Chương 12: Chapter 12

Pov Levi:

As we entered the World Exposition of Tomorrow, also known as the Star Expo, Dr. Erskine, Peggy, and I were immediately immersed in a fascinating display of innovative creations.

We marveled at a glass box containing a red-suited android, proudly presented by Dr. Phineas Horton as "The Synthetic Man." The expo was like a vibrant fair, with various game stations and even a roller coaster.

Just then, Jarvis appeared and escorted us backstage, where Howard Stark was waiting to unveil his latest masterpiece - a futuristic car.

With a hint of alcohol on his breath, Howard exclaimed, "Ah, look who's here to witness my genius! The lovely Agent Carter, the remarkable Dr. Erskine, and the esteemed Levi, the greatest bodyguard in the world." He flashed a charming smile, his eyes gleaming with pride.

I couldn't resist teasing him, "Well, what can I say to the great inventor of our era? Some people admire your brain more than your charming body. This lowly bodyguard has to keep the great man alive while putting his own life on the line."

Howard chuckled, unfazed, and turned his attention to Peggy. "So, would you like to be my lady of the night, Miss Carter? There's still a spot available for you. Just hand me the mic, and I promise I won't bite... unless you want me to." He winked, his flirtatious nature on full display.

Peggy politely declined, "Sorry, Howard, but I can't. I have to return to camp and prepare for the candidates." She had refused his invitations multiple times, yet Howard persisted.

He turned to us and said, "Well, then, at least come watch my performance on stage. You two should see it as well." His enthusiasm was infectious, and we couldn't help but be swept up in the excitement of the expo.

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As Peggy and I made our way through the crowd to witness Howard Stark's presentation, the music grew louder, and the lights focused on the stage. Howard emerged, standing proudly beside a 1942 Cadillac. A model handed him the microphone, and he gave her a charming kiss before turning to the audience with a wink in our direction.

Peggy rolled her eyes good-naturedly, unfazed by Howard's flirtatious nature.

Howard began his presentation, "Ladies, you know how challenging it can be to apply makeup in a car that's bouncing like a kangaroo on a trampoline."

He paused for dramatic effect. "What if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won't even touch the ground?"

The crowd murmured in anticipation as Howard hit a button. The Cadillac suddenly lifted off the ground, its tires remaining on the stage while bulky devices replaced the wheels. The audience gasped in amazement.

Howard continued, "With Stark Gravitic Reversion Technology, you'll be able to do just that." But before he could finish, a loud pop and explosion rocked the stage, causing the car to crash back down.

Howard sheepishly grinned, "I did say a few years, didn't I?"

I shook my head, chuckling at Howard's embarrassing mishap. As we exited the crowd, Peggy turned to me and said, "Sorry, Levi, but I have to go now to prepare for the new candidates." She bid me farewell, and I watched as she disappeared into the crowd.

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As I searched for Dr. Erskine, I finally spotted him engaged in a conversation with military police near the Recruitment Center. He caught my eye and gestured for me to follow him. I trailed behind him for a few minutes until we arrived at a secluded cabin. With a gentle slide, the curtain opened, revealing a skinny young man, Steve Rogers, whom I had rescued from a bully in an alley earlier.

Steve's worried expression was palpable as he exclaimed, "I'm in trouble."

Dr. Erskine, clad in a lab coat and holding a file, posed a direct question, "So, you want to go overseas, kill some Nazis?"

Steve's eyes darted to me, recognition flashing across his face, before returning to Dr. Erskine with a puzzled "Excuse me?"

His voice trailed off, and he seemed to hesitate, unsure how to proceed.

Dr. Erskine's intense gaze remained fixed on Steve, his eyes scanning the file in his hand.

Dr. Erskine's eyes then fixed on Steve's face again as he introduced himself, his voice firm and confident. "I'm Doctor Abraham Erskine, I represent the Strategic Scientific Reserve, a top-secret government agency dedicated to advancing science and technology for the war effort." He paused, his gaze flicking momentarily to me.

"And this is my bodyguard, Levi Hart," he continued, his hand gesturing in my direction. "Levi has been instrumental in ensuring my safety and the success of our mission."

