(Jared's POV)
Washington D.C...
Sam Wilson is jogging around Washington, D.C. with me when Steve quickly catches up to us and runs past us.
"On your left." Steve said.
"After being inside a Dalek. I decided to go on a jog." I said, as I continued to jog with Sam, with Steve coming around again quickly after doing another lap. "Seriously?"
"On your left." Steve said, looking between Sam and I.
"Uh-huh, on my left. Got it." Sam said.
As Sam and I are still jogging, Steve comes around again from behind us from another lap.
"Don't say it! Don't you say it!" Sam said, angrily.
"On your left!" Steve said, happily.
"Come on!" Sam yelled. "How do you know this guy?"
"He's a friend." I said, and Sam gets angry and tries to catch up to Steve with me, but only after a few seconds he's unable to carry on and stops to rest.
"An old friend. It looks like." Sam said, resting, catching his breath sitting by a tree with me.
Steve walks over to Sam and I, "Need a medic?"
Sam laughs, "I need a new set of lungs. Dude, you just ran like 13 miles in 30 minutes."
"I guess I got a late start." Steve said.
"Oh, really? You should be ashamed of yourself. You should take another lap." Sam said, hesitating for a moment before saying sarcastically. "Did you just take it? I assumed you just took it."
"What unit you with?"
"58, Pararescue. But now I'm working down at the VA." Sam said, holding his hand out to Steve. "Sam Wilson."
Steve gives Sam a hand to rise, "Steve Rogers. You've already met my friend, Jared Shay."
"Yeah I kind of put that together. Must have freaked you out coming home after the whole defrosting thing." Sam said, looking at Sam.
"It takes some getting used to. It's good to meet you, Sam." Steve said, turning to leave. "So, Jared. You said you were inside a Dalek."
"Miniaturized. Not the best adventure." I said, grabbing Steve's hand. "But I am still getting used to the Twelfth Doctor."
"He's the one with the eyebrows, right?"
"Yeah."
"It's your bed, right?" Sam asked, looking at Steve.
"What's that?" Steve asked.
"Your bed, it's too soft. When I was over there I'd sleep on the ground and use rock for pillows, like a caveman. Now I'm home, lying in my bed, and it's like..."
"Lying on a marshmallow. Feel like I'm gonna sink right to the floor." Steve said, while Sam smiles and nods his head. "How long?"
"Two tours." Sam said, causing some awkward silence. "You must miss the good old days, huh?"
"Well, things aren't so bad. Food's a lot better, we used to boil everything. No polio is good. Internet, so helpful. I've been reading that a lot trying to catch up." Steve said.
Sam looks up to think and raises finger, "Marvin Gaye, 1972, 'Trouble Man' soundtrack. Everything you've missed jammed into one album."
"I'll put it on the list." Steve said, happily. "Jared? Got any suggestions?"
Steve gets his small notebook and pen out and notes it down on his list which also includes - in the American version of the movie - I Love Lucy (Television); Moon Landing; Berlin Wall (Up + Down) Steve Jobs (Apple); Disco; Thai Food; Star Wars/Trek (with Star Wars crossed out, indicating that he has seen it); Nirvana (Band); Rocky (Rocky II?)
Steve and I get a text message: 'Mission alert. Extraction imminent. Meet at the curb. :)'
"Alright, Sam, duty calls for me and Jared. Thanks for the run. If that's what you wanna call running." Steve said, shaking Sam's hand.
"Oh, that's how it is?" Sam asked.
"Oh, that's how it is." Steve said, squeezing my hand.
"Okay." Sam said, laughing. "Any time the both of you wanna stop by the VA, make me look awesome in front of the girl at the front desk. Just let me know."
"I'll keep it in mind."
"Okay."
"After a long day like that, I could do with some Starbucks." I said, when Nat pulls up in her car by the curb and rolls down the window.
"Hey, fellas. Any of you know where the Smithsonian is? I'm here to pick up some fossils." Natasha said, looking out of the window.
"That's hilarious." Steve said, smirking.
"Just because I lived through the entire twentieth century and nine hundred years on Trenzalore. It doesn't make me a fossil." I said, walking over to Natasha's car and getting in with Steve.
"You travel across all of time and space in a big blue box with a madman and a control freak, Jared."
Sam gives Natasha and her car an appreciative look, "How you doing?"
"Hey." Natasha said, looking at Sam.
"Can't run everywhere." Steve said, smirking.
"No, you and Jared can't." Sam said, watching as Natasha quickly pulls away and drives off.
Jet...
The jet is flying over the Indian Ocean, with Steve, Nat, and I with SHIELD agents, led by Brock Rumlow.
"The target is a mobile satellite launch platform: The Lemurian Star. They were sending up their last payload when pirates took them, 93 minutes ago." Rumlow said.
"Were there any demands from the pirates?" I asked, taking out some chocolate chip cookies to snack on them.
"A billion and a half."
"Why so steep?" Steve asked.
"Because it's SHIELD's." Rumlow said.
"So it's not off-course, it's trespassing."
"I'm sure they have a good reason." Natasha said.
"You know, I'm getting a little tired of being Fury's janitor." Steve said.
"Is being Fury's janitor better or worse than the Doctor's babysitter?" I asked, tossing a chocolate chip cookie into my mouth.
"Worse."
"Relax, it's not that complicated." Natasha said, looking between Steve and I.
"How many pirates were there?" I asked, munching on the chocolate chip cookie.
"Twenty-five, top mercs, led by this guy. Georges Batroc." Rumlow said, showing us a photo of Batroc on the monitor. "Ex-DGSE, Action Division. He's at the top of Interpol's Red Notice. Before the French demobilized him, he had thirty-six kill missions. This guy's got a rep for maximum casualties."
"Hostages?" Steve asked.
"Uh...mostly techs. One officer, Jasper Sitwell." Rumlow said, pulling up Sitwell's photo on the monitor. "They're in the galley."
"What's Sitwell doing on a launch ship? Alright, I'm gonna sweep the deck and find Batroc. Nat, Jared, you'll kill the engines and wait for instructions. Rumlow, you sweep aft, find the hostages, get them to the life-pods, get 'em out. Let's move." Steve said.
