Emma stared at the scientist in disbelief.
"I thought this idiot scientist died in the time tunnel instead of us saving him! But it looks like he wasn't a complete idiot after all—he must've had something that helped him survive."
Morgan narrowed her eyes, carefully observing the scientist instead of answering immediately.
"...No." She shook her head. "Something's not right. Let's follow him and find out what he's doing here."
The two girls quietly followed him through the expo, watching as he stopped at almost every exhibition booth. He carefully examined each invention, occasionally taking notes in a small notebook. Before long, they noticed him walk toward the nearby army enlistment booth. The soldiers on guard greeted him politely, and a few even exchanged friendly words with him before allowing him to enter the area behind the booth.
"What's going on here?" Emma frowned. "Why is the military treating him like he's someone important?"
Morgan didn't answer. She was just as puzzled.
The two girls hurried after him, but an army guard immediately stepped in front of them.
"Stop right there, young ladies! This area is restricted. Only military personnel and those reporting for enlistment are allowed beyond this point."
Hearing the guard's words, the two girls looked around and realized it was the same enlistment booth Steve had entered earlier.
Seeing there was no way to get in through the front, they quietly moved to one side, keeping their eyes on the entrance while thinking of another way inside.
"Morgan, wait here. I'll transform into Ghostfreak and go in to collect information."
"Ok, I'll wait here. And don't try to possess him — that will let him know he has an enemy, and he'll figure out someone is onto him." Morgan instructed her quietly.
Emma slipped into a nearby women's restroom to transform into Ghostfreak.
"No one should be here..."
After making sure the restroom was empty, she raised the Omnitrix.
"Ghostfreak."
The Omnitrix flashed with green light.
A cold, raspy voice echoed from her throat as her body transformed into a pale white ghost-like creature with a single black eye on its chest and long tentacle-like stripes hanging from its body.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Emma couldn't help shivering.
"I really hate how this alien looks..." she muttered in Ghostfreak's eerie voice. "It's so creepy."
Taking a deep breath, she activated Ghostfreak's invisibility.
Her body slowly faded from sight.
Passing straight through the restroom wall, Emma silently floated into the restricted enlistment area.
"Where are you...?" she whispered as she drifted through one room after another.
After searching for a short while, Emma finally found Steve sitting alone in a waiting room.
Steve glanced at a nearby notice that clearly read:
Providing false information on military enlistment forms is a federal offense.
Remembering how the doctor had suddenly left after checking his file, he couldn't help feeling nervous.
"...Did they figure it out?" Steve wondered to himself.
He rubbed the back of his neck uneasily, then let out a quiet sigh.
Just then, Emma floated past him.
A sudden icy chill swept through the room.
Steve shivered from head to toe.
"Huh...?"
He instinctively looked over his shoulder, but the room was completely empty.
Before he could think any further, the door opened.
An elderly man in a neat suit walked inside.
"So," the old man said, looking at Steve with a curious smile, "you want to go overseas... kill some Nazis?"
Steve blinked in surprise.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm Dr. Abraham Erskine." The old man offered his hand. "I represent the Strategic Scientific Reserve."
Emma quietly floated beside them, listening.
"So, Steve Rogers..." Erskine looked through the file in his hand. "Where are you from?"
"Queens. Seventy-third Street and Utopia Parkway."
"Before that? Germany?"
Steve looked confused.
"No."
Erskine smiled faintly as he continued reading the file.
"Five exams in five different cities." He looked back up at Steve. "It's not the exams I'm interested in, Mr. Rogers... it's the five tries."
Emma couldn't help floating over to peek at Steve's medical file.
Asthma...
Scarlet fever...
Rheumatic fever...
Chronic fatigue...
Emma slowly looked from the paper to Steve.
"...Buddy, how are you still alive?" she thought to herself.
Erskine suddenly leaned forward.
"So... do you want to kill Nazis?"
Steve paused before asking,
"Is this a test?"
"Yes."
Steve thought for a moment before answering.
"I don't want to kill anyone."
His voice was calm but firm.
"I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from."
Emma blinked.
"Huh..."
"So that's why Dad always said Captain America was different..."
A warm smile appeared on Erskine's face.
"There are already enough big men fighting this war." He gently patted Steve's shoulder. "Maybe what we need now is a little guy."
He started walking toward the door.
"I can offer you a chance."
"Only a chance?" Steve immediately followed after him.
"I'll take it."
"Good."
Erskine nodded with satisfaction before stopping.
"So... where is the little guy from?"
Steve smiled sheepishly.
"Actually... Brooklyn."
Erskine smiled back before handing him the file.
"Congratulations, soldier."
With that, he walked away.
Steve quickly opened the file.
Seeing the large APPROVED stamp across the page, he let out a long breath of relief.
Emma smiled as she watched from the side.