Steve replied, "Steve Rogers. Where are you from." His eyes locked onto Dr. Erskine's, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Dr. Erskine's gaze never wavered, his expression thoughtful. "Queens, 73rd and Utopia Parkway. And before that, Germany," he said, his accent a subtle reminder of his heritage. "Does this trouble you, Steve?"

Dr. Erskine's eyes seemed to bore into Steve's soul, as if searching for a hidden truth. Steve considered the question, his brow furrowing slightly before he shrugged, a noncommittal gesture.

Dr. Erskine's eyes returned to the file in his hand, his voice taking on a slightly different tone, "And where are you from, Mr. Rogers? Is it New Haven, or Paramus, or..." He paused, his eyes scanning the file, "Five exams. In five different cities." The implication hung in the air, a silent question mark, as Dr. Erskine awaited Steve's response.

Steve's eyes narrowed slightly as he attempted to correct Dr. Erskine, "That might not be the right file."

But Dr. Erskine's gaze remained fixed on him, his voice firm and assured. "It's not the exams I'm interested in, Steve. It's the five tries. The determination and perseverance it takes to keep trying, even in the face of failure." Dr. Erskine's eyes seemed to bore into Steve's soul, as if searching for a hidden truth.

"You didn't answer my question. You want to kill Nazis?" Dr. Erskine's expression remained unwavering, his eyes locked onto Steve's.

"Is this a test?" Steve asked, his tone cautious. Dr. Erskine's response was simple, yet profound. "Yes."

Steve took a deep breath, his voice filled with conviction. "I don't like bullies, Doctor. I don't care where they're from." His eyes locked onto Dr. Erskine's, a fierce determination evident in his gaze.

Dr. Erskine's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes flicking momentarily to me before returning to Steve. "There are already plenty of big strapping men in this war, Steve. What they need now is maybe the 'little guys' who can think on their feet and use their wits to outsmart the enemy." He paused, his eyes sparkling with intensity. "Yea?"

Steve's curiosity was piqued, his brow furrowing slightly. "Maybe. What do you do, exactly, Doctor?" He asked, his voice laced with a hint of skepticism.

Dr. Erskine's smile was enigmatic, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light. "Let's say I believe there is great potential in every human, Steve. It's just a matter of bringing it to the surface." His voice was low and persuasive.

Dr. Erskine carefully laid out Steve's file on the table, his movements deliberate and precise. He reached for a stamp, his hand hovering over the paper as he spoke. "I can offer you a chance, Steve. Only a chance." His eyes locked onto Steve's, a hint of intensity in his gaze.

Steve's response was immediate, his voice filled with determination. "That's all I'm asking for, Doctor." He leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the file.

Dr. Erskine's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So, really, where is the little guy from?" He asked, his voice softening.

Steve's response was prompt, his voice filled with pride. "New York City, Brooklyn."

Dr. Erskine's eyes flicked to me, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Ah... Then the same as my bodyguard, Levi Hart." He nodded slightly, his eyes returning to Steve.

I grinned at Steve, my voice filled with encouragement. "Ready for your new experience, Steve? Here, you'll definitely need to rope up your game." My words were laced with a hint of challenge, my eyes sparkling with anticipation.

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In the heart of HYDRA's secret headquarters, Johann Schmidt, stood alongside Dr. Arnim Zola, a renowned scientist. They were surrounded by advanced machinery and futuristic equipment, the hum of energy filling the air.

Schmidt's eyes narrowed as he addressed Zola, "Are you ready, Doctor?" His voice was laced with anticipation, his gaze fixed on the complex contraption before them.

Dr. Zola's eyes remained fixed on the machinery, his brow furrowed in concentration. "My machine requires the most delicate calibration." he replied, his voice measured.

"Forgive me if I seem overcautious, but the stakes are too high to risk any miscalculations." His hands moved with precision, adjusting dials and levers with a practiced ease.

Schmidt's gaze never wavered, his eyes fixed on the conduit attached to a large battery. His hands moved with a sense of purpose, making precise adjustments to the conduit. "Are you certain the conductors will withstand the energy surge long enough for the transference?" He asked, his voice firm.

Dr. Zola's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes flicking to the artifact at the center of the machine. "With this... artifact... I am certain of nothing." he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "The power it holds is unlike anything we've ever seen. I can only hope that our calculations are correct."

