An hour later…
Clark walked through the SSR base towards Howard's lab where he saw him with Carter, Shayera, and Dan. Howard was seated at a table and was analyzing Carter and Shayera's hawk-themed armor like he was a first-year college student. Nothing but awe and child-like wonder in his eyes which was only helped by the headband magnifier he was wearing. "I see that Howard has finally dragged you three to his lab."
"He did. We were told we were getting something to eat." Shayera pointed out.
"There's a plate of sandwiches over there." Howard pointed to the plate of sandwiches on a nearby table. "Jarvis made them himself. Do you know how hard it is to import Pastrami all the way from Katz's Delicatessen in the East Village, especially with the rationing going on? People are so ungrateful these days."
Clark walked over and took a sandwich for himself. Upon the first bite, he had to admit they were pretty good. "I'm surprised Howard isn't checking out Dan's scarab."
"He tried." Dan said and Howard turned around before removing the headband magnifying to show Clark the soot/ash on his face and the bandage he had on his forehead. "It didn't work out that well for him."
"Goes to show you that maybe you should rein in your scientific curiosity, Howard." Clark warned him.
"It's what curiosity is for. It's what makes us special." Howard stated.
"And curiosity also killed the cat. Ben Johnson." Clark quoted and Howard rolled his eyes.
"Oh, so now you're a scholar. Relax, I know what I'm doing. Why do you think I'm examining the armor and not that freaking scarab that tried to kill me?" Howard pointed out before he looked at Carter and Shayera. "This metal is incredible. It's like Vibranium but different. It's power to weight ratio is insane. And let's not forget the elephant in the room, it's got a pair of retractable wings that let you fly which just defies physics. I mean, this armor should make you weigh a ton yet it's light enough for you guys to fly and can take a bullet. What do you call this metal?" Howard took Shayera's mace and accidently pressed a button which caused the mace head to spin around and began sparking electricity.
Carter walked over and pressed the button, causing the mace to stop spinning. "We've always called it Nth metal." He told Howard and put the mace back on the table. "Our armors have never needed polishing and have remained impervious to harm though I'm sure that Hydra's weapons could have done serious damage if given the chance. Every life we find our suits and they have never needed fixing. We wouldn't even know where to start with that."
"Right, reincarnation, multiple lives. We're still going with that story?" Howard wondered but saw the others didn't look the least bit doubtful regarding the reincarnation story. "Come on. Sure, special metal armor that makes you bulletproof and can make you fly, I'll buy that. I've seen that Vibranium shield do incredible things and what Kal can do with his powers is ridiculous but now we're just getting into crazy territory."
"Like fighting a Nazi science cult that was trying to utilize the energy from an ancient artifact to take over the world?" Shayera questioned.
"Sure, but that's science. Science I haven't figured out yet but I will." Howard promised.
"Honestly, at this point I've stopped asking how and why and just roll with everything the past few years have thrown my way. It just makes it easier." Clark admitted.
"And that Kal, is why I'm the scientist with the million-dollar company. Curiosity and a thirst to know more." Howard remarked.
"Sure, but leave that to science. Continue to do that with women and one of them will kill you. I'm surprised you haven't said anything yet that had Shayera bash your head in with the mace." Clark joked.
"Please, Kal. I may be a renowned womanizer but I even have standards. I never go after married women. Too complicated." Howard quipped.
"Sure. Howard, can I have the room, please?" Clark asked and Howard nodded, putting his things down and walking out leaving just him and the other three. "I hope Howard hasn't been bothering you."
"No, he's fine. Kind of like a child. More curious than dangerous." Dan remarked and felt a tingle in his back. "The scarab didn't like him though."
"It's not alone in that regard though that's mostly his scorned women." Clark replied and they chuckled.
"So, what do you need?" Carter wondered.
"I wanted to thank you for your help the past few weeks. Because of you three the SSR has been able to take down and destroy the last of Hydra's main facilities. They're effectively done but that's what the SSR told Allied Command." Clark told them.
"What do you think?" Shayera wondered.
