Disclaimer: All Marvel and PJO/HoO characters belong to respective owners.

Chapter 4

Loud music was the first thing she notice, it was opera. It blared all around her, surrounding her. Andromeda was so entrance by the song that she didn't realize someone come in until the door slammed.

A rather short man came, Zola she remembered correctly, the new scientist Schmidt hired after Erskine. He wore his usually round eyeglasses with a red bow tie. Hair so thin that it was on the verge of baldness. He had a face of concern yet this calmness to him. It was unsettling. She watched as he hurried turn the corner to speak with Schmidt.

But Schmidt was rather occupied with getting his portray painted. Quickly turning down the light the befell on him. Ironic how he didn't want to show his leading scientist yet put it on display for an artist. He always was a little odd. Based on the stories she's heard around camp.

Despite knowing that no one could see her, Andromeda still carefully moved closer.

"Is there something in particular you need?" Schmidt questioned calmly, but with slight undertone of annoyance.

A long moment of silence passed; Andromeda stepped closer and closer, until she behind Zola. She peered over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the painting. She was never a fan of red, reminded her of blood.

Zola finally gathered his wits and asked, "I understand you found him."

"See for yourself." Schmidt gestured to his desk.

Andromeda snapped away from the painting and hurriedly walked to the desk, where pictures were scattered all over. Picture after picture of Abraham Erskine. Erskine having a cup of coffee at a café. Crossing the sidewalk. Buying a newspaper. There were all of him.

Andromeda seethe with anger. Anger at herself for thinking that Schmidt would just forget about him. As if it could be that easy to get away from a madman.

"You disapprove," Johann commented as Zola picked up a picture.

"I just don't see why you need concern yourself. I can't imagine he will succeed." Zola swallowed heavily. "Again."

Andromeda was impressed that Zola had the guts to say that. She was impresses yet surprise how stupid he was. She somewhat expected Johann to imploded at the side comment.

"His serum is the Allies only defense against this power we now possess. If we take it away from them, then our victory is assured."

Andromeda couldn't see him but she knew that he was grinning.

"Shall I give the order?" Zola hesitantly asked and she glared at the man.

"It has been given." Schmidt said coolly, detached of any emotion.

Andromeda's heart drop, couldn't breathe, and her blood ran ice cold. She woke up with a start, fast and shallow breaths. Her heart beating rapidly as wildly looked around her. She was in her room. The rising sun cast its soft rays inside her room. Her heart began to slow down, the tension in her bones relaxed.

While her body relaxed, her mind did not. And the more she thought about her dream, the panic returned. With a new determination, she jumped out of her bed and hurriedly change.

She had to warn Abraham, tell him what she had saw. About the pictures. About their so-called power. About the order, which she had no doubt was to a assassinate Erskine. But he was nowhere to be found in the camp.

But luckily she saw Peggy.

"Agent Carter." She called out and Peggy came to stop and did the usual salute.

"Colonel Phillips."

"Have you seen Dr. Erskine around?" She got straight to the point, like always.

"No, sir. He left early to the location."

Crap, she had hoped to catch him before he left. Nodding politely, she walked away and headed for her car. She drove furiously to the city, fingers taping the steering wheel non-stop. Mauving in and out of different lanes, cutting other cars, and maybe ran a couple red lights.

She slammed on the brakes when she finally parked and ran inside the antique store. Alina, daughter of Iris, stood behind her desk. Her wrinkled face stretched as she smiled when the bell above the door jiggled and Andromeda walked in.

"Andromeda! Good morning." She said cheerfully. "Big day."

"Yes, it is. I really need to get through. I'm sorry if I'm being rude."

Aline nodded in understanding and pressed on the hidden button underneath the counter. A faint buzz sounded as Andromeda walked to the back where two book cases open like doors. She walked with purpose, grit, down the hallway. Officers saluted her but she never acknowledged them. She just kept going, with finding Erskine in mind.

The doors to the chamber opened as she approach, her eyes searching for Erskine. The amount of relief when she saw him standing next to scientist overwhelm her. Enough for her eyes to water.

"Dr. Erskine," She said to him going down the stairs. "I need to talk to you. Privately."

