Chapter 10: America's New Hope.

The SSR compound

After the leaving the pier, Izuku got back to the base and explained them everything what has happened. They then sent him to medical office to give them a sample of his blood in a hope to reproduce a serum. Right now he and agent Shield sits in medical room giving the nurses Izuku's blood.

"Think you got enough?" he asked referring to the amount of blood samples taken from him.

"Any hope of reproducing a program is locked in your genetic code. But without Dr. Erskine, it could take years", Peggy answered solemnly remembering doctor's death in grief.

"He deserved more than this", Izuku commented. This man was a good person. He was the first person who believe in him and his potential. He was almost like a father to Midoriya.

"If it could only work once, he'd be proud it was you", she encouraged him. Peggy is actually one of the people who believes in Izuku. He show it to her today. She now totally understood why Erskine chose him.


SSR tech lab

Meanwhile Brandt and Philips discussed the last events. And Mitsuki is disassembling the strange machine, which Izuku named as 'submarine' because of it functions. Nobody agreed to called this vehicle like that because it's designation was made by a kid. However Bakugo didn't care about Izuku's age. It's designation is pretty much fitting.

"Colonel Phillips, my committee is demanding answers", demanded senator.

"Great. Why don't we start with how a German spy got a ride to my secret installation in your car?" Philips asked sarcastically. He grown tired of company of this person. He then looks at Bakugo, who is working on this 'diving ship' "What have we got here?"

"Speaking modestly, I'm the best mechanical engineer in this country. But I don't know what's inside this 'submarine' or how it works", she answered.

"You still uses the name which was given by a kid", mocked Brandt.

"I don't care if it's designation was given by a kid or even a baby when it's fitting it perfectly", Mitsuki said sharply. "This thing can surface out of the water, swim and submerge under the water. Nobody can't give it any better name than that!"

"For a young and delicate lady you have a sharp tongue", commented senator.

"Well, first of all I work with grease, dangerous machines, and explosions. I am not a delicate lady", Mitsuki answered in disgust. She hates that some men looking down at her because of her age and gender. "And the second I didn't even tried. I can say worst. But the most important thing is that we're not even close to this technology."

"Then who is?" asked Brandt addressing an entire lab.

"HYDRA. I'm sure you've been reading our briefings", answered Phillips sarcastically.

"I'm on a number of committees, Colonel", argued senator.

"HYDRA is the Nazi deep science division", explained Peggy as she and Izuku enters the room. "It's led by Chizome Akaguro. But he has much bigger ambitions."

"HYDRA's practically a cult. They worship Akaguro, they think he's invincible", continued colonel.

"So what are you gonna do about it?" asked senator.

"Spoke to the president this morning. As of today the SSR is being retasked", explained Chester.

"Colonel?" asked Peggy in confusion.

"We are taking the fight to HYDRA", clarified Chester. "Pack your bags Agent Shield. You too, Bakugo. You're flying to London tonight."

"Sir, if you're going after Akaguro, I want in", said Izuku eagerly. He wouldn't let Chizome's plan to succeed.

"You're an experiment. You're going to Alamogordo", said Phillips.

"The serum worked", tried to argue Izuku.

"After the scientist's work will be done you can go back home", continued Philips as if he hadn't even heard him.

"Why I can't go fight?!" bellowed Izuku. He never raised his voice at anybody but he couldn't hold much longer. He finally had strength to be a soldier. Moreover, they want to send him back home like a kid. He will fight. "The serum worked! You saw the results! I've become bigger, stronger, faster! I can catch up to the car, jump over the walls, hold my breath for 10 minutes and pick up a car door easily! I can be a soldier! So tell me colonel. Why I can't go fight HYDRA!?"

His outburst put everyone on the lab in shock. Even Mitsuki and Peggy. They couldn't believe that normally quiet and shy teen just screamed at the colonel Phillps.

'This kid have a dead wish' thought the entire lab.

However, Col. Phillips cannot be so easily intimidated. All this time he pitied Izuku. He hadn't wanted to break his world but now this kid gone to far. Well if he wants answers then he will gladly get them.

"I can tell you ten reasons why. However I will say only three", said Chester slowly walking to Midoriya. With each step Izuku's courage are losing. "The first one is I asked for an army and all I got was you. You are not enough."

Suddenly he punches Izuku in the gut making him stumble. In return, Midoriya tries to punch him. However, Col. Phillips surprises everybody by catching the attacking fist easily. "The second one is because of your adolescent age, the serum works in not full potential. If you were at least 25 years old then you would had the full strength. The more your body grows the more serum progresses. Right now, you can be better than average man, but against an experienced fighter you are at huge disadvantage", he explained letting his hand go.

"And the final reason: because this person is you", Chester continued saying the last part directly at Izuku. "The young kid who wants to play a soldier. You didn't even know what it's takes to be a real soldier. When you joins an army, your life no longer belongs to you. You are too young for a war. I agreed to let you be the tester only hopeing that after you there will be more super-soldiers and then you would be back home. Far from this madness. I have nothing against you kid, but I couldn't forgive myself if you die. You have guts and courage but these things can't protect from death. Just seek my advice: go back home and do what you teenagers doing best. Enjoy your life. It's short, you know."

