51 [The Secret Files Of Agent 13] - Betrayal And Lies - The Fallout With Howard Stark

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Deep in the confines of Peggy's residence, Val was hard at work tinkering with a powerful and dangerous concoction known as Midnight Oil. With a steely determination in his eyes, Val was fully aware of the nefarious intentions of the Leviathan agent, Dottie Underwood. He knew that she planned to unleash the lethal substance upon an unsuspecting audience at a theatre, causing unspeakable carnage and devastation. Val was resolute in his mission to put a stop to this senseless violence and save innocent lives.

With determination, he poured countless hours into his research, tirelessly scouring the depths of his knowledge to find a cure to combat the devastating effects of Midnight Oil on people. His unwavering focus and perseverance were evident in every aspect of his work as he left no stone unturned in his quest for a solution. Through diligent experimentation and rigorous testing, he finally found the key to unlocking the cure, a beacon of hope in the face of a deadly threat.

Peggy stormed into the opulent suite of the Griffith Hotel, her expression set with steely determination. She found Howard pacing nervously, his eyes darting about as if seeking escape. "What's going on, Howard? Your behavior has been strange, to say the least," she demanded.

Howard let out a long sigh before looking up to meet Peggy's gaze. "Peggy, I need your help. I think some of my technology, has been seized by the Strategic Scientific Reserve and they would refuse to give it back," he explained.

"And what exactly do you need me to do?" Peggy asked, her interest piqued.

Howard grinned mischievously before pulling out a sleek Camera Pen. "I need you to sneak into the Strategic Scientific Reserve and take pictures of my technology. With these, I could tell you which things we need to keep away from the SSR's grasp," he said, handing the device to Peggy.

Peggy raised an eyebrow skeptically. "And what if you're wrong? What if the technology is too dangerous to release?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Howard's expression softened. "I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't truly believe in what I've created. But I can't do it alone, Peggy. I need your help," he implored.

Peggy considered his words for a moment before nodding resolutely. "All right, Howard. I'm in. Let's do this," she said, accepting the Camera Pen and slipping it into her pocket.

After successfully infiltrating the highly secure Strategic Scientific Reserve Laboratory and deftly avoiding detection, Peggy emerged triumphant, brandishing a cache of invaluable photographs.

As Peggy handed Stark the cache of photographs, his eyes widened in alarm. "Good work, Peggy. But this is only the beginning. We need to get our hands on the Blitzkrieg Button," he said urgently.

"The what now?" Peggy asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Stark let out an exasperated sigh. "The Blitzkrieg Button. It's a rogue EMP that could knock out the city's power for decades. We can't let it fall into the wrong hands," he explained.

Peggy nodded, her expression set with determination. She knew the stakes were high, but she was ready for the challenge. As she made her way toward the location of the Blitzkrieg Button, her mind raced with possibilities. What kind of damage could this thing do in the wrong hands?

Then, a memory resurfaced. Jarvis had done something peculiar about the Blitzkrieg Button before Peggy left. He had tugged his ear while speaking about the Blitzkrieg Button and she knew that he couldn't lie without tugging his ear and a sense of unease crept up in her heart.

Peggy Carter strode confidently through the corridors of the Strategic Scientific Reserve, her heart pounding with anticipation. She had successfully swapped out the Blitzkrieg Button with a fake and was now holding the sphere in her hands. Taking a deep breath, she retreated into a nearby closet and steeled herself for what was to come. With trembling hands, she opened the sphere and was surprised to find a small vial of red liquid inside.

"What is this?" Peggy muttered to herself, her mind racing with possibilities.

When she returned to Howard Stark's office, Peggy was visibly shaken. "What's in the vial, Howard?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

Stark looked up from his work, his expression feigning ignorance. "What vial?"

Peggy narrowed her eyes. She knew better than to believe his act. "The one in the sphere you gave me. Don't play dumb with me," she snapped.

Stark let out a sigh before relenting. "It's the last remaining sample of Steve Rogers' blood.", he explained.

Peggy's fist connected with Stark's jaw, the sound of the impact echoing through the room. He stumbled back, holding his face. "What the hell, Peggy?" he exclaimed, clearly taken aback by her sudden attack.

"What the hell? Why do you have Steve's blood?" Peggy demanded, her eyes blazing with anger.

Stark's expression softened slightly, and he stepped closer to her. "Peggy, please, you have to understand. I was entrusted with one of the twelve samples of his blood. I wanted to use it to create a cure for everything, to save lives."

Peggy's eyes narrowed. "Bullshit! You just kept it to make more money."

Stark looked hurt. "Is that really what you think of me, Peggy? After all, we've been through together?"

"Yes," Peggy replied sharply. "I think you're a man who's always out for his gain, no matter who gets hurt in the process. You're constantly finding ways to slither your way into a profit, only to cry foul when you get bitten by another snake. You're a man who says 'I love you' while looking over a woman's shoulder into the mirror."

With that, Peggy stormed out of the room, regretting ever having helped Stark.

Edwin Jarvis, feeling conflicted about the last remaining sample of Steve Rogers' blood, decided to keep it for himself instead of giving it to Howard Stark. He told Stark that it had been destroyed once his name was cleared, but in reality, he knew that the blood was too valuable to be wasted. Jarvis believed that Peggy Carter was the only person who knew what should be done with it, so he gave the vial to her in secret.

Peggy walked with a heavy heart to the Brooklyn Bridge, the vial of Steve Rogers' blood clasped tightly in her hand. She had come to a decision, but as she reached the railing overlooking the water, she hesitated. The memory of Val's words echoed in her mind: Steve would return, and she just needed to have faith. Peggy's heart was torn between her desire to let Steve rest in peace and her longing for his return.

With trembling hands, she opened the vial and prepared to pour the blood into the water below. But as she gazed into the swirling currents, she saw Steve's face before her. She couldn't bear the thought of letting go of the only remaining piece of him. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she closed the vial with a shaky hand.

"I hope you return, Steve," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I don't know how to fill the hole you left in my heart." Clutching the vial to her chest, Peggy turned away from the bridge and walked slowly into the night, her heart heavy with both hope and sorrow.

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