A/N: OMG HEY GUYS! I'm back and better than ever! This is it! The transformation! Are you as excited as I am?! Sorry for such a long wait, school's a pain.

ATTENTION! MUY IMPORTANTE! There are a couple questions I'd like to address here. First, several people have asked if there will be a sequel. I am not sure yet. It's still early on in the movie so I'm still not sure. But it's nice to know everyone wants another after this.

Second, I've also had a couple people ask if they could see pictures. If I wanted someone to portray Jade, it would be Lyndsey Fonesca from Nikita. (If you have any ideas of who you would want to play Jade, don't hesitate to share!) Other than that, I am not good with picture editing or drawing or any of that stuff. Though if you, my dear readers, if any of you are good with that stuff and/or like/love to draw, you have my full permission to do make some fanart. Just remember that Marvel owns Captain America, and I own Jade! If anyone's got something, please share!

Lastly, I am thinking about setting up a website demoted just to pictures for fanfiction. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions PLEASE TELL ME!

Thanks for reading that note guys! Here's the long awaited Chapter 7! Review please!

Guest reviewers:

Guest: Thanks and sorry for such a long wait!

guest: Thank you so much. I'm so sorry about such a long wait.

Guest: Thanks! I'm glad you love it!

Ali: Oh my God I'm past 100 reviews I'm so excited! Sorry for the wait but here it is! Thanks so much and here comes Howard!

Guest: Thanks! Sorry for the wait!

guest: Sorry for the wait, but there's a nice, full description of Jade's new look down here!

guest: Thanks so much! I'll try to keep up the good work!

gohan's-girl: I will definitley continue thanks so much!

lovingit: Thank you so much for all of those wonderful reviews! Sometimes I didn't really get a lot of compliments on the writing style so thanks so much for that!

Guest: Thanks so much! It's so hard to find a Captain America story that's just Captain America!

Guest: Thanks! I will definitley not stop this story! Thanks!

SheCap: Thanks and that's a wonderful question. I usually don't tell people this but since you asked I'll tell. The name for Jade I chose is Lady Liberty. I know it's used a lot (though not as much as Miss America) but it's just perfect! Not sure about a sequel though.

Kat: Thanks so much! Here's an update!

Review please!


Chapter 7: Good Becomes Great

"The strength and power of a country depends absolutely on the quantity of good men and women in it".-John Ruskin

The night before the procedure came quickly. Jade was nervous as hell. It was dinner time, but Jade and Steve couldn't have anything to eat or drink this close to the procedure other than water so they went back to their respective bunks to try and get a good night's rest. Jade sat on her bed, brushing her hair subconsciously. It was a very pretty brush. It was golden with an etched pattern of delicate vines and flowers, a gift from her grandmother on her sixteenth birthday, long before the war. Those times were so happy and worry free. The war made everything depressing. People tried to look happy, they tried to make it like everything was normal and you didn't have to care about anything in the world. But really everyone was hurting inside. Loved ones were going away to war and quite possibly never coming back. It was sad to think about and even though many tried to see the bright side of things, they were always truly sad.

Becoming bored, Jade set the brush down onto her bed and made her way to the door. Maybe Steve was still up and bored like she was. Being as nervous as she was, Jade just needed someone to talk to. So she walked down and across the dirt path to Steve's bunk. There was maybe thirty minutes until dinner was over. That was plenty enough time to talk. Coming up to the cabin, she knocked on the door that was obviously better taken care of than her own. "Who is it?" Jade rolled her eyes, only Steve would ask who it was when it was obvious as to whom.

"It's Jade!" She replied and she stuffed her hands into her pockets, waiting for access to be granted.

"Oh I'm sorry, I need full names please!" Steve yelled back to her. Jade grit her teeth. The little bugger was probably smiling too. She'd have to have a little talk with Dr. Erskine later.

"Fine! Steven Grant Rogers, it is Jade Callaway! Now can I come in?" She heard a deep laugh and permission to enter. Jade opened up the door and walked in. Steve was sitting on his bed with his back to her while reading a book. She stomped over to where he sat, she'd need shoes that fit her eventually, and plopped down on the bed next to him. "What are you reading?" She asked him. The book was small and brown leather. Actually, it looked quite familiar.

"Just some poetry from a great, unknown writer," He replied with a slight smile. Jade tugged the book out of his hand and read the page he was on. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a little "o."