After his speech, Phillips exits the room, leaving Izuku alone with his thoughts. No matter how he was trying to deny colonel's words, he couldn't help but agree with him. He is really too young for war. However, to be a lab rat is not the good perspective. He couldn't believe that it will be his only choice. He would do anything for a second chance.

At the same time, senator was observing Izuku. Unlike the others, he sees in Midoriya an opportunity to use. Brandt already had ideas to benefit both an army and himself by using him. In addition, the state, in which colonel left him, would made a teen to cooperate easily.

"With all due respect to the Colonel, I think we may be missing the point. I've seen you in action, Izuku. More importantly, the country's seen it. Paper", he said the last part to his aide, who shows them the newspaper with headlines: "Nazis in New York - mystery man saves child". Which also shows a big picture of Izuku in the pier holding a cab door. "The enlistment lines have been around the block since your picture hit the newsstands. You don't take a soldier, a symbol like that, and hide him in a lab. Son, do you want to serve your country on the most important battlefield of the war?"

"Sir, that's all I ever wanted in my live", answered Izuku happily.

"Then, congratulations. You just got promoted", said Brandt.

For Izuku it's like a breath of fresh air. He thought that his next home would be a lab. But senator give him a second chance and he is not gonna let him down. It's sounds perfect.

Unfortunately, we don't live in perfect world.


New Jersey, Theater.

It's true. We don't live in perfect world. It's appear as Brandt and Izuku have different understanding on the phrase: "serve your country on the most important battlefield of the war". It's means that Izuku must tour the nation for the USO to promote war donations, using his image as the young, strong, ideal soldier as a symbol for the public to rally behind.

Right now, he sits in backstage after getting dressed in his new superhero costume. He wears blue red and white suit, which consists of blue trousers, big short with blue shoulders, white sleeves, with white star on the chest with vertical red and white strips on the abdomen. He also wears red boots, red gloves and blue helmet-like head mask, which had white 'A' on the forehead, white wings on both sides of head and blue turtleneck. The most notable thing on his costume is heater-shaped shield painted to resemble American flag. And his name is Captain America.

"I don't know if I can do this", said Izuku worriedly getting ready for his first performance. "I never sing. I can't dance. And I get stage fright easily. I will fail this."

"Nothing to it. Sell off a few bonds, bonds buy bullets, bullets kills Nazi's. Bing bang boom. You're an American hero", encouraged Brandt's aide, Gary. "And don't worry about your stage fears. Everybody had them. Just don't think about it.

"Thanks. It's just not how I pictured getting there", explained Midoriya.

"The senator's got a lot of pull up on the hill. You play ball with us, you'll be leading your own platoon a few years later. Take the shield" said Gary pushing Izuku onto the stage.

The second Midoriya enters the stage an entire room applauds him. In the background women dances in the outfits, which resembles his suit. Surrounding by so many females in skimpy costumes made Izuku blushing hard. One woman can make him feel uneasy, but so much makes him feel like it's torture. However, he don't have time to think about it as women starts to sing

"Who's strong and brave, here to save the American way?"

"Not all of us can storm a beach or drive a tank. But there's still a way all of us can fight", said Izuku. Because of his worries, he couldn't learn the lines well. Fortunately, this shield have a place to put a words, which he reads right now.

"Who vows to fight like a man, for what's right, night and day?"

"Series E Defense Bonds. Each one you buy is a bullet in the barrel of your best guy's gun", continued Midoriya to play and dance.

"Who will campaign door-to-door for America? Carry the flag shore to shore for America? From Hoboken to Spokane, the star-spangled man with a plan. We can't ignore there's a threat and a war we must win."

"Each one you buy is a bullet in the barrel of your best guy's gun", explained Izuku.

"Who'll hang a noose on the goose-stepping goons from Berlin? Who will redeem, heed the call for America? Who'll rise or fall, give his all for America? Who's here to prove that we can? The star-spangled man with a plan."

"We all know this is about trying to win the war. We can't do that without bullets and bandages, tanks and tents. That's where you come in. Every bond you buy will help protect someone you love", said Izuku to audience no longer having a stage fright. Suddenly man dressed as Hitler sneaks up on him on the stage frightening the children.

"Turn around! He's right behind you!" screamed them.

"Keep our boys armed and ready, and the Germans will think twice about trying to get the drop on us", continued Izuku as the man attacks him and gets fake-punched. "Do you know why? Because I am here!"

"Stalwart and steady and true, forceful and ready to defend, the red, white, and blue. Who'll give the Axis the sack and is smart as a fox? Far as an eagle will soar. Who's making Adolf afraid to step out of his box? He knows what we're fighting for. Who waked the giant that napped in America? We know it's no one but Captain America. Who'll finish what they began? Who'll kick the Krauts to Japan? The star-spangled man with a plan!"

In addition, his tour continues to perform around America at many cities such as Buffalo, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Chicago and many others. All people like this shows and bought all the tickets from ticket booth.

However, the fame of Captain America didn't end only with performances. He then appears in comics, films, cards, posters and other memorabilia. He gained many fans, and generally becomes more liked and famous. That made Brandt so pleased that they earned so much bonds. He knew that he made a right choice.

In total The American Hero: Captain America is loves by entire nation. Children dreams to be like him. The count of soldiers increases. Women swoons at him. Every earned bound goes to military for supplies, weapons, uniforms. Everyone is happy.

Except for one person. This person is our main actor itself.