Chapter 019: Consequences
Pain.
Excruciating pain.
With a sharp, stabbing sensation, Mason slowly opened his eyes. Everything was white. He felt incredibly parched, his lips moved slightly but no sound emerged.
Mason struggled to lift his head and survey his surroundings, finding himself in a hospital recovery room. He reached out to brace against the bed frame, trying to sit up, but felt sharp pain in his wrist. Looking down, he saw cold steel—handcuffs.
"What the hell?" he thought in alarm. Just then, he heard a heated argument filtering through the slightly ajar door.
"Dr. Erskine, please calm yourself!" Colonel Phillips' voice carried through the gap.
"The Super Soldier candidate has been changed to Hodge. It's official. This is the result of extensive deliberation by the oversight committee. Your personal preference cannot override their decision!"
"But why? Didn't you assure me before that everyone agreed Mason was the ideal candidate? You witnessed yesterday's attack. He fought valiantly to protect me. Isn't that the best proof of his character?" Dr. Erskine argued passionately.
"But he killed Clemson."
"Clemson was a Hydra operative."
"No, he wasn't! I personally had agents investigate all night, and we found zero evidence proving he was a Hydra agent. So Mason killed an innocent man."
"Clemson was a close associate of Senator Brandt. After the incident, Senator Brandt was furious, and influenced by him, other senators who'd previously supported our selection reversed their positions and backed Hodge instead."
"That's impossible! Mason and Clemson were strangers. If Clemson wasn't a Hydra operative, why would Mason attack unprovoked?" Dr. Erskine was clearly agitated, unable to accept that Hodge was now the candidate.
"This appears to be acute combat stress disorder, common in military personnel. Many soldiers, after experiencing traumatic events, cannot regain rational thinking immediately. Under the influence of this psychological state, they'll perceive allies as hostile threats and attack them."
"Mason clearly experienced this condition!" Colonel Phillips concluded.
"Listen to me, Chester—we cannot select Hodge. He's a bully at his core. Once injected with the Super Soldier Serum, the worst aspects of his personality will be amplified exponentially. Believe me, he won't become a hero—he'll become a monster!"
"Professor, this is wartime. What we need are weapons!" Colonel Phillips said, enunciating each word.
"Even if we don't choose Mason, Steve Rogers is far more suitable than Hodge!"
"It's futile, Abraham. The committee may have tolerated your unilateral decision once, but they won't permit it a second time!"
"I would rather terminate the experiment entirely than create another tyrant! Last time, my weakness created Schmidt and birthed Hydra. This time, I refuse to compromise!" Dr. Erskine said with steel in his voice.
Silence fell in the corridor. After a long moment, Colonel Phillips replied grimly, "Dr. Erskine, this experiment is no longer solely your project. The Allied powers have invested astronomical resources and manpower. They'll go berserk if they don't see results! Believe me, if you withdraw from the program, Mason won't even survive his hospital stay..."
"They won't let him walk out of here alive!"
A prolonged silence followed.
"...Alright."
Dr. Erskine replied with a strained voice. Even through the door, Mason could almost feel the crushing defeat emanating from the professor.
This once-idealistic scientist had completely lost faith in the political establishment.
"The procedure will officially commence in three days. Rest up during this period. More than half the congressional committee will be present. The situation on the front lines is critical, and the Allies desperately need a game-changer!" Colonel Phillips clapped Dr. Erskine on the shoulder, offered perfunctory comfort, then turned to leave.
Dr. Erskine pushed open the door and found Mason struggling to sit upright. "You heard everything? I'm sorry, Mason—I couldn't preserve your selection as the Super Soldier candidate."
"But you saved my life!"
Mason smiled, replying casually. Hearing his words, Dr. Erskine managed a weary smile. "I'm more convinced than ever that you're the ideal candidate!"
Mason struggled to sit up, his wounds causing him to wince. Strangely, he distinctly remembered being shot in the thigh during the attack, but judging from his current condition, the injury didn't seem catastrophic.
Sensing Mason's confusion, Dr. Erskine retrieved two syringes from his briefcase.
"This is an unexpected breakthrough I achieved while developing the Super Soldier Serum." Erskine placed the syringes in Mason's hand. "They accelerate cellular regeneration, dramatically enhancing the body's metabolic processes. Administering these will heal your gunshot wounds rapidly!"
"Holy shit!" This was practically miracle medicine! Mason couldn't help but gasp. This could be a lifesaver in a critical situation.
The syringes were about thumb-sized, constructed entirely of metal. To use them, simply press and twist with your thumb, and the compound inside would inject directly into your bloodstream.
"Doctor, do you have more? Could you spare a couple extra?" The MCU is way too dangerous—having these is like having extra lives.
Dr. Erskine shook his head. "This compound is derived from the Super Soldier Serum formula, and its value rivals the serum itself. Mass production is impossible. These two are the only remaining samples."
Mason wasn't disappointed. He quickly refocused on the critical issue. "Doctor, don't worry about me. We absolutely cannot create another monster like Schmidt!" He was serious—if Steve couldn't become Captain America, who would receive his shield?
"Would finding evidence that Clemson was a Hydra operative be sufficient to get the senators to reverse their decision?" Mason didn't immediately use the healing serum but carefully secured it.
"It's pointless. These politicians were already resentful of my selecting you for the program. This incident merely provided them a convenient excuse." Hearing this, Mason was about to speak when Dr. Erskine waved him off.
"Focus on recovery. Leave the Super Soldier matter to me. Don't worry—I will never surrender my life's work to these bureaucrats, nor will I create another abomination like Schmidt."
Seeing Dr. Erskine's unwavering determination, Mason's mind raced, but he said nothing further. Three days remained. In those three days, he had to find a solution—otherwise, once Hodge became Captain America, his mission would be an absolute failure.
Dr. Erskine offered a few more words of encouragement and explained the proper administration protocol for the healing compound before turning to leave.
Only then did Mason remember the bright red warning he'd seen flash across his arm tattoo before losing consciousness.