"You stole my book?" She asked disbelievingly. Steve smiled sheepishly, trying to look as innocent as possible.

"I…I didn't steal it. It just…it um…" He was stopped when a hand was smashed over his mouth, making any words sound like a strange gurgle noise.

"I'm sorry to be so blunt, but dear, you are horrible at lying." A faint pink blush spread across his cheeks. "And you blush way too much." The result was an even deeper blush. Jade sighed with an over exaggerated tone.

"Why didn't you become a writer? Why be a soldier when you could have been a poet?" Steve finally asked after his blush lessened some. Jade thought for a moment. It was a great question, one that she already knew the answer to. She sat there with her mouth open for the longest time, like she was about to say something but the words wouldn't come out. A strained noise came out for half a second.

"I tried to, but it didn't exactly get my mother's approval. She wants me to get married and have kids. That's it…no job…no life." Steve felt somewhat sorry for the girl sitting next to him. Steve could do anything he wanted. Men had tons of opportunities out there. Women, not so much, they were expected to get married, have kids, and maybe have a career in the factories or as a nurse for the time being. Then when the war was over, everything would go back to normal. Steve could do anything, be anything, while Jade's fate was basically set in stone for her.

"Is that why you took Dr. Erskine's offer?

"Partly," she replied. "I guess it was a huge mix of things. See, one day I decided I was so tired of living such a boring and standard life that I wanted more. I went to the movies and there was a clip before the cartoon. It was about our boys overseas. I saw the great they were doing, how they were keeping our country safe. I wanted that. I wanted to be one of those men…well woman in my case I guess. I didn't like the idea of the Nazis or anyone for that matter hurting the ones I love. So I decided to do something about it. And then there were some other reasons of course: to prove myself, to rebel against my mother, to feel important. But I mainly joined the army because I wanted to keep America safe and because I didn't want to live to anyone's standards." Steve nodded as if to say he accepted the answer. "What about you?"

Jade waited patiently as Steve sighed deeply. "I don't like bullies. I'm doing this because no one should be able to pick on the little guys."

Jade chewed on her lip for a brief moment. "This isn't high school Steve. They aren't bullies they're monsters. This isn't just about the little guys. It's about every person in this world. I think this is a little bigger than some playground bullies." Her opinion was fair, but of course Steve was a little hurt that he accepted her reasoning so easily and she shot his down.

"I don't think of it literally though. You have to understand that it's a metaphor. It's not right…"

"If someone is above everyone else because they think they're better." She finished for him. Steve gave a relieved sigh and a nod. It was strange how much they thought alike. Some people may have found it…creepy. But to them it felt almost natural, like second nature. Jade personally found it kind of cool. The fact that they were always in tune with one another really saved a lot of time since they didn't have to explain things to each other.

"Have you written to your brother recently?" Steve asked, changing the subject after their comfortable silence.

"I just got a letter back from him actually. It really surprised me to get one back so fast. He mostly talked about how he wouldn't tell my mother I'm here. Oh and that we need to win the war soon because he's getting tired of rations." Jade started giggling softly, then Steve soon joined her and they laughed loudly. If someone had been in the room, they would have probably thought they were psychotic.

There was a knock on the door. Dr. Erskine popped his head into the room and asked with a warm smile, "May I?" Jade nodded while smiling back and Steve gave a short, "Come in." Dr. Erskine walked completely through the door carrying a bottle of liquor and three glasses and closed it behind him. The latch settled into place with a soft 'click.' The old scientist sat down on the bed across from them still in his white coat. Did he ever where anything different or was his closet simply filled with the garment? His smile grew even softer as he gazed upon the two soldiers. "I 'ave never seen a vore…cooperative team zan you two. You vill do vell together." Both of them smiled. "Can't sleep?" He asked.

"Nah, guess I got the jitters." Steve said. Jitters were an understatement though. On the outside, Jade was calm, cool, and collected. Though on the inside she was yelling and screaming 'I can't do this! I want out!'

"Me too," The Doctor said interrupting the brunette's thoughts.

"Can we ask you a question?" Steve asked the scruffy bearded doctor.

"Just vone?" He asked teasingly.

"Why us?" Jade asked this time. Dr. Erskine sighed in defeat as he placed the bottle on the ground.

