Eternally Missed [ARCHIVED]

April 14, 2012, 10:24PM

After almost ten hours of relative quiet, Alden erupted into activity.

It started with a text to Pierce’s cell: ETA: 5 minutes.

At his word, the technicians began powering up equipment, and the STRIKE and security personnel took their places throughout the building and on the perimeter. Montgomery called out orders to his staff while adjusting the settings on a heated table.

“Alright, we have just over thirty hours to get this done,” he called out. “Cryo techs - you’re up first. SHIELD’s team has been removing as much ice from the body as possible en route. We have confirmation that the subject is viable. Vitals are minimal or nonexistent. As soon as he gets here, I need a quick assessment, and I mean quick. We’ll spot-vaporize any remaining ice, and then get him up to temperature. The second he hits 90, we’ll defibrillate. If his vitals stabilize at 90, we’ll slow the warming process. This is going to be a much more delicate situation than you’re used to, so I need everyone on their toes. As soon as he’s conscious, cryo techs on standby. We’ll clear out non-personnel, then programmers up. I’m personally doing his preliminary neuro exam and prepping him for Stage One. STRIKE at the ready until we’re sure he’s compliant. Everybody understand what you’re doing?”

A chorus of “Yes, sir” throughout the room before Montgomery continued.

“Good. As soon as your area is ready, get some coffee. It’s going to be a long night.”

As if on cue, a tone sounded over the loudspeaker, and a voice came over the PA system.

“Dr. Montgomery, the patient is ready for intake.”

April 14, 2012, 10:32PM

The medics wheeled Rogers’ body in, and transferred it carefully to the warming table. This was Pierce’s first opportunity to get a good look at him. The sight didn’t do much for his faith in Montgomery’s team. He looked nothing like the Asset did coming out of cryostasis. He looked like a corpse - white and bloated, with red patches all over his body. But as soon as they attached a few wireless sensors, the monitors showed signs of latent brain activity, even though the rest of his vitals were flatlined and his core temperature was 33 degrees. The array was one developed especially for the Asset - to detect even the most minute changes during revival from cryostasis. Pierce breathed a sigh of relief. Rogers was indeed viable.

“Sir?”

Pierce turned to see Rumlow hovering in the doorway. He looked irritated.

“Sir, Special Agent Coulson rode over with us. He’d like a word with you.”

Pierce nodded and said to the room at large, “Everyone, we’re going to have guests in the house very shortly. You know the protocol.” Then, turning back to Rumlow, “Take me to him.”

Coulson was seated in a small office off the main lobby. He stood when Pierce entered the room.

“Mr. Secretary,” he said amicably, offering his hand. “I couldn’t get through security.”

“Well,” Pierce laughed. “That won’t do, now, will it? Were you with Rogers the whole way here?”

“Yes, sir. Director Fury explicitly said that I was to remain with Captain Rogers at all times.”

Pierce made an expression he hoped looked sympathetic. “Alden has tight security. It’s STRIKE and medical only back there. We’re on our guard about certain interested parties.”

“Interested parties, sir?”

“Classified.” Pierce said, then offered, “You know how it is.”

“Of course, sir.” He didn’t really seem to be put at ease, but he let it drop nonetheless. “They said they detected vitals? How is that possible? We were expecting to find a corpse.”

Pierce sat down at the desk, and gestured for Coulson to take his seat again. “I don’t really understand the science of it. Dr. Montgomery had a theory that the various chemicals stored on the Valkyrie could have acted as protectants against the extreme cold. Naturally, they would have leaked during the crash. He suspected that those chemicals, combined with a slow freezing rate and Rogers’ natural resistance to cellular damage might have accidentally put him into a cryostasis similar to that of Dr. Montgomery’s own clients.”

“And this Montgomery thinks he can revive Captain Rogers?” asked Coulson, somewhat incredulously.

“He’s done it with other subjects. Granted, they were preserved intentionally. It looks like Rogers has a lot of tissue damage. He may not survive. If that’s the case, he’ll be turned over to the Guest House.”

