Jack wasn't terribly fond of the SSR's latest scientific experiment- especially considering that it was a chemical test on a human. He had seen enough failed attempts on his travels that it didn't take nearly as much willpower to keep a poker face as it had years before. That said, he did feel bad when he finally laid eyes on the willing subject.
Steven Rogers was a skinny little thing. Dreadfully so, and Jack was honestly surprised that the boy had survived basic training with how sickly he looked. (And he was sickly- Jack had read his files: asthma, chronic illness, scarlet and rheumatic fever, palpitations, the genetic possibility for cancer… the list went on). He knew Colonel Phillips hadn't been on board with Dr. Erskine's choice of patient, but apparently that had changed, since Phillips had stopped outright fighting Rogers' appointment and now just muttered about it every now and then. Agent Carter (or "Peggy," as they were finally on a first name basis) had a soft spot for Rogers as well, and thus Jack was further interested in their guinea pig for this super soldier project.
"Mr. Rogers!" Jack welcomed with a grin as Peggy led the young man into the testing chambers. His words prompted Howard to look up from his pre-test checks. "So glad you could join us today."
"Steve, this is Captain Harkness and Howard Stark," Peggy introduced them both, glaring at them in a way that clearly warned to 'play nice.'
The two men gave her innocent looks back; they both knew she'd be right in assuming the worst of them any other day, but neither were willing to distract from today's proceedings.
"Mr. Rogers," Jack said, inclining his head slightly. The boy might've been crazy to agree to be such a guinea pig - if he even knew that's what he had agreed to- but he at least deserved his respect for going this far.
He tuned out the rest of the conversation, instead focusing on the various attendees that filed in through the door. Some had stopped in clumps of twos and threes to chat - probably making some political maneuvers. There were a few that seemed too at ease in his opinion, but as they were all directed into an observation room, he couldn't do much about them.
Jack hovered behind Howard as Steve was strapped into the contraption and everything was moved into place. Erskine was stood in the middle of the machines, speaking to all the 'big wigs' in the observation room above. He hadn't wanted to join him in the spotlight. There was a time and a place for it, and being on the edges of historic events meant he retained a level of (somewhat) anonymity in case anything went south.
He watched with a growing sense of unease as Steve was injected with the serum and sealed into the vita-ray chamber. The scene made him feel uncomfortable- too many reminders of his own experiences of being sealed up for experiments. Howard handed him a pair of polarized glasses that Jack slipped on before Erskine directed Howard to begin the vita-ray process.
It was certainly brighter than he expected, especially as the light only came through a small viewing window. He hoped Steve wouldn't be blinded.
Jack honestly was surprised that Steve lasted as long as he had before he started screaming. It took him a moment to understand why all the others would be so panicked: they weren't used to these sorts of events yet. In fact, this one would be the start of many.
"No! I can do this!"
They continued to increase the levels of the machines until the circuits burst in fireworks of sparks and the machine dies down. Even though Jack knew what was coming, his eyes still went wide as the chamber opened to reveal the transformed Steve Rogers.
The skinny boy had been replaced by a tall, muscled figure that panted heavily as if he'd just completed a marathon. His pectorals glistened with sweat from the strain of such strenuous physical change.
The gathered scientists had stared in awe at this new Steve Rogers for several heartbeats before they all began to rush forwards at once, surveying his vitals and chattering in amazement at the success of their scientific endeavor.
Jack watched in amusement as Peggy Carter was the first one out of the observation room as she walked briskly to stand in front of Steve. Even the normally professional agent couldn't help but reach out and touch Steve's now chiseled chest, as if she needed to ensure what she saw was no illusion.
He let his gaze drift around the rest of the room as more of the observers filtered in and the room became much busier. He kept his posture as relaxed as possible, not wanting to draw attention to himself, but kept one hand hidden in his trench coat pocket, clenched onto his gun. Just in case.
'Just in case' came sooner rather than later. Jack threw himself in front of Howard Stark, turning his back to shield them both from shrapnel as the observation deck exploded in a loud blast.
"Are you alright?" He asked hurriedly, checking the man over to see if he had been hurt. He was met with a dazed nod as the scientist stared at the destruction around them.
Maybe it was Jack's luck when it came to these important things, but of course such a profound success would be further marred by gunshots. It was times like these where he understood why the Doctor was staunchly "no guns!"
With all his years of experience, he reacted instantly to the gunshots and jerked his way in front of Howard. The immediate and familiar sensation of pain blooming throughout his chest let him know he'd done his job and the darkness of death swallowed up his vision as he fell to the floor.
It'd been a while since he'd last died, so this time he came back rather quickly. He was no longer in the center of the room; someone had dragged him behind one of the large consoles. As he blinked rapidly and started to get up, he found that Howard had in fact moved him.
"Huh. Agent Carter's files on you really were true," Howard said in an dumbfounded tone as he stared at Jack with wide eyes. "It's like something out of a story book."
He got that a lot. "What happened?"
Howard grimaced. That was never a good sign. "There was an enemy agent in the viewing room. He was here to steal the vials of Erskine's formula. You blocked his first two shots at me but… Jack, Erskine's dead."
Sometimes, Jack wished he didn't know what happened when he was gone.
He purposefully wiped all of his expressions off his face as he twisted around and saw Steve Rogers kneeled over Erskine's still and bloodied form on the ground.
"Where'd the bastard go?"
"Rogers and Carter chased after him. The agent swallowed a cyanide pill hidden in a false tooth." Howard's gaze was focused curiously on Jack's chest now. "Everyone saw you get shot, but I dragged you over here in all the confusion. We'll just say you were wearing a prototype bulletproof vest I've been inventing, but the force of the bullets knocked your breath out and made you pass out."
Jack sighed. "I suppose that's better than the alternative."
The two moved so their backs rested against the cool metal of the large control panels as they sat together in silence amid the chaos of the room.
"Thank you, by the way," Howard said softly, his eyes staring blankly at the floor. "You saved my life."
Jack smiled softly at the inventor, who was clearly beginning to have shock set in and cloud his mind. "Don't mention it, Howard."