May 1944
South Poland, Allied Territory
Clark was carrying a large net filled with fish on his back that he got from a recent fishing trip in the Adriatic. Thanks to his super speed, he was able to make the 700-mile trip from South Poland to the Adriatic sea in about half an hour so one hour round trip. The fishing was necessary to aid in the supplies for the Allies especially when Clark and his team returned from Auschwitz with all the freed prisoners and Camp personnel that they now needed to house and feed. A bit of a logistical problem. Housing, caring, and feeding for all the freed POWS and civilians was a monumental task in of itself especially considering the condition many of them were in. Army doctors were quick to get assistance from local doctors in the towns and cities they liberated and even requested additional medics and medical supplies from Allied Command. Thankfully, Clark's fishing trip was one of many so food wasn't as big of an issue for the influx of people in their growing civilian encampment which he also built. Super speed and super strength allowed him to cut down trees from nearby forests and woods to build shelters for everyone in record time. Clark's team helped where they could and those from the camp who were in better physical condition assisted as well. The MPs took all the German camp personnel, soldiers, doctors, and camp commandant Rudolf Höss into custody with the latter immediately transferred to a maximum-security prison camp because of what Taskforce Vanguard said happened at the camp.
Unfortunately, Dachau and Auschwitz weren't isolated incidents with Allied and Soviet reports of similar camps found in German-occupied territory. Each camp had their horror stories and none of them had happy endings until the camps were liberated and even then what was done to the people there and the lives that were lost made even the most stoic and hardened veterans of this war balk at the sheer brutality and inhumane nature of Hitler's Nazi Germany. All the camp personnel would be put on trial and brought to justice but the lives ruined and destroyed would take a long time to get back to some sense of normalcy. With the war a lot of people were displaced from their homes and returning them to said homes would be another monumental task and logistical nightmare. For the time being the Allied priority was winning the war and safeguarding people so relocation efforts would have to wait but they were safe and being looked after. It was a start.
Clark walked over to the mess tent in the civilian camp and dropped off the large net of fish. You'd think that everyone would be surprised by how much he caught and carried into camp but they were used to it by now. Everyone in the kitchen quickly got to work in sorting through the fish before scaling and gutting them to be cooked. Fish soup, roasted fish, fried fish, or pickled fish could get repetitive but the cooks did their best aided by additional supplies that the army could give them. Clark's habit of fishing or hunting for the camp helped Army logistics as it helped alleviate the stress of getting so much additional food and supplies to feed the large number of civilians. One downside with getting so much food is that he had only limited places to get them. Nearby farms could only grow so much food so fast and hunting on the scale he would need would likely wipe out local species so fishing it was.
Clark carried over a large pot for soup and saw Erik and his mother, Magda, working together in the kitchen. Magda was looking better since her time at the camp and was getting stronger every day, helped in large part because she and Erik were safe and together again. Erik was helping her scale and gut the fish to later smoke over the fire, which they would do with some of their catch every time as a measure to help stretch their food and not to waste what they had. Erik and Magda saw Clark so they smiled and waved and he waved back. When they got safely behind Allied lines, Clark kept an eye on Erik and his mother to make sure they were ok, like all the other rescued civilians and POWs but especially Erik because of what he saw. Logan confirmed it to Clark and they both saw the same thing. Erik saved everyone from those grenades with a wave of his hand so they exploded at a safe enough distance. It's possible he had telekinetic powers or something else but either way, Erik had abilities. He was special like Logan was. Erik was lucky to still have his mother but with everything he experienced at that camp Clark wanted to keep a closer eye on him. Perhaps it was the fact that they were kindred spirits in a way but knowing what it was like to grow up feeling different with powers you didn't exactly understand, Clark knew that having someone there to help you learn your abilities and how to control them was a positive influence. His parents were that to him so perhaps Clark could do the same. His dad did mention being able to inspire others so perhaps this was one such moment for inspiration. He even began thinking of ways to help post-war though in what form that took remained to be seen.
"Captain Elbert!" Erik excitedly called out to Clark as he held up large skewers of gutted fish. "You have to start the fire now."