"I suppose zat is zee only question zat matters." He took a moment to look down at the liquor in his hands. "Zis is from Augsburg, my city," he said gesturing to the reddish brown bottle. Dr. Erskine closed his eyes for a minute, thinking of details as he replayed it all in his head. His brown eyes popped back open again like everything suddenly came back to him. "So many people vorget zat zee first country zat zee Nazi's invaded vas zeir own. You know, after the last var zee...my people struggled. Zey...zey felt veak. Zey felt small. And zen Hitler comes along vith zee marching and zee big show and zee flags and zee...and zee..." He waved his hands around like he was trying to stop himself as he stuttered over the words of his story. He fixed his glasses that began to slide down his nose. "And he...he hears of me, my vork and he finds me. And he says, you," He pointed at Steve while telling his story. Jade always loved it when Dr. Erskine told stories. He made it so real and personal that you just felt at ease. But it was like he should be home telling stories to his grandchildren, not some random people he had just met not long ago.

"...he says you vill make us strong. Vell," Dr. Erskine lifted his hands up into the air like it was a defense. "I am not interested. So he sends zee head of Hydra, his research division, a brilliant scientist by zee name of Johann Schmidt. Now, Schmidt iz a member of zee inner circle and he's ambitious. He and Hitler share a passion vor a cult power and Teutonic myth. Hitler uses his fantasies to inspire his followers. But vor Schmidt it is not fantasy. For him, it is real. He has become convinced that zere is a great power in the earth, left zere by the Gods, vaiting to be seized by a superior man. So ven he hears about my formula and vat it can do, he cannot resist." Jade closed her eyes. She could picture those little details in her head and each one scared her. She didn't even know what Schmidt looked like but that didn't stop her imagination from thinking of the worst thing possible.

"Schmidt must become zat superior man." Oh God…did he?

"He injected himself with the serum?" Jade asked looking for conformation. Dr. Erskine nodded weakly. It made him sad to think that his creation went to such waste. Schmidt was not the right person for it.

"Did it make him stronger?" Steve was on the edge of the bed. He seemed pretty interested in the story.

"Yeah," He answered with a scoff. "But, zere vere other effects. Zee serum vas not ready. But more important, zee man. Zee serum amplifies everything zat is inside. So, good becomes great. Bad becomes vorse." He let this sink in for a moment before continuing on. "This is why you vere chosen. Because a strong man or voman, who has known power all their life, vill lose respect for that power." Jade looked down at her boots, studying the mud spots. Power was something that had never really interested her, but every once in awhile it sounded nice. Then she felt rough, calloused fingers lift her head up until she was looking at the German scientist. "But a veak man or voman knows the value of strength, and knows compassion." He pointed at them once more.

"Thanks," Steve started.

"I think," Jade finished for him.

Dr. Erskine started pointing at the three glasses he had placed on the table. Steve grabbed the three glasses and handed one to Jade so she could hold it. Dr. Erskine poured some of the liquor into each of the three glasses. "Vatever happens tomorrow, you must promise me one thing. Zat you both vill stay who you are. Not a perfect soldier, but good," he pointed to Steve. "People," he pointed to Jade. She smiled; Jade didn't plan on changing anytime soon. She watched him take his glass as Steve raised his in the air.

"To the little guys," he toasted.

Jade lifted up her own glass as well and smirked. "And to the dames." They both tilted their glasses up to take a drink when all of a sudden they were being yelled at by a frantic Dr. Erskine.

"No! No! Vait! Vait! Vat I am doing? No! You have procedure tomorrow! No fluids!" He took their glasses and set them on the table next to him as he still held his own in his right hand. Then he took each glass and poured its contents into his own.

"Alright, we'll drink it after." Steve was now somewhat annoyed. You don't just bring in alcohol and then take it away. It's just plain cruel!

Dr. Erskine looked a little offended. "I do not have procedure tomorrow! Drink it after," he scoffed lightly. "Drink it now!" He held up the almost over flowing glass and downed the liquid it held. Steve started to laugh lightly before Jade joined him and all three laughed like absolute crazy people. Who knows? They were going to turn a couple of scrawny kids into American icons. Maybe they were crazy.


Jade buttoned up the last button on her shirt. Her private's uniform was a tan button up shirt, matching pants, a tie, and a tan garrison cap. She pulled her hair back into a high ponytail, the ends curling lightly. Then she placed her cap on her head and secured it with a couple bobby pins. She breathed in deeply. This was it. She could do this. Would the transformation hurt? God, it probably would! What if the pain was so terrible it killed her? No, Dr. Erskine would have told her if there was a possibility of that. Right?

