Chapter 2
Annie stood facing her next opponent who decided it was wise to smirk suggestively at her. She was dressed in the typical ill-fitting men's combat uniform. The usual women's uniform pencil skirt made most forms of physical activity difficult to say the least. Her lengthy hair was pulled back away from her face. Her heels replaced by sturdy brown boots that looked as though they would be painful to anyone on the reciprocating end of a kick.
Annie had easily defeated the scrawny man first assigned as her sparring partner. She thanked all her years of defending Steve for giving her a fierceness in fights and a familiarity with where to hit a man to make him cry. The small man inexperienced enough for her to easy lunge behind him and send a swift elbow to his head, knocking to poor fellow out cold.
Now Colonel Phillips had finally decided to give her a challenge under the advisement of a newly appointed training supervisor. Annie had been more than surprised when that morning Phillips had arrived accompanied by a confident, composed and authoritative woman with a smooth British accent.
The woman seemed to watch her carefully as Annie now sized up her 5'9 ft opponent. It was clear that the short haired man saw her as nothing but a joke. She had not been drafted for her strength or combat skill but her strategist training and that would be what helped her win this fight.
The man, who she had no intention of learning the name of, had superior strength but he was large and slow and most importantly unfocused. She could only win this if she takes the first move and uses her agility to avoid all of his attacks once he registers her as a threat. If she is fast enough, he won't even have time for that.
She gave a small smile to the man who offered a wink in return. As if the wink was a starting gun, she bolted towards the man giving him no time to react before thrusting her elbow into the man's ribs with all of her weight. The winded man bending forward only for his shoulders to be gripped, her nails digging into the skin, forcefully bringing his face into her raised knee. As he clutched his bruising nose Annie grasped his left arm and twisted it behind him at a painful angle. The man struggle against her grip but was unable to land a blow with his arm restraining his movement.
Annie knew his strength would soon overwhelm her grip and decided to quickly finish the battle. Still twisting his arm she dug her foot into the back of his knee resulting in the much larger man crumbling to his knees. Now low enough she knocked him out using the round house kick they had learn a few days ago, although it was harder than she intended. A sheepish expression forming on her slightly sweaty face at the harsh thud of his body falling to the dirt ground.
Watching the unconscious form for signs of retaliation she heard commanding heels nearing. She flicked her gaze up to the immaculate woman that approached. The brunette oozing an air of self-confidence and elegance.
"Lovely kick but you may want to save that ferocity for the enemy instead of damaging our own men," The woman smirked subtly.
"With all due respect, I doubt they hired me for my combat skill. I most likely won't enter the field. I almost certain I'm only going through bootcamp to ease the doubts of the old farts I'll be working with. I'm guessing being first in my class doesn't make up entirely for being a woman." Annie confessed, relieved when she saw her ex-opponent take a breath in.
"If you fight like that they'd be ridiculous to doubt you, in combat or the war room," She grinned, her rich lipstick perfectly lining her stretched lips.
"You should see me with a gun," She laughed recalling the distained faces of the other trainees as she hit the target right in the heart. She was still unsure whether she could take the same shot on a real person, but she suspected she would never have to make that decision.
The brunette assertively held out her hand and introduced, "Peggy Carter."
Annie happily took Peggy's hand, shaking it as she responded with, "Annie Rogers."
Annie stopped mid stride as she noticed Peggy was in the middle of introducing herself to the new troops. Curiously Annie scanned the line from her position to the right as she rearranged the papers she was juggling. Her mouth dropped open and her brows shot up at the site of Steve, her brother Steve lined up with the rest of the recruits. Annie stepped away, as her unoccupied hand flew up to rest on her forehead, traveling through her locks in an attempt to clear her head. She wasn't sure how to feel or even how this happened.
Annie impatiently waited for the training to cease before she stormed up and Steve. He jumped as he heard an annoyed, "Steve!"
The slim man spun around to the face of his outraged sister; a smile formed on his face before is registered her anger. Smile fading into a mirroring frown he murmured, "Hi… Annie."
"Why didn't you tell me? How did this happen? Where do they think you're from?" Annie blurted out as her mind tangled and thrashed with questions.
Steve stared at his feet before gaining a determined glint in his eye, his face steely, "Annie, I am finally able to make a difference in this war, I-this is where I need to be. I just didn't know how to tell you."
Annie sighed and recalled all of the instants in which she had seen disappointment and frustration take hold of Steve's sweet face and the reoccurring desperation to take the entire world on his shoulders and change it. Her expression softened as she suddenly embraced Steve. Steve stiffened, confused by the mood change. He lifted his arms and wrapped them around his sibling.
"I'm happy for you Steve, I am. I-I was just worried. But how did you get in with your health?" Annie communicated releasing Steve.
He offered an empathic smile as he explained, "When I was out with Bucky before you left there was a recruitment office and…" Steve didn't need to finish as Annie understood his inability to resist attempting again. Steve continued, "I was afraid that they had discovered that I had forged some of my information when they pulled a man into the examination area. He asked me questions, not about my health but why I wanted to join the war. He passed me and let into a specialised program of some sort. I'm a candidate for a military project but it's classified." Steve finished a little uncomfortable in not being able to tell Annie all the details. Annie was unused to secrecy from Steve but was confident she could find out the plans from other sources. Determined to discover the possible fate of her brother.
"What did you get?"
Steve understanding, answered proudly, "1A"
Annie smirked at Steve sarcastically exclaiming, "Finally."
With this a light-hearted tone to the conversation returned and Steve smiled out of gladness for his sister's acceptance.