"Well, then let's not waste any time." Clark ruffled Erik's hair before he walked over to a large firepit dug out near the kitchen. It was filled with wood so Clark gave it a quick blast of his heat vision to start the fire. Some fish was put on to roast like the ones Erik was holding but the ones to be smoked would be put on later after the fire had died down a bit. Along with the fish the cooks put on bread dough to bake along with wild vegetables they foraged for. Erik slowly turned the large skewer of fish when it got too hot to handle so Clark took over. "I got it. I'm also fire proof. See."
Clark put his hand directly in the fire to Erik's amazement but quickly pulled it back to avoid burning the fish. Seeing his happy face along with the happiness of everyone else did much to reassure Clark with his recent crisis of faith. This moment here…people safe and sound and the bad people stopped…this is what it was all about. So long as he never lost faith in people then he would make sure that they would never lost faith in him.
"Captain Elbert!" Clark turned around and saw an army runner rush over to him. "Captain Elbert. You're needed in the communications tent. You have a message direct from Colonel Phillips."
"Understood." Clark handed the skewer back to Erik and ruffled his hair. "Try not to burn the fish. We don't want your mother upset."
Erik chuckled in amusement before Clark got up and followed the runner back over to the Army command camp and entered a communications tent where he saw Richard Webb operating a radio with Arthur Kingsley next to him, both of whom had concerned looks on their faces. "Colonel Phillips, sir." Webb handed him the headset and radio receiver.
"Colonel Phillips, this is Captain Elbert." Clark spoke as Webb cleared up the signal a bit.
"Elbert, good to hear from you."
"You too, sir. What's wrong?"
"We need you and your team back in London as soon as possible. Captain Roger's team just radioed and they have Arnim Zola in custody. They're on their way back as we speak. We're one final nail in the coffin away from ending Hydra."
"That's great, sir. How'd they get Dr. Zola?"
"We intercepted chatter that he was being transported on a Hydra train so the Commando's planned an intercept. They got Zola but…the mission wasn't perfect. We lost Barnes. He's KIA."
Clark realized that's why Arthur and Richard were so concerned. Colonel Phillips must have told them about Sergeant Barnes. They all knew him well so his lost was felt but it only made Clark wonder how Steve was handling the lost of his best friend.
"We'll be there as soon as possible, sir." Clark radioed back.
One week later…
SSR Headquarters London, England
The door opened to an interrogation room and Dr. Zola was escorted in by an MP. He was given his glasses before the door was shut and he was left alone. Zola put his glasses back on and looked around the room when he saw a gurney against the far wall and saw drops of blood on the floor. Before he could think of what would happen, the door to the room opened and in walked Colonel Phillips with Clark at his side. Dr. Zola swallowed the lump his throat and felt his stomach drop but kept on as brave of a face as possible. He had heard so many tales of the Superman but now being in a room with him made him feel as scared as a little mouse staring down a large lion and there was no thorn to help him here. Colonel Phillips had a tray in his hand which he put down on the table.
"Sit down." Colonel Phillips told him. On the tray was a plate with a small steak, broccoli, potatoes, and a glass of milk. Zola sat down as Colonel Phillips turned the tray around before pushing it towards him.
"What is this?"
"Steak."
"What is in it?" Zola wondered.
"Cow." Phillips replied before he sat down but Clark remained standing next to him. "Doctor, do you realize how difficult it is to get ahold of a prime cute like that out here?"
"I don't eat meat." Zola replied.
"Why not?"
"It disagrees with me."
"How about cyanide? Does that give you the rumbly tummy, too?" Phillips wondered before pulling the tray to him so he could eat. If Zola wasn't he might as well. "Every Hydra agent that we've tried to take alive has crunched a little pill before we can stop him. Some are less successful than others, especially when Captain Elbert is able to get to them. He knocks them right out before they can do anything. Even still, they try to kill themselves so they can't be forced to say anything…except for you. So, here's my brilliant theory. You want to live."
You're trying to intimidate me, Colonel and it's not working." Zola said with pride.
