"No... not really... why?", Jacques asked as Steve sighed, "It's Peggy, she's... we've pretty much made love so many nights and all and yet still no sign of her being pregnant. It's... it's been getting to her at times.".
Jacques looked surprised, and then looked thoughtful for a few moments, before replying, "Maybe your DNA got infused with Atlantean genes thoroughly on the inside thanks to the crystals, I mean, after all, you haven't been sick ever since, right?".
"Right...That's what I thought too, but what if they are too strong for her to handle?", Steve asked, and Jacques blinked in confusion before widening his eyes, "Oh...So, the super soldier serum...Good point...It was clearly no issue with me and Sia...I am French, Caucasian, and essentially a normal, long-living man, and she is Atlantean, and Kory was healthy at the end of it...Perhaps Peggy's body is taking time to slowly getting used to the strength of your seed before they are able to work successfully in conception...After all, you had been married for almost four months so far...You know in normal circumstances, for Atlantean women, they take 18 months...It might be in this case that if I'm theoretically right, and just shooting it out there, Steve, please understand, but it would take at least 14 more months to be total in a Atlantean pregnancy's length, or for a surface pregnancy's length, taking five months, to be total 9 months at best, for my math to be right before she can eventually get pregnant successfully as she's not either Atlantean or a super soldier like you are.".
Steve looked taken aback, and then exhaled, "So, five to fourteen months before she can be viable then to take on pregnancy...That would be similar to what Abraham would say...I really hope you're right in this theory because I was stumped, even before my father-in-law told me that those things take time by God's will.".
"Well... there might be another option...", Jacques admitted as Steve raised an eyebrow. "I think Abraham would know... but that would mean going back...".
"True...", Steve said as he scratched his chin. "Only issue getting back there; a little hard to acquire a submarine to get back down to the entrance, even without having to worry about the Leviathan.".
"And honestly... in your case... well, perhaps she needs to be more like you in order for you two...", Jacques replied. "Whoa, wait a second!", Steve held his hands up. "You're suggesting that she may have to become a super soldier too just for us to have children?".
"Is that such a bad idea?", Jacques asked. "Well... no... but the whole ordeal... Jacques, it wasn't a good feeling, let me tell you... I wanted to die for a few moments just to make things stop.", Steve said with a sigh as he recalled.
Jacques raised an eyebrow, "Yet you kept going because you wanted to see Peggy again, didn't you?", and Steve exhaled deeply, "Yes...One of the reasons I got back up in that machine...".
"Then she would do it for you, for herself, for that chance to have children...And besides, I came to know her on that journey. She's stubborn, Steve, and determined.", Jacques chuckled.
"Yeah...", Steve took a deep breath. "Well, again, I guess we'll wait and see if you're correct with her having to get used to me and all that. Right now, we've got a raid to plan...".
Jacques grinned, "Yep. Let's do it.", and so, the duo went to eat, planning the raid step by step with Pierre, Mole, and all the rest of the Marquis in Jacques's leadership.
Steve was amazed to see how Jacques took to listen to every little suggestion, and told every possible way to either accept it, or turn it down, to make his comrades understand, and Steve has a feeling that Sia would have been proud of him if she knew that doing this is kind of the equivalent to being a prince of Atlantis, giving him practice.
Things were tense as folks were waiting; it wouldn't be long before the group would be moving to reach the town before dark. Of course, moving in the day was of much higher risk but it was their only option since if they were in town already, something might be noticed and cause the whole plan to fall apart. Some quick rest was taken during the morning before they started to move. Everyone had their own ways of making it there without drawing attention. For Steve and Jacques, it was posing as farmers and taking a horse and wagon.
Steve's shield is tucked away in the wagon deep underneath boxes of food and such, and his uniform is disguised among farmer clothes and such, with his cowl down and hidden away.
Steve then asked casually, "Hear anything from Sweet?", and Jacques replied, "Turns out he figured out the healing thing first before I did, and since everyone knows him as a doctor, it is less suspicious, through he's on basic training as a soldier of sorts, to protect himself better. He's still in Italy, and it's looking like things are getting somewhat better.".
"How so?", Steve asked him. Jacques answered him, "Well, all the mistakes the Italians have been making for years with their armies has really caused some growing resentment amongst the population to Mussolini; his control over his nation isn't as strong as Hitler's. After all, the man still has to 'technically' answer to King Victor Emmanuel. Sweet's ended up finding himself taking refuge with an anti-Blackshirt group that will probably start coming into serious strength if the Italians have a devastating blow.".
