"We have the results!" Howard declares enthusiastically, raising the folder that contains information about me in the air. "You are pregnant."

"Hilarious." I roll my eyes and sit up. Spending the last two days with being bed-stricken was awfully boring since I literally had nothing to do and was under constant watch. Our old facility got destroyed which means the Alice in Wonderland book is gone. At least I could save the photo. "Now spill, I'm curious, considering how much blood you've taken from me the last days."

"You obviously became stronger but while Steve's strength quadruplicated, your strength just doubled. Fifty percent of the serum makes you immune against electricity, the other fifty percent gives you the faster heal ability, better reflexes and also the necessary strength. The lightning that hit you basically runs through your body now, it merged with your biology, thanks to the vita radiation. That results in your ability to produce but not control electricity. And I'm also almost a hundred percent sure that it'll forever stay like that. Any questions?"

"Yes." I nod, slightly dumbfounded and still processing but just one person runs through my mind. "When can I see Steve?"

"When you're able to control your powers. We're gonna train you and I unfortunately still have to take some of your blood for tests. Your biology isn't the same anymore, I need to analyze it exactly. But don't forget that your blood is special now. If Hydra gets it, they could recreate the super-soldier serum, even though it'll take centuries."

I let out a disappointed sigh. I miss Steve so much, he's my best friend and it's been over a month since the last time I had seen him. Also playing the lab rat is frustrating as hell, I want to go out and be helpful. "And where's Steve? How is he?"

"He's... on tour and has changed a lot, you probably won't recognize him when you see him again." Howard pauses for a second. "Is he your boyfriend?"

"No, he's family." I frown. "Wait, what do you mean he's on tour?"

"Well..." He scratches the back of his neck, looking nervously around but avoiding my glance. A slap on his chest from me makes him speak up. "As I said, he changed. When Dr. Erskine died, he could stop a Hydra agent from stealing the last dose serum that you then got, by the way. People saw him in public saving a little boy, so he became a national symbol, called Captain America."

"People... respect Steve now?" I raise a brow in the air, then a smile spreads over my lips. He finally won't get beat up anymore, I never ever have to worry that he comes home with bruises and wounds. "That's amazing! But seriously, Captain America? It's like he was born to become the national symbol."

"He even has a costume." Howard snickers, shaking slightly his head. Then he looks at me with a hint of fear in his brown eyes. "But does that mean you're not mad at me anymore? If it helps, I was the one who donated money to you during all those years."

"That was you?" Now I'm speechless, not able to hate him at all as I sigh again. "Thank you. It helped me a lot, even saved me. And no, I'm not mad at you anymore but it doesn't mean that I regret slapping you."

"I can live with that." He grins and walks to the door. "Meet you in the lab in an hour, your new training will start. You have time to rest till then."

I nod as he leaves my room and I lay down on my bed. Staring at the photo, I slightly smile and relief spreads over my chest. I'm gonna see you soon, Steve. He probably has more muscles now, maybe got even taller. But he is healthy and alright which is more than just enough for me.

The photo gets placed under my pillow and while my left hand is beneath my head, the right one is close in front of my eyes as I watch how a little voltage arises between my fingers. Still in astonishment, I stretch my hand and witness the electricity grow but when it starts spreading inexorably, I immediately form my hand to a fist, stopping it quickly. I'm aware of the fact that I can be dangerous now but my new power somehow fascinates me.

***

"We start with this bulb first, it's really easy. Light it up, so we'll know the amount of electricity that you can produce on purpose. Don't stress about it, feel free and don't let it trouble you." Howard points at the bulb on the table, explaining what I should do as if I was a little girl. Next to him is a watt-hour meter to measure the strength of my ability.

"Howard?"

"Yes."

"Shut up."

"One of the secondary effects, probably heightened emotions from the lightning. The electricity causes a faster thinking process and also the swift production of hormones." He takes notes loudly and I just roll with my eyes.

"I have faith in you, Miss Farrell." Mr Jarvis encourages me and I smile thankfully, then I turn around to the bulb, placing it in my hand. The good thing is that I can produce electricity whenever I want, at least I have that much control. The bad thing is that I don't know how to create it, which is why the bulb overheats and shatters into hundred pieces of glass. I let out a shriek and drop it before I get harmed.

"Well..." Howard looks for words but ends up shrugging. "We have hundred bulbs provided, don't feel bad about destroying them."

"Not helpful." I half glare at him and sigh. "I don't even know how to do this. How am I supposed to know how to do this if it's actually impossible to even do it?"

"Let me think..." He is quiet for once but the moment of silence doesn't last long. "When you produce it, do you actually feel it? Like are you aware that you use your abilities at this moment?"

"Yes." I nod. "I can produce it whenever I want but I can't control the amount of the strength. It's actually more like an impulse, it has nothing to do with science. When I took down the HYDRA agents, my only aim was to become stronger and to save us all. I didn't try to figure out how or what I did there, I just did it."

"That probably means that your power depends on your emotions. Your determination gave you the necessary strength, it took control over your ability." He sums up. "And right now, you're- "

"Insecure and under pressure." I cut him off, sighing. Then I take another bulb in my hand, focusing and concentrating on the power. I just need a little bit for the bulb to light up, just a little- smash. The bulb breaks again, falling to the ground. "And maybe impatient."

"Am I allowed to give you advice, Miss Farrell?" Jarvis asks in a formal tone and I nod. "I think the problem is that you're trying too hard. As you mentioned, it's like an impulse. You already succeed at producing it without deeply thinking about it, maybe you should just let it happen naturally, not compulsively."

I take another bulb and look at it. Just let it happen? It'd make sense if my power didn't suddenly grow in my room. But what if it just happened because I was distracted? Maybe I should be both- free and focused.

