Ad Infinitum File 3 - Red, White, and Something Blue by Justin Anderson January 8th, 2004. Washington, D.C. 8:12 AM General Peterson entered the training facility. "You said you had a prospective candidate for me?" "Yes," the lab tech replied. "Subject number 8347. Name's Joseph Culvers. Twenty-six, Caucasian male, mutant with enhanced strength, mental capacity, as well as an invincible immune system. I don't think the super soldier serum could hope to match his natural abilities." He could see the subject training. He opened the door. "Joseph Culvers, correct?" he asked. "Yes, sir!" the young man answered. "Joseph, you've been training here for two months. I think it is time I tell you why... we need a new Captain America." "... sir?" Peterson explained, "Steve Rogers has fallen ill. His actual age has overwhelmed his physical age, he's no longer in the condition required to fulfill his role. And you're the only one I have. Plus, you look enough like Rogers that, under the costume, no one will know the difference." "I... it would be an honor," Culvers replied. "Excellent. I will have your equipment delivered. The Avengers will be notified of your role as Captain America. Be ready to meet with me by five o'clock this afternoon, in full costume. In the meantime, practice with the shield. You'll need to learn to throw it as well as have it return to you." General Peterson left. 5:04 PM Culvers entered the meeting room. General Peterson waited. Iron Man was with him. "If I didn't know any better, I'd believe it was Steve in that costume." "Yes... anyway, This is Joseph Culvers, our new candidate. I hope he will exceed everyone's expectations," Peterson said. "General Peterson has told me of your training. It will be an honor to work with you, I simply hope you can live up to Steve's legacy," Stark greeted. Culvers replied, "Yes, I hope I can." "You will leave to join the Avengers next week. Right now, I want to send you on a minor diplomatic mission. Genosha and Japan are currently in diplomatic negotiations, I would like you there as a mediator. You will leave for Genosha in one hour," Peterson explained. "I will be ready, sir." January 9th. Genosha, 1:13 PM Magneto watch Culvers enter the meeting hall. "You're the new Captain America? I suppose you know why you are here?" "I was briefed," Culvers explained. "Very well. Mister Satoshi will be here shortly." The phone rang. Magneto answered. "He's here. Please, follow me," he explained. They entered a smaller greeting area. "Mister Satoshi, I was not aware you were bringing guests." "My grandson, Koji. He aspires to be a politician one day," the old man explained. Koji stared at Culvers. "What is HE doing here?" "I invited him, young man. You were not. Mister Satoshi, I do not mind you babysitting while you are here, but you will keep your grandson quiet. Follow me!" Magneto led the way back to the meeting hall. Culvers could tell things would not go well. "Now then, Japan proposes trade terms with Genosha. Trade of resources, manufactured goods, as well as military alliances. What do you have to offer us that is worth what we have to give?" Magneto asked. "We are willing to sell Genosha automobiles, many fine electronics, as well as entertainment. In exchange, we are interested in some of the finer technology your scientists have been working on-" "You can not trust this man, grandfather. He has an American lapdog at this meeting!" "KOJI! Please, be quiet," the old man requested. "Strong words for a boy who learned English," Magneto replied. Koji answered, "my grandfather was in an internment camp as a child, something his government had no right to do, and you would ally with such monsters!" "Boy, you do not know your history too well. Mister Satoshi, I would advise you to quiet this child..." Magneto was growing impatient. "Yes, I am sorry-" "Do not be, grandfather! Captain America is no champion of peace, just one of American imperialism! They walked over our country when they won the war, and we're forced to smile for them as if we like them! I am sick of it!" Koji shouted. "I have heard ENOUGH!" Magneto's eyes began to glow red. A powerful magnetic force shot out from his body, the shockwave knocking the others back. He began to float. "You have no idea what history is, boy! The torment I endured in Auschwitz! The torment of six million people for the crime of being born, and you think it is a tragedy that a few Japanese Americans were put in prison because Japan attacked the United States without cause? Your country allied with the man who was out to exterminate anyone who was different, and you think you deserve praise? "I watched hundreds of people beaten to death by guards, thousands more gassed and shot, with no hope of being released! But shall you suffer even the slightest inconvenience, of which you yourself were not even privy to, and you expect the world to weep! I have news for you, boy, the world isn't about YOU!" Culvers threw the shield. It lodged in the pillar. "Cool it!" Magneto lowered himself to the ground. "Mister Satoshi, take your grandson and leave. This meeting is over. Tell your government their is no hope of an alliance. Go!" The two left the meeting hall. "As for you... you had better pray his sentiment is not one growing amongst the youth of Japan, or any other nation. You may have your hands full. But I fear it is... and the war is still coming. "You are a mutant. General Peterson informed me. My brother, when the war comes, no matter how we try to prevent it... we will be the ones who prevail." January 10th. Auschwitz, 10:45 AM Culvers sat on one of the old steps inside the camp. He pondered his role. Too much history behind the name, more than he'd ever know. "Guten tag!" He rose. An old man was looking