Annie's next few weeks were spent spying on Steve, worrying about Bucky, gnawing details out of Peggy and any one she could locate. Her work in tactical strategy helping somewhat with her worry for Bucky in the battlefield, knowing that some of her strategizing was for his inventory, making sure they were as prepared and organised as possible.
As for Steve all she could discover from Peggy was the intention of the project was to use the science of some German doctor to help get an advantage on the Germans. Annie knew if the judging focused on physical condition, Steve would be heartbroken but if in some miracle it was decided by goodness and character Annie was completely certain Steve would win easily.
From her observation of the training, though Steve struggled with the athletic expectations. But he thrived with the mental and moral tests. Annie often found herself smiling as she saw Steve's good heart standing out. To Annie's pleasure she noticed the beautiful and confident Peggy catching it as well. She kind of liked the idea of the two together. If anyone on this base deserved the kind soul of Stevie it was most likely Peggy.
Peggy, Annie had found to appear ruthless and strict but was clearly intelligent, determined, and highly moral with a habit of winning verbal and physical quarrels with ease. For this Annie really liked and respected Peggy. This sparked a desperate hope that she took to Steve as more than a hopeful candidate but as the lovely man that he was. If Steve didn't screw it up.
After trudging around the entire based twice Annie finally spotted the assertive stature of Peggy Carter. The woman looked exhausted, but this didn't deter Annie's question, "Peggy! Where on earth have you been? I couldn't find Steve or you for 3 days."
"Annie, Steve was chosen for the project," Peggy informed tiredly. Annie now took in her windswept curls that lacked their usual perfection.
Annie had had enough of the lies and secrecy, classified government project be damned. "You mean the project that no one will give me a straight answer about?" Annie fumed.
Then the worry settled in, "Wait! Is Steve hurt or worse? Why on earth did they chose him! He can't survive whatever they planned. Peggy is he dead?!" Annie knew she was going overboard but when it came to Steve she couldn't help but fear the worst. She had been in hospital by his bedside too many times not to.
Peggy gave her an endearing grin, "Don't be so dramatic. He is right over there, though he has changed a bit."
Annie scanned the crowd of men that Peggy had directed towards. She almost didn't notice a tall, broad, blonde man stepping towards what she knew as Steve's tent. But that neatly combed gold was unmistakeable. "It can't be", she murmured to herself in disbelief.
She carefully examined the character, he sort of hunched down and moved carefully in a way at suggested he was uncomfortable or unused to his height. She slowly trod towards the looming figure, sneaking to the tent he had now entered. Peeking through the thick, rough flap she stepped inwards as he was collecting Steve's few possessions.
"Steve?", Annie asked uncertainly as she continued to creep forward.
In recognition of the name the man twisted around towards her, followed by a grin and a pleased, "Annie".
Steve stood to his full height and for the first time looked down at his younger sister. I felt strange and intangible but as though this is how it should have rightfully been all along. Steve grew a wide, teethy smile as he spread out his now long, thick, highly muscular arms. Annie looked at him curiously as if attempting to connect the man she saw before her to the one she had always known. As her cyan eyes travelled to his own, certainty washed over her. Steve's eyes still holding the kind gentleness they always had, his smile, his face was still the one she knew. She grinned and stepped into his hug. She made a painful grunt as his strong arms wrapped around her tightly.
"Steve. Too. Tight", She breathed. Developing a sheepish expression Steve loosened his grip, inexperienced with his new strength.
One of Annie's brows lifted in amusement as she commented, "So I doubt I can bet you in arm wrestling now."
Steve shook his head, chuckling, "Probably not."
"So, are going to tell me what the hell happened?" Annie asked impatiently. Her confusion was killing her.
Steve pulled away with a guilty look. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. They wouldn't let me see you when I found out I had been chosen and briefed on the procedure." He gave her a soft grin, "Probably afraid I'd blab all their secrets to you."
Annie chuckled knowing those doubts would be unfounded. Steve was on hell of a secret keeper. "It's ok Steve. Well, I did go insane with worry and I think I may have a few grey hairs now. But can you tell me now how you went through second puberty?"
Steve let out a laugh, "It kind of felt like it. They call it the super soldier serum. Dr Erskine," Steve frowned at the memory of the man, "described it as amplifying everything. The physical but also what's inside. That's why they chose me, he chose me. He said it was because I was a good man." Annie gave Steve a reassuring hand on his arm to quietly say she agreed with this doctor.
Steve cleared his throat and refocused, "Um, they injected me with the serum all over. It felt like fire running through my veins. But then they flooded me with something called vita rays. Now that hurt like hell. The light was blinding, and I could feel my body growing and this strength filling me up. I-I it was overwhelming. And then it stopped and I could breathe in so much air. I was pulled out of the chamber- pod – I don't know what it was, but I was so tall. I could see over people's heads. I felt strong and like I was taking up so much space." He laughed. Annie listened patiently and interestedly with a soft smile gracefully painted on her features. It was quite odd for Annie to remain silent for so long but she knew he needed to retell this.
He grew sombre as he moved on, "A spy had infiltrated the lab and he shot Dr Erskine. I-I ran after him and I was moving as fast as a car. Balancing took some getting used to but I didn't get tired or out of breathe. I could just keep running. I managed to catch him, but he had a cyanide tooth and the last vial of the serum broke." Steve face grew serious, "I'm the only one Annie. They can't make anymore."
"Super soldier? They planned to make an army but because Dr Erskine was killed it's just you?" Annie reasoned aloud.
"It's just me", Steve confirmed.
She slowly asked, "Where to now?"
"I've been offered a job by Senator Brandt. Helping the war effort here. I think I have to take it."