Rise Above

05

[The Star-Spangled Man]

Bucky sat in his apartment as he watched the reveal of the new Captain America. He had his hands to his knees as he stared intently at the TV.

"Did you know Steve Rogers?" the announcer asked.

"I was two years out of West Point when Steve came back on the scene," Walker replied. "I followed his career very closely as an Avenger. I like to think that I modeled my work after his."

"So, you've always wanted to be a hero?" the announcer questioned.

"I liked that what I was doing would make people feel safe. Steve Rogers was the kind of guy who could do that, he gave me hope." Bucky tilted his head with a slightly seething expression. "So, even though I never met him, he feels like a brother." Bucky pursed his lips.

"Wow."

A knock sounded on his front door and he answered to see Žofia. "What now?"

"You've seen the news?"

"Yeah. What do you want?"

"We need to find your friend."

"How do you know about that?"

"I make it my business. Now are you coming or not? Because I will leave without you."

"I'm coming. Relax."

---

Sam looked at a poster of the new Captain America which read 'CAP IS BACK - JOHN WALKER'.

"Seems like a good guy," Torres commented. "You met him?"

"No," Sam said. "Thanks for doing this on such short notice."

As the two walked away, Torres replied, "Yeah. No sweat. I'm just, uh, finishing up the checklist. You'll be all good to go once you land in Munich." They walked down the metal stairs.

Bucky, followed by Žofia, stalked up to Sam and said, "Shouldn't have given up the shield."

"Good to see you too, Buck. Who's she?"

"This is wrong. Žofia Zemo."

"You're kidding, right? Hey, hey, look, I'm working, all right? So all this outrage is gonna have to wait." The three walked towards a plane.

"She found me and never left. You didn't know that was gonna happen?"

"No, of course I didn't know that was gonna happen. You two think it didn't break my heart to see them march him out there and call him the new Captain America?"

"This isn't what Steve wanted."

"Oh, my God. So, what do you two want me to do? Call America and tell 'em I changed my mind? Huh?" He chuckled. "Yeah, right. It's a great reunion, buddy, Žofia, be well."

"You had no right to give up the shield, Sam," Bucky retorted as the three of them stopped.

"Hey. This is what you two are not gonna do. You two aren't gonna come here in your overextended lives and tell me about my rights. It's over, Bucky, Žofia. Besides, I have bigger things to deal with now."

"What could be bigger than this?"

Sam pulled out his phone and showed them a picture of a masked man, the leader of the Flag Smashers. "This guy. His connections with rebel organizations all over Eastern and Central Europe, and he's strong. Too strong."

"And?" Bucky and Žofia pressed.

"Well, he's been connected to this online group called the Flag Smashers. Now, Redwing traced them to a building somewhere outside of Munich. So that's where I'm going."