They brought up a bed from the hatch with straps attached to it alongside what looked like a medical team. My 'caretaker' had disappeared to bring the supersoldier serum while I was prepared to receive it. Gently or rather afraid, the team strapped me to the bed and injected a specialized tube in my vein. They wanted to check if it could resist the heat I emit. Behind their masks I saw relief when it survived the minimum amount produced, almost as if their lifes were on the line. Finally they left and I waited for the serum.
My 'caretaker' not long after arrived with a brief case and a smile. He placed the case on the bed opening it. Inside I saw a small vial of blue liquid and a bag or pouch of blood red.
He spoke, "Ok, I need to give you the run down of what will happen. So this little thing here." He picked up the vial, "is actually whats left of the treasure after being used previously. And this beautiful concoction." He showed me the 'blood' bag, "is my version of the serum. You know, you helped make it with a couple of the experiments I did on you. But that's the past this is the future. First I'll inject the bag which shouldn't affect you, but if I did indeed succeed; the serum will awaken it and a chemical reaction will occur and bam supersoldier. Now from what is know of the serum according to our founder, Red Skull, may he rest in peace, is that it amplifies you. Whatever your true self is it strengths, but your...You don't have personality from what I've seen so don't worry. Alright that's my job done as your doctor let's begin."
Like he said the 'blood' bag didn't cause any reaction, just a tingle of something swimming around in me. Then came the real thing. At first nothing happened, however I felt a crack similar to activating a glow stick and a intense feeling of growth occurred across my body. To a point where I cried out and twitched my body uncontrollably ripping apart the straps tying me to the bed. My 'caretaker' left at some point and a red light of high alert started flashing in my chamber but they held back freezing everything. The scarlet glow started to shine bright and it lit up my entire skeletal structure from head to toe.
I fell to the floor and curled up in a ball hoping the pain would pass. Slowly the pain stopped and I was covered in sweat. I heard the hatch open and a bucket of water thrown on me. The cold chilling water spiked my instincts and in a sec I jumped and Sparta killed the preson into the wall killing him.
"Ha! Improved reaction time. Write that down. How are you feeling 626?" The voice of my 'caretaker' said through a speaker.
I checked my body. Everything felt 'bigger', the body of an adult I thought. My arms, legs, chest, abs, even the tiny unseen muscles were strengthened. I didn't consider myself bulky but rather the physique of someone trained in calisthenics to the max, I was lean and could see I lost what little fat I had. It looked unpleasant seeing just muscle mass. The glow in my heart now stretched to cover the entirety of my chest showing my ribs underneath. My skin looked paler and my nails a tint of light purple. A different body without any weakness as of yet I thought.
"I feel taller." Was all I said.
"Mmm, well yes. I hoped for more feedback. Anyway from here your standing at 6'1, an inch higher than the captain, you don't know who he is. Bone density increased..." he mumbled the rest which I couldn't understand. "626 turn on your heater I wish to confirm something, level 1 will suffice."
I activated my thermal powers to the point my fist glowed red, this time the scarlet light looked 'purer'.
"Level 2 now." He ordered.
This time my entire forearm lit up with my chest burning up, I could melt right through metal at this level.
"Touch your head 626." My 'caretaker' said.
I reached for my head touching a slick fluffy substance, hair? It had been years since it fell off. I checked every inch of the top of my head and stopped when I realized the hair didn't burn at the touch of my hands.
"Congratulations 626 your hairline returned. Now stand by I'm going down. Don't get any funny ideas. And I'll bring clothes. " He said.
After a couple of minutes he appeared with a chair telling me to sit while he inspected me after I put on spare clothes the soldiers weared, "your eyes are red and black, hmm the red is moving around like liquid. It looks like two painite gems. Fun fact their rare and expensive. Even when the light hits your hair a red hue can be seen in its black color, I'm suprised you didn't turn red. You would have replaced our icon." He mused.
He clicked his fingers, "bring it in."
The hatch opened and two guards came with a large white collar. My 'caretaker' spoke, "remember the deal." He moved his eyes to the window for me to understand that we could both die here.
I lifted my chin allowing them to place the collar. When it locked around my neck a red light turned on signifying it was working. "I hope its comfortable, this necklace was made with my input and I didn't want my greatest experiment irritated. Now then!" He clapped his hands, "the program begins."
For the first time they let me stand on the hatch as it brought us down. Only a few meters till we reached the floor and I analyzed my surroundings as they guided me to our destination. All I could tell around me were tunnels made of solid stone in a circular shape. Cameras were around every corner with patrols every couple of meters apart. Steal doors that required a pin, key card or opened remotely from elsewhere. With my enhanced hearing I tired to figure out what was past these walls but the architects desgined it to be noise canceling. Only through a few sealed doors did the screams of other experiments escaped through its crevices.
It could take months to map everything and I felt disoriented with all the turns we took. Finally we arrived to a steel door that opened remotely. Inside was a pit made of steel with scratches around it's wall. They told me to jump in. I did.
