The laboratory fell completely silent, the alloy door locked, isolating it from all outside noise.
The cool white light gently shone down, making the giant incubation chamber in the center clear and transparent, with only the low hum of the instruments remaining as the sole background color in the space.
Peggy Carter took a deep breath, trying to suppress the unease in her heart. Although she had made up her mind, it was impossible for anyone to remain completely calm when it came to extracting their soul from their old body and stuffing it into a newly created shell.
Steve stood half a step away from her, not saying anything profound, but simply gently supporting her arm.
I brought up the screen and began entering the genetic samples collected from Peggy.
A stream of data rolled rapidly as Peggy Carter's physical parameters, in her early twenties, were gradually fed into the culture medium in the incubation chamber.
The pale blue nutrient solution was slowly injected into the chamber, and the tiny biological factors in the culture medium could be seen to begin to stir and churn.
"The cultivation process won't be completed in an instant; it will take some time," I explained to the two of them. "The cells will gradually divide and proliferate, slowly growing into a complete body. It can't be rushed."
Only when the body has developed to the point where all vital signs meet the required standards can we proceed with the soul transfer.
Peggy gazed at the churning liquid inside the cabin and nodded gently. "I understand. I can wait."
"It won't take long, just 10 minutes. What follows is the entire body cultivation process; you can watch quietly."
I spoke softly, "Based on Ms. Carter's peak genetic makeup at twenty-seven, create a brand new body brimming with vitality."
As soon as the words were spoken, the entered genetic data began to operate at high speed.
The originally clear and transparent culture medium, under the influence and stimulation of the pale blue magic, slowly began to shimmer with tiny starlight-like specks.
Countless dormant gene fragments are activated, and single cells begin to divide, proliferate, and shape rapidly and regularly.
The process was slow yet incredibly powerful.
The first thing that appears is the blurry outline of flesh and blood, which is visible to the naked eye. Then the bones take shape layer by layer, the veins and blood vessels intertwine in a fine way, the organs are completed in sequence, and the skin slowly spreads out, tightens, and is shaped.
Without the slightest deformity or imperfection, it perfectly replicates the most stunning appearance of youth.
Time flowed slowly, and after a dozen minutes, a complete female body was fully formed in the culture medium.
Her posture was upright and well-proportioned, her skin was fair and delicate, every inch of her skin was full and fresh, without a single wrinkle or a trace of sagging, she had shed the signs of aging and fatigue accumulated over decades.
With sharp yet gentle brows and eyes, a delicate nose, and soft lips, she is exactly the Peggy Carter of yesteryear—the dashing and stunning S.H.I.E.L.D. who captivated the entire S. H. I. E. L. D. Steve's entire life.
In the prime of life, full of vigor and vitality, they are a figure frozen in time, never fading.
The new body inside the cabin floated quietly in the nutrient solution, its eyelashes long and thick, drooping gently, its breathing even and deep. On the vital signs monitoring screen, all the data were stable in the range of the human body's peak, and the bright green values filled the entire screen.
At that moment, Steve was completely stunned.
His feet seemed rooted to the ground, his breathing suddenly slowed, his pupils contracted slightly, and he stared intently at the figure inside the incubation chamber.
More than seventy years have passed.
It transcends frozen slumber, transcends the vicissitudes of time, transcends a lifetime of changing years.
He finally saw the vibrant and passionate Peggy from his memories once again.
It's not an elderly person with white hair and faltering steps, nor a faded and blurry silhouette in a photograph, but a vivid, three-dimensional, and close-up image of youth.
The emotions surging in my heart are indescribable. There is bitterness, sighs, belated excitement, and the burning joy of something lost and found again.
All the regrets, missed opportunities, concerns, and longings buried deep in his heart for decades surged up at this moment, choking him and making this superhero, who had experienced the flames of war and never bowed his head, feel a strange tightness in his throat.
It turns out that time has never betrayed our convictions, and that the white moonlight of our youth can truly return to the world.
Meanwhile, the elderly Peggy Carter, who stood quietly to the side, was equally lost in thought.
She leaned forward slightly, her cloudy eyes fixed on her own young body in the cabin, her fingertips trembling slightly, her heart churning with unprecedented turmoil.
That was herself.
It was Peggy Carter, a young agent from decades ago who dared to take risks, was full of passion, laid the S.H.I.E.L.D.., and was fearless in the face of adversity.
She hadn't seen herself like this in such a long, long time.
The long years have dulled her edge, and her aging body has stifled her passion. As she grows older day by day, she almost forgets that she was once so vibrant, so dazzling, and so full of life.
Looking at that flawless, vibrant body, the aging, fatigue, and regrets of the past decades seemed to vanish like a bubble.
Shock, emotion, reflection, and anticipation—a myriad of feelings intertwined, swirling in my heart, both tender and burning.
At this moment, no words are needed.
Steve understood the thrill of reunion after so many years, and Peggy understood the longing to recapture her youth.
Looking at their complex yet sincere expressions, I spoke softly, breaking the stagnant atmosphere.
"The physical body has been fully developed; its foundation is perfect and its condition is stable, now capable of supporting a complete soul and consciousness."
Having said that, the pale blue magic around him rose again, wisps of it merging into the nurturing chamber, laying a perfect foundation for the upcoming soul transfer.
I turned to look at elderly Peggy, who was sitting on a recliner nearby, already prepared.
Are you ready?
Peggy closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again with unwavering determination.
"Ready."
A pale blue magical glow emanated from my body, enveloping my old body and simultaneously enveloping the new body inside the incubation chamber.
An unseen spiritual force began to carefully peel away all of Peggy's consciousness, memories, and emotions, slowly drawing them away from her aging body, like a ray of light, gently reaching the young body inside the glass capsule.
The entire process was uneventful; only the waveform curve on the instrument screen fluctuated back and forth.
Steve clenched his fists, barely daring to breathe, his eyes fixed on the two life monitoring panels, his heart pounding in his chest.
I don't know how much time passed.
The young body inside the cabin trembled slightly with its eyelashes and slowly opened its eyes.
Those eyes were exactly like Peggy Carter's; they held a lifetime of memories and experiences, and her soul was flawless.
Meanwhile, the aged body on the recliner outside, having lost its soul, peacefully fell into permanent silence.
The nutrient solution in the culture chamber began to drain out.
The hatch opened slowly with a "whoosh," and a wet young body stepped out.
Just like Captain America who stepped out of the enhancement pod back then.
Peggy, slightly out of breath, raised her hand somewhat blankly, looking at her smooth, firm palm, no longer covered in wrinkles.
She turned her neck, moved her arms and legs, and felt the vitality within her that she hadn't felt for decades. Her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Steve strode forward, his eyes filled with disbelief mixed with barely suppressed excitement, yet he remained measured and did not approach rashly.
Peggy looked up at him, a familiar smile slowly spreading across her lips.
" Steve... it's me."
The voice was no longer old and hoarse, but clear and gentle, yet the tone and expression remained unchanged.
Just then, a series of cautious knocks came from outside the lab door, accompanied by Tony's hushed shout.
"Hello? Is everything finished inside? Can I come in now? I promise, I've brought spare protective suits and a full set of blackout shields!"
I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Tony, it has to be you. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Steve beats you up later.