Marvel: The Journey

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Ian stood in the field at Camp Lehigh, scanning the horizon and waiting for his upcoming mission. As he stood there, his mind wandered to the things he had witnessed during Operation Dynamo. He remembered vividly the grief-stricken woman weeping over her son's lifeless body. The horrors of war were taking their toll on him.

He thought back to the history books he had read, and the devastating Operation Sea Lion, ordered by Hitler. The German planes relentlessly bombed Britain, causing untold damage and heavy civilian casualties. Ian had been sent on a mission to rescue British naval soldiers stranded at sea, and the destruction and death he had witnessed had left an indelible mark on him.

As he stood there with his equipment, Ian was frustrated at those who shame others for their involvement in the war from the comfort of their own homes while filming videos. He knew that unless they had experienced the brutality of war firsthand, they could never truly understand the magnitude of its impact.

He came out of his reverie when he saw a military vehicle approaching him. As it came to a stop a few meters away, two men got out. They were both dressed in sharp suits, which was unusual for this setting.

One of the men approached Ian, revealing a badge and asking, "Corporal Westbrook?"

Ian nodded in confirmation.

Without any explanation, the man gestured toward the vehicle and said, "Let's go, Corporal! The target doesn't have much time left." Ian was surprised by this sudden and cryptic message but knew better than to question orders. He followed the men to the vehicle, wondering what kind of mission this could be.

Ian sat in the back seat of the vehicle, gazing out of the window as they left Camp Lehigh behind. As he looked at the passing landscape, his thoughts raced, 'Holy Shit! That badge clearly said Strategic Scientific Reserve! It seems I am involved with S.H.I.E.L.D. much earlier than I had anticipated. I hope the mission is related to Dr. Erskine, but I shouldn't get my hopes up too high. Whoever the target is, they must be crucial enough for S.H.I.E.L.D. to get involved.'

After Ian stepped out of the vehicle, his eyes scanned his surroundings and landed on a sleek airplane parked in front of him, flanked by another vehicle. The SSR agents motioned for him to board the aircraft, and Ian obediently followed their instructions. 

Ian stepped into the aircraft and surveyed the interior. As his eyes scanned the seats, he noticed a figure clad in a tight black leather outfit. The person wore a mask that concealed their features entirely, including their hair. Ian couldn't determine whether the individual was a man or a woman, but he assumed it was a man, given the 1940s' societal norms. The outfit was neither too tight nor too loose, allowing for ease of movement without revealing the wearer's form. The mysterious figure sat silently, observing Ian as he took his seat.

Ian felt a sense of unease as the person's gaze swept over his body, taking in every detail. He could feel the weight of their scrutiny, and it sent a shiver down his spine. Despite his discomfort, he maintained his composure and nodded politely before taking a seat across from them.

The SSR agents who had accompanied Ian quickly took their places. As the plane prepared for takeoff, Ian's mind raced with questions about his mission and the enigmatic figure beside him.

The atmosphere was silent as the agent from SSR walked in and announced the beginning of the mission briefing. Ian and his partner quickly followed the agent to the adjacent room, where they found several papers scattered on the table. 

The agent cleared his throat and began to speak, "Gentlemen, the mission is a standard rescue mission. The target is a Jewish scientist named Dr. Abraham Erskine." He then showed them a photo of him and continued, "He is currently being held in Castle Kaufmann in Germany. We have several informants in the castle ready to smuggle him past various guards. We need one of you to infiltrate the castle, extract Dr. Erskine and bring him out while the other one stays outside to clear a path for his rescue. We'll have this plane running at a safe distance away from the castle. After the successful rescue of Dr. Erskine, you need to bring the target to the plane."

Ian focused intently on the photo, while his partner meticulously went through the blueprints of the castle. The agent interrupted their concentration and asked, "Is everything clear?" Both of them nodded their heads in unison, and the agent looked at his watch, "We will arrive at the location in two hours. You can go through the castle's blueprints or anything else that will help with the mission." 

Ian watched as the SSR agent left the room. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, and his hand trembling with nerves. As he reached for his hand to steady it, he knew that he needed to get a grip on himself. He didn't want to show any weirdness in front of his partner, who was watching him intently. Taking a deep breath, he collected his thoughts and walked out of the room.

 Ian sat in his seat on the plane as he struggled to control his excitement. His heart raced and his hand twitched obsessively. He couldn't believe he had finally made it into the official Marvel universe and was on his way to meet the man who would create the super soldier serum. But that wasn't all - he had also discovered that his partner was none other than Peggy Carter, Captain America's future lover and a future director of S.H.I.E.L.D. This was a golden opportunity, but he knew he had to keep his cool and create a good impression on her to avoid future problems. Taking deep breaths, he repeated to himself, "Calm down! Calm down!"

Ian's thoughts were interrupted by a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned to see his partner, the mysterious figure in black leather, looking at him with concern and asking him, "Are you okay?"

 He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself, attempting to ignore the rush of excitement that was still coursing through his veins. As he looked at the masked figure, he couldn't help but imagine the beautiful face of Peggy Carter, the British agent whom he knew would one day become Captain America's love interest. He replied, trying to sound as normal as possible, "I'm okay. Just...a little bit excited."