Ultimate Iron Man

Ch: 62 [Peggy vs SHIELD]

Howard checked his watch. He still had seven minutes before security started asking questions.

Peggy flexed her fingers, rolling her shoulder like she could already feel the serum working. She glanced at the small round record player he had placed beside the vial.

"And this?" she asked, picking it up. "You brought me a record player, too?"

Howard shrugged. "Not my idea. The person who gave me the serum wanted you to have it."

Peggy raised an eyebrow. "And you don't know what's inside?"

Howard shook his head. "Nope. Just told to make sure you got it."

He wasn't lying—not really. He just left out the part where Tony was the one who gave it to him.

Peggy studied his face for a second, like she knew he was holding something back. But instead of pressing, she turned her attention to the device.

It wasn't an ordinary record player. It was small, smooth, and had just one button on the top.

Without hesitation, she pressed it.

A holographic map flickered to life above the device.

Howard's eyes widened. "Well, that's new."

The map showed the Arctic. Cold, empty, endless ice—except for a single red dot.

Over the red dot, glowing words appeared:

Location of Steve Rogers.

Howard felt his breath catch in his throat. He turned to Peggy. She was staring at the map, frozen, her hands clenched tight.

More words appeared beneath the red dot:

He's frozen in ice. Recovering him would be hard. SHIELD cannot be trusted yet. Solve the situation inside SHIELD. Keep your emotions in check. Don't do anything stupid. If they can make a scapegoat out of you, just imagine what they would do to him. 1 week is all you have. That serum you took is more than just your regular SSS. You will know soon enough. Take down the traitor and meet me at the location. 1 week is all I can give you. Good Luck.

Silence filled the room.

'You gotta be kidding me. Oh, Tony, these things you are doing ain't good for my heart,' Howard swallowed hard. "Well… that's not what I expected."

Peggy took a slow breath, her voice steady but sharp. "Who gave this to you, Howard?"

He hesitated. He could tell the truth. He could tell her it was Tony.

But if he did, she'd have more questions. Dangerous questions.

So instead, he just said, "Someone who wants to help."

Peggy didn't look away from the map. Her fingers hovered over the red dot, tracing it like she could reach through the projection and pull Steve out of the ice herself.

Howard knew that look.

She wasn't just going to sit here and do nothing. 

She found a little ray of hope after so many years and she won't let it go.

She was already planning how to get him back.

.

The player disintegrated into dust before their eyes, the holographic projection flickering out as if it had never existed. A faint hum lingered in the air for half a second, then silence.

Peggy's eyes remained locked on the empty space where the map had been. Her fingers, still hovering in midair, slowly curled into a fist.

Howard exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Well, that's one way to make sure no one traces it."

Peggy didn't respond right away. Instead, she sat back, taking in a deep breath before finally speaking. "Howard." Her voice was even, but there was an edge to it. "What are the chances that what I just saw is true?"

Howard didn't hesitate. Didn't even blink.

"One hundred percent."

Peggy turned sharply to face him,

Peggy smirked.

Then she stood.

Their hesitation cost them.

She lunged.

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