Chapter 4: The Awakening of Responsibility

Snow fell softly as the Howling Commandos camped in the forest, the embers of their fire flickering against the cold darkness of the night. The group's latest victory over Hydra had given us a much-needed morale boost, but beneath the surface, the tension lingered. Hydra's grip on the world wasn't broken, not yet.

I sat apart from the group, a notebook balanced on my knee, sketching out diagrams of the Tesseract-powered machinery we'd destroyed at the Hydra base. The energy it emanated still haunted my mind. It wasn't just raw power—it felt… alive, almost sentient, and far more dangerous than Steve or the Commandos could comprehend.

"You're brooding again," Peggy's voice cut through my thoughts. She stood with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes softened by the faint smile she wore.

"I wouldn't call it brooding," I replied, snapping the notebook shut.

Peggy sat down beside me. "You've been distant since the mission. Something's bothering you."

I hesitated. How could I explain the truth to her? That I knew things no one else in this world could even imagine? That Hydra's experiments weren't just a threat to the Allies, but to the universe itself?

"Hydra's more dangerous than we think," I finally said, choosing my words carefully. "Their experiments… they're playing with forces beyond human understanding."

Peggy studied me for a long moment before nodding. "Then it's a good thing we've got you on our side."

Her trust was both comforting and terrifying. I wasn't sure I deserved it, not yet.

---

The next day, we returned to base camp, where Colonel Phillips and Howard Stark were waiting. As always, the Colonel was all business, barking orders and debriefing us on the mission.

Howard, on the other hand, was more interested in the tech we'd salvaged. He paced around the remains of a Hydra weapon, his hands moving animatedly as he spoke.

"This is incredible," he said, his voice tinged with awe. "Their energy source is unlike anything we've ever seen. It's almost… alien."

"You're not far off," I muttered under my breath.

"What was that?" Howard asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just agreeing with you. It's definitely advanced."

Steve joined us, his presence as steadying as ever. "Can we use their technology against them?"

Howard shrugged. "Possibly. But reverse-engineering it will take time. A lot of time."

"Then we'd better keep moving," Steve said. "Hydra's not going to stop just because we blew up one of their bases."

---

That night, I found myself alone in the barracks, staring at my hands. The faint hum of energy beneath my skin was growing stronger, more insistent.

Ever since I'd arrived in this world, my powers had been a mystery. I didn't know where they came from or why I had them, but they seemed to respond to my emotions, flaring up in moments of fear or anger.

I clenched my fists, focusing on the energy. A soft glow enveloped my hands, pulsing with a rhythm that felt almost alive. I could sense its potential—destructive and protective, chaotic yet controlled.

But what was it for? Why me?

---

The next morning, Colonel Phillips called us into the strategy room. A large map covered the wall, marked with Hydra's known and suspected bases.

"This," the Colonel said, pointing to a location deep in the Bavarian Alps, "is their primary facility. If we can take it out, we'll cripple their operations."

Steve stepped forward, his jaw set. "What's the plan?"

The Colonel explained the details—a full-scale assault with the Howling Commandos leading the charge. But as he spoke, I felt a chill run down my spine. Something about this mission felt off, like walking into a trap.

After the briefing, I pulled Steve aside.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked.

Steve frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "It's just a feeling. Like Hydra's waiting for us."

Steve considered my words, then placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We can't let fear stop us, Alex. We've got a job to do."

His unwavering confidence was admirable, but it didn't erase the unease gnawing at me.

---

The journey to the Hydra base was grueling. The cold bit into us as we trudged through the snow, our breaths visible in the frigid air. The Commandos joked and bantered to keep spirits high, but I could see the tension in their eyes.

As we neared the base, the landscape grew eerily quiet. No birds, no wind—just an oppressive silence.

"Something's not right," I murmured.

Steve nodded, gripping his shield tightly. "Stay sharp."

The base came into view, its entrance guarded by a dozen Hydra soldiers. Steve signaled for the Commandos to move into position.

"Alex," he said, "you're with me."

We approached from the east, using the trees for cover. My heart pounded as we got closer, the energy within me thrumming in response to the danger.

Steve threw his shield, taking out two guards with precision. I followed, releasing a burst of energy that knocked another guard off his feet.

The rest of the team moved in, and chaos erupted. Bullets flew, energy blasts lit up the night, and the sound of shouting filled the air.

I focused on disabling weapons and creating barriers to protect the team. The energy flowed through me effortlessly now, responding to my will with surprising precision.

But as the fight dragged on, I felt a sharp pain in my chest—a warning.

"Steve!" I shouted. "It's a trap!"

---

My warning came too late. A deafening explosion rocked the battlefield, throwing us off our feet.

Hydra soldiers poured out of the base, their numbers far greater than we'd anticipated. They were armed with advanced weapons, their glowing barrels powered by the Tesseract.

Steve rallied the team, his shield deflecting blasts as he shouted orders. I pushed myself to my feet, my vision swimming, and unleashed a wave of energy to create a protective barrier around the Commandos.

"We need to fall back!" I yelled.

Steve hesitated, his eyes scanning the battlefield. He hated retreating, but even he could see we were outmatched.

"Everyone, pull back!" he ordered.

The Commandos retreated into the forest, covering each other as Hydra's forces pursued us. I stayed near the rear, using my powers to slow them down.

---

We regrouped several miles away, battered and bruised but alive. The mood was grim as we assessed our losses.

"We underestimated them," Steve said, his voice heavy with guilt. "That's on me."

"No," I said firmly. "This isn't your fault. Hydra's more prepared than we thought. We'll adapt."

Steve nodded, but the weight of the mission was clearly taking its toll.

As the others rested, I found myself drawn to a quiet spot overlooking the forest. The energy within me pulsed softly, a constant reminder of my growing abilities.

I didn't know what the future held, but one thing was clear: Hydra wasn't just a threat to this world—it was a threat to every world. And if I was going to make a difference, I needed to understand my powers and my purpose.

For now, though, I would follow Steve's lead. Together, we would face whatever Hydra threw at us. Because in a world on the brink of chaos, hope was the most powerful weapon we had.