Chapter 110: Captain Carter -1

You stand outside the transparent observation room, peering in at the sleeping woman. The infirmary on the 85th floor of Watson Tower is specifically designed for future team members, but today, it houses someone from the past.

The beautiful woman lying unconscious before you is Peggy Carter, the same Peggy you found frozen in ice three days ago at the crash site of the Valkyrie aircraft.

After hastily bringing her back, you have either been by her side or at the crash site, salvaging whatever you can.

Doing it all in secrecy was paramount; as you knew that if the slightest whiff of this leaks, S.H.I.E.L.D. and its close sibling Hydra will be at your ass!

It was not easy but it was definitely worth it! After ransacking the whole aircraft, you found some very cool Hydra goodies.

Like Annihilation 99L Assault weapon.

and the Hydra Cannon.

Both of these weapons were able to fire beams of energy that can disintegrate a human body easily.

You also found many Hydra Parasits.

They were small planes containing bombs. A single one of them can decimate entire cities, and you found dozens of them perfectly preserved inside the plane, even after all these years.

These weapons were good, great even ... but the most thrilling find was the Tesseract Batteries.

Small devices storing energy drawn from the Tesseract itself! This was what powered all those deadly weapons. You lament Hydra's crude and wasteful usage of such incredible power. Now in your hands, you intend to utilize it to its fullest potential.

You glance at sleeping Peggy, grateful for her sacrifice in stopping Hydra's plans. Her bravery has prevented widescale destruction around the globe; the Whole World is in her debt.

"Are you worried she might not wake up?" a gentle voice breaks your reverie.

It's your girlfriend, Susan Storm. She and the Fantastic Four have been instrumental in helping you clear the wreckage of the plane.

"Just a little," you reply with a wry smile. In this alternate Marvel universe, where even Steve Rogers has become Peggy Carter, you can never be sure what will happen next.

"Well, don't be. If anyone can survive being frozen in ice for decades, it's Captain Carter," Susan assures you confidently, looking at Peggy's sleeping figure with a smile.

"Yeah, I ho—" You stop mid-sentence as you notice Peggy stir.

"I'll call the doctor and the others," Susan announces as she storms off.

You open the door and enter, making sure that your power Angelic Aura is activated.

Peggy's eyes flutter open, and she sits up, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings.

"Good morning, Captain Carter," you greet her with a warm smile.

Peggy stands up instantly, her eyes narrowing as she sees you approach. "Who are you? And where am I?" she demands in her British accent.

"I am Lucas Watson, Miss Carter," you say serenely, placing a hand on your chest. "And as for where and … when, it's best if you sit down as I explain."

"Go on then … Lucas. Explain where I am," Peggy instructs, crossing her arms while standing and scrutinizing the big computer screens in the room.

"You are in Watson Tower, in New York City," you begin slowly. "The year is 2008. We found you in the Arctic, preserved in ice."

"2008? That's… 63 years. How is that possible?" Peggy takes a deep breath, her fists clenching tightly before releasing with a sigh. "How did I survive this long?" Peggy asks, looking at you for answers as she weirdly feels that you are telling the truth.

"It's the serum in your blood; it kept you alive. We just managed to revive you," you reply directly.

"Yes, the serum," Peggy repeats slowly, trying to absorb everything.

"Oh, the patient is awake already," a woman's voice remarks as Susan returns with an entourage.

Peggy glances around the room, now filled with unfamiliar faces. "And who are all of you?"

"I'm Dr. Stephanie Strange, a neurosurgeon and your doctor," the woman from before introduces herself.

Yes she is Dr. Stephanie Strange.

Stephanie Strange, in this universe, doesn't have a goatee, and obviously, she is a woman instead of a man. She is a very famous neurosurgeon who has been your acquaintance for some years.

In your previous world's comics and movies, her male counterpart goes on to become Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme.

