Chapter 2

ADMIRAL'S OFFICE

POV Garp

'So far, I can't say much, good or bad, about the Fleet Admiral... his little power play was decent enough... let's just hope he's not all talk,' I thought as I sat in a comfortable armchair in the office of Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz, Sr. The man before me was probably only a few years older than I was, but he exuded a natural authority.

"Ensign Monkey D. Garp... First of all, let me thank you for your service to our fatherland. I know a soldier when I see one. You served in 1917, correct?" he asked, and I confirmed with a nod.

"Not much of a talker... but that's fine! And last week, according to reports, you performed an incredible feat. By order of the President himself, I am authorized to promote you to the rank of Vice Admiral. However, it's only a title. You will enjoy the benefits of the position, but not the responsibilities and duties of a Vice Admiral... Do you accept the promotion?"

I nodded again, fully aware that this was a mere formality, a way to tie me closer to the government. I had expected this after revealing my powers. I was already surprised after the first war that I had been so easily forgotten.

"Very well then, Vice Admiral Garp! I see you've already figured out the purpose of the promotion, so let's not beat around the bush. Mutant or experiment?"

For the first time, I looked at the Fleet Admiral in surprise.

'What in God's name is a mutant?'

"I've had these powers since birth, Fleet Admiral Sir! To my knowledge, no experiment has ever been conducted on me... If I may ask, what is a mutant?"

"Hmm... then perhaps a mutant..." he muttered quietly before continuing aloud: "Mutants are a race of humans born with supernatural abilities. The government is currently conducting extensive research in this area, but so far, no major breakthroughs have been made. Additionally, I must inform you that these words cannot leave this room. Especially what I am about to tell you now. The success of the war may depend on it..." the Fleet Admiral warned me, and I listened intently.

'I'm not the only one?! Maybe the others know more about our purpose? Do we even have one? What is the meaning of my existence?'

Without much hesitation, I agreed to keep the information confidential, and the Fleet Admiral continued.

"It annoys me to no end that I have to hand over such a valuable soldier, but from now on, you will be under the command of Colonel Phillips. A plane is already being prepared as we speak to fly you to New York. I've been ordered to brief you. You will be involved in the secret 'Super Soldier' program. I don't know exactly what your role will be, but I can tell you that you will be working closely with Dr. Erskine."

'So, back to the homecity. Back to my past... a place I had hoped to leave behind.'

"In addition, you will serve in a special unit. Phillips will provide more details. That's all I can reveal for now, Vice Admiral Garp!" he said as he pulled out an expensive bottle of Scotch and two crystal glasses from his desk drawer.

He poured us each a drink and handed me a glass.

"Now that the formalities are out of the way, I'd like to know more about you. Let's leave duty behind for now, until your plane is ready, and talk man-to-man. Of course, only if you don't mind. Tell me about the man behind Monkey D. Garp..." he asked, taking a deep sip of Scotch.

I swirled the Scotch in my glass, pondering how much I should reveal. Finally, I sighed, and to my own surprise, I started talking—and I didn't stop. I told him about my sorrowful life, how the world had forgotten me. How I had forgotten myself. About my search for meaning.

The Fleet Admiral listened intently, and I could see him empathize, especially with my stories about the first war. His anger over my situation as a homeless veteran seemed genuine, probably one of the reasons why I kept talking.

"Hmm, a purpose in life... Unfortunately, I haven't found one either. We live in harsh times, where strong men are needed to protect our lives and the lives of those we love. My purpose, no, my goal is to give my children a better, simpler future. But I believe each man must find his own purpose, his own dream to chase. Maybe your powers were given to you for that reason. Or maybe it was all just a big coincidence. If I could offer you any advice... seek out your dream! If you can't find meaning in life, give it one yourself!"

'A dream? Do I have a dream? What could I possibly want in this sad world consumed by violence and destruction?' I thought, deeply lost in thought, until a messenger came in to inform us that my plane was ready.

"Thank you, Fleet Admiral Sir! Thank you for the conversation. I hope your dream comes true! And thanks for the Scotch!"

"Buhahaha! No need to thank me, Vice Admiral Garp. I believe I've made somewhat of a friend today, and that's worth more than a bottle of Scotch. And from one old soldier to another... there's always a reason to keep going. To never give up, no matter how unjust the world may be. Now, dismissed, Vice Admiral!"

"Yes, Sir, Fleet Admiral Sir!" I barked, giving my first sincere salute in 20 years, which caused the Fleet Admiral to laugh again.

Military Airport New York

POV GARP

The flight was short and uneventful, but throughout the entire journey, I couldn't shake the words of the Fleet Admiral from my mind.

'A dream? To give my life purpose on my own? Can I really do that? Is it even possible?'

I felt the tires of the plane hit the runway roughly, snapping me out of my thoughts. The cargo ramp opened, and I unbuckled my seatbelt.