"I think that the Red Skull built a group that would be smart enough to go into hiding if he ever died. No doubt not everyone was a loyalist and like Reinhardt they would have gone underground but as far as the SSR is concerned, we don't have much to go on so we're being refocused on the rest of the war. That means your work with us is done." Clark said and they all looked at him. "I brought you three and Amaya here to help the SSR stop Red Skull. That was done and you didn't need to stay after. Amaya had to return to her village but you three stayed to help clean up Hydra and Colonel Phillips greatly appreciates your efforts and I can't thank you enough for that. But what remains is just the war and none of you signed up for it. Your obligation ends. You're free to go."
There was a moment of silence in the room. "Huh. Kind of feels anticlimactic. I thought there'd be more." Dan pointed out.
"Maybe we should have joined up with you after Wakanda." Shayera suggested.
"I never would have forced you and that wasn't something I could easily ask. Your lives and choices are your own and I can't force you to change that." Clark told her.
"You're right but if anything, maybe it's finally dawned on the rest of us that we should have been like you and Steve Rogers. Fighting the good fight. None of us are exactly normal." Carter pointed out.
"I think it'd also be fair to say that the three of us have grown accustomed to stopping bad guys. Feels bad that we can't keep doing that with you." Dan added and Clark nodded.
"Look, I'm not going to say that the idea of fighting by your side to this war's end doesn't pass through my mind. We work well together and we can do some real good but I won't force you to do something you're not comfortable with. To do that, it could mean joining the SSR and that means who you are and everything about you gets turned into a file. Before we talked about the Scarab and what that could mean for you Dan if you go public. Are you really ready for that? Same with Carter and Shayera. Colonel Phillips is taking my side and ensuring that your more sensitive information hasn't gone on record provided that things end today. If not, then are you sure you're ready for that?" Clark asked them and they all looked at one another.
"What about you, Kal? You have your entire life on file now." Dan pointed out.
"Yeah, and I knew that going into this. I just want you three to make sure you know that. This could very well change your lives." Clark warned them but if anything, it only bolstered their resolve.
"Look at us, Kal. Our lives aren't exactly normal." Shayera reminded him.
"This way, at least we'll be helping people going forward. It's what you would do, right?" Carter wondered.
"You've lead the way, Superman. Now we follow. Perhaps we'll get nicknames too." Dan quipped.
Clark saw the conviction in their eyes just like in the members of his team. If they were serious then they were as serious as a heart attack. "Nothing I can say to stop you, huh?" He got head shakes in response. "All right. I'll speak with Colonel Phillips but if something doesn't feel right, then do not hesitate to tell me. People like us, it's best we stick together."
"Now all we need is a name. Maybe…the Fantastic Four." Dan suggested only to get dry looks in response.
"That's horrible." Shayera said and the others agreed.
"Really? I thought it had zip." Dan admitted and they shared a laugh.
They wrapped up a few things and Clark walked out of the lab but saw Howard scrambling about and trying to look like he wasn't just eavesdropping. "Oh, Kal, hey. How was your talk?" Howard wondered.
"Nice try, Howard but x-ray vision and super hearing. I knew you were waiting at the door." Clark said and Howard shrugged.
"Well, can't blame a guy for trying. I really hope you don't go with that name. The Fantastic Four? Sounds like a bad band name." Howard told him. "So, if the three of them are going to be sticking around should I get to work on some special suits for them before I have to leave? The scientists here are good but I trust my hands more for something like this."
"I don't think they need suits, do you?" Clark pointed out. "Where are you going?"
"Back to the States. You remember when your heat vision first appeared and I hooked you up to the Stark Industries Atomic Subdermal Analysis and Scanner machine?" Howard asked and Clark nodded.
"By the way, you need a new name for that."
"Duly noted. Anyway, I mentioned I maintained correspondence with some scientists back when we were still stateside years ago before the SSR really got involved in the war."
"Yeah, I remember. You mentioned Enrico Fermi, David Hill and a J. Robert Oppenheimer. Said they were working on some kind of project for the US Army back when the SSR was just taking off." Clark recited like it had just happened yesterday.
