Chapter 10: Project Rebirth

Dr. Erskine pulls down an overhead microphone. He looks to the booth, waiting until Colonel Phillips is standing near a speaker. He taps hard on the mic. Colonel Phillips winces, holding his ear.

Dr. Erskine greeted them first then proceeds to the introduction of Project Rebirth. "Ladies and gentlemen, this morning we do not take another step towards annihilation. Today, we take the first step on the path to peace." He paused for a moment. "We will begin with a series of micro-injections to the subject's major muscle groups."

Mr. Stark and his older assistants ready the machinery. The engineers check their monitors. An EKG beeps. Dr. Erskine continue his speech. "The serum will cause immediate cellular change. In order to prevent uncontrolled growth, the subject will then be saturated with Vita Rays." He clicks off the microphone and nods to a nurse. She opens a case, revealing a gleaming aluminum syringe. She taps the needle, pulls back the plunger and injects Steve in the arm. He winces, then relaxes.

"That wasn't so bad." Steve said.

"That was a tetanus shot." Dr. Erskine explained.

A panel slides back, revealing a carousel of blue vials. Seven tubes of serum stand at the ready. Dr. Erskine and the nurse insert six vials into the injectors. Dr. Erskine nods at a tech, who deploys the injection pads. They bristle with hundreds of tiny needle tips. They close over Steve, pressing him to the table.

Dr. Erskine instructed "Beginning serum infusion in five, four, three, two...one. He presses a switch. The injection pads click. Steve jerks as unseen needles deploy. The blue fluid slowly empties from the serum injectors. Steve's veins swell. His head begins to shake. Dr. Erskine hits another button. Padded restraints close in on Steve's head, holding him still. Steve's wide eyes glow an intense blue. Finally, the injector vials empty completely.

Dr. Erskine looked at Mr. Stark. "Now, Mr. Stark." Mr. Stark pulls a lever. The table slowly tilts upright. Steve rises like a rocket ready to launch. The panels unfold. A hood lowers over Steve's head, sealing him inside the Vita chamber. A window frames Steve's face. Dr. Erskine talks into a mic. "Steven, can you hear me?"

"Is it too late to go to the bathroom." Steve joked.

Smiling, Dr. Erskine said. "We shall proceed." Mr. Stark throws a switch. His Vita Ray reactors come online. Finally, Mr. Stark turns the power dial. A piercing whine fills the room. On a huge gauge, the needle begins to climb...10, 20. Steve's face goes tense. Inside the chamber, orange light builds in intensity. Technicians pull on goggles. Agent Carter crosses her fingers while Agent Sakura just stands at the corner still observing seriously. The needle climbs to 30, 40. Steve's eyes squeeze tight as the pain grows. Dr. Erskine checks Steve's vitals. He nods to Mr. Stark, who turns the dial higher...50, 60. Steve's head snaps back, seizing. The EKG beeps faster and faster.

Agent Carter stands, worried. Her breath fogs the glass. The needle climbs again...70, 80. The glow surges, flooding the window, hiding Steve. The EKG shrieks. When the needle climb to 90, a scream echoes from the speaker. Dr. Erskine and Yumhee rushes to the window, but can't see in.

Dr. Erskine barks into the microphone. "Steven? Steven?!" Dr. Erskine repeated worriedly while Yumhee at his side is worried sick, frozen and starting to have a panic attack.

Agent Carter rushes out of the booth and down the stairs. "Shut it down!" She shouted. The lights get brighter. The viewers shield their eyes.

"Mr. Stark, kill the reactors." Dr. Erskine immediately instructed. Suddenly, everyone in the lab hears a shout from Steve.

"No! Don't! I can do this!" Steve said determinedly. Dr. Erskine swallows and with great hesitation, he nods to Mr. Stark. He hugs Yumhee comforting her and trying to ease the panic in her heart.

Mr. Stark gives the dial a final turn...100. The whine splits the air. The Vita Ray chamber flashes from orange to white. And then it all goes dark. The whine dies as does the EKG. Dr. Erskine goes ashen. Tears started to fall silently in Yumhee's eyes. Stark stares at him and on the dial. Agent Carter swallows. Even Phillips looks saddened. And then a sound rises, the steady beep of the EKG.

Without thinking, Yumhee bolted to the device encapsulating Steve while shouting his name. Dr. Erskine hurries to the device and shouted "Mr. Stark!". Stark hits a button. The hood and panels retract, releasing a blast of steam. When it clears, Yumhee and Dr. Erskine can see a new man hanging in the straps. Muscular, tall, perfect. His head rests against his chest, eyes closed.

At the observation booth, everyone gasps and hurries out, except the man with glasses. He opens a cigarette case and flicks a switch. A red light blinks. He snaps it shut and magnets it to the bottom of a chair.

The technicians undo the straps. Steve collapses into Yumhee's and Dr. Erskine's arms. They stagger a little. Yumhee at this point was just crying and weak from the relief she felt.

"Steven?" Dr. Erskine said.

"Doctor? Did it...?" Steve asked trailing off at the end.

"I think...yes..." Dr. Erskine replied. A smile slowly showing on his face.

Mr. Stark while walking to them said "You did it, Doctor. You really did it."

The others rush into the lab. Colonel Phillips looks to Senator Brandt. He said smugly "Sorry you got up early now, Senator?"

"I can think of some folks in Berlin who are about to get very nervous." Senator Brandt only replied.

Agent Carter brings Steve his clothes. She was mesmerized for a while when she was up close to him. But she was again surprised at Agent Sakura's reactions, having a doubt in her heart of what truly is their relationship.

Steve puts on his old, now much smaller shirt. Yumhee hugs him again immediately, still crying silently. Steve was a little helpless, not knowing what to do to stop her from crying besides hugging her tightly to his chest.

Agent Carter cleared her throat and asked "How do you feel?"

Steve looks at her and simply replied "Taller..." Yumhee after calming herself, pulls slowly away from Steve and started to wipe her face with the handkerchief given by Dr. Erskine. She was trying hard to compose herself to her usual image that the people around her knows.