46
Chapter 46: Super Soldier? Termination!
Steve, stepping off the laboratory bench, seemed transformed. He was no longer the 5'3" man he once was; now he stood nearly a foot taller with muscles that rivaled a mini Hulk...
"How do you feel?" Thor asked.
"It feels incredible. I could fight all day now!"
Applause erupted from the crowd. People approached, and no one noticed except Dr. Abraham, the HYDRA spy, who discreetly pulled out a lighter.
Before he could act, there was a loud explosion, and chaos erupted in the laboratory.
In the confusion, the HYDRA spy grabbed the remaining tube of serum, shot Dr. Abraham, and fled.
Thor quickly moved out of the way and fell to the ground. Steve rushed to help, and the doctor shouted, "I'm fine! Go after him!"
Steve sprinted out just as the spy was getting into a car. Before the door could close, Steve yanked him out, causing the spy to panic, shed his coat, and run.
Despite Captain America's enhanced abilities, catching the spy was challenging. On one hand, Steve was still adjusting to his new strength, and on the other, he had to ensure public safety. The chase was intense, with Steve pursuing the spy all the way to the pier.
The spy had taken a child hostage and jumped off the pier into a waiting submarine.
Just when he thought he had succeeded, a pair of powerful arms shattered the window, pulled him out, and threw him onto the pier. Steve quickly subdued him.
Realizing escape was impossible, the spy smashed the serum and shouted:
"Cut off one head, and two more shall take its place!"
"Hail HYDRA !"
Then, he tilted his head and died.
The onlookers cheered. In these times, heroes were greatly needed.
…
The next day, Captain America's heroic deeds were featured prominently in the media. However, more bad news followed: Dr. Abraham had temporarily forgotten the serum formula due to the trauma and shock from the incident.
Phillips was frustrated. He wanted an invincible army, not just one super soldier, despite Captain America's impressive display of strength.
After Captain America had his blood sampled, he was thrust into various public appearances and became a symbol of hope.
Thor, the top Blake recruit, was soon sent to the front lines. Phillips regretted not selecting Thor earlier; he might have been able to protect Dr. Abraham immediately after the transformation or recover the serum.
No one doubted Thor's abilities, as many considered him the next best candidate for super soldier status. If the project was terminated, he would be the biggest loser.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Doctor," Thor murmured to himself the night before heading to the front.
For him, the super soldier serum's effects were minimal, but the side effects were significant, so risking changing history wasn't worth it.
Saving Dr. Abraham was already a significant achievement.
The doctor's memory loss was a result of Thor's dark magic.
During his five years in Asgard, Thor not only enjoyed the luxuries but also delved into many ancient texts and learned a few basic spells.
He was determined to prevent the super-soldier program from progressing, regardless of the plot. While Dr. Abraham and Steve were honorable, not everyone shared their values. If the military mastered the art of mass-producing super soldiers, it would spell disaster for the world.
After all, with the mustached dictator's downfall, it wouldn't be long before another unjust war began. The super soldier program of this era needed to be stopped.