Marvel: Genes of Power

Chapter 011: Army

"Hey, kid, what exactly do you plan to do with this Super Soldier Serum?" Howard asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I thought it might be useful," Smair replied, curling his lips in disappointment. "But it turns out it's about as useful as a broken clock." He frowned, annoyed that the serum didn't contain the super soldier genes he was hoping to detect. What a letdown! So much effort, and for what? A glorified placebo?

Now, his focus shifted to Steve Rogers. He knew the skinny soldier-to-be would eventually become Captain America, and when that happened, Smair planned to collect Steve's genes. Surely, they would be far more promising than this supposed "super serum."

"Oh, so you thought this serum might enhance your...abilities? That's quite a stretch, kid," Howard said, shaking his head. "The serum is designed to push the human body to its natural limits, nothing more. And frankly, this project hasn't even yielded a success yet."

Smair rolled his eyes but said nothing. He couldn't reveal the secret of his system to anyone—not Howard, not anyone. It was too vital, too personal. If he could strengthen his body with the super soldier gene, his plans would progress much faster. But for now, all he could do was wait for the project to succeed.

"Uncle Howard," Smair began, his tone firm, "I want to join the army."

Howard froze, staring at the boy as if he had lost his mind. "Join the army? Are you out of your mind? You're just a kid! And do you have any idea how dangerous the military is? No way."

Smair smirked and clarified, "I don't want to join the army—I want to observe someone. Come on, you're Howard Stark! If anyone can pull a few strings, it's you."

Howard's jaw tightened as he caught sight of the faint orange glow on Smair's fingertip. The boy was threatening him—again. Howard sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine. If it's just a visit, I can arrange it. But listen carefully—don't pull any stunts, don't show off, and don't do anything to draw attention. Got it?"

"I'm not stupid," Smair replied, rolling his eyes in contempt.

Howard felt his temper flare. This kid was going to be the death of him.

Thanks to Howard's connections, Smair was granted access to the military camp, even though his presence caused quite a stir. After all, a ten-year-old boy in a place full of soldiers? It was unprecedented.

---

"What do these idiots think our barracks are, a daycare center?" General Philip roared, slamming his hand on the table. He was livid but powerless to change the situation. Howard Stark's influence was no joke. All he could do was assign someone to babysit the kid and pray the barracks didn't explode.

"Agent Carter," he barked, "you're responsible for the boy. Keep him out of trouble, and don't let him near any weapons!"

Peggy Carter saluted, her expression calm. "Yes, sir."

---

When Smair entered the camp, he immediately spotted Steve Rogers, the scrawny young man struggling to keep up with training. Smair could tell from the start that this was the man he needed to watch.

"The commander asked me to take care of you," Peggy said, taking Smair by the hand. "Stay close to me and don't wander off. This is a military base, not a playground. There are dangerous areas everywhere."

Smair turned to Peggy, his gaze lingering on her striking figure in the crisp military uniform. She exuded both elegance and strength, her heroic aura enhanced by her sharp features. No wonder Steve was smitten with her.

"You're beautiful, Miss Peggy," Smair said with a polite smile.

"Thank you for the compliment," Peggy replied, smiling back. She wasn't fazed by his words. Being Howard Stark's adopted son, Smair likely inherited some of Howard's notorious charm.

If Smair could hear her thoughts, he'd protest. It was just a polite remark—nothing more! How did he end up being labeled a flirt?

Steve's training mirrored what Smair remembered from the stories. Despite his determination and grit, Steve's frail body left him struggling. He was always the last to finish, always the one mocked by his peers. But Smair could see the strength of his spirit, even when others dismissed him.

During an obstacle course, one of the trainees, Hodge, kicked over a wooden pile as he passed through, causing Steve to get tangled in the barbed wire. The sharp wires scratched Steve's uniform and left shallow cuts on his back.

Smair's expression darkened as he watched. He had a deep respect for Captain America, and seeing Steve treated this way made his blood boil. Without hesitation, Smair jumped off the nearby jeep he was sitting on and marched straight into the fray.

"Apologize to my friend," Smair demanded coldly, his tone icy.

Hodge, smirking, looked down at the boy in amusement. "What's this? A toddler playing soldier?" he sneered. "Go run home to your mommy, kid, before I teach you a lesson."

*****

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