The whole situation seemed unbelievable. I'd been thrust forward into the future once before, and that alone had been too unreal to believe. For it to happen a second time, to be thrown even further out of his own time...It was completely unthinkable!

He sat there with the Lord Hood, sat on one the titanium barricades just outside the Cryo-facility. More men had come down after the events of before. Tea and water had been provided, allowing him time to rehydrate, recover, clear his head and begin to come to terms with what had happened. Terrance struck him as a kind man, but also a man who was hard and very dry. He reminded him very much of Nick Fury. Same character, same responsibilities: If not greater responsibilities than the old director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

As they sat there, sipping their tea, Earl Grey apparently! From their thermos flasks, Lord Hood was personally cooling the Captain over. Hood felt the greatest sympathy for the old soldier. He could only imagine what the man was going through. He wondered who the man had lost...friends, family, loved ones? He thought it best not to ask those questions.

"I just can't come to terms with it all Terrance...I'm no future man, and I've lost everything that I had ever cared about." He confided in him. Cap had pulled his mask down, and his shield lying by his feet, right where the Cap had dropped it about ten minutes ago.

"I understand what you're going through Steven, and I'm incredibly sorry for your-" "Oh! Do you know?" Cap interrupted suddenly. "You understand how it feels, to have your life ripped away from you and destroyed? Having nothing you can ever do about it? This has happened to me twice now! It's like a bad joke! It's just too unreal to believe that it's true."

Hood took the jab lightly. Steven Rogers knew nothing of the horrors of the future. How could Captain America know about all that he had lost? He still wasn't sure how to explain all that humanity had gone through since his disappearance. Perhaps he shouldn't. "Being so far out of your time? That I can only imagine. Yet don't be selfish enough to believe that you're the only human who has ever lost the people they care about. I had a family once, long ago. Before they were taken from me. It's a day I will never forget."

Exited chatter from the group of scientists standing not ten yards away took their attention. They were analysing scans that they had taken of the good Captain not five minutes ago. The babble then decided to move on deeper into the compound. Lights had been erected inside now, and the Stoney glances coming their way from Lord Hood and his remarkable companion convinced them that this was the best course of action.

This shock confession from Hood had snapped the Cap out of his self-pity. He scolded himself, silently. For forgetting that there was a whole worlds worth of suffering out there, across the nations of the world. He wondered if America was still the world superpower. Had another old, or new one overtaken it? Were children still starving to death in the future? "Do you mind if I ask how they died?" Steven asked, using all the sensitivity he could muster. Lord Hood took a deep breath and bowed his head as he was overwhelmed by melancholy, remembering better times.

"I have long since come to terms with their deaths." He removed his cap, and held it in his old and gentle hands. "And yet it grows no less painful as the years go by. Life was so good back then. As a Lord of the British Isles and an Admiral of the Fleet I have access to a very privileged lifestyle. I was able to provide my family with everything they could ever need. My two daughters received the best education. We set up a beautiful Chateau, my wife and I, in one of the most beautiful valleys on Harvest."

Captain America shot him a look of confusion. "Harvest? Is that a holiday resort?" He'd heard how the wealthy and famous often moved to the west coast, or the Virgin Islands. Lord Hood's face immediately creased up, and he laughed wheezily at the remark. "Oh! Captain you have no idea! If you think a lot had changed when you first stepped foot in the 21st century, than you're not going to believe how far humanity has come in the past 500 years."

Steven Rogers smiled. Hood wasn't dry at all! He just took his duties seriously. Cap gave him a look as if to say, "Go on, tell me...I dare you!"

"I've seen and heard a lot in my time sir. Surprise me!"

Hood smiles broadly. "A hundred credits says you're wrong!" The joke reminded Steven of one of the first conversations he'd had with Nick Fury. How had that turned out? With him ten dollars out of pocket! "I won't bet on it Hood, not that I'd even have credits to bet! But, I still want you to try."

"Very well Captain. For one thing, Harvest is not a Holiday resort, nor is it a province. Harvest is a human occupied agricultural world, second from the terrestrial sun of the Epsilon Indi System, approximately ten thous-" That was the inevitable point where Captain America interrupted him!

"Wait, what?" His eyes wide with wonder and surprise. "Harvest is on another God damn planet?" He could scarcely believe what he was hearing. He'd seen men fly and level whole towns. He'd met aliens and demi-gods - Asgardians, Eternals, Skrulls and Kree. S.H.I.E.L.D. had concealed all four races existences so well, he doubted Lord Hood and the rest of the human race even knew that they were out there. He'd viewed NASA's blueprints for moon and asteroid bases first hand, and those had amazed him. How far had humankind come?

"Yes Captain, Harvest was the most remote colony world in human occupied space. The Indi star system is located at is approximately ten thousand light years away from earth." He suddenly coughed a little, hoping that Cap wouldn't pick up on the fact that he had said Harvest 'was' the most remote human colony. He didn't want to give anything away of the war.

Cap missed it completely. Shock number two: Might as well have been on the other side of the universe. He was beginning to feel sorry that he had asked! "Ten thousand light years…How is that possible?" He was starting to feel very out of his depth. He now doubted whether he would even understand the answers to his ignorant questions.

Hood was starting to make a fine habit of having to explain such things to soldiers. Teaching geography, history and all about the super soldiers of ancient past. Perhaps he should begin charging a fee for his teaching services? But as much as he wanted to answer the Captain America's questions, he possessed neither the security clearance nor the time required to do so. ONI couldn't be kept waiting, he had to move Rogers on.

