Sentimental Journey

03

US TRAINING CAMP

An officer said to other soldiers training, "Ready, exercise!"

"Recruits, attention!" Peggy Carter ordered. "Gentlemen, I'm Agent Carter. I supervise all operations for this division."

"What's with the accent, Queen Victoria?" Gilmore Hodge asked. "Thought I was signing up for the U.S. Army."

"What's your name, soldier?"

"Gilmore Hodge, your Majesty."

"Step forward, Hodge." He stepped forward, smirking. "Put your right foot forward."

"Mmm... We gonna wrassle? 'Cause I got a few moves I know you'll like." He noticed Anneliese in the distance. "I know a few moves the other one'll like, too."

Peggy punched him, knocking him down. Anneliese, who was was walking to the medical tent, watched with wide eyes and a small smile.

Colonel Phillips drove up and called, "Agent Carter."

"Colonel Phillips," Peggy noted.

"I see you're breaking in the candidates. That's good!" He turned to Hodge. "Get your ass up out of that dirt and stand in that line at attention 'til somebody comes tells you what to do."

Hodge got back up. "Yes, sir."

Colonel Phillips addressed the new Army recruits. "General Patton has said that wars are fought with weapons but they are won by men. We are going to win this war because we have the best men..." He saw Steve and continued. "And because they're gonna get better. Much better. The Strategic Scientific Reserve is an Allied effort made up of the best minds in the free world. Our goal is to create the best army in history. But every army starts with one man. At the end of this week we will choose that man. He will be the first in a new breed of super-soldiers."

While Phillips spoke, Steve unpacked and trained where he failed to keep up and got bullied by the others.

Anneliese watched with a wince as her friend kept trying and failing. However, despite knowing she'd have to patch him up, she couldn't help but admire his dedication.

"Rogers!" Sergeant Duffy called. "Get that rifle out of the mud!"

"And they, will personally escort Adolf Hitler to the gates of Hell."

Steve and other trainees ran up to a waiting Peggy and a flagpole.

"Pick up the pace, ladies!" Sergeant Duffy exclaimed. "Double time! Come on! Faster! Faster! Move! Move!" They arrived at the flagpole. "Squad, halt! That flag means we're only at the halfway point. First man to bring it to me gets a ride back with Agent Carter. Move, move!"

"Come on!" the soldiers yelled. "Get up there!"

As the soldiers tried to climb up the pole to no avail, Sergeant Duffy said, "If that's all you got, this army's in trouble! Get up there, Hodge! Come on! Get up there! Nobody's got that flag in 17 years! Now fall back into line! Come on, fall in! Let's go! Get back into formation! Rogers! I said fall in!" Steve pulled a pin from the bottom of the pole, causing it to fall over.

Anneliese smiled proudly at Steve. 'Brains over brawn. Well done.'

Steve, as he gave the flag to Sergeant Duffy, said, "Thank you, sir." He climbed into the car and they drove away.

The soldiers were doing push-ups.

"Faster, ladies!" Peggy ordered. "Come on. My grandmother has more life in her, God rest her soul. Move it!"

Colonel Phillips walked beside Dr. Erskine as he said, "You're not really thinking about picking Rogers, are you?"

"I am more than just thinking about it," Dr. Erskine replied. "He is the clear choice."