Chapter 2:

Project Rebirth

"Alright, Miss Carter," I started later that night. It didn't take us long to find Monsieur Alland's spare key to his hut and slip inside. Now, the British woman was digging around in

Monsieur Alland's small kitchen, trying to find a kettle to brew a cup of tea. Oliver was leaning against the windowsill, scanning between both me and the stranger that had come for our ally in the railroad.

"Oh, it's Agent Carter. But in these circumstances, I suppose Peggy would suffice in our given settings." Agent Carter, now insisting here to be called Peggy waved me off. "Where does that man keep his tea? I know I sent him some from my rations. I'm sure he won't mind me brewing some for the three of us until he returns."

"So, you're meaning to tell us that the Americans created the agency you worked for?" I turned the subject back towards the topic at hand, the news drops of the allegiance of Monsieur Alland,

the grief for our murdered parents, and now this Agent snooping at our dockhand's house. "Were the Americans not staying out of this?"

"President Roosevelt feels that the role the United States in the war will change sooner rather than later with the alliances that the Nazis are aquiring." Peggy explained. "Hence why

he's created the SSR, mainly to acquire the best minds of the free world together in aid of the Allied troops. But primarily -" She trailed off.

"Why are you telling us all this? We're definitely not soldiers, nor trained in espionage." Oliver pointed out, turning his gaze towards me. "We're just members of the French Resistance."

"Alland claimed otherwise. He claims plenty of potential in the two of you." Peggy paused her hunt for the kettle and turned to brace her hands on the countertops to observe us both. "At

least his paperwork and updates speak rather highly of the two of you."

"Us?" I asked raising a brow and looking back towards the cabinet again, finding the kettle and standing to claim it, moreso to busy myself as opposed to listening to a woman I had never

met before that day spout off on praise written in reports to her.

"Yes. Oliver, Alland has claimed he has seen few drivers as talented as you are. Or one as efficient and stealthy. The papers you forge for those needing safe travel here are excellent. So

few Nazis question them. But if anyone ever has...Charlotte, your quick draw and accuracy with a firearm is unrivalled by anyone Alland's ever seen."

"I've had practice while hunting with Papa." I explained calmly as I went to fill the kettle with water.

"That practice paid off." Peggy pointed out. "I've wanted an audience with the pair of you for ages, but up until now our paths never crossed."

"So you're telling us that we'd be an asset to whatever the SSR does?" Oliver asked cocking a brow.

"Exactly. Ah ha!" Peggy smiled and grabbed at a small can in the pantry. "There's the tea. But yes. You could prove yourselves useful in the fight against HYDRA."

"HYDRA?" Oliver asked.

"Nazi science division. It is currently being run by Johann Schmidt. They're intending to find weaponry to defeat the allies for Hitler. And should Hitler win the war, they plan to dispose of him so they can run the world entirely."

"And we can be useful for that?" I asked crossing my arms.

"We'll find a use for you. For now, I think you will eventually end up on the SS's list of those wanted for the murder of those officers on your way here."

"Damn news travels fast." Oliver looked to me as I returned to my seat.

"Small town gossips tend to aid that as well." Peggy agreed. "So, it seems that our top priority is to get you sanctuary in London and train you properly for field work. We just need to wait until Alland returns and we can be off again."

"Do you hear the irony in that?" Oliver moved to nudge at me as Peggy sat to bring down the kettle so we could have a cup while waiting on our mutual source of transport.

Camp Lehigh, New Jersey

March, 1942

"Are we sure this is it this time?" I finally asked as I flopped back onto the bunk in mine and Peggy's barrack. "We've been mistaken before."

Over a year had passed since I last saw France by this point, and between the travel to the SSR barracks in London, and back and forth to formal training with Agent Carter, both in guns and in espionage. And as we trained, Agent Carter had filled me in to the plan for the Americans.

After the Japanese bombed a naval base in Hawaii, President Roosevelt thus returned a declaration of war against the Axis. Agent Carter ended up liberating a scientist for the Third Reich, Doctor Abraham Erksine, promising to bring him Stateside to implement a new operation to send the Nazis and HYDRA reeling. Long ago having fulfilled that promise, we had just joined him across the pond.

"Positive, Charlotte, we're done roaming for the time being." Peggy promised as I tossed my bag to the floor and laid back.

"Thank God. I don't know how much more travel a woman can take." I admitted pausing and looking back up, propping myself back up on my elbows. "Are you finally going to tell me why we're here?" I demanded with a soft huff.

"Your clothes are a bit wrinkled." Peggy teased.

"Don't change the subject, tell me what the hell this is for." I raise my brows to stare at her expectantly, smiling when Peggy handed me a manilla folder.

"Colonel Phillips is going to use Dr Erksine to spearhead Project Rebirth." She explained as I paused softly to read it.

"Super Serum?" I asked as I read it. "What of it?"

"Dr Erksine's research and work with HYDRA was to create a serum to enhance a body and mind. An army of such -"

"Would make Hitler himself shit his pants." I repeated as I shut the folder.

"With fear or excitement would depend on the army's marching direction." Peggy gave a soft coy smile. "We are here to ensure that we have the right men."

"And according to this to run the operation. Excellent." I grinned as I scanned the operations before my face fell. "Please tell me I'm not here to be your secretary again." I almost begged.

