Hello guys! Hope yall have been well! I have another chapter for yall! Fun fact, it is required for astronauts to know Russian to work on the ISS! Thought that was an interesting fact! Please enjoy!
The medic, one of the prisoners Lorelei had personally released, bandaged her up to the best of his abilities, chattering away to Lorelei as he worked.
Many questions were asked, which Lorelei deflected skillfully.
Steve and Bucky hovered worriedly, waiting for an all clear.
Lorelei sighed at the men's insistence she remain seated, getting into a heated argument with Steve that she would rather walk, besides, she would heal quickly, and there were other far more wounded men who needed the spot.
He relented, only at the agreement she would use him to walk.
The danger having eased somewhat, Lorelei grinned up at Steve.
He sighed, pulling her into his arms once more as he pressed his cheek into her smoke scented hair.
Lorelei wrapped her arms around him, relieved everyone had gotten out in one piece.
The group began traveling towards Allied territory, on the lookout for enemies as they went.
Bucky turned a curious gaze towards Lorelei.
"So, how did you get here? Did you catch a ride with Steve?"
"In a way, yeah. But I wasn't always with him." Lorelei said with a shrug.
"Gave him a relic that would alert me when he needed me." Steve held up said relic with an amused grin.
Bucky looked confused.
"So, you asked him to marry ya?"
Lorelei snorted, Steve chuckling as he glanced at the ring on his finger, then back at Lorelei.
"You know, if this were a proposal, you'd have set quite a high bar. Magical rings and portals- not sure how I could top that." Steve joked.
Lorelei threw her head back and laughed in delight, a genuine, warm sound that eased the tension of the moment.
Steve grinned fondly at Lorelei as she held onto him for support.
"Well, I suppose you'd have to get creative. Maybe something involving saving the world or a romantic dinner under the stars." Lorelei teased.
Steve's smile widened.
"I'll think of something." He said.
"I'm looking forward to it, Captain." Lorelei gave him a flirtatious smirk.
The trek was long and laborious, taking a week to traverse the enemy territory.
They had to keep an eye out for any enemies, of which the soldiers dispatched quickly.
On the seventh day Steve finally asked the question that had been weighing on his mind since their encounter with Schmidt on the bridge.
"Do you know what Schmidt was talking about?"
"No." Lorelei shook her head, "I mean, I was adopted when I was a baby, but all of my assessments were normal."
Steve was puzzled. "Do you think it's possible he mistook you for someone else?"
"It's possible. I mean, that guy has one screw loose from being bat shit crazy, so," Lorelei shook her head.
One of the soldiers let out an excited call.
Lorelei and Steve saw the encampment up ahead, with more people crowding around as the returning troops approached.
Lorelei beamed with pride as their group was applauded in.
Peggy and Colonel Phillips approached, to which Steve saluted Colonel Phillips.
"Some of these men need medical attention."
Medics surged on by towards the wounded.
"I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action." Steve remained where he stood, waiting for Philips' command.
"That won't be necessary."
"Yes, sir." Steve said.
"Faith, huh?" Was all Philips said to Peggy.
"You're late." Peggy called to the two Soulmates.
"Couldn't call my ride." Steve said, holding out the transponder.
"Hey!" Bucky's shout drew the attention to himself. He grinned, "let's hear it for Captain America!"
Lorelei clapped, grinning as Steve looked around.
He met Lorelei's gaze, who took his hand in her healed ones.
"I told you so." She mouthed.
He dragged her to the medic tent after despite her protests.
Her wounds were properly bandaged, the wounds nearly healed. The burns had probably been third degree, meaning there was much more to repair. She was given morphine for the pain, enough to kill a horse.
The medic was confused over how much it had taken, but with a practiced lie from Lorelei's lips his concerns were alleviated.
Lorelei drowsed as Steve had Bucky looked over.
Later that evening, when Lorelei had metabolized the morphine, she was brought before Colonel Chester Phillips, Peggy Carter, Howard Stark, Bucky and Steve.
She limped her way into the room, assisted by Steve, on which she leaned heavily.
"So. I have it on record that these two are vouching for you. I, on the other hand, am skeptical. So, I want to hear it all. And none of the dallying you women like to do."
Lorelei straightened, her gaze keeping him in place. Her green eyes exuded a sort of calm danger, an unspoken promise if he continued with his 'judgment.'
"Respectfully, sir, I must keep certain information to myself. But I must emphasize that this cannot leave this room. If any of the enemy gains any of the information, America as we know it will cease to exist."
"And what information would make that happen?" Philips voice was filled with doubt.
"Knowledge of the future."
"How the hell am I supposed to believe that?"
Lorelei reached to her side, making the atoms vibrate as she pulled two things from her shadows. Her astronaut suit, and her Holo-pad.
She had figured out a way to carry things with her in the shadows, but there was a limit to how much she could carry.
She grabbed the things in preparation for their meeting earlier that day.
"This," Lorelei held up the space suit, "is a space suit. I used this up in space to explore. I come from another universe entirely, where the year was 2053."
Philips looked to Howard for verification.
"That technology is… something I've never seen. If it works, it would revolutionize our world."
Philips seemed to be getting an idea.
Lorelei slammed her fists into the table, cracking the wood.
"I will have you know, I will destroy these things if you try to get your hands on it. Your power grids couldn't even begin to try to power this thing." Lorelei's voice was cold, commanding.
Steve and Bucky stood behind her, backing her up.
"I'm already creating a paradox by telling you all this. If this leaves this room, we're screwed." Lorelei said.
"What is it?" Howard asked.
Lorelei turned the device on, NAISC booting to life.
"Good evening NAISC. Welcome back."
"It's good to be back. What have I missed?"
The group was given a similar rundown to Steve and Bucky, with the two backing her up.
"Any files made must be on paper in Peggy's office. That's the only way I will allow information to be stored." Lorelei said as the room came to an agreement.
"What languages do you know, kid?"
"English is my native language. I'm fluent in Russian, I was required to learn Russian if I was to work in space. I'm proficient in German, but not fluent. I'm conversational in Dutch and Spanish, and I understand Italian. I was learning French from one of my colleagues, but I only know a few words." Lorelei listed off.
"Russian? Why Russian?" Howard was confused.
"Despite the political animosity, the first Space station housed English and Russian folks, in which it was mostly cordial. NASA made it a rule that you needed to be fluent in both English and Russian, and it stuck." Lorelei shrugged.
"Alright." Philips waved her off, turning to Peggy, "I want her assessed."
Once she was fully healed, the grueling assessment began.
Hand to hand combat, field stripping, firing, physical, languages, espionage, the works.
Steve was toted around, gaining medals and relaying HYDRA information.
Peggy and Lorelei became fast friends, their womanly comradery bringing them closer.
Peggy had brought her out and about town when she admitted she had no clothes. The soldiers were to celebrate at a local bar, and Peggy was almost salivating at the prospect of a girls trip, *especially since Lorelei had no proper dresses.
"We must find you something that'll knock his socks off!" Peggy said, dragging her along a storefront.
"Well, I don't think it takes much." Lorelei said.
Peggy looked at her in disbelief. " You might say that, but it takes quite the effort to look good."
Peggy tugged Lorelei into a dress shop and demanded they take measurements. Lorelei was made to stand very still while people went around with measuring tapes, while Peggy flicked a finger through countless catalogs.
Peggy and a stylist brainstormed, leaving Lorelei to sulk about, fingering fabrics.
She paused, taking in the blue fabric that caught the light just right.
Tugging the bolt free, Lorelei hoisted it up with a small grin.
Peggy looked up, giving an appreciative nod to Lorelei.
"That will do." She said.