Erskine saw her face, painted with uneasiness and fear. With a quick nod, he walks away from the scientist to Andromeda. The tucked themselves away in a corner and began to talk in hush tones.

"Listen to me," She began with caution. Her eyes moving constantly, overly alert of any movement. "You need to be careful. I had a…dream last night. About Johann and Zola."

Abraham tried to keep his face compose as usual but Andromeda could still see a hint of worry. When she had first explained her dreams, of seeing the past, present, or future, he was skeptical. Despite knowing who and what she was, he found to believe that she had such dreams.

Maybe he was skeptical because he couldn't see it himself. Unlike when she prove that she was a, indeed, demigod. Andromeda wouldn't lie to him, nonetheless he some doubt.

"What happened in this dream?" Erskine said, hands tucked in his lab coat. A tight fist hidden away.

She inhaled deeply and exhaled shakily. As everyone else ran around the room to get everything set for Steve, two friends were in their own world. One talk fervently in a hush voice, describing every detail about her dream. What was said, what she saw, and the pictures.

While the other one listen intently, breathing growing shallow as she went on. Fear crept up inside despite his attempts to keep calm.

Her voice faded out as the everyone else only grew louder. And when some mentioned that Peggy and Steve had entered the building, it all became more erratic. People ran from one side to other, exchanging notes and comments. Erskine didn't know how to feel. He just knew what he had to do. So, he just walked away, without a saying a word to her.

He didn't really know what to say. What would he say?

Andromeda called to him as he moved away but when he didn't stop, she just watch him walk away. Inhaling sharply, she turned slightly away so no one would see her wipe away a tear.

"Are you ready?" A voice caught by surprise.

She whipped back to see Howard, with his usual egotistical grin. Which immediately vanished when he saw her face.

"What's wrong?" He asked stepping closer.

She shook her and just whispered, "I'll tell you after. Just focus on this."

Howard intended to go after her, insist tell him what was bothering her. But when someone called out to him, he let her go.

Andromeda was able to compose herself a little more, and with one more deep inhaled she entered observation room. Quickly spotting Willman speaking with another man.

"Senator Brandt, glad you could make it." Hello, brother.

A little too loudly, Willman replied, "Why exactly am I in Brooklyn?" This better work. For your sake and mine.

If she wasn't surround by other government officials, she would have rolled her eyes. He was trying too hard acting as if he knew nothing. He didn't want any mortals to know how deeply involved he was with Project Rebirth.

So, with a tight jaw, she said, "We needed access to the city's power grid." It will work. "Of course, if you given me the generators I requisitioned…"

"A lot of people are asking for funds, Colonel," He said dismissively. We already talk about this. "Oh, this is Clem, uh…"

"Fred Clemson, State Department."

There should have a been a loud, blaring alarm going off in her head when her brother didn't fully know the man's name. William made sure to know to the names of government officials. But in her current state of mind, it had slipped her mind.

"If this project of yours comes through, we'd like to see used for something other than headlines."

She eyed the man, cautiously. Before she could say anything, her brother opened his big mouth. Like always.

"Somebody get that kid a sandwich."

She joined William and peered below as a shirtless Steve climb into the Vita-Ray Chamber. Her heart jumped watching Steve settle on his back, his tiny body engulfed by metal and wires. He looked even more fragile. More fear and worry wormed their way insider her. Andromeda saw Erskine walk over to him and by the movement of Steve's lips some words were exchange between them. Howard shortly joined them, she wanted to chuckle at Steve's expression at seeing him.

The Erskine turned to Peggy and whatever he said cause her to walk away. She watched intently as Peggy briefly look back at Steve, and she could see that something pass between the two. Andromeda felt like she was trespassing on a private moment between the two.

An odd feeling crawled its way to her heart, something she didn't how to process. Mainly because she had never felt this way. But when Peggy and Steve shared a lingering look, it had stung her. Deeply and painfully. But she didn't know why?

Luckily, she was distracted when Abraham tapped on the microphone. Wincing when the feedback hit her ears. "Do you hear me? Is this on?" He inhaled shakily. "Ladies and gentlemen, today we take not another step towards annihilation, but on the path to peace."

