Chapter 12: Hail Hydra

HYDRA HEADQUARTERS

Three Nazi officers, Roeder, Schneider and Hutter, eye a Hydra banner with distaste as they stalk after Schmidt, who never stops walking.

"The Fuhrer feels your continued disregard of military protocol is unacceptable." Roeder opens the conversation.

They pass an imposing Hydra troopers posted along the hall.

"You serve at his pleasure. He gave you this facility as a reward for your injuries." Schneider added.

"Reward? You may call it what it really is...an exile. I no longer reflect his image of Aryan perfection." Schmidt replied somewhat enraged.

"You think this is about appearances? Your Hydra division has failed to deliver so much as a rifle in over a year. We had to learn through local intelligence you had mounted a full-scale incursion into Norway." Roeder countered.

"The Fuhrer feels...how does he put it?... The Red Skull has been indulged long enough." Schneider mocks.

Schmidt finally stops, turns and glares at Schneider.

"You came to see the results of our work. Come. Let me show you." Schmidt arrogantly said.

He leads them to a door marked "ANGEWANDTE IDEE MECHANIK". Two massive guards stand on either side.

HYDRA HQ - SCHMIDT'S OFFICE LAB

Schmidt leads them inside where Dr. Zola and several techs work on a blue cube generator amidst complicated machinery.

"Hitler speaks of a thousand year Reich. Yet he cannot feed his armies for a month. His troops spill blood by the gallon across every field in Europe. Yet he gets no closer to achieving his goals." Schmidt starts his speech.

"And I suppose you still aim to win this war through magic?" Roeder making fun of Schmidt.

"Science. Though I understand your confusion. Great power has always baffled primitive men." Schmidt mocks. He gestures to the complicated machinery and continues his speech. "Hydra has perfected a weapon which can destroy my enemies in one swift, brutal stroke. Wherever they are, no matter how many forces they possess. All in a matter of hours."

"Your enemies?" Roeder asked, suspicious.

Schmidt indicates a map marked with red pins and replied "I now wield enough destructive force to decimate every hostile capital on Earth. Simultaneously. Quite simply, gentlemen...I have harnessed the power of the gods." The Nazis eye each other.

"Thank you, Schmidt." Schneider said after a few seconds of awkward silence.

"For what?" Schmidt asked, baffled.

"For making it clear how obviously mad you are." Schneider replied.

Hutter studies the map and was dumbstruck for a second before alerting his comrades. "Berlin is on this map!"

Schmidt looks calmly from one Nazi to the other.

"So it is." Schmidt said indifferently then he pushes a switch. A cannon rises from the apparatus. Its chamber glows a familiar blue.

"You will be punished for your insolence!" Hutter angrily shouted.

The device rotates toward the officers, calibrating.

"You will be brought before the Fuhrer himself—" Hutter continue to shout but was cut off when the cannon blows him to mist. The other Nazis scramble. Schneider jumps away as the cannon fires. It misses. Schmidt frowns. He starts to pull his Luger, then Schneider trips. The cannon aims again and he's gone. Roeder backs up toward the wall and hysterically shouted "Schmidt!" before the cannon hits him.

Schmidt gazes down at the dead Nazis, impassive. He turns to Dr. Zola and the Hydra techs, who stare, shocked.

"My apologies, Doctor, but we both knew Hydra could grow no further in Hitler's shadow." Schmidt explained. "Hail Hydra."

The techs step forward, giving a two-armed salute and shouted "Hail Hydra! Hail Hydra!"

Dr. Zola carefully considers the moment. Finally, he relents, offering a measured Hydra salute. "Hail Hydra."

SSR WAREHOUSE - OFFICE

Through a window, we see Howard Stark, in coveralls and goggles, slowly taking apart the Hydra mini submarine.

Steve stares down absentmindedly as a SSR doctor and nurse draw blood from his arm. Agent Carter watches with concern.

"You think you've got enough?" Steve asked. The nurse fills the vial, resting it beside a dozen others.

"This will truly help in understanding better how the serum worked and what needs to be adjusted for it to be used successfully on others." Agent Carter explained. "At the moment, you're the only super soldier there is."

Steve rolls down his sleeve and stares at his hands. Then he remembers Yumhee's pale unconscious body laying in his arms, her blood flowing in his hands.

"Yumhee doesn't deserve this." Steve said, pain evident in his voice. His demeanor collapsing as he worry for the woman he adores.

"The doctor was at his wit's end with so little time to think of other ways. It was the only possible solution to save her." Agent Carter consoled him.

The quiet moment lingers.

REBIRTH LAB

Mr. Stark works as Colonel Phillips enters, Senator Brandt and his aids on his heels.

"Colonel Phillips, my committee is demanding answers." Senator Brandt said.

"Great. Why don't we start with how a German spy got a ride to my secret installation in your car?" Colonel Phillips, clearly angry, snapped at the Senator.

Senator Brandt frowns but shuts up. Colonel Phillips turns to Stark as Steve and agent Carter join them.

"What have we got?" Colonel Phillips asked Howard Stark seriously.

"Well, speaking modestly, I'd say I'm the best mechanical engineer in the country..." Mr. Stark starts and then opens a hatch. Impressive circuitry blinks inside. He continues "And I've got no idea what any of this is or how it works. We're nowhere near capable of this technology."

"Then who is?" The Senator asked anxiously.

"Hydra." Colonel Phillips gravely informed. Senator Brandt looks at him blankly. The Colonel looks at him and said while squinting his eyes dangerously "I'm sure you've read our briefings."

"I'm on a number of committees, Colonel." The senator defended.

"Hydra is the Nazi deep science division. It's led by Dr. Erskine's first test subject, Johann Schmidt." Agent Carter generously supplied.

"Hydra's practically a cult. They worship Schmidt, think he's invincible." Colonel Phillips mockingly said.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Senator Brandt asked.

"I spoke to the President this morning. As of today, the SSR's being re-tasked." Colonel Phillips answered.

"Colonel?" Agent Carter was surprised.

"We're taking the fight to Hydra. Pack your bags, Agent. You, too, Stark. The three of us fly to London tonight." The Colonel instructed.

"Sir? If you're going after Schmidt, I want in." Steve intervened.

"You're an experiment. We're sending you to Alamogordo." Colonel Phillips said indifferently.

"As what, a lab rat? The serum worked!" Steve was adamant.

"I asked for an army. All I got is you. And you are not enough." The Colonel's cold answer douse Steve's determination. He looks sunk.

Senator Brandt then waves his aide over and then looked at Colonel Phillips and said "With all due respect, Colonel, I think we may be missing the point.  You've seen Steve here in action. More importantly, the country's seen it." Senator Brandt's aide hands over a copy of the New York Examiner: "NAZI SABOTEUR FOILED! MYSTERY MAN SAVES CIVILIANS!". In the photo, Steve deflects gunfire with a starred car door. Then he continued "Enlistment lines have been around the block since this hit the newsstands. You don't take a soldier, a symbol, like this and hide him in a lab."

Steve looks surprised. He didn't expect Senator Brandt to step up for him. The Senator turns on the charm, becoming the consummate politician.

"He needs to be out there, showing the world what the American fighting man is made of." Senator Brandt then looks to Steve and continued to say "Son, do you want to serve your country? On the most important battlefield in this war?"

"It's all I want." Steve answered immediately.

"Then congratulations. You just got promoted." The Senator smiled brightly and Steve returned the smile.