"Right, forgot that your brain is basically a sponge. Anyway, I've still been corresponding with them regarding some of my work while learning some Theoretical Physics as well and they reached out for my help on a project. With Hydra taken care of, there's not much that the Germans can throw our way that need my expertise. Colonel Phillips already got the request and he's ok with it. I'll be back stateside in a week." Howard told him.
"What's the project?" Clark wondered.
"Sorry, can't say. Highly classified. I don't think I should have even told you about the scientists I've been corresponding with now that I think about it." Howard admitted before he looked around the place. "I'm gonna miss this place."
"Yeah…it'll miss you too." Clark told him. "Hopefully we'll all be stateside soon enough."
"With you at the helm, that's all but guaranteed. The other eggheads in the lab will keep you guys up to date and fix anything you break…but try not to break too much stuff. And seriously, Kal, either fix things with Peggy or get a new girl. The next time I see you I want to see the future Mrs. Elbert. If not, then I'm sure I can line up a buffet of women for you when you get back. No doubt that the Superman will have women flocking to him. We'll have press tours and movie premieres so who better than a famous actress, perhaps? Veronica Lake? Ginger Rogers, maybe? Ingrid Bergman? Have you seen her in Casablanca? Whew."
"Thanks for the offer, Howard but I'm not for the publicity like you are. And knowing you, you've likely slept with them." Clark pointed out.
"Yeah, I know. Guess I haven't had as much of an effect as I would have liked to." Howard chuckled before he gave Clark a pat on the shoulder. "I'm gonna miss you, Kal."
"I'll miss you too, Howard." Clark then pulled him into a hug.
"Don't worry. You'll still get me for a few days and we're throwing a party before I leave and I'm pulling out all the stops. Maybe you'll find a girl there because I'm making some calls and…" Howard went on and on about his departure party and all Clark could do was shake his head in disbelief but kept a smile on his face.
Howard Stark was definitely an acquired taste.
Later that day…
Peggy is seen walking down the streets of London with the sun beginning to set over the horizon. The people were out and about, enjoying themselves despite the ongoing threat of the war. There was a rumor spreading that a German rocket attack nearly hit London but the intervention of the Superman prevented them from hitting any population centers. No one knew for sure if that was real as the military didn't publicize anything but those in the countryside near the coast said they saw flashes of red lights and explosions over the ocean so who knows?
Peggy finished her paperwork including orders to take all of Reinhardt's research to a storage facility for secured containment. After what Clark told her she would make sure that the Diviner would never see the light of day. Colonel Phillips was taking a trip stateside at the end of the week along with Howard Stark so Peggy would go with them to see Reinhardt at the Rat prison and make sure he never got out.
[Bump]
"Oh…" Peggy dropped her bag when someone accidently bumped into her.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry."
"It's quite all right."
"Here, let me help you." The person who bumped her bent down and picked up her bag, cleaning off any dust or dirt on it before handing it over to her. Her accidently bumper was a tall man in a very nice navy-blue suit with a hat on his head. He had on a matching tie and pocket square with thick black rimmed glasses on his face. He removed his hat to show his somewhat messy hair that wasn't slicked back or combed but more natural. "I'm so sorry, miss."
"It's quite all right, sir." Peggy told him.
"It's Kent, ma'am. Clark Kent." Clark gave her a smile and Peggy smiled back.
"Carter, then. Peggy Carter." Peggy replied.
"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Carter." Clark shook her hand, giving her a charming smile but his delivery was a bit meek and subdued. Peggy smiled in return before she put the hat back on his head. "So, what do you think?"
"As far as disguises go, it's not bad but it's not perfect either." Peggy adjusted his glasses. "To anyone else I can say that they wouldn't recognize you but to me, Colonel Phillips or Howard, they will. They already saw you before with glasses so that alone isn't enough to fool them."
"I know. Kelex thinks he might be able to work on something for that. Maybe use some of his liquid-geo material to modify the glasses so they better change my appearance." Clark took off the glasses and looked it over. "Sort of like a fun-house mirror effect so that when people look at me they see something slightly different."
