Chapter 2
Five years later...
"Disappointing," Pierce murmured, stopping in front of one of the chambers. The soldier inside was frozen in a contorted expression of rage. "Highly trained men, reduced to ice storage. So much promise... and yet, a failure."
Dr. Reinhardt adjusted his glasses, maintaining a rigid posture.
"The problem was emotional instability," he explained. "The subjects were exposed to the serum as adults. They had histories, fears, traumas... All of that contributed to a rejection of the treatment and episodes of uncontrollable aggression. Even the most disciplined among them couldn't suppress the primal impulses the serum amplified."
"Kraus," a deep, cutting voice broke the silence of the room. The Superior, General Alexander Pierce, stood there, his oppressive presence filling the space. His eyes bore into Kraus with an intensity that made even the most experienced scientists feel the tension. "How are our experiments with the children?"
Dr. Kraus, who had remained silent until then, lifted his gaze to Pierce, adjusting his glasses in an almost imperceptible motion. He knew that answers couldn't be rushed. HYDRA had too much to lose and did not tolerate failure.
"The first round of experiments was... complicated," he began, his voice measured, trying not to reveal the pressure he felt. "Of the ten infants we implanted, only one survived the effects of genetic modifications and the insemination process. The others suffered severe developmental failures, and most did not survive beyond the first few weeks."
Pierce studied him intently, his penetrating gaze as if dissecting every word, every movement. He didn’t need long-winded explanations.
"And this surviving child?" The question came sharp and direct, like a blade.
Kraus paused, noting the tension in the air, then leaned slightly forward, knowing that the explanation he was about to give would have a significant impact.
“The survivor is... a girl. Different from what we expected. We assumed a male organism would be more compatible with the Winter Soldier's genetic material, but, surprisingly, the only child who endured is female. Her body appears to have uniquely adapted to the genetic combination we used, without rejecting the strongest elements of the Winter Soldier’s genetic material. She is now almost five years old, and although her constitution was initially fragile, she has proven to be more resilient than any of the other test subjects.”
Pierce observed him closely, his expression unreadable, but his gaze carried a dangerous curiosity, as if calculating the child's future.
“So you’re telling me it’s a girl, not a boy...” he repeated, almost as if contemplating the irony of fate. “And you’re certain she’s ready to receive the super-soldier serum Stark developed?”
Kraus nodded without hesitation.
“Yes, sir. Despite her initial fragility, the child has shown a remarkable ability to resist and grow in a controlled manner, without suffering the negative effects that affected the others. What happened to her was a combination of the genetic modifications made using the Winter Soldier’s sperm and the developmental process she underwent under our care. This not only ensured her survival but also granted her unique traits of endurance and strength. At this stage, she is already physically stronger than most children her age.
Now, she is ready to receive the super-soldier serum, which will further enhance her abilities.”
Pierce rose slowly, walking toward one of the laboratory windows, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Her mind is still forming. No traumas, no solid sense of identity. She has nothing to hold onto, nothing tying her to what she was before—because there never was a before. We can shape her completely. Teach control from an early age, create a conditioned response before any instability develops."
He seemed to contemplate the implications of everything he had just heard, as if weighing each word carefully.
"Prepare her for the serum, then," he finally said, his voice unwavering. "If she has the potential to give us what we need, we won’t waste any more time."
Kraus knew exactly what that meant. If she truly was the key to HYDRA’s success, the child would have no choice. She would be molded into a powerful weapon, a central piece in the organization's plan for domination. And with that, her life would be changed forever.