I checked the walls of the pit and I could tell a couple could lift open, "HYDRA has one goal. Order. We understand that to protect humanity, to insure it's surival and prosperity, order must be instilled. However humanity is an untamed beast." Said my caretaker. The walls lifted open and growls alongside rapid movement I heard coming from within, "behold the real face of humanity."
Feral people ran at me some on four legs and I was stunned at how young they were, some children. They attacked me, climbed behind my back to bite me, scratched with their long nails, they were stronger than normal people. I pushed them away or threw them wanting to give them fear instead of attacking but they were unrelenting.
My collar shocked with enough force to bring me to my knees, "626, you won't eat until their all dead."
They all hoped on top of me wanting to tear me apart. My injuries healed just as fast and even acted as defense with the heat my body emitted but they kept clawing. I wanted it to stop so I grabbed the neck of the presence in front of me and stood up to finish them. It was a child just a few years younger than me and I stood still unable to do anything as it scratched my arm.
"I understand the man you Sparta kicked was your first kill but hurry up 626. These subjects are around your age, it's just that you went through puberty in a couple of hours. I thought this would be simple. Need I remind you of the collar on your neck. Listen, it's cruelty to let them live like this, you can save them from this fate." Said my caretaker.
I looked at the kid in my hands ignoring the claws of the others. He was in dirty rags, scars all over his body, wide pupils. We both knew pain and all I could do was end his, all of their pain. Release them from this hell.
Bringing my heat to level 2 I turned off all thought and swinged mindlessly where I saw them. I made quick work out of them until only blood filled the pit with me in it.
A dramatic sigh came from my caretaker, "a noble death. At least they got to see the fruits of their labor. If it weren't for their resolve I would never have made the serum. A second of silence. Ok! Jump back up we have a tour to finish!"
With ease I jumped back and despite his confident smile I heard how he gripped a remote to my collar. We didn't walk long until we made it to a large room that was made for training. A couple soldiers stood by the walls and a short man with glasses in military clothes with a taller lean asian lady stood behind him in a suit. They were waiting for us.
"Ah it's a pleasure to present 626 to you William." Said my caretaker.
"Just Stryker." Said the man with a pretend smile, "so this is the magnum opus you've dedicated a decade of your life to? Impressive build. Even a meter away I can feel it's heat. Definitely a tool HYDRA can use. Would you mind if I tried my experiment on it?"
"We're only here for 626 to train with your little toy behind you. Remember that your cooperation was part of the deal William." Replied my caretaker with a fake smile, "besides I informed you about his resistance."
"Then there's nothing to fear then Dr. List." Said Stryker.
Dr. List, finally I have his name to remember.
"Fine make it quick." He responded.
Stryker tried to pull my neck down to his level but I barely felt his strength, "kneel." He said with a red face. I looked at Dr. List for confirmation and he nodded. Stryker looked for a spot behind my neck and pulled out something from his pocket. I felt three or five drops of acid hit my neck but nothing happened.
I stood up looking at them confused, "a failure like I said. Now if you would please I'm behind schedule." Said Dr. List.
Stryker looked a tad annoyed but relented leaving the lady behind, "626 meet your punching bag. I expect you to lose at first but this training is to help you make use of your new enhancements. Good luck." Everyone left leaving only us two, a pair of tools.
The lady removed her high heels and cracked her knuckles or rather her entire hand. She ran straight at me and I raised my hand to block the punch but at the last second metal claws shot through her nails cutting off my arms. She kicked me creating distance. The pain was subtle and she watched interested as my limbs grew back with ease.
Again she ran but this time I dodged aiming to land a left hook yet she grabbed my arm in an armlock. Seeing her try to break it I used my thermal powers burning her side. I thought I won when she let go but to my surprise her exposed side healed rapidly. A punching bag huh?
A shock came from my collar, "no thermal powers 626. I require your skill to be trained." Said Dr. List on a speaker.
We continued for hours and each time I adapted to my new reaction speed managing to hold my own but never fully wining.
The door opened and Dr. List entered, "enough for now. Tomorrow you contuine. Time for weapons training 626 come."
I followed suit. The new chamber was a gun range and a simulation room for life combat. Dr. List told me that I would be taught by their best agents on how to proceed in a war zone while training my aim, alongside the knowledge of operating all manner of weapons and vehicles. Although I'm unsure how far vehicle training can happen in here.
For months I trained half of my day with the punching bag and the other half with the agents. Dr. List said my training with the agents was splendid but my hand to hand combat teacher failed to instruct me on fighting techniques. The poor lady looked brainwashed so I don't know why he thought she could. That, and she never instructed me on how to fight I said. He said a replacement would arrive shortly due to this.
I laid on my bed wrapped in bedsheets. A new habit I developed, it helped me sleep sometimes when I covered my face and unable to see the chamber I'm stuck in. I still often sit on the floor humming one tune and a day hasn't gone past that I don't send a message to my pen pal.
The intercom of the chamber turned on, "626 make your way to the training room."