Andromeda had to will herself not to bite her fingernails, the tension in her stomach was almost unbearable.

"We begin with a series of microinjections into the subject's major muscle groups."

Come sit down. The last thing I need, is you fainting. Willman spoke in her head.

"The serum infusion will cause immediate cellular change. And then, to stimulate growth, the subject will be saturated with Vita-Rays."

Her foot began to tap furiously, her hands nervously clenching onto her pants. She might be sick, the feeling crawled up her body. Her mouth watered, palms sweating, and every worst case scenario was going through her head.

Will you stop that?

Leave me alone. She snapped.

"Serum infusion beginning in…" Erskine stated loud enough for everyone to hear.

Her heart jumped to throat, she inhaled sharply to calm herself down. It didn't work.

"Five…"

William gently tapped her knee with his. While she kept her head straight ahead, from the corner of her eye, she saw William nod to her. A shaky exhaled slipped through her lips.

"Four…three...two…" Abraham gently put his hand on Steve's shoulder. And with a final nod he said, "One."

Andromeda held her breath as the chamber closed around Steve. She prayed to the gods that everything would go well. Prayed for Steve to come out of this alive.

William gently tapped his knees with hers. She kept her head straight ahead but saw William nodding to her from the corner of her eye.

It was one of those moment, where times just slows down. Almost to a complete stop. The world frozen in time, in silence. And then, suddenly, time moves again. But at a rate so fast that one doesn't understand what happen. It takes a minute for your mind to catch up to what your eyes just saw.

That's how it felt for Andromeda, at least.

From the moment the chamber closed, time moved at a snail pace. The world went silent to her. To her eyes, it looked as if everyone moving underwater. But her thoughts were only on the man inside the metal chamber. A man too short to even been seen through the glass.

And then, all of the sudden, time change. It all became a noise of voices yelling and a blur of bodies moving. Everything happened so abrupt and quickly. A bright light shined and then went out in a flash.

Like a fast ball slamming to a stone wall, it stopped. Time came to abrupt halt.

She was the first one on her feet, the rest followed shortly. Heart racing in her chest, the chamber opened with a sharp hissed. And with it came the sight of the newly transformed Steve. And while the sight of his nicely chiseled chest was pleasant, it wasn't what took her breath away. It was the sight of his moving chest, proof that he was still breathing. That his heart continued to beat inside him.

He was alive, that's all that matter to her.

"The son of bitch did it." She whispered to herself in awe and ran downstairs behind everyone else. She didn't even try to hide the large smile from her face.

William was standing there with an idiotic grin and she knew just what to say.

"How do you like Brooklyn now, Senator?" She said sarcastically in passing.

Andromeda was grinning from ear to ear as she congratulated Erskine, with a smile so large that could rival hers. Due to being surrounded by others, a handshake and a pat on the shoulder will have to suffice. She'll hug when it was just the three of them. As Erskine went on to shake hands with William, she walked to Howard.

"Mr. Stark! Congratulations," Andromeda shook his hand in firm shake.

"I'm shock that it actually worked!" He responded with a laugh. "Didn't want another flying car scenario."

She chuckled, and for millisecond, nothing could go wrong. But she should've known by now, that a demigod's life, is never that simple. Or happy. And that reminder came with a loud explosion that destroyed her smile for months to come.

She demanded to be left alone with the body, to properly say goodbye to a dear friend. Without having to hide her tears or sobs. To say what she wanted without caution. She didn't want to pretend.

It was hard to comprehend a face that beamed with happiness fifteen minutes ago, was now stiff and empty of any warmth. Eyes that shined with happiness, forever shut and never to be seen again.

This wasn't the first time losing a friend, most likely won't be the last but it still hurt. It will always hurt. And will break her heart to see someone she cared about an empty shell.

Andromeda shakily took a cold hand, breaking into a sob when she felt how stiff it was.

"I'm sorry," She choked out. "I couldn't protect you. I'm so sorry."

She let herself cry, loud sobs that shook her whole body. A waterfall of tears ran down her cheeks, the salty taste on her lips. The pain was consuming her, the loss of her only friend for the past two years was too much to bear. The anguish brought her to her knees, hand still tightly clenching Erskine's cold hand.

