ERIKA was walking towards the recruitment office in New York City where Dr Erskine was waiting for her when she noticed two men standing outside the office and were engaged in a heated conversation. One of the men was wearing a military uniform and the other man that stood in front of the soldier was small and lanky. Erika's arms crossed over her chest as she leaned against the wall just by the entrance to the recruitment office.
"You're really gonna do this again?" The soldier asked the shorter man who shrugged his shoulders and answered; "Well, it's a fair. I'm gonna try my luck."
She continued listening in on their conversation as they both took her interest. "As who? Steve from Ohio? They'll catch you. Or worse, they'll actually take you," the soldier remarked in an irritated tone.
His comment led Erika to believe that the shorter man, Steve she believed was his name, had been trying to enlist but been declined multiple as someone from different cities. Hmm, interesting, she thought to herself.
"Look, I know you don't think I can do this," Steve admitted to his friend who snapped back; "This isn't a back alley, Steve. It's war!"
She could tell the soldier cared about his friend's safety from his attempts to stop his friend from enlisting. "I know it's a war. You don't have to tell me," Steve was getting irritated from his friend lack of faith in him.
"Why are you so keen to fight? There are so many important jobs," the soldier stated which Erika could tell didn't sit well with Steve.
"What am I gonna do? Collect scrap metal..." Steve spoke and the soldier injects his opinion by saying; Yes!" before Steve continued speaking in a sarcastic tone; "in my little red wagon."
"Why not?" the soldier snapped which Steve responded back; "I'm not gonna sit in a factory, Bucky."
The pair continued arguing with each other when Erika looked up to see an older man with glasses was also listening in on the two men's conversation. Erika and the man made eye contact with each other, giving a smile before turning back to the two men. The man was Dr Erskine and just like Erika, he was interested in Steve.
"I don't..." Bucky, the name of the soldier, was interrupted by Steve; "Bucky, come on! There are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them. That's what you don't understand. This isn't about me."
A smile formed on the young woman's face as she looked to Erskine and nodded. Steve was the one Erskine was looking for.
"Right. Cause you got nothing to prove," Bucky remarked towards his friend.
There was silence between them for a few moments before a female voice called out; "Hey, Sarge! Are we going dancing?"
Bucky turned towards the voice and called out; "Yes, we are," before turning back to Steve. "Don't do anything stupid until I get back," he commented to Steve as he began walking away but stopped when Steve shot back; "How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you."
Erika lightly chuckled under her breath at Steve's comment as Bucky walked back over to him and pulled him into a hug after retorting; "You're a punk."
"Jerk. Be careful," Steve responded back as they separated from their hug.
As Bucky walked away, Steve shouted out to him; "Don't win the war till I get there!"
His words made Bucky stop and give his friend as salute before continuing walking away. When Bucky walked past Erika, their eyes made contact for a few moments before he winked at her. Her dark eyes rolled at him, but she was smiling. Erika could admit that he was handsome with piercing blue eyes and his dark hair hidden beneath a khaki green peaked cap. She has seen a lot of men in uniform but there was something about how the uniform fit him that draw Erika's attention.
Erika shook her head and leaned off the wall. She walked over to Erskine and said; "He's the one."
He agreed with a smile and nod before guiding her towards the examination room where he looked into a file cabinet and handed her a file. As she found a white lab coat and placed it over her navy-blue dress, she opened the file which was labelled 'Rogers, Steven'. Her eyes widened as she was surprised at how he was still alive because of all his health ailments.
Her gaze moved from the file to look over the file where Steve was seated. Despite his size, he was handsome with his blue eyes and dark blonde hair that was pushed away from his face but fell over his eyes when he looked down. She noticed Erskine was looking the cabinet that had copies of those who enlist who were dimed unfit as the good doctor has requested them for future reference and consultation. "Rogers, Steven," her voice called out through the silent room and Steve immediately shot up.
Erika gestured for him to follow me and she brought him to the examination. "Sit down. A doctor will be in to look over you in a moment," she informed him as she offered him a smile.
