Prompt Post: ROUND SEVEN
ROUND SEVEN IS CLOSED
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<< ROUND SIX | ALL ROUNDS | ROUND EIGHT >>
Rules post.
Posting Guidelines.
Flat view.
Updates Post (WIPs only)
Fills Post (completed Fills only)
damalur's firstclasskink on Delicious.
Volunteers always welcome.
There is a delay on comments appearing when there is a URL in the message body. This is due to an LJ anti-spam ( Read more... )
Eric fidgeted in his best clothes and tried to get a better look at the trains that billowed smoke around them. “Stand up straight, Eric! Dr. Erskine hasn't seen your father for many years. Let's not give him a bad impression.” his Mama said, jerking his shoulders back. Papa emerged from the haze with his arm around another man. The stranger was shorter than Papa with fuzzy brown hair.
The stranger kissed Mama's hand. “Edie, my love, you're as beautiful as ever. Leave this fool, and run away with me to Paris.”
Mama laughed. “You're as bad as ever Abraham.”
“And you are young Erik? I am Dr. Erskine. Your father tells me you like trains?”
“Yes, sir. Did you know that the Schienenzeppelin is the fastest train in the world?”
“I did not, that is very interesting. Well, with such enthusiasm I think you must have a model of the zeppelin already.”
“No, sir, not yet.”
“That is good; otherwise what would I do with this?” Dr. Erskine said producing a scale train from his coat pocket, gleaming steel and glass. Erik took it, awed.
“Thank you, sir.”
“You are welcome, my young friend. Now, Edie, what will we be having for dinner? I confess, I have been dreaming of your dumplings since the border.”
“Still the same Abraham,” laughed Papa, patting Dr. Erskine's stomach.
Later that evening.
“I thought I could change them, make them realize that it is more noble to enhance the human physique to match its unconquerable spirit that to drag the human spirit down to match the fragile human body. I was wrong. I can't stay there any longer, Itzhak. I can't allow my life's work to be corrupted by the likes of Zemo and Hitler.”
“But would they allow you to leave, my friend, if they are so anxious for your results?”
“I doubt it. It took months before they gave me the time to come and visit.” he sighed. “That is why I need your help. I need a passport.”
“Abraham!”
“I can't go to America on my own passport; they would drag me back to Berlin in chains.You're my only hope Itzhak.”
“I could lose my job over this.”
“I know, my friend. I wouldn't ask if it weren't so serious.”
Itzhak Lehnsherr closed his eyes. “One condition.”
“Anything.”
“Take Erik with you.”
“What...? Edie...”
“We've talked about it already. Nothing may happen, but if it does... I want my son to be safe.”
“That is my price for your passport, Abraham. Take my son to America and care for him.”
“As if he were my own.” The Dr. sighed.
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I wanted this prompt since I saw Capt America! Please dear god moar!
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“Dr. Erskine. It’s a real pleasure to see you again. May I introduce Agent Carter, she works with me in the Strategic Scientific Reserve”
“Pleased to meet you, Dr.”
“Mr. Stark, Agent Carter. Believe me, it is all my pleasure to be in your wonderful country.” Erskine said, shaking hands.
“I’ve got to tell you your phone call caused a lot of trouble in Washington. We’ve been looking all over Europe for you, and to find you made it here without our help. Well, it embarrassed some people.” Howard blinked as he noticed the boy peeking through the door to the next room.
“Dr. Erskine, won’t you introduce us?”
Erskine turned around. “Ah. This is Eric, my… I am not sure of the word in English… Mundel. I am caring for him until his parents can join us. He has only German and Polish at the moment but his English will soon improve I think”
“Ward, I think is the usual translation. Hallo Erik, mein Name ist Peggy Carter. Ich freue mich, Sie kennen zu lernen. My name is Peggy Carter. I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Hallo, Fräulein Carter. Es ist ein Vergnügen, Sie kennenzulernen.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you. That is what you said in English.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you.” The boy dutifully repeated.
“You have a way with children, Agent Carter.”
“She couldn’t be worse than me. My inventions are all the kids I’ll ever have.”
“So, Dr. How did you manage to get out of Europe without either the Nazis or us getting word of it?”
“Eric’s father is an old friend. He provided me with a passport in the name of Professor Josef Reinstein and his son Eric. He has a good job and doesn’t want to leave Poland but if something happens…”
“A lot of people are leaving Europe these days.”
“And just as many refuse to be driven out. Who will be proven right I wonder?”
September 23, 1937
“Hello, Erik. Is your father here?”
“Hallo, Fraulein Carter. Er ist in der Filiale.”
“English, Erik. He is at the store.”
“He is at the store.” The boy dutifully repeated. “Is it important?”
“It can wait. Erik, what happened to your eye?”
“There are other boys in the houses. Some of them do not like me.” He shrugged. “I am used to it. In Poland, they do not like me because I am Jewish; in America they do not like me because I am Polish.”