She kept whimpering apologizes in between sobs, as if that it will fix everything. As if he would wake up from a nap and chaste her for crying like a baby. But death was final.

So lost in her agony, the sound of the door opening went unnoticed.

Howard's hearts shattered at the sight of Andromeda kneeling at the ground. He quickened his steps to reach her faster. No hesitation to get his knees next to her and pull her into a hug. And as if it was possible, her sobs became louder. Cries of agony, pain, and most of all, she was angry.

Angry that her friend was killed. Angry that it was on the day meant for celebration. Angry that it was only minutes after his success. Angry that this day is now tainted with blood. Angry that it was someone her brother brought that took her friend's life.

"Andromeda, you need to calm down." Howard attempted to soother her. Her cries were getting louder, and he swore the earth began to rumble. An earthquake. In her state of pain, she had created an earthquake. "Breathe. You need to calm down." He inhaled deeply, held it for a minute, and then exhaled slowly. He repeated the same steps urging her to do the same. Together, they inhaled and exhaled deeply and slowly, until Andromeda's cries turned to soft whimpers. "There you go. Just one more."

"It's all my fault," she cried out, lips trembling. "It's my fault he's gone."

"No, it's not." He rebutted softly yet firm.

"It is."

"It isn't."

"It's my fault!"

"No, it's not!"

"Yes, it is!"

Howard had enough of this. "You didn't set off the explosion. You didn't pull the trigger. Then how is it your fault!"

A silence paused settle between the two and when she did finally spoke, he could barely hear her.

"I-I saw Johann… he had given the order…in my dream last night."

Howard frowned in confusion, going over what she had just said. Saw Johann give the order? In her dreams?

"Huh?" He asked dumbfounded. "What do you mean? In your dream?"

She swallowed heavily before speaking. "The dreams of demigods aren't like mortals. Our dreams often show us the past, present, and present. Visions that might help us or affect our lives in some way." She paused, hoping she didn't sound too crazy. "Like pieces to a puzzle. We don't see the whole picture, just small clues."

"So you mean.." Howard had just gotten his head wrapped around her being the daughter of Poseidon. So he was having trouble understanding what she was telling him.

Andromeda nodded, biting her lips to prevent another sob. "I saw when Johann speak to Zola, how he found Erskine. Had multiple pictures of him around New York and mentioned of an order being given." She began to hyperventilate. "I ran over here…to warned A-Abraham about it. A-and I didn't think…it would happen today! I-I-I should've been…more a-alert. I-I-if I just b-been-"

Howard shook his head. "No. Don't do that to yourself. You've just said it yourself. You only see pieces; you couldn't have known what he was planning."

Andromeda shook her head. Despite his words holding the truth, she refused to believe them. It took couple more minutes for Howard to get her standing. In silence, he said goodbye to his friend. Promising that he would always be there for Andromeda. Be the friend she needed.

He watched with tired eyes as Andromeda pulled out a small pouch from inside her jacket. It jingled slightly in movement sounding like coins. But heavier ones.

Taking to drachmas in her hand, she placed one over each eye and whispered a broken goodbye. And one more apology. Praying that he reunited with his family in Elysium.

"Let's go," She said in a deadly tone, putting her hat back on. "I need to talk with my big brother."

And off she went, in a lethal hunt for her brother. Howard went after her, just realizing that he would now have to prevent the two siblings from fighting. He did not sign up for this.

"Colonel Phillips, my committee is demanding answers."

How dare him? Demand answers from her when it was his damn guest that caused this! She would've punched him if they weren't surrounded by mortals. That and she promised Howard that she wouldn't get physical. A promise Howard reminded her when he shot her glare as they walked past him.

Fisted her hand at her waist, and somehow managed to hold herself back.

"Great." She grumbled bitterly. "Why don't we start with how a German spy got a ride to my secret installation in your car?"

How could you have been so stupid!? She shouted at him in which he flinched.

"What have we got here?" She demanded.

"Speaking modestly," You always do. She thought sarcastically. "I'm the best mechanical engineer in this country. But I don't know what's inside this thing or how it works. We're not even close to this technology."

