a lighter, revealing a button. Erskine detects the click of the lighter and turns around.
"Please, do not smoke in here."
Kruger pushes the button.
The booth erupts, sending flames and glass projectiles into the lab. Phillips forcefully pushes Brandt aside, while Peggy quickly draws a pistol. Erskine notices Kruger heading for the serum and rushes to reach it before him.
Kruger retrieves a pistol and fires, fatally shooting the elderly man.
"NO!!!" Steve yells, seeing this.
Kruger grabs the final tube and rushes towards the door.
Before he can leave, Adam is there and grabs the hand holding the vial and squeezes' his hand, crushing the vial and spilling the liquid inside onto his hand. Kruger, reacting to the pain, uses his gun to shoot Adam in the shoulder. While Adam loses his grip, Kruger makes his escape, getting shot by Colonel Phillips in the already wounded arm before escaping outside.
After that, Carter ran after him, and then Steve ran out looking mad, leaving Adam in the facility to get his wound taken care of. Later, he learns that Steve caught the guy, but unfortunately, he used a cyanide pill.
What do you think? Leave a comment and some power stones.