“I see. What else do you do all day, besides fighting the neighbourhood roughs?”
“I read, and I speak English with the ladies in the houses, and I play with my train. It is a model of the fastest train in the world.”
Peggy nodded and turned at the noise on the stairs to see Dr. Erskine with his arms full of groceries. “Let me help you with that, Dr. I just came to tell you that the facilities are up and running. We can start on Monday if you are amiable.”
“Yes, that would do very well. Eric, go put the bags in the kitchen.”
“Is there any thing else, Agent Carter?”
“Yes, Dr. When do you plan to send Erik to school?”
“I thought after Christmas, if he is still with me. He needs time to improve his English.”
“Yes, I’ve noticed he still prefers German.”
“He will speak Polish before either of them. But, yes, English is his last resort.”
“I just had a thought, that if you brought him with you to the facility. I could work on his English with him. And maybe some self-defence?” she glanced significantly at the kitchen door.
“I had noticed his eye, but he would not tell me what happened. I remember being just the same; the one who carries tales to adults is not much liked. The same youths as before?”
“As far as I can tell, yes. It may do him some good to be able to avoid them for a while.”
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"Dr. Erskine. It's a real pleasure to see you again. May I introduce Agent Carter, she works with me in the Strategic Scientific Reserve."
"Pleased to meet you, Dr."
"Mr. Stark, Agent Carter. Believe me, it is all my pleasure to be in your wonderful country." Erskine said, shaking hands.
"I've got to tell you your phone call caused a lot of trouble in Washington. We've been looking all over Europe for you, and to find you made it here without our help. Well, it embarrassed some people." Howard blinked as he noticed the boy peeking through the door to the next room.
"Dr. Erskine, won't you introduce us?" Agent Carter said smiling
Erskine turned around. "Ah. This is Eric, my... I am not sure of the word in English... Mundel. I am caring for him until his parents can join us. He has only German and Polish at the moment but his English will soon improve I think."
"Ward, I think is the usual translation. Hallo Erik, mein Name ist Peggy Carter. Ich freue mich, Sie kennen zu lernen. My name is Peggy Carter. I'm pleased to meet you."
"Hallo, Fraulein Carter. Es ist ein Vergnugen, Sie kennenzulernen."
"It is a pleasure to meet you. That is what you said in English."
"It is a pleasure to meet you." The boy dutifully repeated.
"You have a way with children, Agent Carter."
"She couldn't be worse than me. My inventions are all the kids I'll ever have."
"So, Dr. How did you manage to get out of Europe without either the Nazis or us getting word of it?"
"Eric's father is an old friend. He provided me with a passport in the name of Professor Josef Reinstein and his son Eric. He has a good job and doesn't want to leave Poland but if something happens..."
"A lot of people are leaving Europe these days."
"And just as many refuse to be driven out. It is hard to say what the right course is."
September 23, 1937
"Hello, Erik. Is your father here?"
"Hallo, Fraulein Carter. Er ist in der Filiale."
“English, Erik. He is at the store."
"He is at the store." The repetition was accompanied by a grimace that said Erik thought the exercise foolish. "Is it important?"
"It can wait. Erik, what happened to your eye?"
"There are other boys in the houses. Some of them do not like me." He shrugged. "I am used to it. In Poland, they do not like me because I am Jewish; in America they do not like me because I am Polish."
"I see. What else do you do all day, besides fighting the neighborhood roughs?"
"I read, and I speak English with the ladies in the houses, and I play with my train. It is a model of the fastest train in the world."
Peggy nodded and turned at the noise on the stairs to see Dr. Erskine with his arms full of groceries. "Let me help you with that, Dr. I just came to tell you that the facilities are up and running. We can start on Monday if you are amiable."
"Yes, that would do very well. Eric, go put the bags in the kitchen."
“Is there any thing else, Agent Carter?"
"Yes, Dr. When do you plan to send Erik to school?"
"I thought after Christmas, if he is still with me. He needs time to improve his English. And I can't help hoping Edie and Itzhak will have joined us by the New Year."
"Yes, I've noticed he still prefers German." Peggy glossed over the topic of Erik's parents. It wasn't something to talk about with the boy in question only in the next room.
"He will speak Polish before either of them. But, yes, English is his last resort."
"I just had a thought while talking to him. if you brought him with you to the facility, I could work on his English with him. And maybe some self-defense?" She glanced significantly at the kitchen door.
"I had noticed his eye, but he would not tell me what happened. I remember being just the same; the one who carries tales to adults is not much liked. The same youths as before?"
"As far as I can tell, yes. It may do him some good to be able to avoid them for a time."
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September 1, 1939
"Erik, you will be late!" Abraham called at the sound of a particularly loud bang from Erik's room.
"I can't find my notebook!"
"Perhaps, because it is here on the table," Abraham called, signing the requisition forms he had brought home with him the night before.
"Good morning, Vati." Erik smiled, turning on the radio as he passed it. Abraham vaguely recognized the song as one which Edie had been fond of.