"Like losing what remains of their colonial empire or their own country being invaded?", Steve raised an eyebrow. Jacques nodded, "Yeah, I don't think the Italian people will be as mad to the Allies if they invaded but more to their leadership for their sheer incompetence that led them to it.".
"Well, as long as Sweet stays safe... it's worrying not to hear from you guys as often as the rest of the crew.", Steve told him. "Yeah, the others are all fairly safe on the other side of the globe.", Jacques chuckled.
Steve chuckled warmly, "Indeed. Audrey got a second shop built up with her father, and her sister won the championship belt. And for the care packages, the foundation she built up with Preston, it has been giving a good number of jobs for her people or family members.".
Jacques grinned, "That's brilliantly wonderful for her. And Cookie and Packard?", and Steve smiled, "Cookie's still up to his questionable cooking skills, but the homeless on the east coast hasn't been really complaining much. And for Packard, last I heard was that she has gotten a job of technically being her own boss at working with the intercom radios off rich people, for better communication and all, through it's not as demanding as she got a lot of free time to be at parties and be her usual sarcastic self.".
"Can't really imagine those two doing much else with their lives at this point now; they can easily just relax if they wanted to for the rest of their days.", Jacques said. "Wish the same could be said for us... but at least we'll get that chance once we end this war.", Steve replied.
"Hopefully soon...", Jacques sighed. "I keep second guessing my decision every few nights... that I should've stayed with Sia and the children... then after some mission or whatever we do to stick it to the Nazis and save some folks from being deported or executed... just doing whatever we can to keep the true France alive... it makes me think back that I might have made the right decision at least."
"I'm sorry... I know it's probably painful to be torn like this...", Steve comforted him with a pat on the shoulder. "At least Sia and them are safe where they are... I hate that I even did think of the idea of bringing her here and getting involved in our underground war...", Jacques scowled.
Steve nodded, "Aye. Milo would have been worried sick, wondering if Kida is doing well in her pregnancy and all. But he sure made the right decision, and besides, he got family there as well now...".
"True. Abraham must be doing rather good as from what Nola said, since it's twins, it would as be well as four more months to go for him, instead of five. And to think, Kory and Vinny would be cousins of a sort to the twins and of course, Kida's child as well...", Jacques chuckled wryly.
Steve laughed warmly, "Indeed. Sure going to be quite interesting as they get into their mischief. At least they wouldn't go too far if their parents would have anything to say about it.".
Jacques snickered, "I can believe that. You and Peggy are going to visit, right?", and Steve nodded, "We will try. After all, Preston still has the blueprints to the big evac-submarines, and if anybody isn't using the one that we gave to one of the Navy divisions off Phillips' accord, we can use it then, to fill it up with seeds from the surface, farm animals, and such, since I bet the city would appreciate some diversity to their food and all.".
"Packard erased all the black boxes, right?", Jacques asked, and Steve nodded, "Yep. She really is through, that woman. And she ain't letting anyone, not even our Navy, to find the city if she can help it.".
"That's good... gives me a little extra peace of mind...", Jacques said. "Yeah; better to not worry about how things are back there and keeping focused here. Part of me still has a bit of an issue with Peggy being in England and all. Still within range of German bombers and all... I know the raids have died down a bit, but you still can't help but worry...", Steve sighed.
Jacques replied, "But she has been through this a lot before she even transferred to America, and of course, her parents went through the first war, right?", and Steve nodded, "Yeah...You're right...And she knows how to keep herself in the dark and all, being through...".
"See? And she would feel better if she knew that I'm watching your back, and you're watching mine.", Jacques smiled as he patted Steve's shoulder with a nod.
Steve chuckled, "True...And your advice hasn't failed either. Let's hope this mission goes well.", as Jacques nodded, "Agreed.", and so, the rest of the day went pretty well as they got to L'Isle, as sunset approached.
Everything was in place for the mission. Everyone reached their positions with little trouble as they kept multiple eyes on the hotel with Steve and Jacques' group while others were further out, keeping their eyes on the patrols.
"Any change?", Jacques asked as Steve was up near a window out of sight with his eyes on the building. "So far, just some guards; certainly weren't here before.", Steve said.
"Probably the early guard detail for the meeting. What's important is waiting a little bit after Bömelburg and Oberg arrive. Let's catch them all in whatever room they're meeting.", Jacques said. "Do you know where?", Steve asked him.
"Yeah, one of the hotel's workers tipped us off earlier that one room was being well prepared. Bastards planning to have a fancy dinner.", Jacques chuckled as Steve's eyes widened when he saw two cars adorned with small Nazi flags: the typical VIP cars, pulling up and Steve could see the passengers the same ones from the photos.
