Yours... 'til the End of the Line

Enhanced

I barely slept a wink the night before. I tossed and turned all night in my bed, too anxious to actually get a decent night's sleep. It was four in the morning by the time I decided to get out of bed. Rolling lazily out of the comfort of my sheets, I strode over to my dresser and pulled out a pair of green cargo pants and a white blouse that Dr. Erskine gave me before I left the laboratory yesterday. Sighing, I slipped into the clothes that were much too large for me. I ripped a belt off a skirt that hung in my closet. Sinching it tightly, I secured the pants along my waist and slipped on a pair of brown boots, and sauntered out of my apartment.

Walking down the streets, I sighed heavily rounding the corner to the laboratory. I smiled at the blonde lady at the desk and told her the code phrase before she let me in. My adrenaline was pumping as my boots clunked down the winding halls. My mind was somewhere else, so I let my feet guide the way to the bottom floor.

My breath hitched in my throat as I entered the large room. A viewing area sat just above the room behind large glass windows. Howard Stark, Dr. Erskine, and Peggy stood by a large panel with a lever resting on it, whispering silently to each other. Peggy's brow furrowed as the doctor relayed information to her, but their words didn't reach my ears. Scanning the room, my eyes landed on the large grey pod that sat in the center of the room. I quietly made my way over to the pod. It was ginormous. Much more room than needed to fit my body.

Dr. Erskine informed me of the side effects of the serum. He stated that it could enhance the physical features of my body and make me taller, but I don't think I'm going to grow a whole meter! My fingers brushed against the cool metal, stinging my warm skin. It was like touching ice. An orange hue glowed from within, the blue lights in the room seemed to fade away. This was real.

A warm hand rested on my shoulder, startling me out of my daze. Looking to my right, I saw Howard Stark standing next to me. He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze as if trying to reassure me that I would be fine. I shot him a wavering smile and averted my gaze back to the machine.

Dr. Erskine hobbled over to me, a needle in his hands, and without warning, he stuck it in my arm. I knew it was just penicillin, just in case I needed it. Precautionary measures were always taken. Howard asked if we were ready to begin and I gave him a curt nod. Peggy bounded over to me as I was about to lay down on the machine. Her arms crushed me into her full frame. Shocked, it took a moment for me to register what was happening. I quickly wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her just as tightly. We knew the risks, but now that it was time... we didn't know if I would be walking out of that machine.

As she pulled back, I noticed her hurriedly wipe a stray tear from her cheek. I gave her a gentle smile.

"I'll be fine," I whispered. "I'll be damned if this machine kills me. And if it does... well I'll just come back and haunt Howard."

"I heard that!" Howard hollered over his shoulder as he checked the levels on the machine.

Taking a step away from Peggy, I slid my body into the machine. Howard pressed a few buttons and the doors slowly enclosed around my body before a shield came down to cover my face. I could barely see out of the glass.

"Are we ready, Mr. Stark?" I heard Dr. Erskine ask.

"As we'll ever be!" Howard hollered back.

"I'm trusting you!" I cried as my heart began to race.

The machine began to buzz around me as coils wrapped around my muscles to keep me in place. My eyes flashed from side to side, not being able to look down. Something clicked and I felt a piercing pain course throughout my main muscles. I slowly lost control as ice ran through my veins. I could feel my body vibrating, but it was like I was outside of my own body. The machine shifted, and I could feel myself standing fully upright. I was like a rocket ready to launch.

"Elettra, can you hear me?" Dr. Erskine called from the other side.

"Yes," my voice shook out of my body.

They proceeded forward. The Vita Ray reactors came online as Stark turned the power dial. A groan escaped my lips as the cells in my body began to alter. A ringing filled my ears and I could feel my heart rate pick up. My body was convulsing in the machine as my vision came in and out of focus. The orange light around me began glowing brighter and brighter, blinding me from any view of the outside world.

"SHUT IT DOWN, NOW!" I heard Peggy cry from beyond the machine.

No matter how much pain I was in, I didn't want to stop. I needed to complete this. My eyes snapped open as I cried.

"NO! Keep going!" I groaned. "This was our deal, remember? No matter what happened, we keep going... for the greater good!"

The high-pitched whine that permeated the room grew louder, blocking out any other noise. My body was whirling, and my head was spinning. The last thing I saw was the lights go from orange to white, and then... blackness.

My eyes fluttered open as steam pulled around my body and out into the room like a ghost. Sweat was beading off my skin as the straps around me were ripped away. Without the security, I felt my body fall forward, free, airborne, before crashing into open arms. As the world came into focus, I looked up and saw the doctor smiling, albeit a little sadly.

"Did it work?" I whispered, too tired to free myself from the grasp I was in.

"I believe so," Dr. Erskine reached his hand out and patted my curly hair like a loving grandfather. "Let's get you checked out, huh?"

After checking my vitals and giving me some water, the doctor slowly stood me up from the table. I took note that I was just slightly shorter than the doctor now. My eyes wandered around the room until they landed on Peggy who was staring at me with wide eyes. I cocked a brow at her before slowly maneuvering my eyes over my body. I was taller, that I knew, but my breasts were larger, my hips wider, my butt perkier and toned, along with the newly found definition in my muscles. The definitions weren't highly noticeable, but I now looked like I at least worked out a few times a week.

I smiled broadly up at Peggy. I was definitely enhanced. The belt that rested on my frame, was now snapped along my waist as the once baggy pants hugged my every curve. My shirt was torn just along my breasts. Howard stepped in front of me and held a thick wooden board in front of him. Without thinking, I slammed my fist through the wood. Splinters burst out of the seams, littering the once pristine floor.

I was a super-soldier!