Chapter 3: Chapter 03
[Ring…ring…ring…]
Clark stood at the phone booth and waited for his mother to pick up when two young women walked past him. They whispered to one another and chuckled as they looked at Clark, even looking back at him when they walked away.
"Hello, Kent residence?"
"Hey, mom. How are you?"
"Clark, oh, I'm fine. How are you doing? Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, mom. I'm ok. How's the farm?"
"Oh, we're doing great. Mr. Gunderson has been very gracious in having some of his men help me with the more challenging work. And he and his wife check up on me all the time."
"They're a good family. Tell them that I've heard Richard is doing well at basic training. I'll try and keep my ear to the ground and keep them informed." Clark promised.
"Thank you, Clark. I know they'll be happy to hear that. How are you doing? Having any trouble?"
"Not as much as I thought I would but I'm all right. I'm in New York right now. My Lieutenant and I arrived for a meeting." Clark told her.
"Really? New York? Is it as great as people say it is?"
"It's definitely not Smallville, that's for sure. A lot of people, lot of cars, and a lot of noise. I'm telling you, mom, it's taking half my focus to block out the excess noise here." Clark stated. "But it's not that bad. I've got an evening pass. My lieutenant and I leaving tomorrow.
"Well, you should use that time to do some sightseeing. See if you can go to the Statue of liberty and take a photo."
"Will do."
"And maybe if you meet a nice girl you should take her out to dinner. And who knows? Maybe she will be the future Mrs. Clark Kent?"
"Kind of hard to do when I'm not even using my real name now."
"Oh, sweetie I know it's hard but I want you to find someone special. There is someone out there for you, I know it."
"Thanks, mom. I love you."
"I love you too. Stay safe, sweetheart. And come home soon."
"I will mom. I love you." Clark gave her a kiss over the phone before hanging up and going somewhere to get something to eat. He bought a newspaper and walked into a nearby Automat where he took a seat at an empty table. A waitress came over and poured him a cup of coffee. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it, handsome." The waitress smiled as she took out a notepad. She subtly fixed her shirt to try and get Clark's attention but all he really noticed was her nametag that read Annie. "So, what can I get you?"
"Uh…" Clark looked over the menu to decide what he wanted to eat. "How's your turkey club?"
"Best in the city." She replied.
"I'll take that and a Coca-Cola, please." Clark ordered and she wrote it all down.
"Coming right up." She walked away to put his order in and Clark read the newspaper. Headline: Japan advancement in Asia. Fighting in North Africa Rages on.
Clark let out a sigh as he read the article. A part of him still felt bad that he was so worried about his secret that it kept him from using his powers to help in the war. Hard to believe he was sent here to help humanity when they're trying to kill each other in a world war. And it's not even their first one either. Clark changed to the sports section when he heard the clack of heels and scuffle of shoes before a military hat was placed down at his table.
"How's the coffee?"
Clark looked up and saw it was the older colonel and woman from the intelligence meeting. "Colonel…" Clark put his paper down and stood up when the man motioned him to stop.
"At ease, son. You can relax. You're not on duty." The Colonel told him as he and the woman sat down at the table with him. "Private Elbert, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir." Clark replied when another waitress came by and poured the Colonel and woman some coffee.
"I am Colonel Chester Phillips and the woman next to me is Agent Peggy Carter of MI5." Colonel Phillips introduced him and Agent Carter.
"Colonel, Agent Carter. How can I help you?" Clark wondered.
"Oh, we were just trying to find someplace to eat and saw you. Figured you didn't want to eat alone." Colonel Phillips commented as he sipped his coffee.
"Your work on the intelligence files is exceptional. You have an eye for details and information that most people don't." Agent Carter told him. "And as someone who was MI5's most prolific code breaker that's saying something."
"Thank you, ma'am, uh agent, sorry." Clark replied.
"It's all right. How did you get so good at codebreaking?" Agent Carter wondered and Clark just shrugged.
"I've just always had a flair for language, numbers, puzzles, and school work. It just came naturally to me. The kids back home used to call me a brainiac and the glasses probably helped with that." Clark messed with them a bit.
"A flair with numbers isn't enough to break a so far unbreakable code that our best men and Agent Carter herself haven't been able to touch." Colonel Phillips pointed out. "A brilliant mind isn't something to be ashamed of, son but I admire your modesty."
"Thank you, sir."
"You're doing good work now, son but you could be doing even better work." Colonel Phillips told him before he sipped his coffee. "The unbreakable code that you managed to decrypt belonged to a Nazi deep science division known as Hydra. And they're led by scientist Johann Schmidt. The man responsible for the attack into Norway that you managed to intercept."
"Hydra?"