With steady steps, I exited the plane and was greeted by an open military jeep and a stunning young woman. She had hazel-brown hair and doe-like eyes, though if you ignored the nearly murderous glint in them. Immediately, I knew I was dealing with a strong-willed woman.

She wore a well-fitted British uniform, which gave her an air of authority.

There were few women in the military, but every one of them could easily hold their own in this male-dominated world.

"Vice Admiral Garp! I hope the flight was pleasant. My name is Agent Carter. Welcome to the SSR. I have orders to escort you directly to Colonel Phillips," she said with a slight British accent.

I nodded in acknowledgment and squeezed myself into the jeep, which was far too small for my massive frame. I didn't feel like talking. Others might have been instantly charmed by the beauty in front of me, but I had always been a bit withdrawn. My mother used to say it was because of my strange body... that I never felt comfortable in my own skin.

Agent Carter didn't seem to mind my silence, and she drove off without a word. After a few minutes, she broke the silence: "You know, it's okay to talk to me, Vice Admiral. Despite how I may look, I don't bite. And we're going to be working together for quite some time, so let's not make things harder than they have to be. If it helps, you can call me Peggy."

A small smile crept onto my face, and I replied in my deep voice, "Agent Carter, or rather, Peggy. It's not that I don't want to talk to you. I just don't talk much in general. People tend to say things too easily, so I prefer to save my words. But you're right... you can call me Garp. My title is just for show anyway..."

We then spoke for a few minutes about the war—a difficult but ever-present topic—as the jeep sped down the road. One thing immediately stood out to me: Peggy didn't care that I wasn't like others. Despite my unnatural body, she talked to me like I was any other person. It was a rarity, something I had only experienced with a handful of people.

"So, Peggy, the Fleet Admiral mentioned that I might be a mutant... Have you ever met others like me?"

"Like you? No, never. Not even close. But I've read reports about other mutants. Supposedly, there are two brothers in the army who are more animal than man. And apparently, they can heal from any wound on their own."

"So, not all mutants are the same? Not all are like me?"

"According to our research, every mutant has a different ability. But the research is still relatively new. There are signs that mutants with supernatural powers have existed for thousands of years. Since the war began, research has been conducted worldwide. The Allied Forces, under the direction of the U.S. government, have set a different research goal. Under Colonel Phillips and Dr. Erskine, the Project Rebirth aims to create a Super Soldier Serum. The goal is an unbeatable army... You'll be part of that team, by the way. What exactly your role will be, I can't say... that's above my pay grade," Peggy replied with a shrug.

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, mostly about my future colleagues and superiors. According to Peggy, Colonel Phillips was a strict man with a big heart. The well-being and survival of his soldiers came first, with the completion of missions coming second. I remained skeptical, but the truth would reveal itself soon enough.

Dr. Erskine was also said to be a kind-hearted man with the intellect of an entire team of scientists. According to Peggy, Dr. Erskine was nearly finished with the Super Soldier Serum, but he was still searching for the right soldier. He didn't want to create a powerful oppressor; his goal sounded more like he wanted to create a hero with a pure heart. I laughed out loud when Peggy told me that—someone like that was hard to imagine. Every person I'd ever met had a hunger for power deep down.

Finally, we talked about Howard Stark, the second scientist on the project who focused on the technical aspects. From what Peggy told me, Stark seemed to have a bit of a mad scientist vibe. His ideas for technological advancements were so far-fetched, they sounded like they came from a bad sci-fi movie.

The jeep slowed down as we approached the entrance of a military camp, heavily guarded by soldiers. The soldiers saluted and let us pass without issue. I could see how they looked at me with disbelief and suspicion, but Peggy thanked them with a stoic glance and calmly drove into the camp.

There wasn't much to say about the camp itself. Rows upon rows of tents were lined up, and the soldiers went about their daily tasks. We parked the jeep, and Peggy led me to a large open field that seemed to serve as a training ground.

From a distance, I could already spot two of my future superiors, who appeared to be in the middle of a heated discussion. We walked straight toward them, and I overheard the man in the white lab coat say, "No, Colonel, they're not the right ones. You've made them good soldiers, but they're missing something important... they don't have heart!"

The Colonel just sighed and turned to face us.

"Colonel Phillips, Sir! Agent Carter reporting back with Vice Admiral Garp!" Peggy said with a playful salute. It was clear to me that she knew the Colonel well, something I made a mental note of.

"At ease, Peggy... So, you're Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp? From what I can see, the reports weren't exaggerated," the Colonel said, eyeing me critically.

"Hello, Sir, Colonel Phillips! I hope I live up to those reports," I responded, saluting as protocol demanded.

"At ease, Vice Admiral... You do realize you technically outrank me?"

"Yes, Sir, but I also know my rank doesn't hold much weight in the army."

'Is this some kind of test?' I wondered, silently observing the Colonel without saying more.