"STRIKE, you heard the Cap. Gear up." Rumlow said, and we are getting ready to dive off the jet; into his radio.
"Secure channel seven." Steve said, talking into his wrist communicator.
"Seven secure. Did either of you do anything fun Saturday night?" Natasha asked.
"Besides playing Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Not really." I said, sadly.
"Well, all the guys from my barbershop quartet are dead, so... No, not really." Steve said, frowning.
"Coming up by the drop zone, Cap." The pilot said, on the radio.
"You know, Steve, if you ask Kristen out, from Statistics, she'd probably say yes." Natasha said, looking at Steve.
"That's why I don't ask." Steve said.
"Too shy or too scared?"
"Too busy!" Steve yelled, jumping out of the jet.
"Was he wearing a parachute?" The STRIKE agent asked.
Rumlow smiles, "No. No, he wasn't."
Ocean...
After jumping out the jet, Steve dives into the ocean.
Ship...
Steve climbs onto the ship, he then beats everyone on the deck swiftly before anyone raises the alarm when he's interrupted by one of the pirates pointing his gun at him.
"Don't move! Don't move." French Pirate #1 said, while he is shot dead by Rumlow as he parachutes down onto the deck behind Steve.
"Thanks." Steve said, looking at Rumlow.
"Yeah. You seemed pretty helpless without me." Rumlow said.
Natasha, another agent, and I parachute down onto the deck to join them.
"What about the nurse that lives across the hall from you? She seems kind of nice." Natasha said, happily.
"Secure the engine room, then find me a date." Steve said.
"I'm multitasking." Natasha said, jumping down to the lower deck with me.
"Should we pair up Steve with Captain Jack Harkness?" I asked, looking over at Nat.
"Probably not. Jack would flirt constantly with him."
Below deck, the pirates are holding the ship's crew, including Sitwell, hostage.
"I said to Batroc, if we want SHIELD to pay, we have to start sending them bodies now!" French Pirate #1 said, looking at the hostages. "I have a bullet for someone. You want a bullet in your head?! Do you want one? Eh?" He kicks one of the hostage's legs. "Move your leg. Want a bullet in your head?"
Meanwhile on the deck, Steve moves quickly to find the hostages; in the control room.
"I do not like to wait. Call Durand. I want the ship ready to move when the ransom arrives." George Batroc said.
"Yes, Batroc." The French Pirate said, making the call. "Durand. Start the engine."
"Okay." Durand said, putting the phone down, turns and sees Natasha and I behind him.
"Hey, sailor." Natasha said, quickly knocking Durand down. "Jared. Is the TARDIS translating French for you?"
"Yeah." I said, managing to swing below deck with Natasha, with the two of us shooting several of the pirates on the way. "It hangs around."
"Shut up." A French pirate said, to one of the hostages.
"You don't move! But what's this? Want to play hero, is that it? You'd better not!" French Pirate #1 yelled, looking at the hostages who keep their heads down. "Well, I've waited long enough." He goes over to the locked door and bangs on it to get the attention of the pirate guarding outside. "Hey, look for Batroc. If I do not hear anything in two minutes, I'll start to kill them!"
"Okay. I'll find him!" French Pirate #2 said, angrily.
As the pirate turns to leave Rumlow, who's standing behind him with a stun gun, shoots him, on the other side of the door the other pirate senses something but dismisses it.
"Two minutes." French Pirate #1 said.
Rumlow and another STRIKE Agent place a bomb on the locked door.
(Open POV)
Control room...
"Radio silence from SHIELD, Batroc." The French Pirate said.
Steve watches them from the deck, another STRIKE agent is getting in position.
"Targets acquired." The STRIKE agent said.
Below deck...
Rumlow points his gun at the bomb placed against the door where the hostages are being kept, "STRIKE in position."
"Natasha, Jared, what's your status?" Steve asked, talking into his radio.
Natasha and Jared jumping down below deck to knock out one of the pirates.
"Status, Natasha, Jared?" Steve asked.
"Hang on!" Natasha yelled, and the pirate attacked her and Jared.
"I got this." Jared said, knocking the pirate out.
"Engine room secure." Nat said, talking into her radio.
Natasha grabs a pipe from the ground and knocks out one of the pirates
"Time's up. Who wants to die first?" French Pirate #1 asked, looking at one of his men. "Hey, you! Take the girl."
"On my mark. Three. Two. One." Steve said, talking into his radio.
The STRIKE team start shooting at the pirates, blow open the door and Rumlow quickly kills the head pirate.
"I told you, SHIELD doesn't negotiate." Jasper Sitwell said.
Control room...
One of Batroc's men tries to get hold of the pirate below deck.
"Hello? Batroc, the line is dead. I lost contact with them." The French Pirate said.
Just then, Steve smashes in through the window using his shield but Batroc manages to escape.
"Hostages en route to extraction. Romanoff and Shay missed the rendezvous point, Cap. Hostiles are still in play." Rumlow said, looking at Steve as he goes looking for Batroc.
"Natasha, Jared, Batroc's on the move. Circle back to Rumlow and protect the hostages." Steve said, getting no reply from Natasha and Jared. "Natasha! Jared!"
All of a sudden, Batroc kicks Steve, and they fight. The former is faring surprisingly well against the super soldier, his fighting style includes acrobatic moves.
"I thought that you were more than just a shield." Batroc said, performing a flic flac and halts the fight.
Steve puts the shield on his back and takes off his mask. Batroc smirks.
"Let's see." Steve said.
They start fighting again. But this time, Steve quickly turns the tide in his favor. He kicks him in the right leg, the stomach, and then performs a downwards somersault kick to the face, knocking him down.
Batroc stands up with visible struggle. Steve smashes him through the door of a room and knocks him out with a strong punch to the face.
"Well, this is awkward." Natasha said, sadly.
"What are you doing?" Steve asked, looking between Jared and Natasha.
"Backing up the hard drive. It's a good habit to get into." Natasha said.
"Rumlow needed your help. What the hell are the both of you doing here?" Steve asked, going over to Natasha and Jared and looks at what they were backing up. "You two are saving SHIELD Intel."
"Whatever I can get my hands on." Natasha said.
