After the mission to rescue the prisoners, Steve and Peggy had spent quite some time alone together. Though neither had voiced their feelings outright, both of them knew. Their hearts had already spoken — the rest was only a matter of time.
So when Steve suddenly blurted out such a bold, romantic line in front of everyone, even the usually composed, sharp-tongued Peggy Carter found herself blushing, her cheeks faintly red.
Chen Mo and Colonel Phillips exchanged knowing smiles, both pleased with what they saw.
Howard, on the other hand, stared at Steve as if he were an alien.
Wait—what?! This shy, awkward kid who used to turn red just saying hello to a girl? When did he become this smooth? What the hell happened while I was gone?
Of course, Howard couldn't possibly know how much effort Steve's teacher had put into this — how Chen Mo had carefully nudged, prodded, and planned for his disciple's "lifelong happiness."
He'd even planted hints ahead of time.
Honestly, if Peggy hadn't asked that question, Chen Mo would've found a way to steer the conversation there himself. Left to their own devices, those two might still be politely dancing around each other ten years later.
Chen Mo couldn't help but feel proud — his boy was growing up.
Steve's simple, heartfelt words had flustered Peggy, but the moment she lifted her eyes again, her expression softened. She looked at him with warmth — eyes shimmering with tenderness and affection.
Chen Mo nodded inwardly. Perfect.
Soon after, Peggy underwent her serum enhancement.
The new, improved formula was far less extreme than the original — no Vita-ray exposure, no glowing chambers. Just a simple injection followed by a surge of transformation. The pain was still intense, but bearable for anyone with a strong will. (Howard Stark, naturally, didn't qualify.)
Peggy gritted her teeth through the process, refusing to cry out once.
When it was over, drenched in sweat, she slowly sat up — and Steve immediately stepped forward to support her.
She shot him an exasperated glare, half annoyed, half shy, but didn't push him away.
Her transformation was remarkable. Her physique had become leaner, her posture more graceful yet powerful. Her muscles were firm and defined, but not bulky — the perfect blend of strength and elegance. She looked every inch a warrior — fierce, poised, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Peggy glanced down at herself, then back at Steve with a teasing smile.
"Sorry to disappoint you," she said lightly.
Steve stood there like a stunned teenager, unable to form words.
Rolling her eyes, Peggy gently pulled free of his grasp and walked back to her quarters to change. Yet the faint upward curve of her lips betrayed her happiness.
Chen Mo shook his head, sighing inwardly. Too soon. I thought I'd made progress, but this idiot still has a long way to go before he figures out women.
After Peggy's successful enhancement, Chen Mo didn't allow Colonel Phillips to undergo the same process — at least, not yet.
Just like Dr. Erskine, the colonel was no longer young, and the serum worked differently on older subjects. It could dramatically rejuvenate their appearance, reverting them to their physical prime. If Phillips suddenly looked forty years younger, it would raise far too many questions.
"You can take it after you retire," Chen Mo advised. "Then you can quietly oversee things from the shadows — stay on as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director."
Phillips scowled.
"So I'll never get to retire?"
"I'm afraid not," Chen Mo replied evenly. "For the next few decades, you might want to put that idea aside."
The colonel's glare could've cut through steel. He'd dreamed of retiring peacefully, maybe buying a cabin by a lake — and now this damned kid had just canceled those plans.
Still, the thought of becoming younger again wasn't all bad.
He grumbled under his breath, "Guess I'll wait. Damn brat."
Chen Mo wisely shifted the topic.
He explained that the serum didn't grant true immortality, but it significantly slowed aging and enhanced cell vitality.
Enhanced individuals could even survive long-term cryogenic freezing — effectively suspending their lifespan.
His plan was simple: once all of them were enhanced, they could each "die" in public at the right time, vanish into secrecy, and enter cryosleep. One person would remain awake at a time to oversee S.H.I.E.L.D., rotating every few decades.
Phillips found the idea brilliant. After all, even after retirement, he'd need to fake his death before undergoing enhancement. The others would face the same issue eventually — two or three decades from now, their unaging faces would force them to disappear.
By rotating in and out of cryosleep, they could maintain S.H.I.E.L.D.'s integrity indefinitely.
There would always be someone from the founding circle awake — ensuring that the organization never strayed from its mission of peace.
Of course, Steve and Peggy were to be one rotation — no one was cruel enough to split up the lovebirds.
To the outside world, none of this was known.
All the public saw was that Captain America, alongside the mysterious Special Forces Commander, had heroically infiltrated a Hydra base, rescued over a hundred Allied soldiers, and obliterated the installation.
The Strategic Scientific Reserve took the opportunity to officially recall Steve, integrating him into the special task force.
Since Steve was technically already part of the SSR — temporarily reassigned by Senator Brand — they had full authority to bring him back.
And after his exploits on the battlefield, it was the natural next step.
Sending him back to wave flags and dance on stage would've been unthinkable now — not for the military, not for the public.
Senator Brand, of course, wasn't happy.
It felt like raising a duck only to have someone else take it once it learned to fly.
Still, he had gained plenty from Steve's fame — war bond sales had skyrocketed, and his political capital had never been higher. He could afford to let go.
After all, this "duck" had become an eagle.
Steve officially joined the special task force.
The surviving soldiers of the 107th Regiment, having fought bravely during the Hydra raid, were also absorbed into the unit. Their morale was soaring, their loyalty unquestionable — especially toward Chen Mo and Steve.
Under Phillips's coordination, they were reorganized as a new elite combat squad under Steve's direct command.
And so, Captain America became the leader of his own team — a band of hardened veterans, bonded by fire and courage.
He gave them a name that would echo through history.
The Howling Commandos.