We stood there in silence for a moment before the Colonel eventually sighed and relented.

"Allow me to introduce Dr. Erskine, the lead scientist for Project Rebirth. Doctor, you've heard everything, so this is the Vice Admiral…"

Dr. Erskine stepped forward, looked me over from head to toe, and then nodded.

"Hello, my name is Dr. Abraham Erskine. If you don't mind, just call me Abraham. Would you be opposed to me running some tests on you? Of course, only when I'm not working on Project Rebirth…"

I hesitated briefly before answering. I wasn't particularly keen on being examined, but in the end, I agreed.

"Hello, Abraham... in the future, just call me Garp. I don't mind you running tests, but please explain every step and the results to me. I want to learn more about my abilities."

The doctor's face lit up like a child who had just found a new toy, making me briefly reconsider my decision. Eventually, I sighed in resignation and followed Colonel Phillips and Peggy to his office.

ARMEE CAMP

POV GARP

Three hours later, I lay in my own tent on a field cot, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts kept returning to the conversation I had with the Colonel, Peggy, and Abraham. I had learned a lot—war secrets, details about Project Rebirth, and perhaps the biggest shock of all: the secret Nazi organization dealing with the supernatural... Hydra!

I had heard of Hydra before, but my knowledge had been limited to the general public understanding of Hydra as the scientific branch of the SS. But they were so much more.

And what I learned ignited a deep hatred for Hydra and Nazi Germany in my heart. The inhumane torture, the conditions in the concentration camps... none of it was deserved by any human being. I was appalled. How could more people not know about this? How could the people in Germany support something like this? Did they not know? I found that hard to believe... Were they ignoring it? Or were they afraid of ending up the same way? How could anyone inflict such pain on another human being...

My worldview had drastically changed during that short briefing. The worst part? The Colonel backed up his information with pictures and other reports. Every piece of it was supported by verified sources... no propaganda.

Up until this point, I had served in this war to protect those who still had hope for the future. But slowly, the idea of fighting for those suffering under Hydra and Nazi Germany began to creep into my mind. I knew the Colonel was manipulating me... but damn, it was working, and I didn't even feel bad about it.

My first mission was straightforward: I was to act as Abraham's bodyguard in public until Project Rebirth was complete. The government didn't want to risk the life of their prized scientist. And who better to protect him than a 2.87-meter tall mountain of muscle with supernatural abilities who throws ship ammunition like a baseball... or so Peggy had said.

Not that I minded. Abraham was surprisingly laid-back, except for the slightly mad glint in his eyes whenever he thought about getting me into his lab for examination.

The government also wanted me to appear in war propaganda as the "Hero of the Marine" to encourage more people to enlist, so more could go off to war and risk their lives. I had immediately told Phillips that I wouldn't do it, even after he offered me money and more power. That was my bottem line, and the Colonel had grudgingly accepted it. I was surprised at how quickly he gave in, though I was soon distracted as he began talking about Hydra.

'But now, lying here in this tent... why did he give in so easily? I can't think of any plausible reason... I should probably keep that in the back of my mind...'

Time passed, and I slowly settled in. For three months now, I had been working with the SSR under Phillips, and life had become simple. My role as a bodyguard barely required my time; in the past three months, I had only been needed twice. Once, I accompanied Abraham to New York for a meeting with leading scientists from various fields, and the other time, he wanted to visit a recruitment office, hoping to find his ideal soldier with a big heart.

The rest of my time was spent with Peggy, who often shared news from the front with me over a cup of tea, with Phillips, who challenged me to exciting chess matches, and with Abraham, who would have me lie naked on a metal table in his lab while he performed his "doctor games."

My life was almost too easy. It felt unfair. I was able to enjoy life while other men and women risked theirs on the front lines. I felt torn inside. I didn't want to go to war, didn't want to kill again... but I also didn't want to sit idly by, hearing Peggy's reports about the casualties or listening to the radio talk about death tolls.

The Fleet Admiral's words echoed in my head once more. 'A dream... My dream is peace in the world... that every child experiences justice and peace in their lives! That no one has to suffer anymore! But how can I achieve this dream... it's far too big! How can one person dare to make such noble goals their life's purpose?! What if I fail?! I can't bear that weight... no one can...'

Lost in thought, I wandered through the camp until, without realizing it, I found myself standing in front of Colonel Phillips' office. I considered turning around, but after a brief hesitation, I knocked and entered after hearing a "Come in!"

"Colonel... I think I want to return to the front. I want to make a difference, no matter how small... I can't just sit idly at home and watch anymore."

"Ah, I understand you, Garp. I feel the same way at times... but orders are orders. Once this project is finished, I'll see if I can set something in motion for you... By the way, next Friday, you'll be accompanying the Doc to Stark's Expo. As usual, keep an eye on him. You know by now how he loves to run off from his bodyguards..."

"I'll do my best..."

(TO BE CONTINUED)