"Honestly. Same. I'm backing this up to my sonic screwdriver to save for later." Jared said, scanning the computer with his sonic screwdriver. "In case the flash drive gets destroyed, I can use my sonic screwdriver."
"That's smart." Natasha said, and Jared placed his sonic screwdriver inside his sling bag after it was done copying the information.
"Our mission is to rescue hostages." Steve said, looking between Natasha and Jared.
"No. That's your mission." Natasha said, finishing backing up and pulls the flash drive out. "And you've done it beautifully."
As Natasha goes to leave with Jared, Steve grabs her arm.
"You and Jared just jeopardized this whole operation." Steve said, frowning.
"I think that's overstating things." Natasha said.
Suddenly, Batroc rises and throws a grenade at the two as he runs off, Steve deflects the bomb with his shield, grabs Natasha and Jared and jumps through a window before it explodes.
"Okay. That one's on me and Jared." Natasha said, sadly.
"You're damn right." Steve said.
The Triskelion, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters...
Steve walks into Fury's office, "You just can't stop yourself from lying, can you?"
"I didn't lie. Agent Romanoff and the President of Earth had a different mission than yours." Nick said.
"Which you didn't feel obliged to share." Steve said.
"I'm not obliged to do anything."
"Those hostages could've died, Nick."
"I sent the greatest soldier in history to make sure that didn't happen."
"Soldiers trust each other, that's what makes it an army. Not a bunch of guys running around and shooting guns."
"The last time I trusted someone, I lost an eye. Look, I didn't want you doing anything you weren't comfortable with. Agent Romanoff and the President of Earth are comfortable with everything." Nick said, looking at Steve.
"I can't lead a mission when the people I'm leading have missions of their owns." Steve said.
"It's called compartmentalization. Nobody spills the secrets because nobody knows them all."
"Except you."
"You're wrong about me. I do share. I'm nice like that." Nick said, stepping into an elevator with Steve following behind him. "Insight bay."
Elevator...
"Captain Rogers does not have clearance for Project Insight." The SHIELD computer said.
"Director override, Fury, Nicholas J." Nick said.
"Confirmed."
The elevator starts moving down.
"You know, they used to play music." Steve said, happily.
"Yeah. My grandfather operated one of these things for forty years. My granddad worked in a nice building, he got good tips." Nick said, looking up. "He'd walk home every night, roll of ones stuffed in his lunch bag. He'd say 'hi', people would say hi back. Time went on, neighborhood got rougher. He'd say 'Hi', they'd say, 'Keep on steppin'. Granddad got to grippin' that lunch bag a little tighter."
"Did he ever get mugged?"
"Every week, some punk would say, 'What's in the bag?'"
"What did he do?"
"He'd show 'em. Bunch of crumpled ones and loaded .22 Magnum." Nick said, smiling. "Granddad loved people. But he didn't trust them very much."
As they continue to ride down the elevator, Steve notices the giant Helicarriers.
The Triskelion, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters...
"Yeah, I know. They're a little bit bigger than a .22." Nick said, showing Steve round. "This is Project Insight. Three next generation Helicarriers synced to a network of targeting satellites."
"Launched from the Lemurian Star." Steve said, looking at the Helicarriers.
"Once we get them in the air they never need to come down. Continuous suborbital flight courtesy of our new repulsor engines."
"Stark?"
"Well, he had a few suggestions once he got an up close look at our old turbines. These new long range precision guns can eliminate a thousand hostiles a minute. The satellites can read a terrorist's DNA before he steps outside his spider hole. We gonna neutralize a lot of threats before they even happen."
"I thought the punishment usually came after the crime."
"We can't afford to wait that long."
"Who's 'we'?" Steve asked.
"After New York, the Planetary Relocation Incident, the 456, and Miracle Day. There was also World War III being a battle between science and magic, the Lunar Attack, and the Frontier Incident. I convinced the World Security Council we needed a quantum surge in threat analysis. For once, we're way ahead of the curve." Nick said.
"By holding a gun at everyone on Earth and calling it protection."
"You know, I read those SSR files. Greatest generation? You guys did some nasty stuff."
"Yeah, we compromised. Sometimes in ways that made us not sleep so well. But we did it so the people could be free. This isn't freedom, this is fear."
"SHIELD takes the world as it is, not as we'd like it to be. It's getting damn near past time for you to get with that program, Cap."
"Don't hold your breath." Steve said, turning and walks off.
Washington D.C...
Steve takes off on his motorcycle.
Smithsonian Museum...
There is an exhibit dedicated to Captain America.
"A symbol to the nation. A hero to the world. The story of Captain America is one of honor, bravery and sacrifice." The Smithsonian Narrator said.
Steve, keeping his face hidden under a baseball cap, walks over to the exhibition.
"Welcome to the Smithsonian." A woman on the PA said, faintly. "Visitor information booths are available on the second level."
"Denied enlistment due to poor health, Steven Rogers was chosen for a program unique in the annals of American warfare. One that would transform him into the world's first super soldier." The Smithsonian Narrator said.
A boy recognizes Steve causing him to smile and puts his finger against his mouth to indicate for the boy to keep quiet. The boy nods, Steve then watches some old footage of himself.
"In this rare footage, everyone's favorite war hero, Captain America..." The Old Footage Recording said.
Steve goes to the display where there are mannequins with costumes of Steve's old commando squad.
"Battle tested, Captain America and his Howling Commandos quickly earned their stripes. Their mission, taking down HYDRA, the Nazi rogue science division." The Smithsonian Narrator said, while Steve walks over to a display of his friend Bucky Barnes. "Best friends since childhood, Bucky Barnes and Steven Rogers were inseparable on both schoolyard and battlefield. Barnes is the only Howling Commando to give his life in service of his country."
Steve watches an older looking Peggy Carter being interviewed.
"That was a difficult winter. A blizzard had trapped half our battalion behind the German line. Steve..." Peggy said, hesitating. "Captain Rogers, he fought his way through a HYDRA blockade that had pinned our allies down for months. He saved over a thousand men, including the man who would later become my husband. Even after he died, Steve was still changing my life."
Steve looks at the photo of Peggy he'd kept in his old compass.
Hospital...
Steve visits Peggy, who is now lying sick in bed.
"You should be proud of yourself, Peggy." Steve said, looking at Peggy's family photos by her bedside table showing her with her children.
