The Strategic Scientific Reserve's underground laboratory was another world.
It was a kingdom of reason, a temple of science.
Lynn knew.
The god enshrined in this temple was about to be created.
"Sorry I'm late."
"I had an idea for an antigravity stabilizer on the way here, and it held me up."
The laboratory's lead door was pushed open.
A man in an expensive suit, his hair slicked and glossy,
and a flashy little mustache above his lip walked in.
He carried a silver briefcase.
A confident smile hung on his face.
Howard Stark.
A man who could change the course of the war with money and intelligence.
He glanced around the room.
His gaze finally settled on Peggy Carter.
"Oh, Agent Carter, that uniform of yours is more lethal than any new weapon I've designed."
Howard walked up to her and gave an exaggerated gentleman's bow.
"Would you care to join me for a drink after we witness a miracle?"
"There's a place where the champagne is as captivating as your eyes."
Peggy Carter paid him no attention and simply turned a page of the document in her hands.
"Mr. Stark, I think the seven minutes you spent being late gave you enough time to run those boring pickup lines through your head. Can we begin now?"
Howard had been rebuffed, but showed no embarrassment.
He shrugged and set the briefcase on the conference table with a smack.
"All right, all right, down to business."
He opened the case.
"The Vita-Rays Amplifier's core components are all calibrated. Energy output is stable at 120%, with a peak of 135%. Enough to turn an elephant into jerky, or... create a god."
He turned to Dr. Erskine, who had been silent the whole time.
Dr. Erskine's eyes were bloodshot.
They held both the excitement of imminent success and a quiet concern about creating something unknown.
"The serum's final formula is complete too."
He took a vial from a portable refrigerated case.
The liquid in the glass vial was a crystalline blue.
It refracted a dreamlike glow under the lights.
It seemed to hold the mysteries of the universe.
Everyone's attention was drawn to that shade of blue.
It was humanity's ambition to challenge God, a stairway for mortals to reach the realm of the gods.
Lynn's gaze lingered on the vial for a second before he looked away.
That's it.
The Super Soldier Serum.
"Doctor."
Howard Stark's expression grew serious.
"Are you sure this dosage is safe? My machine can provide enough energy, but if there's a problem with your formula..."
"There won't be a scrap of Steve Rogers left."
"The formula is perfect."
Dr. Erskine stroked the glass vial as though soothing his own child.
"What truly determines success or failure isn't the formula or the machine, but Steve's heart."
Peggy Carter frowned slightly. She was more concerned with practical matters.
"Doctor, I've gone over the experimental procedure countless times."
"But I need to know the worst-case scenario. If the experiment fails or an uncontrollable mutation occurs, what's our emergency plan?"
"There is no plan."
Dr. Erskine shook his head, a scientist's obsession showing in his eyes.
"It has to succeed."
Lynn looked at the three people, each at the top of their respective fields.
One was an idealist.
One put technology above all else.
One was pragmatic and cautious.
It was time for him, the "consultant," to speak.
"Agent Carter's concern is warranted."
"We're dealing with uncharted territory. I have a suggestion."
He stood up.
"Dr. Erskine's serum is meant to reshape the human body at the genetic level, while Mr. Stark's machine is the key to activating it all."
"My question is, Doctor, once activated, is the serum stable, or is it a one-time effect?"
Lynn looked at Erskine.
"In other words, if Steve succeeds, will his blood still contain serum with the same potency?"
The question left all three of them stunned.
They had all been thinking about how to "create" a super soldier.
None had considered the possibility of "replicating" one.
Dr. Erskine pondered for a moment, then answered with some uncertainty:
"In theory, the serum will fuse completely with the host's DNA and become part of his body. His blood will be active."
"But it would be difficult to create another super soldier. That requires precise catalysis by Vita-Rays; neither can be left out."
"Then what about the backup serum?"
Lynn pressed.
"In case something unexpected happens, there'll be more than this one vial in the lab, won't there?"
Howard Stark whistled and looked Lynn over.
"Mr. Reporter, your questions are even sharper than Agent Carter's."
"That's right, there are backup doses, stored in a maximum-security cryogenic safe. What, are you worried we're putting all our eggs in one basket?"
"I just wanted to make sure we have a chance to try again."
Lynn's expression was perfectly sincere.
"After all, one weapon like Soldier Boy is enough of a headache. We're creating an example, a source of hope, not an army of mass-produced monsters."
Those words aligned perfectly with Erskine's ideals.
The elderly doctor nodded in agreement.
"Lynn is right. This technology must be strictly controlled. After the experiment, all the backup serum will be sealed away, or even... destroyed."
Lynn's eyelid twitched at the word "destroyed."
What a terrible waste!
The atmosphere at the meeting grew friendlier after Lynn's "far-sighted" remarks.
For once, Howard Stark even stopped bothering Peggy and instead began discussing "the paradox of applying energy conservation to superhuman individuals" with Lynn, his interest piqued.
Lynn fielded his questions with a mix of truth and falsehood, using concepts he had picked up from movies and comics along with his own observations of Soldier Boy.
Even that was enough to make the genius Howard nod repeatedly.
He looked ready to regard Lynn as a kindred spirit.
"Hey, Lynn, you're a genius! You damn well ought to come work for my Stark Industries instead of eating sand on the battlefield! I'll pay you three times as much-no, five times!"
"I'll consider it after the war, Mr. Stark."
Peggy Carter watched coolly from the sidelines.
This man named Lynn Morris could always earn people's trust with ease.
Whether it was Dr. Erskine or Steve.
Even someone as conceited as Howard Stark.
He was like a bank of fog: you could see him, but you could never see through him.
The meeting ended.
The experiment was finally scheduled for two days later.
Senior military officers and government officials would attend in person to witness it.
Everyone began to leave.
Dr. Erskine checked the serum's refrigeration unit one last time before heading out with Peggy.
Howard Stark had an arm around Lynn's shoulders and was still enthusiastically inviting him to tour his private plane.
"I'm telling you, I installed my latest autopilot on that thing. We could even sip whiskey at ten thousand meters while..."
Lynn smiled and politely declined.
His gaze passed over Howard's shoulder to the heavy metal door at the very back of the laboratory, where a red warning light glowed.
His target was stored there.
An all-around improvement in strength, speed, endurance, healing, and mental capacity.
This was the ideal enhancement.
"Hey! Lynn? What are you thinking about?"
Howard's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"I was thinking that in two days, we'll change the world."
A meaningful smile appeared on Lynn's face.