"Miss Farrell, I can see that you're in your thoughts. It's not gonna work like that." Jarvis speaks up and the bulb flies into pieces, glass cuts my hand and I groan. He gives me a snow-white tissue which I press on the little cuts.

"Doesn't the heat bother you?" Howard asks curiously, being on full scientist mode. "Do you even feel it?"

"I do but it doesn't hurt." I shrug, didn't really consider it. "Maybe because it's my own heat from the electricity that I produce. It's like you have a fever, just without the pain and sickness."

He immediately writes it down and I grin. If I just knew that science keeps him that distracted and well-behaved, I would have done it earlier. What a dork. I return the tissue to Mr Jarvis, letting out a deep breath. "Do you have more advice for me before I destroy the next bulb?"

"Firstly, believe in yourself. You did that when we got attacked and as you could see, it worked. Secondly, it is easy to be angry, rage gives you strength and that's how you can be also powerful. What is difficult though is to be calm and powerful at the same time, to actually control yourself. If you can light up the bulb, I am quite sure you can do everything. And thirdly, accept your new ability. It's part of your biology now, so I suggest you to embrace it."

I smile weakly at him and in moments like this, I even dare to imagine how it would have been if someone like Mr Jarvis was my father, a sweet bitterness melts into my heart. I had learned a long time ago that it is just a waste of time to imagine what could happen and what not. Placing the bulb in my hand and closing my eyes, I feel the impulse thump in my heart, running from there to my fingers.

"Eve, open your eyes." Howard demands and I do as he says, facing the yellow, bright light. A proud smirk appears on my lips as I look at him and Mr Jarvis.

"Well, would you look at that. The butler of a famous scientist and inventor is smarter than the colorable genius himself. How ironic and embarrassing life can actually be, right, Howard?"

"Oh, just shut up."

***

The last two months has been pretty exciting although it's been months now since I haven't seen Bucky and Steve. I spent my time with training and it is now easier for me to do fifty push-ups or to fight against men. In fact, I have always won so far, thanks to the serum. My endurance got better as well and my shooting skills are actually great but I still prefer not to use a gun, considering I'm a weapon myself now.

Howard had an interesting phase at the beginning of the month where he basically used me as a lab rat. He wanted to see how immune I was against electricity by letting my finger make contact with a plug socket. Result: nothing happened. I even once ran the electricity for the whole building but it didn't last long, just for seven minutes maybe. It was hard but I can control the amount of my power now, from a bulb to even a lightning.

Everyone looks at me in a different way, some respect me maybe too much while others seem to be scared of me. I hear names like Voltricity or the girl who took down Hydra. The only reason why I accepted Howard's operation name was because I couldn't think of a better one. And because he's stubborn and ignorant.

"I'm truly sorry that you have to do this again, Miss Farrell." Jarvis apologizes while taking some of my blood again. I'm feeling like Swiss cheese.

"It's okay." I force a smile and sigh. I have nothing against needles but it's really annoying. "I somehow have a faster heal process now. If you guys could recreate the super-soldier serum, we could save lives or maybe even heal diseases."

"Your blood is different from Mr Rogers'. The electricity got added to your biology, which is why it's even more special. I am sure that Mr Stark would do anything to create something like you again." He removes the needle and places a patch on my arm. "You must know that he's really proud of this creation, of you."

"I'm sure that he's gonna create more great things." I smile back and Howard runs into the lab, worry is mirrored on his face and I frown. "What's wrong? Another attack? Or are you about to get beat up by a girl again?"

"You have to promise me that you won't freak out." He suddenly blurts out and stares at me like I was a deer that is about to get shot. When I open my mouth to ask further, he quickly interrupts me. "Promise me!"

"God, okay, I promise." I roll with my eyes and wait for a logical explanation.

"I found him. I found your James, your Bucky, but... he belongs to the 1-0-7th, right? Two hundred men went against Hydra, less than fifty returned who are now get taken care of. The rest of his infantry regiment were killed or captured." His voice lowers and the shock numbs me, a shiver spreads over my skin. Killed or captured. He's killed or captured.

"So... I-it's possible that he's- he's captured, right?" My voice breaks and I try to remain optimistic, to believe that he was as stubborn as always and survived. "Howard, right?"

"I'm sorry, Eve. But the chance that he's dead is high." He disappoints me and my eyes widen as I press my lips together to hold back a sob or tear. "It's almost impossible that he's still alive."

"Where- where are they captured? D-do you know that?" I deny to believe that he's dead. He can't be dead, he's Bucky. "And can you also tell me where Steve is?"

"They're in Austria and Steve is currently in Italy." His brown eyes are filled with sympathy and pain, he feels bad for me. "I'm so sorry, Eve, I wish- "

"We're gonna pick up Steve. And... and then we will save the rest of the 1-0-7th." I decide and he looks surprised. "If there's still the slightest chance that he's alive, I'm gonna take it. I won't accept his death until I see his body. The rest of the infantry regiment deserves to get saved too, we need to try it."

"You know that you can't decide it easy like that." He sighs, afraid to disappoint me again.

"You said it's almost impossible that he's still alive. Do you know what else is impossible? I am. I should be actually dead, instead I became incredibly powerful which is actually impossible. I was a lab rat for the last months, you need to let me out, Howard." I look pleadingly at him. "Isn't there anyone you would risk your life for? Where you wouldn't hesitate a second to save that person?"

He stays quiet while I signal him a desperate please with my eyes. I have the time to mourn if I know that he's really dead. But now I have the chance to prevent this, I don't want to waste a second. Howard grins and glances at his friend and butler.

"A little trip to Italy would be a wonderful break from all those experiments now, right, Jarvis?"