"Mm. I have lived a life. My only regret is that you didn't get to live yours." Peggy said, as Steve looks sad. "What is it?"
"For as long as I can remember I just wanted to do what was right. I guess I'm not quite sure what that is anymore. And I thought I could throw myself back in and follow orders, serve. It's just not the same."
Peggy chuckles, "You're always so dramatic. Look, you saved the world. We rather...mucked it up."
"You didn't. Knowing that you helped found SHIELD is half the reason I stayed."
Peggy takes Steve's hand, "Hey. The world has changed and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best, and sometimes the best that we can do is to start over."
Peggy starts to cough.
Steve turns to get Peggy some water and goes to hand it to her, "Peggy."
Suddenly, Peggy looks at Steve like she's seeing him for the first time since he was frozen, "Steve?"
"Yeah." Steve said, happily.
"You're alive! You...you came, you came back." Peggy said, smiling.
"Yeah, Peggy."
Peggy begins to cry, "It's been so long. So long."
"Well, I couldn't leave my best girl. Not when she owes me a dance."
Fury's office...
Fury is alone in his office; to his voice controlled computer.
"Secure office." Nick said, as all the windows are blackened.
Fury takes out the flash drive Natasha had downloaded all the files from the Lemurian Star and places it in his computer.
"Open Lemurian Star's satellite launch file." Nick said.
"Access denied." The SHIELD computer said.
"Run decryption."
"Decryption failed."
"Director override, Fury, Nicholas J."
"Override denied. All files sealed."
"On whose authority?"
"Fury, Nicholas J."
Fury looks confused and worried.
Elevator...
Fury enters the elevator, "World Security Council."
"Confirmed." The SHIELD computer said.
The Triskelion, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters...
Alexander Pierce is holding a virtual meeting with the World Security Council.
"If Nick Fury thinks he can get his costumed thugs and STRIKE commandos to mop-up his mess, he's sadly mistaken. This failure is unacceptable." Councilman Rockwell said.
"Well, considering this attack took place one mile from my country's sovereign waters, it's a bit more than that. I move for immediate hearing." Councilman Singh said.
"We don't need hearings, we need action. It's this Council's duty to oversee SHIELD." Councilwoman Hawley said.
"A breach like this raises serious questions." Councilman Yen said.
"Like how the hell did a French pirate manage to hijack a covert SHIELD vessel in broad daylight?" Councilman Rockwell asked.
"For the record, councilman, he's Algerian. I can draw a map if it'll help." Alexander Pierce said.
"I appreciate your wit, Secretary Pierce. But this Council take things like international piracy fairly seriously."
"Really? I don't. I don't care about one boat, I care about the fleet. If this Council is going to fall a rancor every time someone pushes us on the playing field, maybe we need someone to oversee us."
"Mr. Secretary, nobody is suggesting..." Councilman Yen said.
They are interrupted by Pierce's assistant walking in and whispering something to Pierce; to the council.
"Excuse me." Pierce said, looking at the Council.
"More trouble, Mr. Secretary?" Councilman Rockwell asked.
"It depends on your definition." Pierce said, while the meeting ends as he leaves. "I work forty floors away and it takes a hijacking for you to visit?"
"A nuclear war would do it too." Nick said, shaking Pierce's hand and he refers to the Secretary's meeting with the World Security Council. "Busy in there?"
"Nothing some earmarks can't fix." Pierce said, smiling.
"I'm, uh...here to ask a favor. I want you to call for a vote. Project insight has to be delayed." Nick said.
"Nick, that's not a favor, that's a subcommittee hearing. A long one."
"It could be nothing, probably is nothing. I just need time to make sure it's nothing."
"What if it's something?"
"Then we'll both be damn glad those Helicarriers aren't in the air."
Pierce hesitates a moment before replying, "Fine. But you gotta get Iron Man to stop by my niece's birthday party."
Nick shakes Pierce's hand, "Thank you, sir."
"And not just a flyby, he's got to mingle." Pierce said, turning and leaving.
Veteran Affairs...
Steve and Jared goes to a PTSD group meeting where Sam is counselling other veterans.
"The thing is I think it's getting worse. A cop pulled me over last week, he thought I was drunk. I swerved to miss a plastic bag. I thought it was an IED." A female war veteran said.
"Some stuff you leave there, other stuff you bring back. It's our job to figure out how to carry it. Is it gonna be in a big suitcase or in a little man-purse? It's up to you." Sam said.
After the meeting ends, Steve and Jared wait for Sam as he finishes saying goodbye to the veterans.
"I'll see you next week." The female war veteran said, happily.
"Yeah." Sam said, smiling.
"Yeah."
Sam walks over to Steve and Jared, "Look who it is. The running man and the fanboy."
"Nice meeting." Jared said, snacking on a burger from Burger King.
"We caught the last few minutes. It's pretty intense." Steve said, sadly.
"Yeah, brother, we all got the same problems. Guilt, regret." Sam said, frowning.
"Did you lose someone while in battle?" Jared asked, still eating his burger.
"My wingman, Riley. Flying a night mission.Standard PJ rescue op, nothing we hadn't done a thousand times before, till RPG knock Riley's dumb ass out of the sky. Nothing I could do. It's like I was up there just to watch."
"I'm sorry." Steve said, looking at Sam.
"Sorry to hear that." Jared said, letting out a sigh.
"After that, I had really hard time finding a reason for being over there, you know?" Sam asked.
"But you're happy now, back in the world?" Steve asked.
"Hey, the number of people giving me orders is down to about zero. So, hell, yeah. You thinking about getting out?"
"No. I don't know. To be honest, I don't know what I would do with myself if I did."
"Ultimate fighting?" Sam asked, making Steve laugh. "It's just a great idea off the top of my head. But seriously, you could do whatever you want to do. What makes you happy?"
"I don't know." Steve said, looking over at Jared. "Jared, do you know what makes me happy?"
"I do." Jared said, looking down at the floor. "But it's spoilers. I really wish I could tell you, Steve."
Washington D.C...
Fury drives through the city.
Fury's car...
Fury instructs his car computer to make a call.
"Activating communications encryption protocol." Fury's car said.
