Disclaimer: I Own Nothing
My Iron Man story is done so feel free to check it out
August 1943
Steve was jolted awake by a bump in the road, he had fallen asleep on the drive into New York from training camp. It had been two months since he was chosen to be the test subject for the Super Soldier serum created by Abraham Erksine. The original test was supposed to be last month but Erksine pushed it back in order to triple check his work. Peggy was in the car with them as they drove to the laboratory inside the city. The training after being chosen was very similar except now he had been let into the SSR's base of operations which clued him in on what was really going on overseas. He had learned about Hydra and its leader Johann Schmitt who was also known as the Red Skull. The SSR had gathered intelligence that proved that Hydra was looking for something in Europe and they had been spotted in Sicily during the allied invasion and that since they returned they have distanced themselves from the main part of Nazi Germany and nobody knew why. Steve was getting nervous as the car progressed down the street noting how close he was too home.
Peggy looked at the puny Steve Rogers with admiration over the course of the training she had come to admire the man despite his sickly look. He had beefed up slightly during the training but something about his body prevented him from growing any real muscle. The best part about him was the fact that he didn't let his weakness hold him back from being the best person that he could be which was more than she could say about most people. She came to the realization that she believed in Steve Rogers and that he could change the world that they lived in.
The car pulled to a stop outside of an antique shop "Hey I've been here before" said Steve with a smile. Peggy ignored him and strode into the building nodding to the old lady shop keeper who Steve remembered buying a watch from a few years earlier. She was old with gray hair that hung just above her shoulders and she was wearing a dress with flowers all over it. Peggy went over and started talking to the shop keeper outside of Steve's range of hearing which he took to mean he wasn't meant to hear anything. Peggy walked back to him as he looked over different knick knacks that the shop had in stock.
"This way" she said leading him to a back wall. The shop keeper reached underneath and pressed a button that caused the back wall to open up to a hall way that had an elevator in the back. There were agents in the hall waiting for them as they walked towards the elevator. They entered and Peggy hit the bottom of two buttons causing the doors to close and the elevator to begin its descent. Peggy could tell that Steve was nervous by how fidgety he was as the elevator went down to the lab. The doors opened and Steve was surprised by what was in front of him, a room that looked to be made of complete steel with consoles surrounding a large contraption that looked like a coffin. Erksine came from the far side of the consoles smiling and pulled Steve into a hug.
"Welcome we are almost ready for you. So why don't you take a seat in that room over there and wait while we finish preparing" he said pointing Steve towards a wooden door that stuck out like a sore thumb.
Steve entered the room to find a man inside having a glass of water, he turned and smiled at Steve. The man was average sized and wore a suit shirt and pants with a vest but without the jacket. His black hair was perfectly groomed with a slicked back that looked good with his thin mustache "Hello I'm Howard Stark. You must be Steve Rogers?" he asked offering out his hand. Steve nodded and shook Howard's hand "So I'm sure you're wondering what I'm doing here. Well me and the good doctor have worked together to perfect this experiment that is going to turn you into the Super Soldier that we all know you can be" said Stark with confidence. Steve nodded nervously and sat down on a couch "Nervous?" asked Stark already knowing the answer but still got a nod from Steve confirming what he knew "Normally I would say drink something but if you do I can't guarantee you won't explode in the unit during the experiment so…just breath through it" advised Howard turning to leave "See you out there" he said leaving and closing the door behind him.
Steve sat in silence for about 15 minutes when Erksine came in to meet with him. Stark and Peggy had told him about how Steve was nervous about the procedure and that he should go in and talk to him before they started but even he was nervous. He sat for a moment and could tell that Steve was looking to him for guidance but he was struggling to find the proper words which only left him one idea to try to alleviate Steve's nerves. "I don't know if you know this but I worked with Hydra back during my time in Germany" he said prompting Steve's eyes to open wide. "I was working on the same project for Johann Schmitt that I am here, back then I managed to complete my research and complete a formula which I wanted to test more thoroughly but Schmitt went against my wishes." Erksine sighed and took off his glasses "He used the serum on himself and it changed him into the monster he is today, I have had to live with that and I swore that I would not make that mistake again. I chose you because I believe in you and you need to believe in yourself, you are going to change the world Steve, and when you do…you and I are going to have a glass of champagne together and stop Schmitt and Hydra once and for all."
Steve smiled with a new confidence knowing that Erksine and everyone else believed in him "Thank you" he said getting brought into a hug by Erksine.
"In about five minutes we will begin so prepare yourself" informed Erksine heading out to the lab area. Steve took off his shirt and stood in his new pants that were now larger in order to accommodate the boost in size that the serum was supposed to give him.
Philips stood in front of a viewing room that held politicians and generals who were waiting to see his Scientific Strategic Reserve finally produce something of value. It had been a long road to this day but Rogers had won him over after he was chose him to be the test subject. He looked over the room, he knew a few of the people inside but not all of them. He looked down and could see that Erksine was ready to begin.
Erksine looked over to Stark who gave him a confident nod "Welcome to the first ever attempt at creating an American super soldier, today we will change the course of the war and help the allies claim victory" Steve came out of the back room and started walking into position "This is Steve Rogers the man who will be changed into the physical perfection of the human race" said Erksine noting how a few of the people in the observation room were snickering after seeing Rogers.
Stark stepped forward "We will be injecting Rogers with the serum as he enters into the chamber" explained Howard as Steve was laid down and tied down so he stayed in the right position. Erksine stepped forward to help tie Steve down make sure that the syringes went in the right places. Stark pushed a button and the machine started to hiss as the metal bars that had the syringes welded onto them. There were three for each of his arms and two for each of his legs, Erksine winked as the syringes entered Steve's body. He closed his eyes as the syringes pumped in the blue serum. The syringes pulled back out and they disappeared from Steve's sight and Erksine gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "The machine in front of you creates vita-rays, a creation of Dr. Erksine, will stabilize the serum and also speed up its effects of the serum."
Erksine stepped forward as the machine closed locking Steve inside "Turn on the rays" he said to Stark who started turning the knob that produced the vita-rays. Steve shut his eyes as the light engulfed him. "Increase the levels" ordered Erksine as Stark turned the knob to higher levels. Steve was surprised by the level of heat that was being produced by the rays, he didn't feel any different yet but the heat was becoming very uncomfortable and was getting painful. "Turn it to max" said Erksine watching the machine closely wanting to keep an eye on Steve as the vita-rays caused him to change. Steve began to cry out in pain "Steve" called Erksine running up to the machine "Turn it off" he ordered as Stark brought the levels down to zero. "Open up the machine" he ordered as the machine fizzed and hissed as it opened up to see Steve Rogers.
Steve opened his eyes when he felt the cold air of the room hit his skin, he looked down to see the faces of Stark and the other scientists who all had stunned looks on their faces except Stark who was wearing a smug smile. It then occurred to Steve that he was looking down at the people.
Erksine was sitting down on a chair with a smile, Rogers had grown to stand about six foot two inches and he seemed to be pretty close to almost 250 pounds. He had beaten the demons that Schmitt had created all those years ago by using his serum before it was ready, but now he had the right person with the serum and the world would be a better place for it. Steve looked up and spotted Erksine from the machine as the men from observation flooded into the room to get a closer look at Steve "How do you feel?" he asked from a distance. Steve started walking away from the machine so the scientists could run some tests and take notes about the machine while it cooled down.
"Taller" he yelled towards to Erksine as he was pulled away.
Erksine smiled and walked over to the machine and looked it over. He then felt a searing pain in his back that then came through his front. He looked down and could see the blood coloring his shirt. A voice then whispered into his ear "Hail Hydra."