Chapter 4: The Birth of Super Soldiers

Underground SSR Facility – Brooklyn, 1943

The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the dimly lit room. Scientists in white coats hurried around the equipment, adjusting dials, checking notes. The heart of the facility held two metallic pods, sleek and imposing.

Alex stood beside Steve, both shirtless, wires attached to their bodies. He felt Peggy's eyes on them from the observation area above.

He glanced up. She met his gaze, unreadable, but her presence made something inside him stir.

"Commencing procedure in sixty seconds," a voice announced over the intercom.

Alex exhaled. 'This is it.'

[Suggestion: Increase oxygen intake. Anticipate pain levels exceeding human threshold.]

'Got it, Sage.'

He glanced at Steve. His brother's fists were clenched, but his eyes held unwavering determination.

Alex smirked. "Last chance to back out."

Steve shot him a look. "Not a chance."

Dr. Abraham Erskine approached them, offering a warm smile. "Both of you, remember—whatever happens, stay strong."

Alex nodded. "No worries, Doc. Just another day in paradise."

Erskine chuckled, then signaled to the technicians.

"Begin."

---

The Transformation

Alex felt the cold touch of metal as he lay back inside the chamber. The pod hissed shut, sealing him inside. A mechanical voice echoed.

[Injecting Vita-Rays. Administering Super Soldier Serum.]

The first sensation was cold. Then—fire.

Liquid fire coursed through his veins, his body burning from the inside out. Every cell twisted, expanded, reshaped itself.

Pain. Intense. Estimated threshold: 87%.

Alex gritted his teeth. 'No kidding, Sage.'

Outside, Steve's screams mirrored his own.

Alex clenched his fists. His muscles twitched. His bones stretched.

Then—his mind exploded.

[Alert: Evolution detected. Neural processing speed increasing. New pathways forming.]

For the first time, Great Sage felt… different. More powerful. More integrated.

[Congratulations. You are evolving.]

His heart slammed against his chest, his body trembling under the pressure.

And then—

Silence.

The pain was gone.

The chamber hissed open, releasing a cloud of steam.

Alex's eyes snapped open.

The world felt… different. Sharper. Clearer.

His body hummed with power, muscles refined, his senses razor-sharp. Every breath felt deeper, every heartbeat stronger.

And the first thing he saw—

Peggy Carter staring at him.

---

New Strength, New Eyes

Alex stepped out of the chamber, rolling his shoulders.

Steve, now a full foot taller and built like a Greek statue, looked at him in awe. "You okay?"

Alex flexed his hand, feeling the raw power coursing through him. "Better than okay."

He turned—and caught sight of a mirror.

His reflection was… stunning.

His already athletic build was now flawless. Every muscle was sculpted to perfection. His hair was a little longer, his features sharper.

No wonder Peggy looked like she had forgotten how to breathe.

Alex smirked. "Like what you see, Agent Carter?"

She blinked, then immediately schooled her expression. "I see the experiment was successful."

Still, Alex caught the way her fingers twitched, as if resisting the urge to touch.

'Interesting.'

Before he could tease her further, the facility doors burst open.

Gunfire rang out.

Hydra had arrived.

And Alex?

He was ready.

SSR Facility – Moments After the Transformation

The scent of steam and burning chemicals filled the air as Alex flexed his fingers, his enhanced senses alive with newfound awareness. Every sound, every heartbeat in the room, was crystal clear.

Then—gunfire.

The doors to the facility burst open, and chaos erupted.

A Hydra agent, dressed in black, fired into the room. Scientists screamed, diving for cover.

Alex's body moved before his mind even processed the attack.

[Enemy threat detected. Predictive path calculation: 2.4 seconds until civilian casualties.]

His instincts sharpened. His muscles tensed. He lunged.

The Hydra agent barely had time to react before Alex slammed into him, disarming him with a single twist of his wrist. The man gasped as Alex's fist crashed into his gut, sending him flying across the room.

Steve was already moving, dodging behind a table and grabbing a metal pole to knock out another attacker.

But then—a single gunshot rang out.

Alex turned, too late.

Dr. Erskine staggered. Blood bloomed from his chest, his eyes wide in shock.

The Hydra assassin, Heinz Kruger, stood in the doorway, lowering his pistol.

For a moment, time froze.

Erskine's lips moved, but no words came out. He collapsed, the light fading from his eyes.

Alex felt a sharp pain in his chest—rage.

[Adrenaline spike detected. Combat mode engaged.]

Kruger's eyes flicked to the exit. He turned—and ran.

Not happening.

Alex exploded forward, his legs carrying him faster than humanly possible. The Hydra agent shoved past soldiers, pushing civilians out of the way, sprinting for the getaway car waiting outside.

Steve followed close behind. "Alex—don't lose him!"

[Multiple routes calculated. Recommended action: Intercept from the right—]

Alex ignored it. He leaped over a table, crashing through the doors, his feet hitting the pavement hard.

Kruger was already in the car. The engine roared to life.

Alex's mind raced.

[Estimated time before escape: 4.7 seconds.]

No time to think.

Alex grabbed a nearby metal signpost—and ripped it from the ground.

With inhuman strength, he hurled it like a spear.

The post slammed into the car's back tire, sending it spinning out of control.

Kruger tumbled out, groaning, but he wasn't done yet. He reached for a cyanide capsule—

Steve tackled him. "Not today, pal!"

The Hydra agent thrashed, his face turning purple as the poison took effect.

Alex knelt beside him. "Who sent you?"

Kruger's lips curled into a weak, victorious smirk. "Hail Hydra."

Then—he was gone.

Silence.

The battle was over.

Aftermath

Back at the facility, they stood over Erskine's body.

Steve clenched his fists. "We were too slow."

Alex's jaw tightened. "Not next time."

Peggy approached, her expression unreadable. "You both did everything you could."

Alex exhaled. His hands were still shaking. Not from exhaustion—from fury.

He looked at Erskine's lifeless form and swore something to himself.

Hydra would pay.

All of them.