"Open secure line zero-four-zero-five." Nick said.
"Confirmed."
"This is Hill." Maria said.
"I need you here in D.C. Deep shadow conditions." Nick said.
"Give me four hours."
"You have three, over." Nick said, stopping at a red traffic light, he looks over to the next car and sees the two police officers in the car look at him with suspicion. "Want to see my lease?"
Washington D.C...
The policemen quickly sound their police horn once before they start to drive off, as Fury goes to drive off suddenly another police car smashes into his car, his car is then surrounded by several other police cars crashing into him.
Fury's car...
Fury is injured.
"Fracture detected. Recommend anesthetic injection." Fury's car said, as Nick is giving himself the injection a SWAT team truck pulls up. "D.C. Metro Police dispatch shows no units in this area."
Fury is surrounded by the police and SWAT team, he quickly realizes they are all disguised mercenaries; to his car computer.
"Get me out of here!" Nick yelled, and the mercenaries suddenly start shooting at Fury's car.
"Propulsion systems offline." Fury's car said.
"Then reboot, dammit!" Nick said, and the armor on his vehicle starts to become weaker when the mercenaries bring out a battering ram to break in.
"Warning! Window integrity compromised."
"You think? How long to propulsion?"
"Calculating." Fury's car said, while the mercenaries start to use the battering ram on Fury's car window. "Window Integrity thirty-one percent. Deploying countermeasures."
"Hold that order!" Nick said, as the battering ram smashed against the car window again.
"Window Integrity nineteen percent. Offensive measures advised."
"Wait!" Nick yelled, and the battering ram smashed against the window again.
"Window Integrity one percent."
"Now!" Nick said, while a minigun pulled up from inside the car.
Fury uses the minigun to return fire on the mercenaries causing the SWAT truck and some of the police cars to explode.
"Propulsion systems now online." Fury's car said.
"Full acceleration, now!" Nick said, as he continues to fire at the mercenaries Fury's car automatically backs up and drives off. "Initiate vertical takeoff!"
"Flight systems damaged."
"Then activate guidance cameras!" Nick said, and he goes over into the drivers seat. "Give me the wheel!" He takes over driving his car as the mercenaries chase after him in their police cars. "Get me Agent Hill."
"Communications array damaged." Fury's car said.
"Well, what's not damaged?" Nick asked.
"Air conditioning is fully operational." Fury's car said, while the police cars continue to chase after Fury as he weaves through the cars on the road. "Traffic ahead."
"Give me an alternate route." Nick said.
"Traffic alert on Roosevelt Bridge. All vehicles stopped. 17th Avenue clear in three blocks, directly ahead." Fury's car said, as Fury heads into the traffic.
Nick smashes into some cars causing a pile up which stops the police cars, the mercenaries get out and start shooting at his car. He manages to kill two of the mercenaries by running them down before getting past the traffic, but the remaining mercenaries continue to chase after him and manage to sandwich his vehicle between them.
"Warning, approaching intersection." Fury's car said, and they approach the intersection Fury manages to shake off the two police cars, killing off the mercenaries.
"GET ME. OFF. THE GRID." Nick Fury said, annoyed.
"Calculating route to secure location." Fury's car said.
Nick sees a mysterious figure emerge ahead in the middle of the road. It suddenly shoots a bomb that attaches itself to his vehicle causing it to explode and flip over. Trapped inside his car, Nick watches as the figure walks over to the car but he manages to escape just in time by using a laser weapon to burn a hole out.
Steve's apartment complex...
As Steve is walking to his apartment, he hears his pretty neighbor talking on the phone as she goes to do her laundry.
"That's so sweet. That is so nice. Hey. I gotta go, though. Okay, bye." Sharon said, turning to Steve. "My aunt, she's kind of an insomniac." Steve smiles at her. "Yeah."
"Hey, if you want...if you want, you're welcome to use my machine. Might be cheaper than the one in the basement." Steve said, happily.
"Oh, yeah? What's it cost?"
"A cup of coffee?"
"Thank you, but um...I already have a load in downstairs, and, uh...you really don't want my scrubs in your machine. I'm just finished orientation in the infectious diseases ward, so."
"Ah, well, I'll keep my distance.""Well hopefully not too far." Sharon said, as Steve nods and turns to go into his apartment. "Oh, and I think you left your stereo on."
"Oh. Right, thank you." Steve said, smiling.
"Yeah." Sharon said.
Steve watches Sharon go down the stairs before turning in suspicion to his door.
Steve's apartment...
Steve hears music as he cautiously enters his apartment though the window, he grabs his shield for protection and finds Fury sitting on his couch in the dark and Jared is listening to Diamond City Lights on his iPhone 15 Pro Max.
"I don't remember giving you or Jared a key." Steve said, looking between Nick and Jared.
"You really think I'd need one? My wife kicked me out." Nick said.
"Didn't know you were married."
"A lot of things you don't about me."
"I know, Nick. That's the problem." Steve said, turning on the light.
Steve notices Fury's injuries for the first time, but Jared indicates for him to be silent.
"That's not the problem." Jared said, turning off the lights using his sonic screwdriver and typed something on his phone to show it to Steve. 'People are listening.'
"I'm sorry to have to do this, but I had no place else to crash." Nick said.
"He really didn't." Jared said, typing another text to show it to Steve. 'SHIELD's been compromised.'
"Who else knows about your wife?" Steve asked.
Fury types and shows Steve a text on his phone; 'You, me, and Jared'.
"Just...my friends." Nick said.
"Is that what we are?" Steve asked.
"That's up to you." Nick said.
Suddenly Fury is shot three times from through the wall and collapses, Steve looks out the window for the shooter. Steve and Jared quickly drag Fury to the next room, before Steve leaves with the fanboy, Fury hands him the flash drive.
"Don't...trust anyone." Nick said, passing out.
Steve hears someone breaking into his apartment and hears his neighbor calling out to him.
"Captain Rogers?" Sharon asked, while Steve sees her walking in with her gun pointed. "Captain, I'm Agent 13 of SHIELD Special Service."
"Kate?" Steve asked.
"I'm assigned to protect you and the President." Sharon said.
"On whose order?" Steve asked.
Sharon notices Fury lying injured on the ground.