"Hydra has produced some of Hitler's deadliest weapons and most advanced technology in the war. And so far their codes have been unbreakable. Until you." Agent Carter added.
"Agent Carter and I work for the Strategic Scientific Reserve. It's an Allied effort made up of the best minds in the free world. We've been working on the war effort since before Pearl Harbor and we are combating Hydra and creating the best army in history to stop the Axis powers. I believe that there is a spot for you in the SSR Private Elbert." Colonel Phillips told him.
"Thank you, sir but I can't fight. I'm not combat cleared." Clark reminded him.
"That remains to be seen. Even if you're not cleared for combat then we could still use you for SSR intelligence. You'll be able to do more and make a bigger difference for the war with the SSR, Private Elbert." Colonel Phillips handed him a business card before he got out of the booth and left.
"He's right, you know." Agent Carter told him as she put down a few cents for the coffee. "The SSR can use good men like you, Private Elbert. And I can see you really want to help. You should think about it."
Agent Carter left just as his meal arrived leaving Clark with a lot to think about.
"What do you think, Kelex?" Clark asked and Kelex replied using a sub-sonic frequency from the watch that only he could hear.
"A chance to do more for the war effort is what you want, Kal-El. It seems like a good opportunity. One that isn't without its risk but I will help you however I can." Kelex replied. "But a reminder that the SSR would be looking at Kalvin Elbert and not Clark Kent so your secret will still remain."
Agent Carter wasn't wrong that he really wanted to help but worried that more time in the spotlight could give him the wrong kind of attention. Granted, it would be Kalvin Elbert they would be looking at and not Clark Kent or even Kal-El but still if the right photograph made it to Smallville and people started questioning things about him then he and his mother would be in the spotlight. Guess the question was how much he would be willing to put on the line to help people? And unfortunately, it would be a question he would struggle with for the rest of his life.
Line Break xxxxx
Camp Lehigh, New Jersey September 1942
Clark had been working for the Strategic Scientific Reserve as a code breaker and analyst for about five months now. After the meeting with Colonel Phillips and Agent Carter, Clark talked to his commanding officer who was aware of the offer given by the SSR. He was sad to lose Clark but it was a good opportunity and luckily for Clark he didn't have to leave New York. He worked out of the SSR's New York Office which is disguised as a New York Bell Company office for its covert appearance. He was a part of the codebreaking team and he instructed the other agents on how to unscramble and decode the encrypted messages so he didn't have to do it all by himself. Granted he could do it but this was just to keep up appearances. They managed to decrypt a lot of useful intel that helped the Allied war effort.
But after five months of codebreaking, Clark was shipped to Camp Lehigh in New Jersey which is an Army base the SSR was using to train candidates for Project Rebirth. It was the SSR's strategy to help win the war by training men and turning them into super soldiers. Peggy Carter would oversee the training of the men and Dr. Abraham Erskine would put the finalists under evaluation and then through the procedure. This Project Rebirth has been going on for over a year yet none of the men was ever picked for the first experiment. Guess Dr. Erskine didn't find the right one yet.
Clark or Kalvin Elbert stood at attention with the other 15 men chosen for the Project Rebirth selection. He had been a codebreaker for the SSR for five months but the rest of the men were handpicked from other units of the army. Clark did magnificent work for the codebreaking team but Colonel Phillips wanted him to try out for Project Rebirth. His rationing was that the Doctors serum would fix his eyesight and his asthma. He could tell that Clark could be molded into a great soldier with the right training and his intellect would make him better than your typical rank and file grunt. It was hopeful thinking but there was no way it would work.
"Recruits, Attention!" They heard and everyone stood at attention as Agent Carter, Colonel Phillips, and Dr. Erskine walked in front of them. "Gentlemen, I am Agent Carter. I supervise all operations for this division. By the weeks end one of you lucky men will be chosen."
Agent Carter looked over at Clark and winked and he managed a small smirk. The two had become good friends since he had come to the SSR. Colonel Phillips walked in front of the men as Dr. Erskine looked over the prospective recruits before lingering his gaze at Clark. He was the one Colonel Philipps suggested would be an ideal candidate.
"General Patton has said that wars are fought with weapons, but they are won by men. We are going to win this war because we have the best men. And because they are going to get better. The Strategic Scientific Reserve is an Allied effort made up of the best minds of the free world. Our goal is to create the best army in history. But every army starts with one man. At the end of this week, we will choose that man. He will be the first in a new breed of super soldier. And they will personally escort Adolf Hitler to the gates of hell." Colonel Phillips stated. "Is that clear?"
"Sir, yes, sir!" They shouted.