"Thank you, ma'am," he responded as he mirrored her smile and sat down.
As she walked away, he could feel him staring at her which she was use to after three years of living on Midgard.
When Erika asked Howard when every male stared at her, he responded by saying that her 'extreme' beauty is the reason why they stared. Or her height as she was almost as tall as most males which was unusual for a female in Midgard.
She met up with Erskine who was standing beside an Enlistment Office MP. After giving the nurse an order to tell the doctor looking over Steve to leave, Erskine gave a nod to the MP who ripped the sheets opened and stepped into the room. When Erskine and Erika followed shortly after, she noticed Steve looking at the MP in worrying which changed to confusion when he saw them. "Thank you," Erskine excused the MP who quickly exited the room.
"So, you want to go overseas. Kill some Nazis," Erskine said to Steve as Erika closed the sheets to give them some form of privacy.
"Excuse me?" Steve asked as he was shocked by Erskine's forward question.
"Dr Abraham Erskine. I represent the Strategic Scientific Reserve. This is my assistant Erika Stark," Erskine walked over to Steve who was now standing and held out his hand.
"Steve Rogers," Steve shook Erskine's hand and nodded towards Erika.
Erskine walked away from Steve and began looking through his file. "Where are you from?" Steve asked as he noticed Erskine's German accent.
"Queens. 73rd Street and Utopia Parkway. Before that, Germany. This troubles you? Erskine asked in curiosity which Steve responded with a shook of his head.
"Where are you from, Mr Rogers? Mmm? Is it New Haven? Or Paramus? Five exams in five different..." Erskine was interrupted by Steve trying to save his skin; "That might not be the right file."
"No, it's not the exams we're interested in. It's the five tries," Erika informed him which caused him to relax slightly and give her a look of confusion.
"But you didn't answer my question. Do you want to kill Nazis?" Erskine asked and they waited in silence for Steve's answer.
"Is this a test?" Steve asked which made me place three fingers over my lips to stop myself from chuckling.
"Yes," Erskine answered as he was slightly stumped by Steve's question.
"I don't wanna kill anyone. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from," his words formed a hold around Erika's heart.
She shared a knowing look with Erskine as Steve's word further confirmed their choices of him being the one for the experiment.
"Well, there are already so many big men fighting this war. Maybe what we need now is the little guy, huh? I can offer you a chance," Erskine started as they exited the room.
"Only a chance," Erika told him as she saw his hopeful eyes.
"I'll take it," Steve rushed as they stopped by the table holding the stamps for approved or declined.
"Good. So where is the little guy from, actually?" the doctor asked as he held the approval stamp in his hand.
"Brooklyn," Steve answered with a small smile.
Erskine stamped Steve's form and handed him the file before speaking; "Congratulations, soldier."
Erskine and Erika walked away from Steve and as they walked away, Erika knew they made the right decision.
"So...did the doctor find anyone he saw fit?" Howard asked Erika when she met up with him after the expo was finished.
Howard was seated the bench by the stage with a lit cigarette between his lips. "I believe he has made his decision. But the Colonel won't agree," she informed him as she sat down beside him.
"How so?" Howard asked, taking a puff of his cigarette and blowing out the smoke.
"You could pummel the guy in 10 seconds," she remarked to him which caused him to glare at her.
His hand reached out to smack her shoulder but however, she didn't feel it but obviously he did because he was shaking his hand in pain which made her chuckle. "That's not funny," Howard remarked, and she just shrugged her shoulders.
"If you didn't learn from the first time you hit me, that's your problem," Erika stated to him with a cheeky smirk on her face.
He continued glaring at her until he shook his head and put out his cigarette. "Do you think he is the right choice?" Howard asked Erika; going back onto their previous topic.
"Yeah. He'll be the hero this world needs," she answered with a sad smile on her face.
She couldn't be a hero without exposing to the world that they weren't alone in the universe. She wondered if Father would be disappointed in her choices, but she would never know. She didn't know how to go home without feeling like a failure. This war has been going on for three whole years...and she haven't even been involved in it. Some Goddess of War she was.