"His." Sharon said, going to Fury then contacts SHIELD through her radio. "Foxtrot is down, he's unresponsive. I need EMTs."
"Do you have a twenty on the shooter?" A SHIELD agent asked.
"No..." Jared said, as Steve notices the shooter through the window.
"Tell him I'm in pursuit." Steve said, smashing through his window and runs after the assassin, who is the same mysterious man that had exploded Fury's car.
Steve chases the assassin through an office building smashing through the walls, when he finally catches up with him on the roof he throws his shield at the assassin, but he catches it with one swift move, then throws it back to Steve and then jumps down the building and disappears.
(Jared's POV)
Hospital...
Natasha goes to the hospital and meets up with Steve and I, we watch doctors operating on Fury.
"Is he gonna make it?" Natasha asked.
"I don't know." Steve said, sadly.
"Neither do I. Time changes with me being here." I said, letting out a sigh.
"Tell me about the shooter." Natasha said.
"He's fast and strong. Had a metal arm." Steve said, and Agent Maria Hill also joins us.
"Ballistics?" Natasha asked.
"Three slugs, no rifling. Completely untraceable." Maria said.
"Soviet-made." Natasha said.
"Yeah." Maria said, while we watch in shock as Fury's state deteriorates.
"He's in V-tach." A male nurse said.
"Crash cart coming in." A female nurse said.
"Nurse, help me with the drape." The doctor said.
"BP is dropping." The male nurse said.
"Defibrillator!" The doctor yelled, and Steve, Natasha, Hill, and I watched in shock as Fury is flatlining. "I want you to charge him at one hundred."
"Don't do this to me, Nick." Natasha said, frowning.
"Nick. You're the reason why Natasha and Clint met." I said, grabbing Natasha's hand. "You can't die on her now."
"Stand back! Three, two, one. Clear!" The doctor said, while Fury is given a shock with the defibrillator. "Pulse?"
"No pulse." The male nurse said.
"No pulse." Doctor #1 said.
"Okay. 200, please. Stand back! Three, two, one. Clear!" The doctor said, as Fury is given another shock. "Give me epinephrine! Pulse?"
"Negative." The male nurse said.
"Don't do this to me, Nick. Don't do this to me." Natasha said, and the four of us watch the doctors as they continue to revive Fury.
"Come on, Nick..." I said, while Fury is still showing as flatlining, Steve turns away as they finally call his time of death.
"What's the time?" The doctor asked.
"1:03, Doctor." The female nurse said.
"Time of death, 1:03 a.m."
Steve looks down at the flash drive Fury had given him.
Natasha, Steve, and I are in a room where Fury's dead body has been laid out, Natasha is looking at Fury's body with tears running down her face, Hill joins us.
"I need to take him." Maria said, while Steve goes over to Natasha.
"Natasha." Steve said, as Natasha doesn't respond, instead she tenderly touches Fury's head then turns and walks out.
"Nat..." I said, and Steve followed Natasha with me.
"Natasha!" Steve yelled.
"Why was Fury in your apartment?" Natasha asked.
"I don't know." Steve said, while we are interrupted by Rumlow.
"Cap, they want you and Jared back at SHIELD." Rumlow said.
"Yeah, give us a second."
"They want you and Jared now."
"Okay." Steve said, turning to Natasha.
"You're a terrible liar." Natasha said, turning and walking off.
"STRIKE team, escort Captain Rogers and the President of the World back to SHIELD immediately for questioning." Sitwell said, on the earpiece.
"I told them." Rumlow said.
"Sorry, Nat." I said, and Steve notices the vending machine next to us.
Steve is walking towards Rumlow with me, "Let's go."
"Yeah." Rumlow said, looking at the agents. "STRIKE, move it out."
As we leave, Steve has hid the flash drive behind a pack of gums in the vending machine.
SHIELD...
Steve and I are brought to Pierce who is talking to Agent 13.
"For whatever it's worth, you did your best." Pierce said.
"Thank you, sir." Sharon said, while she turns to leave she sees Steve. "Captain Rogers."
Steve replied coldly as he walked towards Pierce, "Neighbor."
"Hey, Share." I said, walking up to Sharon to hug her. "Everything good?"
"Yeah." Sharon said, letting go of me. "It is."
"Ah, Captain.. I'm Alexander Pierce." Pierce said, looking at Steve.
"Sir, it's an honor." Steve said, shaking Pierce's hands.
"The honor is mine, Captain. My father served in the 101st. Come on in." Pierce said, as we entered his where he showed Steve and I an old photo of Fury with Pierce."That photo was taken five years after Nick and I met. When I was at State Department in Bogota. ELN rebels took the embassy, and security got me out, but the rebels took hostages. Nick was deputy chief for the SHIELD station there. And he comes to me with a plan. He wants to storm the building through the sewers. I said, 'No, we'll negotiate'. Turned out the ELN didn't negotiate, so they put out a kill order. They stormed the basement, and what did they find? They find it empty. Nick had ignored my direct order and carried out an unauthorized military operation on foreign soil. He saved the lives of a dozen political officers, including my daughter."
"So you gave Nick a promotion." I said, sipping on a bottle of Coke.
"I've never had any cause to regret it. Captain, why was Nick in your apartment last night?" Pierce asked.
"I don't know." Steve said, sadly.
"You know it was bugged?"
"I did, because Jared told me."
"Did Jared tell you Nick was the one who bugged it?" Pierce asked, as Steve doesn't reply obviously not knowing this information. "I want you to see something."
Pierce brings up footage of Batroc being interrogated.
"Who hired you, Batroc?" A SHIELD agent asked.
"Is that live?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, they picked him up last night in a not-so-safe house in Algiers." Pierce said.
"Are you saying he's a suspect? Assassination isn't Batroc's line."
"No, it's more complicated than that. Batroc was hired anonymously to attack the Lemurian Star and he was contacted by e-mail and paid by wire transfer. And then the money was run through seventeen fictitious accounts, the last one going to a holding company that was registered to a Jacob Veech."
"Am I supposed to know who that is?" Steve asked.
Pierce hands Steve the file, "Not likely. Veech died six years ago. His last address was 14-35 Elmhurst Drive. When I first met Nick, his mother lived at 14-37."