"I bought you dinner." Phillips gestured to the steak he was eating. "And if I really were trying to intimidate you I would leave you here alone with Captain Elbert. I saw you swallow the lump in your throat when you saw him enter and the trickle of sweat running down the side of your head when he stared you down. Now, Captain Elbert is one of the most honorable men I've had the privilege of knowing but I think it's fair to say that during the course of the war that zeal has been challenged. He recently liberated a prison camp in Poland that left a very bad taste in his mouth regarding this war and what Germany has done. How are you feeling, Captain Elbert?"
"I'm getting there, Colonel but I'm starting to feel what I felt back at the camp again." Clark grabbed the side of the table with his right hand, crumpling the steel as if it were made of tissue paper. Dr. Zola leaned back and gulped as Clark's eyes began glowing red.
"That, Dr. Zola, is intimidation." Colonel Phillips remarked before he removed a piece of paper from inside his jacket and slid it over to the doctor.
Dr. Zola tentatively reached out and took a look at its contents. "Given the valuable information he has provided and in exchange for his full cooperation, Dr. Zola is being remanded to Switzerland?"
"I sent that message to Washington this morning, of course it was encoded. You guys haven't broken those codes, have you? That would be awkward." Colonel Phillips quipped while he continued eating his steak dinner.
Dr. Zola kept a brave face when he looked at Colonel Phillips and in spite of Clark's glowing red eyes. "Schmidt will know this is a lie."
"He's going to kill you anyway, Doc. You're a liability. You know more about Schmidt than anyone. And the last guy you cost us was Captain Rogers' closest friend, so I wouldn't count on the very best of protection. What about you, Captain Elbert? Feeling particularly protective today?" Colonel Phillips asked him.
"For a Hydra Scientists? Not at all." Clark answered.
"There's your offer, Zola. It's you…or Schmidt. It's just the hand you've been dealt. My offer expires when I'm done with my meal." Colonel Phillips took another bite of his steak and was about a few bites from finishing.
Dr. Zola was played, he knew it and he had no choice but instead of giving the Colonel and Clark the satisfaction of seeing him defeated he kept a brave face. Even if he must suffer the indignity of surrendering, he would not let them see him falter. So, as he sat there in his chair staring down Colonel Phillips and the Superman, Zola kept a smug visage. "Schmidt believes he walks in the footsteps of the gods. Only the world itself will satisfy him."
"You do realize that nuts, don't you?" Phillips asked.
"The sanity of the plan is of no consequence." Zola answered.
"And why is that?" Clark wondered.
"Because he can do it!"
"What's his target?" Phillips asked.
"His target…is everywhere." Zola then glanced up at Clark who's eyes stopped glowing red. "And you cannot stop him. Schmidt is well aware your unique abilities…and of your weaknesses. Who would have thought that a mere stone could bring the great Superman to his knees? How amusing."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Clark replied.
"Come now, Captain Elbert. There is no use in lying. I have it on very good authority that I'm right. If not, it would have made my recent work with Kryptonite such a waste." Dr. Zola remarked. Colonel Phillips spared a glance to Clark who remained stoic and stone face. "A very unique substance with an energy unlike any I've ever seen and it's uses…well, who knew that Kryptonite would make such an efficient power source."
In the blink of an eye Clark grabbed Zola by the neck and held him up in the air over the table. Immediately Zola's visage of bravado was replaced with fear and likely some urine trickling down his pant's leg. Colonel Phillips was undeterred and kept enjoying his meal. "Where did you get the Kryptonite?" Clark asked.
"A friend…a friend of Schmidt's…" Zola gasped as he struggled in Clark's grasp.
"Vandal Savage?" Clark asked and Zola nodded as fast as he could move his head. "So, he really is alive. What are you doing with the Kryptonite?"
"Savage…[Gasps]…wanted Von List and I…[Gasps]…to build something…for you…" Zola managed to utter in between gasping for air and struggling to control his bladder. He already wet himself but he didn't want to add a number 2 to his number 1.
"Doctor Ulrich Vogel? He's working with you and Schmidt?" Clark questioned and Zola nodded which answered the question he had regarding Projekt Endstation. "It was Savage. He spoke with Von List and gave him the warning to pack up his lab in Poland. Where did he go?"
