Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers walked side by side in silence, until, finally, she asked the question that had been weighing on her heart.
"Steve, I feel like there's a lot you're not telling me."
Steve sighed, rubbing his temples as though trying to massage the headache away.
"Peggy… It's complicated."
"That's fine. I've got time."
"Alright." Steve paused, then carefully explained, "That man, Rory, he's conducting an incredibly dangerous experiment. I don't have hard proof, and I don't know if he's brought something even more dangerous with him... but I can't shake the feeling."
"Who is he, exactly? Why does he not exist in any of our records?" Peggy's brows furrowed. She had a dozen questions but chose, for now, to trust Steve.
"To be honest... I don't know. He just appeared, right in front of Tony and me. Then he took us to the future, did a bunch of things we still don't fully understand, and now he's back here. I regret not leaving him in the future under Avengers custody. Would've been safer."
Peggy nodded slowly.
"If you think he's dangerous... then let's just arrest him first and ask questions later."
She was already reaching for the phone to issue orders, when suddenly, the lights cut out.
A flick of the switch did nothing.
"Power's out?" she muttered.
Steve walked over to check.
It wasn't just the house, the entire city block had gone dark.
Peggy immediately opened a cabinet and powered on a standalone generator, then grabbed the phone and called SSR headquarters.
"Manhattan's blacked out. I want a full report. Now."
Minutes later, the phone rang again.
"Ma'am, just got word from the electric company. Power surge originated in South Port Dock, Lower Manhattan. A team's already en route for inspection."
Peggy and Steve looked at each other, both immediately understanding the implication.
The last time something like this happened…
"No… it's Rory!"
Peggy sprang into action, dispatching agents to lock down the dock while she and Steve jumped into a car and sped off.
Meanwhile…
Rory had just completed his final live test on a lab mouse.
Unlike the earlier subject that had turned violently aggressive, this mouse was calm, its body slightly larger than average, but still cute and docile.
Most importantly, the transformation was stable.
"Alright... Now it's my turn."
Rory was confident. There were only two possible outcomes:
Either his body would adapt and integrate Thanos's genes, or nothing would happen at all.
There was no third option.
After prepping the equipment, Rory stripped down to his shorts and stood before the energy pod.
He turned to the test mouse and gave a half-smile.
"Wish me luck."
And with that, he jabbed the serum into his carotid artery.
Power surged through the building once again, the grid redirecting all energy toward the abandoned rubber factory like a starving beast gulping down lightning.
Transformers exploded in sparks, just as Peggy's car screeched to a halt at the dock.
"Where would he be hiding?" Peggy scanned the area with arms akimbo.
SSR agents were already swarming the docks.
"No idea," Steve replied. "Let's get down there."
They made their way into the compound. Suddenly, bang!, a high-voltage wire overhead burst, sending a shower of sparks raining down.
Instinctively, Steve grabbed Peggy and pulled her to safety.
He looked up.
From across the yard, a faint blue glow shimmered from within a derelict warehouse.
"There! He's in there! Come on!"
Steve took off running, leaving Peggy behind as she scrambled to call in reinforcements.
Inside the factory, Rory was screaming.
Steve threw his shoulder into the steel door.
Bang! Bang!
On the third try, the door collapsed inward.
The lab was filled with a tangle of wires and the hum of overworked machines. At the center stood a glowing energy pod, blazing with a fading blue light.
Steve was too late.
By the time he approached, the chamber had reached its peak output, then quieted.
Hiss…
The glow faded. The screams stopped.
Steve rushed to open the pod, ripping it apart with brute strength.
A puff of smoke burst out, blinding him,
Then a foot lashed out from within.
THUD!
Steve flew backward like a ragdoll, slammed into the wall, and crumpled to the ground, sliding a few feet before coming to a stop.
"Steve!"
Peggy rushed to his side.
Steve stood up, bruised but alert, eyes locked on the pod.
A few seconds later, Rory emerged. Bare-chested, jaw clenched, expression stormy.
"Why, Steve?" Rory growled. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"
"Rory, I'm doing this for your own good. I don't want to see you spiral down the wrong path."
"And who the hell decides what's the right path? You? The guy made in a lab by Erskine and then handed a shield? Don't you think that might have been wrong, too?"
Rory stepped closer with every word, anger rising.
Until he was face to face with Steve.
He jabbed a finger at his chest.
"You're just a soldier. I am the scientist here. This is my experiment. You have no right to interfere!"
"I have to stop you."
BANG!
Rory's bare foot drove into Steve's stomach like a battering ram. Steve crashed into the wall, coughing as dust rained down.
"You speak of freedom," Rory snarled. "But who gave you the right to take mine away?!"
He lunged again, grabbing Steve by the throat.
"I see it now. You're not driven by justice, just your image. You want to look righteous."
"That's not true, !"
CRACK!
Steve retaliated, driving a knee into Rory's chest, breaking the hold.
Then came a powerful right hook, smashing into Rory's jaw.
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter