The next day…
The morning trumpet woke Clark up. He sat up and the other two recruits began to wake up as well. Clark did a quick scan of the room and adjusted his eyes, using one of his unique abilities he called X-ray vision. His eyes were not only better than a regular human's were and able to see things that were farther away but he could also see through them. It first happened when he was kid as his eyes let him see through walls and even x-rayed the other kids and teacher in his classroom. It took him time to control it but eventually he did.
He x-rayed his bunk and the room to see there was no squad of soldiers or MPs waiting outside which was a good sign. After brushing his teeth, washing his face, and getting dressed he walked out of his barracks and made his way to the mess hall for breakfast. He got in the line and after getting his food and coffee he sat down at an empty table and ate his breakfast in peace when he saw Peggy walk in. She got food and then joined him.
"Rumor from the officers is that the other two candidates are getting sent back so congratulations are in order Kal." Peggy said to him.
"Thank you, Ms. Carter but Dr. Erskine hasn't approve me for anything so I don't think we can start making party plans just yet." Clark pointed out.
"You've made it farther than any other recruit we've had tested. Dr. Erskine must see something in you if you're still here. And it's Peggy, Kal. We've known each other for long enough that I think you can call me by my first name." She assured him.
"Right, Peggy." Clark fixed his glasses and Peggy smiled. The two had become good friends the past few months. "Wouldn't I have heard something from Dr. Erskine if I really was selected? The other recruits are still here so I don't want you to get your hopes up."
"Trust me, Kal. I know Dr. Erskine will pick you. There is more for Kalvin Elbert to do in this world and this war then sit at a desk, answer a telephone, and write up reports all day." Peggy stated, thinking that Kal would be perfect for Project Rebirth.
"I wasn't aware that my reports were a bad thing. If anything, I'd like to think that my reports have done a lot to help." Clark pointed out and Peggy chuckled when two MP officers walked into the mess hall and made their way over to them.
"Agent Carter, Private Elbert. Colonel Phillips wants to see you two."
"Right." Peggy and Clark got up and followed them through the base to Colonel Phillips office where he and Dr. Erskine were waiting for them.
"Sir." Clark saluted them and Colonel Phillips saluted back.
"At ease, Private Elbert." Colonel Phillips told him and Clark relaxed a bit. "I've got good news for you, Private. Dr. Erskine has made his decision."
"I have indeed." Dr. Erskine stepped forward and fixed his glasses. "After looking over the results of all the training and speaking with him, I believe Private Kalvin Elbert to be a perfect candidate for Project Rebirth."
"Congratulations, Private Elbert." Peggy said to him.
"It has been a long process but I believe that Private Kalvin Elbert is perfect for one of the serums I have designed for Project Rebirth." Dr. Erskine stated.
"One of the serums?" Clark was confused.
"Yes. I just explained to Colonel Phillips that I haven't been using my time here at the SSR for nothing. While the Project Rebirth chamber has been assembled, I have made some modifications and created two different yet similar serums. One of which is for Private Elbert. The other is for another recruit that has yet to be chosen." Dr. Erskine explained.
"So, are we doing this now?" Clark wondered.
"No, not now. I will need to do some further calculations to make sure that everything will go as planned for your procedure and refine everything for the other but I have also stated to Colonel Phillips that we need one more recruit." Dr. Erskine assured Clark.
"Don't think this means your training is over, Private Elbert. You may not be getting the serum today but until then we're gonna make sure you'll be ready." Colonel Phillips told him. "Agent Carter, let's get our next batch of recruits."
"Yes, sir." Agent Carter nodded and she followed him but looked back at Clark. "Congratulations."
Clark smiled before walking out of Colonel Phillips office where Dr. Erskine joined him. "There's not another serum, is there?" He asked the doctor.
"To Colonel Phillips and everyone else, there is but to you and I, Private Elbert there is only one serum. But just to make sure and to prove my hypothesis…" Dr. Erskine held up a small syringe and handed it to Clark. Clark put it to his hand and tried to put it through but the needle just bent. "…I was right. There would be no way for my serum to be injected but Colonel Phillips doesn't know that. Nor does he know about your unique abilities."
"So, you lied?" Clark pointed out.
"I more…skirted the truth." Dr. Erskine corrected.
"Why are you keeping my secret?" Clark wondered. "You really don't know me yet you're willing to trust me and keep my secret when you have nothing to gain from it. If you told Colonel Phillips the truth I'm sure it'd actually be better for you."
"Perhaps. True, if I told Colonel Phillips about you then you'd be taken to an SSR lab where you'd be studied and monitored until the truth came out. But everything I've seen about you and even just talking to you tells me…you are a good person. A good person with an enormous respect for what you've been given. If Hitler or Schmidt had your powers then they would be using them to further their plans for the war and the atrocities they've committed. If anyone else had your powers I'm not sure they would be hiding like you are. They would be out using them for the wrong reasons but not you." Dr. Erskine pointed at Clark's heart. "You have tremendous power yet you have not lost respect for it. You respect it when any other man would abuse it. A bad man who has known strength all his life might lose respect for that strength. But a good man knows the value of strength, of compassion, and hope. That is why I chose you, Private Elbert. You're a good man with a good heart."
Clark smiled at Dr. Erskine's belief and his faith in him when they don't even know each other. Perhaps there are people he can trust with his secret. "It takes a good man to recognize another, Dr. Erskine. I won't let your faith in me be for nothing."
"Good, Private Elbert and we will be seeing much more of each other for the foreseeable future. Colonel Phillips will be continuing your training but I have also requested more time to get to know you on the pretense to better prepare you for the procedure. This is more so that I know what to do and how best to help you while we find our other candidate." Dr. Erskine told him.
"We?"
"Yes, we. A good man will recognize another good man. If you will be one of the first super soldiers that Colonel Phillips needs then it is only fair that you know who will be working with you." Dr. Erskine suggested and Clark nodded. "We have much work to do, Private Elbert but you will help people. I promise."
"Thank you, Dr. Erskine but for you…it's Clark. Clark Kent." Clark held out his hand. Dr. Erskine smiled and shook his hand.
"A pleasure to meet you, Clark Kent."
Line Break xxxxx
June 1943
What Clark thought would be spending another month or so with the program turned into nearly half a year as Dr. Erskine couldn't find another applicant with the same good heart as Clark. All potential recruits that Colonel Phillips had put through the training didn't meet Dr. Erskine's approval and it was slowly driving the Colonel insane. But Dr. Erskine had the final approval for participants of Project Rebirth and hadn't found anyone he felt was a good choice. Clark tended to agree with him on his choices if everything Dr. Erskine said about the formula was right. If this Johann Schmidt of Hydra was a cautionary tale of who shouldn't get it then they had to choose carefully. Dr. Erskine didn't want another soldier, he needed a good man.
That was Clark's routine for more than half a year. He was able to call his mom and keep in touch with her along with sending her letters about everything going on. He had been stealthy and sneaky enough in his correspondence to make sure that Kalvin Elbert and Clark Kent were kept separate. When he told his mother about being recruited into Project Rebirth and the chance to actually help in the war while keeping his secret she was apprehensive. It was the usual motherly worry of not wanting her son getting hurt even though he could lift a tractor with one hand and knives broke against his skin. She was still worried even with his abilities since if things worked out then he'd be going overseas in the war and even though he's proven to be extremely durable they really had no idea what would happen. Kelex assured them both that Clark's durability and healing factor would ensure he would be safe but it was still his mother's usual worry. But this was a way for Clark to be able to use his powers without it exposing his origins since people will just assume it's the serum that gave him his abilities. And it's not even Clark Kent but Kalvin Elbert. It was rather clever but his mother was still worried as she had a right to be and he promised to write her every chance he got and would call her before he was ever sent overseas.
She was a little apprehensive when he told her about Dr. Erskine but Clark seemed to trust him which was good enough for her. And when he told her about Peggy, she just tried to convince Clark to ask her on a date or even just for coffee. Peggy was smart, fierce, didn't take crap from anyone and Clark could call her probably his only actual friend other then Dr. Erskine. The British accent helped and she was beautiful but he wasn't sure if starting a relationship with her was a good idea. There was the whole thing with him joining the army under a fake name along with his past and powers. Martha just told him that he would have to decide that if really wanted to be with someone then it would mean being completely honest and hoping for the best.
But speaking with and helping Dr. Erskine with Project Rebirth candidates and chatting with Peggy wasn't all he did. True to Colonel Phillips statement, Clark did continue army training at Camp Lehigh and during those times he had to keep up the façade of his asthma and nearsightedness which was getting annoying. When he first arrived at Camp Lehigh, the training he underwent for the Project Rebirth selection war more abridged. Now, Colonel Phillips had Clark undergoing the traditional Army Corp training but combined it with some officer training as well. He was grooming Clark into a command role so that he might lead other super soldiers in the army. Traditionally the training he got was reserved for those that went to officer's school but his circumstance was a little different. Because of his supposed ailments, his physical training was limited until the procedure but he learned to fight with some helpful tips from Peggy. Granted those tips tended to involve her knocking him on his back which amused her to no end. But the training wasn't for nothing as Clark got used to making up decisions based on intel and with his good work done in good breaking and in anticipation for another candidate being picked, Colonel Phillips promoted him to Corporal. It was clear that Colonel Phillips was preparing Clark to be his sort of team lead for the SSR in the field.
Clark was waiting outside Camp Lehigh at the bus bench with a bus ticket in hand. He got an evening pass so he wanted to go check out the World Exposition of Tomorrow held at the New York State Pavilion in Queens. It looked interesting and he might be able to send his mother some photos. He heard the tell-tale clack of heels and he didn't need to his super hearing to know it was Peggy.
"Kal, what are you doing out here?" She wondered. Clark noticed she was carrying a briefcase with some files so she likely got back from a meeting in the city.
"Just waiting for the bus. I was going to head into the city for the evening and check out the World Exposition fair." He told her.
"Ah, yes I hear it's quite the affair. Howard Stark is making his usual pomp and circumstance presentation there. Well, enjoy your evening." Peggy smiled and bid him farewell. Clark thought it over for a second before standing up.
"Peggy…" He called out, getting her to stop. "Um, I'm sure you're probably busy or have better things to do but if you're free then how would you like to come with me to the fair?"
"Is this your attempt at finally asking me out on a date?" Peggy wondered and Clark cleared his throat before taking a breath to calm himself down and figure out what to say. It was rather amusing and Peggy found it endearing.
"Um…yes." Clark cleared his throat and fixed his glasses. "If the date part would seem too odd or violating some kind of SSR policy then it could just be defined as a night out with a friend at a fair. Not even friends. It'd just be between two people who happen to know each other. Like acquaintances."
Peggy held up her hand to get him to stop rambling. "I'd be delighted. Just give me a moment to return my things."
She walked into Camp Lehigh to return her items, leaving Clark there a bit stunned before he started to smirk. "Not bad, Clark. Not bad."
World Exposition of Tomorrow, Queens NY
Clark and Peggy walked into the fair grounds of the New York Pavilion after a short bus ride to Queens and it was as amazing and awe inspiring as the posters, flyers, and advertisements made it out to be. There were thousands of people in the fairgrounds looking at the various showcases and attractions while enjoying the food and fireworks. It was a pleasant distraction from the war that brought many people including families who were amazed at what companies and businesses were promising for the future.
"This is amazing." Clark said as he and Peggy walked past the metal statue of earth in the main square surrounded by the flags of the world. "Have you ever seen anything like this in England?"
"No, not at all. Howard sure has outdone himself." Peggy replied. "What about you?"
"Not at all like this. The most newspaper coverage Kansas gets is when a tornado hits or for a football game." Clark joked and Peggy chuckled. The two continued their walk through the fairgrounds in their sort of date but it didn't really feel like a date given both of them were wearing their military enlisted uniforms. "So, I can't help but notice your familiar tone when you spoke about Howard Stark? Is there some kind of history that I should be aware of?"
Peggy scoffed and chuckled at the idea. "He sure wishes there were but the only history we share is our occasional meetings at the SSR and the long diluted fantasy he must have." She joked and Clark chuckled. "Howard is many things to me but charming is not one of them. If anything, I'd be more curious about your relationship with him. After all, you've spent more time with him then I have."
"That's true but those times are with Dr. Erskine and he's either told me the odds of the serum working and what would happen to me if it didn't." Clark pointed out. "My favorites are I burst into flames, my head explodes or I lose feeling and control of my body and have to stay in a hospital for the rest of my life. But other than that, he's very charming."
"Good lord, that man's bedside manner is terrible." Peggy remarked as the two walked into the technology pavilion. "But he's probably the smartest man in America and has proven invaluable to the SSR so I guess his overconfidence can be lived with."
"So, you're not in to overconfidence. I'll put that in the back of my head going forward." Clark stated and Peggy chuckled.
"Well, a small measure of confidence is good but Howard's level is where I draw the line." She pointed out. "Although the several months you took before you had enough courage to ask me out was starting to wear thin on my patience."
"It wasn't that I was afraid of asking you out, Peggy." Clark told her but her expression pretty much said that she didn't believe him. "It's true. I've really come to appreciate your friendship, Peggy. And I didn't want to ruin that by forcing this into a relationship, especially since I didn't know how you would react."
Peggy smiled as Clark's kindness and care about others was very sweet. "But now you know." She smiled and Clark chuckled. "You really are one of a kind, Kal."
"Well, it takes one to know one, Ms. Carter." Clark replied as they walked into the Modern Marvels Pavilion where various booths had displays for new inventions that would bring America into the future. And surprise, a lot of them were Stark Industries inventions.
"Welcome to the Modern Marvels Pavilion and the World of Tomorrow. A greater world. A better world." An announcer's voice came over the pavilion's speaker system. The Modern Marvels Pavilion was one of the most popular at the fair given how incredible, futuristic, and awe inspiring these future inventions were. Clark looked around and saw some kind of full body suit which was the next generation in comfort wear but looked like something out of a comic strip. They walked by the Future in Space display where it showed what Stark Industries had planned and the wonders waiting for them out there in the vastness of space. Dreams and plans for venturing to other planets and exploring space with mock models of Stark Industries rockets and aircraft. Clark kind of chuckled to himself as he had a feeling that Howard Stark would literally die of excitement and intrigue if he ever saw the spaceship he arrived in.
There was a large crowd gathered at one of the stages that had a cherry red Ford Sedan on stage but the lights were off when they suddenly came on and five women in matching costumes came out on stage to applause. Swing music began to play as well as one of the women grabbed the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Howard Stark!"
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