'Knock, knock, knock'

Jade jumped at the sound. She made her way over to the door and opened it to reveal none other than the scientist himself. "Good morning doctor!" She greeted him with a wide smile. He returned to expression.

"Good morning Jade. Are you veady?"

"No not really but let's just get this over with!" They both laughed to ease the nerves.

"Vell zen come along. I vill be leaving a bit earlier zan you and Steven but it vould be my pleasure to escort you to zee office for zee time being." Jade nodded. She needed to mail a letter so going to the main office would work just fine. Last night she had written a letter to Jasper before she went to bed. They walked over to the office and Jade placed a stamp on the envelope. But before she sealed it closed, she took out the letter and looked it over one last time.

Dear Jasper,

This letter is going to be short. I apologize for that. I just wanted to let you know that I'm being shipped out tomorrow morning. I included the information of where you can send any future letters to in the envelope. I probably won't be able to write as often anymore since I'll be so busy being on duty, but I'll always read your letters and I'll make sure to send one back eventually.

I just wanted to let you know that I love you. I love you, mom, Jacob, and Allison. No, this isn't a goodbye. It's just an 'I'll see you soon.' Thanks for keeping my secret and I'll tell you more ASAP.

With all my love, Jade.

P.S. Get over it you big baby. You can deal with some rations for a little while!

She smiled before slipping the letter into the outbox. She had two rocks in her life. Jasper kept her grounded while at home. He kept her sane while her mother was driving her off the deep end. Her other rock was Steve. He did basically the same things as her brother except he kept her sane while at camp and now eventually on the battlefield.

"I must be going. Goodbye Jade." She felt Dr. Erskine give her a small pat on the shoulder and she smiled slightly. She slowly sat down in a chair. He left the office, soon being replaced with Steve (wearing the same outfit as her) and Agent Peggy Carter.

"Morning Queens," the former called to the girl as she quietly picked at her fingernails, making them worse than they already were. She chewed them and tore them until they were uneven and jagged. At the mention of Steve's nickname for her, her head popped up to face the blonde.

"Hey Brooklyn," her voice was gently but shaky. Jade couldn't stop chewing her nails. It grew awkwardly silent for a moment until Agent Carter tried to break the silence.

"If you don't mind me asking, why do you call each other Queens and Brooklyn?" It was a ridiculous question. It was completely obvious if you read their files, which they both knew the agent had. But it was an attempt to break the silence.

"Uh, well we're both from New York," Jade said softly.

"Yeah but we're from two different parts. I'm from Brooklyn and she's from Queens. So when we found that out we just established them as our nicknames for each other." Steve stuffed his hands in his pockets. He tended to do that a lot. Just like Jade and playing with her fingernails.

"They just worked," the two new privates said together. Agent Carter nodded and then gave them an odd look like they were, uh, coo-coo.

"Do you two always talk in unison?" She asked with a light chuckle after her smooth English accent.

"Sometimes, other times we finish each other's sentences. It's a little creepy, yeah, but it comes in handy every once in a while." Jade's voice seemed to be distant. It was light and she looked to be in 'another world.' Steve quirked an eyebrow before crouching in front of her chair.

"Jade, are you okay?" He asked her slowly. When her gaze turned back to him, they were watery and wide. "Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong?" He asked once the first tear slid down her pale cheek. It was a rare thing. Steve had never seen her cry before. It was odd to see the slick drops slide down her cheek and the drop off her chin onto her freshly pressed pants.

"I'm scared," she whispered so lowly that only Steve could hear her. He clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth lightly before wrapping his arms around her. "I'm so, so scared," she choked out through soft sobs.

"Is this about the procedure?" He felt her weakly nod into his shoulder. Letting out a sigh, he hugged her tighter. "I…I know you're scared. I-I am too." He mentally face palmed. Comforting women was not his expertise. "We both have every right to be scared. But that's okay…because we're going to get through this and we're going to get through it together. I'll be with you the whole time." Steve pulled back and wiped the tears from her cheeks and then the ones the hung at the bottom of her lashes, clutching for dear life.