"Savage…brought him to Schmidt's base. He…and all his weapons are there…" Zola gasped before Clark let him go. Zola fell to the ground, grabbing his neck in pain as he struggled to catch his breath. Colonel Phillips sat there having finished his meal and enjoyed it along with the free entertainment. He wiped his mouth with the napkin before standing up.
"Where is Schmidt's base?" Colonel Phillips asked him.
"Switzerland. The Alps…500 feet below the surface." Zola muttered. Getting enough for now, Colonel Phillips left the interrogation room with Clark and waiting outside for them were some MPs alongside Howard Stark and Agent Peggy Carter.
"Please escort the good doctor back to his cell and watch him carefully. He's a coward but cowards can often be surprising." Colonel Phillips told the MPs and they nodded before walking into the interrogation room to secure him.
"Well, that was an effective interrogation." Howard remarked.
"Zola put on a brave face but he was terrified. A little nudge in the right direction and he sang like a canary. Unfortunately, what he sang isn't what I wanted to hear." Clark admitted.
"With Vandal Savage working with Schmidt he would know that you would be a big thorn in his plan so he planned accordingly. Now not only do you have Hydra's energy weapons to deal with but those metal monstrosities with the meteor rocks that can hurt you. I'm not liking your odds." Peggy said.
"Everything we've faced from Schmidt and Savage hasn't been pretty or easy. An animal is never more dangerous than when it's cornered and right now Schmidt is cornered if Zola's remark about his plan was anything to go by. Walking in the footsteps of the gods is ridiculous but Schmidt is just mad enough to make someone like Zola believe it then we could be in trouble. Time is of the essence. With Zola rattled, he'll be easier to interrogate. Agent Carter and I will resume that in his prison cell. He'll be more amendable there. Stark, get all the information we have on Hydra's weapons and work with our analysts on what we could expect." Colonel Phillips ordered.
"What about me, Sir?" Clark wondered.
"You, Elbert? Rest up. We're gonna need you sharp." Colonel Phillips pat him on the arm before walking away and Peggy joined him.
Clark and Howard walked away in the other direction with the latter noticing something. "Hey, Kal. Everything ok between you and Peggy?"
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is how is my favorite power couple doing? I've noticed that things between you two began to change ever since you were recovering from your cold and super-powered nose." Howard pointed out. "And don't try and deny it. I have eyes that work and I know the dilemmas of a relationship better than anyone so I know that something is different. Just now you two were barely looking at one another and you didn't even give her a second glance when she walked away and I've noticed that you didn't send each other correspondence. Peggy's been all seriousness and strict business since then and even when word spread that you were returning that didn't change."
"Don't you find it odd how involved you are with a relationship that isn't yours? Maybe that should tell you something." Clark told him as he continued walking through the SSR base with Howard right behind him.
"Yes, it does but we're not focused on my love life, it's yours. Kal, come on." Howard got Clark to stop so they could talk. "Seriously, is something going on between you two?"
Clark saw that Howard wasn't going to let this go so he had to bite the bullet. "Things with Peggy and I are over. We talked it over and we went our separate ways."
"What?" Howard looked crestfallen, like his relationship was over. "Why? What happened? You and Peggy were so great together."
"Yeah, we thought so too. I guess with everything going on and the more time we spent apart we realized that it didn't make the moments we were together much better. Things were great in the beginning but as time went on…I don't know…they just changed. Like we were only together because the war pushed us together. If it ends tomorrow…what are we?" Clark told him. "Peggy's an amazing woman but I can't help how I feel. Is that crazy?"
"Maybe considering it's Peggy but you can't help how you feel. I'm just surprised she didn't try to kill you." Howard remarked.
"Peggy and I can keep things professional. Who knows, maybe we'll reconnect in the future but right now, all I can say is that it's not the right time." Clark admitted and Howard gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Kal, really, I am. I was really rooting for you two and I think everyone else was. To be honest, you two were better than any relationship I ever had." Howard admitted.
"I know." Clark quipped and Howard chuckled in amusement.
"And even though you screwed things up with an amazing woman like Peggy who you will likely never find again…" Howard was about to go on a little bit more to mess with him but when he saw the glare Clark sent his way he changed his mind and got compassionate. "…you can't help how you feel and make yourself feel someway about someone that you don't. I don't have a lot of experience with relationships but I've heard that a lot of it is just timing so who knows? Maybe things with you and Peggy will work out in the future or maybe they won't. Whatever happens, I know you'll find someone right for you."