I got up and went to the hatch alone. During these months I behaved as the prefect prisoner and more and more they lowered their guard. Now I can walk to my training sessions alone and I walk slowly each time hoping to map out the place. If I catch a steel door open I'm able to remember almost perfectly what's behind it, an effect of the serum.
I reached the training room with nothing new to memorize when I was greeted with someone new. A well built man in black military style clothing. He weared a mask with medium long black hair that reached his neck. Dead eyes, he looked similar to the pervious lady in that regard but he looked on high alert, he was thinking unlike her brainwashed mind. His left arm was made of some type of metal with a red star on his metallic shoulder.
He raised his arm and motioned me to come close, "my mission is to teach you my fighting style. We will begin with just hand combat, then incorporate the use of legs. Afterwards the use of beginner armlocks or leglocks. Once basics are completed I'll show you how to kill using the techniques I was taught including knives. I will also be in charged of your training with weapons going forward." He stated in a Russian accent.
At first he wanted a demonstration on my skills, he corrected my stance and understanding on how to use my legs for punching power. Than it came to training hand to hand and I realized he must be enchanched as well when he kept the speed up when I threw everything I had at him. His experience was vast as I never got the lead in anything and often suffered a crippling blow from his metal arm.
I was forbidden the use of my thermal powers and relied only on the serum to match his combat style. Still it was far more useful than my last instructor who never spoke a word and my brain absorbed all the critiques he gave or punches.
Weapon training was easier and I felt more comfortable almost matching his performance but he beat me when it came to replicating real life scenarios. He knew how to plan, improvise and adapt at what occurred in the simulation room.
I spent almost three years under his guidance and if it weren't for the serum I'd never be able to learn everything he taught me when it came to combat in such short time. But still his experience out weighed mine who never completed a mission.
2003
"Very well 626 show the leaders the fruits of your efforts...and mine." Mumbled Dr. List nervous of his final test and my graduation.
Today I needed to show that I surpassed my instructor or else the experiment—I was a failure. Dr. List had explained that the pervious supersoldiers apparently managed to beat him and now I needed to show the same performance.
I stood in front of him alone in the training room. HYDRA watched through cameras as a precaution. All I had to watch out for was his left arm.
"Begin when ready." Said the intercom.
My instructor immediately pulled out a knife and I copied as we aimed to stab one another. We blocked each other's blows and no one had an edge until he slammed my hand that held the knife with his metal arm. It healed almost instantly but my knife fell and I grabbed his arm trying to push him back and then threw him to the ground.
Lucky I succeed but he bent his body as soon as he hit the ground delivering a powerful kick to my head; his experience from before and a new technique for me to learn but today is not the day for training. I backed up a bit wanting to use my legs as they hit harder than his. In quick succession I landed a hit on his thigh than ribs with a final one to the head but he grabbed it with metal arm throwing me across the room.
He didn't give me a moment to rest running at me with a high knee to my head. But I braced for impact grabbing his torso then lifting him up to slam him to the ground. I delivered a couple punches to daze him and then grabbed the hand that still held the knife trying to drive it into his chest. He pushed back but my strength was one of the few categories I was stronger at. Just about when it reached his chest he broke the knife with his metal arm and moved his legs like a serpent pining my arm in a leglock.
I punched his body hoping for him to release but had to resolve to cutting off my arm with my free arm baring the shock of my collar at the use of thermal power, a move he was used to from training that he himself suggested. Instantly he let go throwing my severed arm as it burned a hole through the ground.
We reset to our starting positions prepared to start again when the intercom turned on again, "the loser must die."
I blinked at the news but my instructor didn't bat an eye aiming for my liver. The blow landed and if it weren't for my healing factor I would have died. He fought differently than before, each attack was a killing blow. A thought crossed my mind, he wanted to let me win before. But now only one of us would make it, and only one of us could heal indefinitely.
For now I defended myself while he was the only one on the attack. I couldn't bring myself to attack, it was childish but I truly appreciated the lessons he taught me. Our time together I noticed how the soldiers of HYDRA feared him, he was isolated like me. We both had suffered the same treatment and I saw my future in him, a tool to be used. I was lost in my thoughts and slow to raise my guard as a devastating left hook came from his metal arm aimed to my head. I never lost my head before, the thought came to me and that this could end my life. With a motion driven by fear I tried to push him but my arms wouldn't reach into time and yet a red energy came out from me blowing him away into the wall.
I knocked him out cold. I looked at my hands and a residue of energy remained, it felt like an extension of me. Before I could question what happened my collar shocked me with its max potential. HYDRA soldiers came rushing in securing the premise. I groveled on the ground and felt a couple men pulling me across the floor until I ended up at my chamber.
For days no one brought me food nor took me out of the chamber just silence. The uncertainty of my fate brought back the whispers and I heard voices saying that I should be dissected or purged. Two months total with the only contact I had being my imaginary pen pal.
The speaker to my chamber turned on, "experiment 626, comply with orders as agents will take you to my laboratory to inspect what makes you...tick." Said a voice that belonged to William Stryker.