"That could work. And your behavior change as well. Your bumbling, meek delivery could sell the fact that Clark Kent and Kalvin Elbert AKA the Superman…" Peggy took his glasses and put them back on his face. "…are two separate people."
"You are the spy so I'll take your lead on this." Clark told her and she smiled before she touched the glasses.
"I always did like these." She admitted before stepping back a bit. "So, Mr. Kent. What brings you all the way to London?"
"Uh…work. I uh…work as a news reporter so I came over to London to cover a story." Clark bumbled with the delivery. "I need to work on that, don't I?"
"Yes, and something more believable if someone takes a closer look." Peggy thought it over. "Perhaps Clark Kent is working in the supply division. He just so happened to have a day pass and ran into a beautiful young woman working for the SSR."
"Then in that case, I do apologize, Ms. Carter. Allow me to make it up for you. Can I take you to dinner?" Clark asked her, getting into the role.
"That'd be delightful." Peggy hooks her arm with his and they walked to a restaurant. The work they were doing was laying the foundation for their relationship and would play a key role in the legend that would be Superman.
Line Break xxxxx
July 1944
Aachen, Germany
Any military commanders or top brass politicians who thought that the war in Europe was nearing its end were right but if they thought it was going to be easy, they were dead wrong. It's true that the war was nearing its end and things seemed to be going the way for an Allied victory but it didn't mean the Germans just gave up. The Soviets had pushed the Germans back into western Poland where they met the 6th Army group and were cut off from returning to the motherland. The Allies had the Germans cut off from the East and from the West, General Eisenhower had pushed the Allies past Paris to the borders of France with Belgium and Germany. Many believed that the Germans were just going to give up as they would soon be surrounded with no allies to help them. Japan was halfway across the world and Italy had been knocked out a year prior. The noose was slowly closing around but animals were the most dangerous when they were cornered. According to the SOE, resistance groups and spies from within Germany itself reported that Hitler had given out strict orders. The Waffen-SS had been fully mobilized and were conscripting every single abled-body man from every city, town and village from as young as 14 to as old as 65. If the rumors were to be believed he was also arming the Hitler Youth and instructing even the women to prepare to fight. All of Germany's Armed Forces had been given orders to hold the line and not give up any German cities or towns to the Allies and push them back. Hitler was likely thinking that if he could at least keep the Allies out of Germany that he might be able to negotiate a truce. Lofty if not ultimately flawed and Eisenhower wasn't going to accept anything except Germany's unconditional surrender. They had Germany surrounded on all sides, had more men, had more guns, and more resources. They would win this war.
And while that was a near certain likelihood, it didn't mean that it stopped the Allies from making mistakes. Case in point, the always tragic and universal mistake of overconfidence and underestimating their opponent. Operation Market Garden was an Allied Military Operation with the ultimate goal to create a bridgehead and invasion route into northern Germany through a combined effort of airborne and land forces. The goal was to drop US and British airborne and paratroopers into occupied German territory in the Netherlands to secure key bridges and roadways while waiting for the British armored tanks and if they broke through then it would give them a direct path into Germany. The brainchild of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, he believed a bold strike at the heart of the enemy would break their resolve and the war quickly. An advanced through the Netherlands, hit the roads, get the bridges, and strike a decisive blow that would get them all home very soon. On paper, it seemed like a good idea but hubris and wishful thinking overshadowed proper intelligence gathering and planning and it could be classified as a winning draw. It helped push the front lines of the war and aided in the liberation of Belgium, Luxembourg and Southern Netherlands but wasn't a complete success because key cities weren't taken and they couldn't secure the passage necessary to get into Germany. Thankfully, the Germans didn't succeed in their objective which was basically to keep them from gaining ground but they prevented them from an easy route into the country. There were significant casualties and what would have been an easy victory that many thought would end the war just resulted in a longer, protracted war effort.
Or at least that's what would have happened if not for the timely arrival of help.