Over the next two weeks, Clark went through training with the other potential candidates. Obstacles courses, physical training, firearms training at the range, and what was required for soldiers in the army. Given the conditions Clark had to mimic for his initial screening, that being his near-sightedness and asthma, he had to make sure that it showed. That meant fumbling about with his glasses whenever they were knocked off and lagging behind everyone due to his asthma. It earned him plenty of derision and mocking from the other recruits but he had to play the part. Dr. Erskine watched Clark's performance with intrigue as it seemed very conflicting. Here was a man who was tall and seemed well built and strong yet had bad eye sight and asthma. He lagged behind the others in training due to his conditions yet he could observe that Private Elbert never seemed to sweat and his fatigue looked…fake. Granted no one else could see that as they didn't really give him a second glance most of the time but Dr. Erskine was more perceptive then most. He had some some questions.
The testing was nearing an end and Private Kalvin Elbert's rank among the recruits was in the middle. He did outshine the other recruits in intelligence and strategic thinking but was fairly average if not below average then the others. Dr. Erskine was impressed by Private Elbert's mind which showed he wasn't just a simple soldier or brute and he was a very kind and respectful man but he wanted to know more.
Clark was in the barracks on base sitting on his bed and writing in his journal. The rest of the barracks were empty. More than half the recruits were gone and shipped back to their original units leaving just Clark and two more contenders who were given a day pass off the base. Clark decided to spend it on base and relax. The door to the barracks opened and in walked Dr. Erskine.
"Private Elbert, I hope I'm not interrupting." The doctor said as he walked in.
"No, not at all. Just getting some writing in." Clark put his journal down as the doctor came over and sat down across from him. "Can I help you with something?"
"A friendly conversation and possibly a drink." Dr. Erskine held up a bottle of schnapps and two glasses.
"The conversation I can do but I'm not much of a drinker." Clark replied.
"Oh really? Well, more for me." Dr. Erskine poured himself a glass and Clark a small one. "So, tell me Private Elbert what is Kansas City like?"
"Not as fancy or metropolitan as New York City. A big cattle city but it's home. I miss it for sure." Clark replied. "Despite the nicknames the others have given me I guess I am sort of a farm boy."
"Nothing wrong with that. But it is rare for such a regular farm boy to be as intelligent as you are. Colonel Phillips told me that he recruited you into the SSR for your breakthrough in codebreaking. You've even given Agent Carter a run for her money." Dr. Erskine said and Clark nodded. "Colonel Phillips thinks you'd be perfect for Project Rebirth and from what I've seen I'm tempted to agree with him which is a first but there is more than the physical aspects to the program. Tell me, Private Elbert…why did you join the army?"
"After Pearl Harbor it was the right thing to do." Clark answered.
"So, you want to go overseas and kill some Nazis? Punch Adolf Hitler in the face?" Dr. Erskine asked and Clark shook his head no.
"It's not why I enlisted. I joined because I felt it was wrong of me to just sit home and do nothing." Clark said and Dr. Erskine listened. "When the news of Pearl Harbor broke, literally every single man in town went to the nearest recruiting center to help. With everything that was going on and everyone willing to sacrifice to help with the war and avenge what happened…it didn't feel right that I just sat home doing nothing. If there was anything that I could do, even in intelligence…it was better than doing nothing."
Dr. Erskine smiled as he listened to the sincerity in Clark's voice. "You're a good man, Private Elbert."
"Thank you, Dr. Erskine. Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Clark asked and Dr. Erskine nodded. "Why are you here? What happened?"
Dr. Erskine cleared his throat and looked at the bottle. "This is from Ausburg, my city. So many people forget that the first country the Nazis invaded was their own."
"I guess people want simple answers to complicated questions." Clark pointed out and Dr. Erskine agreed with that.
"You know, after the last war, my people struggled. They felt weak, they felt small. And then Hitler comes along with the marching and the big shows and the flags. And he hears of me. My work, and he finds me. And he says, you. He says you will make us strong. Well, I am not interested. So, he sends the head of Hydra, his research division. A brilliant scientist by the name of Johann Schmidt. The man who led the attack into Norway that you intercepted." Dr. Erskine told him.
"Who is he?"
"He is a member of the inner circle. And he is ambitious. He and Hitler share a passion for occult power and Teutonic myth. Hitler uses his fantasies to inspire his followers. But for Schmidt, it is not fantasy. For him, it is real. He has become convinced that there is a great power hidden in the earth, left here by the gods, waiting to be seized by a superior man."
"The Übermensch." Clark said and Dr. Erskine was impressed he knew that. "It's what Friedrich Neitzsche claims it to be the goal for humanity to set for itself and rise above everything before it. To be superior and the best."