"Then who is?" He asked quickly out loud. But in her head he said. Hephaestus' children?

I don't think so. They were quite adamant about staying out of this war.

So that only left one option. "Hydra."

Hades' children.

Damn was all he said.

If Hydra was behind this, then they're in trouble. They had no clue how advance they were in their technology. Who knew what other kind of weapons they were hiding. But at least they knew now what they were up against. Even if they were still at a disadvantage.

"Hydra?" One of his men asked

The familiar sound of heels clicking signaled Peggy's entrance. And behind her, Steve. A very tall and muscular Steve. Her heart skipped a beat

"Hydra is the Nazi deep-science division." She said clearly in her posh accent. "It's led by Johann Schmidt. But he has much bigger ambitions."

William look dead in the eye and said, "So, what are you going to do about it?"

She returned the gesture and with an emotionless grin. But her eyes screamed revenge.

"As of today, the SSR is being retasked," Andromeda announced after she decided in split second. She was done waiting, done hiding. She wasn't going to spend another second in New Jersey. She's been still for far too long.

"Colonel?" Peggy asked since she never discussed any new task with the Colonel.

Andromeda turned and began to make her way to Agent Carter. "We are taking the fight to Hydra. Pack your bags, Agent Carter." She turned to face Howard, her only friend now. "You, too, Stark."

He smiled slightly and nodded.

"We're flying to London tonight." And with that, she started to walk away. Then a voice stopped her in her tracks and her heart.

"Sir? If you're going after Schmidt, I want in."

Andromeda inhaled shakily in silence, she should've known that he would want to join the fight. But she couldn't let him go, he wasn't ready. Based on all the mistakes he did while chasing the spy, it clear as day that he needed to be trained. Sending him to the front lines like this will only get him killed.

And if he dies, then all of Erskine's hard works dies with him. And she will not let that happen for as long as she lived.

But if he was the man she believed him to be. The man Erskine knew him to be. Then he wouldn't care what she said next. One last test.

"You're an experiment," she spat even it broke her to say it. "You're going to Alamogordo."

Steve pushed back. "The serum is worked."

"I asked for an army and all I got was you." She rebuttal with bitterness, and maybe a she said a little to harshly. But her anger had gotten a hold of her. He has become a reminder of who she had lost. The pain and anger came back in one large wave that consumed her entirely. Maybe that's why she said what she said next. "You are not enough."

She walked away before he said anything else. One more word and she would break out in tears again. And that's the last thing she wanted to do. Out of view from everyone, she found the nearest office and hid. Oh, I'm a terrible person! She thought to herself. She felt awful. If one day he discovered the truth, she hoped he would forgive her.

A sharp knock echoed loudly in the silence. She immediately stood still, ears fully alert while her hand on instinct went to her dagger. Strapped to her forearm, hidden by sleeves yet easy to access. When nothing was said right away, she grasp the hilt tightly, ready for a fight.

"It's Howard, open up," He hissed quietly from the other side, knocking again.

Howard was busy looking around to make sure no one saw them. He completely caught off guard when a hand harshly grab him by the shirt and strongly pulled him in. Howard stumble inside and, almost falling from the sudden pull. He hissed sharply when he felt a couple of his chest hair being yanked.

"Ouch! You pulled a couple of chest hairs!" He complained like a child, rubbing the area where Andromeda pulled the hardest.

Andromeda rolled her eyes, gods he's such a baby. "Oh, shut up."

"You're so mean. Don't you think that was a bit harsh? What you said to Steve." He stated with an arched eyebrow.

"If he is the man, I think he is, my words won't stop him." She said defensively.

"Really? Another test? How many more are you going to give him?" He retorted, slightly angry at her.

Andromeda huffed in irritation. "This is the final one, I swear. I just need to know that when push comes to shove, he pushes back. Doesn't let the words of one person stop him from doing what needs to be done." She waited for a moment before adding one last thing. "Besides, they could train him in Alamogordo. One of my sisters runs the facility."

Stark stayed silent, eyeing Andromeda as she paced from one side of the room to another. He knew there was no point trying to talk sense to her. In the short time he knew her, he has learned how determined she is. Sometimes it was best just to go along with her.

