Marvel: The Gene Collector

General Philip found himself in an excruciating situation, facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge posed by the young man before him. He couldn't believe what he was witnessing. Was this a threat to his very life? His incredulous gaze was fixed on Alex, who appeared to possess a knack for political maneuvering with his eyes wide open.

It felt as if Philip was on the verge of bursting into anger. This situation had the potential to escalate into a major issue, and yet, Alex seemed unfazed. To make matters worse, Hodge, the troublemaker responsible for this predicament, had the audacity to lay hands on Alex. Philip couldn't help but think that Hodge's actions were nothing short of foolish.

In his frustration, Philip couldn't help but think that Hodge deserved to be dickless, a sentiment he would never voice out loud.

However, as Alex had pointed out, reporting this incident and leveraging Stark Industries' influence could spell significant trouble for Philip. He might even end up facing disciplinary action or being demoted.

Philip found himself in a dilemma. What course of action should he take in dealing with this troublesome young man? As a stern military leader, losing face in front of a group of recruits was something he couldn't easily accept.

Gathering his resolve, Philip took a few steps forward, approaching Alex, and spoke in hushed tones, "Young man, let's put this incident behind us. Consider it a favor owed to you."

Peggy, who had been observing the situation, couldn't help but wear a bemused expression upon hearing Philip's unexpected conciliatory tone. It seemed that the young man had managed to subdue the unyielding general.

Alex, on the other hand, had only intended to intimidate Philip and was not keen on prolonging the conflict. Therefore, he accepted Philip's offer, realizing that pursuing a complaint against an officer would be a lengthy and cumbersome process.

"Very well," Alex replied, deciding to let the matter rest. It was time to move on.

With the issue resolved, Philip took charge, commanding the recruits to return to their training. He then made his way towards the infirmary, leaving Hodge's fate to be determined later. Alex, now free of worry, turned to Steve and greeted him with a friendly smile, as if beckoning for a fresh start.

Peggy couldn't help but comment, "You truly possess an uncanny ability to soften even General Philip's resolve. What you did back there was quite impressive."

Alex, feeling slightly embarrassed by the compliment, allowed Peggy to ruffle his hair with a smile. Perhaps if he were a few years older, Peggy might have shown more interest, but for now, their interactions remained friendly.

Alex glanced at Peggy and quipped, "Genius has its ways." His confidence in Steve's potential was evident in his next statement.

"You seem to hold high hopes for Steve. Care to share why?" Peggy inquired, genuinely curious.

Recalling an incident from the previous day, Alex explained, "A few days back, I found myself at a fair without any money. I stood there for quite some time, and only Steve approached me, offered to pay for my ticket, and made sure I stayed safe. It's gestures like these that make me believe in his potential."

Peggy's eyes sparkled with admiration as she processed Alex's words. Steve's willingness to help a complete stranger left a lasting impression.

....

The following day during field training, the instructor presented a challenge to the recruits involving a flagpole. The task was to reach the flag atop the pole, and the first to do so would earn a ride back in a jeep.

Excitement filled the air as the recruits rushed toward the flagpole, with one notable exception—Steve. Observing the scene with keen interest, Alex sat comfortably in the jeep, fully aware of the outcome.

In the original story, Steve had ingeniously dismantled the flagpole, earning himself a ride back to the barracks. The instructor, however, dismissed the possibility of anyone accomplishing this feat, stating that it hadn't been done in 17 years.

Alex understood that this challenge aimed to assess group cooperation but favored only one individual. Cooperation among the recruits was unlikely under these conditions.

As the disappointed recruits returned to the group, Peggy playfully teased Alex, "Is this the guy you admire? He didn't even attempt it."

Alex glanced at Peggy and called out to Steve, "Steve, give it a shot. I know you have a plan."

Steve approached the flagpole, drawing the ire of the instructor, who doubted Steve's ability to remove the flag.

"Rogers, return to the group immediately," the instructor commanded.

Undeterred, Steve skillfully removed the bolt from the flagpole, causing it to collapse.

With a knowing smile, Alex remarked, "Sometimes, brains are mightier than brawn. The instructor only said to remove the flag; he didn't specify the method."

Steve handed the flag to the instructor, expressing gratitude, before joining Alex in the jeep.

"Hello again, Rogers. It's good to see you," Alex greeted Steve warmly.

"You're quite something," Steve Rogers replied with a matching smile. Initially, he had approached Alex with the intention of offering help to a stranger. Little did he know that Alex had a remarkable identity of his own.

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