"Not this time, Agent." Peggy announced. "You'll be monitoring the recruits while I get paperwork done to ensure who's worthy of the serum."

"Finally!" I cheered, clenching a fist. "Do I have a file of those who enlisted?" I asked, immediately reaching for the light to start working.

"Thankfully, yes. Colonel Phillips sent these over for us to begin forthwith. Basic training for them begins tomorrow." Peggy slid me half of a pile.

"Meet you on the other side, Age -" I paused as I shifted through the paperwork, glancing up to the file of a soldier. "Rogers, Steven Grant..." I set the rest down as I skimmed through his file shaking my head. "Who in their right mind let this one through. Asthma, chronic colds, easily fatigued, scarlet and rheumatic fever, heart trouble. How much are the recruitment offices drinking to allow this one in? He won't last a day!"

"He, if I recall correctly was Erksine's recommendation." Peggy mused reaching over to look for herself.

"Well, I'm not going to be the one breaking it to Erksine that his recommendation is going to get his sickly backside killed. You can do that." I huffed.

If I had known how inaccurate my assumptions were, I never would have said that. Erksine was a smart man and had a top-notch taste in soldiers and in men. Steve Rogers was him picking a diamond in the rough.

But at least my ignorance was in good company as I would come to find out over the coming days.

It was easy to tell for me which one of the recruits was Steve Rogers. Small, gangly, not a lot of mass on him. His uniform hung limply off his frame like a coat on a rack at home. Damn pitiful for me.

But, to Rogers' credit, he was the only one stood properly at attention while other, burlier men were chattering on about whatever it was American men talked about. While other divisions exercised and did their laps, Peggy and I started our walk towards the new regiment, a man following behind holding our forms and paperwork.

"Alright, boys the butterfly social ends now!" I called as I started towards them.

"Very classy, but nonetheless effective." Peggy hummed at the confused silence from the company. "Recruits, attention!" she called, much more effective in having the others stand properly. "Gentlemen, I'm Agent Carter, and this here is Agent DeLorne, we supervise all operations for this division." she introduced.

"What's with the accent, Queen Victoria?" A soldier spoke up. Oh, wonderful. I thought to myself. A damn smartass.

I hold a hand up for Peggy and I stepped forward. "Have we got an issue, Soldier?" I demanded, raising an eyebrow. Please let me have the authority to make him drop and give me twenty. I thought.

"None at all, Marie Antoinette," The soldier smirked at me as I froze in shock. "Just thought I was signing up for the US Army."

"What's your name, Soldier?" I demanded, crossing my arms indignantly.

"Gilmour Hodge, Your Majesties." The newly identified Hodge introduced, giving a playful curtsy as some of the company laugh. Oh, now it's on.

"Step forward, Hodge." I ordered, good and ready to make him drop to my feet and do push-ups as he smirked and did as I requested.

"We gonna wrestle?" He asked with a flirtatious leer, making my eyes narrow. "Because I have a few moves I know you'll like." I couldn't help but smirk.

"Oh, you do, do ya?" I wondered. "Small world, I learned a few tricks in France. Wanna see?" I teased a little. "Close your eyes and pucker up." I cooed playfully. Upon getting the reaction, I reared my fist back and sent him to the floor.

Upon seeing the rest of the company noticing him on the ground with a bloody nose, I knelt down. "I've killed men, Hodge. Bad men." I smirked. "Lucky for you, Agent Carter and I are on your side. But, if you ever disrespect either me or Agent Carter as you did again, I will have you doing pushups with me on your back until you're vomiting. Am I clear?"

"Agent Carter, Agent DeLorne!" Colonel Phillips called, prompting me to get up and salute the commander.

"Colonel Phillips." Peggy and I greeted.

"I see you're breaking in the new candidates, that's good." Colonel Phillips praised as I stepped back and folded my hands behind my back, smirking to the still fallen Hodge. "Get your ass back in that line and stay there until someone tells you what to do, soldier." He demanded as Hodge scrambled back to his seat.

"Sir, yes, sir." Hodge declared.

I took the opportunity to step away during Phillips' motivational speech about how the men would only get better, revealing that one of the group would be chosen to be experimented on for a new breed of super soldier. My gaze met with Dr Erksine and I stood beside him.

"Good to see you again, Doctor." I greeted, reaching over to shake his hand.

"The pleasure is mine, my dear Canary." Erksine smiled as we turned to look to the men.

"I know it isn't exactly my place to ask your methods...but Rogers..." I began to interrogate.

"I see a good man in Steven Rogers, I met him at the Stark Expo." Erksine explained as I shook my head.

"I see a man who you're signing up to get murdered out there, with all due respect." I admitted. "Even if he is chosen, that serum could kill him."

"I've seen nothing but excellent results from those like Rogers in a similar condition. The serum is to better the body and mind of a man to make them a better soldier."

"And yet it hasn't been tested for medicine." I grinned. "I don't doubt your research, Doctor, I doubt your judgement." I admitted.

"I will put a beer on Steve Rogers excelling and being chosen any day of the week." Erksine decided proudly as I raised a brow.

"Is that a fact then?" I asked. "Care to put your beer where your mouth is?"

"Done." Erksine reached over and shook my hand again. "May the best man win."