"Exactly. Hitler and the Nazi party have used this to describe and justify their goal for the Germanic Master race. It's what Hitler believes the Nazi and Germanic Aryan race to be and has killed and led his conquest in pursuit of this goal. Hitler believes himself to be a superior man but for Schmidt, he must take that one step further. So, when he hears about my formula and what I can do, he cannot resist. And so, he took my research. And tried to make it work for himself." Dr. Erskine explained.
"Did it work?" Clark wondered.
"It did…but not as Schmidt intended. The serum was not ready, but more important is the man. The serum amplifies everything that is inside, so good becomes great. Bad becomes worse." Erskine stated and Clark was beginning to understand why he was spending time getting to know him rather than the other recruits.
"My father use to tell me something all the time. It was during the Depression and a lot of people were suffering. It was easy for everyone to worry about themselves and forget everyone else but it was my father who refused to do that. He made sure we looked out for one another and to never forget to help those that needed it and it wasn't a sign of weakness to ask for it either. Hope was his biggest weapon that we would make it through. He used to say…when we have hope, we discover something within ourselves we may have never known—the power to make sacrifices, to endure, to heal and to love. Once we choose hope, everything is possible." Clark recounted and Dr. Erskine smiled.
"Your father was a very wise man."
"He was." Clark remember his father fondly. "Thank you for telling me this Dr. Erskine but as much as Colonel Phillips wants me for this Project…I don't think I can do it."
"And why do you say that? This will give you the chance to do more for the war in the fight against Hitler and Hydra. More than you can do now. If you're worried about the serum then I'll do my best to assure you it will help you." Dr. Erskine told him.
"It's not that, Dr. Erskine. I don't think your serum would work on me anyway and it would be a waste." Clark said but just confused him.
"There is something you are keeping to yourself, Private Elbert. I've noticed it during your training. I understand you have your secrets so I will make you this promise. Whatever is said here in this very room…shall stay between us. Not Agent Carter, not Colonel Phillips and not even the President will be told. You have my word." Dr. Erskine promised.
Clark hesitated for a second before he decided to take a leap of faith and confide in someone other than his parents. He removed his glasses and placed them on his bed before he took out the combat knife from his trunk. "You're right that I've been keeping something a secret, Dr. Erskine and it's about who I am and what I can do." Clark raised his knife to his hand and pressed it against his palm. Dr. Erskine was worried he would cut himself but to his amazement, he saw the knife actually bend against his palm until it broke off against the handle. He then grabbed the bunk the doctor was sitting on and lifted him over his head with one hand.
"Oh, mein Gott." Erskine muttered.
"I'm not normal." Clark lowered him back to the ground and Dr. Erskine looked at him in disbelief before he drank his entire glass of Schnapps in one gulp.
"How…how can you do this?" Dr. Erskine asked and Clark decided to still keep a few things to the chest.
"I'm not sure. I've always been like this. Stronger and faster than everyone else and my parents always made sure no one would find out. My father believed that if the world found out about me…they'd reject me. He was convinced that the world wasn't ready." Clark told him. "And he died believing that. I've stayed hidden and tricked people into thinking I'm normal or even weaker to not raise their suspicion and fear."
"People have always been afraid of what they don't understand. This war is proof of that so I can understand why you've stayed hidden." Dr. Erskine admitted.
"I knew I wanted to do more to help but I was still afraid of what would happen to me and my mother if people found out about me. It's why my enlistment physical said I have asthma and I'm nearsighted. It kept them from looking at me any further during a physical but I still wanted to help."
"But were afraid of what would happen if they found out about you." Dr. Erskine said and Clark nodded.
"I know it's selfish to think like that given what's been going on with the war but I couldn't stay on the sidelines." Clark defended his actions and Dr. Erskine understood that. He could tell Clark had a good heart and was a good person. He had this incredible strength and gift which any other person might tarnish or abuse yet Clark wouldn't. It was partially out of fear but also partially out of a respect for his powers and what people would think and do. That's when he got an idea.
"Perhaps regular Private Kalvin Elbert might be feared now but I think I have a way that can help you." Dr. Erskine suggested and Clark looked at him in confusion. "But if I do this for you then you must promise me something."
"What?" Clark wondered as Dr. Erskine refilled his cup.
"That you will stay who you are. Not a perfect soldier…but a good man."
Clark smiled and raised his glass. "Deal." The two clinked their glasses and drank the schnapps.
"I promise you, Private Elbert…your secret is safe with me…and you will be able to help in the war." Dr. Erskine got up and left. Clark liked the doctor and he seemed genuine in wanting to help. He would just have to hope that the Doctor would keep his secret. It was a lot to risk but that's what hope was.
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