And then there was a feminine couch from behind them. Agent Carter stood there awkwardly, bouncing on each foot. "Uh…I don't mean to interrupt but our car is waiting to take us to the base." Steve nodded and helped Jade onto her feet. He had never seen her so vulnerable before. It was a whole other side of her. Once outside, Agent Carter opened up the car door for them and Jade slid in first, Steve sat in the middle, and Agent Carter sat on the other side of them, the left side of the car.

The research base just happened to be in Brooklyn. As they drove through the neighborhood, some kids moved out of the car's way as they played a game of baseball, completely unaware of what was in their neighborhood. "Hey," Steve said in realization. "I know this neighborhood!" He pointed off to an alleyway next to a music shop. "I got beat up in that alley…and that parking lot…and behind that diner." Jade giggled girlishly. At first Steve sent her a glare but the pulled his gaze away when he realized that was the first time she had laughed since the morning's events.

"Did you have something against running away?" Agent Carter asked, refusing to make eye contact with him. Steve fumbled with the tip of his garrison hat. He had taken it off about a half hour before.

He finally shook his head and looked over at the ruby lipped woman. "Start running they'll never let you stop. You stand up…push back, can't say no forever right?"

"I know a little about what that's like. To have every door shut in your face." Agent Carter replied to him, still refusing to make eye contact.

"Tell me about it," Jade muttered. The agent sent her a small smile before turning back to face the front again. Steve took a minute to think before continuing on with the conversation.

"I guess I just don't why you'd wanna join the army if you're a beautiful dame. Or a beautiful...a woman. An agent, not a dame! You are beautiful, but..." Steve gave up after stuttering over his words. Jade started chuckling and then laughing uncontrollably before Steve shot another glare and she stopped, though every once in a while a light giggle would slip out.

"You have no idea how to talk to a woman, do you?" Peggy asked him, finally meeting his gaze.

Steve just gave a sigh. "I think this is the longest conversation I've had with one other than Jade here. That's just because I know her so well. Women aren't exactly lining up to dance with a guy they might step on." Jade felt a little sad. Steve was a great guy! Sure he was a little skinny, and pale, and short, and weak but was that all women thought about. Was Jade the only one who paid attention to the other aspects of a man? Like personality and smarts.

"You must have danced!" Peggy said disbelievingly. Really, that's what she got out of all of that?

"Well, asking a woman to dance always seemed so terrifying. And the past few year just didn't seem to matter that much." He said with a shrug of his shoulder. "Figured I'd wait."

"What are you waiting for?" Jade asked him. He watched out the front window for a little while, just watching the lines on the road.

"The right partner," he finally said. You couldn't tell if it was directed towards anyone though. It was simple and obvious, like there wasn't even another answer. After that it became comfortable quiet. Jade spent almost fifteen minutes taking her hair out, braiding it, taking it out, putting it into two braids, taking it out, putting it in a bun, etc. Finally she settled for a high braided ponytail. She felt Steve lightly touch it and then retreat back almost as quickly. He mumbled something like "It's pretty." And then he returned his gaze to his lap.

Jade once more gave a light chuckle. "What?" Steve asked her.

She shook her head while still laughing. "I'm sorry. You're just horrible with women. Even with me." He blushed red.

That was the last of their conversation as they pulled off to the side of the road. The car stopped in front of an old looking antique shop simply called 'Brooklyn Antiques.' The three of them stepped out and Agent Carter directed them inside. Two men in raggedy clothes were outside conversing. They sent the three a smile as they walked inside.

A bell chimed as the door opened and closed. It was a large open space with a variety of antiques such as desks, clocks, lamps, and jewelry. An old woman with thinning gray hair in a pink cardigan walked out of a doorway covered by a curtained at the sound of the chiming. "Wonderful weather this morning, isn't it?" She asked Peggy with a frail voice.

"Yes, but I always carry an umbrella," she responded in a rehearsed tone. Jade and Steve turned to each other and shrugged. They watched the old woman go around to the front desk and press a button on the side. Agent Carter led them though the navy blue tapestry to another room. It was the same gray color as the store, but it only contained a roll top desk and bookshelves filled with a wide variety of books. There were small ones and big ones. Some were pristine and others were coated in a fine layer of dust. The trio stopped right in front of the large bookcase.