"So this Abraham guy is the one who chose Steve..."
Emma smiled.
"It looks like Captain America's story is finally beginning."
Just as she was about to leave, she noticed that idiot scientist, who was looking at Steve and following Erskine.
Emma's eyes narrowed.
"Caught you..."
Without hesitation, she floated after them.
Soon, the two scientists were walking down the hallway.
Emma followed them, invisible.
"Dr. Nathan Mercer," Erskine said with a warm smile. "I read the genetics paper you published six months ago. Some of your theories answered questions I had been struggling with for years. When I heard you had joined the Super Soldier Project, I was looking forward to meeting you."
"You're too kind, Doctor." Mercer smiled modestly. "Compared to someone of your experience, I still have much to learn. I merely shared a few ideas."
Emma frowned.
"Six months ago?"
She became even more confused.
"How is that possible? We arrived in 1943 only today. Did he somehow get here six months before us... or is he using someone else's identity?"
She quietly memorized the name Nathan Mercer, deciding to investigate it later.
The conversation soon shifted toward Steve.
"Doctor," Mercer began thoughtfully, "it seems you've taken quite an interest in that young man, Steve Rogers. Am I correct in assuming he's your preferred candidate?"
Erskine looked at Mercer with surprise.
"You noticed that so quickly?"
He smiled with approval.
"It seems your observation skills are as impressive as your research."
After a brief pause, he nodded.
"Yes. I believe he possesses qualities that every good man should have. Of course, I still intend to conduct a few more evaluations."
Mercer remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
"Doctor... if I may."
"I worry you may be reaching that conclusion too quickly."
"From a scientific standpoint, Mr. Rogers appears to be an unsuitable candidate. His medical history is extensive, his physical condition is poor, and he knowingly falsified official enlistment documents."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"I'm simply concerned that compassion may be influencing your judgment more than evidence."
Emma felt a flash of anger, and the air around her suddenly turned cold.
"What nonsense..."
She knew exactly what this guy was trying to do.
He wasn't insulting Steve outright.
He was carefully choosing his words, trying to convince Dr. Erskine that Steve wasn't worthy of becoming Captain America.
For a brief moment, Emma wanted nothing more than to possess Mercer with Ghostfreak and send him flying across the hallway.
But remembering Morgan's warning, she forced herself to calm down.
"It's your decision, Doctor," Mercer said calmly. "I simply believe the serum shouldn't be wasted on someone whose body is unlikely to survive it."
"I'll consider your opinion," Erskine replied before walking away.
Watching Erskine leave, the humble smile on Mercer's face slowly disappeared.
"Naive old fool," he muttered under his breath before quickly putting the smile back on as he noticed a military officer walking beside him.
"Doctor Mercer, should I escort you back to the laboratory?" the officer asked respectfully.
"No need." Mercer smiled politely. "I can find my own way."
As soon as the officer looked away, Mercer rolled his eyes.
"What a waste of time..."
Floating near the ceiling, Emma gritted her teeth.
"Just look at that smug face..."
As Mercer walked down the hallway, Emma quietly floated after him.
"I can't punch you..."
"But a little bad luck won't hurt."
Just then, a doctor carrying a tall stack of medical files walked toward Mercer.
Emma smiled mischievously.
She quietly floated through the doctor.
A sudden chill ran through the doctor's body.
"Brr..."
His hands trembled, and the stack of files slipped from his grip.
"Oh no!"
Papers scattered across the hallway.
Mercer frowned.
"Useless..."
Seeing the doctor panic, Mercer forced a friendly smile.
"It's alright, Doctor. Let me help."
The military officer beside him nodded with admiration.
"You're too kind, Doctor Mercer."
Mercer smiled on the outside, but inwardly cursed.
"Idiot... now I have to help."
He bent down to gather the scattered papers.
Just then, an orderly pushing a heavy medical trolley hurried around the corner.
Seeing the papers covering the floor, the orderly slammed on the brakes.
"Oh no!"
The trolley refused to stop.
Bang!
It crashed straight into Mercer, sending him stumbling forward.
Trying to catch himself, Mercer stepped onto the scattered papers.
Slip!
"Aah!"
His foot twisted beneath him.
Crack!
Mercer cried out as he hit the floor.
The hallway instantly became chaotic.
"Doctor Mercer!"
"Someone get a stretcher!"
"I think he sprained his ankle!"
Several soldiers and doctors rushed over to help him.
Floating invisibly near the ceiling, Emma covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she tried her hardest not to laugh.
"...Oops."
Looking at the chaotic scene one last time, Emma quietly slipped through the wall before anyone noticed.
"I need to tell Morgan everything."
A/N: The Patreon version is already updated with 20 advanced chapters. If you'd like to read ahead of the public release schedule, you can join here:
👉 patreon.com/BenBlazecraft