"And now the news. War broke out between Poland and Germany at 5 o'clock this morning with German planes attacking Gdynia, Cracow and Katowice. The Free City of Danzig has been annexed by the Third Reich. Chancellor Hitler has warned foreign nations against interfering, saying from now on force will be met with force. In spite of this, Great Britain mobilized her fleet to full strength..."
Erik sank into his seat, the blood draining from his face. He looked very young and lost at that moment. Abraham wished he was less shaken himself that he might comfort his son.
"They might still be on their way. They could have..." Erik whispered.
Abraham laid a hand on Erik's shoulder, struggling for the right words. "I think, perhaps, you need not go to school today."
November 15, 1940
Erik frowned at the paper. He had been staring at the final problem for hours and he'd asked three different scientists and had only become more confused.
Mr. Stark stuck his head around the door. "Where is your father?"
"Asking Colonel Phillips for more money." Erik muttered. He looked up at Mr. Stark, "Do you know anything about chemistry, sir? I've asked Dr. Rhodes, Dr. Fitzpatrick and Dr. Douglas and I still can't understand this question."
"They couldn't tell you the answer?"
Erik sighed. "They said I need to be able to figure it out myself. They all tried to explain, but I couldn't follow."
"Let me see here. Well, here is the answer." He said writing on a loose page. "Copy it out later so that it's in your handwriting. Now come on."
"Where are we going?"
"My lab. I'll show you why that problem is so important."
February 21, 1941
Dr Erskine opened the door of Stark's laboratory with a caution born of long experience. The violet fireball was a surprise though.
"Sorry!" came a cry. Probably Erik, it sounded as though he actually meant it.
"It is alright. It's good to test my reflexes."
Erik's head appeared from behind the blast partition. His clothes were smoke damaged and he was grinning.
"Homework again, Erik?" he asked smiling.
The grin turned rueful. "No, but I have finished my homework."
"Fetch it then, and we will go home."
"Really?" Dr. Erskine asked Stark as Erik went to round up his escaping possessions.
"Alright, I admit it was a little bigger than I anticipated."
"It will be your responsibility to explain to Edith Lensherr if anything happens to her son."
"Speaking of which," Stark glanced towards Erik dropped his voice. "With all the rumours about Poland and what happened to the Jews in Germany..."
"I know perfectly well what happened in Germany." Erskine snapped. He sighed. "I haven't heard anything from Itzhak and Edie in over a year. However, until I find out that they are dead I have to keep believing they are alive. For my own sake, as well as Erik's."
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Erik ran into the store which served as SSR HQ. He ran through the protocols with Mrs Pollock who gave him a cookie before sending him on his way.
Nurse Dewey met him at the top of the stairs. "Dr. Erskine and Mr Stark are in the lab right now Erik. Wait in the office." Erik nodded shrugging his bag higher on his shoulders.
He heard the familiar whine as the generators kicked in and the lights flickered. 'Please work' he thought as he settled down to his homework.
Suddenly there was a great crack and half the lights blew darkening the complex. Erik could hear muffled yells through the heavy door. As Erik stood to see what had happened his father burst through the door grabbed him by the hands and spun him in a circle."We've done it! Erik, we've done it! Aha!" He ran to the desk and pulled out the bottle of champagne he kept there. "Come along," he said grinning. "Today you have your first drink." He looked down at Erik. "Well, only half a glass. And don't tell your mother."
Erik didn't care for the taste of champagne, but the joy and laughter on the faces of the men and women who cared for him would be one of his dearest memories. Even if he had fallen asleep by eight o'clock.
May 12, 1943
Erik grinned as he heard Agent Carter's voice outside the office. "Hello, Agent Carter," he said opening the door. He stopped short when he saw there was someone with her. "Oh, I'm sorry."
Agent Carter smiled and Erik once again found himself wishing he was old enough to ask her to dinner. "Hello, Erik. This is Private Rogers. Steve, this is Dr. Erskine's foster-son Erik Lensherr."
"Good to meet you, Erik. Please, call me Steve. Dr. Erskine's mentioned you. He's very proud of you."
Erik couldn't help smiling. "I am on my way to the booth. I'll walk with you I may."
As the lights grew blindingly, Erik crossed his fingers for luck and hoped that the serum would work as the scientists hoped. His breath caught when Rogers ordered the scientists to continue and he couldn't turn away his eyes, even as sparks flew from the broken circuits.
When the metal pod opened to show the result, Erik scrambled down the stairs and shoved his way through the crowd to reach his father. "I knew you'd do it, Vati!" he said, hugging his father and smiling so hard his cheeks hurt. Then the room exploded.
Erik's memories of the next few minutes were hazy and fragmented. The falling glass, the screams and gun shots, feel of the blood on his hands hours later and the ringing in his ears. The only moment of clarity was kneeling in the broken glass as Mr. Stark gently prised him away from his dead father.
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