Jade peered around Peggy's shoulder expectantly. "What…do we do? Is there like a book we pull out and a secret door opens or some-" Jade was interrupted when the bookshelf split into two and opened up toward them. Jade's mouth formed a small 'o' shape as a short hallway was revealed. It was sectioned off by walls with large open doorways. A desk was in each section until you came up to a pair of steel double doors. They walked down the hallway. Peggy held confidence while Jade and Steve kept looking around trying to take in every detail of the base.

The double doors were opened by two guards once they approached. Inside was a sterile testing room with all kinds of machines and lights. In the center was a large ring. Machines formed a circle and in the middle were two large devices shaped like a human body and padded. One of them was smaller than the other. They were on a balcony approaching a railing when the whole room went quiet and stared at them. Suddenly Steve felt a small hand grab his in a death grip. Steve looked at Peggy for the both of them and she simply exhaled deeply and led them down the stairs to the main area where Dr. Erskine was patiently waiting.

Steve and Jade approached him as Peggy stayed behind the two. "Good morning," he said, shaking both of their hands. A flash erupted from next to them. They all turned to a man holding a large camera. "Please, not here," Dr. Erskine said with some annoyance and the man scurried away from them. Steve looked over at the machines. "Are you veady?" Dr. Erskine asked.

They nodded, still unsure of themselves. "Good," he continued. "Steven, take off your hat, tie, and shirt please." Steve reached up for his cap but found a small hand still connected to his. Steve cleared his throat at Jade who sent a panicked look his way. Dr. Erskine held his hand in front of her. Reluctantly and hesitantly, Steve's hand was replaced with the doctor's. "Come Jade, we 'ave a special area vor you to change in vor privacy." Looking nervously at Steve one last time, she allowed Dr. Erskine to lead her away and to a small room off to the side.

He handed her a roll of ace bandages and a safety pin. "Take off your hat, tie, and shirt as vell but cover your chest vith zee bandages. And vet your hair loose as vell." Jade nodded once as Dr. Erskine left her to her privacy. She quickly removed her hat, tie, and unbuttoned her shirt. Then she shed her undershirt and bra, replacing it with the bandages. They were uncomfortable and down right itchy. Ignoring that though, she returned to the center of the room to find Steve lying down on his machine.

He waved once he spotted the brunette and nodded for her to get in her own machine. She laid down on the foamy padding of the machine. There were strange pad like things with small needles in them and open holes that looked like were big enough to hold syringes. Soon, Dr. Erskine returned and watched as the two shifted where they lay. "Comfortable?" He asked.

Steve sighed. "It's a little big," Steve answered with slight humor in his voice. Dr. Erskine chuckled lightly. "Save us any of that schnapps?" He asked, still trying to keep the mood somewhat light and not…nervous

Dr. Erskine gave a curt shake of his head. "Not as much as I should have," he said guiltily. "Sorry," he said with a slight raise of the eyebrows. "Next time…Mr. Stark! How are your levels?" Jade's head popped up in surprise as the familiar dark haired man came into view, completely oblivious to her presence.

"Levels are at 100%! We may dim half the lights in Brooklyn…but we are…ready. As ever as we will be." He was still completely oblivious.

"Howard?" Said man turned around to the petite brunette. His eyes widened at the sight of her. He seemed to take a few steps back before being able to form an actual sentence.

"Jade! What are you doing here?" He said with a wide grin. Was he actually that oblivious? "Have-have you come to see my work. Wait how did you get clearance to come in here? And why are you lying down…on…that…table." He said the last parts of the sentence very slow as if realizing the answer to his own question. His smirk turned into a grave frown. "Oh no! Absolutely not! I refuse to let you be a part of this!" He yelled angrily. Steve sent a sideways glance to the two.

"You don't get to control my life Howard!" She yelled back to him with just as much spite.

"I don't care! I'm not putting you at risk Jade!"

"It's my decision whether to do this or not, not yours! And this is what I want!"

Howard waved his hands up and then back down to his sides, admitting defeat. "You know what, fine! You ruin your life; you go out there and risk it! See if I care!" He dropped the subject quickly, trying to get over the fact that this woman was about to give up her whole life to be what they were calling a 'super soldier.'

"How do you know Howard Stark?" She heard softly next to her. Steve was looking at her still with a quizzical look.

"We went on a date once." She replied bitterly. A nurse came over and strapped her into the machine. He just seemed to become more curious so he went back to watching the nurse strap them in.