"Well, at least we're still good with things since they've showed up.", Steve said as Jacques got up to look. "That's them.", he said as he pulled the bolt back on his submachine, ready to fire it at a moment's notice.
Steve gave a subtle signal to Pierre and a couple of others on the side building across from them, and Pierre nodded, speaking quietly to his comrades, and one subtle signal to Mole and a few others on the ground was given from Pierre's comrades, with Mole grinning as he dug under the back of a shed.
There are a few obvious Nazis patrols through the town, and Steve knew that Mole is signaling the rest of the Marquis in his fast-digging skills, appearing to the captains of each group who'd take out the Nazis patrols with silencer guns and of course, baiting them to Mole's camouflage badger traps.
Pierre and the others would take care of the early Nazi guard detail while the others on the ground would get to the back to warn the hotel staff to stay down or move out to safety. And as for Jacques, he will fire first with his submachine, and after a round is used up, Steve will move in by his unique jumping skills, and if there's any straggling survivors who fires at him, he will have to defend himself, and after a zipline by Jacques, he will come in as well, and they will both grab any evidence, any briefcase, and all.
"Another car.", Steve whispered as it pulled up and a man got out, holding close to a briefcase he had with him. "I don't recognize him...".
"Must be our traitor. I don't recognize him either.", Jacques told him. "Let's give them a few minutes, think everything is good before we bust them up. All the ways are covered so if anyone tries to escape, they won't get far.".
The moments were tense as everything was quiet for a few minutes before Jacques patted Steve on the back. "Let's go.", he told him before he motioned to the one resistance member who had a sight on them, and they began to move in to deal with the guards.
With flash grenades and silenced handguns, the guards were taken care of, and the ones on the ground then signaled Pierre who nodded, signaling Steve who used the last of the sunset to flash his shield subtly yet quickly at the head of the captains scattered throughout the town, and he can see the Nazis patrols dwindling away from the hotel, and then replied, "Do your thing, Jacques.".
Jacques took a deep breath, and then aimed his submachine at the room where the high-Nazi, and their security detail is, and then squeezed the trigger, firing through the windows, wrecking the room as bullets found their way in, slamming in many of the meeting heads as others tried to duck down behind tables and such, with injuries, and their handguns poised to shoot back.
Steve then threw his shield at the room, as it ricocheted off the walls, snapping a couple of spines off two of the Nazis, as Steve then jumped from the edge of the building, landing into the room, and dodged while shooting one last Nazi in the head, and then caught the shield with a well-practiced air.
Jacques fired a zipline in, landing as Steve listened, and then Jacques whistled, "Be a few months to fix this up, but the hotel is intact. Hear anything?", as he searched through the mess, grabbing a briefcase, seeing the familiar papers of the resistance and such, and finding a heavy luggage bag, opening it up to find bundles of German money.
"Distant sounds of a few badgers, and a couple of yells almost like they were caught off in surprise, then now zip. And for this, nope, they're all dead.", Steve replied as he found a peculiar case, and opened it up to reveal a strange design of a gun, almost comparing it to a Colt, except fatter with a barrel of 12.
He closed it back up, knowing that they can't linger long, and then found a couple of other briefcases that contained maps and such of Nazi occupation into France, and then in the other briefcase, his eyes widened as he saw a familiar insignia, the infamous Hydra, some papers of assigned orders in German. He knew he'd have to read them back in safe grounds, and glanced at Jacques, "See anything else we need? It'd be any second now before Pierre calls us to go and-", before a warning whistle came.
Jacques kicked the corpses of the two high ranking Gestapo leaders making sure they were dead as he shook his head. "If everything we need is those briefcases, then we're gone.", he said as they started to head out... only to suddenly hear the sound of what had to be a tank cannon. Both Steve and Jacques looked at each other for a moment.
"PANZER!", one of the Maquis screamed out as Steve dropped all the stuff he was carrying aside from his shield and running down the street before he saw it. A Panzer III, one of the newer models he guessed since it had a 50mm cannon rather than the 37mm's that had helped conquered much of Europe. And with it came a halftrack and a few troops armed with Kar98s and MP-40s.
"Damn it...", Steve cursed. "Knew the guard detail was a bit too light... these guys must have been running late.". Another shell fired off as Steve knew he was going to have to help the resistance in escaping from that tank. Steve ran forward as gunfire erupted as several of the Marquis fired back, trying to pick off the troops escorting the tank. If the infantry was dead, the tank was a sitting duck amongst the town streets.
