"Did you check carefully? Steve's alone, right? No guards or anything?" Mercer asked while checking the items inside his briefcase.
"I checked. Johnny's been watching Steve since day one. There's no security around him. Why would they post guards for one recruit inside an army base? That would only make people question the base's security. Steve just finished talking with Dr. Erskine and went back to his room. He's alone, and the hallway is clear."
Mercer gave a slight nod before closing the briefcase.
"Good. Tell Johnny and the other one to stay outside Steve's room. If anyone comes, signal us immediately and keep them away until we're done."
"Don't we need a lab or some kind of big machine to create your fake personality?" the Hydra agent asked, eyeing the single briefcase Mercer carried.
Mercer tapped the briefcase lightly.
"No need. Everything I need is right here."
Without another word, Mercer and the Hydra agent left the room while Johnny and the other Hydra agent headed toward Steve's room first to keep watch.
"Morgan, let's go, go! These guys aren't wasting any time. They've already left. We don't have time to sit around making the perfect plan to stop him. Even if things get messy when we strike, we'll figure it out as we go. Let's move," Emma said anxiously as she watched the live footage of Mercer approaching Steve's room.
Morgan quickly stood up.
"We don't have time to waste."
"It's hero time."
A bright green light flashed for a brief moment before disappearing.
Meanwhile...
Before Mercer entered the room, the Hydra agent looked down the hallway one last time.
"See? There's nobody nearby," he said with a grin before turning to Johnny and the other Hydra agent. "You two stay here. Keep an eye on the hallway. If anyone comes, warn us immediately and don't let them get close to Steve's room."
The two men nodded and took their positions outside.
Knock. Knock.
"Hope I'm not interrupting, Steve," Mercer said with a warm smile as he stepped into the room.
"Dr. Mercer? No, I was just reading a book," Steve replied, closing the book and setting it on the table beside him.
"Oh, Meditations," Mercer said, glancing at the cover. "Didn't expect that."
Steve gave a small smile.
"Yeah. I thought it might help clear my mind. I've been thinking about tomorrow all day."
"I can understand that." Mercer nodded. "Actually, that's why I'm here. There's one last thing we need to do before tomorrow."
Steve looked at him.
"What is it?"
"A small injection. Just a routine precaution before the procedure."
Mercer placed the briefcase on the table and calmly unlocked it. As he spoke, he casually searched through its contents, making sure Steve couldn't see what was inside.
Steve frowned slightly.
"An injection? I talked to Dr. Erskine less than half an hour ago. He didn't mention anything like that."
"He told me after you left," Mercer replied without hesitation. "Since I'm his assistant, I offered to take care of it instead of making him come all the way here. It'll only take a minute."
His hand slowly moved toward a small syringe hidden beneath a folded cloth.
Steve didn't step forward.
"I don't know... Dr. Erskine usually doesn't forget things."
Mercer's smile didn't change.
"I'm sure it just slipped his mind."
"I don't remember asking you to do any such thing, Dr. Mercer."
The calm voice echoed through the room.
Mercer's hand froze.
Dr. Erskine stepped inside, followed by Peggy Carter and a squad of armed soldiers with their rifles already raised.
Unknown to Mercer, Johnny and the Hydra agent waiting outside had already been silently taken down by Peggy's hidden team before they entered, so they had no chance to warn him.
Before the Hydra agent beside Mercer could even reach for his pistol—
Bang!
"Aah!"
The bullet tore through his hand, sending the pistol spinning across the floor. Within seconds, several soldiers rushed forward, forcing him to the ground and pinning his arms behind his back.
The entire room fell silent.
Erskine... Mercer thought quietly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the rifles aimed directly at him.
Peggy never took her eyes off Mercer.
"Steve, get behind us."
Steve quickly moved away as two soldiers stepped in front of him.
"Erskine," Mercer said, staring at the row of guns now pointed at him.
"Get over here, away from him," Peggy said, gun raised, pulling Steve back to safety.
"Surrender, Mercer," Peggy said firmly. "Whatever you were planning, whoever you're working for, it's over. There's nothing more you can do."
For the first time, surprise flashed across Mercer's face. However, there wasn't a trace of fear. He slowly raised his hands.
"May I ask one question?" Mercer said calmly. "How did you know?"
Dr. Erskine looked at him for a long moment before speaking.
"I didn't."
Mercer frowned slightly.
"Choosing Steve wasn't a decision everyone supported. Many people in the military and even some politicians were against it. Because of that, I asked Agent Carter to quietly keep an eye on Steve until Project Rebirth was complete. It was nothing more than a safety precaution."
Peggy continued,
"Your men thought Steve was alone because my team stayed hidden," Peggy said. "The moment they started following Steve, they were already on my watch list. Then tonight, you walked into Steve's room with one of those same men. We were ready. We dealt with your men before they had a chance to warn you."
Erskine slowly shook his head as the soldiers restrained Mercer.
"I never expected you to be the one to strike first, Mercer."
His eyes then fell on the syringe lying on the floor. Erskine bent down, picked it up, and examined the strange liquid inside.
"An injection?" Erskine muttered before looking at Mercer. "What is this? Some kind of drug that causes hallucinations? What were you planning to do with Steve?"
Mercer let out a quiet chuckle.
"Hehe... find out yourself, Goat."
Peggy cracked her knuckles as she stepped forward, a faint smile appearing on her face.
"Leave him to me, Doctor. I'll make sure he tells us everything."
Mercer simply smiled.
Do you really think you've won?
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