Peggy Carter was walking to her work at the L.A. Strategic Science Reserve. It had been a week since she and Chief Sousa had declared their love for one another in a passionate kiss. However their time together would once again have to wait as Chief Thompson had been mysteriously shot down after their final encounter with Whitney Frost. Though she and Thompson had their differences she was beginning to regret threatening to shoot him that day had she known he'd be shot the same day. She then entered Sousa's office who had just been finished speaking on the phone.
"Chief Sousa good morning. Any leads on Chief Thompson's would be assassins?" Peggy asked
"No. We tried tracing the bullets but there was no source." Sousa said
"Whoever they are they obviously don't want to be found. Would you like Mr. Jarvis and I to conduct our own investigation?" Peggy asked
"Not an option. Look I don't want to lose you. I just got you Peg. I feel this could be an attack on all of us" Sousa said
"I'm a big girl I can handle myself you of all people know that. It could have been Vernon Masters finishing the job but he was just late?" Peggy guessed
Before they could share a kiss an agent walked in "Chief Sousa there's a guy outside. He's actually looking for you Agent Carter he's English or something." the agent said
Peggy smiled at this knowing Jarvis had arrived but for what she was unsure. She gestured Sousa to follow as he followed her outside as they saw Jarvis waiting there with a car.
"Miss Carter and Chief Sousa it's wonderful to see you again." Jarvis said
"I suppose Howard sent you here for a reason Mr. Jarvis? Or were you in the neighbourhood getting a spot of cheese?" Peggy asked
"Butter actually Ana likes it from a special store she's grown to like here. But yes Mr. Stark requests your presence." Jarvis said
"What for exactly Jarvis?" Sousa asked
"I'm not sure Chief Sousa but he said it had something to do with an object he found in Whitney Frost's laboratory" Jarvis said
"You mean to tell me he took something from her lab but didn't tell us?" Peggy asked annoyed
"He knew you'd say no if he asked. Before I could ask him anything he was showing some woman his tools and well I'd rather not imagine the rest." Jarvis said
Peggy rolled her eyes as she got into the car "Come on let's see what Howard has got himself into this time"
"I'll come too" Sousa said as he got into the car and Jarvis drove it off. It's just Stark what's the worst that could happen?
With Howard a lot could go wrong. Though he was famous and rich he still was wiling to gain more but still do the right thing in the name of science and knowledge. He then called down to Doctor Wilkes who was working on the machine that was hooked up to the device.
"How's it looking Doctor Wilkes?" Howard asked
"It seems to be stable. Are you sure you've got an idea of what this thing is?" Wilkes asked
Before Howard could respond Peggy, Sousa and Jarvis walked in. "Ah Peg and Chief Sousa welcome. Sorry about the mess I didn't exactly have time for spring cleaning before you arrived." Howard said
"Hey Peggy." Jason said smiling at seeing her again. Despite not working out as a couple they still ended things on friendly terms.
"Hello Jason" Peggy said as she was happy to see him again and being satisfied that he was working at a job he enjoyed. She then changed her tune to that of one that sounded like a stern mother as she folded her arms and looked at Howard."Do you think this is a good idea? Taking something that belonged to a mad woman?
"A mad but brilliant woman. I think this thing is the next development in science" Howard
"That's what you say about everything" Peggy said unimpressed
"What is this thing Stark?" Sousa asked as he noticed alien markings on the device
"Ah I see you noticed the markings. Those are very similar to the texts of the Gods similar to what Johann Schmidt was trying to call upon with the Cube I'm still trying to understand. I think it might not be from here" Howard said
"What?" Jarvis asked
"Are you saying this thing might be of alien origin Howard?" Peggy asked bewildered
"I'm not exactly saying that but I'm saying that." Howard said
"It's been opening miniature portals as we were testing it. We believe this might have been what Whitney Frost started out using to open up the portal to where the Zero Matter was but she couldn't get it working." Wilkes said
"And you two seem to have gotten it working" Peggy said
"Hey it's me" Howard said not really answering the question
Peggy rolled her eyes as she, Jarvis and Sousa stepped aside as Howard began powering the machine.
"Stand back" Howard ordered
Jarvis then pulled out an umbrella and opened it much to Sousa's confusion "You have no idea how many suits have been stained by objects that have exploded in this laboratory" Jarvis said
Peggy, Sousa and Jarvis's eyes then widened as they suddenly saw a portal not unlike the one that they saw which housed the Zero Matter open.
"How is it Doctor Wilkes?" Howard asked
"It seems stable but powerful. It's like nothing I've ever seen" Wilkes commented
"Well gentlemen and ladies we might be the first people to explore beyond our realm. And to think they threw away my designs for a craft for the moon.." Howard said but was interrupted.
"Explore? Are you mad? A portal to an area we don't possibly understand and could house a threat?" Peggy reasoned
"They also might be friendly over there too you never know Peg." Howard said
Suddenly the machine beeped as it suddenly started to shake and the portal began to fluctuate.
"What was that?" Jarvis asked
"Doctor Wilkes?" Howard asked
"It's powering to a further rate it's becoming unstable and could collapse in on this room." Wilkes said
"Shut it down then." Peggy said
Before anymore could be said the portal became more unstable as it began to suck everything in sight into it. The individuals grabbed onto whatever they could to avoid being sucked in as Peggy, Sousa and Jarvis fell to the floor. Jarvis was the first to be claimed as he found himself being sucked in.
"Jason! Shut it down!" Peggy yelled not unlike in a similar matter she did when she ordered Erskine to shut down the machine that would turn Steve into Captain America.
"Miss Carter! Sir! Oh dear." Jarvis said as he found himself being sucked into the portal
"Jarvis!" Howard yelled in an attempt to help his butler and friend but he tripped and hit his head on the machine and fell seemingly unconscious.
Peggy tried to grab Jarvis's hand and pull him back but both were pulled into the portal. Sousa couldn't hang on much longer with his damaged leg. He then turned to Wilkes.
"No matter what happens shut that thing down. Even if I have to follow them in there." Sousa said before he found himself losing his grip and being sucked into the portal.
Wilkes looked on bewildered at the loss of his friends but tried to find an off switch
"Come on Stark surely you found the off switch?" Wilkes said to himself
"Not exactly but this kill switch I installed will do. I would have mentioned it earlier but I didn't exactly get time too" Howard said suddenly rising and pressing a button and shutting it down.
"They're gone?" Howard asked
"Well yeah but we could power the machine to get them back?" Wilkes asked
"It used a lot of energy. It'll take hours to recharge. Plus we don't know where to look" Howard said
"So we're supposed to just leave them?" Wilkes asked upset at the loss of Peggy, Sousa and Jarvis
"No of course not. If there's a way to save them I'll find it. I'm not leaving her too" Howard said firmly. He owed it to Steve too look after her once he died. He wouldn't give up not this time "I'm going to go to the kitchen. If there's no food we'll starve possibly" Howard said leaving.
"Can't you just go out and buy something?" Wilkes asked
"I can't. Jarvis has my keys" Howard then left as he walked down the hall and then thought to himself "Wherever you are Peg. I hope it's as magical as Oz"
Author's Note: So yeah first chapter back to normal kind of shorter then before and slightly different. Sorry about that go read chapter 2 for the continuing story.