Elements of the US Army 1st Infantry Division and the 1st Armored Division had been engaged in a heavy and bloody battle for the control of the city of Aachen, a western border city of Germany in the crux between Eastern Belgium and Southern Netherlands. The fighting had been going on for weeks and the Germans were fighting tooth and nail in the densely-packed metropolitan area for every single street and alleyway. Block by block, house by house, the Germans were fighting with everything they had. The US was trying to drill a hole into Germany's western border but they would not give it up easily.
[Loud explosions and gunfire]
"Let's go! Let's go!"
"Keep your head down!"
"Up top, three o'clock!"
"Covering fire!"
"Grenade!"
A squad of soldiers of the 1st Platoon of the1st Infantry Division were racing through the streets of Aachen. Destroyed vehicles littered the streets as their obstacles along with piles of rubble and makeshift sandbag barricades created by the Germans. The squad of soldiers dodged artillery, mortars, and bullets as they braved through the literal hell that was Aachen. Fighting in a city was dangerous because of the numerous vantage points that the Germans had for counterattacks and defenses. They were making the Americans fight with everything they had and make taking the city cost them.
They were falling back after being cut off by a Tiger tank and surprise batch of infantry that halted their offensive to an SS headquarters. They scrambled behind a defensive fortification near the Stadt theater when one of the men tripped and fell.
"DANIELS! I got you!" One of his friends pulled him over the sandbags for cover. "Keep your head down!"
"Goddamn it! We keep crushing 'em and they keeping coming back!"
"We can't hold the plaza much longer!"
"Artillery's on its way. They're saying ten minutes, tops!"
"Might as well be ten hours! Lieutenant Turner, we need tank support now!"
"The tanks are covering our flank!"
"Everybody pipe down and let me think, goddamn!"
"Sir, we don't have time to think!"
"Alright! Daniels, you and Aiello go with Peirson and call it in! Move! Covering fire!"
The men braved through explosions and bullets and raced to the theater while friends dropped around them before one of them managed to make it to a field phone. "Daniels, phone!" The sergeant held his hand out and the private handed him the receiver. "Dagwood White 2/7 to Villain! We're drawing fire! Requesting immediate support to phase line 2, over!"
"Copy that! Support is incoming!"
"Hurry it up! These Paks are killing us!"
The men took cover as German soldiers pressed towards their operating position with reinforcements and artillery mainly being Pak 41 and Pak 42 artillery pieces. The men fell back to the theater as more artillery and infantry moved in including two Panzer 5 tanks. They were severely outnumbered and would have been dead if not for help which arrived.
[Metallic ding]
A metal shield came flying in and sliced through the cannon of one of the Panzer tanks and got stuck in the destroyed fountain in front of the theater before something slammed into thank from the side, creating a massive dent. The crumbled tank was then throw up into the air where it crashed onto the Pak artillery pieces and they blew up. The Americans peaked out from their cover and saw their savior race forward and grab the shield out of the fountain before throwing it around. It hit and ricocheted off Germans one by one before flying back into the hands of its thrower. At first they thought it was Captain America given the red, white, and blue shield but it had been reported that he was dead which is when they saw the S-symbol on their saviors chest and saw it was Superman.
Superman saw the last remaining Panzer tank turn its cannon towards him and fired so he swung the shield and swatted the tank shell over into a nearby building where the Germans had set up a firing position. It took out the building. He then leapt into the air and landed on top of the tank before ripping off the hatch and jumping in. Screams of pain were heard before the tank crew there thrown out one by one and Superman punched his way out of the tank, causing it to explode. He stepped out of the wreckage and snuffed out the parts of his suit that were on fire but he was fine. The members of the 1st Platoon came out from their cover as reinforcements arrived.
"Clear!" Clark shouted and the reinforcement began refortifying their position. He took out a map from his pocket to check his position when two men from 1st Platoon walked over to him. The rest of their squad hung back but they were whispered to one another.
"Daniels, that's Superman." He whispered.
"Yeah, the S on his chest kind of gave that away, Zussman."
