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Chapter 44: The Upcoming Experiment
The grenade lay still, not exploding for what felt like an eternity, and eventually, everyone began to react.
Phillips shouted, "It's a dummy grenade! Line up, get back!"
Steve asked coldly, "Is this a test?"
The doctor smiled triumphantly, and Phillips finally conceded. This slender soldier possessed some of the most valuable and rarest qualities for a soldier—self-sacrifice. With a hint of embarrassment, he added stiffly, "He's still too thin."
He then turned his attention to Thor and Peggy, who were still in shock, and said, exasperated, "Does this kid really think he's Superman? It's too close; lying down doesn't help!"
The doctor shrugged. "Probably, it's depicted like that in the comics... But at least, if it were a real grenade, Peggy could survive under the pressure. Therefore, I'm choosing him as the second candidate."
The soldiers clearly observed the scene, and all of them reacted with intense interest.
Peggy Carter's face flushed red and then pale, but surprisingly, she didn't get angry. Instead, she gently nudged Steve and said softly, "You—get up first."
Thor felt a sharp pang of discomfort. He had just seen Peggy Carter running toward the grenade amidst the chaos, and his reflexes kicked in. He felt a mix of admiration and embarrassment...
If Steve's actions in the original story were like a small pebble causing ripples in Peggy Carter's heart, Thor's actions were more like a boulder, creating a larger and more significant impact.
…
Steve's performance had silenced any dissenting opinions.
"Why did you choose me?" Steve asked Dr. Abraham in his dorm room the night before the Super Soldier project.
"Because, rather than just being a good soldier, I want you to be a good man."
"Actually—" Steve hesitated, "Blake might be a better choice..."
Despite knowing this could be his only chance, he still brought it up.
The doctor was momentarily taken aback but then appeared more satisfied.
He smiled and said, "Yes, Blake is indeed the best soldier I've ever seen. He's brave and resolute, defying the strong and empathizing with the weak. However, compared to you, he's too irritable and aggressive. His excitement in battle is unmistakable."
The doctor joked, "He reminds me of a Spartan. As a soldier, these traits aren't disadvantages but strengths. However, the Super Soldier Serum will greatly amplify a person's inherent traits."
"And you, humility, integrity, compassion, sacrifice... these are the qualities I value most."
"Sounds like a knightly selection. Do I need to take an oath tomorrow?" Steve laughed.
…
Due to Thor's disruption, Steve took Dr. Abraham's car to the experimental base the following day, while Thor rode in Peggy Carter's passenger seat.
As Colonel Phillips' favored soldier, Abraham agreed to select Steve as the second super soldier after his successful trial. Consequently, Thor was allowed to visit in advance.
In reality, Thor knew that he wasn't human and a lot of monsters in comics indirectly came form SSS , it may have weird effect on him. Besides, there would only be one Captain America...
"How do you feel? Are you disappointed not to be the first super soldier?" Peggy broke the awkward silence.
Since the embarrassing incident on the training ground, she had instructed everyone to keep quiet about it and never mention it again. Yet, facing Thor, the situation remained somewhat awkward.