CHAPTER 3
MARCH 13, 1999
The laboratory was bright and cold. Alexandra shivered in her hospital gown and tightly hugged herself. She felt as though she would freeze to death. She sat on the metal observation table while she waited for the doctor. She was the first subject to test a serum that may enhance her newly discovered ability.
Pierce analyzed her gift with curiosity to see how it worked and what her limitations were. Her visions, he called them, only came at random and through her drawings. He felt she could compromise his position and everything he worked for after a teacher from school called in with concern when she noticed a disturbing picture Alexandra created. So, he decided to try an experiment that has never been done before in order to control her gift. He called a doctor he had not spoken to in nearly a decade and the doctor agreed to come up with a serum for her.
Pierce looked down at his daughter who gave him a brave smile. This pleased him. He patted her on the back and gave her a small smile. A tall, thin man in a gray suit scurried into the laboratory. He was holding a silver case and gently set it down next to Pierce. The gentlemen greeted each other and shook hands.
"Dr. Whitehall, I would like to introduce you to my daughter," Pierce motioned his hand towards the little girl. "Alexandra."
The doctor adjusted his thick rimmed, round glasses as he took a look at the girl. He smiled and stared into her amber eyes. "What a beauty," he replied in a thick German accent. "My name is Dr. Whitehall, it is a pleasure to meet you. Are you ready for your first injection?"
The girl nodded her head slowly and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Fabelhaft!" He clapped his hands together. He dug into his jacket pocket and took out a small flashlight. He put a finger up to the girl's eye level and turned on the flashlight. "Follow my finger." She followed his finger as he instructed. Pleased with the results, he moved on to check her vitals. When everything seemed normal, the doctor opened the case and took out a vial and a large syringe. "Everything looks superb. We will begin the process immediately."
"Excellent," Pierce replied. "Call me when everything is finished." Without looking back at his daughter, he left the laboratory.
Alexandra watched her father leave. The anxiety began to build when she realized she would have to go through this alone. She looked down at the table she sat on and noticed the black straps that were connected to it.
"It's just a precaution," she heard the doctor say.
She looked up at him. She watched him fill the syringe with a clear liquid that came from the vial. "Precaution?" She asked.
Dr. Whitehall noticed the fear in the child's eyes when he glanced at her. "Don't worry. It's to make sure you don't move when I inject you with the needle," he said as he put down the vial. He pushed down the end of the syringe to eject some of the liquid out. He looked back at the girl with a kind smile and instructed her to lie down on her back. When she complied, he strapped her down tightly. He wrapped a tourniquet around her upper arm and picked up the syringe.
Her heart pounded violently against her chest and her stomach churned. She took deep long breaths when she felt the pinch from the needle that poked through her skin. She winced from the subtle pain and her breathing quickened. As the doctor slowly injected the serum into the girl's arm, she felt a slight burning sensation. She suddenly didn't feel so cold anymore. She felt herself begin to sweat as the burn spread through her body. She felt her blood boil inside of her and she screamed in agony. Her temples began to throb from the pain. Her body shook as she screamed and cried. Her vision blurred then everything went black.
JUNE 1, 2002
"It has been three years," Pierce said, disgruntled. "How long is this process supposed to take?" He hovered over the phone in his office.
"I find it interesting the serum has had no affect on her yet," the doctor replied from the speaker. "Perhaps a stronger dosage would suffice."
Pierce sighed. He thought about it for a moment. "Alright, I'll agree to it."
"Excellent," the doctor sounded pleased. "We will keep the six month period in between injections as usual."
Brock Rumlow walked into Pierce's office with a look of urgency. Alexander Thanked the doctor before hanging up. He picked up is glass of scotch and took a sip. "What is it?"
"He's awake, sir," Rumlow answered.
"Good," Pierce responded before gulped down the rest of his beverage. "Get him ready for his next mission."