"With him here then our chances of taking his city are all but guaranteed." Aiello said while Stiles quickly took out his camera and snapped a few photos as Turner and Pierson walked over to him.
"First Lieutenant Joseph Turner."
"Sergeant William Peirson.
The two men gave Clark salutes but he waved them down. "At ease. No need for that. Everyone ok?"
"As best as can be. Thank you for the assistance, Captain." Turner told him.
"My pleasure. Elements of 3rd Platoon are going to reinforce the theater. I'm heading north to the Hotel Allendorf. Your squad is welcome to join me." Clark suggested.
"Happy to, sir. That's our objective also, sir." Turner told him.
"Squad, gather up!" Pierson shouted and 1st Platoon gathered around them.
"All right. 3rd Platoon is going to hold the theater. We're pushing north to Hotel Allendorf with Captain Elbert. He's taking temporary command. Treat his orders like my own. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!" The men shouted.
"All right. The hotel has been a Nazi stronghold for weeks. We need to capture it to take the city. Max out on ammo and grenades and let's move!" Clark order and the men got as much ammo and grenades as they could from the resupply before following him.
"Fighting beside the Superman? Going to be one hell of a story." Zussman joked as they headed north through the destroyed and wrecked streets. Clark led them through the streets but there was an eerie silence considering how active things were just moments ago.
"It's too quiet."
"Keep your eyes out. They could be anywhere." Turner told his men when Clark signaled for everyone to hold up and take cover. Turner walked over next to Clark who was hidden behind some rubble. "What's wrong?"
"MG nest up ahead in the building at the end of the street. Second and third floor. MG-42s and snipers." Clark took a look around the streets and planned out their next move. "Storefronts to our right lead to an alleyway that's faster. We'll take that."
Clark then stepped out into view and instantly the snipers and machine guns opened up at him. The men of 1st Platoon watched in stunned awe as bullets bounced off his skin and face without even the need for the shield. Clark's eyes then glowed red and a burst of heat vision blasted the house with the machine guns and snipers before he walked over to the storefront on their right and punched through a brick wall leading to the alleyway he mentioned. "This way."
"He sure does make things easier." Sergeant Pierson remarked before the men followed Clark into the storefront and their new path forward.
They had a few more run-ins with Germans but due to Clark's superhuman senses he was able to call out ambushes so they could act accordingly. They stopped on a small ledge and saw the Hotel Allendorf straight ahead. Compared to the rest of the city it had been spared major destruction. The Nazi banners flowing down the front signified its position as a stronghold for the city. A few of the men took out binoculars to get a better look but Clark just used his super and x-ray vision.
"Looks quiet. I don't see anyone outside. So, they must be inside preparing their defensives." Private Daniels reported.
"They're inside preparing their defenses. There are two levels and the basement but the Germans are above ground. They're setting up machine gun nests aimed at the main points of entry. I'll take care of that but first things first is to clear the apartments. We sweep that to cover our rear and then advance to the hotel." Clark ordered and the men nodded. He took the lead into the apartments, advancing up two floors before the Germans opened fire on him. He drew their fire and advanced, using his shield and super strength to take out the Germans one by one while Turner's men came up behind and gunned down the rest.
Once the apartments were cleared, Turner had some of 1st Platoon stay in the apartments to cover their rear while the rest moved onto the hotel. Clark moved some parked trucks out of the way before he crashed through a wall, taking the fire of the Germans. Their bullets bounced off his skin or the shield before Clark threw the shield and it ricocheted around, knocking out German after German. Clark bashed another German in the head with his shield, turned and kicked one in the stomach which sent him flying back before shield bashing another and sent him crashing into a wall. The Germans were focused on him allowing Turner and his men to enter via a side door and they quickly took down the Germans.
Once all the Germans were taken care of, they grouped up at the door leading to the basement. Clark was first as usual and kicked the door in before heading down with the others following him. Things were empty but Clark could hear muffled voices down below so he led everyone to an old storage room for the hotel. The men turned on their lights as Clark put the shield on his back and took a few steps forward before he raised his hands up.