Stephanie moves forward and picks up a tablet from the desk, "Let's see, her vitals are great, her brain activity looks good too, no signs of damage after the thawing process, and obviously the patient is in full control of her motor functions," she observes, looking at the standing Peggy, who is surprised by the tablet computer.

"Uhm … Thank you, Doctor Strange? for saving me," Peggy responds, looking at her.

"Ah, no, I didn't 'save' you from anything. I was called here just to take a second look at your brain to make sure everything is alright there," Stephanie clarifies with a smile. "Still, this kind of home visit from me is not cheap," she adds, looking back at you with a smirk.

"You didn't need any saving, Captain Carter. The high amounts of glucose generated by your liver created a 'cryoprotectant' that thickened your blood but didn't freeze it. Since your blood wasn't frozen, you were able to survive in that ice for decades. Sorry, I am Dr. Amara Perera, a geneticist," Amara steps forward to introduce herself.

"So, a kind of cryo-suspended animation?" Peggy inquires curiously. "I thought it was impossible for humans to survive after that."

"It isn't possible. This must be because of the serum in your blood, Captain. It astonishingly preserved your flawless skin perfectly even after more than 60 years! I am Dr. Helen Cho, specializing in synthetic tissue," Helen comments from the side.

"Hello," Peggy responds awkwardly as she rubs the skin of her arm to check if it is still smooth.

"Uhm … I-I am Dr. Jemma Simmons, a biochemist … but you can call me Jemma!" Jemma introduces herself, fidgeting slightly. Her British accent catches Peggy's attention. "Did you know what happened to you was the same as how wood frogs hibernate!"

"Uhm, sorry … I-I am very nervous, and when I am nervous, I start to babble. You look even better than your photos! I should know as I had observed your body closely even when we were thawing the ice!" Jemma gushes in excitement, looking at Peggy's face in awe.

"Thank you?" Peggy replies, looking at the excited girl weirdly.

"This here is Bobbi; she was with me when we found you," you say hurriedly, trying to dispel the awkwardness.

"I am Barbara Morse. You can call me Bobbi, and it's an honour to meet you, Captain Carter!" Bobbi states, standing straight with her chest out in front of Peggy.

"Hello, Bobbi … thank you for finding me," Peggy responds with a smile.

Bobbi beams with a smile at that comment. Even Bobbi is not immune to fangirling Captain Carter, it seems.

Before you can introduce Toni, she approaches herself.

"And I'm Toni Stark," Toni declares with a smirk. "I have heard … so much about you from my father, Howard Stark."

Peggy's eyes widen at the mention of Howard, "Howard had a daughter? That must have been a nightmare for him! Where is he?" Peggy inquires, looking around in anticipation.

"He and my mother passed away in a car accident many years ago," Toni reveals with a wry smile. "But he spoke very highly of you."

"Oh … I am sorry to hear that," Peggy responds dejectedly.

You are the one who had called on Toni, knowing that Peggy and Howard were friends, so her daughter's presence here might comfort her.

"This is Susan Storm," you introduce the blonde woman who is standing by your side patiently.

"Captain, she is the Invisible Woman!" Jemma exclaims excitedly from the side.

"Invisible Woman?" Peggy asks curiously as she shakes hands with Susan.

"It's nothing," Susan responds awkwardly. She has been asked to sign many autographs on her official merch already by Jemma.

"I'm sorry, Miss Peggy, I have to take my leave. I am getting late for an interview," Stephanie interjects from the side, glancing at her expensive watch. "There are some tests that still need to be done, but I am sure my friend Christine will be happy to do them," she adds, motioning towards Christine.

Christine Palmer was a love interest of Dr. Strange in the MCU.

"Yes, nice to meet you Captain Carter! I am Dr. Christine Palmer, and do not worry, you are in good hands," Christine reassures with a smile.

"Thank you, doctors," Peggy responds, shaking both their hands.

"Alright, I will be off now. It was lovely meeting you all," Stephanie announces with a small smile, looking at the different people in the room, and then goes out.