Chapter 21: Vision
"I used to trust you so much, but look what you've done! Not only did you cause me to lose a symbol of American spirit, but also my best soldier, all because you fell in love with him!"
In the early morning at the US military barracks, Colonel Phillips scolded Peggy Carter with a pained expression.
Peggy Carter and Howard Stark had taken matters into their own hands, flying Thor and Steve behind enemy lines. This act of defiance had not gone unnoticed, leaving Colonel Phillips both dissatisfied and heartbroken.
Peggy could only defend her actions while glancing toward the barracks gate, her face marked with worry.
"I can't punish Howard because he's extremely wealthy and our primary arms supplier. But you, Peggy, I can hold accountable!"
"I don't regret my actions. I believe he doesn't either. I trust him!" Peggy responded resolutely.
"I hope you'll still trust him when your department is withdrawn!" Phillips slammed the table in frustration.
Just then, a commotion erupted, and Phillips turned to the guard, "What's happening outside?"
"It seems... the captain is back?" the guard replied hesitantly.
…
Amid wild cheers, Steve and Bucky returned to camp with a large group of prisoners.
Despite the disarray and near failure of their mission, they had returned with an array of weapons and had commandeered HYDRA's advanced tanks and armored vehicles.
The soldiers in the barracks gathered eagerly to watch.
"Look! They're back!"
"Captain America rescued our captives! Amazing, and they even brought back a large supply of equipment!"
"Captain, my younger sister wants to have a baby for you!"
"I heard Lieutenant Donald Blake was also part of this rescue. Why don't I see him?"
"It's unbelievable that they succeeded!"
Howard Stark watched with admiration.
"Wait!" Peggy Carter suddenly noticed something, scanning the crowd several times before asking, "Where's Blake?"
A soldier hesitated before answering, "Lieutenant Blake... might be missing..."
This was a rather gentle way of saying that missing, in this case, likely meant...
Peggy's face remained impassive, but her clenched fists revealed her inner turmoil.
"Damn it, didn't you claim you're not ordinary? Prove it to me!"
Colonel Phillips walked over, speechless, and looked at Steve with a conflicted expression, reflecting on the young man who had performed so admirably the previous day.
"Sir, some of our men are seriously injured and need medical attention."
Steve saluted and continued, "I voluntarily accept any punishment for my breach of military discipline."
"No need for that." Colonel Phillips shook his head. As a true soldier, despite the slap in the face, he hoped for more such opportunities.
Turning to Peggy Carter, he quietly added, "I believe in him too."
On the other side, the soldiers began to cheer: "Let's celebrate Captain America!"
"Hooyah..."
Peggy Carter looked at the celebrating soldiers and silently returned to her barracks.
The joys and sorrows of others felt distant to her; the noise was just overwhelming.
"Look, what's that?"
A sharp-eyed soldier pointed toward the distance, where the light had appeared.
A deep blue light filled the sky, stretching like a bridge between heaven and earth, tearing the sky apart.
The previously clear sky began to cloud over, revealing glimpses of the cosmic starry sky, dimming as if it were experiencing a total eclipse.
People were astonished by the celestial phenomenon.
The blue light grew more intense, taking on a purple hue.
"Boom—"
An unprecedented thunderclap echoed across the world, and most of Europe witnessed this awe-inspiring spectacle.
Thunder was once known as "the wrath of God," a meaning that became clear only today.
Lightning burst from the celestial vision, illuminating the darkened sky, and continued for a prolonged period.
As the starry vision and blue light faded, it was as if they had never existed.
A quarter of an hour later, Red Skull slowly awoke, staring dazedly at the glowing Tesseract.