Chapter 06: The Selection

CAMP LEHIGH - OBSTACLE COURSE

Everyday the recruits undergo harsh training. For today, they are running through the obstacle course and it's pretty obvious that Steve is struggling.

The recruits scrambles up a cargo net. Steve's foot gets tangled. Hodge climbs over him, smashing his face. From an observation platform, Dr. Erskine watches as Steve grimaces but hauls himself up.

"Our goal is to create the finest army in history. But every army starts with one man." Colonel Phillips said.

The next day...as Agent Peggy Carter checks the stopwatch for each recruit, they crawl through mud beneath a barbed wire net. Hodge kicks out a support and the barbed wire falls on Steve.

"By the end of this week, we're going to choose that man." Colonel Phillips said again. "He's going to be the first of a new breed of super soldiers. And they are personally going to escort Adolf Hitler to the gates of hell."

The next day the recruits run around the camp. Steve always being left behind. They stopped at a flagpole. Their instructor for the day, Lieutenant James, gestured at the flagpole and said "That flag means we're only at the halfway point. First man to bring that flag to me gets a ride with Agent Carter for the last half of the way."

The men hurriedly tried to climb the pole but it was way too slippery.  The Lieutenant ordered them to fall in line when noone was able to climb the pole. As they start to run again, Steve walked to the pole then pulled a bolt at the bottom part of it. This caused the flagpole to fall onto the ground. Everyone watched as Steve retrieved the flag and gave it to the Lieutenant who's dumbfounded. Steve walked to the jeep and hopped in while Agent Carter tried to suppress her laughter by concentrating on writing her observations to her clipboard.

The following day at the practice field. You can see Steve struggling to do push-ups. Agent Carter paces as the recruits do calisthenics.

At the distance, Colonel Phillips and Dr. Erskine walk toward Steve's group of recruits.

Colonel Phillips is arguing with Dr. Erskine. "I guess I just don't understand the European sense of humor, Doctor." They pause for a moment and Colonel Phillips looks at Dr. Erskine seriously asking "You're not thinking of picking Rogers, are you?"

Agent Sakura joins the two men arguing about selecting Steve as the first candidate for the super soldier serum. Hearing his father's answer to the Colonel's question. "I am more than just thinking about it. He is the clear choice."

"When you invited a ninety-pound asthmatic onto my army base, I let it slide because I assumed he'd be useful to you. Like a gerbil. I never thought you'd pick him." Colonel Phillips said irritably.

"With all due respect, Sir. The super soldier serum enhances the human body. Breaking some humanly impossible limits like health regeneration and/or self-healing capabilities. So the physical condition of the person doesn't really matter. What matters is the person's mental and emotional state." Yumhee stated indifferently but with a hint of annoyance in her tone.

"Well it's nice of you to join us Agent Sakura." Colonel Phillips greeted sarcastically. The three stop near an open truck, a crate of grenades inside.

"You put a needle in that guy's arm, it's gonna come out the other side." Colonel Phillips ignored what Agent Sakura said and instead said this to Dr. Erskine. They then all watch as Steve struggle to do the push-ups. Colonel Phillips continued to say "Look at him! He's making me cry."

"Like Agent Sakura said, I am searching for qualities beyond the physical." Dr. Erskine repeated the point Agent Sakura made a while ago.

Colonel Phillips exasperatedly replied to the Doctor "Do you know how long it took to set up this project? The groveling I had to do in front of Senator Brandt's committee."

"I'm well aware of your efforts—" The doctor started to say but was cut off by the colonel while watching Hodge powers through his push-ups.

"Hodge passed every test we gave him. He's big, he's fast and he takes orders. In short, he's a soldier." Colonel Phillips commented. Which made Agent Sakura to almost roll her eyes at him.

"He's a bully." Dr. Erskine simply countered. The colonel stares at him for a long time like he's some kind of an idiot. Then he reaches for the crate of grenades in the truck.

"You don't win wars with niceness, Doctor." Colonel Phillips grabs a grenade. "You win them with guts." Then he pulls the pin and hurls the grenade at the group of recruits, yelling "Grenade!"

It stumbles in the grass, stopping in front of the recruits. Steve's eyes go wide. The rest of the recruits scramble away. Hodge yelps and throws himself underneath a nearby jeep.

Agents Carter and Sakura make their ways for the grenade, but Steve gets there first, throwing himself on it. Agent Yumhee froze for a second when she saw that while her heart sped up due to panic.

Steve shouted "Everybody down!" He waits for the explosion...but nothing happens. After a moment, he opens his eyes, confused. And that's also the moment Agent Sakura realizes that it was an M-56 training grenade - inert.

Colonel Phillips just glared while Dr. Erskine smiled. Hodge peeks out from under the jeep, ashamed.

"Uh...is this a test?" Steve confusedly asked. Agent Sakura walked out immediately but not fast enough for Steve not to see some tears roll down from her eyes. Colonel Phillips follows after saying to Dr. Erskine "I still don't like him."

That night at the barracks, Steve sits alone on his bunk. Around him, eleven other bunks lie stripped, their footlockers empty. Then Dr. Erskine enters, carrying a bottle of Schnapps.

"Can't sleep?" Dr. Erskine asked.

"Got the jitters, I guess." Steve replied.

"Me too." Dr. Erskine said. He sat at the bed right next to Steve and they faced each other while talking.

"Can I ask you something?" Steve somewhat anxiously asked.

"Just one?" Dr. Erskine replied.

"Why me?" Steve seriously asked.

"I suppose that is the only question that matters." Dr. Erskine solemnly said. He holds up the bottle and the two wine glasses. "Made in Augsburg. My city. So many forget that the first country the Nazis invaded was their own. I don't excuse what my people have become. After the first war, my people struggled...they felt weak, small. Then Hitler comes with big show, the marching. He finds me. Hears of my work. "You", he says, "will make us strong". I am not interested. He sends the head of Hydra, his research division. A brilliant scientist named Johann Schmidt. Schmidt was a member of the inner circle, ambitious, obsessed with occult power and Teutonic myth. He and Hitler shared a passion for violence and Wagner."

Then he sees Steve's confused look. Realizing that he doesn't know what Wagner is, he explained what it is. "German operas about war and heroes. Blood and race. Gods afoot upon the earth." He shaked his head. "Me, I like a little Benny Goodman." Steve smiles.

Dr. Erskine goes on. "Hitler uses these fantasies to inspire his followers. But Schmidt...he does not believe in fantasy. For him, it is real. He became convinced that a great power had been hidden on earth left here by the gods - waiting to be seized by a superior man. And when he understood what my formula could do, Schmidt could not resist... He had to become that superior man." After that, Dr. Erskine goes quiet.

"Did it make him strong?" Steve asked tentatively.

"Yes, but there were other...effects." Dr. Erskine replied honestly. "The serum was not ready, but more important, the man... The serum amplifies what is inside. Good becomes great...bad becomes worse." Dr. Erskine pours the Schnapps into the two glasses. "This is why you were chosen. A strong man, he might lose respect for the power if he has had it all his life. But a weak man knows the value of strength...and compassion."

"Thanks. I think." Steve replied. Dr. Erskine chuckles at his response.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, promise me you'll stay who you are. Not a perfect soldier..." Then Dr. Erskine taps Steve's chest with one finger, looking inyo his eyes. "But a good man."