"Agent Carter, don't you zink zat it vould be more comfortable in zee booth," Dr. Erskine asked the British officer clearly hinting for her to get lost.

"Oh, oh yes of course," she replied with very little enthusiasm. Peggy did not want to leave these two alone. But following Dr. Erskine's advice, she smiled at them one more time before making her way up to the upper observation booth filled with military officers, the press, and even the senator.


Dr. Erskine picked up a microphone from a table and flicked it until it made an obnoxious screeching noise. "Can you hear me? Is zis thing on?" Once he got a conformation he moved into a more formal part of the experiment. "Ladies and gentlemen, today we take not another step towards annihilation, but zee first step on zee path to peace." They lowered those needle pads down onto them. Steve had them on his stomach across his chest while Jade had them on her abdominal muscles. They stung going down, but the pain was quick and went by fast. "We begin vith a series of micro injections into zee subjects' major muscle groups." Nurses brought out tubes filled with the serum and placed them in those holes. There were seven tubes for each, though only six were used. Leaving one tube of each serum left over for duplication if it worked. The formulas were different due to difference in gender. The serum for Steve was a vibrant blue and Jade's serum was neon purple. "Zee serum infusion vill cause immediate cellular change. And zen to stimulate growth, zee subjects vill be saturated vith vita rays." He put down the microphone and continued to check on his test subjects.

A nurse went to each of the two and cleaned off a spot on their arm with an alcohol swab and then stuck a needle in the disinfected area, injecting them with something. Jade only flinched slightly while Steve was breathing in and out slowly. "That wasn't so bad," he said sounding relieved.

Dr. Erskine gave a sad smile. "Zat vas penicillin." Jade then broke out into more laughter.

"Shut it Jadelynn!" Steve hissed through clenched teeth. Jade stopped laughing and only smiled brightly. Steve thought it was amazing how even when she's about to be injected with a strange serum, she could still smile. It was a great trait about her.

Dr. Erskine shrugged a shoulder and turned around to Howard. "Serum infusion beginning in 5…4…3…" The count down went agonizingly slow as two more needle pads were lowered onto their biceps. "2…1." The serum drained from their containers. It quickly went down smaller tubes, into the needles, and then proceeded into their muscles. It burned. The best way to describe it was that someone cut you open, set the insides of your body on fire, and then closed you back up. It wasn't a good feeling. At all. Jade squirmed in her seat. She wanted to scream out, but she held it in and bit the inside of her cheek until she felt the metallic taste of blood. Jade could literally feel her muscles growing. She really wanted to bite her nails right now.

And then it was still burning, but it was no longer a harsh, irritating burn. It was more of feeling of light. It still burned, but in a chilly way. If that made any sense. "Now Mr. Stark," Dr. Erskine commanded. He pulled a lever and their machines lifted so they were standing up and then they closed completely. It was dark and cold. Steve heard a light tap on the window of his container. "Steven," rang the German accented voice. "Can you hear me?"

There was a silent pause before he faintly heard, "It's probably too late to go to the bathroom, right?" There was no answer so he assumed that was a yes. Dr. Erskine walked over to the smaller container and knocked on that one.

"Jade, how are you doing in zere?"

Once again there was a little pause. "Steve asked if it was too late to go to the bathroom, didn't he?" Dr. Erskine chuckled as he turned to Howard Stark.

"We vill proceed." Howard turned a dial and placed on his safety goggles.

He turned a small wheel, activating the power. "That's 10%." The containers began to glow brightly with light. "20%...30…that's 40%."

"Vital signs are both normal."

"That's 50%...60!" The lights were becoming unbearably bright. Jade's eyes were closed, surrounding her in partial darkness except for the faintly glow. There wasn't much pain right now. Just a slight tingly sensation, like your foot was asleep and every time you moved it, there was a slight shock wave an uncomfortable-ness. "70!" That's when the pain began. It was worse than the injections. It wasn't just burning. It was burning, itching, white searing hot pain that you just wanted to die right there.

On the outside, you could hear both screams. Steve's was like he was screaming while clenching his jaw while Jade's scream was just an open wail. Dr. Erskine became panicked. He bounced from each platform trying to see inside the too bright windows, calling their names over and over with desperation.

"Shut it down!" Peggy screamed, emerging from the box to the balcony. Dr. Erskine tried pounding on their windows. There was just more screaming and wailing. "SHUT IT DOWN!"

