One Probe, Two Soldiers

"General Patton once said, 'Wars depend on weapons, but victory depends on soldiers!' We're sure to win this fight because we have the best soldiers!"

"The Strategic Scientific Reserve is made up of an alliance of nations. The elite of the free world have gathered here! Our goal is to build the most powerful army in history! And every army has a leader!"

"After this week, we'll choose that man!"

"He will be the first Super Soldier!"

"And likewise, he'll be the one to personally send Adolf Hitler to hell!"

"..."

After two weeks of recruit training ended, Colonel Phillips finally revealed the selection plan for the "Super Soldier."

Holding Carter's score sheet in hand, he looked at the tall, upright Luke.

This young man from Brooklyn had, as always, performed exceptionally well.

Based on physical fitness and overall results across all training events, he was undeniably the top recruit at the Caspian Training Camp.

This is the Super Soldier the country needs! Colonel Phillips thought with satisfaction.

Then, he caught sight of the scrawny, short Rogers and let out a helpless sigh.

Though the man trained hard and never slacked off, his naturally frail physique made it difficult for him to even qualify as a competent soldier.

"I have no idea what Erskine is thinking!" Colonel Phillips fumed.

He was under pressure from the committee and the watchful eye of the White House.

If the "Super Soldier" didn't meet the military's expectations, his career would be as good as over.

After all, forming the Strategic Scientific Reserve had required massive investments of manpower and resources from every nation.

Now, everyone was waiting for results!

"Super Soldier..."

After the speech ended, the formation disbanded.

Many of the recruits had fiery eyes, muttering that word under their breaths.

"Boss Luke! Your performance is the best among all the recruits—the Super Soldier is definitely yours!"

Back in the barracks, Gilmore Hodge, who'd been chewed out by Carter earlier, spoke with a sycophantic tone.

In the original storyline, he was a minor antagonist, a background character.

He often used his size and strength to bully the frail Rogers for no reason.

But after Luke arrived, things changed.

Hodge, who sought satisfaction by picking on the weak, faced his first major defeat.

On the very first night at the Caspian Training Camp, Hodge—playing the villain—tried to mess with Rogers, only to have Luke shove his head into a toilet.

His supposedly tough fists were nothing against Luke, who'd beaten up thugs, cut down gangsters, and scrubbed houses—a man with a wealth of life experience. It was like a lamb facing a lion, utterly helpless.

From then on, no one in the recruit group dared to mess with the Brooklyn duo.

As for Hodge, who'd been dunked in the toilet, he became Luke's loyal lackey.

He bustled around day and night, calling him "boss," like a total bootlicker!

Luke sometimes wondered if the guy had a masochistic streak, or if his head had taken in water when it was shoved in the toilet.

But later, he figured it out: bullies like Hodge, who prey on the weak and fear the strong, usually believed in the simple logic that "might makes right."

So, this behavior was pretty normal.

In short, Luke felt like he'd unlocked a "soldier king" template, effortlessly dominating the entire Caspian Training Camp without even realizing it.

Not only did Colonel Phillips praise him, but everywhere he went in the camp, he was surrounded by followers.

"Use your head for once: if the criteria for selecting the Super Soldier were training scores and bulging muscles, why wouldn't the military just pick someone straight from the ranks?"

Luke didn't bother being nice to Hodge.

After all, bootlickers end up with nothing!

"Yes, yes, yes! Boss Luke makes a good point!"

Hodge forced a smile while cleaning the barracks.

"Steve, don't lose heart! I think Dr. Erskine has high hopes for you!"

After dismissing the groveling Hodge, Luke walked over to Rogers.

The future Captain America was looking a bit down.

Seeing Luke's stellar performance and comparing it to his own lousy results, he couldn't help feeling glum.

"I never thought I'd become the Super Soldier, but I'm starting to wonder if enlisting was the right choice. Maybe Bucky's right—if there's something you're just not meant to do, giving up takes courage too."

Rogers seemed to have hit rock bottom, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Through these days of training, he had finally realized just how weak he was.

"I don't think so! Dr. Erskine chose you and enlisted you because he saw some quality worth cultivating in you! Confidence is the key to success—don't let a temporary setback defeat you! A character of gold is worth more than strong muscles..."

Luke served up a steaming bowl of heartfelt chicken soup, filling Rogers's eyes with renewed spark and his spirit with fighting drive.

If he kept at it, tossing out a few more motivational quotes from later generations, maybe Captain America would start seeing him as The Mentor.

"So, reading some marketing fluff can actually teach you a thing or two."

Seeing Rogers's mood restored to full vitality, Luke breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, Captain America was a key piece in his plan.

During the two-week recruit training, Luke didn't hold back, showing off his skills and achieving outstanding results.

Naturally, it was all to get the Super Soldier Serum!

But!

He had no intention of putting on the Stars and Stripes uniform and taking over as Captain America!

"Even if I become a super soldier, I'll still end up being used as a mascot by the politicians! I'm not about to go on stage and debut as an idol!"

Luke's thinking was clear.

The military was researching the Super Soldier Serum.

Their real goal was to build an unstoppable army.

That way, they could drive straight into Berlin and end the war.

According to the original story, Dr. Erskine would eventually be assassinated, the only sample destroyed, and the Super Soldier Serum formula lost forever.

As the sole super soldier, Rogers's use on the battlefield was far less valuable to the politicians than selling war bonds as a mascot—that's what they thought.

If Luke took Rogers's place and put on the Stars and Stripes uniform, his fate would probably be about the same.

If he did things differently and saved Dr. Erskine, then super soldiers would be mass-produced.

Luke still wouldn't have any future, because he'd no longer be special.

So, after careful consideration, Luke decided to show his best side, win Colonel Phillips's approval, and put more pressure on Dr. Erskine.

With two suitable candidates, maybe the story would turn out differently.

As dusk fell, Erskine found Luke resting.

The German scientist got straight to the point.

"Colonel Phillips thinks you're the best candidate for the super soldier, Luke. What do you think?"

Feeling the scrutinizing gaze, Luke kept his expression calm and his heartbeat steady.

"What makes a super soldier isn't a strong physique! It's compassion and a sense of awe!"

Luke didn't hesitate, answering decisively.

He could tell Dr. Erskine was testing him.

The person Erskine had in mind was always Rogers.

After the "Red Skull" incident, the German scientist had developed a psychological shadow.

No matter how well Luke performed, it couldn't match the words Rogers had spoken at the recruitment station that moved Erskine himself.

"Then who do you think in the training camp fits that description?"

Erskine pushed up his glasses and asked hesitantly.

"My friend! Steve Rogers! His character is completely trustworthy!"

Luke's eyes were firm, as if that was truly what he believed.

Hearing this satisfying answer, the last trace of doubt in Erskine's eyes vanished without a trace.

He had still harbored reservations about Luke's involvement with the mob and the likelihood that his hands had been stained with blood.

He feared that once Luke became a super soldier, he might lose his humanity like the Red Skull!

Because that was the serum's effect.

It made the good better and the bad worse!

"Excellent!"

Erskine clapped Luke on the shoulder hard, smiling in approval.

He and Colonel Phillips had held completely different views, neither able to convince the other.

But Luke's answer completely dispelled Erskine's doubts.

He said solemnly, "You'll both be super soldiers!"