Pierce got exactly the reaction out of that he’d been hoping for. Coulson visibly blanched.

“Sir, you can’t,” he said. “That project is-”

Raising a hand to silence the agent, Pierce said, “Barbaric, I know. I read your recommendation. But Nick seems to think that it would be worth the risk. I disagree, but the Council overruled me. I was lucky enough to convince them to try Alden first.”

Coulson nodded.

“Well, would you like to see him? I can take you back, but you won’t be able to stay. As soon as they’re ready to resuscitate, even I can’t stay back there.”

“I appreciate your making an exception for me, sir.”

Pierce led Coulson into the bowels of the facility, where the lab was located. The armed guards at the entrance stood aside.

“Dr. Montgomery,” Pierce called as they entered the room. Montgomery looked up warily from his work station. “I’ve brought Agent Coulson to observe. Could you give us an update?”

“Pleasure to meet you, Agent Coulson,” said Montgomery, shaking Coulson’s hand. “Chris Montgomery. I’m the lead neurologist at Alden.”

Coulson nodded politely. “Nice to meet you.”

“Well, as I’m sure you saw, the subject sustained some major damage as a result of the uncontrolled freezing process,” Montgomery said, switching off his monitor and leading Pierce and Coulson to the warming table, where Rogers was now hooked up to life-support, covered in heat-packs, and bathed in red light from the thermal lamps. “But we’ve removed all of the ice, and given him a warm IV and warm oxygen, as well as external warming. You’ll notice the skin damage has cleared up somewhat. This subject obviously heals remarkably quickly. Brain activity is on the rise, but still undetectable by traditional means. His heart and lungs are unable to work on their own at this point, so he’s on a ventilator and bypass in order to deliver the warm oxygen and fluids. I’m optimistic that we will be able to revive him once he reaches a stable temperature, but there’s no telling whether he’ll recover full cognitive function.”

“When will you know for sure?” Coulson asked,

“Difficult to say,” said Montgomery. “We have thirty hours until we have to turn him over to the Guest House team. I don’t expect him to regain consciousness in that amount of time, but there are a few ways around that using various scans to assess how his brain is functioning and predict the most likely outcome. I expect to be working right up to the deadline.”

“And I guess there’s no way to speed that up?” asked Coulson.

Montgomery shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. We’re warming him very quickly now, but once his vitals are restored, we’ll have to slow the warming to prevent rebound hyperthermia. After that, there’s nothing I can do but interpret the scans.”

Pierce’s eyes flicked to the monitors. Rogers’ temperature had already reached 40 degrees, and was rising rapidly - at the rate it was going, he’d be at 90 in the next hour.

“If you’ll both excuse me,” said Montgomery. “I’d like to go over plans for resuscitation with my team one more time.”

“Of course,” Coulson said absently. His eyes were locked on Rogers.

April 14, 2012, 11:28PM

A high tone sounded on the monitoring equipment as Rogers’ temperature reached 80. The techs, who had all taken seats around the room and settled into quiet conversation, abruptly sprang to their feet. Pierce stood from his chair beside Montgomery’s desk, strode over to the table, and laid a hand on Coulson’s shoulder.

“That’s our cue to leave, Agent Coulson,” he said, guiding the man out of the way of two techs who began extubating Rogers.

“When will we be allowed back in?” asked Coulson as they passed through the lab doors into the hall.

Pierce shrugged. “In twenty-nine hours, I guess. They’ll be giving me updates along the way. I can call you when I know something, if you’d like to go get some sleep.”

“Please do,” said Coulson. “Thanks again for being so helpful.”

Lingering in the hall, Pierce watched Coulson make his way through the lobby and out the front doors. As soon as he was out of sight, Pierce beckoned one of the STRIKE operatives near the front desk over.

“Send someone to make sure he doesn’t loop back around. And let Rumlow know that we’ve reached phase two. No one goes in or out.”

“Yes, sir.”