Disclaimer: I don't own anything Marvel. I just own Anna.
Chapter 29
Meanwhile
There had been no satisfaction like capturing a Hydra traitor and getting back the their stolen artifacts. Or, so Anna had thought. Sure, having O'Hagan in custody was a sweet victory, but that didn't mean that it'd bring back Marcus. Marcus was still dead, and they were still trapped there, risking their futures each second they remained. The best part was the actual hope that they could go home.
Without Bucky, things in this time just seemed empty. Especially since Steve wasn't even there anymore. Peggy was great, of course, but she was throwing herself into her work even more than Anna was, so their time together wasn't like it used to be either. The Commandos still treated Anna as if she was going to break down. Sometimes they were better than other, like when she'd crack a joke and they'd loosen up and include her a little more freely into the conversation, but that was only when Anna was feeling like putting in more effort.
It was taking far longer for Tucker to fix the containment unit to the same exact specifications they had in the plain. They needed to recreate everything that could've contributed to the time travel. To keep herself busy while Tucker worked, was to help Peggy, with rounding up the remaining Hydra scum.
That was where she found herself on the opposite side of an interrogation room mirror at the SSR Base called "The Rat" in 1945. The two way mirror looked into the dimly lit interrogation room where the single German man sat. His hands were handcuffed under the table, preventing him from completely escaping, but there was room for him to move, which actually lead to the more interesting thing about this scene. One the wooden table in front of him saw a single fountain pen in a position he was fully capable of reaching for.
There were so many things he could do with that pen, at least, there was when Anna really thought about it. And if she could think about it, so could the German doctor on the other side of the glass.
It could be used to try and pick the lock of the handcuffs. She could cut her hands to get them to bleed and use it as lubricant and try and slip them off, as well as dislocating her thumb. It could be used for it's intended purpose: to write, and in this case, a confession. It could be used for a more violent approach as well. It could be used to attack the interrogator, or to even harm themselves if they felt it was the last resort. After all, most of the Hydra goons killed themselves before they were captured.
Agent Carter was escorted into the room by a nameless male agent. She remained standing by the door in silence for a couple moments before she finally spoke two words to the captive. "Werner Reinhardt," she stated, as if it was her greeting.
He smiles as he looked up at her with his thin lipped smile. "That was a neat trick," she complimented her.
Peggy move forward, taking a stand behind the wooden chair across the table from Reinhardt. "I'm sorry, I don't follow, Doctor," she replied coyly.
"It's a pen," he said. "You vanted to see vhat I'd do vith it? After all, zere are so many uses vith it, no? Escape, confession, homicideā¦.suicide."
"It's true," she admitted, finally taking a seat in the chair as she spoke. "I wanted to find out what kind of man you were. You didn't use the pen, so now I know."
"Pens are also used for signatures," he added, an agenda forming in his mind.
"You want a deal. How terribly shocking," Carter said, obviously knowing where he was going with this.
"The U.S. Government has recruited many German scientists," Reinhardt said.
"They'll send rockets into space," Carter said, almost teasing him.
And obviously Anna knew it was right. The US and Russian Space race to not only off world, but to the moon as well, ending with the US on the moon first, though Russia with the first man in space a month before the US did in 1961.
"Maybe they can strap you to one of them," Carter added, making her stance on giving him a deal very clear.
"Zey'll show you parlor tricks," he said. "Giving me a second chance could save all of humanity."
Your attempt to convince her to give you the deal won't work. Once Peggy has her mind set on something, you can't change it. Especially for a Hydra sicko, Anna thought, crossing her arms.
Carter leaned forward to look at him better, hopefully making her point even clearer as she went on speaking. "I've seen all of your home movies, the bodies left in your wake, the girl you caged up. There'll be no second chances for you," Carter stated.
"You must be dying to understand all ze items you recovered," Reinhardt pressed. "Zey're fascinating, no?"
He does have a point there, Anna thought. After all, one of his items was the very first 0-8-4. But we can't give him the satisfaction of giving you that, can we?
"I don't suppose you'll tell me where they came from," Carter pushed one last time.
"Zere's a story," he said. "A myth from the East of a star that fell from the heavensā¦"
Peggy didn't look impressed, but Anna couldn't help but take another step closer to the glass. She knew things Peggy didn't, after all. She knew about Aliens called Asgardians and Frost Giants. She's met them. And if those two species were out there, the chances of other species inhabiting their galaxy was great, wasn't it?
These "Stars" intrigued her.
"...Of Blue Angels who came bearing a gift for all mankind, meant to save zee world," he finished.
"Blue Angels" intrigued her even more. She was going to have to remember that when she returned to her time, if that ever happened. She'd need to talk to Thor, if she could find him, and ask him about blue alien species and see if he knew if any of them had ever gone to Earth.
"You don't strike me as a believer," Carter admitted.
"Oh, I've based my whole life on it," he admitted proudly. "History just 'as zee details wrong."
"Then set history straight," Peggy ordered.
"Zese visitors, they didn't come to save see world. Zey came to conquer it," he clarified.
"Is that so?" Carter asked, finally sitting back in her seat, but that only lasted for a couple moments, for she stood up and pushed her chair in, taking the pen with her. "Well, you've given me much to think about."
"This guy's as nuts as Schmidt," Anna told Peggy the moment she came in. "But, God, I want to pick his brain."
"I don't think he really holds any credibility," Peggy said. "I would take anything he says seriously."
"So what do you plan to do? You're not really thinking about giving him a deal, are you?"
"Oh heavens no," Peggy answered. "I'd rather see this guy rot in a sell for the rest of his deranged life."
"Couldn't have put it better myself," Anna said.
Peggy turned to head back into the interrogation room. Reinhardt was intrigued that she came back. "So, curiosity brings her back," Reinhardt greeted. "Have you come to make a deal?"
"With the devil? I considered it. "As you said, the skies might open up one day. Your work will be valuable. But if that day comes, I know who I'd want by my side." Carter leaned forward onto the desk, getting closer to Weinhardt. "It isn't you."
"Vee could learn so much together," he said, a sore loser as always.
"Instead," Carter said, making sure her agenda was known instead of humoring him. "We'll forget. Forget you, forget your work. When I leave, no one else will come. No one to hear your stories, study your deadly artifacts. You'll be buried."
"I seriously doubt that," Reinhardt corrected. "Nothing stays buried forever."
"For as long as I have a say, you will," Carter threatened. She stood back up and turned as she bid him goodbye. "Farewell, Dr. Reinhardt."
So, it's almost time for things to start getting busy again! Next chapter is a little smaller, but that's because I wanted to separate specific things so that it wasn't one massive chapter, though I'm sure you guys wouldn't have minded that. It's just easier for me with planning and whatnot. I hope you guys look forward to that!
Thanks go to the following for their reviews on the previous chapter:
zikashigaku- No, he definitely doesn't deserve a quick death. I had to kinda skip time in order to move faster in the story, so you don't get too much of what happens with Peggy after Steve disappears. I do have a plan for the videos, but whether or not Tony see's it idk yet.
abstract0118- I absolutely love the icer, so it's always going to be a key feature for Anna.
Jedi Jelsa777- I know. I haven't written their reunion yet, but I'm so excited to do so. Hopefully my motivation will stay with me and I can force myself to do it. I'm just such a mess. lol And I am feeling better now, thank you.
