Chapter 3: The Shadow Over Lehigh
The reward for winning the flag drill wasn't just a ride in a staff car; it was the intense, analytical gaze of Margaret "Peggy" Carter. As Arthur sat in the backseat of the green Cadillac, the scent of gunpowder and expensive perfume filled the small space.
Peggy looked at him through the rearview mirror. "That stunt with the truck, Recruit. It wasn't in the training manual."
"The manual doesn't win wars, Ma'am," Arthur replied, his eyes darting to the HUD flickering in his peripheral vision.
[ WARNING: ASSASSINATION COUNTDOWN — 08:42 ]
[ TACTICAL CALCULATION ACTIVE: RED DOT DETECTED AT NORTH WATER TOWER ]
Arthur felt a cold sweat. Heinz Kruger, the Hydra assassin, wasn't supposed to strike until the lab in Brooklyn. But his [Mercury Catalyst] presence had shifted the timeline. Hydra was spooked. They didn't want Erskine to reach the city; they wanted him dead now.
The Decision: The "Ally" Path
Arthur leaned forward, dropping his voice. "Agent Carter, pull over. Now."
Peggy's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "I beg your pardon?"
"In exactly eight minutes, Dr. Erskine is going to walk toward the mess hall with Colonel Phillips. There's a sniper on the north water tower. Mauser 98k, customized for high-velocity rounds."
The car screeched to a halt. Peggy turned around, her hand already reaching for the Walther PPK holstered under her arm. Her eyes were like flint. "Who are you? How could you possibly know that?"
"I'm a patriot with a very specific set of skills," Arthur said, the System pulsing in his mind. "You can interrogate me later. Right now, if you don't call in a perimeter sweep on that tower, the Super Soldier program dies before it starts."
[ RELATIONSHIP UNLOCKED: PEGGY CARTER ]
[ Current Status: Suspicious (15/100) ]
[ System Note: A successful save will grant +25 Trust. ]
Peggy hesitated for a fraction of a second—the logic of a trained spy warring with the impossibility of Arthur's claim. Then, she saw the look in his eyes. It wasn't the look of a recruit; it was the look of a man who had already seen the blood on the floor.
"If you're lying, I'll have you court-martialed by sunset," she snapped, leaping out of the car.
The Hunt: 04:00 Remaining
Arthur didn't wait for her orders. He vaulted over the car door, his [STR] and [AGI] stats working in perfect harmony. He didn't run like a human; he moved like a predator, cutting through the tall grass behind the barracks to avoid being seen by the other recruits.
He reached the base of the rusted water tower. The System highlighted a figure at the top, peering through a scope.
[ TARGET IDENTIFIED: HEINZ KRUGER (HYDRA AGENT) ]
[ PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: ELIMINATE OR CAPTURE ]
Arthur grabbed the ladder. Instead of climbing rung by rung, he pulled himself up three rungs at a time, his muscles burning with the "Initial Stimulus."
He reached the catwalk just as Kruger adjusted his windage. The sniper's finger tightened on the trigger. Below, in the courtyard, Arthur could see the small, white-haired figure of Dr. Erskine stepping into the sun.
"Hey, Heinz!" Arthur shouted.
The assassin spun, startled. He tried to swing the long barrel of the Mauser toward Arthur, but Arthur was already inside his guard.
[ SYSTEM: CRITICAL STRIKE LOADED ]
Arthur's fist connected with Kruger's ribs. The sound of breaking bone echoed in the small space. He grabbed the rifle and tossed it over the edge before Kruger could fire.
"For the Red Skull!" Kruger hissed, reaching for a cyanide pill hidden in his collar.
"Not today," Arthur grunted, slamming his hand against the man's jaw, knocking him unconscious before he could swallow.
The Divergence
[ QUEST COMPLETE: THE SNIPER IN THE SHADOW ]
[ REWARD: +1,500 DP ]
[ NEW TITLE GAINED: 'THE WATCHER' — Increases perception of hidden enemies by 20% ]
Minutes later, the catwalk was swarming with SSR agents. Peggy Carter climbed up, her face pale. She looked at the unconscious assassin, then at the rifle lying in the dirt below, and finally at Arthur, who was calmly leaning against the railing.
"You saved him," she whispered.
"I saved the future," Arthur corrected.
Across the yard, Dr. Erskine looked up. His eyes met Arthur's. The doctor didn't look scared; he looked knowing. He knew Arthur wasn't a normal recruit. He had found his "Perfect Man," but it wasn't the one he expected.
[ ARCHIVIST DATA: CHAPTER 3 COMPLETE ]
Current DP Balance: 2,000.
Timeline Divergence: 1.2% (Minor).