at him from the front gate. "Besucher sind hier mehr selten. Kann ich Ihnen helfen?" "I'm sorry, I don't understand..." he replied. "Oh, dear... I'm sorry about that." The old man approached. "I recognize you. Captain America, yes?" "That's right. But I'm a new Captain America," he replied. "Yes, yes, I figured every few years a new man took over the job. Captain America has been around for a long time. Forgive me, I did not introduce myself. I am Josef Weiss. I was in this camp as a child... somehow, I have to come back every year. I do not know why, perhaps I am still seeking the childhood which I lost here. "Perhaps you are seeking something as well?" Culvers looked away from him, at the camp. "Answers to why this happened, and what sense it makes." "Something is bothering you, please, tell me." "Yesterday I was present at a diplomatic meeting. A Japanese man's grandson offended a survivor of this camp," Culvers explained. "Oh, dear... let me guess, the grandfather was interned in the United States... a tragedy. So many more innocent suffered. But the Japanese will never convince a survivor of this camp that it was worse, just as a survivor here will never convince the other side of the same." "Mister Weiss," Culvers said, "if I could bring the two Japanese men here, could you talk to them?" "Yes... I believe so. If you think you can invite them, that is." 6:24 PM Hirotaka Satoshi entered the camp. "This is a stupid idea, grandfather!" Koji shouted, in English, making sure Captain America could hear him. "Please, be quiet! So, this is Auschwitz... looks so much like the camp I was in." "I heard that!" Weiss said. "I don't think you have any idea what this camp was like." "Forgive me," he replied. "But it was such a long time ago, why must we dwell on our youth?" "Grandfather, these men are lying to you!" Koji shouted. "For all we know, they made up these stories after the war!" "Is that what you believe, boy?" Weiss asked. "That Jews are lying bastards who made it all up? Come here..." He began pacing, Koji backing away. "This anger has stayed with me all my life, and it needs out. Perhaps you shall see the pain for yourself!" Grabbing the boy's head, a flood if images entered. The world blacked out in Koji's eyes. He saw the camp full of people. Looking down, he saw himself in rags. People were shouting in German. He saw bodies being hauled away in wheelbarrows, prisoners being beaten, and forced labor. "What are you doing to him?" Joseph asked. The old man let go. "Showing the boy what I saw with my own eyes. What we all saw. No one should ever have to see that, but I fear that if he did not, he would never understand. And his grandfather.... in a camp himself, he should not have to relive that." "But... are you a mutant?" "No," Weiss replied. "But the pain wanted out." Koji stared at the old sign above the entrance. "What does it mean?" he asked. "Ah... that. 'Work makes you free'. As if they had any intention of letting us go... you see that step? That is where they beat my father to death, because he was starving. Just hit him over and over with their guns until he was dead, all because he wanted a scrap of food." Hirotaka said, "Forgive me... but perhaps we should talk longer, to better understand one another. I fear that what I went through has blinded me." "Yes, that would be for the best... Captain America, thank you," Weiss said. "Yes. If the two of you will excuse me, I am overdue for my return to the United States." "One more thing," Hirotaka asked. "Is it possible to arrange new talks with Genosha?" "I will try," Culvers replied. January 12th. Minneapolis, 5:34 PM Cletus saw the green stone in the window of the jewelry store. He clutched the orange stone of time in his fist. He had a suspicion of the stone staring at him. He walked in. "How much for the green stone in the window display?" "I'm sorry sir, but we just got that in, and we have not yet had it appraised," the clerk replied. "Listen..." He got right in the man's face. "My mother is in the hospital and may not make it. I want to get her a birthstone before she dies. I must have that rock. I will give you..." he pulled a wad of bills out. "....lessee... five thousand?" "Oh, well then... if you insist, then that sounds reasonable! Shall I wrap it?" 5:57 PM He made sure he was far away from the city. In the woods, he found a large, flat boulder. He placed the two stones on it. he inspected the glove. It was too big for him. 'Way too big... but, if I'm right...' He slipped it on. Nothing. Grabbing the orange stone, he clicked it into place on the first knuckle. The stone glowed. The glove instantly shrank to fit his hand. He couldn't remove it, either. 'Looks like as long as I have these stones in, this thing's staying on!' He grabbed the second stone. Clicking it into place over his middle finger, it instantly began to tap into his soul. It was hungry for life. "Feed all you want, you bastard! I have plenty!" The Infinity Gem of soul was his. Notes: Set within the Marvel universe, I will be using my own continuity, mixed with new characterizations for some established characters from Marvel's story universe. These stories are a sequel to my fiction series Maximum Carnage. Cletus Kasady, Carnage, and others are copyright Marvel Comics. Jack Arden, Raicaak, and others are copyright myself. Other characters appearing may be owned by separate parties. I make no claim of copyright on any character I do not own, only on these stories and those I do own. Characters used without permission/not for profit. These are strictly fan stories. Permission to reprint extends to placing this text, unaltered, elsewhere online. It may not be altered, and especially NOT TO BE SOLD, unless Marvel wishes to license this series from me.