"Fine, let's hope you're right." He breathed in defeat.

"Me too." She sighed, biting her lips.

Leave it to her brother to destroy her plan the moment she left New York. In just two months, William poured all her hard work down the drain. All those months Erskine spent perfecting the serum felt pointless. Because what was the point of creating a super soldier if he was going to put in tights? Why station her in that camp for almost two years?

Instead of Steve being in Alamogordo training, he was touring the country. Performing for large crowds nationwide to sell bonds. And that made her all the more furious at her brother. William was always undermining her authority. Had she known that he was going to do this the moment she left the country, she would have fought tooth and nail to get him to Alamogordo.

"Seriously? Captain America!" She groaned looking at the front cover of the newspaper. One last look at the image of Steve in tights, she looked up to Howard. "What in gods' name is he thinking?"

Howard shrugged, "Your brother."

"Yeah, unfortunately. He's an idiot." Andromeda grumbled and crumbled the paper before throwing away.

She couldn't take another second staring at his stupid face. Smiling arrogantly while he shook hands with Captain America. It would just worsen her mood more. Not that she had been happy lately. Ever since Erskine's death, it's like a dark cloud has settled over her. A permanent frown resided on her face. Every day that past she felt herself slipping away.

She practically didn't recognize herself. Like a stranger inside her own skin. Every day that past she felt more like the grumpy Colonel Philips that everyone else saw. Back to how she was when she first met Erskine. At least, this time she wasn't alone. She still had Howard to keep her sane. Even if half the time, he was the one driving her insane.

Howard snickered at her expression.

She was going to make another comment but held her tongue when Sergeant Barnes entered her tent. His hair dripping from the rain, he was breathing heavily, which was visible due to the cold weather. He took a second to compose himself before speaking but Andromeda already knew what he had to say.

"Colonel, it's time." He said in a solemn tone.

Andromeda's mood dropped significantly as did Howard's. She has been dreading this moment all week. She had received an Iris message from Thomas, Zeus' son, that Schmidt planned on sending an attack to Azzano. They had to move quickly.

She had heatedly argued with him that it was a dangerous plan and a stupid one since they still didn't fully know the extent of how powerful Hydra's weapons were. Sending two hundred men blind was the wrong call and a stupid idea. It would either end in them captured or dead.

But Thomas was Zeus' spawn, through and through, and he wouldn't be budge on changing his mind. Always believe he was in the right.

So here she was, about to send two hundred of her men into enemy territory. She prayed to Gods that this wasn't a complete failure.

"Right," Andromeda muttered and stood from the chair.

Howard gave her a sharp nod and watch as she walked away. As if the weight of the world was on her shoulder.

"You take care of yourself out there, Sergeant Barnes." She commented. "And your men."

"Don't tell me you've grown soft, Colonel Phillips. It's not a good look on you." Barnes retorted with a crooked grin.

She snorted and shook her head, only Bucky Barnes had the guts to talk to her like that. That's maybe why she somewhat tolerated the man. Maybe even grew fond of him. But she would never tell him that. He'd just rub it in her face.

"But don't you worry, Colonel. We'll be fine."

She somewhat didn't believe him, but his hope was inspiring.

They arrive where the rest of the 107th had gathered, all ready to go. Some had the look of death on their face. While others were eager to join the fight.

She just hoped they all survive, but she even thought that was an unrealistic goal.

Their eyes met and saw that Barnes' eyes have gone stone cold. Any sense of humor faded away. With a single nod to each other, Bucky hopped on the car, gave a loud bang on the roof and they all began to drive away.

Andromeda stood in her spot, watching as truck after truck drove off. Even when they disappeared from her sight, she still hadn't moved. It may have been two hours after they all left that Howard finally came to get here.

"You know if you keep standing here, they'll start thinking you're crazy." He stood next to her, where Barnes once stood. Mirroring her stance and crossing his arms at his chest.

"Let them," she replied coolly.

Howard slightly turned to look at her; eyebrows deeply furrowed with her lips set in a straight line.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I just have a bad feeling about this."

Howard soaked in her words; his stomach churned. And turn back to look where the trucks had driven off. Now came the worst part, waiting.

Thank you for reading.