What if… HYDRA experimented with crossbreeding Wanda & Pietro..?

“Herr Doctor List, it’s not like you to summon me to your laboratories so unexpectedly… Particularly after refusing to mention the topic of discussion beforehand,” Baron Strucker drew out, his voice dangerously calm.

True, Strucker had briefly considered the possibility that List was executing a coup in order to supplant him as Hydra leader-apparent… But the many stairwells and long corridors of the Sokovia HYDRA research base gave Strucker more than enough time to realise that a coup wasn’t very likely. One— though List was ambitious, he wasn’t eager to take the reins with the Avengers hunting for them. Two— the men were impressed with List’s wonder weapons, but they followed Strucker fanatically. Though Strucker concluded he had nothing to fear from Dr. List’s mysterious summons, he hadn’t the faintest clue what it was regarding. And considering the late hour, he was vexed.

If Doctor List was trying to project an air of calm, he was failing conclusively. Sweaty, furrowed brow; disheveled hair & glasses; pursed lips, and a gaze that refused to meet Strucker’s own: List was definitely bothered over something.

“Erhum, uh, mein leader! Eh.. Baron von- Wolfgang!” List finally spat out. “I, uh, I apologise about the late meeting. I assure you, no cloaks nor daggers intended. Erhm. It’s, uh, about a research topic, actually.”

Baron Strucker’s eye brows shot up— Doctor List *Never* requested Strucker’s insight into his scientific research! His curiosity was truly piqued now. “Indeed, herr Doctor? And what praytell is this research topic proposing?”

Doctor List was glad to see Strucker was as surprised as expected. Naturally as HYDRA’s lead scientist, List enjoyed keeping his mad science under his own control. He headed a plethora of research projects spanning a dozen fields, and as a result he well valued his autonomy over both direction and extent of research. … This particular topic was, however… delicate. Strucker was the head of HYDRA, and if anyone was suited to pushing this research project forward, it would be him.

“My leader, Baron von Strucker, it’s the Twins,” List continued.

“Oh? Don’t tell me they’ve regressed— I thought you mentioned a breakthrough in their mental recovery,” Strucker replied, slightly forlorn. The Maximoff Twins held Huge potential, but they were the Easter egg Strucker was least confident in. Every other volunteer had perished, and both the Twins’ sanity had seemed quite lost immediately after the initial sceptre-exposure.

“Oh no, the Twins themselves are fine. Allowing them access to each other has subdued the worst of their fits, and they’ve just barely begun speaking again. Not sentences mind you, still just nonsense phrases, but no, I expect great progress with Wanda and Pietro in the coming future.”

“Then what is the issue, Doctor? I’m afraid I don’t care for guessing games at this hour.”

“Well, we were able to finish taking their biological samples yesterday, the full spread: blood, hair, spinal fluid, erhm— gametes, bone marrow, stool, everything. Analysis was worked up overnight. We discovered something spectacular about their gametes, sir.”

“Gametes.. you mean, their sex cells— egg and sperm? What did you find?”

“Well, they display signs of containing Wanda and Pietro’s mutations! Not only did the experiment alter their DNA, but that mutation can be passed on to another generation!”

“Mein Gott im Himmel! You’re saying we may be able to manufacture an *Army* of super-powered mutants?!” Strucker practically shouted.

“Potentially-Yes!” List exclaimed back, his voice strangely cracking halfway through. “Of course we are limited right now by the production of Wanda’s gametes— our vats are unable to clone them successfully. Regardless, we proceeded with comprehensive analysis on trait phenomics and inheritance-compatibility, and well, uh. After computer-sourcing nearly 7 thousand trials, it’s not definitive that either of the Twins’ traits will pass on to another generation if they are crossed with a normal human’s genome…”

“Herr Doctor, I’m hardly a scientist. Are you suggesting what I think you are?” Strucker asked after List’s pause, struggling to connect the dots.

“My leader. I can practically guarantee you that Pietro and Wanda’s mutations can be reproduced. But only if I cross *Her* egg with *His* sperm!” List spat out, profuse sweats and inability to keep eye contact returning with a vengeance.

Strucker was immediately infected with the same affliction— his eyes widened, cheeks flushed, and train of thought wrecked. “WHAT! But That’s INCE— Erhuh, I mean. I mean… That’s…! You want to… You mean to… You think you can make more enhanced if you impregnate Wanda’s egg with her brother’s sperm?…?!”

“Yes.”

“You can guarantee me more supers, if you.. if you use Pietro’s sperm to fertilise his *SISTER’S* egg??” Strucker spat back, finally steeling his gaze onto List’s.

“Yes, sir! I can guarantee it!”

‘An army of enhanced super-soldiers, with both the Twins’ powers, all under my command!’ Strucker thought to himself. ‘It’s *Exactly* what HYDRA needs! How could I say no?! … Except… They are blood-related siblings. Mixing Wanda and Pietro’s sex cells would be.. Unthinkable! They are sister and brother! Twins, even! Could Hydra *Possibly* endorse such dire methods?!’ Strucker thought to himself, back and forth.

List saw the mental battle raging in Strucker’s head and didn’t envy him.

Even I, the Watcher, can see Strucker’s concern. No matter what, it keeps returning to that one impossible question: What if?