Chapter 1:
[Raijin POV]
[Years earlier, New York City]
Night. On a rooftop. Both Karai and I watch as Nelson Branco exits his car and enters the safety of his nightclub along with a number of his security staff. Nelson Branco was last standing head of his criminal organization. The last of the Viceroy gang. "I count 30-armed hostiles inside," Karai says, looking through the scope of her sniper rifle, "This won't be a clean run." "Never expected it to be," I say. I grapple toward the nightclub.
Looking through the ceiling window, I spot seven-armed goons. 'Stealth isn't going to be an option. Time for some shock and awe.' I quickly plan out an attack before I made my move. Once ready, I go in. I move on the guy on the balcony first. Rushing up behind the goon, I quickly wrap my arms around his neck. The first goon drops down, unconscious to the floor. Dash to the thug 10 feet away to my right. The man was caught by surprise. He didn't have any time to react as I grab hold of his head and slam him down to the floor. The third goon spots me and starts to set his gun at the ready. I zig-zag across the room, grab him, Slam the goon through a nearby table. Four others come through the door. Four whistling objects fly past me, dropping the four goons. "Thanks for the save," I say to Karai over the comlink. "Hacked their security system. I locked the top floor down. No one is getting in or out. I'm moving to you now," Karai says.
Three goons come out and surround me. The first guy comes at me with a wide haymaker. I deflect the attack, go around his back and deliver two body shots to the right kidney, then knock him out with a punch to the face. The second guy swings a poor hook-punch. Block it, hit the guy with two gut punches, stump out his kneecap. He drops, screaming out in pain. I leave him to his agony. The last-one-standing rushes at me with an iron pipe, swinging it wildly. I duck the under the swing, grab the iron pipe, rip it out the attacker's hands, then I grab him by the head and ram it down to my knees, knocking him out cold.
I advance on Branco's main office door but stop in my track as Branco himself kicks open the door, wielding an SMG. "Fucking mask freak!" he yells out. When Branco sees me, he opens fire. I jump to cover. Toss a smoke grenade. The area is quickly covered in thick white smoke. In a panic Branco starts to fire in all directions, missing every shot. "Show yourself, you fuck! You think I'm going to let a freak in a mask take me down! This city is my Kingdom! My fucking castle! My empire!" "No! Tonight, your empire will burn to ashes," a voice yells out. Karai. Using the smoke as cover she shoots Branco in both his knees, dropping the crime boss. Branco screams out in pain, Clenching his injured legs. He desperately tries to reach over for the SMG that fell beside him. As his fingers reach the handle grip, I stomp on his hand and kick the weapon away. Reach down and grab Branco by the throat, getting him to his feet. Karai punches him in the face. He falls. She jumps on him and punches Branco again and again. When Karai stops, Branco's face was a bloody mess. Nearly unrecognizable. He's still breathing, barely. I draw my pistol and finish Branco off with a single shot to the head. Suddenly there's a booming bright flash of light. Multiple tactical suited soldiers come storming into the nightclub, weapon ready. We notice the insignia on their uniforms. SHIELD. The troopers shoot us with stun rounds, knocking us out.
[Unknown location]
Opening my eyes, I find myself in a holding cell with Karai. Our hands cuffed. Karai starts to regain consciousness. "Where are we?" she asks, dazed. "No idea. Just woke up," I tell her. "You're in a holding cell on the Helicarrier," a voice says. We turn to face the source of the voice. An African American man with an eyepatch stands outside of the holding cell. "My name is Nick Fury. Director of SHIELD," the man says, "Let's cut straight to the point. I've been tracking you. PARAGADES. Vigilantes. Methodically hunted every leader of the Viceroy gang in the last month, systematically crippling the organization. Nelson Branco is the last name crossed off. No question you're effective. I know an asset when I see one. You two are it. I want the PARAGADES to join SHIELD." Completely taken aback, Karai and I look at each other in shock and confusion. "Why?" I ask. Fury cracks a small smile, "There was an idea. Bring together a group of individuals, unite them to become something more, to fight the battles beyond our limits, to protect and defend the world and its people against all threats."
[Years later, Secret SHIELD base]
Karai and I enter the lab. We both volunteered to take part in SHIELD's SUPER-SOLDIER program. A bio-enhancement program based on Project Rebirth, the SUPER-SOLDIER project that turned Steve Rogers into the first SUPER-SOLDIER known as Captain America. The team of scientist preparers us for the procedure. Once ready, they lead us into a chamber. Through an open-slot, a scientist slides in a tray with two sets of syringe-guns. 'The BIO-ENHANCER.' We take the syringe-guns and inject the compound into ourselves. The BIO-ENHANCER instantly takes effect, transforming us into SUPER-SOLDIERS.