"It would appear that far more has happened than you ever thought possible Steven Rogers, and I'm not sure that I have the wisdom to adequately explain 500 years of very sensitive human history." Cap reabsorbed his emotion, accepting the difficulty of the current situation.

"I understand" He agreed honestly. Hood gazed at the man in wonder, what a puzzle the man was! He simply couldn't work out if he was just a simple soldier, or someone with far more depth of mind.

"You are a rare man Steven Rogers, selfless and indomitable. The kind of man humanity needs right now. I don't think that you are a man out of time just yet Captain. Whilst humanity has broken free from the confines of earth and spread out amongst the stars, we haven't changed all that much since the 21st century. One thing that hasn't changed is humanities need for heroes in times of need. Nor the impatience of her governments. The decision to have you unfrozen Steven was not taken lightly. The UN needs you, and humanity needs you. The year 2554 is a very dark time for human kind. You were frozen for one reason, to be woken up when humanity needed you. Forget the year Captain, humanity needs you right now!"

As unsure as he felt about his future, Captain America knew he could never dismiss a plea for help of such sincerity. Whatever the reasons may be. "If humanity still needs Captain America…then that's all that happens. No matter what the future holds, no matter where it may take me I will be there to serve humanity...wherever she may be, on earth or in space, I will be there for them. By God you have my word Lord Hood."

It took a few moments for Lord Hood to get over his brave and selfless words, the sheer honesty alone was enough to stir emotion, deep within his very fibre. A small crowd had formed, marine and scientist had all stopped dead to listen to the remarkable conversation that was going on. "Well then Captain…I think it's about time we get out of these sewers…Don't you bone heads have anything better to do? Get back to your duties men!" Sending the rabble of UNSC soldiers and scientists scuttling away.

Once they were alone, Hood continued. "I will escort you to Alpha Site Captain. Above us is a major UNSC facility, it is run by ONI – The Office of Naval Intelligence: An organisation so secretive that not even top military brass such as myself have knowledge of what goes on behind their walls. They will interview and assess you. They will decide on the course your life may take from here."

Captain America didn't like the sound of that. "You make me sound like I am the property of the state, a piece of military hardware!" Lord Hood stared at him dead in the eyes. "You are not the property of the state Steven, and you are not a slave of ONI's. However, once you part from my company Captain, you will be entirely at their mercy."

Hood's face was stern, his eyes dark with worry, and he placed both his hands on Cap's shoulders. "You cannot trust those men Captain! Not under any circumstances. ONI are dangerous, and there is almost nothing they won't resort to. Nothing they aren't capable of. I don't know what will happen to you when you pass into their custody. And I will have no way of contacting you once you do. You may never leave that facility, they my conduct experiments on you. Hurt you, dehumanise you, the rest of the world simply won't know. All I know is that ONI cannot be trusted, and that you will not be safe when you are in their custody. According to military intelligence, you do not exist. Those marines you saw, will have their minds wiped of your existence. But I fear for you Steven, because a man who doesn't exists cannot possess human rights. Be on your guard at all times, and if you fear that your life is in danger…run…for God sakes run!"

Fear and oppression: perhaps the world the world hadn't advanced, but regressed. Hood made these ONI types sound like Nazi's. Maybe Hood was only paranoid, the intelligence industry did a lot behind closed doors. Even S.H.I.E.L.D occasionally got blood on their hands. Intelligence was a dirty business. "I'll keep myself safe…you're a good man Terrance. I will not forget how good you have been to me. Thank you for your advice."

Hood's eyes twinkled, multiple emotions playing over his mind all at once. "Thank you, Steven Rogers. Good luck. Know that if you are ever in need of me, that I will always be there to aid you." The wording of the offer took Steve aback. It was exactly what Thor had said to him all those years ago.

He reached into a pouch on his right side, finding the mjolnir fragment. A dark smile spread across his face. He hoped that this ONI, whoever they were, were truly a force of good: Mistrusted only, just as S.H.I.E.L.D was long ago. He hoped ONI weren't as bad as Lord Hood feared. For if they were, and they went too far, Captain America would summon aid to his side that none of the 'spooks' would be able to even comprehend!

"…Anyway Captain. We aren't parted from each other just yet. Is there anything else you want to know about the 26th century? If the information isn't classified I would be happy to tell you about anything." His features were warm and inviting again. Hood had the ability to make you feel at ease under any and all circumstances. Captain America did have a question, he wondered if humanity had encountered any alien civilizations.

But first things first… "Do they still have Corn Dogs and waffles in the future?" The most important question of them all! Hood laughed out loud.

"Yes Captain, we do still have those in the future. You ought to try New Mombasa rolls. Best darn snack you've ever eaten! One bite and you'll slide into a diabetic coma, forever!" The two warriors roared with laughter. What an odd sight it was, the neat and aged Lord of the King's Realm, and a man dressed in the American flag cracking jokes like a pair of schoolboys. They certainly turned a few heads inside the confines of the secret corridor. "Do you have any SERIOUS questions to ask me Steven?" He breathed, wiping a tear of laughter from his left eye.

"Go on than Hood. Tell me, because humanity has expanded so far into the heavens. Have we met any extra-terrestrials yet?"

"Shit!" Hood cursed in his head, the blood in his cheeks flooded out and his mouth went dry. Captain America couldn't have asked a worse question. Hood simply couldn't give him the answer, it would break Stevens' heart for sure. "Some questions Captain, I think you should save for behind the walls of the Alpha Site…"