Clark was genuinely touched by how heartfelt Howard was being. "Wow, Howard…that was surprisingly sweet of you."
"I have my moments." Howard replied when he noticed they kept walking but he had no idea where Clark was going. "So, where are you going?
"I'm gonna go find Steve. He could use someone right now." Clark said and Howard nodded.
"Try a bar. After something like this, it'll likely be his first stop." Howard suggested.
"Thanks, Howard." Clark gave him an appreciated nod and Howard patted Clark on the arm before walking away. Clark kept his usual stoic face but internally he was patting himself on the back for a job well done in selling what just happened. Howard was right that Clark and Peggy's relationship seemed different because that's what the two wanted him and everyone else to think. When Clark got his cold and was recovering in bed with time alone with his thoughts he had time to think about what life with Peggy would be like when the war was over, he realized that she was with his Superman identity. He planned on going back to being Clark Kent when this war was over and wanted Peggy to be in his life, to meet his mother, see his home in Smallville, and eventually get married but she couldn't do that if she was with the Superman. So, they came up with a plan to end her relationship with Kalvin Elbert that way in the future she and Clark could be together. Clearly the ruse was working if Howard noticed it and soon enough Howard being Howard would likely spread word around the SSR so everyone would know. Clark did feel a little bad about lying to his friend but it was his burden to bare.
Clark focused back on the task at hand to find Steve. He changed into a normal military uniform so he didn't draw any unwanted attention. With everything going on, he didn't need to see Steve as Superman but as Clark Kent. Well, Kalvin Elbert but same thing.
After some time spent scouring the city, Clark finally found Steve in a small non-descript pub a few miles from the base. A place where only locals would go and where someone could go to get a drink in peace. A departure from the usual vibrance and boisterous laughter of fun-times had in the usual pub the Commandos or Taskforce Vanguard had frequented. Clark walked in to see there was one person behind the bar but since there were only four people in said bar and one was Steve then one person working was enough. Steve was the only one sitting at a table with the other three occupants sitting at the bar. They were drinking beer while Steve was nursing a glass of whiskey with its bottle nearly empty. Clark walked over and when Steve saw him he sniffled and wiped his nose before he straightened up a bit.
"Dr. Erskine said that the serum wouldn't just affect my muscles, it would affect my cells. Create a protective system of regeneration and healing. Which means…I can't get drunk. I've never been more angry about that then right now." Steve poured himself another glass before he downed it in one gulp. To his disappointment nothing changed and he could still feel clearly.
"Yeah, I think we learned that when Lucas had us drinking and everyone placed bets on us." Clark pulled out a chair and sat down across from Steve. He picked up the bottle of whiskey and poured Steve another glass. "It wasn't your fault."
"Did you read the report?"
"I did."
"Then you know that's not true."
"Steve, you did everything you could in that situation. What happened isn't on you." Clark told him.
"It sure feels like it." Steve muttered. Having gone through his own crisis of faith recently, Clark had an idea on what to say to help him.
"Let me ask you something, Steve. Did you trust, Bucky? You respected him and his decisions, right?" Clark asked and while Steve didn't answer, it was yes to all. "We all have a choice, Steve. Whether we're super soldiers or not, Barnes knew that too. He chose to follow you as did everyone else on your team, same with mine. They all know the risks. It doesn't make it any easier when we lose them, especially with what we can do. We feel like we can save everyone but we can't. But we have to respect their choices and honor who they were and what they did. Barnes believed in you to fight by your side all this time because he believed in you like I do. And I know he or anyone else wouldn't have it any other way."
"I'm going after Schmidt. I'm not gonna stop until all of Hydra is dead or captured." Steve declared.
"You're not going to be alone." Clark promised before he signaled to the bartender who brought him over a glass. Clark poured himself a cup and despite it not doing anything for him like Steve he decided to share a drink. He raised his glass up and Steve did the same.
"To Bucky."
"To Bucky."
Steve clinked his glass with Clark's and they gulped them down. Steve lost a brother but he would be avenged.
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