Dr. Zola's gaze wandered to the array of conduits snaking from the large battery to a crude, experimental cannon. A small, wooden target awaited, poised to test the machine's capabilities.

Zola's voice was laced with doubt, "In fact, I fear this may not work at all." His eyes flicked to the carved box from Norway, sitting atop a nearby table, surrounded by ancient tomes spread out like a fan. The books were open to illustrations of a massive tree, its roots twisted and gnarled, with a serpent coiled within.

Schmidt's gaze followed Zola's, his eyes lingering on the box and the ancient texts. His voice was laced with a sense of possibility, "Then we have lost only time, Doctor. But if it does work..." He paused, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, "The potential is limitless." The air was heavy with tension, the hum of the machinery and the weight of their discovery hanging like a promise.

Johann Schmidt's voice was filled with a sense of awe and trepidation as he continued, "In a matter of minutes, we might control the power of the gods. Either way, the outcome will be profound."

His eyes roved over another ancient engraving, depicting a glowing cube unleashing its fury upon a horde of barbarians, laying waste to the land. The image was a testament to the cube's unfathomable power, a power that could reshape the very fabric of reality.

Schmidt's gaze lingered on the engraving, his eyes burning with an unquenchable ambition. "It is a moment of terrible possibility," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the machinery. The air was heavy with anticipation, the weight of their discovery hanging like a sword of Damocles, ready to unleash its fury upon the world."

Schmidt's hands trembled with anticipation as he opened the box, releasing a blinding blue light that shot out like a celestial beam. Zola swiftly secured his sunglasses, protecting his eyes from the intense radiance. Schmidt carefully lifted out an incredibly bright object of pure energy, its luminescence illuminating the chamber. He gingerly placed it in the cradle, and a smoked-glass shield dropped down, encasing the chamber in a protective barrier.

Through the glass, the outlines of a cube became visible, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. Schmidt turned a dial, and the cube's pulsations intensified, causing the gauge marked "Energienbatterie" to glow blue, rising steadily: 20%...40%...60%. But despite the increasing energy levels, the battery remained cold and dark, devoid of any visible reaction.

Dr. Zola's voice was laced with caution, "We are stable at seventy percent, well within safety parameters."

But Schmidt's response was resolute, "I did not come all this way for safety, Doctor." With a determined gesture, he turned the dial further, pushing the limits of the machine. The gauge continued to rise: 80%...90%.

Zola's warning came swift and urgent, "At those levels, the power may become uncontrollable!"

Schmidt's hand cranked the dial to its maximum, 100%. The cube surged, unleashing otherworldly power in a burning flash. The energy burst forth, flooding the conduits and filling the empty battery with a vibrant blue glow. The battery seemed to strain against its limits, threatening to burst at any moment. But instead, the energy flashed in a swirling rush of lightning, coalescing into a brief, otherworldly vision within the swirling energy.

Schmidt and Zola gazed in awe, their eyes fixed on the ethereal apparition. Then, in an instant, the vision vanished, replaced by a searing beam that shot from the gun, vaporizing the target and blasting a hole in the wall beyond. Zola hastily pulled a switch, powering down the cube. Yet, the battery continued to glow, humming with life. Breathless and uneasy, Zola turned to Schmidt, his eyes fixed on the spot where the vision had appeared.

"Did you see...?" he trailed off, his voice barely audible.

But Schmidt's gaze remained fixed on the destruction surrounding him, a testament to the raw power they had unleashed. A slow smile spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Thank you, Doctor," he said, his voice low and deliberate. "Your designs do not disappoint."

The conduits, like the wall of the lab, lay in ruins, a tangled mess of twisted metal and smoldering wires.

Zola's eyes widened as he took a reading at a gauge, his expression impressed. "The exchange is stable," he announced, his voice filled with awe. "Amazing. The energy we've just collected could power a battleship. Ten battleships." The implications were staggering, the potential to reshape the course of the war.

Schmidt poured himself a whiskey, his hand shaking slightly as he raised the glass to his lips. He took a sip, his eyes never leaving Zola's face. "Doctor Zola," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "This will change the world."

The weight of their discovery hung in the air, a promise of unparalleled power and unimaginable consequences.