Chapter 12: Breaking Point

The sound of boots crunching on gravel echoed in the stillness of the forest as Alex followed Steve, Peggy, and the Howling Commandos into the dim cover of the woods. It was supposed to be a routine recon mission—a chance to gather intel on Hydra's new movements. But Alex could feel it in the air, the tension, the unspoken fear that seemed to ripple through the group whenever he was near.

The past few days had been a whirlwind of confusion and conflict. The vision of the Watcher haunted Alex's dreams, the weight of its warning pressing on him like a physical force. "The convergence will test you in ways you cannot imagine." Those words looped endlessly in his mind. He couldn't ignore them, but he couldn't understand them, either.

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A Fractured Team

The Howling Commandos paused in a clearing, Steve signaling for everyone to regroup. Peggy laid out a map, her brow furrowed as she explained the plan. "We've received reports that Hydra's forces are moving through this sector. Zemo's leading them personally, which means they're up to something big. We need to find out what it is and shut it down before they get any closer to the Tesseract."

Alex felt the weight of every gaze on him. Dum Dum, who once joked and laughed like a brother-in-arms, now barely looked at him. Morita and Gabe whispered to each other in hushed tones, their eyes darting to Alex when they thought he wasn't looking. Even Peggy, who always treated him with a mix of professionalism and kindness, seemed distant.

Only Steve remained steadfast, standing by Alex's side.

"You've got this," Steve said under his breath, clapping Alex on the shoulder. "Stick to the plan, and we'll get through this."

Alex nodded, grateful for the reassurance, though he couldn't shake the feeling that even Steve was beginning to doubt him.

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Hydra's Gambit

The first explosion shattered the quiet like a gunshot in a cathedral. The clearing erupted into chaos as Hydra soldiers poured in from all sides, their weapons blazing.

"Ambush!" Steve yelled, raising his shield to deflect incoming fire.

The Commandos scattered, each taking cover as they returned fire. Alex moved on instinct, his enhanced speed and strength carrying him across the battlefield as he took down Hydra soldiers with swift, precise blows. But even as he fought, he could feel the Tesseract's energy stirring within him, reacting to the chaos.

And then he saw him—Baron Zemo, standing atop a nearby ridge, flanked by Hydra scientists and a strange machine that pulsed with an ominous blue light.

"Carter!" Zemo's voice carried across the battlefield, cold and mocking. "You can't hide from what you are! The Tesseract has chosen you, and I will show you its true potential!"

Alex froze, his eyes locking on the machine. He didn't know how, but he could feel it reaching out to him, tugging at the energy inside him like a magnet pulling on iron.

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A Desperate Choice

"Alex, don't listen to him!" Steve shouted, deflecting another barrage of bullets as he fought his way toward the ridge.

But Alex couldn't move. He could feel the Tesseract's power surging within him, stronger than ever before. His hands glowed with a faint blue light, and the whispers in his mind grew louder, more insistent.

"Harness it. Use it. You could end this war with a single thought."

Zemo smiled, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "You feel it, don't you? The power within you is limitless! With my machine, we can stabilize it, unlock its full potential! Together, we can reshape the world!"

Alex clenched his fists, his mind racing. He didn't trust Zemo, but he couldn't deny the truth in his words. The power inside him was growing stronger, harder to control. If he didn't find a way to master it soon, it would destroy him—and everyone around him.

"Alex, focus!" Peggy's voice cut through the noise, grounding him. She was firing at Hydra soldiers from behind a fallen tree, her eyes sharp and determined. "You're stronger than this! Don't let him win!"

Alex took a deep breath, forcing himself to block out the whispers. He turned to Steve, who was now climbing the ridge, shield raised as he charged toward Zemo.

"Go!" Alex shouted, his voice ringing with authority. "I'll handle the machine!"

---

Unleashing the Power

As the Commandos continued their fight, Alex sprinted toward the ridge. Hydra soldiers swarmed to intercept him, but he didn't slow down. With each step, he felt the Tesseract's energy building within him, begging for release.

When he reached the base of the machine, he hesitated. The device was massive, its surface covered in glowing runes and intricate mechanisms. He could feel it pulling at him, like it was alive.

Zemo's voice echoed from above. "Yes! That's it! Embrace the power, Carter! You were chosen for this!"

Alex gritted his teeth. He wasn't going to let Zemo win.

He raised his hands, letting the energy flow through him. A surge of blue light shot from his palms, striking the machine with enough force to make it tremble. The device sparked and whined, its mechanisms spinning out of control.

But the strain was too much. Alex could feel the energy consuming him, burning through his veins like liquid fire. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he might collapse.

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A Glimpse of the Future

And then it happened.

As the machine exploded in a blinding flash of light, Alex was thrown backward. Time seemed to slow as he tumbled through the air, his mind overwhelmed by a torrent of visions.

He saw himself standing on a shattered battlefield, his body glowing with the Tesseract's energy as he faced off against a towering, shadowy figure. He saw Peggy and Steve, older and wearier, fighting beside him against an enemy he couldn't recognize.

And then he saw himself—an older version of himself, scarred and battle-hardened, standing in a darkened room filled with glowing portals.

The older Alex stared directly at him, his expression grim. "You have to be stronger than I was," he said, his voice filled with urgency. "If you don't stop it, the multiverse will collapse."

The vision ended as abruptly as it began.

---

Aftermath

When Alex came to, he was lying on the ground, his body aching and his vision blurry. Steve and Peggy were kneeling beside him, their faces filled with concern.

"Alex, can you hear me?" Steve asked, his voice steady but tinged with worry.

Alex nodded weakly. "What… happened?"

"You destroyed the machine," Peggy said, her tone sharp but not unkind. "But you nearly killed yourself doing it. Whatever you just did… it's not sustainable."

Alex struggled to sit up, his mind racing. The vision of his older self still lingered, the weight of his words pressing on him like a physical burden.

"I saw something," Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper. "The future… or maybe another reality. I don't know. But it's bad. Really bad."

Steve exchanged a glance with Peggy, his expression grim. "Then we'll figure it out. Together."

Alex nodded, but deep down, he wasn't sure if they could. The Tesseract's power was growing stronger, and with it came the terrifying knowledge that the stakes were higher than any of them could imagine.

As the Howling Commandos regrouped, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The convergence was coming, and he wasn't sure if he was ready for it.