"Miss Wolfe!"
Adeline turned at the call of her name, to see Agent Carter striding after her in the dimly lit hallway.
"Agent Carter, please call me Adeline." She said when the woman reached her side. "You got me out. And you are getting out my mother."
The Agent's face blanked, but only for a second – so that it could have been a trick of the light. "Of course. Then you must call me Peggy. You saved my life, Adeline. I won't forget that."
Adeline smiled slightly. "Was there something you were wanting for me, Peggy?" Her English could still use some work, and she found herself mirroring Peggy's smooth accent when she was speaking.
Peggy nodded, and began walking again, Adeline falling into step. "I was wondering if you would accompany me to the recruit training. As Abraham has no doubt told you, we are looking for our next potential super-soldier-"
"Super-soldier?" Adeline stopped in her tracks. "Another…?" her face grew dark, and Peggy took a tiny step back. "Why would he do this…" she hissed lowly. "Er weiß, was daraus wird!" He knows what comes of it!
"Now, Adeline, there is no reason to be upset, I'm sure he meant to tell you. And he has greatly improved the design after his mishap with Schmidt-"
Adeline looked at her sharply, jaw snapping shut with an audible click. She growled lowly; "He used the serum on SCHMIDT?!" She gave a yell and her fist shot out, punching into the wall. The concrete gave beneath her rage, and Peggy swallowed.
Adeline closed her eyes, breathing deeply.
What Abraham had done…
They were doomed…
Unless she could stop him.
But was she strong enough? Schmidt knew her and her weaknesses. She would need help.
It would have to be her, and whoever this new 'soldier' was. They were the only ones who could stop him.
Slowly, Adeline withdrew her hand. Chunks of concrete went tumbling to the floor, and a film of dust danced in a shaft of light. Peggy was still watching her cautiously.
"We have a dangerous enemy. Your soldier will need to be trained. I will help with this." Adeline said finally. "But I still have words to speak with Abraham. What he has done is unforgivable – but he knows his monster, and I will need inside information."
Peggy nodded. "Understood." they continued walking for a short time. "Adeline," Peggy began carefully, "You're the product of an early version of the serum, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"So Schmidt could have even better healing than you, and be even stronger." Peggy sounded worried. Adeline shook her head.
"No. The version of the serum that I took was administered in doses. Abraham tells me that my healing is an anomaly. Something that was only because my body healed itself faster anyway, so it made that better. It was not the desired outcome. I was supposed to be even stronger, and faster." She frowned. "I would wager that Schmidt demanded better results. He is most likely even stronger and faster than me. But the serum also mutates. I doubt that he looks human."
Peggy nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you, Adeline." She laughed suddenly. "You'll be having a lot more questions from me, I'm afraid. You're one of our most valuable resources, with your training and inside knowledge. I'm glad you're willing to train our super-soldier."
t was not the desired outcome. I was supposed to be even stronger, and faster." She frowned. "I would wager that Schmidt demanded better results. He is most likely even stronger and faster than me. But the serum also mutates. I doubt that he looks human."
Abraham didn't pretend to be surprised by the dark fury in Adeline's eyes as she stalked into his shared laboratory with Stark.
Stark himself was rendered frozen as she shoved past some poor assistants. With a snap of his fingers, Abraham cleared the lab – but Stark perched himself on a bench, casually swinging his feet. Abraham rolled his eyes, and Adeline glared at him pointedly – but privately, Abraham was glad for a witness.
"Hör zu, Adeline. Es tut mir leid-" Listen, Adeline. I am sorry-
"No!" Adeline growled, "In English. I want him to know what you've done." She jabbed a finger at Stark, who baulked. "What you have doomed us to."
Stark looked confused. "What is she talkin' about, Erskine?"
Abraham sighed. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark. Agent Carter and I have failed to mention that a different serum was administrated to the head of the Hydra science division. Johann Schmidt." Stark's eyebrows shot up. Abraham looked back to Adeline who was still seething. "I understand there isn't much I can do to earn your forgiveness – I can only apologize now."
Adeline pressed her lips together. "Just get this serum done. If Schmidt and Hydra are to be eliminated – I'll need help." With that, she turned on her heel in one smooth movement, and strode from the lab.
It was only a few minutes later that she realized that there was a voice calling her name.
"Miss Wolfe!"
She turned to face Howard Stark, as he hurried after her, half-running to catch up with her. "Mi-iss Wol-Wolfe." He panted, pausing beside her. She gave him a second. Clearly it must have been something important if he ran after her. He straightened, and gave her a bright smile. "What'd'ya have on now?"
Adeline blinked. "What?"
He winked. "What're you up to? Are you free?" Adeline raised an eyebrow, cocking her head. What was this odd little man getting at? And he was little; she was a good three inches taller than him, standing at 5"11. He rolled his eyes, not understanding her silence. "Listen, I figure you know maybe, two or three people here, max. It's always good to have friends so, I uh, I figure…"
"You want to… be my friend?" Adeline said slowly, accent thickening in her confusion as her eyebrows drew together. Stark coughed nervously, stroking his moustache in a quick, unconscious movement.
"Ah… yeah. But don't make it weird." He said, cheeks colouring. Adeline cocked her head, some dark part of her feeling better now that he was uneasy, distracted – out of his comfort zone. Easier to take down.
She scowled at herself, pushing the thoughts away. He was waiting. Adeline swallowed, and before she could think too much about it, stuck out her hand. He flinched back slightly, but recovered quickly, shaking it vigorously. They stepped away from each other, eyeing each other. Deliberately, Adeline was the first to break eye contact, and started walking again. "I am heading to these training grounds. I am told I am needing to get the super-soldier candidates into shape before and after the serum."
Stark nodded, falling into step with her. "Cool, cool. Can I come watch?"
Adeline smiled. "It may be boring for you. But not unwelcome. It will be good I think. I need a critic – I have not practiced in many days." Stark puffed out his chest slightly.
"Sure. I'll stay."