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Episode 15: It’s Been A Long, Long Time August 10th, 1947. Catskill Mountains. New York City, NY. Jack knelt at Peggy’s side. Her arms and legs were cut from broken glass, and he could see the serum seeping into the open wounds. She was breathing rapidly and her body twitched in a seizure. “Don’t touch her!” Benton yelled. “Stark! Grab those blankets! Quickly!” Howard gingerly picked up some Army blankets from a pile of discarded supplies. “What’s going on, doc?” asked Jack as Howard started wrapping Peggy up. “It’s the serum. It’s gotten into her body. We need to act quickly. She doesn’t have time.” “What are you talking about? This is the same stuff you gave to yourself and the others! Look what it did to Nefaria!” Benton lifted up Peggy’s head and motioned to Jack to her up by her legs. “The serum was meant to be given with carefully monitored injections. With so many vials shattering, the strain might be too much for her heart.” Jack and Benton carried Peggy’s convulsing body towards the chamber that Nefaria had climbed out from. “You mean she’s gonna die?” asked Jack. Benton gave a look at the chamber. “Not necessarily.” “Whoa, wait a minute, Benton!” interrupted Howard. “You can’t seriously think about putting her in that thing! We don’t need another super powered lunatic running around!” “The choice, Mr. Stark,” snapped Benton. “Is to put Miss Carter in the chamber and let the vita rays try to stabilize her, or to stand here doing nothing while Nefaria runs wild and she dies.” Benton looked at the uneasy pair. “Gentlemen, this is Miss Carter’s only chance. Please. Help me save her, and put an end to this nightmare for good.” Jack looked at Howard then nodded. “I’m in.” Howard gave a deep sigh. “What the hell? Never was one to run away from a lab. What’s the plan, Doctor?” “Help me get her into the chamber, Agent Thompson,” urged Benton. “Stark, you watch that screen and let me know of any fluctuations in the vita rays.” At the foot of the hill the moving van came to a crashing halt just a few feet in front of a large elm. Daniel pushed the door and stumbled out, making best speed up the hill. Jarvis jumped out and chased after him. “Agent Sousa! Wait! I would advise against traveling too fast across this terrain!” Sousa drew a pistol from a shoulder holster and held it out to Jarvis. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jarvis. But right now Peggy needs our help. We don’t know what tricks Nefaria has for us in there. Can I count on you?” Jarvis looked warily at the pistol, but nodded and took hold of it. Daniel pulled another pistol out of a holster and started heading back up the hill. Suddenly a streak speeded past Jarvis and Daniel, and their weapons flew out of their hands. Before them stood Bob Frank, holding a pistol in each hand at the ready. “Hold it right there, fellas! How about you tell me where your boss Nefaria is and no one gets hurt!” Daniel swung with his crutch at Bob who whizzed out of the way, tossing the guns out of the clearing. “Not nice to play with guns, you know.” Jarvis looked over at Daniel. “Another one? I thought Benton said there were only five?” Bob cocked his head. “Benton? You know Benton?” Daniel held out his hands and stepped toward Bob. “We’re here to help him, to stop Nefaria. How do you know Benton?” Bob gave small grin. “Well, mister, for that, you better take it up with my wife.” Bob looked up into the sky, and Jarvis and Daniel followed his gaze. Descending from the sky were Miss America and Fighting Yank. “Miss Joyce and Mr. Carter III, I presume,” muttered Jarvis. They gently landed in front of them, Fighting Yank glaring suspiciously. “This is a secure area. You two need to leave the premises. Now!” “We can’t do that,” said Daniel, trying to stay calm. “We’ve got people in there, including some friends of yours.” “You mean Benton?” asked Miss America. “And Diana? Are they here too?” “Yes, and there are also several armed hostiles in that bunker.” Fighting Yank shoved past Daniel. “Just stay out of our way. We can easily handle a few gun toting criminals!” The metal door of the bunker flew off it’s hinges and crashed into a tree. The five people turned in shock to see Count Nefaria floating out of the doorway. He gave an imperious smirk as he gazed down on Daniel and the others. “Well, well. More of Dr. Benton’s experiments. And I thought I wouldn’t be able to demolish more interlopers today.” Daniel aimed his pistol, and Jarvis fumbled slightly to follow suit. “Count Nefaria! SSR! I order you to stand down!” “Your bullets will do no good against him!” Fighting Yank snapped. “He’s mine!” Fighting Yank launched himself up the hill towards Nefaria. “Bruce, wait!” Miss America cried. Fighting Yank had already flown halfway up the hill with his right fist pulled back ready to strike. But Nefaria delivered a back hand strike that knocked him out of the air. Bob raced to catch Fighting Yank as Miss America took the air. She was able to land some strikes on Nefaria, but he didn’t react to any of them. He grabbed by the throat with one hand and flew down the hill, dragging her along the ground as he went. Back in the bunker, Benton and Jack had placed Peggy within the vita-chamber. Jack looked on in concern as Benton sealed the chamber. “Everything’s looking solid here!” Howard called out. “The chamber is fully charged!” “This thing better work, Benton,” said Jack. Benton took a deep breath a pressed a few buttons on the side of the chamber. “It will, Agent Thompson. It has to. Stark? Turn the dial on the left of the monitor to 46, then throw the green switch on my mark.” Howard made the adjustments as Jack looked through the window of the chamber at the still body of Peggy Carter. “Now, Stark!” The switch thrown, the chamber began to hum to life, and Peggy’s body was lost in a burst of light that made the three men shield their eyes. On the surface, Nefaria delivered blow after blow to Miss America. Jarvis and Daniel opened fire but the bullets harmlessly off him. Nefaria tightened his grip on Miss America’s throat. “I was impressed with your work with Ringmaster. I would have thought you would be more of a challenge than this, Miss Joyce.” Bob sped around Nefaria, grabbed his cape and sped up the hill. Caught offguard Nefaria was yanked backward and released the hold. Bob threw Nefaria forward, but the Maggia boss was able to stop himself and hover in midair. “That’s Mrs. Joyce-Frank to you, buddy!” Bob shouted. Nefaria looked bored at Bob. “Ah, Dr. Harrow’s pet project. I thought he said you were dead.” “Well, that’s what fast living can do to a guy!” Bob raced toward Nefaria, only for him to be dropped by the mighty hands of the empowered Maggia boss. Jarvis turned to Daniel, desperately trying to hold back his panic. “Agent Sousa, I think our best course of action is to retreat.” “Not without Peggy and the others!” Daniel shouted. Nefaria rose off the ground, lifting his arms to the heavens. “You ignorant fools! I am now the most powerful man on Earth! Your weapons are useless! Surrender to the will of Leviathan! To me, Count…! A metallic shield flew out of the demolished bunker doorway and struck Nefaria in the back of the head. The count grunted in pain, and fell a few feet before steadying himself. Everyone turned to the doorway to see Peggy Carter, her eyes focused and determined as she caught the shield. She was dressed in body armor scrounged from the lab, a holster with a fully loaded pistol, and a bandolier with extra ammo and grenades. She looked defiantly up at Nefaria. “Count Nefaria! I am Agent Peggy Carter of the Strategic Scientific Reserve! I order you to stand down! You are under arrest!” OK: Both Nefaria and Peggy have received Benton’s ‘super soldier serum”. Both have enhanced strength, speed, and durability. Nefaria has Yank and America’s power of flight. Peggy has access to the equipment and weapons in the bunker, including a variant of Captain America’s shield. Can Peggy Carter stop Nefaria’s scheme once and for all? Stay Tuned and Find Out! Game On!