[Present time, New York City]
Epyon, a crime/emergency alert system, tags a code-red op. On-site. A team of STRIKE commandos and I scale the side of the UN building. A group of terrorists took control of the UN summit. The Ten Rings, a terrorist organization dedicated to destroying world peace by any means necessary. In short, a group of anarchists. No one had any idea how they manage to get past security, but that wasn't the main issue at the moment nor my concern. My job is to get in, eliminate the threats, and get out. I tap my comlink, "STRIKE-1 is in position," I say. "Copy. You got two hostiles on the floor above you," Karai says. Two shots. "It's clear," she tells me. I make my way in through the window with four STRIKE commandos following right behind me. "Okay, we split up here. You two take the West sector. You two take East. I'll take North. Watch each other's six. Everybody goes home tonight. The only ones who leave in a body-bag are the bad guys." We split up. I enter the main room, where I sighted the hostages rounded up in the center. Karai makes entry from the window above. The four STRIKE commandos from the other entrance. I signal everyone to be ready for a sync-shot. Everyone gets ready. "On my go," I whisper. I fire the first shot, killing a man with a headshot. Five more bodies drop simultaneously. We move to secure the hostages. I tap my comlink, "Threats eliminated. Hostages are secured. You can send in the cleanup crew, Coulson." "Copy that," Coulson says.
[SHIELD HQ, New York City]
Office. "Well done on the rescue mission," Fury says to us, "Coulson gave me a full mission report." "I feel dirty for saving a bunch of politicians who have done some questionable things," Karai remarks. "Ditto on that," I say in agreement. "I don't like it as much as you do, but it's part of the job," Fury says, "We don't pick or choose the op." I shrug my shoulders, "Maybe so, but I don't like sticking my neck out for a bunch of corrupt bureaucrats." "Duly noted," Fury says.
[Nick Fury POV]
With a sigh, I turn my gaze back at the files over my desk, profiles of candidates for the AVENGERS initiative project. So far, there are only four members who qualify. Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye, Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow, Samus AKA Karai, and Corvo AKA Raijin. Two assassins and two soldiers. I need more people for the unit. Tony Stark AKA Iron Man was considered for the team, but Romanoff and Coulson wrote him off as unqualified. I thought about putting Ava Starr AKA Ghost on the team, but due to her mental state, she's too much of a risk factor. My eye glance over at an old photo of Mar-vell and me. Back when I was a young man and had two sets of working eyes. The corner of my lip tilts upward at the memories. I wondered about Mar-vell's daughter. That woman is becoming more and more like her old man. I sigh and get back going through the profiles.
[Raijin POV]
Karai and I make our way to the mess hall to grab a bite to eat. Once we get our meal, we sit at a table on the far end of the mess hall. Karai got herself a large club sandwich. While I got a plate of sushi. "Did anyone ever tell you; you're addicted to sushi?" Karai says with a smile. "No. Least not to my face. Then again, I'm not a very social person," I say, eating a roll, "Besides if an anime characters could get away with eating Ramen all the time, I can get away with eating sushi." I stick out my tongue at her. Karai rolls her eyes. By the corner of my eyes, I notice Melinda May. Everyone in the mess hall looks at her. An array of different expressions. Admiration, respect, shame, and loathing. All because of the outcome of a busted mission. Neither Karai or I knew the details of the op but going by what was said, it was bad. Whatever happened in that op chanced May. I'll even go as far it killed a part of her. Once she got her meal, May left. "Always knew she was going to eventually lose her shit," I hear a fellow agent says. I glare at the man, "Hey, Kevin, do you know what happened on the op?" "No," he says. "Then keep your fucking mouth shut," I growl. The agent looks down to his meal in embarrassment. Suddenly losing our appetite, we leave.
Just as we exit the mess hall, our comlink rings. "Raijin, I need you and your partner come to my office. Now," Fury says. "On our way," I say. Both Karai and I walk off. As we reach Fury's office, the man walks out, indicating for us to follow. We follow right behind Fury to the command center. "Do we have visual?" Fury asks the tech guy as we enter. "Yes, Sir. Putting it on screen now," the tech guy says. We all turn our attention to the primary monitor. The monitor shows the salvage team in the Arctic. "Sir, we have visual on the body? It… It's still alive," a salvage team member says. "Can you confirm an ID?" Fury asks. "It's him, Sir. Steve Rogers. The living legend Captain America himself." I notice the shine in Fury's eyes.
[1 day later]
When we got the word, that Steve Rogers was brought to the NYC SHIELD HQ, Karai and I rush straight toward the med-bay. A medical team was already working on the super-soldier. He placed under a heat lamp, safely melting the ice he was encased in. "How is he doing?" Fury asks. "Vital signs are stable," a medical staff says. "Any signs of brain damage?" Fury inquires. "No brain damage," the lead doctor says, "Hell, I'm surprised this man is even alive after being exposed to Sub-Zero temperatures and encased in ice for 70 years. This shouldn't be possible." "Well, they always said Captain America is the man that can make the impossible possible," I say. "Once he's defrosted, I want him in a secure room. Raijin, Karai, you'll be acting as security," Fury orders. "Copy," Karai and I say.