"Kill the reactor, Mr. Stark! Kill the reactor!" Dr. Erskine called out to him as the inventor frantically jumped around to turn off the machine. Wait! They were shutting it down? NO, no, no, no!

"NO!" Both Steve and Jade yelled in unison.

"Don't! I can do this!" He screamed. The pain was unbearable but he was so close…so close to his dreams. There was another ear piecing scream from Jade.

"I'm shutting it down Jade!" Howard called out to her.

"Don't you dare Howard! Don't you dare touch that lever!"

The scientist and the inventor gave in. The latter returned to the wheel and continued turning it. "80…90…that's one hundred percent!" The screams had stopped. The machines were smoking. The containers were too bright to even glance at. Sparks began to fly everywhere due to the power overload. Then suddenly, it all stopped. The machines powered down and the bright light dimmed until it was nothing. The room became quiet for a split moment before Dr. Erskine eagerly urged Howard to open the containers. He complied.

The doors opened up to reveal two totally different people. The once sickly pale and skinny soldiers were now muscular and tan. They were what an American idol should look like. They were the perfect soldiers.

There was hustle and bustle as everyone in the room tried to make their way to the two soldiers. Dr. Erskine helped Steve down from his containment unit and Howard did the same for Jade. "How are you? How do you feel?" Howard whispered to her.

"Leg's asleep, but I've never felt better." She was ecstatic. Never in her life had she felt so healthy. Her irregular heartbeat was something that didn't cause too much trouble, but gave her a huge risk of a stroke. Now she could feel her heart beating steadily now. It felt…normal.

"We did it." Steve said to Dr. Erskine, slightly limping until he adjusted to walking again.

"Yeah, yeah I zink ve did" Steve and Jade stood next to one another, though didn't look at the other. They were sore and breathing hard. And they also didn't want to see how the other turned out. Peggy pushed her way in front of the crowd to stand in front of the two. She was speechless for what seemed like a long time.

"How do you feel?" She asked both of them.

"Taller," they replied in their infamous unison. Peggy grabbed white t-shirts for them and handed them to each one so they could put them on.

"You…you guys look taller." She was still speechless. There was nothing else to say. Then, after a long time, the two looked at each other…and were speechless as well.

Jade looked over at her friend for the first time since they started the procedure. Her eyes widened in complete and utter shock. Steve was…definitely not scrawny. No sir 'e.' He…he had muscles! Actual biceps! And abs! A gosh darn six pack for crying out loud! He had to of grown like, a foot, because now he was average height. Wait; forget that, he was tall. Like really tall! His skin was no longer that sickly pale shade, but a nice tan that looked like he could warm up the coldest Eskimo with one hug. He looked so amazi- Whoa there Jade, what are you thinking? He's one of your best friends! You don't have thoughts like that about him. Oh but his hair was even sandier blonde and looked like you could just run your hands through it forever. His eyes, oh God his eyes! The ocean blue was now even brighter and clearer. Stop it Jade!

Steve looked over at Jade, expecting for her skin tone to darken some and for her to grow a few inches. Boy was he wrong. His eyes bugged out of his head. First off her skin tone was a rich tan color that looked warm and inviting. She had grown to a bit taller than the average dame…no woman…oh forget it…she was a dame. If she was beautiful before, she was a completely gorgeous dame. Her eyes were still jade, but they were a brighter jade color full of life. Her lips were full and her skin tone could probably handle that bright red now. Her deep hair that once sat in brittle waves in one shade hung in soft, healthy curls of multiple shades of a deep brown. Her arms were slightly muscular and her stomach was flat and in shape. And her uh…chest…was…uh…um…fuller. Oh my God Steve, don't think about her like that!

"Steve?" She questioned in a breathless whisper. Steve still couldn't say anything. He just smiled. It was one of the biggest smiles he had ever smiled. Jade returned the gesture. Tears silently slid down her now tan cheeks with a rosy tint. They weren't sad tears though. They were tears of pure joy. "We did it Steve!" In one quick motion, he picked her up and swung her around in a circle. It was a lot easier to do that now. "Oh my God, you are really strong!"

"I know!" He nearly squealed in delight. The smiles never left their faces. What were those thoughts about? She wondered to herself. Where did they come from? I've thought anything like that! But her thoughts were interrupted when the booth above them exploded.


A/N: If you haven't already, please read the author's note at the top!