"Are you saying Fury hired the pirates? Why?"
"The prevailing theory was that the hijacking was a cover for the acquisition and sale of classified intelligence. The sale went sour and that led to Nick's death." Pierce said.
"If you really knew Nick Fury you'd know that's not true." Steve said.
"Why do you think we're talking? See, I took a seat on the Council not because I wanted to but because Nick asked me to, because we were both realists. We knew that despite all the diplomacy and the handshaking and the rhetoric, that to build a really better world sometimes means having to tear the old one down. And that makes enemies. Those people that call you dirty because you got the guts to stick your hands in the mud and try to build something better. And the idea that those people could be happy today, makes me really, really angry." Pierce said, and he hesitates a moment. "Captain, you and Jared were the last ones to see Nick alive. I don't think that's an accident, and I don't think you do either. So I'm gonna ask again, why was he there?"
"Can't say." I said, sadly.
"He told me not to trust anyone." Steve said.
"I wonder if that included him. " Pierce said.
Steve pauses a moment before replying, "I'm sorry. Those were his last words. Excuse me."
Steve picks up his shield, places it on his back and starts to make his out of the office with me.
"Captain." Pierce said, while Steve stops and looks at him. "Somebody murdered my friend and I'm gonna find out why. Anyone gets in my way, they're gonna regret it. Anyone."
"Understood." Steve said, turning and leaving with me. "Any hints?"
"HYDRA's here." I said, after Steve and I left Pierce's office, we stepped into the elevator.
"Operations control." Steve said.
"Confirmed." The SHIELD computer said.
Just as the elevator doors are about to close, Rumlow steps in with two STRIKE agents.
"Keep all STRIKE personnel on site." Rumlow said.
"Understood." STRIKE agent #1 said.
"Yes, sir." STRIKE agent #2 said.
"Forensics." Rumlow said.
"Confirmed." The SHIELD computer said.
"Cap. Jared." Rumlow said, looking between Steve and I.
"Rumlow." Steve said, as the elevator doors close and we start riding down.
"Evidence Response found some fibres on the roof they want us to see. You want me to get the tac-team ready?" Rumlow asked.
"No, let's wait and see what it is first." Steve said.
"Right." Rumlow said.
"You're right with the hint, Jared." Steve said, noticing one of the agents touching his weapon suspiciously.
"I know." I said, when the elevator stops and more SHIELD and STRIKE agents enter.
"What's the status so far?" SHIELD agent #1 asked.
"Administrations level." SHIELD agent #2 said.
"Confirmed." The SHIELD computer said.
"Excuse me." SHIELD agent #2 said, looking between Steve and I.
"I'm sorry about what happened with Fury. Messed up, what happened to him." Rumlow said, looking between Steve and I.
"Thank you." Steve said, feeling something is off, he looks at the agents in the elevator and notices one of them is sweating. "You knew this was coming."
"Yup." I said, and the elevator stops and more agents enter. "I did."
"Records." STRIKE agent #3 said.
"Confirmed." The SHIELD computer said, while the elevator doors close Steve realizes he and I are being surrounded by agents.
"Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?" Steve asked.
There's a moment's pause before suddenly one of the agents turns and uses an electric rod to give me a shock, the others grab Steve and try to strap his wrists with magnetic cuffs, Steve manages to knock some of them down but one cuff remains, then Rumlow uses his rod to give Steve a shock.
(Open POV)
Control room...
As Steve and Jared are being attacked, Sitwell is in a control room watching them from a monitor.
"Mobilize STRIKE units, 25th floor." Sitwell said.
(Jared's POV)
Elevator...
"Hang on." I said, freeing Steve from the magnetic cuff by activating my sonic screwdriver with the two of us knocking all the agents down. "I did it."
Steve and I turned to Rumlow.
"Whoa, big guy. I just want you to know, Cap, this ain't personal." Rumlow said, while he goes to attack Steve and I with his electric rod.
Steve and I manage to defend ourselves and eventually knock Rumlow out.
"It kind of feels personal." Steve said, picking up his shield then opens the elevator doors.
"Bad idea." I said, as Steve and I are faced by a team of STRIKE agents pointing their weapons at us. "Shit."
"Drop the shield! Put your hands in the air!" The 25th Floor STRIKE agent yelled.
Steve uses his shield to break off the elevator wires which sends the elevator down, as he forces the doors open he sees more STRIKE agents approaching him, he closes the door and looks for a way out.
"Give it up, Rogers, Shay! Get that door open! You have nowhere to go!" The STRIKE agent said, angrily.
Steve grabbed my hand and broke through the glass in the elevator. We plummet down to finally hit the ground floor.
(Open POV)
Sitwell's office...
From his monitor, Sitwell watches in shock as Steve and Jared get up and start running off.
"Are you kidding me?" Sitwell asked, ordering the STRIKE team. "They're headed for the garage. Lock down the bridge!"
Steve rides out of the SHIELD garage on his motorcycle with Jared holding his arms around his waist, evading the obstacles laid out but then a Quinjet emerges ahead of him.
"Stand down, Captain Rogers, President of the World. Stand down." The Quinjet Pilot said, and the Quinjet lowers its machine gun. "Repeat, stand down."
As Steve and Jared doesn't stop, they start shooting at them, Steve throws his shield into the propellers to jam it, giving him and Jared an opportunity to hop onto it. Steve does more damage to the jet with his shield before jumping off back onto the motorcycle as the jet goes crashing down and he escapes with Jared.
"Eyes here." Sitwell said, looking at the SHIELD agents, and everyone, including Agent 13, looks at him. "Whatever your op is, bury it. This is Level One. Contact DOT. All traffic lights in the district go red. Shut all runways at BWI, IAD and Reagan. All security cameras in the city go through this monitor, right here. Scan all open sources. Phones, computers, PDAs, whatever. If someone tweets about these guys, I want to know about it."
"With all due respect, If SHIELD is conducting a manhunt for Captain America and the President of the World, we deserve to know why." Sharon said.
"Because they lied to us." Pierce said, entering the room. "Captain Rogers and the President of the World have information regarding the death of Director Fury, they refused to share it. As difficult as this is to accept, Captain America and the President of Earth are fugitives from SHIELD."