We're stationed in the security room right across the hall from Steve Rogers. Steve's quarters is a 1940s theme hospital. "He's not going to fall for it," I say, watching the sleeping super-soldier through the security monitors. "You sure?" Karai challenges, giving me a side look, "I did tell Fury that maybe we should've thrown him in VR, but he was strongly against the idea." "I can't say I disagree," I tell her, "But back to the topic, you saying you would fall for this setup." Karai sigh, "Probably not. If the files on him are accurate, his enhanced senses will pick up on something quick. Like us." Hours passed. Both of us notice a slight movement. "Umm I think he's waking up," Karai says. I tap my comlink, "Agent Kendra, he's up." "Better call Fury. I'm almost sure things are to go sideways quick," Karai warns. The security feed shows Agent Kendra walking into the room, "Good morning, or should I say afternoon." Steve peers at her, suspiciously, "Where am I?" "You're in a recovery center in New York City," Agent Kendra tells him.
He didn't believe her. 'Shit.' Steve looks around his surroundings. He knows something is off. The man eyes the radio as if it confirms his suspicions. "Where am I really?" Steve asks in a firmer tone. Kendra smiles, nervously, "I'm afraid I don't understand?" "The game. It's from May 1941. I know because I was there," Steve tells her. 'Oh, fuck.' That moment Kendra triggers a silent alert. Both Karai and I rush out the door. As we run down the hall, a security team rushes into the room, armed with stun weapons. A moment later the four men are thrown out the room. Cap steps out through the gaping hole. "Woah, Woah. Captain Rogers, stop we're not your en-," Karai tries, holding her hands up. Cap grabs her arm and arm-throws her the ground. I grab him from behind in a control-hold, "Stand down, Captain. We're not your enemy." The first super-soldier breaks out of my hold; reaches over and throws me toward the wall, cracking it on impact. "Ow," I groan. Steve makes a dash to his shield on a nearby table and then runs out the door. Karai and I force ourselves back to our feet and take off after him. The intercom comes to life with a voice calling for a code-13. "All unit stand down, let him go outside," Fury orders. We stop our chase.
[New York City]
When we get outside with Fury and a team of SHIELD agents, Steve Rogers was standing in the middle of Time Square. His face is a mixture of emotions, amazement, confusion, and panic. To a civilian, they would have thought he was scared. No. He was acting like a soldier in a new environment. Assessing the situation and determining a possible course of action. "At ease, Soldier," Fury says. Steve turns around to face us, sizing up each of us, debating if we're enemies or not. Fury walks over to him, "We were going to break it to you slow and easy." "Break what?" Steve questions, confused. Fury sighs, "A lot has changed while you were MIA. You've been asleep, Cap. For nearly 70 years." "Did we win?" he asks. Fury smirks, "We did." There's a flash of relief, but it's quickly replaced by sorrow. "You good?" I ask, concerned. "Yeah, yeah… I had a date."
[Steve Rogers POV]
[Weeks later, Rogers's apartment, New York City]
Using a computer Fury had given me, I started to go through everything I missed in the last 70 years. It was a mixed bag of good and bad. 'The wheels of progress may be slow, but it's moving.' I mostly got down the bare essentials. Pop culture is still a loss for me. Turning to the file on my team. All of the members of the Howling Commandos were gone. Dum Dum Dugan, Junior Juniper, Jim Morita, James Montgomery Falsworth, Gabe Jones, Jacques Dernier, Happy Sam Sawyer, Pinky Pinkerton, and Bucky. The only comfort is those who survived the war had long fulfilling lives. The next file hit me hard. The file is on Peggy's. The file lists her as retired. Her contact number is on the bottom of the paper. I glance at the phone on the table, debating with myself long and hard whether or not to call. 'No. Not yet.' The next file was on Howard Stark. Disease. Currently, his son is running Stark Industries. Tony Stark. He also happened to be the armored hero known as Iron Man. The following profile was on the PARAGADES. Raijin and Karai. A vigilante team Operating in New York City. Skilled, adaptive in combat, and hyper-lethal. The PARAGADES got on SHIELD's radar when they took out the Viceroy gang. SHIELD tracked the duo down and recruited them. A lot of black marks. Feeling restless, I decided to go to the gym.
[New York City]
Boxing gym. I punch the bag over and over. Every blow is harder than the last, but still in control. Flashes of memories of the war hit me like a wave. The last image was of Bucky's death. In a flash of anger, I strike the punching bag, sending it flying across the room. I quickly compose myself. I go to set up a new bag, then notice Fury and the two black-clad soldiers with him. I salute Fury. "How are you feeling, Captain," Fury asks. "Fine. Just a little restless," I tell him. "Then I came at a perfect time," Fury says. He hands me a file, "I'm putting a team together, and I want you to lead it." It doesn't even take me long to make a choice. I was always the type that jumps at the call of duty, to be the defender for the defenseless. " I'm in," I tell him. Fury smirks, "Welcome to SHIELD, Captain." Both of us shake hands.