(Jared's POV)
Hospital...
Steve is disguised as a civilian dressed in a hoodie and I have my TARDIS key around my neck. We decide to retrieve the flash drive from the vending machine but see it's gone.
"Hey, Nat." I said, when Natasha appeared behind us, chewing some gum. "What's up?"
"You're not well hidden with the perception filter around your neck." Natasha said, still chewing the gum in her mouth.
In anger, Steve pushes Natasha into a room with me behind them.
"Where is it?" Steve asked.
"Safe." Natasha said.
"Do better!" Steve yelled.
"Where did you get it?"
"Why would I tell you?"
"Fury gave it to you. Why?"
"What's on it?"
"I don't know." Natasha said, sadly.
"Stop lying!" Steve said, angrily.
"I only act like I know everything, Rogers."
"I bet you knew Fury hired the pirates, didn't you?"
"Well, it makes sense. The ship was dirty, Fury needed a way in, so do you."
"I'm not gonna ask you again."
"I know who killed Fury. Most of the intelligence community doesn't believe he exists, the ones who do call him the Winter Soldier. He's credited with over two dozen assassinations in the last fifty years." Natasha said.
"He's not A.G.R.A. or River Song. But he's just as good." I said, happily. "Maybe even better."
"So he's a ghost story." Steve said, his eyes widening.
"Five years ago I was escorting a nuclear engineer out of Iran, somebody shot out my tires near Odessa. We lost control, went straight over a cliff, I pulled us out, but the Winter Soldier was there. I was covering my engineer, so he shot him straight through me." Natasha said, pulling up her shirt to show Steve the scar on the side of her stomach. "Soviet slug, no rifling. Bye-bye bikinis."
"Yeah, I bet you look terrible in them now." Steve said, while there's a hit of a smile from Natasha.
"Going after him is a dead end. I know, I've tried." Natasha said, holding up the flash drive. "Like you said, he's a ghost story."
Steve takes the flash drive from Natasha, "Well, let's find out what the ghost wants."
(Open POV)
SHIELD...
Pierce is holding another virtual meeting with the World Security Council, "Nick Fury was murdered in cold blood. To any reasonable person, that would make him a martyr, not a traitor."
"You know what makes him a traitor? Hiring a mercenary to hijack his own ship." Councilman Rockwell said.
"Nick Fury used your friendship to coerce this council into delaying Project Insight. A project he knew would expose his own illegal operations. At best, he lied to you. At worst..." Councilman Singh said.
"Are you calling for my resignation? I've got a pen and paper right here." Pierce said.
"That discussion can be tabled for a later time." Councilwoman Hawley said.
"But you do want to have a discussion."
"We've already had it, Mr. Secretary. This council moves to immediately reactivate Project Insight. If you want to say something snappy, now would be a good time." Councilman Rockwell said.
(Jared's POV)
Mall...
Steve and Natasha go to the mall disguised as a civilian couple with me still wearing the TARDIS key around my neck.
"First rule of going on the run is, don't run, walk." Natasha said.
"If I run in these shoes, they're gonna fall off." Steve said.
"Second rule of going on the run is to stay quiet like ghosts." I said, looking over at Steve and Natasha.
"How do you know what it's like to be on the run?" Natasha asked, while we went to an Apple Store to use one of their computers.
"The Year That Never Was. 2008-2009. That was a really long year where the world was ruled by the Master. No one remembers what happened except me and the rest of the people on the Valiant that day."
"The drive has a Level Six homing program. So as soon as we boot up, SHIELD will know exactly where we are." Natasha said, looking between Steve and I.
"How much time do we have?" Steve asked.
"Uh...about nine minutes from..." Natasha said, popping the flash drive into a MacBook Pro. "Now." We see several SHIELD vehicles heading our way. "Fury was right about that ship, somebody's trying to hide something. This drive is protected by some sort of AI, it keeps rewriting itself to counter my commands."
"Can you override it?" Steve asked.
"The person who developed this is slightly smarter than me. Slightly." Natasha said.
"Nat. Steve. Rumlow is here." I said, closing my eyes to think about Rumlow and his team pulling up outside the mall and heading inside. "It didn't take them that long at all."
Steve, Natasha, and I continue to try and find out what's on the flash drive.
"I'm gonna try running a tracer. This is a program that SHIELD developed to track hostile malware, so if we can't read the file, maybe we can find out where it came from." Natasha said, typing away on the iMac.
"Can I help you guys with anything?" An Apple Employee asked.
"Oh, no. My best friend was just helping me and my fiancé with some honeymoon destinations." Natasha said, happily.
"Right! We're getting married." Steve said, smiling.
"Congratulations. Where do you guys thinking about going?" The Apple Employee asked.
"Oh. I was thinking of bringing them to my home state of..." I said, looking at the monitor and seeing the signal traced to somewhere in New Jersey. "...New Jersey. I paid for it and everything."
"He did!" Natasha said, excitedly.
"Oh." The Apple Employee said, looking at Steve for a moment. "I have the exact same glasses."
"Wow, you two are practically twins." Natasha said, rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, I wish. Specimen. Uh...if you guys need anything, I've been Aaron."
"Thank you." Steve said, as Rumlow and his team are in the mall looking for Steve, Natasha, and I. "You said nine minutes, come on."
"Shh, relax. Got it." Natasha said, and we find the signal is coming from Wheaton, NJ. "You know it?"
"I used to. Let's go." Steve said, pulling the flash drive from the computer and we walk out of the store. "Standard tac-team. Two behind, to across, two coming straight at us. If they make us, I'll engage, you and Jared hit the south escalator to the metro."
"Steve, Nat. Act like a couple." I said, while two agents are coming straight towards us. "Does that work?"
"It does. Steve, shut up and put your arm around me, laugh at something I said." Natasha said, looking at Steve.
"What?" Steve asked.
"Do it!" Natasha said, angrily.
Steve quickly puts his arm around Natasha and laughs.
(Open POV)
Apple Store...
One of the agents looks around.
"Negative at the source." Jack Rollins said.
"Give me a floor rundown." Rumlow said.
"Negative on three." SHIELD agent #2 said.
"Negative on two." SHIELD agent #3 said.
"Snake the upper levels, work down to me." Rumlow said.